Ouyang Ji felt his scalp tingle. "We've already poured in twenty-seven million taels, haven't we? Why can Liang Xiao keep buying land everywhere and still hold on?"
Ouyang Ping reminded him, "Liang Xiao's 'One Drunk a Hundred Years' hasn't dropped in price, and people are still buying small quantities. And that white sugar, could it actually be profitable?"
Ouyang Ji felt a surge of blood, his legs buckling as he nearly fell.
If white sugar could be profitable, it meant their tug-of-war with Liang Xiao would be prolonged, and the Ouyang family's bookshops would remain unprofitable for a long time…
The mountain of Four Books and Five Classics and two literacy primers piled in the storerooms, calculated by their previous sales volume, was enough to last a hundred years. By then, some of the books might even rot!
"Is it that the moment we couldn't bear to give up the book business, we fell into Liang Xiao's trap…" Ouyang Ji trembled.
Everyone else wore grim faces and dared not respond.
They thought the same thing!
Ouyang Ji's hand, holding the teacup, trembled. "Send for help from the Dugu family, He family, and Duanmu family. Send riders at full speed to the noble families of the Great Liang Kingdom, tell them, 'When the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold!'"
The nearby Dugu, He, and Duanmu families, their three patriarchs, gathered in a secret chamber of the Ouyang family, their faces somber.
"My He family is also being targeted by Liang Xiao's men. We're still in a stalemate," He Wanli said with a wry smile.
Dugu Qun shook his head. "My Dugu family has been fined quite a bit again."
Duanmu Chao was even more on the verge of tears. "Our Duanmu family's white sugar and illicit salt businesses have been severely hit, and we've been losing money. I fear our wealth has already been surpassed by the Marquis of Dingguo's manor, and we are no longer the wealthiest family in the realm…"
Ouyang Ji was silent.
The Marquis of Dingguo's manor also sold fun, fragile items like "Ghost Work Balls," which were exported both domestically and internationally. Even the Son of Heaven of Great Liang marveled at their exquisite craftsmanship.
In the short term, there were no outsiders who thought of the simple methods to make "Ghost Work Balls."
It was said that nobles from countries like the Guishuang Dynasty, Peacock Dynasty, Izumo, and Tai Chi were also seeking to purchase "Ghost Work Balls."
The porcelain from the Great Gan Kingdom was already famous worldwide. Now, with the addition of ceramic "Ghost Work Balls" as special toys and decorative items, they had become the main way for nobles of all countries to show off their wealth, joyfully smashing and tossing them in public…
A large number of intermediaries, by reselling "Ghost Work Balls" to various countries, made fortunes.
At this moment, the people in the secret chamber were unaware that the so-called "intermediaries" were actually all people sent out by Liang Xiao and Gongsun Ye. Liang Xiao's wealth was spread across various regions, so it had not yet been fully calculated. Since he was constantly making money from the Ouyang family's bookshops, he was too lazy to count…
"If our Ouyang family's bookshops go bankrupt, it will definitely not be good for you either!" Ouyang Ji sighed.
"We're all struggling to protect ourselves, so we can only try our best to support the Ouyang family. We've already done our best," He Wanli shook his head.
Dugu Qun scoffed. "Doesn't your Ouyang family still have a lot of farmland you haven't sold?"
Ouyang Ji's expression changed, his face gradually turning pale as he nodded. "We will sell them…"
The Ministry of Revenue managed the most land. The Ouyang family, having operated for so long since the founding of the dynasty, possessed countless registered and undeclared fields, which they were reluctant to sell!
Dugu Qun sighed. "These are all minor matters now! The barbarians were so vulnerable; they probably won't dare to march south into Great Gan for several years. We must increase cooperation with the Guishuang Dynasty, the Peacock Dynasty, the Southern King, the Great Liang Kingdom, and Izumo. We cannot solely rely on the barbarians."
Everyone's faces became even more grim!
They had originally thought that the barbarians could invade the Central Plains, and by allying with them, they could seize the opportunity to make a fortune.
Back then, the Great Heng Kingdom had collapsed, and they had invited the barbarians. Emperor Gaozu of Great Gan personally led the expedition north and finally drove the barbarians back to the desert.
The Great Gan Kingdom had also suffered immense losses, its talent pool depleted, giving these aristocratic clans an opportunity to seize control of the court.
