The First Lackey Under The Empress

The Three Golden Strategies!

Inside the Hall of Literary Cultivation, Zhao Du'an presented this complete set of three interwoven and mutually influential strategies.

The room fell silent, yet in the minds of these scholars, it was as if a thunderclap had sounded.

To gild the capital with a layer of gold?

Just the thought of it was captivating... But the most terrifying aspect was that what Zhao Du'an said sounded...

Surprisingly...

All of it was feasible.

The first two aside, the final one, establishing a 'market,' wouldn't require much investment, perhaps even no money at all, just a simple official document.

Moreover, some suddenly recalled that when Zhao Du'an discussed 'converting the Ding tax into land tax,' he had mentioned not increasing taxes on merchants.

At the time, the others hadn't thought much of it, assuming that 'merchants don't own farmland,' so naturally, they wouldn't pay taxes based on farmland.

But now, thinking about it...

This provision was clearly intended to encourage and motivate those merchants to join the court-led market.

Otherwise, if taxes were imposed from the beginning, enthusiasm would be dampened. As for how to collect taxes after the market took shape... that was a matter for the future.

"The Three Golden Strategies, the Three Golden Strategies..." Han Zhou murmured, repeating the name.

Suddenly, he lowered his eyes, looking at the draft of his original Ten Strategies in his hand, and with sincere conviction, he discarded the draft like waste paper.

"With these three strategies, my ten strategies are like waste paper."

He couldn't hide his disappointment, finally understanding that Zhao Du'an's criticism of his shortcomings at noon wasn't about being stuck at the bottom for too long.

But rather...

Having a strategic overview.

This 'cruel official,' rumored throughout the capital, despised by countless scholars, and considered unlearned, actually possessed strategic talent far surpassing them.

Who would dare believe it? Who could believe it? But unexpectedly, it truly happened.

"These, did you come up with them?"

The "female prime minister," with a plum blossom design on her forehead, finally snapped out of her daze, looking at him with a complicated expression.

Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

"It was during a dream. An old immortal surnamed Zhang entrusted them to me."

Everyone: ...

Who would believe that?

Mo Chou also rolled her eyes, of course not believing such obvious teasing. An old immortal surnamed Zhang? Zhang Tianshi?

You're worthy of knowing that old immortal?

Besides, even if Zhang Tianshi's cultivation is powerful, he couldn't possibly understand governing a country.

The key is that these Three Golden Strategies were something that even the scholars in the elite Hall of Literary Cultivation couldn't come up with.

Could someone have copied them for this guy? Unrealistic.

Then... could it really be his idea...? Mo Chou felt unbelievable. A military man, a cruel official, a纨绔 rascal...

Even if he secretly read many books, it's still too monstrous.

But she had to admit it.

She suddenly had a thought:

When His Majesty emerges from seclusion in a few days, what expression will she have when she learns of this?

Beside the female official, the red-robed Grand Academician sitting at the head of the table didn't speak, but his gaze towards Zhao Du'an was even more complex.

Grand Tutor Dong recalled the words he had said to the other party at the palace gate some time ago.

Asking him to read more books, subtly implying that civil officials were superior to military officials... and not to have any inappropriate thoughts.

At this moment, those words seemed to turn into slaps, burning the face of the old man in his twilight years.

Zhao Du'an was unlearned? Inferior to scholars?

Then what was happening now?

Grand Tutor Dong suddenly felt old, thinking that perhaps the young Emperor had better judgment than him and didn't need his old bones to assist at all.

Where exactly did Her Majesty dig up such a notorious yet both civilly and militarily accomplished fellow?

The other scholars in the room had similar feelings. They wanted to uphold the dignity of scholars, but they were silenced by the Three Golden Strategies on the screen.

"Envoy Zhao," Guo Jiexuan said excitedly:

"In your opinion, where should the market be opened? How should it be led?"

Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

"I don't understand the situation in various parts of the Great Yu Dynasty, so I can offer strategies, but specific implementation is not my forte.

It still requires relying on everyone.

