Now that Lü Zhen has become a student of the renowned scholar Cai Yong, her studies are settled, and Lü Bu is overjoyed.

In the following days, Liu Hong did not summon Lü Bu and others again, but devoted himself to the tax collection matters of the second year of Jianning.

Due to the pervasive influence of the Censorate and the Investigation Bureau, this year's tax revenue still resulted in numerous deaths and bloodshed.

But the results were encouraging; the granaries in each prefecture were basically full, enough to ensure that the Han Dynasty would be free from any disasters for the next three years.

After a period of busy work, officials throughout the Han Dynasty finally completed the autumn harvest this year, and the tax records from various regions have been submitted to the imperial court.

Holding the statistical results, Cao Song's hearty laughter once again echoed throughout the government office.

It was late August.

In the Chongde Hall, all the officials gathered. The usually quiet and solemn court assembly was unusually lively today.

The officials gathered in twos and threes, chatting amongst themselves, and everyone looked relaxed and happy.

Even the usually serious and formal Chen Fan chatted happily with Hu Guang, Cao Song, Yuan Feng, and Li Ying, laughing loudly from time to time.

"His Majesty has arrived!! The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

A loud shout rang out, and the officials fell silent. Dou Miao walked out from the rear hall, followed by Liu Hong.

After bowing, Liu Hong looked at Cao Song and said with a smile, "Grand Minister of Agriculture, please report this year's tax revenue to all of you!"

"promise!!"

Cao Song, his face flushed, took out a statistical table and then announced in a loud voice:

"In the second year of Jianning, the country added 40 million mu of cultivated land. Due to tax reform and the fact that new land was not subject to taxation, 400 million shi of grain were collected in advance, and 380 million shi were actually collected."

The total revenue from salt and iron amounted to nine billion coins, the royal trading companies' share of profits to the national treasury amounted to four billion coins, various commercial taxes amounted to thirty billion coins, and the remaining in-kind revenue was equivalent to twenty billion coins.

After summarizing all expenditures and costs from last year and this year, the surplus is 200 million shi of grain and 6 billion coins!

As soon as Cao Song finished his report, the court erupted in jubilation.

"Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations! We offer our congratulations to the Great Han Dynasty!"