Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

The Emperor stood up from his chair and asked nervously, "What happened? What happened outside?" The soldier who rushed in was trembling all over and said incoherently, "They... they are coming! They are armed with a strange weapon, and our people can't stop them at all..."

The soldier's words were filled with fear and powerlessness. "They have started setting fires and killing people everywhere. Just now, they have reached your bedroom and are looking for the Holy See!"

The God Emperor sat back in his chair dejectedly, his face ashen. Tonight, he was sleeping peacefully, but was suddenly awakened by this sudden attack. This attack was not only fierce, but also hit the Temple Mount, which was a strange thing that no previous God Emperor had ever experienced.

His heart was filled with doubts. The strange weapons used by the other party made him feel powerless and terrified. He knew that he should not have brought all the divine punishment weapons to the battlefield to show off. He should have kept some as city defense. However, it was too late to regret now.

The Emperor slammed the table hard, his forehead covered with sweat. This was his shame! A huge shame! He roared, "Waste! You are all a bunch of waste! I support you all the time, but I can't stop a bunch of rebels! I even let them fight to the Temple Mount! What are you all for?!"

His anger was like a raging fire, almost igniting the entire study. However, anger could not solve the problem. He tried to calm himself down and turned to the guard beside him: "Where are the clerk and the chief justice? Didn't I ask you to find them? Why don't you come to see me now?!"

Although the guard was also full of doubts, he remained calm: "Holy See, the situation is unclear now. We might as well evacuate this place first. After the enemy retreats, we can redeploy and launch a counterattack."

The Emperor's face twitched a few times. He glanced at the bookcase, which was a secret passage he knew. He could choose to escape, but as the most confidential location in the Holy City, the Emperor's study had already considered various extreme situations when it was first built. This secret passage was only known to a few people at the highest level of the church.

A hint of hesitation flashed across the eyes of the God Emperor. He gritted his teeth and faced a difficult decision. He could run away, but once this matter got out, his dignity would be greatly damaged.

However, the noise outside the door did not give him more time to think. First there were crackling explosions, then wailing and begging for mercy, followed by a cold response of "Don't kill me! I am not in the same group with the Emperor!" and "Temporary workers must die too!" Finally there was a loud bang, and the Emperor shuddered all over, his eyes dull, he knew that the other party had no intention of leaving anyone alive.

"All of you, follow me!" The Emperor quickly pushed open the bookcase, revealing the deep tunnel inside. He gave an order and quickly walked into the tunnel with several guards. Before leaving, he closed the bookcase again, and everything was as it was before.

Not long after they left, the door was kicked open. Dogtail Grass looked around the room and raised his hand, saying, "They're not here. Keep searching! Leave no one behind!" His voice was cold and decisive.

Half an hour later, the main buildings on the Temple Mount had been searched. Most of the enemy troops were killed, and many took advantage of the chaos to escape. When everyone gathered back to the main cathedral, Dogtail Grass had a sad face.

Fober stepped forward and asked, "Brother Cao'er, we have searched everywhere, but we haven't found the Divine Emperor." He looked around, "Many of the top leaders of the church have also fled. Now it seems that either they saw that the situation was not good and fled in advance, or there must be a secret passage here."

Dogtail Grass nodded, "Secret passage... Even if there is a secret passage, we don't have time to search it. There are still some resistance forces fighting in the city, and we must stop them immediately." He pondered for a moment and continued, "Send a few more people to the bedroom of the Emperor of God, find his clothes and hat, find a corpse and put them on, smash his face and lie that the Emperor of God is dead. Now don't worry about anything else, take the corpse to stop the chaos and open the vault! Tell the people below that everyone can come to the vault to collect money until it glows. All the gold and silver will be forgiven for those soldiers who are willing to surrender! They can also get double the amount!"

With the order, everyone moved quickly. At this moment, the Emperor of God was groping forward in the dark tunnel with several guards. His heart was filled with pain and anger, and he had to avenge today's vengeance!
After walking along the stairs for a while, the Emperor and his companions finally reached the entrance of the tunnel. When they pushed the door open, a breeze blew in, and the Emperor couldn't help but shiver. However, when he raised his head, he froze. There was someone at the door, looking inside. That person was the Grand Inquisitor of the Inquisition!

"Why are you here!" The Emperor's voice was filled with disbelief. The Grand Inquisitor smiled slightly and said, "Holy See, I have been waiting for you for a long time." His words made the Emperor get out of the passage in doubt, but as soon as he emerged, two swords were placed on his neck. The cold blades pressed against his neck, making him feel an unprecedented crisis.

The Emperor stared at the dozens of sword-wielding guards and the Grand Judge in front of him, "Did you send someone to rebel?" He tried to find the answer from the Grand Judge's expression. However, the Grand Judge just shrugged and said, "It's not me, it's the King of Luxi Castle who wants to invite the Holy See to come over for a chat."

Hearing the name of Luxi Fort and thinking of the strange weapon before, the God Emperor seemed to understand something, "Is he the one who rebelled?" he murmured to himself. However, the guard who was threatening him with a sword smiled and said, "Your Majesty, don't make random guesses. The people who rebelled in the city have nothing to do with Your Majesty. It's just that we have been in the Holy City and have been ordered to escort you to see Your Majesty as soon as the God Emperor is in danger. Now His Majesty doesn't know the situation here, but I think he should be very happy to see you." The guard's words made the God Emperor's brain a mess. He had no idea what the current situation was! But there was one thing he could be sure of, that is, the Grand Chancellor had betrayed him...

"Why did you betray me?" The Emperor's eyes were like cold stars, staring straight at his former confidant, the Grand Judge. His eyes were full of disappointment, doubt, and even a hint of imperceptible fear.

Why would the Chief Justice, the man who had always given him advice and carried out important tasks, betray him?

In the memory of the Emperor, the Grand Judge has always been his most capable assistant and most trusted partner. Their interests have long been closely linked, as if they were one. However, at this moment, this man stood on the opposite side of him.

The Chief Justice looked around at the guards who were threatening the God-Emperor with swords. He took a deep breath, spread his hands, and faced the God-Emperor's questioning calmly.

"I'm sorry," he began slowly, "they gave too much."

The God Emperor's rage was instantly ignited, his eyes almost spitting fire: "Just for money?! Aren't you afraid that you will die if I give you money?" His voice echoed in the night sky, full of despair and anger.

The Grand Chancellor raised his eyebrows and sighed, "It's not all about money. Holy See, you and I know each other. I gave you some advice on how to deal with Jesus' escape from the Holy City. However, because of my small mistake, you secretly started looking for someone to replace me. Am I right about this?"

The Emperor was speechless, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Indeed, if the Grand Justice hadn't given him some bad ideas, Jesus wouldn't have been able to escape from the Holy City, and wouldn't have caused all the problems later. However, all this was because of his incompetence! How could an incompetent person be competent for such an important task?

Seeing that the Grand Judge's betrayal was a fact, the anger in the Emperor's heart gradually subsided, replaced by deep helplessness and sorrow. He looked at the man in front of him, as if he saw the ugliest side of human nature.

"Holy See, don't say anything." The Grand Justice interrupted the Divine Emperor's thoughts, "Everyone has to prepare a way out for themselves. What if one day I become a discarded pawn? Wouldn't that make me a piece of meat on the chopping board?"

The guard who had been silent all this time now tapped the Emperor's chest with his sword, signaling him to get on the carriage. The Emperor shook his head helplessly and turned to walk towards the carriage. However, the moment he got on the carriage, dozens of people around him attacked the Emperor's guards in unison. In the night, several lives disappeared quietly, leaving only a few pools of blood on the ground.

