Three days.
Just three days.
And the capital exploded.
Not from bombs—but from silver.
Ever since the court issued the decree to “open up credit,” every money house in the capital—large and small—has had its thresholds nearly trampled flat.
The common people surged into the money houses like mad.
Borrow money!
Borrow money!
Everyone was borrowing!
“Shopkeeper, I want to borrow five taels!”
“I’ll take ten!”
“Ten? What’s that? I’ll borrow twenty!”
“Can I borrow fifty taels?”
Fifty taels?
The shopkeeper sucked in a cold breath.
Brother, how many people are in your household? Fifty taels would feed your entire family for three years!
“What do you need that much for?”
“To buy things!”
The man thumped his chest confidently.
“My wife said Sister Wang next door borrowed thirty taels and bought a bolt of Suzhou silk.”
“If my wife doesn’t get one too, she’ll raise hell with me!”
“Besides, it’s interest-free, right? If we don’t borrow, it’s a waste!”
The shopkeeper opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
But seeing the endless line behind him, he swallowed his words.
Forget it.
Who would dare obstruct an imperial decree?
Besides, the silver being lent out still carried interest.
“Interest-free” only applied to the first three months.
After that, fifteen percent annual interest.
When that time came, wouldn’t the money houses still make a fortune?
“Lend! Lend to everyone!”
The shopkeeper gritted his teeth and waved his hand.
“Line up properly! One at a time!”
Scenes like this were unfolding on every street and in every ward of the capital.
Borrow to consume.
Those four words ignited the entire city like wildfire.
The people took their borrowed silver and flooded the streets.
They bought everything.
In the silk shops, matrons argued red-faced.
“I saw this fabric first!”
“So what? I paid first!”
At the jewelry shops, young women and newlyweds formed long lines.
“How much for this pair of gold earrings?”
“Three taels and six mace.”
“That’s expensive!”
“It’s already gone up once. Yesterday it was only two taels eight.”
“If I don’t buy today, won’t it be even more expensive tomorrow?”
“Who knows?”
“Fine! I’ll buy it!”
And so it spread from person to person, family to family.
If you bought, I bought.
If you borrowed, I borrowed.
The entire capital plunged into an unprecedented consumption carnival.
Meanwhile, as the most loyal subordinate of the instigator behind this frenzy, Jin Daya rode a tall horse through the streets.
No—this wasn’t patrol.
It was “service.”
“Neighbors and fellow townsfolk!” he shouted at the top of his lungs.
“A great policy from the court!”
“Borrow money with no interest!”
“Three months free!”
“Anyone still not signed up? Come here! The Street Office can process it directly!”
“No need to queue at the money house!”
“This official will personally write your voucher!”
Behind him followed more than a dozen bailiffs from the Street Office, each carrying stacks of “Consumption Loan Vouchers.”
If anyone glanced twice, a bailiff immediately rushed over.
“Brother! I can tell from your bones—you’re destined for fortune!”
“You shouldn’t waste this ten-tael credit limit!”
“If your household has good credit, you might even get twenty!”
In the past, they had been fierce when collecting protection fees.
Now they were equally enthusiastic selling loans.
Different service, same essence.
Before, they extorted.
Now, they forcefully stuffed loans into people’s hands.
Zhao Dadan followed behind Jin Daya, watching the lively scene with some worry.
“Old Jin… is this really okay?”
“If everyone borrows so much, what happens when they can’t repay?”
Jin Daya glared.
“What do you know?”
“This is what the Lord calls… stimulating domestic demand!”
“When silver circulates, the economy lives!”
“When the economy lives, everyone earns money!”
“If everyone earns money, what’s there to fear about repaying this little bit?”
Zhao Dadan felt dizzy listening to this.
It sounded reasonable.
Yet something felt off.
Forget it.
Whatever the Lord said must be right.
He had never been wrong before.
All those previous policies—no matter how absurd they seemed at first—had ultimately slapped the skeptics in the face.
Elsewhere, Li An was also wandering the capital incognito.
“Incognito” really just meant strolling aimlessly.
But every scene he saw filled his heart with joy.
The streets were packed.
