After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times-Chapter 678 - 672 This Method Won’t Work

The emperor received Zhao Hanzhang’s memorial and felt his blood boil with excitement. He felt her loyalty and respect, and thus passed the memorial down for all the generals and ministers to read.

Then he ordered the generals to strengthen their training, saying, "Once the time is ripe, we can join forces with General Zhao to reclaim the Northern Land."

Sitting at the far end, Zhou Chang waited for a long time. Seeing the emperor only mentioning recruiting troops and training soldiers, he couldn’t help but say: "Your Majesty, Governor Zhao also mentioned reducing taxes and encouraging farming."

He continued, "The letter states that those knowledgeable in celestial phenomena predict drought and locust disasters in the next two years, so we must build water infrastructure during the idle farming season. To avoid the people’s suffering from labor, not only should we avoid busy farming times, we should also reduce taxes to inspire them..."

Seeing the emperor listening intently, he proceeded, "I have some understanding of celestial phenomena too. The weather in Luoyang has been unpredictable in the past few years. I fear, as Governor Zhao said, a disaster is brewing. Therefore, I request we follow Governor Zhao’s writings, reduce taxes, and call upon labor to build water projects."

The ministers exchanged glances, all agreeing, but the problem was...

"Your Majesty, if taxes are reduced, the treasury may not be able to sustain itself. It might be better to initiate labor first."

The emperor pressed his lips together. Now, all he controlled were areas around Yan State and Qingzhou. As for Yu State, even if he assigned tax collection tasks to Zhao Hanzhang, could she really bring money and grain here?

At most, it would be some support, a drop in the ocean.

But the taxes in Yan State and Qingzhou had been layered with fees by Gou Xi and Gou Chun, already unbearable for the people. If taxes weren’t reduced and labor was called upon...

The emperor himself couldn’t bear it.

Everyone awaited the emperor’s decision.

The emperor finally turned to Zhao Zhongyu, "What does Zhao Qing think?"

Zhao Zhongyu: ...

He lowered his eyes in thought, having already offended the Gou Xi brothers many times, he didn’t mind another instance. So he stepped forward and said, "Please, Your Majesty, reduce taxes and mobilize labor."

With the support of the ministers, the emperor finally made up his mind, gritting his teeth, "For the autumn’s due taxes, adults will be exempt from twenty percent, and minors from fifty percent. The household tribute will be reduced by twenty percent. Labor will be mobilized to build water projects."

The ministers responded in unison.

With taxes reduced, the treasury income would decrease. After some thought, the emperor still issued the decree to reduce taxes while urging areas to submit a certain amount of taxes to the court.

He stated, initially, you were supposed to submit this much, but now due to tax reduction, I will collect half.

However, as the emperor knew, it’s unlikely the regions would submit the full amount.

Zhao Hanzhang anticipated this. After receiving the decree, she sent the prepared grain and money to Yun City, along with a memorial.

The grain sent wasn’t much; the main item was two carts of money. She coughed, new money!

Unsure if the emperor would be pleased upon receiving her money, she hoped he’d be somewhat happy.

The emperor had not yet received Zhao Hanzhang’s items, so at that moment he didn’t know whether to be pleased or not; he was merely troubled.

Foreseeing that the taxes coming from other regions wouldn’t be substantial, he still had to open more sources of revenue while curbing expenditure.

After much pondering, the emperor couldn’t devise any method to open sources beyond selling positions, so he focused on cutting spending.

Thus, in cutting costs, the emperor first reduced the expenses of the General’s Mansion. He recruited, no, switched several of Gou Xi’s key aides.

This allowed him to quietly replace the treasury’s overseers with his own people, and plant confidants among those receiving regional taxes.

Gou Xi’s men could no longer intercept sufficient money and grain.

And the General’s Mansion now maintained over a thousand servants and maids, concubines accelerated in number to over twenty, and his favored maids almost reached ten.

With less money and grain, his quality of life was immediately affected.

Ridiculous, when his beauty wanted a gold hairpin, he used to wave and say buy it. Now, he waved and said buy it, the steward dared to inform him that there wasn’t much cash in the mansion, and they should be more frugal.

Gou Xi was one below the emperor but above all others, yet he couldn’t afford a gold hairpin for a concubine?

Gou Xi was furious.

The steward could only kneel and plead for forgiveness, but this wasn’t just about buying one gold hairpin, it implicated pearl pins, precious hairpins, and silver pins coming consecutively...

The rear household’s competition for favor was like this.

And Gou Xi still wanted to drink wine, the price of a good urn of wine equaled a gold hairpin, the steward dared offend the concubines but not Gou Xi.

Upon inquiring, Gou Xi realized the emperor was controlling the treasury, preventing him access to money, unable to even speak decisively in Yan State.

With nerves dulled by sustained alcohol use gradually clear, Gou Xi sensed a hint of crisis and immediately asked, "Where is Gou Chun now?"

The steward hurriedly replied, "Second Son is in Qingzhou."

"And Fu Wen and Wen Ji?"

The steward looked bewildered, "General, the two generals are naturally in their respective armies leading troops."

After consuming alcohol, Gou Xi grew more capricious and angrily said, "Of course I know they’re in the army! I’m asking what they’ve been doing, whom they’ve met recently, and where’s Ming Yu, let Ming Yu come to see me!"

After yelling, Gou Xi then realized Ming Yu had run away!

The steward remained kneeling, keeping his head down, not daring to speak again.

With wide eyes and heavy breathing, Gou Xi finally in frustration kicked the table aside, looking darkly and said, "Where’s Liu Hui, summon him to see me."

Liu Hui was a Central Lang General under Gou Xi, one of his trusted aides.

The steward acknowledged with lowered head, withdrew with a bow, and hurriedly went to call Liu Hui.

Thus, shortly thereafter, a copy of Zhao Hanzhang’s memorial was sent to Gou Xi.

Gou Xi stared intently at the contents of the memorial, his emotions fluctuating, knowing from his wisdom that Zhao Hanzhang’s words were accurate, being the most beneficial route for Great Jin.

But... Gou Xi felt troubled, put down the manuscript, and waved for warm sake.

"Yes."

Gou Xi drank wine as he re-read the manuscript. But to achieve this, it would take years of effort, requiring endurance and hardship, directing all resources to the army.

Gou Xi frowned, "To counter the advantage of the Xiongnu cavalry, we need ten times more infantry, and we can’t have without cavalry either. An adequate cavalry requires at least two horses per rider for light cavalry, three for heavy cavalry. How much money and grain does this require for upkeep?"

A year ago, Gou Xi might have had the ambition, but now, he no longer did.

Liu Hui slightly raised his eyes toward the wine jug in Gou Xi’s hand, sighing internally. A year ago, seeing this memorial would have made the Great General praise loudly, possibly even cooperate with Zhao Hanzhang.

But now, he merely frowned, worried about money and grain.

Liu Hui slightly bowed and respectfully asked, "So what does the General think?"

Gou Xi replied, "This method is unfeasible."