Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 960: Chapter 67: Yang Ling Underestimated Zhao Yao (2)

Not only that, there are still many people who were sent to the Western Regions to lecture who hold positions in the various countries of the Western Regions. They are very popular and respected in these countries. Although their positions aren’t particularly crucial, they can more or less collect a lot of information in the Western Regions.

Some of the people sent to lecture in the Western Regions are talents carefully cultivated by the Li Family. In addition to lecturing, they have other tasks in the Western Regions.

In a certain sense, those sent to lecture in the Western Regions are the eyes and ears of Prince Chu in the Western Regions.

"The Southern Wei people are also doing business in the Western Regions, and back then, many Southern Wei people fled to the Western Regions. They should be able to quickly find out what Prince Han has been doing in the Western Regions all these years."

Prince Chu said, "He won’t tell me."

"That’s true."

Prince Chu said coldly, "I don’t care to have him tell me anyway."

At the mention of the Southern Wei people, Yang Ling suddenly remembered something, and his face instantly turned aghast.

"Your Highness, the Southern Wei people are quite capable. Prince Han can make deals with the people of the Western Regions right under the noses of the Southern Wei people without being discovered. Are you saying Prince Han..." At this thought, a chill ran through Yang Ling’s heart.

Yang Ling’s words made Prince Chu furrow his brows even more deeply.

"If this is true, then Prince Han’s strength is a notch above that of the Southern Wei people," Yang Ling said gravely. "Your Highness, Prince Han is far more formidable than we imagined."

"Sir, don’t frighten yourself," Prince Chu comforted Yang Ling. "Whatever Prince Han is doing in the Western Regions, it’s not necessarily beyond the detection of the Southern Wei people."

"Your Highness, what do you mean?"

Prince Chu said calmly, "We’ll investigate first."

Understanding Prince Chu’s meaning, Yang Ling nodded in agreement, "Yes, investigate first, then talk."

"What I’m most worried about now is my tenth brother." Compared to himself, Prince Chu was more concerned about Zhao Yao. "Prince Han suddenly seeks a business collaboration with my tenth brother—is it merely for business, or does he have other motives?"

"Your Highness, are you worried that Prince Han might harm His Highness, Prince Han?"

"I’m worried my tenth brother may not be a match for Prince Han," Prince Chu said with concern. "I’m also worried that Prince Han wants to monopolize all my tenth brother’s businesses and that Prince Han will use the trade conference to contact countries like Annan and Johor."

"Your Highness, Prince Han should be able to see that Prince Han is not simple and will be wary of him, certainly not letting him take over his business. As for Prince Han wanting to contact Annan and Johor, it may not be that easy," Yang Ling reassured Prince Chu. "Annan and Johor both have our people, as well as the people of Prince Dai and Prince Jing. Whatever Prince Han intends to do in these foreign countries, it cannot escape our notice nor that of the people of Prince Dai."

"I hope I’m overthinking this."

"Your Highness, you forget that our people have already arrived at Swamp Prefecture. If Prince Han really intends to do Prince Han harm, our people can protect His Highness, Prince Han," Yang Ling mused. Not to mention anything else, just the fact that Prince Han can see that Prince Han is not simple shows that Prince Han himself is not simple. If Prince Han truly plans to harm Prince Han, it’s probably not that easy.

He actually hoped Prince Han would harm Prince Han, so he could see how Prince Han would deal with Prince Han. At that time, he would also get to know Prince Han’s cunning and means.

"Your Highness, I’ve heard that Prince Dai and the others are sending people everywhere to look for items like Shariputra, Buddhist pagodas, Buddha Beads, and Buddhist scriptures. Are you really not going to offer anything else at the late Empress Dowager’s memorial?" Yang Ling thought of Zhao Yao, who was far away in Lingnan. "Did His Highness, Prince Han, mention he was going to offer anything at the late Empress Dowager’s memorial?"

Prince Chu gently shook his head, "I haven’t told my tenth brother about this matter."

"You haven’t told him, but would Prince Wei tell His Highness, Prince Han?"

"I’m not sure. If my tenth brother really intends to offer something else, he would likely write to inform me." Prince Chu thought of Zhao Yao, who was now busy with his trade conference, and chuckled lightly, "My tenth brother probably doesn’t have the time to think about this matter. He should now be busy hosting foreign guests attending the trade conference."

"I also don’t know what His Highness, Prince Han’s trade conference will be like." Yang Ling was very curious about it. If Swamp Prefecture weren’t so far away, he would definitely go take a look.

"It should be very lively, but unfortunately, I can’t go see it myself." Regarding Zhao Yao’s trade conference, Prince Chu was deeply preoccupied, regularly writing letters to inquire about Zhao Yao’s preparations. Not only that, but he also offered Zhao Yao advice and strategies. To ensure Zhao Yao successfully hosted the trade conference, he searched through numerous books. He also worried that the royal families and merchants of countries like Annan and Johor might look down upon Zhao Yao, the Prince Han, and skip the trade conference, so he wrote them a letter to let them know he, Prince Chu, sincerely valued his brother, Prince Han. Even if they didn’t respect Prince Han, they should respect him, Prince Chu, and attend the trade conference hosted by Prince Han.

The people of Annan and Siam still respected Prince Chu very much. They eagerly replied to him, expressing their willingness to attend the trade conference hosted by Prince Han and their great desire to do business with him.

"If it wasn’t for your secret assistance to His Highness, Prince Han, countries like Annan might not have paid any attention to the trade conference hosted by His Highness, Prince Han." Prince Chu was indeed worried about everything regarding His Highness, Prince Han, secretly helping him resolve all difficulties.

Yang Ling misunderstood. Prince Chu was highly favored and heavily relied upon by the Emperor, and superficially, Zhao Yao, the Prince Han, wasn’t favored, but the royal families of Annan and Siam wouldn’t refuse to attend the trade conference because of this. They wouldn’t go against money and turn down the opportunity to profit.

The things Zhao Yao produced were unavailable in their countries. Most importantly, Prince Han’s conditions were immensely generous. Before Prince Han came to Lingnan, they secretly traded with Lingnan officials, who heavily taxed them, and they still made a considerable profit. Now, Prince Han waived more than half of the tariffs, meaning they’d earn several times more than previous years. Only if they were out of their minds would they look down on Prince Han and not attend the trade conference.

Besides, Prince Han, capable of producing glass, various precious spices, new teas, and farming tools, couldn’t be underestimated or bullied.

To be honest, establishing a good relationship with Prince Han is more important than befriending Princes Chu or Dai because the benefits from Prince Han are more substantial.

It’s said that His Highness, Prince Han, recently developed something to prevent smallpox, and even for this reason alone, they will attend the trade conference.

Smallpox isn’t just an issue in Great Zhou; other countries have it, and outbreaks in countries like Annan are more severe than in Great Zhou. Moreover, their doctors are helpless against smallpox. Once it breaks out, they just bury the infected people or even set the infected villages on fire.

In recent years, royal family members of countries like Siam and Johor who died from smallpox were numerous. Their Emperor even died of smallpox. If there truly is a way to prevent smallpox, they would pay any price to obtain it.

Yang Ling underestimated Zhao Yao and overestimated the royal families of countries like Annan.