Protect Our Clan Leader

Chapter 1119: Chapter 81 Shou Zhe Achieves Success and Fame! Joyfully Obtains Treasure_2 Chapter 1119: Chapter 81 Shou Zhe Achieves Success and Fame! Joyfully Obtains Treasure_2 “All right, all right, I understand your predicament, Shouzhe. I don’t blame you. If anyone is to blame, it would be that boy Wu Chengsi for not having the virtues.” Emperor Longchang had also had enough and stopped Wang Shouzhe from continuing his rant.

In the end, it was his fault as the senior ancestor for not fulfilling his duty to teach and supervise.

At the same time, Emperor Longchang was also incessantly complaining about Wu Chengsi in his heart. That young man truly didn’t have the fate to become a great emperor; starting with such an advantageous hand, he somehow managed to squander it completely.

After all, Wu Chengsi came from the direct line with a strong foundation, occupying a significant advantage from the very beginning. If only he hadn’t been so eager for quick success and had calmed down to develop slowly, how could the position of the emperor’s son have slipped away from him?

However, Wu Chengsi’s biggest mistake was provoking Wang Shouzhe and forcing him into the fray of the emperor’s son succession battle… In the end, it benefited the An Commandery Prince, who didn’t have much ambition.

Truly, it is both timing and destiny. There’s a saying that goes, “If you don’t try, you can win; but by trying, you might ruin a perfectly good situation.”

Nevertheless, this was also a stroke of luck for Great Qian Land. After all, if Kang Commandery Prince really ascended the throne, it’s uncertain which direction the great ship of Great Qian Land would sail.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your magnanimous understanding, allowing me to vent like this.” Wang Shouzhe bowed to the emperor and expressed his sincere thanks, “I’ve held these words in my heart for a long time but had no one to confide in. Now that I’ve spoken, I feel much better.”

“You, you’re still young, but you don’t have a small temper,” Emperor Longchang was rendered speechless by him, and he pushed some of the delicious food in front of him toward Wang Shouzhe, “Come, come, eat some phoenix wing to cool down.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Wang Shouzhe didn’t hesitate to start eating.

Seeing him like this, Emperor Longchang felt much of his lingering annoyance with him dissipate, and his intention to test him also faded considerably.

Before they met, he thought Wang Shouzhe was like those courtier-type characters, crafty and scheming, but it turned out that although Wang Shouzhe was shrewd and intelligent, his nature was one of “bluntness” and “calling a spade a spade.”

This was somewhat similar to Yingji, stubbornly principled, a person of true temperament. No wonder the two of them could get along and work together.

“Shouzhe, although you have caused a great upheaval in Return to Dragon City, in the end, you still established quite a bit of merit. Once this tax replenishment ends, it’s estimated that several billion Qian Gold will be added to the national treasury at once, and the financial situation in the various counties and commanderies will also become much more comfortable.”

With Wang Shouzhe’s actions, the previously somewhat empty national treasury suddenly filled up, making Emperor Longchang, who was used to tight days, feel a sense of exuberant liberation.

“In addition, it’s estimated that the annual tax revenue in the future will increase by an extra sixty to seventy percent compared to previous years, which is like invisibly enhancing the national strength by a significant margin.”

“Shouzhe, Shouzhe, how should I reward you?”

Wang Shouzhe pondered briefly and said, “Your Majesty, an additional increase of sixty to seventy percent in tax revenue does not mean that national strength can also increase by sixty to seventy percent. Our Great Qian Land has only so much capacity; this time we’ve merely diverted the prominent families’ resources into the official and national treasuries. Your Majesty, we cannot waste the extra taxes collected; they must be used to subsidize the livelihood of the people and develop the economy comprehensively.”

“Have you noticed, Your Majesty, that the lower the status of the commoners, the lower the rank of the prominent families, the less they evade taxes? Yet their lives are very tight, counting every single Qian Gold, every Little Cultivation Pill…”

“Enough, enough, I will keep this in mind.”

Emperor Longchang waved his hand, a bit impatient. He had never been interested in economic development and felt his head was about to explode with all the figures.

No, no~just the thought of it was giving him a headache already.

Rubbing his temples, he pondered, “How about this, you and Ming Yuan come up with a plan on your own. Ming Yuan will soon be named ‘Emperor’s Son’ by royal decree and stay by my side to start overseeing the country under my guidance, learning to manage the court affairs. Once your plans are ready, he will take charge of them.”

“Also, the plan for the development of Longzuo County that you submitted through Taishi Ankang—I’ve looked at it and don’t see any major issues. Let Ming Yuan handle it too.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Wang Shouzhe and An Commandery Prince responded in unison.

Especially An Commandery Prince, there was some expectation in his eyes.

His Majesty’s words today meant he was gradually starting to delegate power.

And Shouzhe’s use of the replenished tax revenue to develop the economy, improve civilian life, strengthen the military, and then feed back into the economy with military support, naturally aligned with his own national governance strategies.

Oh, my brother Emperor Hao, the ideal country we discussed and formulated together, I will surely realize it step by step with Shouzhe. If you have a spirit in heaven, you should be able to rest in peace now.

“Shouzhe, you may think I have many shortcomings in your eyes, but I have always been a man of my word—an unfailing promise. Whatever reward is due to you, I will not shortchange you.” Emperor Longchang spoke generously, “Just ask for whatever you lack.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Wang Shouzhe pondered for a moment and then said, “I heard that the Imperial Household has collected Eight True Methods. Why not bestow one of them upon my Changning Wang Clan?”

“What?” Emperor Longchang nearly did a somersault in shock, giving Wang Shouzhe a sideways glance, “Why don’t you ask me for the ‘Azure Dragon Codex’ or the ‘Azure Dragon Dao Sword’ while you’re at it?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com