My son, Fusu, please abdicate the first emperor!

Chapter 626 This is my money!
Li Xin immediately called his brothers together overnight, "I have been idle for a long time. But I am imitating King Zhuang of Chu. If I don't make a sound, I will make a sensation."

"Brothers have all rested enough with me these days. From today on, all of you will start military training, and some brothers will follow me hunting."

The subordinates all looked confused.

These years, you are the only one who is resting. They are still busy.

"What's wrong?" Li Xin put his hands on his hips. Seeing that his brothers were not very enthusiastic, and that the courage and will to follow him to the death had been wiped out by something, Li Xin felt a little frustrated.

I just took a few deep naps, but when I woke up, not only did the sky and the earth change color, but my brothers also changed.

"General, the northern barbarians are eager to attack. You previously ordered us to watch carefully at the Great Wall. Although it is summer now, the barbarians are in the north and have not come to harass us. But you previously ordered us to observe their movements."

"General, in the past six months, the number of refugees and bandits passing through Yuyang County has increased sharply. You previously ordered us to strictly guard the pass, especially at night, so as to eliminate local hidden dangers."

"..."

"General, someone reported to the authorities that they saw the fleeing noble Prince Jia and others from Zhao State, and you ordered us to hunt them down. But that group of people seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth, and to this day, no one knows where they are. You ordered us to disguise ourselves as Yan and Zhao citizens and search for them carefully."

Li Xin put down his sleeves and sat on the upper seat. His clothes were disheveled, and the thick chest hair on his chest urgently needed to be blown away by the wind in this hot summer.

Li Xin frowned.

Oh my god, why are there so many troubles?

Li Xin woke up.

"I came here under the order of the king to guard Yuyang County, suppress the northern barbarians, and govern Yan, Qi, and Zhao. This is all because I have won your majesty's trust. Drinking here every day is really inappropriate."

"From today on, I will start handling military affairs."

When the soldiers saw this, their eyes sparkled.

They almost forgot how long their general had been addicted to alcohol and sex, but what they didn't expect was that the general could actually wake up from his dream on his own.

Li Xin was willing to take the lead and the soldiers were in high spirits. Li Xin also mobilized the people of Yan to participate in the city defense.

The young Marquis of Longxi was famous throughout the world for his outstanding military exploits when he was young. His orders could easily reach the counties and towns, and the originally loose local troops were quickly mobilized during the summer farming off-season.

Although the common people in this area also make their living by the river, they have long been subject to invasions by northern barbarians since Li Xin arrived here.

The Hu people could only swallow their anger and every autumn they would drive their carts with their wives, children and the elderly to watch them from a distance, not daring to invade at all.

The public security in Yuyang County has always been good.

While waiting for Ying Zheng's arrival, Li Xin turned over a new leaf and began to practice martial arts again.

Gradually, the fat on his belly really disappeared.

This famous general on the battlefield was very concerned about his appearance. He was very excited after not seeing Ying Zheng for a long time. He had to show his best spirit to Ying Zheng.
-
On the other hand, Ying Zheng was sending troops to attack Nanyue and at the same time preparing for a long journey from late summer to early winter.

This will cause great suffering to a person.

Qin Xianyang Palace Treasury.

A nine-foot-tall, stern-looking middle-aged man was standing in the treasury, staring at the empty treasury in a daze.

When the country was first settled, the treasury of Qin Shihuang was filled with all kinds of treasures, gold, silver and jade. The treasury of the Qin royal palace had to be rebuilt.

The treasury was once so full, but now it is less than half full.

Zhang Han didn't know what went wrong.

He looked at the dusty ritual vessels, jade articles, gold, silver and bronze utensils in the corners of the vast underground palace.

They were displayed quietly like corpses, and although they exuded an alluring luster, they were worthless when displayed in such a dark basement.

The air here is dry and there are only a few lonely lights.

Because the space is wide, even if the person inside breathes a little heavily, it can be heard clearly.

Led by the soldiers, Zhang Han came to the depths of the basement.

"Is this really all the gold, silver, jade and silk in the world?" Zhang Han shook his head. "The First Emperor clearly wanted more, but we are running short."

There were a total of six ministers accompanying Zhang Han on this trip.

The Shaofu had branches at both the central and local levels to oversee various affairs. The Shaofu stationed in the capital had six chancellors.

