I Want to Be Emperor.

Summary

Panic engulfed Guanzhong's business world as the Han dynasty's previously closed market began to open. The abolition of border defenses allowed foreign merchants to enter, unsettling local powerful families who had long controlled commerce. Despite their initial complacency, they now feared competition from eastern merchants. The emperor, Liu Che, dismissed their concerns, emphasizing that all subjects, including those from the east, deserved equal opportunity. He implemented strict laws to ensure quality control in commerce, disregarding the nobles' pleas. The once-secure position of Guanzhong merchants was now threatened, leading to widespread despair among them as the emperor's reforms reshaped the economic landscape.

Full content