I clearly wanted to be a tyrant, but how did I become the greatest emperor of all time?

There was silence.

The trade ban with Northern Mang has been in place since the time of Emperor Taizu.

Emperors of all dynasties followed this order, but it was never completely eliminated.

It is indeed as Li Tian said, it is difficult to stop if there is demand.

But how do the soldiers on the front line feel about the imperial court’s deal with Beimang?

What should we do if the military morale is shaken?

Li Tian said forcefully: "It's decided! Let the Minister of Rites handle this matter. The meeting is adjourned!"

After the meeting in front of the palace ended.

The Minister of Rites Jia Renyi walked out of the hall quickly.

The other ministers looked at him with disgust, as if calling him a villain.

Only Tang Xiaoren seemed to be thinking about something.

It was time to leave office and go home, but Tang Xiaoren still returned to the cabinet.

He said to Tang Ze, the head of the Zhongshufang:

"Go find the archives of Jia Renyi, the Minister of Rites."

The chief minister of the cabinet also has a very powerful power, which is to control the archived resumes of all court ministers.

According to the regulations of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the resumes of officials below the third rank were kept in the Ministry of Personnel.

However, officials above the third rank were considered important officials of the court or local leaders.

Their resumes are all in the cabinet.

Only the emperor and the prime minister of the cabinet can check their resumes at will.

Soon, Tang Ze found Jia Renyi's resume.

Opening the thick archive, Tang Xiaoren frowned slightly.

Is Jia Renyi’s ancestral home Luzhou?

He is actually the son of a military household in Luzhou?

Luzhou is not a city with a strong literary tradition, and only a few people can pass the imperial examinations.

Jia Renyi was not from a scholarly family, yet he was able to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi.

This is enough to prove Jia Renyi's ability.

Tang Xiaoren read it carefully again and found out that Jia Renyi was raised by his mother alone.

His father died in the fighting during an invasion by the Northern Mang.

Jia Renyi was born into a poor family. His mother worked as a laundryman to support his studies in the village school.

Later, he passed the imperial examinations and became a scholar and a juren.

It was not until the time of the previous emperor that he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi.

Jia Renyi's experience can be said to be very inspiring.

But why would such a person agree to open up trade in the North?

He said to Tang Ze, "Go and invite the Minister of Rites over."

"now?"

"Well, the court officials cannot meet privately. I am also asking about official business, so I invited him to the cabinet to talk."

"As you command, Prime Minister!"

Not long after, the Minister of Rites Jia Renyi came to the cabinet.

"Greetings, Prime Minister."

Tang Xiaoren helped Jia Renyi up and said affectionately:

"Master Jia, I invited you here because I want to ask you a question."

"Lord Tang, is this because of my support for opening up border trade?"

"Master Jia is indeed straightforward. I won't beat around the bush. Master Jia, why do you advocate trade with the North?"

Jia Renyi pondered for a moment before saying:

"Sir Tang, His Majesty said today that trade with the Northern Mang is for huge profits. Today, we defeated the wealthy merchants in the northern border. Is there no one else who will do it?"

"The trade ban has lasted for four dynasties, but it has never been completely eliminated. Instead, it has become more and more severe."

"The previous emperor also punished some big merchants who did business with Beimang."

"But the amount of money involved in the northern merchants arrested this time is larger than that of the previous dynasty."

“Border trade cannot be banned.”

Tang Xiaoren nodded. Everyone has desires.

Border trade has such huge profits that bans alone cannot curb people's greed.

After each blow, a larger group will emerge.

During the reign of Emperor Taizu, the border trade was limited to ordinary people, who exchanged goods with the Northern Mang for things they did not need on a daily basis.

Later, some small landlords also joined in.

Until all the local wealthy families got involved.

In some areas, even officials were involved in the smuggling and trade in Beimang.

What Jia Renyi said was the same as what Li Tian said at the meeting in front of the palace.

Tang Xiaoren was not a nerd, and he understood it after thinking about it.

Jia Renyi continued, "Since there is a huge demand for border trade, it would be better for the court to unify and control it rather than letting the people take risks."

Tang Xiaoren's eyes lit up. Jia Renyi's idea was interesting.

Jia Renyi continued, "Border trade is not a disaster. The Great Zhou Dynasty does need ginseng, oriental pearls, and sable fur, doesn't it?"

Tang Xiaoren was stunned when he heard this.

The most sought-after item in the capital's winter market is sable fur, and even the palace would purchase oriental pearls.

Not to mention ginseng, even ordinary wealthy families and officials' residences would keep a few roots at home for use in treating diseases and maintaining health.

Jia Renyi is right, border trade cannot be banned.

As long as there is demand, someone will buy it at a high price.

And when there is a big reward, there will always be brave men.

This has nothing to do with court laws, but is a matter of interests and human nature.

Jia Renyi continued, "So the court is in charge, and the initiative is in our hands."

Now Tang Xiaoren seemed to understand.

Jia Renyi said: "The influx of armor, weapons, and ironware into Beimang is indeed harmful to the imperial court."

"When the imperial court establishes a border trade market, it must prohibit the trading of such goods."

“But some things are different.”

Jia Renyi chuckled and said, "The weather in the North Mang is bitterly cold, so they all have the habit of drinking."

"There isn't much agriculture in Beimang, so we can focus on wine as a trade."

"Increase the supply of alcohol to Beimang. If alcoholism becomes a trend throughout Beimang, wouldn't it be beneficial to our Great Zhou?"

"In addition to wine, we can also sell the Soul-Stirring Powder to Beimang!"

"Useless jewelry, fragile porcelain, silk and satin, etc."

"The deeper the chieftains of Beimang sink, the better it will be for our Great Zhou!"

Tang Xiaoren looked at Jia Renyi. This Minister of Rites really lived up to his name, all pretentious and righteous!

Tang Xiaoren now understood that Jia Renyi was not a pacifist.

But he hated Beimang deeply!

There was even the idea of exporting the ecstasy powder.

This thing called Ecstasy Powder once wreaked havoc in the Central Plains for a while.

At that time, many dignitaries and wealthy families were proud to take the Ecstasy Powder.

All of them were in a daze, like the walking dead.

The government gradually deteriorated until the country became turbulent and was overthrown by other dynasties.

Since then, the Central Plains dynasty has strictly banned the Soul-Stirring Powder.

But the recipe for making the Ecstasy Powder has been circulating.

In some border areas, a small number of people are still taking it.

However, the Zhou Dynasty strictly prohibited officials from taking it.

Anyone found guilty will be immediately dismissed from office.

Jia Renyi actually wanted to supply the Soul-Stirring Powder to Beimang?

This is really a loss of face for scholars.

But Tang Xiaoren admires this kind of person!

This is exactly the kind of person the court needs!

Tang Xiaoren took Jia Renyi's hand and said, "Master Jia, the cabinet fully agrees with your plan!"

"If you have any needs, I will do my best to cooperate."

Jia Renyi didn't expect Tang Xiaoren to be so supportive.

The words he originally wanted to use to persuade Tang Xiaoren were now completely useless.

Jia Renyi was deeply moved.

First, Your Majesty can understand my painstaking efforts and support me.

The Prime Minister’s support made Jia Renyi feel very warm!