"It was a bit humiliating.
But that was three hundred million.
For the sake of three hundred million taels of silver… what was a little pride, anyway?"
Minister Yan quickly convinced himself. His expression shifted smoothly as he seated himself once more, as if the earlier episode of stomping in fury had never occurred.
"I wonder what matter Your Highness is referring to?"
"This is not a matter to be spoken of lightly."
Yun Shu spoke with composed authority.
"Minister Yan, you are aware that This Princess is currently eager to establish an academy—an institution to cultivate talent for the betterment of Tian Sheng. That is why I have come to the Ministry of Revenue to request funding.
However, if Minister Yan is unwilling to approve it, then This Princess will simply have to resort to an alternative method. Though more time-consuming, it is a method guaranteed to earn This Princess a fortune—and enough to fund the academy myself."
Her words could not have been clearer.
"If you wish to know how to earn three hundred million, then agree to give her thirty million first.
Otherwise, the conversation ends here."
Yet thirty million taels was no trivial sum. To pay such a price just to purchase a method—and what if it failed?
Minister Yan wrestled with himself for a long while before cautiously venturing,
"This old official understands Your Highness's intentions. But holding this post means I must weigh broader concerns.
If the method truly brings in three hundred million for the treasury, it would indeed bring joy to all.
But if…"
"Every endeavor carries risk."
Yun Shu interrupted him with a gentle smile, poised and unhurried.
"And for the court to handle this matter directly—that already minimizes the risk significantly.
If even that is too much for Minister Yan to bear, then it is best you do not learn of This Princess's method. After all, This Princess has no wish to offer up a good plan only to be met with blame… or worse, resentment."
"This old official would not dare."
Minister Yan immediately cupped his hands and lowered his head in deference. He had never dabbled in money-making ventures himself, but even he could see that Yun Shu spoke the truth.
There is no such thing in this world as a business without even the slightest risk. No one is a fool. A clear path to profit may lie ahead, but whether it succeeds depends on the person taking charge.
Consider the Tian Waitian Restaurant, the underground conduit project, cement, and commercial taxation reforms… to be frank, Minister Yan had come to believe in Her Highness's aptitude for generating wealth.
If she claimed this method could yield at least three hundred million, it was unlikely to be idle boasting.
The only remaining question was whether Yan Chaorong himself possessed the skill to carry out this plan successfully.
Faced with an unfamiliar field, hesitation was perhaps inevitable.
Yun Shu sipped her tea patiently. She needed no attendants—when her cup emptied, she simply poured herself another.
These days she spent her time buried in memorials, day after day. A rare moment of leisure, though uneventful, was hardly unwelcome.
She played idly with her porcelain cup. By the time she reached the bottom of the third steeping, Minister Yan—who had stewed long enough—finally made up his mind.
"His Majesty once said, if we only ever fixate on the silver already in the treasury, and merely try to economize, the coffers will never truly flourish.
This old official must learn from Your Highness. Only by learning to generate wealth can we ensure the court never lacks for silver."
"Has Minister Yan finally come around?"
Yun Shu set her teacup down on the desk and looked up with a bright smile.
"Then about that thirty million taels…?"
"This old official will submit a memorial to His Majesty at once tomorrow and ensure that the silver is delivered to Your Highness without delay!"
Now that the decision was made, dragging his feet or second-guessing himself would be nothing but foolishness.
Minister Yan immediately voiced his resolve, then shifted the topic without missing a beat—his eagerness thinly veiled.
"That method Your Highness mentioned earlier… what exactly is it?"
"Minister Yan."
Yun Shu did not make a habit of keeping secrets from those who stood ready to act.
Since Minister Yan had shown such readiness, she answered candidly.
"Tell me, aside from the Ministry of Revenue, who in this realm sees the greatest circulation of funds through their hands?"
"That would be…"
Minister Yan hesitated, thinking of this year's commercial tax revenues. He ventured, uncertainly,
"The merchants?"
"Precisely. The merchants."
Yun Shu gave a light pat to her palm in approval.
"Everyone assumes merchants are rich, their homes piled high with gold and silver. But the truth is, aside from a few who deal in rare or extraordinary trades, most merchants do not keep large sums of silver lying idle.
Instead, they constantly reinvest it into their businesses, expanding their ventures. It is only by continually putting money in that they can make more out of it.
But oftentimes, business also hinges on timing and opportunity.
Say a merchant encounters a lucrative deal, one that promises great profit—yet his silver is still tied up in another investment, and the funds have not yet returned to his hands.
Then…"
Yun Shu paused deliberately at this point, raising a brow toward Minister Yan.
"If it were you, Minister Yan, would you give up the deal outright, or would you try to raise the needed funds by any means?"
"I would likely try to raise the money."
Minister Yan imagined himself in such a scenario and frowned slightly.
"But if it is a large transaction, the amount required might also be substantial. This humble official may not be able to gather the sum in time."
"Then what if This Princess told you that the court is willing to lend you that money?
We would sign a formal agreement. You would need to provide collateral—a home, perhaps, or any valuable asset. Of course, during the collateral period, you may still live in your home; it simply cannot be sold.
You would only need to repay the loan within a set time, along with one or two tenths in additional interest.
And as long as you repay it, everything remains yours.
Only if you default would the court claim the collateral."
Yun Shu offered a slight smile as she finished, having modified a concept borrowed from the future—bank lending.
"With such terms, Minister Yan, would you accept the offer?"
"If the deal before me promises great profit, and I refuse the loan, I miss my chance.
If I accept, I merely give a tenth or two of the gain to the court, and still earn handsomely…"
Minister Yan pondered a moment, then his eyes lit with sudden clarity.
"So what Your Highness proposes is… we can earn interest—one or two tenths—from the merchants in this manner?"