After rebirth, I married the emperor's uncle and overthrew my ex-husband's kingdom

"Your Highness, have you prepared so early?"

"There was a drought in Jiangcheng the year before last, and a snowstorm in Nancheng last year. Even if there is no flood in Quzhou this year, the national treasury will not be able to take out much money."

Lu Huaizhen said calmly: "The treasury is already empty, and the emperor previously used a sum of money to build a temporary palace. I know that it will be difficult to collect food and wages this year."

Hearing that the emperor used the money to build a temporary palace, Lu Chen was filled with resentment, "The soldiers on the frontier eat bran and vegetables every day and can't even have a full meal, and he actually used the money to build a temporary palace!"

"The emperor is unkind and treats the people as straw dogs, Lu Xiaoqi," Lu Huaizhen leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Since the monarch is not wise, why not rebel against the heaven?"

Lu Chen was so frightened by his words that his breathing stagnated. He turned his head to meet his serious eyes and asked him in a low voice, "You rebelled against him and let the third prince be the master of the world?"

He used to favor the Third Prince, but after the incident with Prince Rong, he found that the Third Prince was not a good man.

"He's out."

Lu Huaizhen’s idea was the same as Lu Chen’s.

Originally I was planning to pick a tall person from the short ones, but now I find out that the one I picked from the short ones is also a crooked one.

Who would believe that a profit-seeking person would not turn against you in the future?

"Who do you like then?"

Lu Chen looked at him steadily. He felt that this guy would recommend himself.

"I think your sixth brother is quite suitable."

Lu Huaizhen's words made Lu Chen's pupils tremble. He stared at him in disbelief, "Are you kidding?"

"I'm not kidding."

Lu Huaizhen pursed his lips, his expression solemn, "Do you know, there is news from the palace that the emperor is going to order an additional 10% tax increase. The people's taxes are already 10% higher than the previous dynasty, and now there is another 10% increase, the people will definitely suffer in the future!"

"If we face internal troubles before solving external threats, the people will still be in dire straits. My grandfather would not agree to that."

Lu Chen understood his grandfather's character. He was not a power-hungry person and would never do anything to harm the people for his own selfish interests.

He looked Lu Huaizhen up and down and originally wanted to say that it was a rebellion for the current emperor to make him the emperor.

But human hearts are hard to predict, especially when the acting skills of these people are comparable to those of the stars of the southern opera troupe, he really doesn't dare to believe it easily.

"Brother, the idle king."

Lu Chen was pondering, but when he heard Bai Youyou's voice, his eyes lit up.

Yes!

Rather than letting someone else sit in that position and stare at them covetously, it would be better for her to do as Youyou said. She would find someone from the royal family to marry, and then kill the father and keep the son, and let her son become the emperor.

When Lu Huaizhen saw her, he immediately stood up and bowed to Bai Youyou solemnly, "I will always remember your kindness of risking your life to save me that day. No matter what happens in the future, as long as the young lady asks, I will go through fire and water without hesitation."

"You are too polite, Prince Xian."

Bai Youyou is not stupid. She can choose not to use favors, but she cannot refuse them. Otherwise, all the suffering she has endured will be in vain.

"Youyou, you came just in time. Prince Xian has already ordered someone to buy some food and fodder. It will probably last for a month. We still have time to prepare."

"Really?" Bai Youyou showed a look of joy on her face, "This solves our urgent problem!"

Buying food and fodder is not a matter of a day or two. In addition to buying, there is also transportation. All these tasks cannot be completed without a month or so.

She saw with her own eyes that her grandfather went to various government offices in the surrounding areas to borrow grain, but the amount he got was limited and could not last for more than a few days.

If she could have an extra month to prepare food and fodder, she would be able to be better prepared.

"If you want to prepare food and fodder, I can recommend someone to you."

Lu Huaizhen came today to thank Bai Youyou for saving his life, and secondly, because he knew that they were going to purchase food and supplies, so he was going to introduce someone to them.

Bai Youyou guessed: "Is that the person you go to every time you buy food and grass?"

"Well, his last name is Qiu, and he is the richest man in the Great Zhou Dynasty."

Lu Huaizhen smiled and said, "President Qiu has many rice and grain shops under his command. Every time I buy grain and grass, it is transported by his caravan. This way, you don't have to worry about someone noticing."

Those who are interested are naturally those in the royal family.

If the emperor knew that even without the allocation of food and wages, hundreds of thousands of soldiers could still have enough food and clothing, he would probably be even more uneasy.

Bai Youyou discussed some matters with him, and then immediately gathered all the money in his hands and gave it to Lu Chen, asking him to go and meet President Qiu.

The emperor received one memorial after another from the frontier demanding food and wages, but he just glanced at it casually and threw it aside.

"Just tighten your belt and endure for a few days. Everyone is asking me for money, but where can I get the money?"

Chen Zongguan gently rubbed the ink stick and said in his sly voice, "Your Majesty works hard every day for the country and the people. This Zhenguogong is really ignorant and bothers Your Majesty with these trivial matters."

The emperor took it very seriously and snorted, "In previous years, they didn't starve to death even if they were two or three months late. But this year, they are starving like ghosts. The memorials keep coming one after another!"

After he finished speaking, he ordered Chen Zongguan, "Go, ask the Minister of Revenue to come over. I have something to tell him!"

The Minister of Revenue came and an order to increase taxes was issued.

When the empress dowager learned about this, she was supported by the palace servants and went to the emperor's study.

"Emperor, if you take from the people in moderation and spend within limits, your country will be safe even if it is small. If you take from the people without limit and spend without limits, your country will be in danger even if it is big. If the people are taxed too heavily, they will easily rebel. Your move is inappropriate. Tell them to withdraw!"

"Mother, the treasury is empty. If we don't increase taxes, where will the money come from?" The emperor didn't care. "It's just a 10% increase. It's not as serious as you say."

"You stay in this palace every day, how can you understand the suffering of the people? Just this one percent can make many people unable to survive!"

The empress dowager had previously accompanied the old emperor on incognito tours and had seen the tragic scenes of people selling their children and drowning their daughters in order to get a bite of food.

She tried to persuade him in a gentle voice, "Stop repairing the palace, reduce all expenses in the palace, and allocate food and fodder to the border first. Other matters can be planned after the treasury is full."

The emperor had listened to her endless teachings since he was young, and now he was annoyed. "The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics. This is a state affair, so please don't ask about it, mother."

He called over Chen, the butler who was standing with his head bowed, and said, "Chen Ming, send the Queen Mother back!"

"Empress Dowager, the Emperor still has official business to attend to. You should go back first."

The Queen Mother was asked to leave by Manager Chen, her old eyes filled with disappointment.

"I don't hear about war horses, but only about orioles." She burst into tears, "You know, water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Now that power is great, people are arrogant, and honest advice is unpleasant to the ears. There will be disasters in the future!!"

The empress dowager's mournful and sad voice reached the ears of the emperor in the Shangshu Room, making him so angry that he gnashed his teeth.

"The whole world belongs to the king. I now look down upon all the people. If anyone dares to disrespect me, I will chop off his head!"