Call of the Heroes of Chaos in Another World

Chapter 2570 The Heavy Responsibility in the East, the Emperor's Reprimand

Chapter 2570 The Heavy Responsibility in the East, the Emperor's Reprimand

"The Dongfang family's caravans are spread throughout Wu, Qian, Wei, and the lands of the barbarians. I have a matter that requires your assistance." As he spoke, Wang Yu subtly lowered his voice.

In fact, even if he didn't lower his voice, Chang Xi, who was behind him, had already used her internal energy to isolate their voices, ensuring that no one else around them could hear them.

Upon hearing Wang Yu speak, Dongfang Yu immediately perked up.

If he is needed to appear, it means that the imperial court cannot appear, or it is not appropriate for it to appear, and a civilian identity is needed to represent the imperial court.

After all, although Wang Yu addressed him as "my dear minister," he did not actually hold any official position in the Han Dynasty court, and the Dongfang family's merchant caravan could not represent the court's merchant caravan.

"My dear minister..." As he spoke, Wang Yu's voice instinctively grew lower and lower.

Dongfang Yu is a talented individual, and not just a business talent. He also has unique perspectives on the world and is quite politically astute.

Although the emperor only gave him instructions without explaining the reasons, Dongfang Yu could still keenly sense that this was the Han Dynasty beginning to lay out its future strategy, even a strategy for more than ten years from now.

Of course, at this stage, it's just about letting them lay the foundation and make preparations so that they can use it when needed later, rather than getting serious about it so soon.

Although there were some things behind this matter that Dongfang Yu didn't want to get involved in, he still readily agreed.

To be honest, in recent years, the Dongfang family has actually been in decline compared to earlier years. The imperial court has taken back a lot of their power, especially the operating and mining rights of salt, iron and copper mines, which the imperial court has tried to take back step by step.

The mines controlled by the Dongfang family, especially the copper mines, were also partially bought and partially acquired by the imperial court.

After losing these advantages, and unlike when they were in Gucang, when they had the added benefit of being imperial merchants, the Dongfang family naturally declined little by little compared to its peak.

However, it was precisely because of this that Dongfang Yu felt relieved.

After all, the Nangong family that hadn't been taken back was no longer around, at least not the core branches. The collateral branches scattered across various regions had also vanished like birds and beasts.

The Nangong family is now truly extinct, though its bloodline has not been completely severed. The remaining branches scattered across various regions are simply incapable of raising the banner of the Nangong family again.

Of course, the Sima family, one of the six great families, was also unlucky. The most direct and core members of the family were almost wiped out.

In contrast, the Eastern sect, although it has declined somewhat in recent years, has not actually lost its foundation and can even be said to have achieved a smooth transition.

The emperor stripped them of much of their power, but still compensated them, and the titles they once held during the time of Gu Cang were smoothly transferred back.

Only by making a smooth transition can they revitalize themselves in the new dynasty, a point that Dongfang Yu clearly understands.

This is the only thing that is most important to a large family like theirs.

Among the top families of the original Great Cang, the Four Imperial Merchants are the oldest, dating back to the Great Wu Dynasty. In the entire Great Cang, only these four families can be called millennium-old families. In the process of their succession, although they have experienced setbacks and even declines, they have still managed to overcome them and have become even more prosperous since then.

It is precisely because they have existed for so long and have witnessed the rise and fall of too many powerful families, including some that are on the same level as them or even stronger, that they understand even more clearly that temporary decline is not important at all; what is most important is to continue to exist in a stable transition.

As long as they can make a smooth transition, given their resources, it's only a matter of time before they rise again.

Under these circumstances, the Dongfang family, who had already sided with the Han Dynasty, did not mind doing some things for the emperor, even if these things would bring some trouble.

"There's one more thing. Zhao Zeping returned from Guanzhong a few days ago and mentioned that the Ximen family used their trade routes to help Huangfu Jimin's faction purchase ironware. I wonder what you think, my dear minister?" After resolving the most important matter, Wang Yu casually asked.

When Zhao Pu was mentioned, Wang Yu was quite satisfied. During the past few months that Zhao Pu had been in Guanzhong, he had greatly damaged the reputation of the Zhao family in Guanzhong.

But precisely because of this, this person can be used, and even reused.

"Since the Ximen family are now Han citizens, they have betrayed their own people and should be severely punished. The specific punishment should be decided by His Majesty." Although Dongfang Yu's mind was racing, he answered without hesitation.

It's Zhao Pu again. He really doesn't leave himself any way out. Dongfang Yu could only sigh helplessly in his heart.

Throughout the years of the Song Dynasty's rule, the Sima and Ximen families had provided them with considerable support, almost completely siding with them. In fact, the Sima family was completely wiped out in that battle.

But Zhao Pu has now betrayed the Ximen family. If word gets out, who would still want to do business with them?

How could Dongfang Yu not be surprised that Zhao Pu had taken such a ruthless approach to the Zhao family? At the very least, he might not have been able to make such a decision.

However, Dongfang Yu could understand the other party's position. The royal family of the enemy country that had been wiped out, coupled with the Zhao family's reputation in the Guandong and Guanxi regions for hundreds of years, meant that the emperor could not truly trust them otherwise.

"You flatter me, my dear minister. It was just the individual behavior of some members of the Ximen family. How can we generalize from a few cases?"

"Furthermore, business has always been the same," the emperor said nonchalantly, without specifying his attitude toward the matter.

However, although the emperor did not express a clear opinion, Dongfang Yu had clearly discerned the emperor's attitude in this matter.

Or rather, it also includes banging.

Merchants are profit-driven, and many of their business practices may not align with the interests of the imperial court. Most merchants are involved in such matters to some extent.

The Ximen family was like this, and the Dongfang family was no exception.

The emperor didn't concern himself with what Dongfang Yu was thinking at that moment, but instead summoned Huangfu Wuyou and Huangfu Song to his side.

There are some matters that the imperial court cannot handle directly, so they need to entrust them to the Dongfang family. However, there are also some things that need to be relayed by them.