Song Xing'an glanced at Jian Shuyang. Before he came, Mu Mingqian told him about Mu Mingqian's identity, and he could not offend Prime Minister Mu's son.
Jian Shuyang thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement, "Then please give Master Mu a hard time in the next two months."
They came to Nancheng with an important task given by the Queen. Since Mu Mingqian was in a hurry to leave and they couldn't refuse, they had to work overtime.
"Don't worry, I was alone before, but now there are two of you in Nancheng, and you have less things to manage than me. Besides, everything is on track now. If you had come here a year earlier, I'm afraid you wouldn't even have time to close your eyes. No."
Zhao Qianming has been sighing since he entered Huyue City. There is a huge difference between Huyue City and Nancheng. The gap is really not even a little bit.
"Sir, don't be disappointed. As long as you are here, it will be a matter of time before you catch up with Nancheng. Besides, you have Master Zu and the others helping you behind the scenes."
You must know that Zhao Qianming's grandfather expected him to enter the cabinet.
In the House of the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, You Zhicheng looked at the table full of delicacies but could not take a bite.
"Official, no matter how busy you are with official duties, you should take care of yourself. If you have no appetite and feel greasy, how about I ask the kitchen to cook some lotus seed porridge?"
You Zhicheng shook his head, "No, why waste food on cooking porridge if you don't eat a whole table of food?"
Unfortunately, even if he wanted to sell the entire mansion, he could only raise hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, which was a drop in the bucket.
"Madam, if one day there is a shortage of money in the house, how will you solve it?" You Zhicheng couldn't help but ask his wife curiously.
Mrs. You's face condensed for a moment and then she smiled and said: "Don't worry, officials. The fields in the mansion have a good harvest in the first half of this year. The income from selling the grain handed over by the tenants is quite abundant. I will take care of the back house and not let the officials Those who have worries about their future.”
You Zhicheng shook his head, "That's not what I meant. The treasury is short of money, and the emperor intends to let the Ministry of Revenue find a way. It has been several days, but I can't think of any good ideas."
When Mrs. You heard this, she felt that she could not help. How much money the treasury had, how could a minister's house save it.
"That's all, I'm thinking about it." You Zhicheng didn't really expect to get any good advice from Mrs. You, he just asked without anyone talking to him.
Mrs. You saw that he was still frowning while eating. After a long time, she stopped her chopsticks and deliberately raised her voice and said: "If the officials really have no other way, they can ask the Pope. I think the Queen may have something to do."
"When did Madam respect the Queen so much?" You Zhicheng glanced at her in confusion. She had never asked about her own official affairs, but now she asked herself to ask a woman's opinion.
Mrs. You realized that she had just spoken a little too loudly, so she lowered the curtain and whispered: "Nowadays, among the female relatives of the officials in the capital, there is no one who does not admire the Queen. After all, she can both make money and assist her husband. She is considered the first Queen of the Kingdom." ”
The most important thing is that the queen can control the emperor and bewitch him in all kinds of ways. She is so dedicated that he is willing not to have a concubine. Who doesn't want to learn this skill.
You Zhicheng put down his chopsticks and said, "I'm afraid only this one will appear throughout the ages."
"Xianlian, shouldn't I say that?" Mrs. You looked at You Zhicheng's back and subconsciously clenched the hand holding the chopsticks.
"Madam, you have already used it up and have no intention of being angry with me."
Mrs. You put down the bowl and chopsticks, not wanting to eat any more.
"You Shangshu, if the delay continues, the emperor will ask. Haven't you figured out a solution yet?" Fei Yi sat across from the desk. He didn't want to rely entirely on You Zhicheng to find money.
After work yesterday, he went to Song Zhiyuan's house to ask for advice. If the emperor threw a lot of books at him like the empress did, he would have the confidence to study something and make money. This is not his strong point at all. .
But Song Zhiyuan questioned him, there are so many talented people in the Ministry of Revenue, if no one can figure out a way, I'm afraid the emperor will start laying off people.
You Zhicheng raised his head and said, "Master Fei, what do you think we ask businessmen to donate?"
Fei Yi was stunned for a moment, "Looking for donations from businessmen? Will they be willing to pay for such a thankless and unearned job? Now that the emperor values businessmen, we cannot use officials to oppress the people."
You Zhicheng: "This method was proposed by an envoy from our Ministry of Revenue. I think it is very feasible. What is white work? Once this road is built, who will benefit the most?"
"Businessmen earn the most. They travel all over the country every year and hire many escort teams to escort the goods. We don't ask them to donate all the money. The businessmen in each place are responsible for their own part, and they don't have much money to divide it. It is more troublesome to discuss it together. , after all, there are so many cities in the entire Beidi Kingdom."
Fei Yi raised his eyes, feeling a little nervous. He wanted to dump the burden on the economic chiefs of each city.
It is time-consuming and labor-intensive to do the Ministry of Household Affairs. If it is divided into cities one by one, I don’t know how much less work will be done.
"The emperor has handed over the road construction work to You Shangshu and Xiaguan. What if the emperor thinks we are useless and blames us?"
You Zhicheng stood up and walked to Fei Yi's side, "Since there is something that can be done without spending a penny or a tael, how can the emperor blame us?"
Fei Yi was still a little hesitant. What if a businessman didn't agree? Moreover, if there are so many businessmen in the world, if they are all asked to contribute money to build roads, how much should they contribute?
After all, businessmen are divided into strong and weak ones, and the biggest businessman in the world is the Queen.
You Zhicheng suddenly lifted the chair under Fei Yi's butt, "The two of us will immediately go into the palace and explain this to the emperor. If the emperor agrees, Master Fei will no longer have to worry about it."
Fei Yi thought about it and thought so. He could ask the emperor for his opinion first.
In the imperial study room, after listening to You Zhicheng's proposal, Li Junche said seriously: "If someone is unwilling, what should You Shangshu do?"
"Reporting to the emperor, since the imperial court wants to use merchants, it is appropriate to let them contribute some efforts in advance. After all, scholars, farmers, industry and commerce have been the main force since ancient times. Now that the emperor wants to improve the status of merchants, they already want it." You Zhicheng answered with his hand.
Li Junche's thick eyebrows trembled, "Give me a stick and a sweet date. You Shangshu really came up with a good idea."
You Zhicheng blinked, wondering why these words sounded so harsh.
Fei Yi knelt down instantly and pulled You Zhicheng down at the same time, "Your Majesty, although this method is slightly inappropriate, there are many merchants in Beidi Country. If we can use their financial resources to build roads, in less than two years, all officials in the world will be able to build roads." The road will definitely be repaired, much faster than the five to ten years calculated by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works.”
Li Junche said helplessly, "Come here, please invite the Queen to the Royal Study."
"Yes." The chamberlain replied.