The riots in the holy city continued. In the night, flames shot up into the sky, and shouts of killing and cries for help were heard one after another. The people in the slums were running around the city like locusts, taking the opportunity to loot supplies and going crazy for their livelihoods. The holy city army was guerrilla warfare in the city, trying to quell the chaos.

However, facing this sudden change, they were obviously powerless. Soon, the poor discovered a pattern: the people in Jingjiang only attacked the Holy City Army and ignored others. This discovery gave them hope, and in order to make more money, they began to take the initiative to help Jingjiang kill the Holy City Army as soon as possible.

Under the joint attack of the three forces, the Holy City Army was quickly strangled one by one. After hearing the slogan "The Emperor is dead, give away money for free" in the city, the remaining forces also took the initiative to stand up and surrender. Only then did the situation calm down.

However, the holy city was no longer as prosperous and peaceful as before. More than 20 Italian cannons were installed on the city walls, half facing outward and half facing inward, and all patrolling soldiers were replaced by soldiers from Jingjiang. Although the city was in chaos, a different kind of order emerged. The soldiers began to organize people to calm the rioters, prevent them from continuing to rob without restraint, and inform everyone that they could go to legally collect money.

On the Temple Mount, a long line ran through the city, and everyone was waiting in line to enter the treasury to receive money. The person in charge of distributing the money was Father Jesus, who had long been ready to take over the throne of the Emperor. He wore the Emperor's crown and distributed money continuously, saying auspicious words every time he gave out a sum of money. However, his eyes revealed a trace of fatigue and helplessness.

Dogtail Grass stood aside and watched all this silently, feeling deeply moved. Suddenly, a hearty laugh came from behind: "Brother Lai! I didn't expect it, congratulations on your success!" He looked back and found that it was Qi Ruisi who came over. The two smiled at each other, as if all the hardships were rewarded at this moment. However, they both knew that this was just the beginning, and the real challenge was still waiting for them ahead.

"Oh?" Dogtail Grass raised an eyebrow in surprise, with a hint of doubt in his eyes, "Why are you so brave this time?"

Qi Ruisi smiled slightly, his eyes revealing calmness and confidence: "The Emperor is dead, and the Holy City has been occupied by you. With such a big advantage, what should I be afraid of? However," he changed the subject and his expression became serious, "There is one thing you must pay attention to."

Dogtail Grass looked at Qi Ruisi and felt an inexplicable pressure. He subconsciously asked, "What's the matter?"

"The Divine Emperor is not a fool. He knows that the monarchs of various countries are dissatisfied with him, so he has been arranging people to infiltrate other countries." Qi Ruisi's voice was low and powerful, as if every word weighed a thousand pounds.

Dogtail Grass's expression also became serious: "Are you saying that the Divine Emperor has accomplices in other countries?"

"That's right." Qi Ruisi nodded. "Although the monarchs of various countries resisted secretly, some of them didn't have the ability to do so. As far as I know, there are six major dioceses west of the Holy City. These dioceses are controlled by the Divine Emperor's loyal confidants, and the imperial power has been hollowed out. If the Divine Emperor escapes back to the diocese under his control, he can launch a counterattack at any time. We must speed up our actions."

Qi Ruisi's description made Gouweicaoer feel unprecedented pressure. He looked into the distance, as if he could see the huge scale and powerful forces of the six major dioceses. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his excitement: "Why does the Emperor of God have stronger control over the West than other places? How many troops do these six major dioceses have, and how many troops can they provide?"

Qi Ruisi raised his hands and said in a deep voice: "The birthplace of the new spiritual house is west of the Holy City. The Holy City was established after the church grew stronger. Their roots are in the west, and their control over that area is much stronger than the eastern coast." He paused and continued: "The six major dioceses are backed by six countries. I can confirm this. This is an open secret in the church. However, as for the military strength of each country, I really have no way of knowing."

Dogtail Grass nodded repeatedly, his eyes flashing with determination: "This information is enough! Brother Qi Ruisi, you have helped me a lot again. I need you to set off to various countries immediately to help me convince the other party, preferably starting from Luoxi Luo." He took a deep breath, "I will send someone to take the church leaders and the body of the Emperor to Ferrero to immediately stop the conflict over there. As for whether the situation can be stabilized, it will be up to you."

Qi Ruisi smiled noncommittally and sighed, "I'm afraid that many countries are preparing to start purging the church's influence. Everything will be in chaos." He changed the subject and glanced at the treasury beside him, "Brother Lai, I have helped so much. What benefits can you Jingjiang give me?"

Dogtail Grass looked at him and smiled knowingly: "Why would Jingjiang give you any benefit? Take whatever you want from the vault, just don't go too far."

Qi Ruisi laughed: "Okay! I'll leave tomorrow!"

At this time, the main city of Ferrero had turned into a battlefield with artillery fire. However, this artillery fire was not the result of a battle between the two sides, but a one-sided venting. The defenders of Jingjiang fired artillery shells at the Luoxi Luo army and the Temple Army at almost no cost, but the other side had already retreated to a safe distance.

The divine punishment weapons and catapults were all unable to reach the enemy, while the Jingjiang artillery fire seemed endless, making people feel despair.

General Mod looked at the city of Ferrero in despair, his eyes flickering with reluctance and helplessness. Ten days ago, he had completely given up hope of attacking the city. This city seemed to have become an insurmountable mountain, lying in front of him.

Their weapons and equipment were far different from those of Jingjiang. And those fleets that requested support were likely to have been annihilated by the enemy. Now, his only hope was that the judge who had been holding on could bring about a miracle.

However, today was the last day for close-range siege attempts, and the result was still no surprise. They paid a huge price, but only got the opponent's artillery to temporarily stop attacking.

General Mod sighed to the sky: "Let's retreat. The enemy is defending the city and won't come out. We don't stand a chance at all." His voice was filled with endless fatigue and loss.

The presiding judge still insisted weakly: "No, we have persisted for so long. Didn't you say you could win? This is an order from the Holy See. You cannot disobey it."

Mod gritted his teeth, his right hand pressed tightly on the hilt of the sword at his waist, trying to suppress the anger in his heart. If he had not been afraid of the power of the church, he would have chopped this useless judge into pieces. However, now he could only swallow his anger and persuade: "Even if the Holy See is here, he must withdraw! This is an unequal war. Our resources are running out!"

The presiding judge seemed not to hear his words and just kept repeating over and over again: "I don't care... I don't care that you have to find a way to win for me, I don't care..." He had completely lost his will and only wanted to hold on to the city, unwilling to face the reality of failure.