The Shaofu Tongcheng was in charge of minting coins. There was also the Shaofu Yucheng, who seemed to be in charge of the imperial prison. There was also the Yicheng, who was in charge of clothing, treasures, and delicacies.

There are also three other officials: the Wu official, the salt official, and the iron official.

The six people listened to Zhang Han's words, each of them trembling with fear.

"To put it bluntly, the economy is all about money. Money is like water. Water is meant to flow. If water has no source and is not active, it will become stagnant water."

"The same is true for money. The current economic veins are not smooth enough, and the circulation of money is blocked. With less money circulating in society, the amount of money that can be paid into the treasury will naturally decrease."

Zhang Han asked, "Since you know so much, why can't you come up with an effective proposal to make the water come alive?"

Tong Cheng was so frightened that his eyes froze, and he bowed hastily, "Shaofu, please forgive me. I was originally a subordinate, and in the past I obeyed Shaofu Ji's orders. And Shaofu Ji has always managed the palace treasury according to the economic laws formulated by the former Prime Minister Wei."

"The treasury should not only make good use of money and goods, but also learn how to allocate them and appropriately distribute them to the market. Money and goods are meant to be traded, so they should not be stored in large quantities in the treasury, and should not be kept by private individuals as treasures."

Zhang Han was a warrior who had never been on the battlefield. He was very dissatisfied with Tong Cheng's words.

"make it clear!"

The others also frightened and paused.

Everyone looked at Tong Cheng with sympathy. This morning, Ying Zheng personally asked Zhang Han at the court meeting why the supplies to Nanyue Ren Xiong had not been sent out yet.

Zhang Han just gave a few symbolic replies and said that he would send it immediately.

Then Prime Minister Feng Quji asked him personally, "Is the treasury's funds not being properly circulated? The management of the treasury is related to every aspect of the empire, and there must be no mistakes."

This undoubtedly poured cold water on Zhang Han, who had just taken on the responsibility of defending Xianyang City.

Zhang Han felt greatly humiliated, so he dropped the hot potato of Xianyang city defense, which he had just received, and had to go to the treasury in person.

Tong Cheng was trembling with fear, "This...I can't say it."

"How can I not tell you?" Zhang Han took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. He asked everyone else to leave and left Tong Cheng alone in the treasury to question him.

"Just tell me nicely. I won't kill you. If I kill you, who will get me the money?"

"This money is originally the result of people's hard work. How can it be collected by one person and squandered so wantonly?"

Zhang Han looked at Tong Cheng, "Do you know what you are talking about?"

Tong Cheng was already fifty-two years old, and he burst into tears. "To concentrate the hard work of millions of people in one person's hands is against the will of heaven. Since the establishment of the Qin State, there has never been such blatant corruption headed by an emperor."

"In other words, the current deficit in the treasury is actually caused by the empire's lack of attention to the economy and people's livelihood."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Han stared at Tong Cheng in astonishment.

After a long while, he slowly said, "Everyone is drunk, but you are the only one sober. This is just asking for trouble."

"If this continues, the empire will be in deficit. The country has been fighting wars year after year without paying attention to the economy and people's livelihood. This is like taking water all the time. Sooner or later, the water will run dry."

Zhang Han's face darkened. "Alright. Don't tell me about these things. I came here to solve the problem. Just tell me how to solve it."

"His Majesty the Emperor wants a million dollars to march south and pacify the land of Nanyue. The army has already set out, and General Ren Xiong is waiting for the military funds and supplies."

"At this time, if you can't come up with the money, His Majesty the Emperor won't listen to you like I do."

"His Majesty will not listen to your advice, but will chop off your head directly."

Zhang Han's face was grim, and Tong Cheng turned pale with fear.

Tong Cheng was trembling with fear, his sleeves shaking constantly, "But my Qin State neither increases income nor cuts expenditure. I can't make money out of thin air. Can I plunder from the people?"

Zhang Han looked at Tong Cheng, now certain that he was really out of options.

"I have always been curious about how there are 60 million people in the world, but they cannot afford such a large expedition. It seems that the taxes are too light. I will report this to His Majesty the Emperor."

Zhang Han said this and was about to walk out.

"Wait a minute, Shaofu." Tong Cheng stamped his feet and made up his mind.

