Chapter 369 This is the only chance

"Hmph!" Fang Xiang suddenly threw the pen aside.

Prime Minister Du, who was busy reviewing, looked up and said, "Who is it? To be able to make the Minister of the Central Secretariat angry, you must be quite capable."

"Pa!" A memorial was thrown over, but Prime Minister Fang didn't say anything.

Du Xiang opened it and looked at it silently. After a while, he slammed the table and said, "The more you do, the more mistakes you make! Anyone who does practical work is guilty!"

Prime Minister Fang felt balanced, knowing that he was not the only one who was angry. It was good that even the Right Prime Minister, who was usually calm, was angry.

He took a sip of his teacup and picked up the memorial. "Let's go. Sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone!"

Du Xiang looked at his old friend helplessly, "You!"

The two ministers on the left and right arrived at Ganlu Hall, and the emperor's desk was piled with memorials.

"Oh, my two dear ministers, you are so leisurely now. Are you done with your work?" The emperor threw down the pen in his hand, stood up and stretched his cervical spine.

"Your Majesty, not yet!" the second minister bowed.

"Then you come..." The emperor looked back and forth, and his expression was unclear.

"Your Majesty, please look!" Prime Minister Fang handed over the memorial.

"What's the matter? Where are you from?" The emperor took it and looked down. "Lingnan Road?"

After reading a few lines, he cursed, "Buying the hearts of the people! Haha, if Wang Duanfang can govern Rong County well, I will allow him to buy the hearts of the people! I'm just afraid that he wants to buy the hearts of the people, but he doesn't have the ability to do so!"

For thousands of years, has anyone ever thought of digging through Dayu Mountain? Su Qing slept in the open air and braved the hardships to build a road there.

Digging through Dayu Mountain was a monumental achievement, a feat immortalized in history, but in this man's eyes, it was seen as a way to win the hearts and minds of the people! Was Dayu Mountain meant to forever block the north-south connection of the Tang Dynasty?

He, Wang Duanfang, even stepped on it as he passed by! What a talent! I want to see how he can govern Rong County in three years!"

Throwing the memorial aside, he said, "My two beloved ministers, please do not send me such fabricated stories to disturb me. You will pollute my eyes!"

But the two ministers laughed happily, "Your Majesty, happiness alone is not as good as happiness with others. I dare not enjoy this kind of happiness alone!"

"My two beloved ministers, you actually come to make fun of me! You are quite bold!" The emperor finally reacted and couldn't help laughing.

"I dare not!" the second minister said hurriedly.

"Your Majesty!" the eunuch reported from outside the door.

"What's the matter?"

"Shaofu Supervisor Fu Zhong reports!"

"Oh, he's back, let him know!" The emperor was overjoyed.

Unexpectedly, this inconspicuous Fu Zhong is so good at making money. Now that his treasury is full, he has become rich and powerful without realizing it, and his voice has become much louder.

"Mr. Fu, what did you say just now? To see the emperor?" Hu Erlang's voice trembled and his throat was tight.

Following Fu Zhong around in circles, he didn't know where he was going. The palace roads were spacious and quiet. On both sides of the long road, there was a door every few meters, which dazzled him.

After walking for more than half an hour, they arrived outside Ganlu Palace and saw Fu Zhong respectfully saying to a eunuch, "Shaofu Supervisor Fu Zhong reports to His Majesty!"

Only at this moment did Hu Erlang realize that Fu Zhong’s backer was the emperor!

We clearly knew that he was the Minister of the Household, so why didn't we think that he was doing business under the order of the emperor? We just thought that he was the Minister of the Household's private caravan.

I am so ignorant and limited in knowledge that I never thought of this!

"Keep calm! I'm Fu Zhong, the supervisor of the Shaofu. Don't call Master Fu again!" Fu Zhong warned.

"Thank you, Manager Fu, for your advice!" Hu Erlang bowed, took a deep breath, and tried his best to remain calm and composed.

"Announce, the Supervisor of the Imperial Household, Fu Zhong, to come in!" the eunuch shouted.

Fu Zhong brought Hu Erlang into Ganlu Palace, "Your servant Fu Zhong pays homage to His Majesty!" "Hu Buyi, a student from Wuzhou, pays homage to His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, the disaster relief mission in Henan and Hebei has been completed. I am reporting to Your Majesty!" said Fu Zhong.

