Chapter 452: Living More Like an Emperor Than An Emperor

Translator: Atlas Studios       Editor: Atlas Studios

When Zhou Jia found out that Li Yu had found new grain seeds and had returned to the Wang Family Village to plant them, he smiled and shook his head. When his wife had new seeds, she did not even want her husband and son.

“Go back first. I’ll go down to the government office and change my clothes before going to Minister Wen’s house for a banquet.”

“Yes, my Lord.” Ji Xiang withdrew.

Zhou Jia turned around and walked back. When he returned, he approved the remaining documents. When he went out, he saw Mao Dou waiting outside with a smile. He smiled and said to him, “Let’s go! We’re going back too.”

Mao Dou nodded and followed Zhou Jia into the carriage. When he returned home, he smiled and said to Zhou Jia, “Master, I heard from Lord Wang and

Lord Xu that Assistant Minister Ren isn’t going to the banquet tonight. He said that Assistant Minister Ren said that he ate something bad.”

“Lord Xu said that Assistant Minister Ren was still angry at Minister Wen for picking his peaches. With his personality, he was also lucky to have a capable father-in-law. How would they dare to go against Shangguan?”

“Master, Assistant Minister Ren is too stingy! How much can a few peaches be worth?”

Zhou Jia watched as Mao Dou stroked his mustache like Lord Xu usual and smiled sarcastically. “You don’t understand. This peach he was re] is different from that peach. Where did you hear the two of them talking?”

Mao Dou blinked. “In the fake cave in the garden. It’s cool there. It’s just right for me to sit there. They even said that they’re in for a treat tonight. The singers raised by Minister Wen are top-notch and seductive.”

Zhou Jia smiled and patted him. “Little imp, go eat.”

Zhou Jia went back to take a shower and change his clothes. At the thought of drinking, he went to the dining room to eat a bowl of rice. He smiled and said to Yangyang, “Son, be good and stay at home. I’m heading out to attend a banquet.”

“Alright, come back early.” Yangyang smiled and waved at Zhou Jia.

Looking at his son’s expression, Zhou Jia nodded with a smile. When he went out, he saw that the sky had already darkened and the banquet at Minister Wen’s house was about to begin.

Zhou Jia tidied up and went out to get into the carriage. Ji Xiang handed him the hangover pill and was about to walk towards the minister’s residence when Ji Xiang suddenly saw Shen Zhong riding towards him.

Ji Xiang turned to Zhou Jia and said, “Master, General Shen is here.”

Zhou Jia lifted the curtain of the car window and saw that Shen Zhong had already reached the car. He smiled and asked, “Where are you going, General

Shen?”

“I was walking towards your house! Fortunately, I didn’t miss you.” Shen Zhong jumped on the horse and cupped his hands with a smile. “Lord Zhou, Master wants to see you.”

Zhou Jia was stunned for a moment when he heard that. He understood who it was Shen Zhong was talking about. “General Shen, please lead the way.”

Shen Zhong turned his horse and walked forward. Ji Xiang drove the carriage after him.

Shen Zhong brought Ji Xiang to the Drunken Immortal Restuarant in front. After Zhou Jia got out of the car, he followed Shen Zhong to the back of the hall. As they walked along the corridor, Zhou Jia felt that someone was hiding in the dark.

When they reached the backyard and entered a room, Shen Zhong smiled and cupped his hands. “Lord Zhou, we’re here.”

“Thank you.” Zhou Jia thanked him and knocked on the door before pushing it open and entering. When he entered, he saw the Censor, Tang Nan. When Tang Nan saw Zhou Jia stunned for a moment, he smiled. Zhou Jia went forward and bowed. “Greetings, Lord Tang.”

“Jiahe, there’s no need to be so polite.” Tang Nan smiled amiably. “Sit.”

Before the two of them could sit down, they heard footsteps at the door. It turned out that Chu Yuhao had arrived.

