Because of You

Luo Zhao digested this information, but an even greater question arose:

"But why would those newly risen noble families in Luodu do this? Such a massive investment is almost pure consumption."

"Even if there really is a rich mine beneath Shuishan City, the excavated ore would absolutely not cover this level of investment. Merchants seek profit; what are they after by doing this?"

It completely defied commercial logic.

Gu Chengyin smiled, a hint of coldness in his expression as if he had seen through to the very essence of the matter.

"Because from the very beginning, the Second Prince's goal was never to fill the national treasury."

Luo Zhao was stunned.

Gu Chengyin spoke word by word, like an ice pick breaking through the surface of the ice:

"What he needs is simply an opportunity."

"An opportunity to legally and reasonably push forward the two strategies of converting farmland to mines and introducing barrier-free cultivation methods, all under the guise of a new policy pilot program."

"As long as this precedent is set and a successful model is established, the subsequent rollout will have both justification and momentum."

Gu Chengyin leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice, yet making it even more penetrating:

"Your Highness, if you were to implement the conversion of farmland into mines,"

"What would be your first step?"

Luo Zhao pondered for a moment, then her eyes widened slightly as she said:

"Land annexation?"

Gu Chengyin nodded slightly, acknowledging Luo Zhao's answer.

He continued to analyze along this chilling line of thought:

"Once Shuishan City becomes a perfect model for the dual success of converting farmland to mines and barrier-free cultivation methods, the subsequent expansion..."

"...will become a matter of course. Imperial decrees, local performance evaluations, and even public opinion will all become driving forces."

"By then, under the name of converting land to benefit the nation, a massive land conversion movement will unfold."

"But behind the scenes, the land truly being converted will rarely be the fertile fields belonging to those great noble families and wealthy merchants."

"Instead, it will be the land of countless independent farmers, small landowners, or the military and public lands controlled by the government."

"Under the guise of converting farmland to mines, substantial land annexation will spread at an unprecedented speed and scale."

"Local officials, either colluding with local tyrants or forced by the pressure of performance reviews, will easily manipulate the process for their own gain."

"Ultimately, vast amounts of land will flow into the hands of Luodu's newly risen noble families under various pretexts, forming a new land monopoly."

"Everyone knows that converting farmland to mines is an act of destroying arable land, draining the pond to catch the fish, and ruining the future for generations to come."

"So those merchants in Luodu won't actually go and mine on a large scale, at least not on the land they have annexed for themselves."

"However, using the national policy of converting farmland to mines as a front to carry out actual land annexation and monopoly..."

"...they not only have the nerve for that, but they have it in spades."

Hearing this, Luo Zhao completely understood the terrifying nature of the scheme. This was not just simple wealth accumulation or political opposition; this was shaking the very foundation of the nation.

If such a large-scale, organized land annexation were to truly occur, it would inevitably lead to countless people being displaced. Local powers would grow too strong to control, the imperial court's grip would weaken, and social conflicts would sharply intensify... The consequences would be unimaginable!

"These profit-hungry, treacherous merchants! Parasites! They truly deserve to die!"

A piercing cold light burst from Luo Zhao's eyes, her voice laced with fury and murderous intent.

However, Gu Chengyin shook his head, pouring a bucket of cold water on her anger with his calm tone:

"Your Highness, compared to those profit-driven merchants, I actually think the Second Prince's ambitions are far more dangerous."

Luo Zhao paused, looking at Gu Chengyin in confusion:

"The Second Prince? Isn't he just trying to gain financial support while using the new policies to earn a reputation, and perhaps cultivate his own faction through land annexation?"

In her eyes, this was already treasonous enough.

Gu Chengyin looked at her and slowly said, "Your Highness, do not forget that the Second Prince proposed not one new policy, but two."

"Although I do not yet know the specific contents of this so-called barrier-free cultivation method, what effects it can achieve, or what costs and restrictions lie behind it..."

"...I can make a bold guess: among the vast crowds practicing this cultivation method, a significant portion will be his own people, prepared long in advance."

Gu Chengyin paused for a moment, letting this possibility settle in Luo Zhao's mind, before voicing an even more shocking deduction:

"And what these people are practicing is likely not a barrier-free cultivation method at all."

"Rather, it is a military combat art... disguised under the skin of barrier-free cultivation."

"Military combat art?!" Luo Zhao cried out softly.

She abruptly stopped in her tracks, turned around, and looked at Gu Chengyin in disbelief.

She muttered it again, her voice filled with horror:

"Luo Yanchen... he wants to raise his own private army?!"

This conclusion was a hundred times more terrifying than land annexation.

Land annexation shook the foundation of the nation, but raising a private army was a direct threat to imperial power.

Gu Chengyin nodded:

"Logically speaking, this is the most probable objective."

"Converting farmland to mines can extract resources, providing the economic foundation to maintain an army."

"Meanwhile, the barrier-free cultivation method serves as a legal cloak for cultivating military forces on a massive scale."

"Shuishan City in Chuting Commandery is adjacent to Luodu. Luodu is the economic center, a hub of wealth, and the stronghold of wealthy merchants."

"Once the time is ripe—when funds and provisions are abundant, weapons and armor are fully equipped, combined with the Second Prince's status and the righteous cause he might be brewing..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was self-evident.

Luo Zhao only felt a rush of cold air shoot from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head, leaving her entire body freezing.

She could no longer maintain her composure and grabbed Gu Chengyin's wrist:

"We must go back immediately! This matter must be reported to Imperial Father right away! We cannot delay for a single moment!"

However, Gu Chengyin gently broke free with a twist of his hand and pulled her back.

"Your Highness, please calm down."

Luo Zhao asked in confusion, "But this concerns the foundation of the nation, the very survival of the state!"

Gu Chengyin interrupted her, speaking word by word:

"His Majesty knows."

"What?" Luo Zhao froze.

"His Majesty saw right through the intricacies of the scheme the moment the Second Prince presented his policy essay."

Gu Chengyin's tone was incredibly certain.

Luo Zhao's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief:

"Imperial Father knows? Then why did he still agree to it?"

It completely defied logic! If he knew it was poison, why would he still drink it?

"Because of you, Your Highness."

"Me?" Luo Zhao grew even more bewildered.

Gu Chengyin leaned forward, closing the distance between them, and slowly explained:

"As long as His Majesty is still here, the Great Luo Dynasty will not be overthrown."

His tone suddenly shifted, becoming heavy and pointing straight to the core:

"But if, and I mean if, His Majesty is no longer here?"

These words unexpectedly pierced into the deepest region of fear in Luo Zhao's heart.

Her face instantly turned deathly pale, and her lips trembled slightly.

Gu Chengyin, as if not noticing her loss of composure, continued in a cruel, low voice:

"Then, Your Highness, you will have to inherit the great lineage, ascend the throne as Emperor, and govern this vast empire of ten thousand miles and its billions of subjects."

"But the you of today..."

Gu Chengyin's voice was very soft, yet it carried the weight of a thousand pounds:

"...could you hold onto the rivers and mountains of Great Luo for even a single day?"