Mod shook his head helplessly. Just as he was about to order the whole army to retreat, a soldier came running to report: "The general has sent people out of the city! They are pushing a few carts!" This news was like a shot of adrenaline, which boosted Mod's spirit. He strode forward to see what the other side was doing. Not long after he walked away, he saw the Jingjiang soldiers in the distance pushing a few covered carts towards them. Mod raised his hand with an inexplicable look, signaling the people behind him to keep quiet. He wanted to see what the other side was going to do. After waiting for a while, the Jingjiang soldiers had already walked to the front of the Luoxi Luo army. As soon as they stopped, a Luoxi Luo soldier came forward to check. After a careful inspection, the Luoxi Luo soldier confirmed that there was no problem before letting Mod go forward. Mod asked cautiously, "Are you here to negotiate peace?" One of the Jingjiang soldiers replied, "Duke Walter Bolson asked us to tell the general that the Emperor is dead and the Holy City has been breached! The new Emperor has succeeded to the throne and hopes that the general can stop the war and reconcile the two countries." After that, he lifted the long cloth covering the bodies on the car. Several rotten bodies appeared in front of General Mod and the presiding judge. General Mod's eyes suddenly widened. The Holy City was breached. The Emperor... was dead? The corpse closest to him was indeed wearing the Emperor's clothes and crown, but the face was so damaged that it was unrecognizable. He was confused for a moment and didn't know what to do. The presiding judge screamed and fell to the ground, his face had long lost a trace of blood. "This... this... this..." He pointed at the bodies with a trembling hand and said in horror. General Mod came to his senses and asked him: "Is it the Emperor who died?" The chief judge said with difficulty as if someone had strangled his throat: "I don't know, but the others are indeed famous people in the church..." In other words, the Emperor who died was really the Emperor! ? General Mod swallowed hard and felt an inexplicable fear in his heart. At this time, the Jingjiang soldier added: "General, if you don't believe it, you can continue to wait here. Luo Xiluo should send someone to bring news soon. Before that, there will be no attack in the city." "In addition, the general in our city also asked me to bring you a message." General Mod asked hurriedly: "What message?" "He said you fought well." The Jingjiang soldier said with a smile. However, this sentence sounded like a heavy hammer hitting Mod's heart. "He... fuck..." Mod was stunned and a trace of blood rushed to his face. Fight well? This is simply an insult! He has fought all his life and has never been insulted like this! Fighting so aggrieved! However, this also proved one thing from the side - the other side was really sure. It seems that something big must have happened in the Holy City... General Mod hesitated for a long time and finally waved his hand helplessly: "All troops... retreat!" As his order was issued, the Luoxiluo army retreated like a tide, leaving only a messy battlefield and the Jingjiang flag flying high on the Ferrero city. At this time, Zhong Anchun, who was on the Ferrero city wall, looked at the other army retreating with a telescope and smiled contentedly. This battle was fought without losing a single soldier, only wasting some shells, which was really easy! And Dogtail Grass also successfully stabilized the situation in the Holy City, and everything was developing in a good direction. "Come on! Send a fleet immediately to report the victory back to Jingjiang! Don't delay for a moment!" Zhong Anchun ordered loudly. With the departure of the fleet, the war finally came to an end.

Inside the exchange, the gloomy atmosphere weighed on everyone's heart like a leaden cloud. In the hall, people looked solemn, their voices were low, and everyone's eyes kept glancing at the huge stock board.

In an elegant tea room on the third floor, Lin Xiaofeng and Li Dexian sat opposite each other. In the lingering aroma of tea, their eyes would occasionally fall on the touching sign. Li Dexian frowned, looking at the lifeless "Xihai Commercial" stock, feeling heavy as lead. This stock was like a heavy stone, pressing on his heart, making him breathless. He shook his head from time to time, sighed from time to time, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen a little.

After losing money on stocks, Li Dexian seemed like a different person. His ruddy complexion turned pale, his enthusiasm for business faded, and even his appetite decreased. He was no longer the high-spirited businessman, but a down-and-out old man who was hit hard by the stock market.

Although Jingxing Bank and Lin Xiaofeng jointly invested 5 million taels to rescue the market and injected some liquidity into the market, the share price of "Xihai Trade" was still sluggish. Although the wave of rescue enthusiasm led to a surge, the big investors in Jingjiang were obviously more cunning and cautious. They did not enter the market easily, and only some small retail investors were conducting sporadic transactions.

Although the current stock price is stable at more than 200 yuan, the fluctuations are still frightening. Although the expected effect has not been achieved, it is not a complete failure. At least those retail investors who have suffered heavy losses are no longer desperate like before. They are quietly waiting for hope to appear again, hoping to get out of the market as soon as possible.

Li Dexian was about to discuss the prospects of "Xihai Commerce" with Lin Xiaofeng, but found that Lin Xiaofeng's eyes were fixed on another stock - Yangqu Brothel. Li Dexian suddenly felt a little speechless, he didn't understand why Lin Xiaofeng was so interested in this stock.

"I say, Lao Lin, why did you buy stocks of a brothel? How could such an immoral business be allowed to enter the stock exchange?" Li Dexian couldn't help asking.

Lin Xiaofeng just closed his eyes and shook his head without answering. He did have a strong interest in the stock of "Yangqu Brothel". This was not only because it was the first brothel stock, but also because of the huge potential and innovation behind it.

Amid the doubts and confusion of the people in the stock exchange, the stock price of "Yangqu Brothel" has soared. The original listing price of the stock was only one cent, but it rose to three cents in just a few months. Such an increase is jaw-dropping, and at the same time, it also makes people full of expectations for this stock.

Lin Xiaofeng returned to Yangqu County in his busy schedule and prepared to go to Zuiyuelou to find out for himself. He wanted to know the story behind this stock and what was the driving force behind its rise.

When he stepped into the door of Zuiyuelou, all his doubts disappeared. He saw the bustling crowd of guests, all of whom came to see the stockings. And those flesh-colored stockings were the latest invention of Master Zhou.

Lin Xiaofeng was completely confused when he saw the woman wearing stockings. He couldn't imagine that Master Zhou could invent nylon and even come up with stockings in the first place. This innovative ability shocked him and also made him feel in awe of the wisdom of the ancients.

However, when he looked closely and found that the stockings were not made of cloth but a substitute made of some kind of wood, he was completely stunned. This thing that looked like stockings was actually made of wood! This completely overturned his cognition.

After asking Master Zhou, Lin Xiaofeng learned about the raw materials and craftsmanship of this substitute. He was completely impressed by Master Zhou's talent in some aspects and was also amazed by this fantastic cross-border innovation. The original mediocre brothel industry was built up with a solid technical barrier by Master Zhou's invention, which established Zuiyuelou's indestructible position in the brothel industry and also contributed to the birth of a stock market miracle.

Looking at the bustling Zuiyuelou and the hot "Yangqu Qinglou" stocks in the stock market, Lin Xiaofeng was filled with emotion. He knew that the world was full of infinite possibilities and opportunities. As long as he dared to innovate and break through, he could create his own business empire. This world was really too chaotic.

"Old Lin, please say something!" Li Dexian's urging voice interrupted Lin Xiaofeng's thoughts, "I'm talking to you about the West Sea Trade! Why are you always staring at that brothel stock? Father has been so worried about it these past few months that his hair has turned white."

Lin Xiaofeng came back to his senses and shook his head: "I also know that His Majesty is upset because of the heavy losses, but what can I do? He can try to buy the stock of Yangqu Brothel. This stock will definitely help him recover his losses."

"Ah? Why? It's just a brothel and it doesn't even have a franchise chain!" Li Dexian asked puzzledly.

"I can't really explain it, but I think this stock will definitely rise sharply in the future... This world is really crazy." Lin Xiaofeng sighed. He knew that the business rules and stock market logic of this world had undergone earth-shaking changes. Only by keeping up with the pace of the times and constantly innovating and breaking through can one gain a foothold in this chaotic world.

"After all this talk, there is still no way out. I am stuck in this situation. I dare not sell it now, and I can't afford to expand my restaurant." Li Dexian muttered, his brows knitted, his eyes revealing a hint of helplessness and anxiety. He looked around, and suddenly his eyes lit up, as if he had seen a life-saving straw, "How about you lend me some money?"

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he shook his head like a rattle. He knew in his heart that the money Li Dexian borrowed this time must be a large sum, and once it was lent out, it would be difficult to get it back. He was dreaming, thinking that it was the time when the prince had nothing, and Lin Xiaofeng would just give a small amount of money. Now that Li Dexian has so many properties, he still wants to borrow money, which must be a lion's mouth. Lin Xiaofeng thought to himself, if he became the emperor, he couldn't imagine how he would squander.

