Free Web NovelChapter 1000: Chapter 54: Shouzhe Enters the Capital! The Storm Rises Again_4
"You mischievous five youngsters, how dare you deceive the Great Emperor!" Emperor Longchang chastised them, his face darkening, "Hmph~ I don’t believe that I can’t handle you five."
"Someone, block the cave for me and lay Red Essence Iron flooring all over the wolf den."
"Also, replace the fence with Red Essence Iron thick as an arm, and change the lock to a Celestial Secret Lock!"
Emperor Longchang seemed to be at odds with the five youngsters, glaring and gritting his teeth: "The Great Emperor just wants to see what tricks you rascals have up your sleeves. Oh yes, although Red Essence Iron is too hard and cold for them as they’re still growing, I still need to prepare a premium Spirit Goose Feather Pillow."
Old Yao standing by, couldn’t help but twitch his lips, hesitating to speak.
Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you’re getting deeper and deeper into this~~ Don’t you remember, these are someone else’s wolf cubs?
...
Meanwhile, as Emperor Longchang was embroiled with the five youngsters.
Feigning pity, Taishi Ankang residing at the Official Post Station found himself in a predicament.
In the simple room at the station, he sipped bitter Spirit Tea, deep in thought.
Something’s off, something’s off; according to Shouzhe’s previous schemes, upon hearing of my dire situation, His Majesty should be quite happy to see me, even sneer at me a little.
"Could it be that something unexpected happened?"
The reason is simple. Originally according to the plan, after Taishi Ankang’s attempts to plead for assistance failed, he should proceed to the second step, "meet Emperor Longchang."
After enhancing the other party’s satisfaction again, and still finding no way to plead successfully, he could then enact the third step of the plan.
But now, twice he went to seek an audience with His Majesty and was turned away each time.
Unable to figure it out, he discreetly bribed the Imperial Eunuch with Qian Gold, only to get the strange news that His Majesty was too busy recently and momentarily uninterested in handling state affairs.
"Uninterested in handling state affairs?" The more Taishi Ankang dwelled on it, the more unsettled he felt, suddenly slapped his thigh and realized, "I see, I see. His Majesty must have found new affection, becoming enraptured, thus neglecting governmental work."
His Majesty doing so isn’t unprecedented, as he has a history of this.
According to wild stories in the alleys, during His Majesty’s three-thousand-year reign, there have been no less than five times because of being enamored with a certain concubine, he neglected governance for years. However, the most recent instance was about eight hundred years ago!
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty." Taishi Ankang felt bitter within, silently pondering, "You are so old already, why do you still indulge in this? Is it possibly... Prince Kang’s group secretly plotting?"
"This is troublesome~ It seems only Shouzhe can resolve this matter now."
At this thought, Taishi Ankang immediately spread out the paper and penned a letter vigorously, summoning someone.
...
Some time later.
A dedicated Flying Chariot pierced through the sky, entering into the airspace of Gui Long City.
Though named a city, Gui Long City encompasses a considerably vast area, surrounded by thirty-six military settlements for protection.
Through the glass porthole of the Flying Chariot, vast expanses of farmland and ranches can be seen. Their scale is exceedingly large, covering an astonishing area, with the most fertile soil and richest Spirit Veins belonging to the legendary Imperial Manors.
"Imperial Manors," as the name implies, are estates of the Imperial Family.
They are among the main assets of the Imperial Family, producing, cultivating, or operating certain industries, potentially including a valuable large Spirit Stone Ore.
It is from these Imperial Manors that immense and continuous wealth is generated, supporting the lavish expenditures of the Imperial Family.
Imperial Manors are not limited to the vicinity of Gui Long City but scattered across various counties. Essentially, some portion of the most fertile land in each county is the private property of the Imperial Family.
"Overall, the Imperial Family is still quite wealthy," Wang Shouzhe on the Flying Chariot couldn’t help but remark, "However, they have vast business interests, and their expenses are indeed enormous. Just supporting Emperor Lingxu every year costs an astronomical sum, not to mention so many princes of Divine Power Realm, and county kings of Purple Mansion Realm."
"Great Grandfather, I’ve heard His Majesty intends to increase taxes in our Longzuo County this time." Wang An Ye beside him, who had grown a bit taller, blinked and said, "Is it because His Majesty Longchang eats too much and the Imperial Family is out of money?" freewёbnoνel.com
"Silly child." Wang Shouzhe lovingly patted his head, "National taxes won’t directly enter the private treasury of the Imperial Family, and are not even allowed to. The primary purpose of national taxes is to maintain the operation of the Imperial Court, reasonably adjust the imbalance between various counties, and be used for disaster relief, military expenses, and land reclamation. Presidential expenditures, partly indeed are supported by the state, but quite a large portion also comes from the Imperial Family’s own subsidies."
"However, as the Great Emperor, he is the pillar of a country, and the annual national stipend he enjoys is considerable. Other princes, county kings, and titles like dukes and marquesses also receive a portion of the national stipend."
"This spending partly comes from national taxes and partly from national industries. Therefore, although our Daqian Kingdom is led by the Imperial Family, it doesn’t mean the Daqian Kingdom is private to the Imperial Family."
Wang Shouzhe explained all this further to Wang An Ye while silently reflecting in his heart.
This is where Daqian Kingdom differs from Huaxia’s ancient feudal system. Many emperors in ancient Huaxia emphasized "family empire," proclaiming "under heaven is not the domain of the king" where ministers and nobles were but "workers," subject to the emperor’s whims of life and death.
However, Daqian is composed of noble families, and the Imperial Family is merely the highest status and power family within Daqian Kingdom.
Strictly speaking, Daqian belongs to all noble families, somewhat akin to a joint-stock company system of responsibility.
The more a noble family develops, the more shares they hold in the "state" enterprise, necessitating more responsibilities while having greater influence. freewebnoveℓ.com
The Daqian Zhao Family and Daqian Wang Family were the two cooperate partners during the Wu Family’s founding era, not merely a simple vassal family.
In Wang Shouzhe’s previous life’s terms, they were known as "co-founders."
As a result of this, Zhao Family and Wang Family hold high status and considerable power to influence Imperial Court matters.
As Wang Shouzhe flew along admiring the sights from the Flying Chariot, they had arrived at the border region outside Gui Long City.
Entering further is not permitted casually.
Flying Chariots must stop at the Flying Palace Station.
Under the driver’s guidance, the Flying Chariot spiraled downward gently landing at the square in front of the Flying Palace Station.
A moment later, as the Flying Chariot steadied, Wang Shouzhe disembarked with his great-grandson Wang An Ye, granddaughter Wang Yingxuan, and daughter Wang Lilong.
In the distance, Gui Long City loomed ahead.
Tall skies and expansive clouds, a clear blue expanse.
Under the great sky, the borderless Gui Long City stood grand and majestic, through its vast silhouette, one could glimpse the weighty history beneath the giant city and the immense authority and mighty power it represented.
Looking upon all this, Wang Shouzhe’s heart slightly surged with excitement too.
He, Wang Shouzhe, was finally about to enter the Imperial City.
The power center of Daqian Kingdom.
Storm clouds might once again rise.
...
