Zhu Yuanzhang continued. “As the price of silver rose, the gap between its exchange rate and the Zhou banknotes widened. The people of Zhou, seeing the increasing value of silver, would no longer rely on their paper currency. Instead, they would rush to buy silver. “All of Yang Yi’s plans will fall apart! The Zhou Dynasty’s attempt to establish its banknotes as currency will be nothing more than an illusion.” He declared. The moment his words fell, silence filled the hall. Zhu Biao’s eyes widened in shock. His scalp tingled as he realized the gravity of the scheme. He had never expected his father to come up with such a ruthless plan. This was aimed straight at the Zhou Dynasty’s weak spot. If Zhu Yuanzhang succeeded, the Zhou banknotes would instantly become worthless. This was far more devastating than the actions of mere speculators, who could only disrupt certain regions. The Ming Dynasty, however, was poised to strike at Zhou’s entire economy. Zhu Biao swallowed hard, hesitating before speaking. “Father, are we really going to provoke the Zhou Dynasty?” Zhu Yuanzhang shot him a sharp look. “Biao’er, it’s not that we want to provoke them. We have no choice but to stand against them. The struggle between nations is a matter of life and death. “Do you really think that if we peacefully coexist with the Zhou Dynasty now, they will spare our Ming Dynasty in the future?” Zhu Biao was at a loss for words. Zhu Yuanzhang smiled faintly. “Once the value of Zhou banknotes collapses, our Ming Dynasty will declare a ban on their circulation within our borders. At that point, their paper currency will be nothing more than worthless scraps of paper.” The officials in the hall sucked in sharp breaths. Their expressions were filled with shock as they stared at Zhu Yuanzhang. He was determined to crush Zhou’s financial system completely. This series of blows would almost certainly throw the Zhou Dynasty into chaos. Meanwhile, in the Han Dynasty, within the imperial court, Liu Che reclined in his chair, his sharp gaze sweeping over his ministers. “You’ve all heard Zhou’s proposal. Now tell me—should we agree to it?” Zhu Fuyan, Sang Hongyang, Zhang Qian, and Zhang Tang exchanged thoughtful looks. After a moment, Zhu Fuyan hesitated before speaking. “The Zhou Dynasty is determined to implement their banknotes. Offending them now seems unwise, especially since we have yet to resolve the Xiongnu threat in the north. Therefore… I believe we should—” He trailed off, his words dying in his throat as he met Liu Che’s cold, piercing gaze. Sweat formed on his brow. Liu Che’s voice was calm yet unwavering. “What if I don’t want to miss this opportunity to strike at the Zhou Dynasty?” The hall fell into silence. Dong Zhongshu stroked his beard, his sharp eyes glinting with thought. “Your Majesty, I suggest we first observe how other nations react. We can send envoys to the Tang and Ming dynasties, which are closest to Zhou. I doubt they would want to see Zhou prosper either. “If they come up with a plan, we can follow their lead rather than be the first to act. This way, regardless of whether Zhou is targeted or not, our Han Dynasty will not bear the brunt of their hatred.” The ministers exchanged glances. Dong Zhongshu’s strategy was undeniably cunning—it was a way to fan the flames from behind while staying out of direct conflict. Liu Che’s eyes lit up. Stroking his beard, he nodded. “A good idea. I will draft a letter immediately to test the thoughts of Li Shimin and Zhu Yuanzhang.” He turned to Sang Hongyang. “You will send someone to deliver my letter to both emperors.” Sang Hongyang bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.” Over in the Tang Dynasty, within the quiet halls of Taiji Palace in Chang’an, Li Shimin sat with a pensive expression. His chiseled features were tinged with complexity as he scanned the gathered officials. His voice was low and measured. “Back then, we were certain that Zhou’s banknotes would fail. Yet now, their paper currency has firmly established itself as the backbone of their financial system.” “Now, the Zhou envoy has come to invite our Tang Dynasty to support them. You are all experienced ministers of Tang—you should know what it means if Zhou succeeds in fully unifying their banknotes.” His voice turned colder. “I believe we must not only refuse to help them but, if given the chance, we should thoroughly disrupt their economy.” The hall remained silent. Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui sat with solemn expressions. They knew all too well the implications of Zhou inflating its paper currency to rival gold and silver. If Zhou succeeded in establishing a monetary system centered around its banknotes, those banknotes would inevitably become the new “paper gold” as the Zhou Dynasty grew stronger. That kind of power shift was something their neighboring nations could not tolerate. Changsun Wuji was about to speak when suddenly, footsteps echoed through the hall. “Your Majesty,” a eunuch announced. “Envoys from the Han and Ming dynasties have arrived, bearing letters personally written by their emperors. They request an audience.” Li Shimin’s eyes narrowed in surprise. “Letters from Liu Che and Zhu Yuanzhang? What a coincidence…” His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of his chair. “Or perhaps…” A chilling realization spread through the court. Meanwhile, in the Qin Dynasty, the ministers gathered before Emperor Ying Zheng. Li Si stepped forward, his expression solemn. “Your Majesty, this is a critical moment for the Great Zhou banknotes. If other nations publicly recognize their legitimacy, Zhou’s paper currency will replace metal currency entirely. Their national power will surge. “However, if we take this opportunity to disrupt their system, all of their efforts could be rendered useless. I propose we—” He paused, noting the emperor’s silence. Meng Yi and Wang Wan also hesitated, glancing at one another. The implications of the Zhou envoy’s words earlier had unsettled them all. They had watched Zhou grow stronger, step by step, until it had now reached a point where it could challenge the might of Qin. If Zhou completed this final step, its national power would leap to new heights. Yet Ying Zheng remained silent, seemingly unmoved by their suggestions. After a long pause, he finally spoke. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡✶𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚✶𝙣𝙚𝙩 “All nations can see that Zhou is at a critical juncture. If they succeed, their currency will dominate. But if we strike now, we may undo all their progress.” His gaze sharpened. “But tell me—do you think Yang Yi has anticipated this?” The ministers stiffened. “If he has foreseen our plans,” Ying Zheng continued, “why does he still dare to seek our cooperation?” A chill spread through the room. Everyone exchanged uneasy glances. How had they overlooked this? Yang Yi—the most cunning strategist of the Zhou Dynasty—was no ordinary opponent. A sudden sense of foreboding crept into their hearts, making the air in the chamber feel colder.