Iron Dynasty Chapter 962

At the stroke of midnight, the lamps within the imperial study were snuffed out. Pang Yukun and General Niu Ben walked out together, their minds still heavy with the implications of the recent naval conflict.

“Had His Majesty not been leading the Great Yu Empire, it is likely that within a hundred years, these European colonizers would have overwhelmed us using their superior vessels and cannons.”

Pang Yukun kept his hands buried in his sleeves, his breath turning into white mist in the biting cold air.

“Senior Grand Secretary Pang speaks the truth. Previously, we were merely frogs at the bottom of a well, our perspective confined to the borders of the Great Yu Empire. We never dreamed the world was undergoing such radical transformations,” Niu Ben remarked with deep emotion.

Reflecting on the last ten years, he felt a surge of sentiment. The journey from Qingzhou Province being a wasteland to becoming the heart of all prosperity had been an arduous path indeed.

“Heaven must be thanked for granting the Great Yu Empire a monarch of restoration. Without His Majesty, our current circumstances would be nothing short of tragic. Thus, to protect the Great Yu Empire, you must protect His Majesty. This applies especially to those in the military; you must ensure you are standing on the right side,” Zhan Xingchang stated, his eyes filled with hidden meaning.

Hearing this, Niu Ben grew cautious. “What are you implying? Are you suggesting that I, Niu Ben, might harbor thoughts of rebellion?”

“General Niu’s temper remains as volatile as always, but you have misunderstood me this time. My point is that while the merchants’ council was destroyed, its lingering poison cannot be wiped away instantly. This remnant poison seems minor now, but it will inevitably flare up one day. Naturally, this is merely my own speculation,” Zhan Xingchang explained.

Pang Yukun glanced at Zhan Xingchang and gave a small nod. “I concur with Zhan Xingchang’s assessment. The Cao family was an outlier, yet they proved that many merchants still provided support, and their ideologies gained many adherents. This is the poison that remains. While private capital is currently thriving in the Great Yu Empire, it has a fundamental friction with the imperial court. This tension will reach a breaking point eventually.”

Niu Ben and Luo Quan traded looks. “Are you predicting that the merchants’ council will resurface?”

“It is impossible to say if it will return, but the friction between private capital and the court is intensifying. It is the nature of merchants to chase profit. They dodge taxes and peddle counterfeit goods. They truly desire for the imperial court to enact policies that favor their interests. We have already seen merchants conspiring with local officials to secure unfair advantages. As His Majesty noted, sugar-coated bullets are far more lethal than actual ammunition,” Pang Yukun lamented.

“The frustration lies in the fact that we cannot fully crush private capital if we want the Great Yu Empire’s industry and trade to flourish. As our overseas colonies expand, there are neglected regions that require these merchants to fill the gaps,” Yang Chengye declared loudly. “However, His Majesty anticipated this. The Anti-Monopoly Law within the Commercial Law was designed specifically to prevent commoners from amassing excessive capital. By having state-owned capital drive the economy while private capital serves as a supplement, we prevent the latter from becoming too powerful. Yet, this forces the court to endure the reputation of competing with the common people for gain. Moreover, this state capital is managed by imperial relatives and the families of high-ranking Court Elders...”

Fei Ji observed Yang Chengye with respect. Yang Chengye was a man of great talent in matters of trade and industry. His words were blunt, highlighting the unavoidable contradictions in the Great Yu Empire’s growth.

Most importantly, he touched upon the reality that state-owned capital was now in the hands of the imperial family. As an imperial relative himself, Fei Ji had long recognized this issue.

Princess Pingyang served as the head of the Railway Department. Through that single entity, she supported numerous members of the imperial clan. One could argue that Princess Pingyang led a significant faction within the Great Yu Empire.

Furthermore, the Qingzhou Bank, the Qingzhou Chamber of Commerce, and several massive industries were slowly coalescing into their own interest groups.

In his view, these organizations were essentially the same as the Great Families of old—simply old wine in new bottles.

He was certain that these interest groups would eventually sway the policies of the imperial court. The elite class of powerful families would never truly be eradicated.

This was exactly why, during the era of the feudal lords and the Great War between the north and south, he had pushed to win over the powerful families to secure national control quickly.

A change in dynasty was often just a powerful family named Zhang replacing a powerful family named Liu. The only real difference was how harshly they collected rent.

Their current discussion confirmed his long-held suspicions. While the powerful families of the Xiao Wenxuan era had mostly fallen, the powerful families of the Xiao Ming era were now taking shape.

Once Xiao Ming reached his hundredth year and a successor took the throne, what path would the Great Yu Empire follow?

With a sigh, he pondered, “Everything we have fought so hard for might ultimately benefit others. Rather than debating these future threats, we should consider the status of the Crown Prince. The eternal glory of the Great Yu Empire depends on which of the Emperor’s heirs inherits his legacy. Otherwise, these discussions are just empty talk, a futile endeavor.”

Ge Yiren gave a thumbs-up upon hearing this. “Elder Fei is incredibly perceptive. The future of the Great Yu Empire rests on the character of the Crown Prince. Currently, the Emperor has three sons and a daughter, with Xiao Yi being the legitimate firstborn. He ought to be named the Crown Prince.”

“That...” Pang Yukun looked at the other Grand Secretaries. He remarked, “His Majesty has never brought this up. He likely has a plan in mind. If we raise the issue now, it might seem as though we have hidden agendas.”

“The Crown Prince is the nation's bedrock. Until one is named, the hearts of the people will remain unsettled. General Niu, General Luo, what are your thoughts?”

Niu Ben and Luo Quan immediately acted as if they didn't understand. Luo Quan stated, “We are men of the sword. We do not meddle in matters of state. However, one thing is certain: the military will always follow the Emperor’s command.”

Luo Quan’s blunt statement made his allegiance crystal clear.

A faint grin touched Zhan Xingchang’s lips. His goal in raising this topic was to gauge the military's stance.

Luo Quan’s response provided the reassurance they sought. The Great Yu Empire had advanced so rapidly over the last decade that many underlying issues were buried in the name of progress.

Now, those cracks were beginning to show. The most pressing concern was that the suppressed powerful families had evolved into private capital. Currently, seventy percent of the merchants in Qingzhou Province possessed backgrounds tied to those old families. This was why he had initiated the conversation.

Fei Ji’s previous strategy had indeed stabilized the Great Yu Empire’s internal conflicts quickly, but the flaws were now surfacing.

As men who had risen by dismantling the old elite, they remained suspicious of those former powerful families. In contrast, Fei Ji now enjoyed their backing. Many merchants with family legacies were grateful to him, viewing him as their representative.

The officials from the old Chang’an faction had also gathered around him. The demands for Fei Ji to be promoted to Senior Grand Secretary were becoming increasingly frequent in the imperial court.