A cold glint flashed across Sun Jiachen's face, but he looked completely satisfied, stretching his neck and waiting to be chopped off.
Tears were still glistening in his eyes, but he chuckled maniacally.
"To have spoken my mind, how exhilarating! How exhilarating!"
To Sun Jiachen's surprise, when the long sword fell, he was unharmed, but the rope behind him was cut in half.
"Your Majesty, what is this?"
Qin Yu quickly grabbed his thin arm and helped him up.
"Minister Sun, please rise quickly!"
“I was testing you before. As you know, the court is corrupt and the Prime Minister is in control. I’m afraid you’re one of that treacherous prime minister’s men!”
"What?"
Sun Jiachen could hardly believe his ears.
The name of this tyrannical emperor has spread throughout the capital, the Great Xia. Could it be that the current emperor's incompetence and lustfulness are all an act?
His face was full of shock, and before he could recover, he subconsciously asked a question.
"Your Majesty, what about before?"
Qin Yu replied helplessly, "Of course, I was just using this as a cover. What I've been waiting for is a truly talented minister like you! To help me solve my problems and fight the traitor together!"
Sun Jiachen, who had managed to stop crying, broke out in tears again, and quickly knelt down, speaking in a calm voice.
"As long as Your Majesty is willing, even if the Prime Minister is powerful and may ultimately die, I will do my utmost to be loyal!"
After a discussion of the ruler's virtue and the minister's loyalty, Qin Yu offered them seats and they discussed the matter in detail.
Sun Jiachen suddenly remembered the coins he had just left with and hurriedly brought them up.
"By the way! Your humble servant has an urgent matter to report, concerning the stability of the people's lives and the serious issue of corruption in the court!"
Qin Yu hurriedly asked.
"You need not be so reserved in the future. Just report directly if there is anything you need!"
"Today marks the tenth anniversary of His Majesty's ascension to the throne. Your Majesty should know that the Ministry of Revenue intends to issue new currency, right?"
Qin Yu nodded at first, but was puzzled.
Issuing a new coin isn't a big deal, so why would it have such serious consequences?
Only then did Sun Jiachen begin to explain in detail.
"The late emperor's currency was 4 parts copper and 6 parts lead. After Your Majesty ascended the throne, the Ministry of Revenue changed it to 5 parts copper and 5 parts lead. The new coins to be issued now have a copper-to-lead ratio of 6 parts copper and 4 parts lead!"
Hearing this simple series of proportional figures, Qin Yu didn't think there was anything seriously wrong.
"Didn't the Ministry of Revenue report that doing this would make the characters on the copper coins clearer and brighter?"
"No, no!" Sun Jiachen laughed and shook his head.
"That's just what they claim, but in reality, it's all for their own enrichment!"
Minted with a copper-to-lead ratio of 6:4, the economic value of the currency itself did not increase, but the copper content did increase significantly.
Because bronze artifacts were highly valuable, many unscrupulous merchants melted down coins and remade them, extracting the copper to produce bronze artifacts, which they could then resell for dozens of times their initial value.
As large quantities of copper coins were melted down, less money circulated in the market, and its value naturally increased compared to silver.
Silver was, of course, also a circulating currency, and the two were pegged together. This might seem like a minor issue, but in reality, it was a big deal for ordinary people.
Taxes were paid in silver, but they had no silver on hand!
Unfortunately, the common people still had to pay with copper coins.
However, the official exchange rate between silver and copper coins would not change due to the increase in the value of copper coins in the private market; it would remain at one to one thousand. In reality, the private exchange rate had reached one to five hundred.
Once the government receives the tax money, it can immediately exchange it for double the amount of silver on the market. They only need to hand over half to the state, and the rest goes into their own pockets!
Sun Jiachen explained it very clearly.
Qin Yu understood instantly and couldn't help but curse, "Corrupt officials and unscrupulous businessmen make a fortune, but in the end, aren't the common people the ones who suffer? These parasites that can't be contained!"
Despite his frustration and resentment, he felt even more strongly that Sun Jiachen was a talented individual.
The principle sounds simple, but it does contain some financial knowledge, and it's hard to understand without careful thought.
After all, later emperors fell victim to this, didn't they?
Even he himself hadn't noticed.
"Don't worry! I will find a way to resolve this matter and will never let that treacherous minister He Fang succeed!"
"Your Majesty's ability to take action is a blessing for the people!"
Although Sun Jiachen was not good-looking and not likable, he was indeed exceptionally intelligent and quick-witted. Qin Yu was increasingly pleased to have such a capable minister today.
Overjoyed, he also made his decision.
"Now that the position of Minister of Revenue is vacant, I have decided that you will be appointed to it!"
Sun Jiachen had always been in charge of finances, and his initial dream was to become the Minister of Revenue. However, years have passed and things have changed, and he has long forgotten this dream.
Upon hearing the emperor's decision, the burning desire within him intensified, and he became even more excited, immediately kneeling down to express his gratitude.
"Your Majesty's trust is something I can never repay!"
Qin Yu laughed heartily, helped him up, and spoke leisurely.
"Today, my ambition soars to the clouds; tomorrow, I will draw my sword and serve you! My dear minister, since you are loyal to me, I will not let you down!"
Stabilizing public sentiment is nothing more than a carrot and stick approach, while winning over insightful people is nothing more than putting yourself in their shoes!
Sun Jiachen's gratitude reached its peak, and he continued to think of the emperor.
"If I were to take up the position, I would certainly live up to your expectations and am confident that I can do a good job as Minister."
"However! I am but a lowly registrar, and my sudden promotion to the position of Minister is bound to attract attention. I am worried that people will doubt your sincerity!"
Now that the decision to appoint him had been made, Qin Yu certainly had a way to do it.
He sneered and patted Sun Jiachen's thin shoulder.
"Don't worry, I have a plan!"
"After you go back, continue with what you were doing. In a few days, I will naturally let you experience what it feels like to have a smooth official career!"
"But now, you still need to put on a show for me!"
A moment later, Qin Yu sat back in his seat of honor, while Sun Jiachen knelt on the ground in fear and trepidation.
"Someone come here!"
"This old servant is here! What are your orders, Your Majesty?"
"Sun Jiachen, you madman! You slander the Emperor and spread heresy throughout the court. Immediately give him thirty strokes of the cane and demote him by one rank! Execute him immediately!"
With just a glance, Anfu was stunned for a moment before immediately understanding.
"yes!"
He summoned a group of eunuchs and opened the door to the Imperial Study.
The merciless board came crashing down.
"ah!"
The piercing screams were chilling.
Sun Jiachen looked like he had been beaten badly, but in reality, Anfu had already warned the eunuchs.
The board made a lot of noise but did little; it sounded scary, but when it actually landed, the force was instantly released.
He pretended to be beaten to a pulp and unable to move, and a group of eunuchs carried him back to the Ministry of Revenue.
Upon seeing his miserable state, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue were first terrified, and then they laughed at him.
He Fang, in particular, stepped forward and began to mock them in a sarcastic and sarcastic tone.
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