"Well. Not bad, very well done!" The emperor praised generously.

Without spending a penny from the court, he used the treasury to buy vermicelli, tea oil and honey from Wu County and resold them in the wealthy areas of Jiangnan.

Then all the old rice in Jiangnan was purchased and transported to Henan and Hebei via the canal.

He thwarted the wealthy and powerful families from driving up rice prices and annexing land, helped the people survive the famine, and prevented a large-scale exodus of victims.

The Lingnan Food Special District was established to send homeless disaster victims to Lingnan, enriching Lingnan and giving them a chance to survive.

At the same time, he filled the treasury and established a huge business empire. This was the source of the emperor's wealth, and no one else knew about it except the two prime ministers.

"Your Majesty, my mission has been completed. Please step down as the general manager of the caravan!" Seeing that the emperor did not mention it, Fu Zhong had to take the initiative to speak.

"Why are you resigning?" The emperor was puzzled because he didn't say anything.

"Your Majesty, the merchant caravan has several fleets in Guangzhou, Quanzhou, and Jiaozhou. They have extensive networks throughout Lingnan, Jiangnan, Henan, Hebei, and Jingji Province. Your humble servant, the Minister of the Imperial Household, is overseeing matters..."

Fu Zhong reported the size of the caravan, which was beyond his authority. It was too large, and if he did not hand it over voluntarily, the superiors would be very taboo.

His Majesty's eyes widened. "In just one year, the caravan has become so large?"

It was just a bag of gold and silver, but Fu Zhong actually built a business empire out of it! It's truly shocking!

Wow! This Fu Zhong is clearly the reincarnation of Tao Zhugong, a true God of Wealth!

"Alright! What can the Shaofu Supervisor do? I will immediately promote you to the position of Shaofu Supervisor, in charge of the Inter-Trade Market Supervisory Office, and Supervisor of the Territorial Sea Market!

"Take charge of the shipping offices at Guangzhou and Quanzhou ports and develop the southeastern sea market of our Tang Dynasty!" How do you think?" His Majesty interrupted.

Fu Zhong looked up in surprise, then bowed again, thanking His Majesty for His Grace. "Thank you, Lord! I will definitely fulfill your mission!"

The Supervisor of the Imperial Household is the Chief Supervisor of the Inter-Trade Office, an eighth-rank official. His official position is not high, but he is in charge of the foreign market, and the benefits involved are immeasurable!

The emperor nodded in satisfaction and looked at Hu Erlang again, "Fu Zhong, is this the merchant from Wu County?"

"Your Majesty, that's right!" Fu Zhong replied.

"Why is he a student from Wuzhou?" The emperor was surprised.

Hu Erlang was about to explain, but Fu Zhong interrupted him and said:

"Your Majesty, the Hu family caravan was established by the wife of the Wu County Magistrate. Since it is inconvenient for women to travel, I have entrusted Mr. Hu Erlang to accompany me on this journey!

"This servant was able to successfully complete the mission, and Hu Erlangjun has made an indelible contribution!"

Hu Erlang bowed slightly, his face turning slightly red as he listened.

"No wonder!" The Emperor nodded. "Mr. Hu, you've worked so hard over the past year. How are your studies at the Wuzhou Official School? Have you had any delays?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not forget my studies in my spare time, but..." Hu Erlang's heart was pounding.

The emperor on the throne exuded an invisible sense of oppression, making him dare not look up.

"Just what?" He was interesting.

"It's just that Lingnan is remote, and the faculty and knowledge are far less profound than those in the Central Plains. There are many great scholars and celebrities in Chang'an, and students want to study in Chang'an!" Hu Erlang said courageously, this is the only chance.

"Hmm..." The emperor pondered for a moment, "Hu Buyi!"

"The students are here!" Hu Erlang's voice trembled slightly.

"Considering your contributions to disaster relief and your dedication to learning, I would like to allow you to enter the Imperial Academy? How about it?" asked the emperor.

This student is not interested in money and is only interested in learning. It is truly rare! It is inevitable that people will look up to him.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Hu Erlang kowtowed in thanks. What a pleasant surprise! Imperial College! The most prestigious institution of learning in the Tang Dynasty!