The censor lowered his head and looked around at the officials in the hall.
Whoever he looked at would lower their head to avoid his gaze.
No one wants to be the first to stand out.
If this task is done well, it is possible that you will be given an official position and a higher title after you return.
But if they fail to do so, not only will they not be able to bear the blame from His Majesty, but they may even become sinners for all eternity.
The censor also lowered his head and dared not speak.
The Sultan slammed the table and said:
"Since no one wants to recommend anyone, then this matter is settled.
The taxes for the past two years still need to be reduced or exempted. No one should suffer but the people. Everyone, please be frugal recently!
I will take the lead and donate half of the jewelry and other valuables in the palace to the national treasury. My dear ministers, please set a good example for your subordinates!"
The officials were angry but dared not speak out.
Notices of tax reductions and exemptions were soon posted on bulletin boards across the country.
The people spread rumors that the Sultan was a goddess from heaven who came down to earth to save everyone.
This rumor originated from Ninglan City. As it spread, it became more and more exaggerated, and Sultan Ruo's status in the hearts of the people became higher and higher.
Sultan called General Zhang to Fenglan Palace to discuss matters.
General Zhang said anxiously:
"Your Majesty, I only know how to lead troops in battle. As for fundraising? I'm worried I can't do it well!"
If the Sultan comforts General Zhang,
"Don't worry, my dear. I have called you here to give you some advice, but when the time comes, you just need to use the tactics you use to lead troops into battle.
Whenever you arrive at a place, you train your troops near the homes of the local wealthy families and wait for them to come and give you money."
General Zhang was dumbfounded. How could it be done this way?
"But Your Majesty, will they raise funds obediently? If they remain silent, what about me?"
Sultan's lips curled slightly, "Then you can invite them to the barracks for dinner, tea, and a chat."
General Zhang understood what Sudanruo meant.
"If you say so, I will have a clear mind. I will lead the troops and set off immediately."
Sultan Ruo stopped General Zhang.
"Don't worry, my dear minister. Haven't the ministers in the capital finished collecting donations?"
General Zhang and Sultan Ruo smiled at each other, and Sultan Ruo continued:
"I chose you because I have an important task for you to do.
Now that the world has just begun to settle down, it is inevitable that there will be bandits fleeing everywhere. If you encounter them when you are fundraising, just clean them up to prevent them from causing trouble to the people.
I have a token here. Seeing the token is like seeing me. I give it to you to facilitate your actions."
General Zhang took the token and withdrew.
When the Sultan returned to the harem, the children had not yet finished school and were in the Hanlin Academy.
The Sultan felt that he had to select an heir as soon as possible and start training him.
She is more optimistic about Qu Nian and Su Yan.
The two of them were originally more mature than the other two.
But Su Yan had been with her outside since he was a child, and he did not receive as much influence as Qu Nian did in the palace.
The Sultan may be more inclined to cultivate Qu Nian, but we still need to wait and see.
Anyway, they are all her children, so there won't be the kind of fighting between half-brothers that often happens in other dynasties.
Except for Su Danruo and General Zhang who knew how Qu Cheng'an died, everyone thought that Qu Cheng'an was killed by the traitor.
When Sudan has nothing to do, he will take his children to pay tribute to Qu Cheng'an.
General Zhang's fundraising went smoothly. With Sudan Ruo's advice, those wealthy families had never seen such a display of force from someone leading troops to fight.
He was so frightened that he prepared the money overnight and sent it to General Zhang's military camp.
All the civil and military officials in the court also donated half of their family property.
If the Sultan takes the lead and donates half, no one will dare to keep it for themselves.
Sultan Ruo called Qu Nian and Su Yan to his side and asked them:
"Do you know what the second step is to make the people rich, besides reducing taxes?"
Qu Nian thought for a moment and then answered:
"Teach the people to read and write. Only with culture can wealth be created."
Su Yan retorted, "No, it should be about opening up trade between villages and towns!
When I was in Ningyu Village, the neighboring village was obviously very poor, but because it had no channels to trade with the outside world, it could only get poorer and poorer.
The Sultan praised him and said, “What you two said makes sense, but what I want to tell you is that if you want the people to be rich, the country must first build roads.
Just now, Yan'er said that the neighboring village does not trade with the outside world. The main reason is that the road in their village is very steep, and it is extremely difficult to go out.
If it rains or snows, it will be even worse. So, if you want to get rich, build roads first!"
The two children nodded thoughtfully and kept Sudanruo's words in mind.
The Sultan put the road construction issue on the agenda when he went to court the next day.
"The treasury is now well-stocked, but we can't sit back and let the money run out. I've decided to encourage road construction everywhere! The people from the Ministry of Works will stay and discuss with me the routes to be repaired.
It’s time to put scientific research on the agenda.
The Autumn Examination is still six months away. Many positions in the court are vacant, and I have just ascended the throne, so I will move the examination date forward to next month!"
As soon as Sudan finished speaking, someone raised a question.
"Your Majesty, since the original Minister of Rites Qi Xinyuan was exiled, no replacement has been appointed. Who do you think will be in charge of the imperial examinations?"
If the Sultan had already thought of the Hanlin Academy teacher who was a good person and had a good academic record to teach the children, he would say:
"The Minister of Rites is not here, but the Vice Minister is still here, right? Let the Vice Minister and the old masters of the Hanlin Academy take care of it together!"
After the court was dismissed, people from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works stayed and discussed a number of matters with Sultan Ruo.
The Sultan intended to select some candidates from this exam to be in charge of the road construction, so he specifically instructed several old scholars in the Hanlin Academy to set more tricky questions.
She wanted to test the candidates' ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
A month later, the imperial examination was held successfully. Several young people shined in the capital and attracted the attention of Sudan Ruo.
Among them, a man eight feet tall with a long sword on his waist and a woman with an outstanding figure were the most eye-catching.
Most scholars disdain to practice martial arts, thinking that those who practice martial arts are mostly vulgar.
But this student who was taking the exam was equipped with a long sword, and he could speak eloquently with outstanding literary talent.
The other woman was the only one who went to Beijing to take the exam in the past five years.
When Fengyang Kingdom was ruled by a female emperor, there were very few women who took part in the imperial examinations.
After Qu Cheng'an came to power, no women took the exam anymore.
Now a woman suddenly appears and everyone is very curious.
These two people became the new topic of conversation among the people in the capital.
The results will be announced one month after the exam.
Most of those on the list are from aristocratic families.
The resources in the hands of the wealthy and powerful families are still more than those in the hands of the poor students.
However, the one wearing a long sword took the first place on the list.
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