If you continue to levy taxes and even hold imperial concubine selections, aren't you afraid that the capital will be breached by the rebel army at any time?
The ministers exchanged glances, and finally, Wang Kang, the Vice Minister of Revenue, took a deep breath and stepped to the front.
"Your Majesty, you must not, you must not! The danger I face now is not outside, but inside, right here in this world."
Rebels in various places formed gangs and recruited people along the way. Several bandit groups now numbered in the tens of thousands.
"I urge Your Majesty to reduce taxes and levies; otherwise, the people's rebellions will only escalate."
"Enough, Minister Wang, are you deliberately exaggerating on the good day that His Majesty has pacified the border?"
They're just a bunch of commoners. What can they do? Can they fight as well as the barbarians of the North?
Even if our army is indeed somewhat ineffective against the barbarians, does that mean we can't deal with the barbarians or the barbarians?
I think you're old and blind, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and trying to ruin His Majesty's plans—a heinous act.
Emperor Liu Jie said nothing, but Prime Minister Li Zhi had already said it for him.
Everyone could see that Li Zhi's method of labeling him was clearly intended to kill him.
Finally, if it weren't for the protection of several other highly respected senior officials, Wang Kang probably wouldn't have been able to leave this hall today.
However, upon returning home, this Vice Minister of Revenue lost his former high spirits and was left only with distress and sorrow.
"When a country is about to perish, it is inevitable that a monster will emerge. Prime Minister Li Zhi, you are a wicked prime minister who brings disaster to the country and its people."
"Your Majesty, in your current state, how can I face the late Emperor?"
He locked himself in his study, not allowing anyone else to come in, and paced back and forth alone.
He still remembered the emperor when he was young, and he could tell that he was a man with great ambitions.
They said they would protect the country and ensure that the Liu family's legacy would last for a thousand years.
As a result, since the late emperor passed away and the prime minister took over the government, it has become like this in such a short time.
"Is it because you're such a good actor, and everything before was just an act, or is this dragon throne really so corrupting?"
He didn't know, but he still wanted to keep thinking of ways to protect this great empire.
"Tap tap tap..."
There was a knock on the door.
"Didn't I tell you to leave me alone? Don't let anyone bother me..."
He stopped talking halfway through his sentence.
There are only a few people in my own household. If there is really an emergency, I would definitely speak when I knock on the door.
Now, it seems like something's not right.
"Tap tap tap..."
Who's outside?
No one answered. Out of caution, Wang Kang drew his precious sword from his study and slowly approached the door.
Even if someone really had ulterior motives, he was not a weakling who couldn't even kill a chicken.
Despite being a civil official, he was proficient in all six arts of a gentleman.
But as he approached the door, the knocking stopped, and he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Smack..."
"What?"
There was no further movement from the study.
"Dad, I've brought you your food. Please eat something, no matter what."
Wang Kang's eldest son came to deliver food, but received no response. The door to the study was intact, yet this capable Vice Minister of Revenue had vanished without a trace.
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