Seeing that Lin Xiaofeng refused so straightforwardly, Li Dexian sighed and said with some dissatisfaction: "Look at how stingy you are. We are friends, so what's wrong with me helping you spend some money? Look at the stocks of this brothel, you have made a lot of money, but you are unwilling to lend me some money?"

Lin Xiaofeng was speechless. He frowned and explained, "Qinglou... I will have to change its name and transform it sooner or later. It's not a good thing for Qinglou to be listed on the exchange. It feels like it is encouraging people to do shady business."

"You should take your time to expand your restaurant. It has only been established for a short time. You should take advantage of the time to sort it out and consider it later when you can get out of trouble." Lin Xiaofeng persuaded patiently, "It is impossible for me to lend you money. How about treating you to a meal?"

Li Dexian curled his lips, glanced at Lin Xiaofeng, and muttered: "Tsk, if this were the emperor, you would have to rush to borrow it... Let's go, let's go eat."

"Impossible, I stick to principles!" Lin Xiaofeng said righteously. He thought that even if it was the emperor, he couldn't easily make an exception. Then, he took Li Dexian downstairs, planning to have a meal and chat about other things.

On the nearby streets, the sun shone through the gaps in the leaves onto the ground, creating mottled light and shadows. The two walked past one store after another, and finally chose a restaurant that looked pretty good. While eating, they talked about the recent stock market situation and their respective career plans. Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but sigh that time passed so quickly, and in the blink of an eye, he had wasted a lot of time in the stock exchange.

After eating and drinking, the two were ready to leave. Just as they walked to the first floor, the sound of a table of stockholders talking drifted into the ears of Lin Xiaofeng and Li Dexian. The two stood at the door and stopped to listen, wanting to understand the stockholders' views on the stock market.

"The stock of Xihai Commerce will never rise in the future." A shareholder shook his head and sighed, "No matter how Jingjiang performs overseas, it will never be able to recover to its previous state."

"That's right. I've been asking a lot of people about overseas connections recently." Another stockholder added, "You know that the situation of that church is very special, right? If you anger the church, you'll suffer the consequences."

"Think about it, overseas supplies are so difficult! How many risks are there at sea? The enemy has a geographical advantage! Although Jingjiang has well-trained soldiers and sufficient food, we are still not as fast as them, right? War is all about speed!" added another stockholder.

Li Dexian looked at the people at the table with a bad look when he heard this. He was already in a bad mood, and someone was talking nonsense here. Does that mean they are smart? It's really annoying! And Lin Xiaofeng was also quite helpless! Even if he had asked the lecturer to brainwash him, there was still no guarantee that someone smart would come out and express his ideas!

Some people even wanted to spread rumors secretly in an attempt to short the stock market! However, he suppressed all these signs! I heard such words again today. It seems that the confidence of stockholders in Xihai Commerce has begun to decline! The longer the time is delayed, the more disadvantageous it will be!

"Old Lin, there has been no letter from Ferrero!" Li Dexian said with some concern, "If this continues, the rumors will definitely spread! By then, the stock price will fall sooner or later!"

Lin Xiaofeng shook his head gently and said: "Don't worry too much! If no one deliberately spreads rumors, these people are not a problem! We can guide the differentiation one by one! Although the stock price is tepid now, most people are still optimistic about this war! In this way..."

"We can call those who support our views people with correct values," Lin Xiaofeng explained, "and those who oppose our views people with ulterior motives and malicious slander."

"As for some neutral and relatively objective people who support us on some points but oppose us on others, we can call them double-dealers or fence-sitters," Li Dexian added, seeming to be very interested in this classification.

However, Lin Xiaofeng shook his head and sighed, "This classification is too extreme. Although this method of throwing dirty water is easy to use, I am afraid there will be trouble. We are just a stopgap measure. After all, the West Sea trade is related to Jingjiang's progress in the West, so we can't be too extreme."

After hearing this, Li Dexian nodded thoughtfully. The two continued to move forward and walked out of the restaurant. At this time, the sun shone on the street, and it was bright. They knew that although the road ahead was full of challenges, as long as they worked together, they would be able to overcome difficulties and move towards success.

At the same time, in the stock exchange, those stockholders who were invited by the Royal Guards to "eat" may be experiencing a spiritual baptism. This baptism may give them a deeper understanding and knowledge of Xihai Commerce and the entire stock market.

A few days later, Lin Xiaofeng was summoned to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. He sat in front of Emperor Jingjiang and handed over the report from the stock exchange. Emperor Jingjiang examined the report and frowned as he saw that the stock price of Xihai Commerce still showed no improvement.

"Xiaofeng, is there no other way to make this stock go up?" Emperor Jingjiang rubbed his brow and sighed, "So much money has been invested, but now it can only be stabilized at around two taels."

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng shook his head gently: "Your Majesty, I really have no other choice. However, I have some good news. Do you want to hear it?"

"Oh? What good news? Tell me about it." Emperor Jingjiang asked with all his strength.

"The building in Yangqu County should be completed in a few months! It will be a spectacular sight! I have spent a lot of money and also put forward many new ideas! Is Your Majesty interested in taking a look?" Lin Xiaofeng said to Emperor Jingjiang with anticipation.

"Uh... is that the skyscraper you told me about before?" Emperor Jingjiang asked, "Well, I'll go see it when it's finished! What does a building called 'Skyscraper' look like?"

Although he was somewhat uninterested, Emperor Jingjiang still accepted Lin Xiaofeng's invitation. After all, he was curious about how spectacular the skyscraper was. However, the irritability in his heart was hard to dissipate - although the spectacle attracted people's attention, it could not offset the pain caused by the real loss!
Emperor Jingjiang fell into deep thought again and suddenly changed the subject: "How is the Crown Prince doing recently? He hasn't greeted me for several months. Is he still angry?"

Lin Xiaofeng replied calmly: "Your Majesty, you are joking. The Crown Prince is always open-minded. It's just a few million taels! He is now busy with his restaurant business and wants to expand it to make more money! At the same time, he also wants to help you make up for your losses! He is worried that you are worried and worried that you will hurt your body!"

Hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang felt a little better. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright. If he had half of your filial piety, he wouldn't have yelled at me." He paused again and said, "It's getting late. You should go back and rest early."

Just when Lin Xiaofeng stood up and was about to leave, a hurried call suddenly came from the door!
"Good news! Good news, Your Majesty! The battle of Ferrero has stopped and the enemy has withdrawn! Our army has captured the holy city and established a new Divine Emperor!" The messenger's voice was filled with excitement and joy, as if the entire hall had become much brighter because of it.

Lin Xiaofeng and Jingjiang Emperor were stunned. They smiled at each other, and the pressure in their hearts instantly disappeared. They knew that this news meant that the West Sea trade had turned around, and it also meant that Jingjiang's influence overseas would be further expanded. All of this was inseparable from their persistence and hard work.

At this moment, the sunlight shines through the window onto the two of them, warm and filled with hope and expectation. They seem to see a better future waving at them.

Emperor Jingjiang's mind buzzed, and he sat up suddenly, his eyes flashing with shock and expectation. He had waited too long for this news.

"Come in!" There was an urgency in his voice.

The eunuch outside the door pushed the door open tremblingly, and Lin Xiaofeng also stopped and stared at the door. They all knew the importance of this news.

"The troops have withdrawn...and Gouweicao'er has captured the holy city?" There was unbelievable joy in Emperor Jingjiang's voice.

The eunuch lowered his head and handed over a letter with both hands, "Your Majesty, this is the battle report from the front."

