My Lady Always Lacks Ambition-Chapter 1033 - 1005: Asking the Temple Master for Tips on Making Money (Part 2)

Qin Liuxi pushed the tea over and smiled faintly, "Mr. Cui is here, so I’m smiling."

"Is this a Zen saying?"

Qin Liuxi smiled without speaking: It’s not. It’s just that you voluntarily came aboard the big ship of troublemaking, and my heart is delighted!

Cui Shixue took a sip of tea and said, "The temple master has divine skills, so I won’t beat around the bush. The reason for my visit is actually to ask for some guidance from the temple master on how to fill the national treasury."

Qin Liuxi raised an eyebrow and said, "Is Mr. Cui asking me to advise the Ministry of Revenue on how to seize profit from the people?"

If that’s the case, she wouldn’t dare to advise. If the Ministry of Revenue competed with the people for profit, the people would have no way out.

"I wouldn’t dare." Cui Shixue said: "You know about the court’s current need for disaster relief, right? I won’t hide it from you. The usable silver coin in the national treasury is merely a million or so. Even with a mind for relief, it’s like a clever woman without rice. Therefore, I come here shamelessly, asking for guidance from the temple master on how to raise money."

Heaven have mercy, he was originally supposed to assume office after the new year, but after reporting in the capital, he was immediately faced with this situation. It wasn’t a big deal to take office immediately, but when he saw the almost deficit-laden account books of the Ministry of Revenue, his eyes practically went dark.

Too poor!

Especially now that the Saint is repeatedly pressuring them to allocate funds for disaster relief, which caused the officials of the Ministry of Revenue to lose several strands of their beards?

"If it’s just about raising funds for disaster relief, I do have some ideas. For guidance..." Qin Liuxi tapped the table.

Cui Shixue, understanding the situation, quickly took a small stack of silver notes from his sleeve and placed them on the table, "This is the fortune-telling fee."

Qin Liuxi looked at the stack of hundred-tael silver notes and asked with a smile, "Is Mr. Cui using public funds or paying out of pocket?"

"This is my personal request, naturally paid out of pocket." Using public funds to seek divination would be inviting the people at the Imperial Censorate, who have nothing to write about, to write with pen in hand, handing over a handle, wouldn’t it?

Qin Liuxi only took one silver note, "This is enough; just remember the favor, Mr. Cui."

Cui Shixue was taken aback, so she wants a favor?

What does she want to do?

Rebel!

Qin Liuxi then said, "I’ve heard that even from the time of the previous Emperor, many old ministers owed the court quite a bit of silver, and over the years, it hasn’t been cleared. Even if people have left, the debts remain."

Cui Shixue smiled wryly, "You’ve thought of the same thing as me. When I saw the deficit in the accounts, I also thought of this debt. I’ve reviewed the past scrolls. Don’t laugh, but the total owed, when added together, amounts to more than two million taels. If you say it can be recovered, it needs a lot of leniency. If collecting debts were that easy, there wouldn’t be such an accumulation. Besides, having many debts doesn’t burden them. These old foxes, despite looking righteous, aren’t any less capable than the petty hooligans. When it comes to dodging debts, no one is better than them."

In fact, this debt is also a heavy burden on the Ministry of Revenue’s heart. Which Minister of Revenue hasn’t wanted to settle this debt? But those old ministers, it’s not like they can’t afford it, they just refuse. If you go to collect the debt, they’ll act shamelessly. They can argue, but there’s no money!

If you insist on forcing them, they might just kneel in front of the Saint and cry about the previous Emperor. Who can beat them at that?

Qin Liuxi, holding her tea, said, "That’s because you’re not targeting the issue with the right remedy. As long as you identify the issue correctly, collecting debts isn’t difficult. Every family has a weakness or need, doesn’t it? You need to hit the right pulse."

Cui Shixue’s heart stirred, "If we invite the temple master to take action, I’m sure you’ll hit the pulse accurately."

Seeing his eager eyes, Qin Liuxi found it somewhat amusing.

"Mr. Cui, I’m just an outsider. If I did all the things you’re supposed to do, you’d be ashamed to face anyone." After all, debt collection can be done, but why should she do it? She doesn’t receive court salary.

Cui Shixue said formally, "If we can recover the debts, I won’t feel any shame. My face is three feet thick!"

What is shame? Can it cure poverty? The Ministry of Revenue is already terminally ill, and only silver can cure it.

Qin Liuxi: "..."

Didn’t expect you to be so brazen!

Ignoring his fervent and hopeful gaze, she said, "Mr. Cui is a capable person. Since your face is three feet thick, you’ll definitely hit the pulse accurately. However, even if those debts are recovered, it’s still a drop in the bucket. To raise a large amount of good silver, you’ll need to strategize externally."

The main course is coming.

Cui Shixue quickly asked, "For example?"

"In this world, no one is richer than the wealthy merchants. They control nearly seventy percent of Da Feng’s silver coin. But no one’s silver coin is blown in by the wind; they’ve worked hard for it. Asking them to make a small donation is possible. But for a large sum of silver, without any benefits, you can forget about it."