Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Inside Shuixuan Residence, Jiang Mengxuan and Shen Lian sat on the floor, quietly enjoying the ice cream made by Shen Lang himself.

"It's so cool and refreshing, one bite and it chases away the summer heat. Ah Lang, how did you make such a dessert?"

"Don't ask anymore. If you like it, I'll make it for you often."

Looking at Jiang Mengxuan's graceful figure lying on her side on the table, Shen Lang couldn't help but feel a little distracted.

Jiang Mengxuan keenly sensed the change in Shen Lang's eyes, and instantly scooped up a spoonful of shaved ice and stuffed it into his mouth, saying coquettishly:

"Don't do anything reckless. It's broad daylight. If someone sees us and it gets out..."

"I, as an empress, don't know where to put my face. Just bear with it a little longer, and I'll serve you properly tonight."

"Understood, understood."

Shen Lang swallowed the coldness in his mouth and replied with a smile.

After spending the last few days together, Shen Lang has gained a completely new understanding of his wife.

She appears aloof, noble, and unapproachable to outsiders, but possesses the gentle and refined demeanor of a girl from a humble family.

Three days have passed, and Jiang Mengxuan insists on facing him every time they have sex. Whenever he tries to change the position, she strongly resists...

Perhaps it was witnessing Wu Li and Shu Yingwen's intimate moment at Tianxiang Tower that left her with a psychological scar, making her unable to accept that kind of special intimacy between husband and wife.

But none of that matters. What matters most is that we understand each other. Everything else is just a seasoning and doesn't have to be there.

He didn't care at all about the "learned scholars" or the "tiger and leopard cavalry" style.

After a sip of iced shaved ice, Shen Lang became much more sober and immediately got down to business: "If I'm not mistaken, the officials from the six ministries should all be running to Ye Mo's place to complain by now."

Ye Mo should understand Xuan'er's intentions and will definitely cooperate fully to thwart this farcical garden renovation project.

I just don't know if Ye Mo will be able to grasp the deeper meaning I'm trying to convey.

Jiang Mengxuan asked curiously, "Is there some deeper meaning? Why haven't you mentioned it before?"

Shen Lang laughed and said, "The deeper meaning of this is why the Six Ministries are so strapped for cash. If Ye Mo is smart enough, he should be able to find the clue here."

Jiang Mengxuan smiled slightly: "The national treasury revenue has always been managed by the Ministry of Revenue. Salt tax, commercial tax, and land tax are currently the main sources of tax revenue for our Great Chu."

As for other taxes, such as mining tax and tea tax, attempts to collect them were made as early as forty years ago, but they were met with strong public opposition and had to be abandoned.

Since open source is not an option, the only remaining approach is to modify these three main tax systems, but ultimately it's just a change in name only.

Even with all the hard work, the national treasury only gains a few thousand or tens of thousands of taels of silver each year, which not only contributes nothing to the country but also breeds widespread resentment among the people.

Shen Lang: "So now, taking the textile factory as an example, how are the profits?"

Jiang Mengxuan smiled faintly: "I can only say that the profits from this one textile factory alone amount to more than 10% of the national treasury's annual revenue."

This doesn't even include the annual dividends paid by the franchised factories; they're not even in the same league. The tax system must be changed in this direction in the future.

Shen Lang nodded: "By the way, have you seen Nanzhao's financial statements?"

"Looked."

Jiang Mengxuan's face immediately lit up with joy: "I really didn't expect this!"

The powerful gentry of Nanzhao were surprisingly willing to pay 30% of their profits simply to transport money, grain, and supplies from Luchuan to the capital.

That's equivalent to a whopping thirteen million taels of silver; my treasury is almost overflowing.

"This is the benefit of war! The powerful gentry of Nanzhao have now realized that only through continuous expansion can they obtain greater profits."

They cannot expand on their own; they need the support of a powerful force, and you are their biggest supporter.

"It's not me, it's us," Jiang Mengxuan corrected. "The current situation in Luchuan is that the construction projects of the Nanzhao gentry are almost filling the entire northern region."

The King of Luchuan also sent letters several times to protest the tyranny of our Chu state and to express his hope that our Great Chu would honor its promises and withdraw to the established border line as stipulated in the agreement.

"Heh, he makes it sound so easy," Shen Lang laughed. "Unfortunately, he overlooked one thing: it's not our Chu army that's causing trouble in Luchuan."

The Chu army strictly adhered to the agreement, operating within the 300-li border area of ​​Luchuan.

"Those who are advancing are merely merchants not bound by the Chu state; they have not violated any provisions of the agreement."

Jiang Mengxuan laughed: "If I were the King of Luchuan, I would be furious. Is the current situation in Luchuan exactly the colonial policy you planned?"

"Yes."

Shen Lang did not deny it.

"For other countries that are not of the same ethnicity or culture, extracting their benefits is far more valuable than occupying their entire territory."

Integrating them would require several generations and would be too costly.

The only correct approach is to cultivate a portion of the population through colonization to forcefully counterbalance the majority.

Jiang Mengxuan wholeheartedly agreed: "To be honest, I still had some doubts about what you said before."

But seeing such substantial profits, I realized my husband's judgment was indeed astute.

"Don't flatter me. For colonization to succeed, it cannot do without the support of a powerful government. The imperial court must ensure the interests of merchants in the region."

Jiang Mengxuan's eyes suddenly lit up: "A Lang, what do you think would happen if I set up a special department?"

Wouldn't it be more prudent to bestow honorary titles upon those virtuous and ambitious gentlemen who dare to explore new frontiers?

Shen Lang said with satisfaction, "Of course, if the title is conferred on them in the name of the imperial court, their interests will be more closely intertwined."

"I'll draft a report later and send it to Ye Mo."

"I'll handle this. Xuan'er, you're already busy enough with official duties every day."

"I will manage the colonies for you, but you may have to give up a portion of the profits."

"It doesn't matter, as long as the money is used for good, I'm willing to do it."

"Then don't worry about it. Same as always, just wait for the result."

"Well, thank you for your hard work."

"It would be too formal for us, husband and wife, to say such things to each other."

Looking at Shen Lang, Jiang Mengxuan felt exceptionally at ease.

It seems like nothing can stump him.

"By the way, Xuan'er, what have you thought about Liu Wu's matter?"

"The Jingwei Division has reported that the governors of Ning, Su, and Ming prefectures seem to be planning to jointly impeach Liu Wu. I have already ordered Jiang Chaoyun to send someone to protect him secretly."

"It's probably too late."

Shen Lang sighed: "Liu Wu's investigation has offended too many people. Officials involved in the case in various places are now eager to tear him to pieces."

But no one would dare to kill a personally appointed inspector of the imperial court in public. They would certainly accuse Liu Wu of a fabricated crime next.

I think it's time for me to get going.

“Ah Lang”.

Jiang Mengxuan looked worried.

Are you really sure?

Shen Lang calmly replied, "This is my home, and I don't want it to fall apart."

A hint of sadness flashed across Jiang Mengxuan's face.

"Ah Lang, I'm still a little scared."

"Don't be afraid, those rotten fish and shrimps are no match for me."

Looking into Shen Lang's unwavering gaze, Jiang Mengxuan felt a mix of guilt and gratitude.

Just then, Mu Qingqiu's voice rang out from outside the hall.

"Junior sister, brother-in-law, Jiang Chaoyun sent an urgent message. Would you like to take a look?"

Shen Lang and Jiang Mengxuan exchanged a glance, already guessing that the contents of this urgent letter were 100% aimed at Liu Wu.