Emperor Jingjiang snatched the letter and read it with shining eyes. Every word and every sentence shone like gold, making his heart beat faster. He read it over and over again, and let out a long sigh, feeling a sense of relief.

He handed the letter to Lin Xiaofeng, "Xiaofeng, take a look at it too."

Lin Xiaofeng took the letter and read it carefully. A look of joy gradually appeared on his face. "Congratulations, Your Majesty! This is really great news! This great victory has undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to the church. From now on, my Jingjiang fleet can sail overseas unimpeded."

However, Emperor Jingjiang's expression seemed somewhat gloomy. "The real master has escaped. It is still unknown how powerful the six dioceses are. The church may counterattack at any time. We cannot take it lightly. We need to strengthen our overseas forces and make preparations early."

Lin Xiaofeng agreed deeply. They all knew that this victory was just the beginning and the real challenge was still to come.

The two of them fell into a brief contemplation. Suddenly, a gleam of light flashed in Lin Xiaofeng's eyes. "Your Majesty, this is a great benefit for West Sea trade! Many countries are at odds with the church. If they cooperate with Jingjiang, they will undoubtedly gain more benefits. The stock price may rise this time. It's our chance to get out of this predicament."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang's body trembled, and a gleam of greed flashed in his eyes. He had been waiting for this opportunity for too long.

However, he quickly calmed down and said, "The Emperor has not been eliminated yet, and there are still major hidden dangers. Will the market buy it?"

"Xiaofeng, once this good news is released, will the trade in West Sea increase significantly?" "It will definitely increase, but I dare not say how much the specific increase will be." Lin Xiaofeng answered cautiously.

A sly look flashed across Emperor Jingjiang's eyes, and he asked in a low voice, "If I spread the news that the church has been completely destroyed, will it increase significantly?"

Lin Xiaofeng's face changed drastically when he heard this. "Your Majesty, this is against the law! As the emperor and father of the people of the world, how can we do such a thing that is beneath our dignity?"

Emperor Jingjiang was awakened by Lin Xiaofeng's words. He calmed down and coughed twice, "You are right. We can't lose the big picture because of the small. Go out and pass this victory report to the cabinet and the various ministries. Also, inform them that there will be no morning court tomorrow."

The eunuch retreated, and Lin Xiaofeng breathed a sigh of relief. They all knew the importance of this news, but at the same time they also knew that they could not lose their principles for the sake of profit.

As night fell and the stars twinkled, Emperor Jingjiang could not fall asleep. He stood in front of the window, looking at the starry sky, his heart full of joy and worry. Tomorrow, he would go to the stock exchange in person to see how the market reacted. This night was destined to be sleepless.

The next morning, the sun was shining brightly and a long line had formed outside the gate of the stock exchange. People were talking about what would happen in the stock market today.

Emperor Jingjiang, Lin Xiaofeng, and the Crown Prince sat in the VIP seats on the third floor, sipping tea and waiting for the start of trading. Their eyes were all focused on the bustling trading hall below.

The trading hall was bustling with people and the atmosphere was lively. Emperor Jingjiang looked at this scene with a smile on his face, looking forward to the next market reaction.

Suddenly, his smile disappeared from his face, replaced by a complicated expression. He looked sharply at those familiar faces - many court officials also came to the exchange in person.

Lin Xiaofeng noticed the change in Emperor Jingjiang, followed his gaze, and couldn't help but grin. These officials were usually solemn and serious in the court, but now they showed up at the stock exchange for the stock market, which was really ridiculous.

"Xiaofeng, write it down for me." Emperor Jingjiang said coldly, "I want to see who is not on duty and goes to the stock exchange to trade stocks!"

Li Dexian beside him glanced at him secretly, secretly despising him. As the commander of the Jinyiwei, he knew the behavior of these officials very well, but he also knew that this was not the time to expose them.

The atmosphere in the trading hall gradually heated up, and people began to stir in the crowd, whispering about Xihai Commerce's stocks. Many people began to privately purchase these neglected stocks, and the price gradually rose.

The investors began to sense that something was wrong and realized that there might be good news. The trading atmosphere became increasingly tense and exciting.

Finally, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the news-giving attendant of the exchange stood at the front desk. He took out the latest newsletter and began to read it one by one. When he read the news about Jingjiang's capture of the Holy City and the heavy damage to the church, the noise in the entire trading hall stopped abruptly...
Emperor Jingjiang stared at the crowd below, feeling nervous and expectant. He saw the shock, joy, and greed on people's faces. He knew that at this moment, the stock of Xihai Commerce would see an unprecedented increase. And he was the man behind all this.

Lin Xiaofeng's head was buzzing, and anger was roaring wildly in his heart, like an awakened beast, urgently looking for a way out. He stared at the report, his eyes flashing with anger.

"Fuck! Zhou Zhiwei!" He squeezed out this name from his teeth, and every word was filled with anger. Zhou Zhiwei, this former friend and current business rival, actually used the funds raised from the listing of Zuiyuelou to open a brothel theme park. In this era, brothels are considered elegant businesses, but if such a theme park were placed in the future, wouldn't it be drowned in the spit of the world?

Lin Xiaofeng could imagine that Zhou Zhiwei's move would definitely cause a sensation among men. But what made him even more angry was that Zuiyuelou was an industry in Yangqu County, which would bring bad reputation to the entire Yangqu County. He couldn't allow such a thing to happen. This bad stock must be banned immediately, no matter how lucrative it was, he couldn't take it.

Lin Xiaofeng made a decision in his heart. He looked up at the crowd downstairs. They were still immersed in silence, looking at each other, as if looking for an explanation. However, no one spoke, only silence filled the air.

Suddenly, a loud noise broke the silence. A servant came running in, waving a report in his hand. He read the contents of the report aloud, and his voice echoed in the exchange.

"Jingjiang won!" The servant's voice was full of excitement.

This news was like a bomb that instantly detonated the crowd. They stared at the servant with wide eyes, looking at him in disbelief, and then shouted in unison: "Read it again! Read it again!!"

The servant was frightened by the enthusiasm of the crowd and hurriedly read the report again. However, this time people did not have the patience to listen to him finish, they only cared about the news of the victory in Jingjiang.

"Long live!" A thunderous cheer rang out, almost blowing the roof of the stock exchange apart. People waved their stocks excitedly, as if they had seen the dawn of victory.

However, amid the cheers, one person remained calm. That person was Lin Xiaofeng. He looked at the enthusiastic crowd, but his heart was filled with worry. He knew that the stock of Xihai Commerce would rise sharply because of this, but the problem was that the stock of Yangqu Brothel was also rising sharply.

This made him unhappy and even a little angry. He couldn't let this situation continue and had to take action. However, just as he was about to order the ban on Yangqu Brothel stocks, an old man in a green robe hurried into the exchange.

The old man paused for a moment in front of the board, his eyes lingering on the stocks of Yangqu Brothel and Xihai Commerce for a long time, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes. Then, he walked upstairs without hesitation.

Lin Xiaofeng noticed the old man and was a little confused. Who was this old man? What was he doing at the exchange? Was he also here to buy stocks?

However, these questions were soon answered. The old man walked up to Lin Xiaofeng, bowed deeply, and then said, "Mr. Lin, I'm here to discuss something with you."

Lin Xiaofeng was stunned for a moment, then nodded and asked the old man to sit down and talk. He wanted to see what the old man wanted to say.

The old man sat down, took a deep breath, and then slowly explained his purpose: "I heard that Yangqu Brothel is going to open a theme park and use the funds raised from the listing of Zuiyue Tower. This is simply an insult to our Yangqu County!"

Hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but frown. This old man actually came to oppose Yangqu Brothel! This surprised him a little, but at the same time, it also gave him hope. Maybe this old man could help him solve the problem.

So Lin Xiaofeng asked, "What do you think, old gentleman?"

The old man hesitated for a moment and said, "I think we should unite to boycott Yangqu brothels! We cannot allow this kind of immoral industry to gain a foothold in our Yangqu County!"

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but nod secretly. The old man's idea coincided with his. He immediately expressed his support for the old man's proposal and promised to do his best to cooperate with the old man's actions.

With Lin Xiaofeng's support, the old man's confidence increased greatly. He immediately stood up and said goodbye, ready to go back to contact other knowledgeable people to boycott Yangqu Brothel. Looking at the old man's back as he left, Lin Xiaofeng prayed in his heart that this action would successfully ban the bad stock of Yangqu Brothel.

The boiling and frenzied atmosphere was still in the air, as if it could ignite everything. Lin Xiaofeng stood in the crowd, feeling a little hot. He left Emperor Jingjiang, picked up a cup of tea, and drank it in one breath, as if he wanted to use this cup of tea to extinguish the anxiety in his heart.

He looked up at the bustling crowd, the noise in the exchange was rising and falling, and everyone's face was full of excitement and expectation. But he, in this frenzy, had a different feeling in his heart.

Just as he was deep in thought, an unexpected person rushed in front of him. The person stared at him intently, with a hint of resentment and unwillingness in his tone: "My Lord, you are so leisurely."

Lin Xiaofeng looked up and saw that it was Shu Wenxu. He was slightly startled, but he didn't show it on his face. He just smiled faintly and said, "Huh? Master Shu, why are you here when you are not on duty?"

Shu Wenxu sneered twice and sat opposite him, not noticing the Emperor Jingjiang and the Crown Prince lying on the other side of the railing. He stared at Lin Xiaofeng closely, as if trying to read something from his face.

"Aren't you not on duty either? The Marquis is very calculating! I'm afraid he had already thought that the West Sea trade would soar. No wonder he was so happy at the beginning! Okay, I won't waste any words, just sell the stocks back to me quickly, and you won't lose a penny." There was a hint of threat in Shu Wenxu's tone.

Lin Xiaofeng looked a little strange. He looked at Shu Wenxu's face full of greed and anxiety, and he couldn't help feeling disgusted. He showed a hint of ridicule, slowly stood up and walked to the side of Emperor Jingjiang, tugged at his clothes, pointed at Shu Wenxu and said, "Your Majesty, he blackmailed me."

Emperor Jingjiang turned slowly and stared at Shu Wenxu, with a hint of coldness in his eyes. Li Dexian looked at the scene with a smirk on his face, as if he had already anticipated the outcome.

Shu Wenxu's eyes suddenly widened, he jumped up from the chair, his knees softened, and he slowly knelt on the ground. He trembled and said, "I didn't know Your Majesty was here, I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Lin Xiaofeng looked at Shu Wenxu's panic and felt happy. He looked at Shu Wenxu coldly, as if he was looking at a clown.

Emperor Jingjiang looked at Shu Wenxu coldly and said in a cold tone: "My dear Shu, you are not on duty at the Ministry of Revenue during your duty hours, but you ran to the exchange to threaten other ministers. What do you want to do?"

Shu Wenxu said in a trembling voice: "I, I, this old minister, will die forever!!!" He kowtowed and begged for mercy, fearing that Emperor Jingjiang would punish him in a rage.

Lin Xiaofeng grinned and turned his head to look at Emperor Jingjiang: "Your Majesty, maybe I heard it wrong. If it is only the crime of dereliction of duty, according to your status as a secretary, you should be fined for half a year as a warning to others."

Emperor Jingjiang snorted coldly: "Then fine him one year's salary!"

Shu Wenxu hurriedly stood up and looked at Lin Xiaofeng with gratitude. He was secretly glad that he had escaped this time and was also surprised by Lin Xiaofeng's tolerance.

"Since you are here, sit down and take a good look! If you commit dereliction of duty again, don't blame me for being rude." The tone of Emperor Jingjiang was full of majesty and unquestionable.

Shu Wenxu stood there trembling and replied, "I dare not." Then he dared to sit down. He was secretly glad that he had escaped by luck this time, and at the same time he was in awe of Lin Xiaofeng's tolerance and the majesty of Emperor Jingjiang.

The few of them were silent and enjoying the hustle and bustle of the exchange. Lin Xiaofeng watched the stock price continue to rise and secretly calculated his own plan. Shu Wenxu watched the stock price soar to 4 taels and 6 cents with red eyes, but he could do nothing. His previous gratitude had gradually disappeared under the stimulation of the stock price, and was replaced by resentment and unwillingness.

Feeling Shu Wenxu's resentful gaze, Lin Xiaofeng approached him and said, "Master Shu, can we talk about business?"

"What's the business?" Shu Wenxu asked listlessly, apparently still immersed in the disappointment of the skyrocketing stock price.

"My Jingjiang has now completely established its foothold overseas. Although the church is still worried, the foundation has been laid. In the future, we will definitely expand the scope of trade and have more frequent exchanges with the West." Lin Xiaofeng said slowly as if he had already seen the prosperous scene in the future.

Shu Wenxu raised his eyebrows, obviously interested in Lin Xiaofeng's words: "It does make some sense, but..." He hesitated to speak, obviously having some concerns in his heart.

Lin Xiaofeng saw his hesitation and took the opportunity to say, "I think the court should change its strategy. Gold and silver are neither good for food nor for drink. It is better to directly exchange and purchase a large amount of useful resources overseas so as to accelerate the expansion of production in the future. This way, we can make money and benefit the people. I am afraid that many of you only care about silver and are unwilling to do this. How about you and I jointly submit a petition?"

Wen Xu's heart was moved when he heard the proposal. He looked up at Lin Xiaofeng and said, "That's worth considering, but he still didn't agree directly, obviously weighing the pros and cons.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled and continued to throw out the bait: "How about I sell you half of the stock you sold me before?" This price was much higher than the market price, and it was obviously a very sincere price. Shu Wenxu's eyes lit up and his worries were dispelled. He asked suspiciously: "Then you have made a lot of money? Are you plotting against me again?" He was well aware of Lin Xiaofeng's cunning and calculations, so he had to be on guard.

"Calculate? I'm already in this position, what's there to calculate? Besides, what benefit can I get from it? As long as the matter is done, the money doesn't matter." Lin Xiaofeng said with a righteous face, as if he was really a loyal minister and general for the country and the people. Then he raised his voice again as if he wanted everyone to hear his words: "When I have one million taels, this money is my money. I still have to consider the issue of depreciation and appreciation. But when I have ten million taels, is this money still mine? No! The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. At this time, I am actually helping the people, the court, and His Majesty to keep wealth! Can you understand, Mr. Shu? The pattern must be relaxed. With the pattern, everything will be there in the future." These words are passionate and seem to really make people see the hope and prosperity of the future. Shu Wenxu was moved by Lin Xiaofeng's words. He sighed: "I'll help you. You are really shameless!" Although he complained in his mouth, he had already accepted Lin Xiaofeng's proposal. And Emperor Jingjiang also heard these words. He smiled unconsciously at the corners of his mouth and was satisfied with Lin Xiaofeng's pattern and responsibility. He looked at Li Dexian beside him and poked him twice, saying indifferently: "Learn more from Xiaofeng and stop yelling at me all day long." Li Dexian was still roaring about the rising stock price as if he hadn't heard what Emperor Jingjiang said. He curled his lips and said: "Old Lin is just bragging that he can get an extra 20 taels in his pocket by spending 10 taels." He was obviously very disdainful of Lin Xiaofeng's calculations and shrewdness. But Emperor Jingjiang was very dissatisfied with his words. He clenched his fists and his anger soared! I asked you to learn from others and know more about things and share your father's worries, but you said something and said something! "Do you think I am too old to throw you down from the third floor?" The tone of Emperor Jingjiang was full of majesty and anger. Li Dexian realized that he had said the wrong thing. He shrank his neck and dared not talk back. At this time, the exchange had fallen into a frenzy. The stockholders had completely fallen into madness and screamed and wanted to tell others. They looked at the rising stock prices on the display board as if they saw wealth rolling in. Lin Xiaofeng was also quietly waiting for the next plan to be implemented in this frenzy. Just when everyone was still expecting the stock price to continue to rise, a crisp gong sound suddenly rang out in the exchange. "It's over! Today is over! The exchange is about to close. Please come back tomorrow!" The staff announced loudly. The crowd in the exchange began to slowly disperse, but their faces were still full of excitement and expectation, as if they were looking forward to the arrival of tomorrow and expecting more wealth to flow into their pockets.