Shop entrances lined with queues.
Shouts and bargaining rose one after another.
And everywhere—besides silver—were colorful “Consumption Loan Vouchers.”
An old woman carried three bolts of cloth and two jars of wine, her husband behind her lugging a sack of rice.
A young man held a pair of bright red lanterns, a paper fan, and a bundle of pastries.
Li An personally watched a young wife buy six silver hairpins in one go.
Six!
Could one head even hold six?
“It’s cheap now! If I don’t buy, I’ll lose out!”
she giggled to her friend.
“Besides, if prices go up in a few days, won’t that be worse?”
Li An was ecstatic.
Yes! That’s the spirit!
Consume! Consume! Spend like crazy!
Every tael you spend becomes national fortune points rising on my system panel!
Ding!
【Commercial activity in the capital of Great Qi continues to rise!】
【Public consumption willingness reaches historical peak!】
【National Fortune +3,000】
【Current National Fortune: 175,979】
Three thousand points!
The cycle had just begun, and in one morning alone he gained three thousand!
Li An nearly danced in the street.
“Hongmei.”
He called softly.
Hongmei appeared silently from the crowd.
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Look at this capital.”
Li An gestured around him.
“This is what a prosperous age looks like!”
“It’s not about foreign nations paying tribute—when commoners have money to spend, that’s true peace and prosperity!”
Hongmei looked around.
There were indeed crowds.
Many buyers.
But she felt something faintly unsettling.
“Young Master… those things they’re holding… aren’t they IOUs?”
“IOUs? That sounds ugly! They’re Consumption Loan Vouchers!”
Li An corrected her.
“It’s different!”
“This is an advanced financial instrument!”
“A twenty-first century—uh, I mean, an innovative economic measure pioneered by our dynasty!”
Hongmei nodded, half understanding.
She didn’t understand economics.
But she understood people.
Those borrowing to buy were smiling.
But the sellers? Behind their smiles were more complicated expressions.
Some secretly raised prices.
Some secretly sighed.
Still, as long as the Young Master was happy, she would not spoil the mood.
At noon, Li An returned to the Zhuangyuan Residence in excellent spirits and ordered a lavish spread.
While eating, he watched the system panel.
The national fortune value was still slowly climbing.
Almost every incense stick’s time, it ticked upward.
+200.
+350.
+180.
Not large increases—but steady.
That was the best trend!
“Stable, stable, stable!”
He downed a cup of wine.
“This is the power of financial tools!”
“Small increases each time—but over time!”
“If it averages three thousand a day, that’s ninety thousand a month!”
“In four months, that’s three hundred sixty thousand!”
“Three hundred sixty thousand national fortune points… converted into gold…”
“System, did you expect that whether ruining a nation or strengthening it, I, Li An, can do it with ease?”
“What’s that called?”
“That’s called an all-round talent!”
“Top scholar no matter which path I take!”
Ding!
【Detected 15% increase in capital price index】
【Short-term economic vitality increased, National Fortune +500】
【Current National Fortune: 178,829】
Price index up 15%?
Li An glanced at it indifferently.
Price rises were normal.
Didn’t economics say moderate inflation was good?
It meant a vibrant market and strong spending.
If prices didn’t rise at all, that would mean stagnation.
“Hongmei!”
“Pour me another!”
“Today is worth celebrating!”
She silently filled his cup.
Outwardly calm, inwardly uneasy.
He used to look worried every day, as if the sky might collapse.
Now he was cheerful as if it were New Year’s daily.
In the following days, the credit-fueled consumption frenzy not only failed to cool—it intensified.
Major money houses began launching creative promotions.
“Borrow ten, get one free!”
“Old customers double limit!”
“Refer a new client, both get five hundred coins!”
An ancient version of referral bonuses.
The borrowers grew even more reckless.
A butcher borrowed thirty taels—not to slaughter pigs, but to buy a fine iron blade… for collection.
“A fine heirloom for my son!”
An old tofu seller demanded twenty taels—to buy his grandson a singing cricket.
Eight taels for one cricket.
“Expensive? What’s expensive?”
“My grandson likes it!”
