Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 788: Chapter 386: Demanding Things_2

"Fourth Brother, rubber trees can produce rubber."

Prince Chu saw Zhao Yao talking about rubber trees with a radiant face and grew even more puzzled, "What exactly is this rubber?"

"Fourth Brother, I’m telling you, rubber is a treasure. It can be used in so many ways. I can’t explain it clearly now, but once I get it out, you’ll understand." Zhao Yao wasn’t trying to be secretive; he genuinely didn’t know how to explain what rubber was to Prince Chu, especially since he hadn’t seen it himself. "All I can say is that once I get the rubber out, I can make many things that will benefit the people and be good for the Great Zhou."

"Is rubber really that amazing?"

Zhao Yao nodded vigorously, "It’s incredibly amazing. Once I make it, you’ll know."

Prince Chu trusted Zhao Yao’s ability to get things done, and hearing him speak so confidently made him look forward to it.

"What else?"

Zhao Yao asked back, "Fourth Brother, do you know what the greatest resource in Lingnan is?"

Prince Chu pondered this question seriously for a moment, then shook his head, "I don’t know." Because Lingnan was a place of exile, Prince Chu had never paid much attention to it.

"Sea transportation." Zhao Yao said excitedly, "Many places in Lingnan are near the sea, and it’s closer to Annan and Siam, a lot more convenient than sea transportation in Quanting County. Most importantly, there’s a strait in Siam that leads to Mysir. I’ve heard Mysir is very prosperous; we could sell Great Zhou’s finest products there."

Prince Chu was greatly astonished. He never expected his usually carefree tenth brother to have such far-reaching ideas.

"Lingnan also has many precious medicinal herbs, which aren’t found in the capital. Of course, most importantly, Lingnan has many minerals: gold, silver, copper, and iron."

"How do you know there’s gold, silver, and copper in Lingnan?" Prince Chu asked, "Who told you this?"

"Fourth Brother, Annan has gold, silver, and copper. Don’t you think Lingnan would have them too?" Zhao Yao said seriously, "Lingnan is right next to Annan. If Annan has them, Lingnan surely does too. Once I’m in Lingnan, I’ll definitely send people to look for the minerals."

Prince Chu: What the tenth brother said seems to make some sense.

"Fourth Brother, let me tell you..."

Zhao Yao talked to Prince Chu about many other resources unique to Lingnan, leaving Prince Chu stunned.

"How do you know so much?" Prince Chu was completely unaware of what Zhao Yao was saying, and many things he was hearing for the first time.

"I asked my second uncle to find out." Zhao Yao said with a grin, "Since I decided to go to Lingnan, I needed to look into things over there first."

Prince Chu nodded but soon remembered something, and his expression turned shocked and strange.

"I remember your second uncle went to Lingnan a few years ago. Did you decide to go to Lingnan back then?"

Zhao Yao quickly waved his hand, denying, "No way. I only decided to go last year."

Hearing this, Prince Chu frowned, sounding somewhat displeased, "You decided last year to go to Lingnan?"

Zhao Yao immediately smiled flatteringly at Prince Chu, "Fourth Brother, I also heard a lot from my second uncle about Lingnan, which made me consider going. Then I asked my second uncle to investigate carefully about the situation in Lingnan. When I learned that Lingnan is resource-rich, I made up my mind to go."

"Why didn’t you tell me last year?"

"Even though I decided to go to Lingnan, I was still a bit hesitant. After all, once I go there, it would be hard to come back to the capital, and I wouldn’t be able to change my domain, so I had to think it over." Zhao Yao lied without changing his expression, "After careful consideration, I still decided to go to Lingnan, so I then told you all."

"Tenth Brother, you also said that once you go to Lingnan, it would be hard to come back to the capital. Are you sure you want to go?"

Zhao Yao playfully winked at Prince Chu and whispered, "Fourth Brother, when you sit on that throne, I should be able to return to the capital anytime, right?"

Prince Chu glared at Zhao Yao, warning in his tone, "Don’t talk nonsense."

"I’m not talking nonsense, Fourth Brother, I’m waiting for you to sit on that throne." Zhao Yao grinned cheekily, "Then I can rely on being your dearest brother and come back to the capital every year."

Prince Chu was amused by Zhao Yao’s words and lightly tapped his head.

"You hope I get that position, what about your eighth brother?"

Upon hearing Prince Chu’s question, Zhao Yao immediately became serious.

"Fourth Brother, Eighth Brother loves me just as you do, and his care for me is no less than yours. For me, both you and Eighth Brother are my best brothers, both equally cherished, but given Eighth Brother’s temperament... I still think it’s better for you, Fourth Brother, to sit on that throne."