"Your Majesty, regarding this issue, I will naturally resolve all your doubts when I have time later."
"While Your Majesty was away handling government affairs, I had already clarified some of the circumstances of my Great Qin."
"Now... is not the time to discuss this. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
When Zhao Xin heard this, he also became serious. Since Zhuge Liang had some understanding of the situation of his empire, he must have some insightful ideas. In fact, Zhuge Liang's strongest area should be internal affairs.
"Okay, I understand. Please give me some advice, Prime Minister."
Zhuge Liang calmed down a bit. He thought he was very knowledgeable. This was the first time he had seen an emperor asking him such a question right away, but now it seemed much more normal.
"First and foremost, taxes."
"Your Majesty, speaking of which, the most important thing for a country is money."
"It may sound strange, but nations and individuals are the same."
"In all industries, the people are actually working to make money, including your Majesty's ministers and generals. If you don't provide them with military pay and salaries, the court will not be able to function."
"However, Your Majesty has not yet completely rectified the taxation system. I suggest that you assist Lord Yu Qian in this matter."
Zhuge Liang and Yu Qian working together? Zhao Xin felt like he was going to be overjoyed. These two saint-level figures were actually working under him at the same time.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?" Zhuge Liang saw that Zhao Xin's face was red.
"Oh...it's okay, I just have a fever today."
"Let's not talk about this. This minor illness is nothing. Let's talk about taxes first."
Even someone like Zhuge Liang really didn't understand what happened to Zhao Xin at this moment, because Zhuge Liang didn't know that Yu Qian was also a top official.
Yu Qian's achievements do not even belong to Zhuge Liang. If it were not for Yu Qian, the Ming Dynasty would have ended early, and the capital would have been occupied by foreign races. The invasion and occupation by foreign races was very different from the Han regime.
The people will be oppressed to varying degrees, and it is of great significance to rely on Yu Qian as a big tree to repel foreign invasions.
It felt like, with both Zhuge Liang and Yu Qian working under him, that the Great Qin really had hope. Not only himself, the emperor, but the entire people of the Great Qin would benefit from it.
After hearing what Zhao Xin said, Zhuge Liang didn't dwell on the issue and said, "Well, if it's not a problem, I will continue to analyze the current situation for Your Majesty."
Oh my god! Listen to this, analyze! What are the top counselors and civil officials? The word "analysis" made Zhao Xin tremble.
Zhuge Liang: “….”
"Your Majesty, if you are truly seriously ill, please put this matter aside for now."
Zhao Xin waved his hand. "Don't ask about my illness. I've already taken the medicine. It's a very minor ailment. Please continue."
"Okay, then I will continue my analysis."
"Taxation is the most crucial point. The court will not have an economic deficit now, but if we do not rectify the taxation, if a deficit occurs, your majesty, you will find that the imperial court in the capital will be unable to function and operate."
"Your Majesty, you must not underestimate the tax revenues of various places."
"Even a very wealthy city definitely doesn't have half the economic income of the capital, but with the vast territory of Daqin, one city is nothing. The tax revenue of hundreds of cities combined is actually an astronomical figure."
"The most urgent task is not to rectify the taxation in the capital, but to rectify the local administrative divisions at all levels."
Zhao Xin nodded. "I understand what you mean."
"Taxation in the capital is a solution to the immediate crisis, but if it continues for a long time, it will lead to even greater difficulties."
"It's better to rectify the taxation in various places first. Although it will be difficult for a while, it will eventually become a steady source of income."
Zhuge Liang replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, that is exactly what I meant."
"Although the capital's tax revenue is also very high, it is definitely not more than the total amount collected by all the administrative divisions."
"Except for the 70,000-strong area, all government offices at all levels have varying degrees of corruption and tax withholding."
"This is a sign that the empire is beginning to decay. Local government offices must not allow for any problems with taxation."
"Your Majesty has revitalized the government and is a wise ruler. However, I have never seen such a mess in local taxation. It is truly an exaggeration."
"It seems that your majesty's power is limited to the vicinity of the capital."
Of course Zhao Xin understood this situation, but to put it bluntly, the Qin State he traveled to was just to provide experience for the protagonist Chu Zhan.
The Qin State existed just to support the Chu War. In my own situation, if I had a God's perspective, I would just find a rope and commit suicide, and start the next game directly.
But now it has finally been put in order, but as Zhuge Liang said, the court has finally returned to the right track. In recent years, local government offices at all levels have been like people who have taken drugs, corrupt and extremely happy.
The provincial governors are the local tyrants. Now that the central government’s problems have been solved, it is indeed time to solve the problems in the local areas.
Those who are guilty should be executed, and those who are guilty should be imprisoned. Don’t let these local officials think that they can swallow the imperial grain of the Qin Dynasty and not say a word.
Zhao Xin said to Zhuge Liang, "Prime Minister, I understand your point and your logic, but to be honest, it's going to be a very difficult task to actually rectify the situation."
"How long will it take for us to finish rectifying each region one by one?"
"It's not as troublesome as Your Majesty thinks," said Zhuge Liang.
"We don't need to rectify every region, we only need to rectify the county governors in various places."
"Please tell me in detail, Prime Minister," said Zhao Xin.
"Your Majesty only needs to strictly rectify all the county towns, and then let the county governors exert pressure downwards. From top to bottom, Your Majesty only needs to manage the county governors well to complete this matter."
"Of course, I have a more direct method. Just leave it to me."
"Your Majesty, please only let me carry the golden medal bestowed upon me. I will be able to help Your Majesty collect taxes that would take more than the entire capital city to spend in a year."
This is exactly what Zhao Xin was waiting for. If he wanted to learn how to govern the country from Zhuge Liang, he had to have that opportunity.
Now the entire Qin Dynasty is still on the brink of collapse. It would be better to just let Zhuge Liang do it. By the time he finishes learning, those local officials will have already used up all their money.
"Prime Minister, please come to the morning court tomorrow. The Emperor's token will naturally be placed with you first."
"Seeing this gold medal is like seeing me. You can hold on to it for now."
"But the Emperor's token alone is not enough. I must grant you a position."
"Just come to the morning court tomorrow."
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