Anyway, these days, everyone is saying that the prince is the hope of the Qin State's knowledgeable people.

Not long ago, the Qin officials wrote to the prince, asking him to re-initiate the proposal made more than ten years ago - to amend the Qin law.

During the Qin-Chu War, the prince wanted to revise the military merit system more than once.

If it weren't for that broken system, the empire wouldn't have so much expenses.

Zhang Han turned around and looked at Tong Cheng, who was thinking hard under the light coming through the floor-to-ceiling window.

"There is one person who may be able to solve this problem. If taxes are increased, it will cause public resentment. There are 50 million people in the world, and how many able-bodied men are there? If 500,000 troops march south, and another 500,000 are dispersed across the country, that will already be a million."

"Prisoners, laborers, miners, so many young and strong people, built highways, connected the Great Wall, built palaces, and constructed mausoleums."

"No matter how big a country is, it can't afford to have so much trouble at the same time."

Zhang Han frowned, "Who can solve these problems in such a predicament?"

Tong Cheng whispered three words to Zhang Han. Zhang Han was also stunned when he heard the name.
-
At dawn the next day, a familiar figure appeared at the gate of Hengyang Palace.

When Liu Chang saw the person coming, he was extremely happy.

"Shaofu - you are a rare guest. It was you who personally supervised the construction of our Hengyang Palace."

Zhang Han bowed and said, "I would like to see the Crown Prince. Please ask the attendant to pass on the message."

"This... the prince is hunting in Shanglin Garden now. He won't be back until the afternoon."

Zhang Han actually said, "It's okay. I'll come back this afternoon."

Liu Chang looked at Zhang Han's departing back and said, "Why do so many people come to see the prince recently? Even the Grand Master of the Imperial Household comes in person..."

"Is this a big deal?"

In the afternoon, Zhang Han finally sat on the same mat with Fusu.

There were only Zhang Han and Fusu in the main hall.

This was not the first time these two ambitious people had met. They had a tacit understanding with each other, and without the need for outsiders or small talk, they went straight to the point after meeting.

"Economy is the foundation of people's livelihood. These two words are indispensable in all aspects of governing a country." Fusu said straight to the point. "Letting me participate is no less than letting me govern a country. Has the emperor approved this?"

Fusu was a very capable man, and he was eager to govern the country. However, there was a huge obstacle in his way of governing the country - his father Ying Zheng.

"The matter is urgent. I can only ask the prince first. Is there any way to solve it?"

As Zhang Han spoke, he showed Fusu all the empire's expenses over the years.

Fusu was full of doubts.

Zhang Han was a man who knew how to make friends with himself; he also knew how to make friends with other people.

He came to me to solve this problem, but didn't he consider Ying Zheng's thoughts?

Since Fusu did not attend court, he was naturally alienated from the internal affairs of the empire and related detailed information.

I don't know if I don't see it, I'm startled when I see it.

Fusu was originally worried that Zhang Han was going to trick him, but when he opened the bamboo slips account book, his expression was solemn at first, then his brows slightly raised. After reading it all, Fusu couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

If the taxes collected from counties and prefectures across the country combined are not enough to cover the empire's expenses, then the country will probably be drained dry.

"What are you going to do?"

"If the Crown Prince cannot help, I can only ask His Majesty the Emperor to increase taxes."

Fusu felt that the problem was not that serious. "Logically speaking, when my father pacified the world, the people of the six countries paid taxes together."

"The empire is not running out of money. In the past, our Qin State also had 400,000 soldiers. Couldn't Qin State have survived to this day with just its manpower and taxes?"

“Is there something wrong here?”

Zhang Han was also unambiguous, "Someone told me that it is because the coins have not been allowed to flow back into the market, resulting in fewer and fewer coins on the market. In this case, we can only mint more coins and print them in large quantities to meet people's livelihood needs."

“The coins didn’t return to the market, so where did they go?”

Zhang Han said nothing and silently took out another bamboo slip.

Fusu opened the bamboo slips and became stunned.

Build a mausoleum and underground palace - 600,000 coins per month

Construction of the royal palace: 50,000 coins per month
Build a convoy of honor: 70,000 coins per month
"Why does it cost 70,000 yuan to build a fleet?"

