Zhao Gou was completely bewildered. He had only come to deliver ginseng out of kindness, but he never expected to end up in Hangzhou, working for the Maritime Trade Office.

He really didn't know what his elder brother was thinking. Was this the time to be concerned about maritime transport? Was this the time to be concerned about when the Jurchen invaders would attack?

He had to admit that his elder brother's thoughts were becoming increasingly erratic and unpredictable.

Fortunately, Zhao Gou had long been interested in maritime transport. In his view, maritime transport was also a way for the Song Dynasty to become wealthy. However, he was unaware that Zhao Huan had even more far-reaching plans.

Zhao Huan, a figure from later generations, saw things more clearly. The seemingly prosperous Song Dynasty was actually riddled with problems. The most fatal flaw was that the economy was on the verge of collapse, which would lead to even more terrible consequences: an empty treasury, no money to fight wars, and the country would inevitably perish.

Even the numerous and exorbitant taxes could only temporarily alleviate the depletion of the national treasury. The conflict with the Jin invaders was not a matter of just one or two days; this war might last for several years or even ten years.

Once the people were completely exploited and there was no money left to fight a war, Zhao Huan had no choice but to hang himself from a crooked tree, just like Emperor Chongzhen.

To become wealthy, it all boils down to increasing revenue and reducing expenditure.

Developing maritime trade is one way to increase revenue. Shipbuilding technology in the Song Dynasty was already quite advanced. During the reign of Emperor Taizu, three major maritime trade offices were established along the coast. It would be a waste not to develop maritime trade.

This cost-cutting measure, hehe, of course, means reducing the salaries of scholar-officials and dismissing redundant and bloated officials.

During the Song Dynasty, officials' salaries were the highest. How high? Song Dynasty officials' income was more than ten times that of the Ming Dynasty! And that doesn't even include various subsidies and benefits.

If this policy is implemented, those scholar-officials will probably be furious. But let them be. Anyone who dares to cause trouble will be executed.

After meeting Zhao Gou, Zhao Huan was even more eager for maritime transport, but he also knew that the most important thing now was to protect Tokyo. As for maritime transport, he would let Zhao Gou handle it first, since Zhao Gou had historically been very interested in it.

Zhao Huan wasn't worried about Zhao Gou causing any trouble. In an important city like Hangzhou, the Imperial City Guard would follow Zhao Gou no sooner than he set off.

It was already late afternoon when Xie Dahai hurriedly arrived at Zhao Huan's study.

"Your Majesty, the interrogation has been successful; Zhang Bangchang has been apprehended!"

Zhao Huan immediately sneered: "What a Zhang Bangchang! My Grand Chancellor! He actually hired someone to assassinate me!"

Zhao Huan underestimated the shamelessness of the ministers during Emperor Huizong's reign. They dared to assassinate the emperor; what wouldn't they dare to do? A bunch of hypocrites, loyal to the emperor and patriotic!

"Confiscate their property and exterminate their entire family!"

Today, the crowds of onlookers along the streets of Tokyo are like long dragons. You have to admire the efficiency of the Imperial City Guard. The emperor issued an edict at the morning court, and at this moment, the entire family of the twelve treasonous ministers was arrested and escorted to the execution ground.

Among them were elderly men in their eighties, beautiful teenage girls, and young women holding infants in swaddling clothes.

The common people heard that more than a dozen ministers in the court had joined forces to force the emperor to abdicate. According to rumors, the reason the ministers did this was because His Majesty the Emperor wanted to fight the Jin invaders to the death, while the ministers feared the Jin invaders like tigers and wanted to force the emperor to cede territory and pay reparations!

The entire city was in an uproar.

Ceding territory? Paying reparations?

Shameful! Utterly shameful!

Subsequently, among the dozen or so ministers who plotted rebellion, there was one more. It is said that this Grand Chancellor Zhang was even more outrageous, directly taking advantage of the emperor's illness to plot to kill him.

The emperor just took his oath at the North Gate yesterday, which won him the hearts of the people. Now the people of the whole city are saying that His Majesty is the Holy Emperor. When they see those who plot against the Holy Emperor, the people will naturally not be polite. They have prepared leftover food and rehearsed how to throw it.

Zhao Huan, dressed in white robes, made a private visit. After meeting with Zhao Gou, he left the palace and headed towards the Five Dynasties Gate.

Seeing this scene on the way, he couldn't help but sigh: No wonder the history books say that during the defense of Tokyo, the people of the city all advocated for war, but only the officials and the emperor in the court were cowardly. It seems that this is true!

With such people, why should I fear Wanyan Zongwang! Damn it! I'm going to crush those Jurchen savages!

"Well done! The current emperor is wise and sagacious. These corrupt officials are not only unambitious, but have actually committed such a beastly act!" someone shouted, and then more people joined in.

Then, they served up leftovers, even the beggars on the street were thrown out, since there was food everywhere after everyone left.

Suddenly, an old woman blocked the way at the front, stopping the large group. The executioner at the front shouted, "Who are you? This is a serious criminal of the nation! How dare you obstruct us!"

The old woman, her hair completely white, knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face. She roared, "Your Majesty is wise! I was originally a tofu seller in the south of the city. I had a son who was only eighteen years old. He joined the army and died in battle last year. I will never forgive the Jin invaders! You corrupt officials, we spend so much money every year to support the front lines, so many good men have sacrificed their lives, yet you shamelessly beg for peace and pay reparations! You deserve to die!"

The imperial guards originally intended to drive the old woman away, but after hearing what she said, they all felt uneasy, as their own mothers must be about the same age as her.

Those around were also moved. At this time, the Jin invaders were rampant and the country was in peril. These damned scholars not only did not think about how to resist the foreign enemy, but they even tried to force the emperor to commit murder, who was willing to live and die with the country!

Taxpayers' money is being wasted on these bastards!

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