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

Because of the tight schedule, Zhou Wu didn't slack off this time, even though he had Su Jing with him.

"Su Jing, have you finished the articles of association yet?"

"That's about it, it's roughly according to your wishes."

"Alright, that's about it. Once it's done, we'll submit it to His Majesty for review tomorrow."

Zhou Wu and Su Jing, along with a group of officials from the Crown Prince's residence, worked overtime for several days in a row and finally managed to come up with the regulations for the national debt.

After organizing everything, Zhou Wu took it to the palace to report.

Li Tiancheng summoned the prime minister and several high-ranking officials to the council hall for a long discussion, while Zhou Wu listened from the side.

"Lord Zhou, the issuance of these national bonds will likely have a significant impact on the reputation of the imperial court. Outsiders will think that our Great Dragon Dynasty has reached the point where it has to resort to private lending to maintain the operation of the court."

The speaker was Right Chancellor Ji Gaojie, whose expression was serious, seemingly uneasy about Zhou Wu's national debt.

“Your Excellency, I hold the exact opposite view. The issuance of national bonds is not because the court is short of money, but because the Great Dragon Kingdom is thriving and prosperous. This is a benefit granted by the court to repay the people for their support.”

The main point of contention between the emperor and the high-ranking officials was this: everyone held their own opinions and no one could convince the other. However, Zhou Wu's words transformed the matter of borrowing money into a welfare benefit, which immediately brought a smile to the emperor's face.

"Haha, you're quick-witted, kid. That's right, it's about welfare, it's about giving back to the people."

The emperor, who had initially been somewhat hesitant, had now decided that the issuance of national bonds was imperative.

The Right Chancellor wanted to say something more, but couldn't find a good reason for it at the moment.

"Zhou Wu stepped forward to receive his appointment."

"The minister is here."

"I hereby appoint you as Ambassador for the Issuance of National Bonds, in charge of all matters related to the issuance of national bonds. You must expedite the issuance of national bonds within a short period of time."

"I accept the decree."

"Zhou Wu, I'm counting on you now."

These words made the surrounding ministers envious, but they couldn't steal the credit, because they had no idea how to do this job.

. . . . . .

The Imperial Garden in the capital.

An elderly man was fishing in the lotus pond in the courtyard. A middle-aged man had been waiting for a long time beside him, his face showing urgency, indicating that something very important had happened.

"Speak, what news do you have?"

A full half hour later, when the middle-aged man's legs began to tremble, the old man finally spoke in a low voice. The old man was Wang Zheng, the head of the Wang family, one of the eight great families.

"Master, Zhou Wu has come to the palace again to offer his advice."

The middle-aged man was the grandson of the family head, Wang Zheng. His father died young in an accident, so he became the next family head. However, he was only the next generation. Although the family head, Wang Zheng, was old, he did not relinquish power.

Moreover, Wang Zheng's prestige and methods were well-known within the family. Within the family, Wang Zheng's words were absolute authority, and no one could disobey him, not even his grandson.

"Is it about money?"

The old man frowned slightly; no matter what major events were happening in the imperial court, they couldn't be kept in the dark.

"Yes."

"We've worked so hard to empty the emperor's treasury, do you think that brat Zhou Wu can turn the tide? Do you know the details?"

This time, the national treasury was completely emptied, and no one could find fault with it, because from any perspective, it was a normal expenditure. However, only the aristocratic families knew that they had put in a lot of effort in this matter, and of course, everyone took the opportunity to make a fortune.

"It's said to be the issuance of government bonds."

"National debt? What is that? I've never heard of it in my entire life."

As the saying goes, old people become wiser. This old man was over eighty years old and had seen all kinds of storms and conspiracies, but he had never heard of national debt before.

"It is said that the imperial court borrowed money from the people."

"Hahaha~~~~ I thought it was some brilliant plan. Zhou Wu is nothing special. I doubt the emperor and his ministers will believe it."

Wang Zheng was truly surprised that the mighty Great Dragon Dynasty had fallen to such a state of destitution that it had to ask the common people for money. It seemed that it was all bark and no bite.

"His Majesty has agreed."

"What!!"

Wang Zheng couldn't understand why Li Tiancheng would agree to such an absurd method.

"Master, could it be that the imperial court is already incapacitated, and what we see is only the surface, while in reality it is all bark and no bite?"

Sun Tzu Wang Zhenxing offered his opinion, which Wang Zheng pondered for a long time before responding.

“What you said makes sense. In recent years, whether it was conquering Gaoli or sending troops to the Dazi, every time it was a huge undertaking and the cost of fighting was not a small amount.”

"That's right. We've only had a few years of good times, and the emperor has already become arrogant and ignorant. You know, for over a hundred years, no one dared to mess with him. During that time, he only went on a campaign against Gao Li, and he suffered a crushing defeat."

The grandfather and grandson were engrossed in their own worldly enjoyment, as if they could already foresee the decline of the Great Dragon Dynasty.

"Hey, the fish's here."

Just then, a fish suddenly took the bait on the still water and was pulled up.

The father and son laughed heartily as they watched the fish take the bait.

. . . . . .

The matter of the national debt has been approved by the emperor, and everything is ready. Now, only the emperor can give the amount.

"Your Majesty, I wonder if you have considered the amount of national bonds to be issued this time?"

Li Tiancheng had been thinking about this problem for several days, but he had no idea what to expect. Asking for too little would be useless, and asking for too much might make him a laughing stock.

"How about we set a price of ten million taels first? We can be frugal and make sure we can make it to the next quarter's commercial tax."

"Ten million taels?"

Zhou Wu frowned. All this commotion just for ten million taels?

"How is that too much? Eight million?"

Li Tiancheng thought to himself, "I was indeed greedy and asked for too much. That's ten million taels of silver, not bricks."

"Your Majesty, it's not that I think we have too much, what I mean is, can't we have some ambition?"

"What do you mean?"

"We've made such a big fuss, and you want ten million taels? Isn't that a bit inappropriate? How about this, one hundred million taels first, and we'll talk about it later if it's not enough?"

"What?! One hundred million!!!"

Li Tiancheng dared not speak anymore. Zhou Wu was truly audacious; one hundred million taels of silver, Zhou Wu was actually so confident.

Even the Crown Prince, standing to the side, stared at Zhou Wu with eyes wide as if they were copper bells, wondering if this was an exaggeration.

"Zhou Wu, isn't this a bit too much? What if we can't gather enough people? Wouldn't we be laughed at?"

Li Junren, like his father, is still too conservative.

But it's not their fault. After all, government bonds are a new thing, and it's already quite good that the two of them can accept them.

"Don't worry, I'm confident I can handle one hundred million taels."