Chapter 157: The First Step of the Long March!

Since the calligraphy matter had reached a thoroughly delightful conclusion, it was time to discuss serious business!

"You rascal, I hear you have opinions again?"

"Uncle Li, you could certainly call this an opinion! Ever since your nephew came to Chang'an, I've been planning and continuously proposing new ideas. But haven't you noticed that many of them are quite difficult to implement?"

Li Er’s expression darkened. "You little brat know that? I thought you only knew how to daydream!" In truth, Li毅 had indeed proposed many new policies during this period, but aside from the Commerce Alliance and the special forces, practically everything else remained merely at the conceptual stage. Charity was still in the planning phase, the money shops had merely integrated the old banking houses while advancing somewhat in policy and service, yet no genuine transformation had occurred—let alone the path to a prosperous era! Even road construction was now on the verge of stillbirth! Li毅 was well aware of all this. It wasn't that he was overly impatient or blindly arrogant; rather, he had no choice. Over the past few months, Li毅 had given up all social engagements, spending every day doing nothing but training and formulating plans. He did this because he feared forgetting everything. He had been in Tang for fifteen years now, and no matter how clear his memories of his past life were, they could not withstand the erosion of time! Therefore, during this period—ever since his arrival in Chang'an and his understanding of the national conditions of the Great Tang—he had been continuously drafting plans, terrified that these blueprints would vanish from his mind.

There was another reason as well: Li毅's planning was influenced by the red regime of his past life. Everyone knew why the red regime was so formidable and developed so rapidly—aside from the unified faith of its party members, a crucial factor played a decisive role: the development plan! This was the most classic development strategy of the red regime! Surely not a single person born under the red flag in his past life had failed to hear of the Five-Year Development Plans. The red regime had even mapped out development plans spanning a century into the future! Once such a plan was formulated and executed accurately, it would generate unimaginable development speed!

"Uncle Li, a ten-thousand-foot tower rises from the ground, but if you want to build a ten-thousand-foot tower, you must first draw a blueprint! Only by constructing according to the blueprint can you avoid taking the wrong path as much as possible. This is also a form of planning. It differs from the proposals I mentioned earlier, which were minor plans; what I have proposed during this time are grand, century-spanning development plans!"

Upon hearing this, Li Er and Fang Xuanling could not help lowering their heads in deep thought. "A century-spanning development plan?"

"Precisely. But now the plans are nearly complete, and it is time to implement them! The very first step is cement!"

"Explain in detail!" Only when Li毅 said this did Li Er and Fang Xuanling truly become interested. Although they knew the plans Li毅 described sounded wonderful, putting them into actual practice would be extraordinarily difficult. Therefore, they had merely listened in hopes of finding a feasible path forward. As a result, all the plans Li毅 had mentioned were known only to the three of them; not a whisper had reached anyone else. Otherwise, old foxes like Changsun would have already raised a ruckus. For a fifteen-year-old child to draft national policies—wasn't that sheer madness? It was precisely because of this silent protection from Li Er and Fang Xuanling that Li毅 had been able to remain carefree until now, without encountering any major turmoil. But today, with Li毅 proposing to start implementing his plans, the two of them knew he was finally taking this step! As for the future, it would depend entirely on his own abilities. Having stepped halfway into this circle, there were only two outcomes: either enter completely, or get rolled out. There was no third possibility. Yet, this was something Li毅 had not yet anticipated.

"Yes, two uncles, the foundation of all the plans we have formulated is road construction, and the foundation of road construction is cement. Yesterday, Uncle Fang came to see me and suggested that the Commerce Alliance manufacture cement, which reminded me of this matter. The utility and demand for cement must be clear to both uncles. Therefore, my proposal is to make the cement formula public and unite with other merchants to operate it jointly!"

Li Er raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You're willing to part with it?"

"There is nothing to be reluctant about! For the sake of the Great Tang, for His Majesty, for..."

Li Er interrupted: "Speak human!" After all this time, Li Er understood Li毅 well enough to know this kid was never one to suffer a loss!

Li毅 offered an awkward smile. "Uh! Hehe, of course, to give an account to the workers who researched and developed cement, there is one more condition: every merchant manufacturing cement must pay a small fee for every ton produced!"

