"Your Majesty, please speak." Teng Shuchang spoke respectfully, but his expression was arrogant.
"I do know a little about this taxation. There are two ways. One is to collect more at once and increase the tax." Fang Zhiyi lowered her voice. "My father did this before, and the only consequence was some troublemakers causing trouble."
Teng Shuchang was taken aback: "What about the other one?"
Fang Zhiyi frowned and thought for a moment: "Let's levy taxes the same way as before. Although it won't be as much as the first method, it won't be less either. The important thing is that it will be paid every year, it's just a little slower."
A foolish ruler.
This was the first thing that popped into Teng Shuchang's mind.
He pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, the second option is more in line with our king's thoughts."
"Really?" Fang Zhiyi nodded. "It's a pity, I wanted to finish it as soon as possible."
Teng Shuchang was stunned. Had this guy gone mad? If he really let him do this, the already unstable public sentiment would be directly instigated to a popular uprising. He subconsciously decided that he would review every decision Fang Zhiyi made from now on, lest this incompetent ruler mess up the situation in no time.
Teng Shuchang had barely settled back into his barracks when he heard news that left him speechless.
After the court session, Fang Zhiyi immediately led more than a dozen eunuchs to Xie Wanyuan's house and smashed it up. If Xie Wanyuan hadn't been away from home, he probably would have been beaten up.
Teng Shuchang laughed: "I knew the emperors of the Li Dynasty were outrageous before, but I never thought I would encounter the most outrageous one."
"This Xie Wanyuan..." Xiao Hei sighed, "He was an honest official, a good official, and also a loyal subject."
"He did not join any faction and was only dedicated to serving the court. He offended countless people. He only cared about the court and the people, and he didn't even care about the former emperor."
Fang Zhiyi nodded: "I can see that. He's so stubborn. If I hadn't made the first move today, his head would probably be hanging outside the Meridian Gate by now."
"I still don't understand what you're trying to do."
Fang Zhiyi laughed and said, "What else can we do in this situation? We'll just take it one day at a time. After all, I'm still an emperor. I've fought so many wars around the world. Can't I enjoy myself a little?"
"Whatever makes you happy. If only we could have come sooner, I think with your skills, you could probably hold off the Mang Dynasty's army."
"You overestimate me. Rome wasn't built in a day. This Li Dynasty was already riddled with problems." Fang Zhiyi stared blankly at the moon in the sky.
"You bastard! You're a complete bastard!" Because he had to get up early every day to attend court, Fang Zhiyi's temper became very bad.
Seeing yet another minister silenced by Fang Zhiyi's scolding, Teng Shuchang felt somewhat helpless but also pleased. The more Fang Zhiyi acted this way, the more alienated the ministers became from him, making it impossible for him to turn the tide. Everything was developing in the direction they hoped for.
"I can't take it anymore." After court, Fang Zhiyi lay down immediately. Teng Shuchang was somewhat bewildered: "What's wrong with the Emperor?"
"What's wrong? Look at all this mess!" Fang Zhiyi pointed to the pile of documents. "Why don't you do it?"
"Me?" Teng Shuchang was a little puzzled.
“Yes, you come. Anyway, I don’t want to do it. Or you can send a few people.” Fang Zhiyi said. The thirteen northern cities had been taken over by Mang Kingdom officials, but they still sent their political affairs to the capital. By the time Fang Zhiyi got his hands on them, they had already passed through Teng Shuchang’s hands.
"Uh...this...isn't this inappropriate?" Teng Shuchang looked at the emperor and sighed inwardly.
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