Traveling through time and space to become a child, supporting the family by catching fish and shrim

"The Liao Dynasty is very short of money."

Chen Lang, who was in the carriage, stuffed an orange slice into his mouth and looked at He Jinling with a smile.

He Jinling frowned and said, "I don't understand."

"Since you're short of money, you should be more frugal. Smuggling Red Beauty Drunk doesn't seem like an act of saving money at all."

Chen Lang said: "It's very simple. The Liao Kingdom is now poor but the officials are rich."

"The treasury is empty, and even a thief would cry if he got in. But the Liao nobles and the khans of the tribes are all incredibly wealthy."

"The Liao treasury was poor, unlike our Great Yan. Their treasury was empty because of some policies formulated by Emperor Taizu of Liao when he founded the country."

"Most of the money the Liao Kingdom earned annually through trade, plunder, and annual tribute had to be given as rewards to its subordinates. This was a characteristic of nomadic regimes. After all, if the money wasn't there, few khans would be willing to follow the Liao emperor into war."

"After the Liao Dynasty was established, Emperor Taizu not only failed to maintain control over the economy, but he even established laws requiring large annual rewards to be given to the Khans of each tribe, while the tribes themselves were not required to pay much into the national treasury."

"At the same time, the Liao emperors were all very generous. For example, when the Li family of Western Xia ran out of money, they would send an envoy here, and he would bring back a large amount of money."

"In the first few decades after the Liao Dynasty was founded, the border trading post between the two countries brought a large amount of tax to the Liao Dynasty. This money was barely enough to pay off the khans of the various tribes and provide rewards to the Western Xia."

"After Emperor Shunzong of Liao ascended the throne, he wanted to cut this part of the expenditure, but was opposed, which ultimately led to the bloody incident. After the bloody incident, in order to appease the khans of the various tribes, the amount of rewards was increased again."

"Empress Dowager Xiao launched the war primarily to divert domestic conflict, deplete the tribes' manpower, and capture Yelü Zongwang. Empress Dowager Xiao succeeded, and the tribes suffered heavy losses in this battle, so naturally, their rewards were greatly reduced."

"But this approach only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. In recent years, the tribes have relapsed into their old ways, and the Liao treasury has been emptied again."

He Jinling was greatly shocked and said, "Mr. Chen, I didn't expect you to know so much about the Liao Kingdom?"

Chen Lang said calmly: "Because I want to return to my wife and daughter alive."

"So I have to understand my opponent."

He Jinling said, "So Master Chen is saying that Xiao Qi intends to use Hong Yanzui to take money from the pockets of the Liao nobles and the khans of various tribes to fill the national treasury?"

"But by doing this, wouldn't it make Liao stronger again?"

"This is not good for Dayan."

Chen Lang smiled: "Becoming stronger? Not really."

"This is like drinking poison to quench thirst. The problems of the Liao Kingdom cannot be solved by just getting drunk with a beautiful woman."

"But I can become very strong through this deal."

Having said that, Chen Lang suddenly stared at He Jinling and said, "Brother He, you have two choices now. Either join me, or I'll kill you."

"After all, I'm about to become a smuggler in Dayan."

He Jinling said unhappily, "Mr. Chen, stop making trouble."

"Lord Li said, I will obey you on this trip. Don't even mention it's just smuggling. Even if you want to assassinate Empress Dowager Xiao, I have to go with you."

Chen Lang laughed heartily and said, "Then how about this? I'll take 20% of the profit from this deal, 10% for you and 10% for the Imperial Prison Department."

He Jinling's expression suddenly changed, and he said, "Mr. Chen, I dare not accept this."

Chen Lang said, "There's nothing to be afraid of. Just take it if I give it to you."

"If we survive to return, I will ask Uncle San to let you stay with me and do things for me. From now on, all the smuggling of Hongyanzui will be handed over to you."

"Of course, if you don't agree, then cut it to half."

He Jinling swallowed and said, "Mr. Chen, do you trust me so much?"

Chen Lang said: "In this world, there is something called rapport."

"I like you, so I trust you."

"Besides, I really lack helpers like you."

He Jinling pondered for a long time, his gaze shifting from wandering to determined. He said, "Okay, since Master Chen thinks highly of me, I'll take the initiative to ask Director Li to stay with you after we return to Dayan."

"But then again, Master Chen, do you think Xiao Qi really won't tell Empress Dowager Xiao about this?"

Chen Lang leaned back on the cushions. "He will."

"I finally understand why Xiao Lei went to the Honglu Temple to cause trouble."

"Xiao Qi... is indeed an excellent partner, and the one who arranged all this is most likely Empress Dowager Xiao."

He Jinling asked, "Ah? Why?"

Chen Lang said calmly: "Because Xiao Qi really needs to prove himself."

"It's really a deep love between brother and sister."

……

Chen Lang's prediction was correct. That night, Xiao Qi secretly entered the palace to meet his sister and exaggerated the matter of smuggling Hongyanzui.

Empress Dowager Xiao looked at her brother, who was twenty years younger than her and whom she treated as half her own, with pity in her eyes.

"If you think it's appropriate, then do it." Empress Dowager Xiao said, "You don't need to ask me for permission on this matter in the future."

Xiao Qi was in high spirits, but after hearing these words, it was as if a bucket of cold water was poured on him. He looked at his sister blankly, and then he realized that the woman who was as strong as Liao Taizu in his mind was now just an old woman.

Xiao Qi knelt on the ground with a thud, moved on his knees to the front of Empress Dowager Xiao, and called out "Sister" in a trembling voice.

Empress Dowager Xiao touched Xiao Qi's face and said, "These days, I have been dreaming about you brothers."

"Aqi, your sister can't protect you for much longer."

Xiao Qi couldn't help but shed tears: "Sister, don't say that, I will definitely live a long life."

Empress Dowager Xiao smiled and said, "Brother Yelu Xiu is not bad. Red Beauty Drunk can make him fall in love. With this profit, even if I am gone, Brother Yelu Xiu will protect you."

"But don't put all your hopes on Yelu Xiu Ge. If anything happens, discuss it with Bu Yan."

"You, you gave birth to so many children, but the most promising one is this bastard you call."

"By the way, remember to apologize to Yin Ping. That bastard Xiao Lei was so shameful for asking for trouble in the street... Isn't that embarrassing?"

During the period that followed, Empress Dowager Xiao was no longer the powerful empress dowager, but returned to the identity of Xiao Qi's sister Xiao Yanyan.

She kept on talking about things as if she was going to die tomorrow.

Xiao Qi's tears never stopped as he listened to his sister's instructions.

"Alright, alright, you're in your sixties, why are you still crying?"

"Sister isn't going to die soon. The doctor said I still have one year left."

"Aqi, don't cry. In this last year, your sister will definitely arrange everything."

"Most definitely……"