“Besides, it’s not my money—it’s borrowed! We’ll talk in three months!”
How would he repay?
He hadn’t thought that far.
Surely, by then, he’d be earning more.
Didn’t everyone say that with a booming economy, everyone would get rich?
This blind optimism spread through the capital like a plague.
Inside the Ministry of Revenue, Minister Qian Tong stared blankly at the reports on his desk.
“Impossible…”
He rubbed his eyes and read again.
This month’s tax revenue from the capital… had tripled.
Tripled!
In twenty years at the Ministry, he had never seen such growth.
“Investigate!”
“There must be a mistake!”
An hour later, his subordinate returned, sweating.
“My Lord! No mistake!”
“It truly tripled!”
“And that’s only what’s been counted so far!”
“If we include uncollected shop taxes, it might even quadruple!”
Qian Tong’s hands trembled.
Four times?
Since Great Qi’s founding, the largest monthly increase had only been fifty percent—after a great military victory.
Now it was fourfold?
“Prepare my carriage!”
“I’m going to the palace!”
In the Imperial Study, Emperor Zhao Ling’er was reviewing memorials.
Hearing the Minister of Revenue request an audience, she set down her brush.
“Summon him.”
Qian Tong nearly stumbled in.
“Your Majesty! Great joy!”
“A tremendous blessing!”
Zhao Ling’er frowned slightly.
“What is it?”
He presented the report with both hands.
“Your Majesty, this month’s capital tax revenue… has tripled!”
“Tripled!”
“I’ve lived fifty-six years and served twenty in the Ministry!”
“I’ve never seen anything like this!”
“This is a prosperity unseen in a hundred years!”
Zhao Ling’er scanned the report.
She too was stunned.
The numbers did not lie.
Shop taxes, transaction taxes, brokerage taxes—all soaring.
“Is this true?”
“Absolutely!”
Qian Tong knelt, tears streaming.
“Your Majesty, this is all thanks to Lord Li!”
“His open credit policy is divine!”
“The people have money to spend, merchants have money to earn, and the treasury has money to collect!”
“A triple win, Your Majesty!”
Zhao Ling’er leaned back slowly in her dragon throne.
Beloved Minister Li…
She gazed out the window, recalling his previous reforms—
Selling offices to raise funds, reforming the examinations, building the Nightless City.
Every time, he had looked reluctant, as if forced into it.
Yet somehow, he had once again delivered a miracle.
But this time…
He had volunteered.
His eyes had shone with excitement.
He had said, “I cannot fail Your Majesty’s trust.”
So this was his true talent and strength all along!
Before, he simply hadn’t given it his all.
The more Zhao Ling’er thought about it, the more the corners of her lips lifted. Her heart felt sweet with satisfaction.
“Pass down my decree.”
“Li An has rendered meritorious service in governing the state. Reward him with one thousand taels of gold and twenty bolts of brocade.”
The eunuch beside her was just about to leave—
“Wait.”
She added another line.
“Add this… ‘I am greatly comforted.’”
The eunuch froze.
“I am greatly comforted.”
Those four words were not spoken lightly.
They represented the highest form of imperial approval a minister could receive.
In the three years since the Emperor’s ascension, only a handful of officials had ever been praised this way.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The eunuch accepted the order and departed.
Meanwhile, at the Prime Minister’s residence.
Wang Fu sat in his study drinking tea.
His expression was anything but pleasant.
“Tripled?”
He slammed the teacup onto the table.
“The capital’s tax revenue tripled? Is this information reliable?”
“It is absolutely accurate,” his subordinate replied with his head lowered.
“The Ministry of Revenue is celebrating wildly. They say it’s a prosperity unseen in a century.”
Wang Fu felt not only anger—
But unwillingness.
For over a decade, he had carefully laid out his pieces in Great Qi’s court.
Planting Southern Zhou’s chess pieces one by one.
Waiting for Great Qi to rot from within.
But ever since Li An arrived…
Selling offices? The treasury filled.
Examination reform? New blood rose.
The Nightless City? The economy soared.
Credit expansion? Tax revenue doubled.
How the hell was it supposed to rot now?