And today, Liang Xiao was doing what the Great Heng Kingdom and the Marquis of Dingguo had done, yet his losses were far less than those of his predecessors, truly deserving of the title "Four Peerless of the Millennium"!
"Let's hold on a bit longer? If it doesn't work out, we'll just have to watch Liang Xiao dump his books," Ouyang Ji sighed.
"By the way! Can you estimate how much silver you'd get from selling those farmlands?" He Wanli asked tentatively.
Ouyang Ji gritted his teeth for a long time before spitting out a number: "Fifteen million taels!"
A collective gasp echoed through the hall.
How much farmland had the Ouyang family forcibly seized!
Today, Xiao Qing had been clinging to Liang Xiao, even having him feed her during meals, under the guise of "apologizing."
Xiao Qing's sorrow over not being able to conceive had finally vanished.
It wasn't until the court session, moved to this afternoon, was about to begin, that Xiao Qing reluctantly let go of Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao finally went home to prepare.
"Marquis of Anguo, His Majesty has decreed a reception for your triumphant return!!"
Xiao Qing, leading the officials, went out of the palace to greet Liang Xiao.
"We welcome the Imperial Son-in-law, Marquis of Anguo!"
Dugu Qun and the others spoke insincerely, not forgetting to add a subtle jab by emphasizing Liang Xiao's status as Imperial Son-in-law.
Liang Xiao showed no displeasure, merely offering a kind smile to these old ministers.
Dugu Qun and the others felt a surge of blood, suppressing their anger and responding with smiles. The scene was one of "warmth." The unsuspecting palace attendants truly believed that they had resolved their past grievances, were working together wholeheartedly, and were as close as brothers!
Xiao Qing, holding Liang Xiao's hand, led him towards the grand hall, followed by all the civil and military officials.
Having Liang Xiao sit before her, and after the officials had paid their respects, Xiao Qing then said with a beaming face, "Esteemed minister, announce to the officials the battle merits of your Yan Province soldiers!"
Liang Xiao understood and, feigning the action, took out a prepared document and began to read.
"Your humble servants, the Yan Province garrison, numbering a total of one hundred fifty-one thousand two hundred men, defeated the barbarians in a field battle outside the city, beheading one hundred seventy-one thousand two hundred and thirty! All the heads were piled five li north of the city, and after three days, they will be sent one hundred li north to the former site of the Chieftain of the Left's encampment!"
As soon as he finished speaking, several old ministers from the Dugu and He families collapsed on the spot!
Even old ministers like Gu Hai, Mu Lingming, and Huang Xing were shaken to their core!
It was necessary for the person involved to read it out in front of the court to be convincing!
The commander of the Shadow Guards, Ding Wuyi, had already been dispatched to Yan Province. If Liang Xiao had fabricated the kill count or exaggerated the merits, it would not have been hidden.
After all, so many heads were piled at the former barbarian encampment. If anyone doubted it, they could gather the courage to go and see for themselves!
"A total of ninety-eight thousand usable warhorses were captured! One hundred ten thousand adult cattle, one hundred thousand adult sheep, and one million two hundred thousand dan of military grain! Fifteen thousand warhorses were slain and used as military pay! Seventeen thousand sets of armor and weapons were captured, along with one hundred thousand sets of leather horse armor! Twenty thousand taels of gold and one million taels of silver were seized!!"
Liang Xiao's voice echoed in the hall, and everyone held their breath.
The value of these spoils of war was tens of millions of taels of silver!
Wang Canghai and others clutched their hearts, fearing they might die of excessive joy.
Dugu Qun and others clutched their hearts, fearing they might die of excessive grief.
How should such earth-shattering military achievements be rewarded?
Even though Xiao Qing had already learned of the battle report from Liang Xiao, she couldn't help but smile and be overjoyed.
After Liang Xiao finished reading all the battle reports, he surveyed the civil and military officials and finally changed the subject. "However, Commander Ding, after inspecting Yan Province, was greatly enraged."
The crowd exchanged glances.
Could it be that Liang Xiao had falsified the report?
Liang Xiao announced loudly, "Commander Ding has entrusted me to convey his doubts to Your Majesty. Why do the barbarians, living in a barren land, possess such an astonishing number of cavalry, as well as so much military equipment and grain!"
Dugu Qun, Ouyang Ji, and He Wanli's hearts simultaneously jolted as they forced themselves to remain calm!