The two of them went forward and bowed. Chu Yuhao smiled kindly at the two of them and said, “Sit down and talk. There’s no need to stand on ceremony.”

The two of them greeted him and sat down. Chu Yuhao smiled and said to Zhou

Jia, “I’ve delayed Lord Zhou from accompanying Madam.”

Zhou Jia looked helpless. “Your Majesty, after the Mid -Autumn Festival, my Madam abandoned me and the child and returned to the Wang Family Village. She said that it’s more comfortable to live in the countryside. I was originally preparing to attend Minister Wen’s banquet, but General Shen arrived just as I got into the carriage.”

Chu Yuhao smiled and said, “I didn’t expect Madam Protector to still be so carefree after so many years.”

Tang Nan was a little surprised. From His Majesty’s tone, he seemed to know Lord Zhou and his wife very well and were very familiar with them.

After chatting for a while, Chu Yuhao said to the two of them, “You’re both my trusted aides. I asked you to come here to tell you that I’ve thought of a way to increase the tax income. I originally wanted you to enter the palace to discuss it. I also wanted to come out for a walk, so I called you over.”

The two of them hurriedly stood up and bowed. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Chu Yuhao waved his hand for the two of them to sit down and continued, “I want to let go of the tea and winemaking and let those tea workers, wine workshops, and other processing workshops participate in the operation with the civilian workshops. Then, these merchants will pay heavy taxes. Not only can they increase the tax income and fill the national treasury, but they can also raise fewer parasites.”

When Zhou Jia heard this, he realized that Chu Yuhao and Li Yu had thought of the same thing. He felt that Li Yu was more comprehensive. He thought that since His Majesty had already thought of it, it would save him the trouble. Tang Nan asked, ‘What does Your Majesty want me to do?”

“Someone will mention it tomorrow morning. I want you to lead the censors to impeach the people I’m handing over to you.”

Tang Nan bowed and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. I’m afraid they’ll stop us.”

Chu Yuhao looked at Tang Nan, his brows revealing a sharp edge. “Those people who dare to stop me will regret it.”

When Zhou Jia and Tang Nan heard this, they looked at Chu Yuhao with sparkling eyes. The two of them knelt down and kowtowed. “His Majesty is wise and mighty. It’s a blessing for the people.”

Chu Yuhao looked at Zhou Jia and said, “Sort out the past income and expenditure of the tea and wine officials I asked you to investigate, I want those beetles to have nothing to say.”

Zhou Jia bowed and said, “Your Majesty, tea, wine, and silk were originally made by the commoners. After the Imperial Court controlled them, they were added to the system of collecting, transporting, and selling.”

“According to the records I found, the initial control had achieved good results, allowing the national treasury to quickly fill up. Now, not only did it not increase the tax revenue of the national treasury, but it also increased expenditure.”

“After the Imperial Court releases the specialization, it will save on the process of manufacturing, collecting, transporting, and selling. The Imperial Court can save a lot of money.”

Chu Yuhao’s eyes lit up when he heard that. He smiled and said, “Yes, there’s also silk. Let go of the silk and impose a heavy tax.”

Tang Nan also suggested, “Your Majesty, the Imperial Court wants to liberalize the trade routes such as brewing wine and tea. Those craftsmen, tea officials, wine officials, and silk officials have to be removed. There are many officials and low-ranking officials in these departments in the country. We have to formulate the corresponding arrangements and measures to deal with the forces behind them. The forces behind them cannot be ignored.”

Chu Yuhao revealed an expression indicating that he had long been planning this. “I’ve already ordered people to prepare the corresponding countermeasures and found evidence of their corruption.”

When Chu Yuhao thought of the vermin he had seen from the secret guards’ investigations, the corrupted gold, silver, and treasures, and the extravagances, he was so angry that he slammed the table and stood up. “These worms live more like emperors than I. Their private stash of gold, silver, and wealth is even more abundant than Great Yong’s national treasury. There are countless rare treasures. It’s breathtaking..”

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