If you traveled back to ancient times, while others ate Guanyin clay, you would actually have giant

"Greetings, Lord Shaofu."

Yu Xian didn't expect Zhou Wu to come and see him alone. Although he didn't know why, it was just the two of them now, so Yu Xian didn't give Zhou Wu any face at all.

"Junior Supervisor Zhou, the Tax Bureau is newly established, and there are no clues about any issues. Do you still have time to come here to me?"

"As the saying goes, to pacify external enemies, one must first secure internal stability. I wonder if Lord Shao Fu has misunderstood me?"

Even now, Zhou Wu is still suppressing his anger, after all, the other party is a Duke and a confidant of the Emperor.

"I have no misunderstanding about Zhou Shaojian, it's just that I don't like smug people who have achieved success."

"Oh, Lord Shao Fu said I am a smug and petty person. How do you know that?"

"Hmph, agricultural taxes have been passed down for thousands of years, so why is it wrong in your mouth? To put it bluntly, you're just a greenhorn, yet you dare to boast in front of His Majesty. Aren't you afraid of biting your tongue?"

Zhou Wu sighed helplessly. He had anticipated that tax reform would encounter many obstacles, but he hadn't expected that the first obstacle would be the tax authorities themselves.

Indeed, changing a person's deeply ingrained beliefs is not so simple.

"So, sir, you intend to obstruct us?"

Zhou Wu was not polite to such pedantic people.

"His Majesty has appointed me to this position, and I will certainly not hinder your tax reform efforts, but don't expect me to help you either."

With Yu Xian's words, Zhou Wu felt more at ease. As long as he didn't sabotage her behind her back, everything would be fine. Since they didn't get along, Zhou Wu didn't intend to say anything more. Without even saying goodbye, he turned and left, leaving Yu Xian watching Zhou Wu's retreating figure, increasingly annoyed.

"Hmph, disrespectful to elders, you brat."

. . . . . . .

For the first few days, Zhou Wu was training and brainwashing the people in the tax office. The first step was to get the regulators to accept the matter and make them believe that it was beneficial to the empire and that tax evasion was equivalent to treason. Only in this way could they better carry out the subsequent work.

All the officials in the capital were keeping a close eye on the tax office, but after several days of no action from the tax office, everyone lowered their guard and assumed that it was just a whim of the emperor. So everyone went about their lives as usual and continued drinking.

royal palace.

"The Zhouwu Tax Office has had its sign up for several days now, why haven't you made any moves?"

Today, Zhou Wu took the initiative to enter the palace to meet the emperor, but before Zhou Wu could persuade him, Li Tiancheng spoke up first.

"Your Majesty, I have been training the officials of the Tax Bureau these past few days. The new Tax Law will be promulgated in the next few days. I came to the palace today to borrow some things from Your Majesty to facilitate the subsequent work."

"Oh, what do you want to borrow from me?"

"Your Majesty, I wish to borrow some soldiers. Obedient soldiers, soldiers who will fight wherever they are told. I don't need too many, a hundred will suffice."

At first, when Li Tiancheng heard Zhou Wu mention borrowing troops, he thought he had misheard. But when Zhou Wu said he only needed a hundred men, he understood that this was a combination of persuasion and coercion. This young man was promising.

"Alright, someone come and summon Lu Jian'an."

"promise."

The eunuch outside the palace heard the emperor's order and quickly responded.

Soon, a burly, imposing man, dressed in black armor, appeared before Li Tiancheng.

"Your subject Lu Jian'an pays his respects to Your Majesty."

This person perfectly embodies all the characteristics of heroes described in classical Chinese texts, even his speech is full of energy.

“Zhou Wu, this is Lu Jian’an, the eldest son of Duke Lu Da, and he is currently the commander of the Imperial Guards.”

Li Tiancheng gave a brief introduction, but that was more than enough. Lu Da and Li Tiancheng had a life-or-death friendship, so he could naturally trust his son completely. Moreover, the boy made a very good first impression on Zhou Wu.

"My name is Zhou Wu."

"So it was Lord Zhou. Through you, my three hundred light cavalry faced thirty thousand enemy troops without the slightest fear."

Upon hearing Zhou Wu's self-introduction, the person on the other end immediately showed a hint of admiration on their serious expression.

Zhou Wu never expected that someone in the capital would still remember his "glorious achievements".

"Jian'an, from now on, you will lead one hundred elite soldiers and be at Zhou Wu's command."

"promise."

Although Lu Jian'an's father was the Duke of Lu, Lu Jian'an was honest and simple, and liked to practice martial arts. This made it difficult for ordinary second-generation nobles to associate with him. Of course, Lu Jian'an also disdained to be associated with such a group of debauched people.

However, Lu Jian'an greatly admired Zhou Wu, who led three hundred men deep into the midst of a massive army to rescue the Crown Prince. Although the incident was not publicized at the time to protect the Crown Prince's reputation, Lu Jian'an learned about it from his father. From then on, Zhou Wu's name was deeply imprinted in Lu Jian'an's mind.

. . . . .

The next day, the tax office took action, mobilizing all its personnel to issue notices to every shop in the capital, requiring them to apply for business licenses at the tax office within three days and to study the latest commercial tax laws; otherwise, they would be operating illegally and would be shut down.

However, many people nodded in agreement in front of tax officials, but then turned around and looked disdainful.

"Shopkeeper, do we need to apply for a business license?"

"What a load of crap. Who does our boss think he is? These people are just throwing their weight around. We don't need to pay them any attention."

. . . . .

"They're just making trouble out of nothing. Are these people just bored and looking for trouble?"

"The boss said long ago that we shouldn't pay any attention to the tax officials; they won't be able to cause trouble for long."

. . . . .

"The tax authorities have taken action?"

"Yes, sir. They are now going door to door to notify people that they need to go to the tax office to apply for a business license within three days, otherwise it will be considered illegal operation and their shops will be shut down."

"Hmph, arrogant. I'd like to see who dares to shut down my shop. Send the word down that we should ignore these people."

"Yes."

. . . . .

On the surface, things appear calm, but underneath, a storm is brewing, with all sides vying for a showdown with the tax authorities.

At this moment, Zhou Wu was drinking with Lu Jian'an at a restaurant.

"Jian'an, we're about the same age, why don't we call each other brothers?"

"Hey, little brother greets big brother."

As his idol, Lu Jian'an had learned about Zhou Wu a long time ago, so he admired this self-made man even more.

"Jian'an, what are your thoughts on this tax reform?"

As the main force he would rely on in the future, Zhou Wu naturally wanted Lu Jian'an to understand the importance of tax reform.

"Brother, I don't understand anything about taxes, but I know you're definitely doing this for the good of the empire."

"Oh, why would you think that?"

"With only three hundred men, you dared to charge into the midst of ten thousand troops to save the Crown Prince. If you weren't a loyal and patriotic person, who would risk their life like that?"

Zhou Wu had prepared many arguments, but he didn't expect to need them all. Lu Jian'an trusted Zhou Wu completely and without reservation simply because of his idol worship, which moved Zhou Wu deeply.