The sky gradually darkened, and the afterglow of the setting sun spread across the horizon like a touch of rouge. Emperor Jingjiang stood by the window, gazing at the sky, and his mood, which had been indulgent for a day, began to calm down at this moment. As a self-disciplined monarch, he naturally decided to return to the palace and began to sort out his thoughts for the day.

At this moment, his heart was full of anticipation. The situation had stabilized, and the only suspense now was how high this momentum could rise. However, he did not need to stay in the exchange all the time, it was enough to get timely notifications from his servants.

For five consecutive days, the news about Xihai Commerce spread like wildfire to every corner of Kyoto. Its stock price soared like a rocket, reaching a staggering 800 taels! This number was like a curse, causing the entire Kyoto to fall into a crazy stock speculation craze.

Countless stories of getting rich overnight emerged in the past few days, and those who usually paid no attention to stocks were also swept up in the craze. From old farmers to old women selling vegetables, everyone could talk about stocks with great relish. Even many so-called "stock critics" took advantage of the situation and talked about the prospects of Xihai Commerce, confidently predicting that the stock price would break through ten taels in the near future.

Facing the surging public opinion, Lin Xiaofeng remained calm. He promptly sold some of his stocks at a price of around seven taels, along with Xie Hongxin's shares. This move allowed Brother Hongxin to inadvertently earn tens of thousands of taels of silver, which was a small profit.

Originally, Lin Xiaofeng wanted to persuade Jingjiang Emperor to sell his stocks, but Jingjiang's top stock analyst was full of confidence in the stock market. He firmly believed that it would not be a problem for the stock price to break through ten taels, and he enthusiastically taught Lin Xiaofeng his stock trading experience. Looking at Jingjiang Emperor's confident look, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but think of those experts who talked about the A-share market exceeding 5000 points. He smiled in his heart and felt that his decision to sell was correct, because Jingjiang Emperor seemed to have an extraordinary talent in this regard - he would definitely make money by doing the opposite of him.

The price of eight taels was already jaw-dropping. This crazy scene in the stock market reminded Lin Xiaofeng of two similar scenes he had seen in his previous life. At that time, even the old men and women on the bus started talking about stocks. So what are you waiting for if you don't run now?

This is indeed the case. After the stock price reached a high of eight taels, it finally began to fall and eventually stabilized at around six taels.

On this day, Lin Xiaofeng was summoned to the palace. Emperor Jingjiang was walking in the imperial garden, feeling a little depressed. Although the stock price had rebounded and he made a lot of money, he was not as happy as he had imagined. Compared with money, he seemed to care more about the success rate of his predictions.

When Lin Xiaofeng hurried over, he immediately reported: "Your Majesty, the stock price did not fluctuate much today. It seems that there will not be much change in the future. You should sell the stocks in your hands in time."

However, Emperor Jingjiang did not respond but asked, "Has the prince already thrown it away?"

"His Highness sold all of his stocks the next day." Lin Xiaofeng replied, "He said he would never buy stocks again... It's too risky."

Emperor Jingjiang felt a little contemptuous and instinctively wanted to refute the crown prince, but the dismal result of the prediction made him change the subject and said, "I really didn't expect the highest point to be eight taels. If we had known this would happen, we should have sold it in advance..."

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you should know that a successful businessman will never earn his last penny. You have already made a very impressive record and earned a lot of money."

"And you forgot that Jingxing Bank spent 10 million taels to buy it in order to support the bottom, but the purchase price at that time was only two taels!"

Two taels! The Emperor of Jingjiang was shocked when he heard this, and suddenly remembered this matter. He swallowed hard and calculated in his mind: If the shares of Jingxing Bank are also counted, plus the stocks he bought with the treasury before... then wouldn't the treasury have tens of millions of taels of silver now?

Tens of millions of taels! This number made Emperor Jingjiang feel dizzy. Looking back at the emperors in history, which emperor's private wealth could compare to the national treasury? However, now he has accomplished this seemingly impossible feat. This money is enough for him to spend for the rest of his life!

Thinking of this, Emperor Jingjiang froze in place for a moment and was unable to recover. The joy in his heart was like waves hitting his heart, making him feel an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

After his soul returned to his body, he couldn't wait to ask: "Then let's sell them all now!" However, Lin Xiaofeng shook his head and said: "We can't sell... Your Majesty, we have too many stocks. If we sell them all, the market will cause panic."

"And there is no need for you to sell. We have already laid a part of our overseas military foundation, so there won't be any big problems in the future."

After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang thought about it and nodded helplessly. Although he had a strong passion for stock trading, he still felt that it was more reliable to hold real money in his hands. However, Lin Xiaofeng was right. If he sold all his stocks, the market would probably fall into chaos again, so it was better not to move.

"Well," he finally said, "but you have to remember that Jingxing Bank's private purchase of stocks must not be known to others."

If those people in the court knew about it, they would definitely start to target his small treasury.

"I understand." Lin Xiaofeng replied, "But I have another matter to discuss with Your Majesty today."

"Speak."

"I have studied the letter from Ferrero for several days." Lin Xiaofeng continued, "Many people in the court support us in Jingjiang taking the initiative to attack the church, but after thinking it over, I still feel that it is inappropriate."

Emperor Jingjiang looked sideways and said, "Why is it wrong? The church took the initiative to attack us in Jingjiang. Now we have a reason to start a war."

"That's true." Lin Xiaofeng nodded, "But I feel that in terms of current technology and strength, there is not much gap between us and the church. The enemy has artillery to defend the city, which undoubtedly increases the difficulty of our siege."

"Besides, there is no need for us to rush." ​​He continued, "Industry is developing rapidly now, and the court's previous methods of manufacturing weapons and military supplies are obviously lagging behind the factories on the market."

"So, we might as well wait a little longer." Lin Xiaofeng concluded, "Wait until we have a new breakthrough in thermal weapons, and our production, manufacturing and supply can be adjusted to a more efficient state, then we can make full preparations for a quick victory."

"Moreover, I am also worried that the stock exchange is now having too much influence on national affairs. If a war fails or falls into a stalemate for a long time, it will undoubtedly greatly affect the people's hearts in Jingjiang."

After hearing this, Emperor Jingjiang looked at Lin Xiaofeng curiously and suddenly smiled: "When you were young, I always felt that you were impetuous. You did everything in a hurry and made a big fuss, and you wanted to succeed immediately. Now many people in the court want to take advantage of our advantage and advocate war, but you are doing the opposite. You have indeed changed a lot over the years!"

