Inside Qianqing Palace.

“Your Majesty, it has been confirmed that Fang Zheng was the third-place scholar in the third year of Jinghe, only fifteen years old at the time.”

“He should have been assigned to be a county magistrate in the capital area or entered the palace. However, due to his hot temper and confrontation with officials, and coincidentally, the Taoyuan County magistrate passed away from illness, so he was directly assigned to Taoyuan County.”

“Taoyuan County has only a few thousand people under its jurisdiction, extremely impoverished, with almost no taxes collected each year…”

“According to the report from last year, it seems to still be the case, and the population under its jurisdiction is only about two thousand.”

“I have dispatched fast horses to find the inspector from Hengjiang Prefecture. It should take a few days before they arrive in the capital.”

Guo Tianyang finished his report, put away the documents in his hand, and then carefully glanced at the Emperor.

This Taoyuan County magistrate is quite audacious! Daring to conceal information and never pay taxes!

Taoyuan County is located between the capital area and Hengjiang Prefecture, such a short distance, yet they managed to hide this for so long. I wonder what’s going on.

Although the Emperor appeared outwardly calm, his fingers tapping on the table betrayed his impatience.

After a while, he suddenly laughed, “Interesting, this Taoyuan County magistrate is still a young hero. Passing the imperial examination at the age of 15, hmm…”

“In seven years, he managed to govern an extremely impoverished small county like this, impressive!”

“I suspect the population of Taoyuan County now far exceeds the reported two thousand; it might well be over ten thousand.”

Guo Tianyang bowed and asked, “Your Majesty, how should we handle Fang Zheng?”

“No hurry, let’s observe him. This person has a peculiar temperament and needs to be properly handled. If used well, he will be a valuable minister in the future.”

“With such a talent around the Crown Prince, I can rest assured.”

Mentioning the Crown Prince, Guo Tianyang hurriedly added, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is still hanging in the imperial garden. Should we bring him down?”

The mention of the Crown Prince made the Emperor’s brow furrow once again.

“Forget about him! Others passed the imperial examination at the age of 15, what about him? He only knows how to play with useless things! Send someone to demolish his Tiger and Leopard Garden, and bring that foolish creature to me for slaughter!”

“Also, the tea I bought before needs to be handled. Send someone to set up a shop in the inner city to sell tea.”

“Do it like Fang Zheng said, prepare some exquisite jars and pack the tea in them. I’ll leave this matter to you to supervise personally. Keep it confidential. If you don’t handle it well, I’ll hold you accountable!”

Guo Tianyang was stunned.

The Emperor personally engaging in business, this is not in accordance with the rites!

Moreover, if other ministers find out, it will cause a huge uproar. His Majesty is really falling under Fang Zheng’s influence!

So Guo Tianyang hesitantly said, “Your Majesty… this doesn’t seem quite appropriate. If other ministers find out… I…”

The Emperor waved his hand, “Go and do it! This tea was purchased with the imperial treasury! Can’t I control it?”

“But Your Majesty, engaging directly in business ventures…” Guo Tianyang still couldn’t rest easy; this matter was too shocking.

The Emperor sighed and leaned back in his chair, “Indeed, we must not violate the ancestral rites.”

“But my Jing Dynasty has been established for more than two hundred years, from unity to division, and then from division to unity, all following the same old path.”

“If I continue down this path, the Jing Dynasty may split again within a century. By then, will I be gone or too old to intervene? Can Yuanzhao alone sustain control over the empire?”

“The ancestral rites have their reasons, but at my level, it’s time for a change…”

“I see a new path from Taoyuan County, perhaps worth trying to learn from. Commercial development may not necessarily be wrong…”

“Managing a vast country is like cooking a small fish. If Taoyuan County can change the situation, can my Jing Dynasty undergo a transformation like them… even if it’s just some new inspiration?”

“Guo, go ahead and do it! Like Fang Zheng said before, make money and distribute it to the people according to a seventy-thirty split!”

“We have too many wealthy merchants and nobles in my Jing Dynasty. They hoard silver at home or bury it in graves but refuse to give it to the people. They can’t even build a decent road!”

“It’s time to find a way to rectify this!”

Guo Tianyang fell silent.

After years of war, the treasury was empty. His Majesty must be feeling the pressure, preparing to reach out to those nobles and wealthy merchants.

But as a eunuch close to the Emperor, he was like his right-hand man.

Since the Emperor had made up his mind, he had to wholeheartedly carry out the task!

“Yes, Your Majesty, I will arrange for it immediately.”

The Emperor looked at the murky tea on the table, lost in thought once again.

After a moment, he spoke, “Tomorrow morning at the court assembly, remember to brew a pot of Celestial Immortal Tea.”

“In front of the officials, make sure the tea is brewed strong.”

“As for the rest, use your discretion. I’m rather looking forward to whether Fang Zheng’s methods will work.”

“Speaking of doing business is as interesting as waging war, haha.”

“You may go now. I need to review the memorials.”

Guo Tianyang nodded and turned away, but his mind was troubled.

After just a few days in Taoyuan County, His Majesty mentioned Fang Zheng more and more frequently! He actually believed all the methods that kid taught him!

And now, His Majesty even wanted to sell tea according to those methods. It’s absurd!

Even if His Majesty wanted to do business, who would buy things like this? And at such exorbitant prices!

Guo Tianyang sighed, his mind wandering to future possibilities.

“Fang Zheng is bound to enter the palace one of these days. After just a few encounters, His Majesty has already sung his praises so highly.”

“He’s sure to become a favorite of the Emperor.”

“But it seems Fang Zheng and I are not on good terms — he gave me only a piece of chicken breast during dinner!”

“Thankfully, he’s not a eunuch! I’ll have to find a way to get on good terms with him in the future…”

His thoughts were suddenly cut short.

“Why are you still here!? What are you standing there for!?”

The Emperor’s voice sounded from behind Guo Tianyang, who had been lost in thought, forgetting to leave.

Guo Tianyang hurriedly said, “Ah… um… Your Majesty! I was just thinking about how much to sell this tea for. Should we follow Fang Zheng’s suggestion and sell it for two hundred taels per catty?”

The Emperor was also taken aback, then chuckled.

He had forgotten about setting the price for the business he wanted to engage in. Offhandedly, he said, “Each can should contain fifty taels of tea. Remember, the packaging must be exquisite!”

Guo Tianyang’s face twitched involuntarily at the steep price, but he held his tongue.

“Five hundred taels per catty! My, His Majesty truly knows no bounds…”

It’s no wonder he is the Emperor…