Upon hearing this, Li Er and Fang Xuanling drew in a sharp breath of cold air! This idea was utterly ruthless—charging a fee for every single ton? Just how much money would the Commerce Alliance rake in?

Fang Xuanling frowned and said, "Your Majesty, this is impossible. Putting aside the fact that there is no precedent for this, once people have the formula, why should they pay you? And even if they refuse to pay, what can you possibly do to them?"

"Simple!" Li毅 chuckled. "The imperial court can step forward to establish a Cement Association, and all merchants wishing to produce cement must register with it. Any production without a certificate issued by the Cement Association will be considered illegal operation, and the court will have the right to confiscate all their assets!"

A sharp gleam flashed in the eyes of Li Er and Fang Xuanling. They exchanged glances, and Fang Xuanling instantly grasped Li Er's intent!

"Ahem, Your Majesty! The imperial court has no obligation to manage this matter, nor does it have the energy to do so!"

Li毅 was stunned at first, but then he understood!

"Two uncles, let's not beat around the bush. How about a sixty-forty split between the imperial court and the Commerce Alliance?"

Li Er and Fang Xuanling closed their eyes in contemplation, ignoring Li毅 entirely!

Li毅 gritted his teeth!

"Fine, then fifty-fifty. Uncle Li, it cannot be any lower. Researching and developing this cement was not easy!"

Li Shimin still said nothing, while Fang Xuanling sat aside trimming his fingernails!

Li毅 almost coughed up a mouthful of old blood! "Sixty for the court, forty for the Commerce Alliance! It cannot be lowered any further. Two uncles, you both still hold shares in the Commerce Alliance!"

Hearing this, Fang Xuanling froze and stopped playing with his nails. He suddenly realized: if the Commerce Alliance lost money, wasn't he the one losing out? Meanwhile, Li Er remained completely unphased. Since Li Er held shares in the Commerce Alliance, and the imperial court belonged to him anyway, giving it to either was the same, so he might as well secure more for the court.

Seeing that Li Er still refused to relent, Fang Xuanling initially wanted to put in a good word, but then second-thought struck him: with too much money one couldn't spend it all anyway, and giving it to the court could accomplish more practical deeds. A little less was fine!

Seeing that Fang Xuanling failed to persuade him, Li Er knew this old prime minister was truly devoted to the country! A wave of deep gratification washed over Li Er's heart. Then, looking at Li毅's expression, the more he looked, the angrier he became—such petty behavior!

Realizing Fang Xuanling had backed down, Li毅 felt utterly hopeless! Gritting his teeth and trembling, he said, "Thirty percent for the Commerce Alliance! Not a drop lower!"

Seeing that the time was ripe, Li Er gave a light cough and said, "Ahem! Xuanling, you know, I was just thinking that since this benefits both the country and the people, the court must lend a hand no matter what! By the way, just as I was pondering, it seemed Official Li mentioned something? What is it, does Official Li have a proposal?"

The moment Li Er's voice faded, Fang Xuanling immediately chimed in, "Ah! Indeed, Official Li said just now that to alleviate the burden on the court, he is willing to donate seventy percent of the profits!"

Li Er feigned utter astonishment. "Oh, is that so? Hahaha, splendid! It is rare for Official Li to have such a heart. I grant it!"

Listening to the two of them putting on this double act, Li毅 was so furious he nearly crushed his teeth!

With a bitter face and gritted teeth, Li毅 muttered, "Thank you for your grace, Uncle Li!"

No sooner had Li毅 finished speaking than Fang Xuanling added, "Your Majesty, the court can indeed step forward in this matter, but we truly have no manpower available. After all, nobody else understands how this works!"

Li Er replied, "Hmm! That is indeed a problem!" With that, he cast a deliberate, sideways glance at Li毅.

Li毅 was startled for a moment before sudden realization dawned on him. "Uncle Li, you surely don't mean to make me handle this, do you? Didn't we agree not to let me hold power?"

Li Er let out a cold snort. "Did I say that? At the time, I only said I would consider your opinion; I never said I agreed. Besides, do you really think you can escape it? This matter is settled! Xuanling, go back and make arrangements for this kid, and help him set up the stage first!"

Fang Xuanling rose and bowed. "This minister obeys the decree. This minister takes his leave!"

Li Er nodded, and Fang Xuanling withdrew. Yet, Li毅 remained utterly dazed, unable to snap back to reality!