“Wait.”
Wang Fu suddenly calmed down.
He lifted his teacup and took a slow sip.
Something wasn’t right.
This so-called credit policy…
On the surface, it seemed beneficial.
But think deeper—
The people were borrowing to spend.
Silver in circulation increased.
But that silver didn’t come out of thin air.
It was lent from the vaults of the money houses.
And that vault silver?
Deposited by the people themselves.
If everyone went to withdraw their silver at once…
Would the money houses still have enough?
If they didn’t—
That would be a bank run.
And once a single run occurred…
The entire capital’s economy would collapse in an instant.
A faint sneer curved Wang Fu’s lips.
“Do not interfere.”
“Let him continue.”
“The bigger he makes it, the better.”
“The larger the bubble, the louder it bursts.”
The subordinate withdrew.
That night.
Li An hosted a celebration banquet at the Zhuangyuan Residence.
Jin Daya, Zhao Dadan, Liu Xi, Qian Xiaohai—all were present.
Everyone drank until their faces were flushed red.
“My Lord!”
Jin Daya raised his wine bowl, eyes full of admiration.
“You are the most formidable man I’ve ever met in my life!”
“Even fiercer than the toughest man in the underworld back then!”
“What comparison is that?”
Zhao Dadan objected.
“Those underworld thugs only bullied commoners.”
“Our Lord? He’s revived the entire economy of Great Qi!”
“That’s what you call vision!”
He slapped the table.
“Our Lord’s vision is bigger than the heavens!”
Jin Daya nodded vigorously.
“Yes, yes! Vision! Our Lord has the greatest vision!”
Li An felt himself floating from the praise.
If only you knew I’m actually an undercover agent from Northern Yan…
“Enough, enough. Stop flattering me.”
He waved his hand.
“Business. How are things at the money houses?”
“Fantastic!”
Jin Daya held up three fingers.
“In just three days, the twelve money houses we coordinated have lent out eight hundred thousand taels!”
“Eight hundred thousand taels?!”
Li An swallowed.
Eighty thousand per day on average—what insane speed!
But that was fine.
Circulation was good.
“Keep lending.”
He waved boldly.
“But make sure each money house doesn’t lend more than seventy percent of total deposits.”
“Actually… eighty percent. No, better keep it at seventy. Leave some buffer.”
“Yes, My Lord! Understood!”
The banquet continued joyfully.
After several rounds of wine and dishes—
Just as everyone was swaying drunkenly—
Hurried footsteps sounded outside.
“Master Jin! Master Jin!”
A shop assistant stumbled in, flustered.
“What is it?”
Jin Daya belched and frowned.
“Shopkeeper Zhou from the South Ward is here.”
“He says it’s urgent.”
Jin Daya waved impatiently.
“Tell him to get lost! Can’t you see I’m drinking with my Lord?”
“But he says…”
The assistant hesitated.
“He says prices are rising strangely.”
“In just three days, rice prices have nearly doubled.”
“Cloth and salt prices are rising too.”
“Commoners are holding nothing but IOUs and loan vouchers.”
“Actual silver… seems scarce.”
Jin Daya froze.
Then glanced at Li An, who was playing finger-guessing games with Zhao Dadan, laughing loudly.
The Lord was in such high spirits!
How could he bring up such unpleasant news now?
He kicked the assistant sharply.
“Get out! Don’t ruin the Lord’s mood!”
“So what if rice prices rose?”
“The Lord said that’s moderate inflation!”
“Moderate inflation is good!”
“If you don’t understand, shut up!”
“Tell Old Zhou to mind his own business!”
The assistant stumbled out.
Jin Daya turned back to drink—
But his hand paused slightly.
Rice prices nearly doubled in just a few days?
Was it really that extreme?
He quickly shook the thought away.
If the Lord says it’s fine, it’s fine.
The Lord has never been wrong.
Never.
After the banquet dispersed—
Li An staggered back to his room.
Closed the door.
Opened the system panel.
The numbers nearly sobered him instantly.
Ding!
【Great Qi commercial prosperity surpasses historical peak!】
【Public happiness (short-term) explodes!】
【National Fortune +10,000】
…
Ding!