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng smiled and said, "Youth is just reckless! When I was young, I had many ideas in my mind, and whether they would succeed or not was uncertain, so it was inevitable that I would act a little radically. But now it's different. Jingjiang is already on the track of rapid development. What we need most is to advance steadily and lay a solid foundation."

"Hmm..." Emperor Jingjiang sighed, "Well said! Let's discuss this matter in the court tomorrow."

With a loud bang, the iron door suddenly opened, revealing a dark and boundless space. Two soldiers walked in, and soon a haggard old man came out. The old man was wearing a nightgown, and his eyes closed involuntarily because he was suddenly dragged into the outside world. He asked in panic, "What are you going to do? What are you going to do?"

The soldier next to him replied calmly, "Your Majesty, please do not panic. Our Majesty has requested that you no longer live here from today."

In the dim and solemn hall, a trace of panic flashed in the eyes of the Divine Emperor. He couldn't help but ask himself in his heart, has that moment finally come? Ever since he was brought to this Luxi Fort twenty-three days ago, his heart was filled with anxiety.

It was a long journey, and he had tried every way to escape, but the people around him followed him like a shadow, leaving him no chance to escape. He originally thought that after arriving at Luxi Fort, he would be able to directly explain his situation to the emperor, but he did not expect to be directly locked up in a dark cell.

The cell was so dark that it seemed to penetrate everywhere, making people feel hopeless. Not even a ray of sunlight could penetrate the thick stone walls. There was only a small passage below, which was used to deliver food and toilets. However, the supply of food was irregular and seemed to depend entirely on the mood of the guards. As long as they were not starving to death, they would be given some food.

At first, the Emperor was naturally furious at such treatment. He had lived a life of luxury and had never been treated like this before? Especially since this place was one of the parishes of the church, he felt extremely humiliated. He kicked the cell door in anger and shouted loudly, but it was all to no avail.

However, as time went on, his anger gradually turned into fear. He felt that he could not survive in the dark and quiet environment. He began to pray constantly, asking God for salvation. Occasionally hearing the chatter of the guards outside the door became his only comfort, otherwise he would almost fall into madness.

After surviving the difficult tenth day, he finally began to gradually adapt to this environment and calm down to think about his situation. He understood that futile struggle and anger would only waste physical energy and would not help the current situation. The only thing he could do was count the days and wait for the day when he would be released. At the same time, he reviewed the things that had happened before in his mind, trying to find a clue.

After an unknown amount of time, he was taken out of the prison. The strong light outside forced him to close his eyes. When he gradually adapted to the light, he found himself in a hall with an unusual decoration style. The blurry figure in front of him left a deep impression on him.

Golden boots, golden robes, and gorgeous clothes with dragon and snake patterns... These are the symbols of the King of Hanjiang. The Emperor nodded absentmindedly, finally understanding his situation. It turned out that all this was the conspiracy of the King of Hanjiang! He took the initiative to invade the enemy country, used the divine punishment weapon to cooperate with the church, and then imprisoned himself here. This ambitious man should have been crushed by the church long ago!

The Emperor raised his head and smiled sadly: "You... you are so brave that you dared to lock me up in the dark cell for 23 days!" As the light in the room gradually adjusted, the face of the King of Hanjiang gradually became clear. There were several young men standing beside him, looking at the Emperor with mocking smiles on their faces. The King of Hanjiang's eyes were still as sharp as a knife.

Hearing the words of the Divine Emperor, King Hanjiang was slightly stunned: "You actually knew that you were locked up in the dark cell for twenty-three days?" The Divine Emperor smiled coldly and answered without any fear: "I have the protection of God. If you treat me like this, you will be punished by God!" Although he was a prisoner, he still maintained the dignity and momentum of the Divine Emperor.

King Hanjiang looked up at him, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes. After staying in a completely dark environment for twenty-three days, he could still remember the time accurately. This was indeed beyond his comprehension. However, he also realized that this Divine Emperor was not an ordinary person.

After coming to his senses, the King of Hanjiang looked at the Emperor and said coldly, "Kneel down." The two guards behind the Emperor immediately kicked him hard in the knees. His knees softened and the Emperor knelt steadily in front of the King of Hanjiang. He raised his head angrily and glared at the King of Hanjiang and shouted, "You dare!" There was a hint of panic in his voice.

The King of Hanjiang just looked at him calmly and said, "It seems that you still haven't learned to recognize the situation. A stray dog ​​has no right to stand and talk to me." After saying that, he raised a smile and asked, "After so much time, have you figured out who attacked the Holy City?" The Emperor of God stared at him with wide eyes and exclaimed, "It turned out to be you!?"

"No." King Hanjiang shook his head slowly and said, "The country that attacked the Holy City was Jingjiang, which wanted to do business with the Church." The Divine Emperor's throat kept rolling and his voice trembled as he asked, "How do you know?" King Hanjiang raised a mysterious smile and replied, "Because I am from Jingjiang."

At this moment, the Emperor's hair stood on end! He had never taken this small country under the eyes of the church seriously, thinking that they were just insignificant people selling goods. However, now he understood that Jingjiang actually had such ambition and strength that he directly led his army to attack the Holy City and even controlled Luxi Fort.

He began to imagine endlessly... After thinking for a long time, he finally asked with difficulty: "I don't understand why you, since you are from Jingjiang... sell the divine punishment weapons to the church?" King Hanjiang said slowly: "No, you are wrong. Jingjiang and I are mortal enemies." He explained: "Jingjiang earns a lot of gold and silver in the country ruled by the church, and the church naturally cannot take it lightly. The conflict between the two will erupt sooner or later. I sell you hot weapons naturally because I hope that when the church faces Jingjiang, it will have more resistance to weaken Jingjiang's strength."

"I just didn't expect them to come so quickly and have the guts to attack the Holy City directly. I didn't even react." King Hanjiang said with disgust on his face. "It must be you, a loser, who pissed them off." He continued, "You are too arrogant. Facing such an opponent, the intelligence is close to zero."

"Do you really think that the church can run rampant in the world and that any country will bow down to you? In Jingjiang's eyes, you are just a bunch of barbarians." The Divine Emperor was breathing heavily and his heart was already panicking. A bad premonition came to his mind. He asked anxiously, "Then what do you want to do by arresting me? I can help you and we can deal with Jingjiang together."

Prince Hanjiang looked at him with contempt and said, "Just you?" He paused and continued, "Of course I need the strength of your men to help me deal with Jingjiang, but you... just be a dog for me." He said coldly, "Listen to me and I will give you a way out, otherwise don't blame me for being rude."

The Emperor was furious and stood up to resist. However, just as he was about to speak, the guards behind him had already swung the heavy scabbard at his right leg. With a snap, his right leg was broken and the Emperor fell to the ground again, wailing. The King of Hanjiang looked at him coldly and said, "I am not discussing with you. Jingjiang has already supported a new Emperor in the Holy City. The six most solid dioceses under your command have already stood up and openly opposed it. Now they are all on war preparedness."

"The church is now split," King Hanjiang continued, "I want you to immediately order the six dioceses to stop declaring war." The Emperor held his broken leg and looked at him with fear in his eyes, while instinctively moving back. He screamed and asked, "What on earth do you want to do?"

The King of Hanjiang turned a blind eye and murmured, "I... still need time." His eyes were deep and firm, as if everything was under his control. The Emperor of God was completely in despair and fear...
After all, the Emperor was old, and his body seemed to have been ravaged by the years and prison life, and he was already quite weak. When the pain of the broken leg hit him like a sharp blade, he could not withstand the severe pain and soon fell into a coma. (End of this chapter)