The King of Black Fog

Li Changzhou felt neither good nor bad about everything he was currently experiencing.

This was his first task since breaking through a boundary, and his goal was the same as on that sweltering September morning when he incomprehensibly entered the Sea Island instance with two young girls—to learn more about the game's rules while staying alive.

Whether the task was completed was never part of his plan to begin with (just as he had never planned to kill a certain number of people in the Sea Island instance).

For the reasons mentioned above, Li Changzhou was more interested in extracting intelligence from the Chun Emperor than in any task.

As long as one has a subway ticket, a task can wait, but intelligence on Visualization... he had to consider whether this might be his only chance for a long time.

Having said that...

"The financial industry in Song City is also a patchwork of fiefdoms," Yang Qinglan said, holding the documents in her hand.

"Indeed," Li Changzhou nodded.

The Ministers of Finance, Justice, Education, Agriculture and Forestry, Industry and Commerce, Transportation, and the new Chief of Police glanced at each other.

In the living room, Li Changzhou was the only one at the head of the table, with another delicate female voice coming from behind the screen seated after him.

Was this the legendary practice of ruling from behind the curtain?

But who was behind the screen, and why could they listen to Second Master Li's government?

"There are hundreds of banks, and if your Workers' Bank wants to establish itself and stabilize the economy, you must control the Song City Bankers' Guild," the delicate female voice said again.

"That's easy," Li Changzhou looked towards Liu De, "you go to the largest banks and catch spies, catch them until they give up the Bankers' Guild Chairman position."

This was a political tactic other than 'confiscation'—framing and entrapment.

Liu De was about to bow and agree.

"Don't be reckless," the delicate female voice chided with a hint of amusement, "What skills can you learn from this approach, and how is it different from the second-generation officials and rich kids who are guaranteed not to fail, or at least not to lose face?"

"Do you have another way?" Li Changzhou was not angry; instead, he smiled.

Yang Qinglan pondered for a moment: "The way you saved Lin Clan Bank was very good."

The sound of pages turning.

"During this period, Lin Clan Bank is not the only one facing a run; there are many business owners who either need help or have vulnerabilities, like this Xu Jikai, the General Manager of Xingye Bank," she said.

"I have also reviewed his profile," Li Changzhou said, "he studied abroad in Britain and America, specialized in economics, earned a Ph.D., and managed to avoid the risk of government stakes in Xingye Bank with his own efforts."

"Yes, because of his extraordinary academic qualifications and abilities, he values the foreign gentlemanly demeanor and reputation. He has yet to take a concubine. You should have someone follow him, pretend to be a reporter, capture the crucial evidence, then personally deliver it to him, with the only demand being—that in any future financial move you make, he must do one thing to assist you to the best of his abilities."

"It's a good idea, but what if we can't catch him red-handed?" Li Changzhou was curious.

"It's quite easy for a poor person to lead a disciplined private life but almost impossible for a rich one. Having more money than one can handle usually leads to trouble—this Xu Jikai is definitely no saint," Yang Qinglan confidently asserted.

"Lucky I'm broke," Li Changzhou muttered.

The delicate female voice ignored him and continued:

"This is just one example. For all the banks in trouble, you can offer help or make threats, but try not to employ the power of the authorities at first."

"Understood."

"Besides banking, in the industrial sector... it says here that several flour mills are in operational difficulty because the owners are fond of gambling, opium smoking, or womanizing. You can start by buying them out."

"Hmm."

"Don't use your own money, borrow from the banks that have surrendered to you. That way, the banks can earn a steady income, you get the industry at no cost, and the owners get out of their pressing problems."

"Guanyin be praised!"

"Start by buying the Fenghua Flour Factory on Kangxi Road; its owner already owes six hundred thousand at the gambling den."

"Mhm mhm."

"After acquiring these small flour mills, you can use your money to buy technicians and managers from the larger mills, then use your Second Master Li identity to make your brand known, squeezing the survival space of smaller mills, and later taking the opportunity to consolidate them."

"Great idea!"

"At this stage, you can vie for the position of Chairman of the Song City Flour Exchange, but don't take on the roles of these chairmen, bank managers, and flour mill owners yourself; let those who understand do the job."

"Alright."

"Remember, and remind your people, that your involvement in finance and industry is not for making money or showing off your skills; it's to develop industry, to give workers a place to work, money to earn, food to eat, and to ensure a stable and peaceful society. Are you listening?"

"Yes, yes, cough!" Li Changzhou quickly recovered from his absorption in visualization.

It is well-known that half of Li Changzhou's intelligence at a score of 7 lies in diligence; without it, he would be but a mediocre man, so visualizing the "Thunder Map" during "class" was inevitable.

Before Yang Qinglan could say anything, he addressed the people below: "Did you all hear that? Do as Guanyin madam says."

"...Yes," the people below were still in various states of shock.

"Go on, then," Li Changzhou waved them off.

"Wait," the delicate female voice spoke again.

"Wait," Li Changzhou called out to his ministers again through the voice tube.

After a brief silence,

the delicate female voice asked, "Up to now, how much money have you all embezzled?"

Li Changzhou showed an amused expression and turned to the Education Minister, "You go first."

"My lord, I haven't... a total of eight million Yuan, company shares—" the Education Minister suddenly covered his mouth.

"Eight million, you remember very clearly, it seems each sum of money is accounted for," after saying this, Li Changzhou turned to the Justice Minister.