【Credit consumption drives upgrade in spending! Commodity circulation speed +300%!】
【National Fortune +20,000】
…
Ding!
【Capital of Great Qi becomes the number one commercial hub under heaven!】
【National Fortune +5,000】
【Current National Fortune: 213,829】
Li An’s eyes widened.
He rubbed them in disbelief.
Looked again.
Two hundred thirteen thousand?
It had jumped from one hundred seventy thousand to over two hundred ten thousand!
Nearly forty thousand points in three days!
“Holy shit!”
He slapped the table.
“Forty thousand points!”
“That’s four million taels of gold at exchange rate!”
“Four million!”
“I’ve never even dreamed of that much gold!”
“It’s stable! This time it’s truly stable!”
“I, Li An, am truly a genius in statecraft!”
“Selling offices? Exam reform? That was luck.”
“But this time—this is my real skill!”
“So easy? This is how you strengthen a nation?”
“It’s easier than ruining one!”
“System, if you’d just told me to strengthen the nation earlier—”
“Why did I take such a detour?”
“I suffered for nothing.”
He sighed deeply and collapsed into his reclining chair.
The ceiling spun.
The alcohol hit—and so did the excitement.
He closed his eyes.
In his mind—gold everywhere.
Mountains of gold.
Return to modern times.
Buy a villa.
Buy sports cars.
Lie on a Maldivian beach.
Embraced on both sides by…
“Hehehe…”
He even laughed in his sleep.
At this moment, Li An was happier than ever.
What he did not know—
While he dreamed of wealth—
In the South Ward of the capital—
Shopkeeper Zhou stood at the entrance of his grain store, sighing.
Behind him, the grain warehouse was empty.
Every jar of rice had been cleared out.
He had sold everything.
Converted it all into silver.
Then secretly transported it outside the city to hide overnight.
“Shopkeeper Zhou… what are you doing?”
The neighboring cloth merchant asked in confusion.
“Closing business?”
Zhou didn’t answer directly.
“Brother, I advise you to prepare early.”
“This silver is becoming worthless.”
“IOUs everywhere. Loan vouchers everywhere.”
“But where’s the actual silver?”
“It exists only in the money houses’ account books.”
“Their vaults… are probably already empty.”
The cloth merchant paled.
“Surely not? The court says the economy is booming…”
“Heh.”
Zhou sneered.
“I’ve traded grain for forty years.”
“I’ve seen every kind of situation.”
“When oil is poured on raging fire, when flowers bloom atop brocade—”
“That’s when you must be most cautious.”
He turned and boarded up his shop.
“One by one.”
“The storm is coming.”
The wooden planks creaked in the night wind.
Then sealed shut.
The capital remained brightly lit.
Lanterns of the Nightless City hung high.
Vendors still shouted.
Borrowers still spent wildly.
Everything looked peaceful and prosperous.
But from above—
In the alleys beyond the lantern light—
More than one shop had hung a “For Transfer” sign.
More than one shopkeeper was secretly moving silver overnight.
More than one old clerk muttered anxiously.
“Rice prices are rising too fast.”
“More IOUs. Less silver.”
“How long can this last?”
Late at night.
Zhuangyuan Residence.
Li An turned over in his sleep, a foolish grin still on his lips.
The system panel floated quietly above his bed.
The National Fortune number continued to tick upward.
213,829… 213,901… 213,975…
Steadily rising.
Everything seemed perfect.
Suddenly—
Ding!
A piercing alarm shattered the silence.
The system panel abruptly changed color.
The golden numbers turned glaring red.
【Warning!】
【Detected excessive economic bubble index!】
【Detected abnormal false prosperity indicators!】
【Detected… zzz… zzz…】
The alarm stuttered twice—
Then stopped.
The red flickered—
Returned to gold.
As if nothing had happened.
Li An frowned slightly in his dream.
Murmured incoherently:
“Bubble… beer foam?”
“More… cold…”
He turned over again.
Fell into deep sleep.
Outside—
The moon slipped behind clouds.
And the capital, at last—
Began to darken.
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