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

Zhou Wu put it more bluntly at the last point: when faced with vicious competition from local merchants, the tax authorities would provide special protection to these out-of-town merchants.

With such high requirements, let's skip the talk and get to work.

More than a hundred people at the scene all said they would immediately find shops in the capital and open them in the next few days.

The simultaneous arrival of so many merchants in the capital not only dealt a heavy blow to the powerful families, but also allowed for the weeding out of the existing merchants in the capital, thus improving the business environment. It was a win-win situation.

Zhou Wu has already made arrangements for out-of-town merchants to come to Beijing, but the preparations such as finding shops, decorating, and stocking goods will still take some time.

The widespread closure of family-owned shops has indeed caused inconvenience to the public and generated some resentment.

The wealthy families have deep pockets, so closing their doors for a few days has no impact on them, but that doesn't mean they will stay quiet and obedient.

In the imperial court, officials with powerful family backgrounds began to collectively attack the tax bureau as if by unspoken agreement. Yu Xian, the deputy head of the tax bureau, was able to keep an eye on things at first, but he quickly gave in to the accusations from the crowd. At this moment, Li Tiancheng thought of Zhou Wu again.

"Summon Zhou Wu to the morning court tomorrow."

After the court session, Li Tiancheng specifically asked Yu Xian to stay behind and give him some instructions.

After Yu Xian nodded in agreement, he turned and left. Li Tiancheng looked at Yu Xian's back and couldn't help but sigh. Yu Xian had indeed aged. He used to be a man who could debate with many people, but now he was being suppressed by the lackeys of powerful families.

"I thought Yu Xian could be a great support for Zhou Wu, but I didn't expect that Zhou Wu would still have to solve the problem himself. Sigh."

. . . . . .

The next day, morning.

If a new face were to sneak into the morning court assembly, which had been the same for years, it would be easily detected, and Zhou Wu was no exception.

Some ministers with good memories couldn't help but shudder when they saw Zhou Wu, recalling the scene in their minds where Zhou Wu had single-handedly argued with someone until they vomited blood.

However, some newly appointed officials, who had not experienced such a scene before, were excited to see Zhou Wu. They were thrilled that they had finally brought out this big boss. As long as they defeated Zhou Wu, the tax bureau would collapse instantly.

"Your Majesty, now eight or nine out of ten businesses in the capital are closed, which has seriously affected the normal operation of the capital and caused great suffering to the people."

"Your Majesty, according to my investigation, many people are struggling to afford basic necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and salt, and there is widespread discontent among them."

"..."

Officials from powerful families were the first to raise objections, but they were all clever enough not to directly address the tax office's problems, but instead used the inconvenience caused to the people's lives as an excuse.

Because Zhou Wu was present today, Yu Xian kept his eyes closed and his mind at ease, like an old monk in deep meditation, detached from worldly affairs.

Li Tiancheng could only give Zhou Wu a wink, signaling him to deal with the situation quickly.

"Your subject, Zhou Wu, of the Tax Office, has something to report."

"What is it you wish to report?"

Seeing that Zhou Wu had spoken, Li Tiancheng knew he should cooperate.

"Since assuming the position of Junior Supervisor of the Tax Bureau, I have been responsible for popularizing commercial taxes among all merchants in the capital. Many merchants have expressed their approval of the reformed commercial taxes and have given them strong support."

At this point, any official who had business dealings at home scoffed, saying, "Who the hell supports you? It was you son of a bitch who forced the closure of the shops."

"Although the people of our Great Dragon are kind and good-hearted, there are always some who disregard the national interest, only care about themselves, and are determined to defy the law. Oh, right, the adults just said that eight or nine out of ten shops in the capital are not open, right?"

Zhou Wu's attack, turning the tables and using veiled insults, taught Li Tiancheng a harsh lesson. Even the officials who were just shouting earlier had lost their arrogance.

“Lord Zhou, we did report this matter to His Majesty, but we didn’t say it was related to your tax office.”

There will always be teammates who want to show off but are ultimately incompetent.

"My lord, I didn't say anything, I just wanted to mention it. But since you've brought it up, and I'm in charge of commercial tax reform, I know a little about this matter, so let me tell you about it."

"All ears."

"Actually, the selfish and self-serving merchants I just mentioned who disregard national interests are the same people you mentioned who are still keeping their doors closed and unwilling to accept commercial tax reform."

"Wow~~"

Here it comes again, Zhou Wu's ultimate sincerity technique never holds back; he speaks his mind directly without beating around the bush.

“Lord Zhou, this is a frame-up. It is clearly you who led people to abuse your power for personal gain, extorting money and favors from the merchants, which is why they are unable to bear the burden and would rather close their shops than submit to you.”

Whose subordinate is this man, that he is so brave? Many veteran officials had the same thought in their minds: how dare he confront Zhou Wu so directly.

"Oh, sir, that's a serious matter. I can sue you for defamation! You've defamed me! Although I hold a lowly position, I am still an official of the imperial court. Do you have any evidence to support your slander?"

The person opposite him regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth. After all, this wasn't a marketplace where one could hurl insults like a shrew. This was the highest power center of the Great Dragon. He realized that his words had indeed gone too far. However, after glancing at the emperor on the high seat, who seemed to show no sign of anything amiss, the person felt relieved.

"Lord Zhou, this isn't just my opinion; it's the rumor going around the streets and alleys of the capital right now."

"How dare you! As an official of the imperial court, you hear rumors circulating in the marketplace that slander my Great Dragon Dynasty, yet you do not stand up to stop them, but instead stand with them and aid the wicked. I would like to ask, as an official of the imperial court, receiving a salary from His Majesty, what are your true intentions in joining others to slander the court? Your Majesty, I suspect that this person is a spy sent by the empire to infiltrate our ranks. I request that Your Majesty interrogate him carefully."

"No, nonsense, I am not. I am from the Cui family in the capital, how could I be an imperial spy?"

When the man heard Zhou Wu accuse him of such a serious crime, he immediately became anxious.

"Oh, so you're from a prestigious family. No wonder."

Zhou Wu's words caused a stir among the officials, who whispered among themselves and occasionally glanced at the official who claimed to be from the Cui family.

Although everyone present knew each other's backgrounds, they all tacitly refrained from revealing them. In his desperation, this fool actually blurted it out.

"Lord Cui, why is your shop so closed? Is it because you have objections to the commercial tax reform issued by the court? Or because you disagree with the arrangements made by the court and His Majesty? As an official, how dare you lead the resistance against the imperial decree? What are your true intentions, Cui?"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I have no disloyal intentions! I was just momentarily confused. I am guilty!"

What was just his personal problem became, in Zhou Wu's mouth, a problem of the Cui family. This man was merely a member of a collateral branch of the Cui family, and neither the emperor nor the family could be offended by him. At this moment, he could only kowtow and admit his mistake.