However, I believe that it should first be opened in a place that the court can completely control and is near a river...

In the early stages of opening the market, the fastest way to gather money is still trade, which is extremely dependent on transportation.

But later on, we must encourage 'inventions,' allowing merchants who create good products to earn more money, so that the future will be promising."

Guo Jiexuan nodded repeatedly, already picking up his pen to record.

Preparing to refine Zhao Du'an's method today into a feasible memorial.

Seeing Zhao Du'an finish speaking, Grand Tutor Dong suddenly looked at the recording official in the corner, whose hands were aching from coding:

"Take a scholar's waist token and give it to Envoy Zhao."

Everyone was stunned, then suddenly realized what had happened.

Zhao Du'an also raised his eyebrows and said:

"Grand Tutor, this is..."

Grand Tutor Dong put his hands behind his back, looking at him deeply, and said:

"Your Majesty brought you here earlier, and now it seems that this old man has been negligent.

Now that Your Majesty is in seclusion, it's not good to disturb her. Envoy Zhao, if you don't mind, first take an adjunct scholar's waist token, so you can come to the Hall of Literary Cultivation freely.

In the coming days, the formulation of the new policy may require asking for your opinion from time to time."

So... I'm also a "scholar" now? Well, although it's an adjunct...

Although, it might be temporary.

Although, the Hall of Literary Cultivation is just a prototype of the cabinet.

But...

This is the highest decision-making body of the Great Yu Dynasty... Have I really stepped in?

Even if I can only be a scholar for a while and can't hold the position for long.

Zhao Du'an was silent for a moment, meeting the complicated gazes of the crowd, and cupped his hands:

"Sharing the worries of Your Majesty is my duty. This scholar will not decline."

Everyone: ...

Seeing the atmosphere suddenly become strange and awkward, Zhao Du'an smacked his lips, answered a few more scattered questions, and then took his leave.

Everything that needed to be said today has been said.

Grand Preceptor Dong, seeing this, also announced "the meeting is adjourned," instructing everyone to go back and digest the information, and reiterated that secrecy must be maintained.

Zhao Du'an wasn't afraid of leaks, as his methods were all overt strategies.

Concealment would only last for a time, and once implemented, it would be impossible to keep secret.

He received the scholar's waist牌 from the recording officer, signed and fingerprinted, completing the formalities for entering the academy.

Stepping out of the Institute for the Cultivation of Literature, the night was already deep.

Zhao Du'an raised his head, took a deep breath of the air, and looked up to see the stars twinkling, with the distant palace city brightly lit.

"Why haven't you left yet?"

Behind him, the large ice block walked out, speaking sarcastically, "Scholar Zhao?"

"Eh—" Zhao Du'an smiled and said:

"Say it again so I can hear it?"

Mo Chou's chest heaved with anger, she turned her head and left, thinking to herself how could His Majesty value such a person so highly.

… …

… …

Zhao Du'an was sent back by someone arranged by Grand Preceptor Dong.

After everyone dispersed, Grand Preceptor Dong also boarded his carriage and slowly returned to his residence.

After all, he was just an ordinary old man without cultivation, and after a whole day, he was now exhausted.

But with his eyes closed, thinking about the Three Golden Strategies, Grand Preceptor Dong couldn't fall asleep.

An excitement in his heart was difficult to suppress.

Suddenly, after the carriage had been traveling for a while, it slowly decelerated, and the attendant driver outside said:

"Grand Preceptor, it's Lord Yuan's carriage."

Grand Preceptor Dong opened his eyes, raised his hand to lift the curtain, and saw on the side a carriage with a crest coming towards them.

Soon, they stopped side by side.

The opposite car window was also lifted, revealing a handsome face with vicissitudes of life.

Yuan Li smiled:

"Grand Preceptor is returning to his residence so late? With the academy opening today, it seems the scholars have offered many suggestions."

Grand Preceptor Dong also returned a smile, but his expression was somewhat complicated:

"Are you also returning to your residence from the Censorate? Or are you deliberately blocking this old man."

