So there was no need for any promotion at all. The moment the shops opened and the firecrackers went off, sales began immediately.

Now, the twenty thousand refugees at the cigarette factory in Yandu were far from enough.

Especially since, as Lu Yuan had said, a single factory like this wasn’t just limited to providing twenty thousand jobs.

Its ripple effect in the surrounding area could create hundreds of thousands of jobs.

It could provide a livelihood for hundreds of thousands of families.

These days, who in all of Yandu didn’t say King Yan’s second son had made something of himself?

Before, whenever anyone mentioned King Yan’s second son, they couldn’t help but sneer.

But now, anyone who heard his name would give a thumbs-up.

This feeling, so completely different from before, made Gu Gaoxu incredibly smug.

And what’s more, he, Gu Gaoxu, was raking in cash!

A twenty percent cut!!

Before, Gu Gaoxu had only wanted to start the factory to prove a point to his father.

’I’m not a complete waste of space.’

’I’m just as good as the Crown Prince!’

’From now on, don’t just think of the Crown Prince for everything. Think of me, too.’

To put it simply, Gu Gaoxu had initially wanted to build the factory just for the reputation. Anything else was secondary.

But now, not only did he have the reputation, he had the money too!!

At this scale, that was several million a year!

I mean, what was the Empire’s entire annual tax revenue?

"So, what do you think? My buddy’s amazing, right? And this box is amazing, right?"

Gu Gaoxu said smugly, his legs crossed as he held an apple in one hand and took a bite.

As for Gu Gaoxu’s behavior, the few family members present could only look on with exasperation.

’Hah, this kid.’

’It’s not like you made it. What’s there to be so smug about?’

’Anyone who didn’t know better would think you came up with it yourself!’

But on second thought...

’...you had to admit.’

’The kid might just be fooling around and messing about...’

’But being able to befriend someone so capable... you couldn’t say that wasn’t a talent in itself!’

"This Lu Yuan..."

"...is only the County Magistrate of Taiping City?"

After listening to the radio for a while, King Yan picked up his teacup and looked at Gu Gaoxu across from him to ask.

In the past, if King Yan had seen his second son daring to slouch in his presence...

...crossing his legs like that, he would have slapped him across the face long ago.

But now, King Yan said nothing.

It was simply that the things his second son had been doing lately were just too pleasing to him.

It wasn’t just that he had solved Yandu’s refugee problem and cleaned up the city’s appearance.

’When this is reported to the Court, how proud will I be?’

Especially since the refugee problem wasn’t unique to Yandu.

Who among the Nine Border Towns wasn’t struggling with refugees?

The Court had been repeatedly ordering them to resolve the issue.

After all, if the refugee population grew too large and wasn’t dealt with swiftly, it could easily lead to trouble over time.

But now, the only place that had completely resolved it was his own Yandu.

And it had been handled so elegantly, too.

It was a real feather in his cap!

So, because of this, King Yan tolerated his second son’s boorish behavior.

In response to his father’s question, Gu Gaoxu nodded repeatedly.

"He’s just a County Magistrate."

"He was just appointed to the position this year."

"It was related to that whole affair with the Qi and Lu Inspection Envoy."

Hearing Gu Gaoxu’s explanation, King Yan nodded slightly.

King Yan had also heard about the incident with the Qi and Lu Inspection Envoy.

After all, it had caused quite a stir.

A Court official—and such a high-ranking one at that—had secretly colluded with a Jianghu Sorcerer to employ evil spirits to harm people.

The whole affair was quite horrifying.

King Yan nodded slightly.

"It’s a shame for such a capable man to be just a County Magistrate."

The moment Gu Gaoxu heard this, he knew what his father was planning and quickly interjected:

"Dad, what are you thinking?"

"Don’t."

"My friend just wants to stay in Taiping City. He has no other ambitions."

"Otherwise, he would have been promoted long ago."

Hearing his second son’s words, King Yan sneered. ’What am *I* thinking?’

’As if I’d try to recruit an official.’

’That’s a major taboo for a Vassal King.’

’It was just that, with such a capable man, King Yan was wondering if he could get him to help with other things.’

’Military matters, for instance.’

’Just look at this radio.’

’How incredible!’

"With this for coordinating command, our forces would be invincible."

"Of course, it had its drawbacks."

"If the Beast Race got their hands on one, they’d be able to listen in too."

