After those merchants had all left, Gu Chengyu rubbed his brow, ready to finally have a good rest. The rush of these past few days had truly left him utterly exhausted.

Who knew that Hu Maoshen, however, had no intention of letting him off. "Gu Shaoqing, this merchants’ guild you just mentioned seems to be something the court has never discussed. I wonder, is this guild your own idea, or have you actually consulted with the Emperor about it?"

Hu Maoshen’s eyes gleamed sharply. If he had been somewhat doubtful just now, he was now quite certain this was entirely Gu Chengyu acting on his own initiative.

He did not agree with Gu Chengyu’s idea of setting up some merchants’ guild just to control the rise in grain prices; and from what he had just heard Gu Chengyu say, this guild sounded extremely troublesome. With so many merchants gathered together, the court would find it very hard to keep them in hand.

Within the four estates of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, once these merchants all banded together, twisted into a single rope and turned against the court, would that not spell big trouble?

One must not underestimate the power of merchants. Money makes the mare go; as long as there is Silver, are they afraid no one will serve them? And as for those Vassal Kings out in their fiefs, it was hardly certain they would remain calm and sit on their hands.

The past two years had been so quiet, they might very well have just been holding it in! If a Vassal King chose to cooperate with some merchant house of formidable strength, how would they ever know?

Gu Chengyu raised his brows, then spoke frankly: "I indeed have not discussed this matter with the Emperor, but I believe His Majesty will agree."

Seeing Gu Chengyu so sure of himself, Hu Maoshen could not help but frown.

"Gu Shaoqing, are you truly that confident? According to the analysis you just gave, I do think this guild could indeed spur the development of our dynasty, and over time might even open up a flourishing age for Dayan. But invisibly, this also elevates the status of merchants. Are you not afraid they will unite to restrain the court?"

It was undeniable that what Gu Chengyu proposed would promote commercial development, but it was detrimental to the stability of the court. Hu Maoshen had indeed been impressed by Gu Chengyu’s strategy just now, but upon thinking it over carefully afterward, he felt the idea could not be implemented.

Gu Chengyu let out a light chuckle. "How could that be? The more these people earn, the greater their contribution to the court. Don’t think becoming a member is easy; if one doesn’t make tens of thousands of taels a year, how could one qualify as a guild member? And even if one becomes a member, it’s not as free as you imagine. There will not only be the guild’s own constraints, but also the court’s supervision. The reason I want to establish a guild is precisely to better keep these merchants in line."

Gu Chengyu bore no particular prejudice against merchants, nor did he feel merchants were inherently a cut below commoners and members of scholarly families.

But in this age where imperial authority was supreme, the King would never allow merchants to elevate their status and threaten the stability of the court.

If they had Silver in their hands and status to match, how could the Emperor ever rest easy?

Given the general climate, Gu Chengyu was powerless to change it. He even had to go with the flow, and at times stand alongside these rulers in resisting it.

Because he himself was one of those at the top; he could not possibly stand by and watch himself tumble down from the top of the pyramid.

"Members still have to pay Silver? Tens of thousands?" Hu Maoshen’s eyes widened. A moment ago he had only thought there were downsides to Gu Chengyu’s merchants’ guild; now he suddenly felt Gu Chengyu was downright black-hearted.

"Are you joking? Tens of thousands of taels—how could those merchants possibly agree to join?" Hu Maoshen felt Gu Chengyu was simply indulging in wild fancies, and couldn’t help shaking his head with a wry smile.

In his view, Gu Chengyu was still far too taken for granted. Years of everything going smoothly had made him lose his usual calm, leaving him thinking whatever he did would succeed. Yet reality often hits one over the head.

Gu Chengyu lifted the fan in his hand and gave it a shake, speaking with an air of mystery: "If I just demand it of them like this, of course they’ll be reluctant. But I have a way to make them hand it over willingly."

Hu Maoshen’s eyes lit up. If each merchant really could be made to pay so much in membership fees, the National Treasury would be much fuller.

Of course, the premise was that these merchants could be properly controlled so they had no chance to stir up trouble.

"And what fine strategy is this? Gu Shaoqing, don’t keep it hidden—tell us, so we can help you think it through."

The other officials all pricked up their ears. This Gu Chengyu had once come up with the tea tax, which had brought the court no small benefit. As for this merchants’ guild he was now proposing, they had a feeling that in the court it would stir up another storm of blood and rain.

"Indeed, Mr. Gu, three cobblers together make a Zhuge Liang. We may not be as capable as you, but we can at least offer some clumsy suggestions!"

"Yes, yes..."

They all chimed in, indicating they were eager to hear the details.

With someone this talented, they would be fools not to cling to his thigh. Although in this disaster relief the Emperor had already rewarded Gu Chengyu with a promotion, this matter of establishing a guild might well bring Gu Chengyu further benefits.

Even if he could not be promoted for the time being, there would surely be other rewards.

And as for them, these officials of the Ministry of Industry had not had their positions shifted in quite some time. If they could get involved in this matter, perhaps they might bask in some reflected glory and see their own ranks rise as well.

Gu Chengyu arched a brow. Seeing them all staring at him with eager eyes, he suddenly smiled, then said in a deliberately infuriating way, "It’s not yet the right time. When the time comes, you will naturally find out."

How could Gu Chengyu not know what they were thinking? Why should he let others profit off the method he had devised?

If he were the one to implement it, it would be one thing to pick two pleasing faces to bring in on the work.

But the Emperor would absolutely not hand this matter over to him, so these men were like blind men lighting lamps—wasting their wax.

Besides, these few were officials of the Ministry of Industry, whereas this was clearly the business of the Ministry of Revenue; they were destined to do nothing but watch hungrily from the sidelines.

Seeing that Gu Chengyu refused to spell it out, they all secretly curled their lips, then took their leave with forced, insincere smiles.

Back in his own private room, Gu Chengyu did not rest, but instead immediately set to writing without pause.

He needed to report this matter to the Emperor as quickly as possible. Jiangnan was far from the Capital; even riding day and night and pushing the horses hard, it would still take several days. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Matters had to be pursued while the iron was hot; while these merchants were still enthusiastic about the guild, it would be best to get it implemented as soon as possible.

In truth, he also knew this matter would inevitably stir up a great tempest in the court. Establishing a merchants’ guild would cut into the interests of certain people; how could those officials who merely occupied their posts and ate their salary allow such a thing to happen?

They had been doing monopolistic business for so long, and could raise prices whenever they wished—who dared voice objections?

In the past, so long as they did not go too far, the court would not interfere too much. Now, with a guild, once one joined, one’s price hikes could no longer be completely at one’s own whim.

In the future, the merchants joining the guild would only grow in number. If one refused to join, one would face all sorts of restrictions in business—this was a contradictory choice.

That day, a fine drizzle began to fall from the sky, and on the official road two fine horses were darting through the rain at full speed.

Their pounding iron hooves shattered the dewdrops clinging to the grass blades, as they hurtled forward into the distance.