"The craftsmen invented a bronze welding and wire drawing technique, which was then inlaid on the horse's head to show its majesty. His Majesty the Emperor ordered a large number of bronzes to be produced."

"Wire drawing technique!?" Fusu took a sip of tea to calm himself.

"Reward the concubines and the princes - 100,000 gold"

"Reward the Minister - 200,000 Gold"

"Is this account wrong? How can you put the cart before the horse? The underground palace is calculated with money, but when it comes to rewarding beautiful ministers, it is calculated with gold."

Zhang Han looked at Fusu and said, "The prince rewards his ministers with beauties, so of course he has to use gold. As for the construction of this underground palace, the laborers are prisoners and do not need to be paid, but only provided with food and drink; materials and the like are also requisitioned and do not need to be purchased. But even so, the expenses are huge."

Zhang Han saw that Fusu was rarely angry, so he struck while the iron was hot, "Now only the Crown Prince can help me. Please teach me how to open up the source of income."

"I don't have any way to increase revenue. I only have a way to reduce expenditure. I have two people under my command, both of whom are talented and can help you. It depends on whether you dare to use them."

Zhang Han bowed and said, "If it can solve the military expenses, why not?"

"One of them is the current Imperial Censor Zhang Cang; the other is my internal official Cao Shen."

"Yu Shi Cang?"

"what happened?"

"I heard his mouth is harder and stinkier than the rocks in the toilet."

Fusu: "That's not to belittle him."

"It's easy to call the Imperial Censor, but how can he call Cao Shen who is beside you?"

"That's up to you. Your Majesty won't ask me to speak."

Zhang Han looked at Fusu and asked, "Prince, do you really have no way to increase revenue?"

Fusu also looked at Zhang Han, "You mean, I'm hiding something?"

Zhang Han bowed his head and said, "I dare not."

"You can go now. Leave these two accounts with me."

Zhang Han thought, since it had already been shown to the Crown Prince, and he had a backup, it wouldn't be a big deal.

Zhang Han just left like that.

After Zhang Han left, a roar soon broke out in the hall.

"This is my money!"

"my money!"

Fusu threw the bamboo slips on the ground and kicked them hard again and again, over and over again, until he stopped after hot sweat broke out on his body.

"You are going to spend all the money of me and my children and grandchildren on you alone, right?"

Fusu could tolerate anything Ying Zheng did, except spending his money.

All the family fortune accumulated by generations was spent on him alone.

In anger, Fusu collapsed on the mat, stretching his long arms and legs for a rare moment.

"This won't work."

"I didn't expect him to be so extravagant."

"If this continues, the empire will be hollowed out by him."

Fusu couldn't bear it anymore.
-
Too learned.

Chen Yu and Zhang Er, both dressed in Confucian robes, were wandering by the fish pond.

Zhang Er stroked his beard and said, "I heard that the Crown Prince will accompany the Emperor on his eastern tour."

"When faced with the righteousness of the world and family affection, the prince always chooses to give in to his own interests. No wonder he is so favored. I heard that the prince did not want to lose the opportunity to go on the eastern tour with His Majesty, so he did not go to the emperor to remonstrate with him."

Chen Yu's face was filled with indignation. "If he continues like this, I won't follow him. He hides in the palace all day and does nothing. He said so much good things at the beginning, but now, we have gathered all the talented people in the world, but we are just here with him to watch the stars and the moon."

"I thought His Majesty the First Emperor had some great ambitions to achieve. But for the past three years, he has only been satisfying his own selfish desires. How can the people of the world be convinced?"

The two were dissatisfied and went looking for Confucian masters like Chunyu Yue and Kong Fu.

"The ruler is the ruler, the minister is the minister, the father is the father, the son is the son. The prince first did what a son should do. He was respectful and filial to his father, and friendly to his younger brother."

"The prince has acted as a son should."

Chunyu Yue liked Fusu like this kind of person.

Unexpectedly, everyone stared at him.

"He is showing favoritism but disregarding the greater good? Is such a person worthy of everyone's respect?" Chen Yu asked back.

Chunyu Yue frowned and politely sent these people away.

"How could I not understand your intentions?"

If a rebellion really breaks out, the prince's reputation will be ruined. How can such a person still be respected by people all over the world?

These people really think the situation isn't chaotic enough.

(End of this chapter)