King Yan wondered if there was a way to make it so only his side could hear, or something to that effect.

King Yan truly had no other ulterior motives.

As for his second son’s claim that this Lu Yuan didn’t want a promotion...

King Yan scoffed at the idea. ’How could such a person exist?’

’Once you enter the world of officialdom, who doesn’t want to climb the ladder?’

’He’s just putting on an act of being above it all.’

At this, King Yan raised an eyebrow and said,

"Bring Lu Yuan here. I’ll have a word with him."

Hearing this, Gu Gaoxu blinked, then nodded readily.

"Done!"

’Come to think of it, Gu Gaoxu hadn’t seen Lu Yuan in a long time either.’

’He actually missed him.’

By now, Gu Gaoxu truly considered Lu Yuan a good friend.

Being with Lu Yuan was just plain fun and interesting.

In the past, Gu Gaoxu would have run off to hang out with Lu Yuan long ago.

But now...

’I’m a man with important responsibilities now!’

’Tens of thousands of people are counting on me to put food on their tables!’

’Can I just up and leave?’

’So, having Lu Yuan come over would be perfect.’

However, Gu Gaoxu suddenly remembered something else.

"But, Dad, when Lu Yuan gets here, don’t you go scaring him."

"Don’t try to force him to do things he doesn’t want to do."

Gu Gaoxu knew his father’s personality all too well.

If he wanted something done and you weren’t willing, he’d resort to either threats or bribes.

And Gu Gaoxu also had a good grasp of his friend’s temperament.

If things went south, he’d be caught in the middle, and it would be an awkward position to be in.

At his second son’s words, King Yan couldn’t help but snap,

"What kind of person do you take me for?!"

"I told you to bring him, so just do it! Enough nonsense!"

’This kid... It’s like he and that Lu Yuan are family, and I’m the outsider!’

At that, Gu Gaoxu said no more.

Just then, someone rushed in from outside.

From his words, they learned what had happened.

Empress Ma’s condition had worsened again.

According to custom, the various Vassal Kings could not enter the capital without a royal decree.

However, under the current circumstances, they were permitted to send their sons to the capital to visit and fulfill their filial duties.

Of course, this had nothing to do with Gu Gaoxu.

The boy had just recently displeased the Emperor.

He had neglected his studies there, and his words and actions were deemed frivolous, earning him a harsh reprimand from the Emperor.

This time, there was no question of letting Gu Gaoxu go.

At this, King Yan looked to the Crown Prince at his side and said in a heavy tone,

"Eldest son, make your preparations."

The Crown Prince of Yan, who had remained mostly silent, naturally knew what his father meant. He immediately rose to his feet.

"Understood, Father."

...

「Three days later.」

「Early morning.」

Lu Yuan received a letter from Yandu.

It was from Gu Gaoxu.

After reading the letter, Lu Yuan was taken aback.

’King Yan wants to see me?’

’What for?’

’Is he planning a rebellion and trying to recruit me ahead of time?’

But on second thought, Lu Yuan realized he was overthinking it.

’What year is it now?’

’It’s only the 15th year of Hongwu.’

’Zhu Biao... no, wait, here he should be called Gu Biao.’

’Gu Biao isn’t dead yet.’

’As long as the Crown Prince is alive, King Yan would have absolutely no thoughts of rebellion.’

’Not even the slightest inkling.’

’This sudden summons must be about the factory, and perhaps military matters.’

’My inventions could be incredibly powerful if applied to the military.’

’That man is a warmonger, after all.’

’After all, he’s the only emperor to have achieved the glory of Wolf Residence.’

’Right now, he’s probably just thinking about how to crush the Beast Race.’

Lu Yuan mulled it over. ’Might as well go see him.’

’After all, I’m making money on his turf, and he did extend an invitation.’

’It’s not like I can refuse!’

But that wasn’t the only thing that happened this morning. His mother-in-law had also sent a message.

His mother-in-law wanted to go to the capital and asked if he could arrange a horse-drawn carriage for her.

Lu Yuan considered this.

’It’s almost June, which means there are still two months until Empress Ma passes away.’

’His mother-in-law wants to go to the capital now... could it be she has foreseen the date of Empress Ma’s passing?’

’So she wants to be there to see her off?’

’If that’s the case...’

’...my mother-in-law’s abilities are quite something.’