Yuan Li smiled casually:

"The Institute for the Cultivation of Literature is presiding over the new policies, everyone in the court is paying attention. Every move is a major event."

He frankly admitted it.

Grand Preceptor Dong smiled and said:

"You are indeed candid, but the affairs within the institute will remain within the institute, which means you have made a wasted trip."

Yuan Li was not surprised, he never expected to obtain information with a few words.

Moreover, it was only the first day of the academy's opening, and the new policies were still being discussed, at most there would be a vague direction, how could it be determined so quickly?

Therefore, saying he came to ask was actually more like showing concern.

"Grand Preceptor's discretion is as strict as ever. Let me guess, today's primary discussion was still about official management, right? That Han Zhou is quite talented, I expect he shined brilliantly." Yuan Li chatted idly.

Grand Preceptor Dong chuckled, thinking that you guessed completely right, and also completely wrong…

However, according to the performance evaluation method, once implemented, Yuan Li's power in the Censorate would also be limited, so it was not surprising that he was concerned.

"By the way, you have interacted with that Zhao Du'an quite a bit, what is your assessment of this person?"

Grand Preceptor Dong chatted with him for a few sentences, then suddenly changed the subject.

Yuan Li was stunned for a moment, he didn't know that Zhao Du'an had been to the Institute for the Cultivation of Literature today, after a little thought, he said:

"Grand Preceptor Dong, have you heard some scholars criticizing him again? Heh, in my opinion, that Zhao Du'an is not as the outside world says. This child is quite talented, especially in handling affairs and fighting with others, he is extremely resourceful…"

After a pause, thinking that Grand Preceptor Dong disliked martial men, he embellished Zhao Du'an a little:

"Last time, he was imprisoned in the Terrace Prison for several days, I went to see him, and found that he loved to read, and in the prison for several days, he was engrossed in books…

His knowledge is naturally far inferior to that of real scholars, and some methods of fighting are not presentable, and cannot be compared with the scholars in the Institute for the Cultivation of Literature who govern the country…

But after all, he also has a desire to learn…"

"He was engrossed in books even in prison…" Grand Preceptor Dong grasped the key point, as if enlightened.

It seemed that he had finally found an acceptable explanation.

"Thank you for your explanation, Lord Yuan. This old man is exhausted, so I will take my leave first."

Grand Preceptor Dong said, then put down the curtain and left.

Yuan Li watched him leave, somewhat puzzled.

"Thank me for explaining? What did I explain?"

With the wisdom of Da Qingyi, he couldn't understand at all.

… …

On the other side.

On a certain street in the capital, Wang You was also sitting in a carriage, digesting the impact he had received today.

Including the performance of that Zhao Du'an, what shocked him even more was the "Three Golden Strategies."

If they were really implemented, I'm afraid many aristocratic families would be affected… As a member of an aristocratic family, Wang You felt somewhat conflicted and complicated.

At this moment, the carriage suddenly decelerated.

"Young Master, it's someone from the Li family," the coachman said in a low voice.

Which Li family?

Wang You was puzzled, and first ordered the carriage to stop, then lifted the curtain, and with the help of the moonlight, vaguely saw a sedan appearing opposite.

Officials of the Great Yu rarely ride in sedan chairs, but some people are exceptions.

Wang You immediately understood the other party's identity and frowned.

He saw the sedan opposite had already landed, and the sedan carrier, holding a lantern, lifted the sedan curtain.

Revealing a middle-aged man in his forties, sitting upright inside, with a feminine appearance, a high nose bridge, and deep-set eyes.

The middle-aged man smiled and said:

"Young Master Wang, no, I should call you Scholar Wang, would you please get out of the car for a chat?"

Wang You didn't move, his eyes wary.

Staring at the former number one playboy in the capital, who was once known as the "Little Grand Secretary" during the reign of the late emperor, the current Chancellor Li Yanfu's own son, Li Yinglong.

His expression was indifferent: "Young Master Li, are you waiting for me here?"

Thank you to 智珠 在 握 for the 500 coin reward