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

An hour later, He Yong quickly received Li Hong's reply.

After glancing at the imperial edict with great anticipation, his initial enthusiasm instantly plummeted.

Li Hong's reply was lengthy, but it conveyed only one meaning.

They were willing to hand over the management of the salt tax in Lianghuai to the State of Chu, rather than abandon the various vassal states that were already in decline.

After reading it, He Yong shook his head wearily, then looked at the reason given by Li Hong:

He Qing's intentions are also my own; I know that what He Qing said is true.

However, the various vassal tribes have traveled thousands of miles to join Wu Zhao and are guarding the borders for him. If I were to abandon them because they are useless...

Would this discourage foreign tribes from submitting to the king's rule? Therefore, after careful consideration, I have decided to protect the vassal states and abolish the salt tax. This measure will bring many benefits.

The Haixi people's society has formed a faction, threatening the foundation of my Wuzhao Kingdom. If I were to introduce Chu firearms, and local authorities failed to supervise them properly, the people's society might acquire them. How would the troops stationed in various places respond?

Furthermore, if we abandon the practice of using warhorses and instead employ strange and ingenious techniques in the army, it would be seriously contrary to the foundation of the nation. I fear the country would be in peril. This matter should be addressed gradually, not overnight.

By handing over control of the salt tax, I, Wu Zhao, have reduced the national treasury's revenue. However, the corrupt and deeply entrenched problems within the salt tax system are difficult to eradicate. Despite my repeated orders for reform, the results have been minimal.

Therefore, it is necessary to utilize the new policies of Wu Zhao's official system to address the chaos surrounding salt permits. If the Chu state succeeds in its reforms,

This can also serve as a model for officials in other regions, encouraging them to emulate the Chu state's methods of governance, thereby achieving a more transparent and efficient administration.

This approach achieves multiple benefits, and for me, Wu Zhao, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Furthermore, I protect the various vassal tribes outside the capital, and besides dealing with the peasant uprisings within the Zhenfang Pass, I must also guard against invasions from the northwestern tribes.

The defense of the Northwest is crucial to the rise and fall of the Wu Zhao dynasty; I must take precautions.

With the national treasury empty, finances in dire straits, and beset by internal and external troubles,

Only by settling the state of Chu properly can we hope for a resurgence of its former glory. I must make this choice with utmost care.

After reading the reply, He Yong reluctantly put away the official letter: "Your Majesty, you really have it tough. This servant will definitely get things done for you as soon as possible."

Inside the Qingliang Hall, Li Hong, after making his approval, felt an overwhelming sense of exhaustion wash over him.

He hadn't had a good night's sleep in days; Shen Lang's words were like a thorn in his side, keeping him awake night after night.

Now that things have finally come to a conclusion, all he wants to do is get a good night's sleep.

Looking at the portrait of the Empress, Li Hong gradually fell into a deep sleep.

……

In early July, Wu Zhaoguo and Shen Lang finally reached a conclusion after negotiations.

Shen Lang was somewhat shocked by Li Hong's decision to give up the salt tax rather than relinquish the various vassal states.

I was shocked by Li Hong's courage and his determination to save face even at the cost of his life.

Since that's the case, he naturally didn't hold back.

However, at the urging of He Yong and Zhang Gui, Shen Lang finally backed down and reduced the annual payment of 50 million taels of silver to 40 million taels, to be repaid in installments over ten years.

However, Shen Lang still made a profit. The salt tax revenue from the Lianghuai region of Wuzhao Kingdom was a full 20 million taels a year on the surface, but in reality, at least 10 million taels were embezzled by salt merchants and salt officials.

It is believed that after the Chu state's reforms, it will be able to obtain huge profits from the salt tax of Wu Zhao State.

On July 15th, the final negotiations between the two sides concluded, and He Yong delivered a letter of state personally stamped by Li Hong, marking the successful end of this Chu army expedition.

The following day, Fu Chang'an delivered 60 million taels of silver and promised that the remaining 240 million taels would be settled within ten days.

In order to raise this sum of money, the Wu Zhao royal family did not hesitate to demand the outstanding debts from the thirty-three royal merchants in the capital region, and did not hesitate to use the sword for this purpose.

Imperial merchants were not irreplaceable; they were essentially the emperor's mobile treasury. They would be given special privileges when the emperor needed them, but if he no longer needed them, they would obediently hand over all the wealth they had accumulated.

Soon, 18 out of the 33 imperial merchants refused to repay their debts, resulting in the confiscation of their entire assets. The confiscation yielded a staggering 300 million taels of silver, enough not only to pay the indemnity to the State of Chu but also to leave a surplus of 60 million taels, enough to accomplish many things.

Seeing that the imperial court was serious, the remaining fifteen families immediately and obediently paid their accumulated debts, totaling more than 13 million taels.

By July 24th, Fu Chang'an had delivered the remaining compensation to Zhongdu.

According to the agreement, after receiving the compensation, the Chu army should withdraw from Zhongdu within one month and then head south back to Haizhou.

When He Yong asked Shen Lang when the Chu army would withdraw, Shen Lang replied, "The Chu army will withdraw and return south as agreed before the end of August. But before that, I hope you can do me a favor and let me go to Shengjing City to take a look."

"This……"

"What's wrong? Are you having some kind of trouble?"

"No, no trouble at all. I will go back and ask the Emperor for instructions right away."

He Yong quickly returned to the capital to report back.

Inside the Forbidden City palace, Li Hong hosted a banquet, inviting all officials to attend.

The vast Hall of Heavenly Purity was already filled with long tables.

All the officials sat upright at their desks with solemn expressions.

Li Hong remained silent, staring blankly at his desk.

After a long while, the eunuchs from the imperial kitchen brought in today's dishes.

The dishes were very simple: a bowl of brown rice and a dish of pickled vegetables for each person, and that was it. Even Li Hong had the same dishes on his table, without any special treatment.

Li Hong, who is usually grand and concerned with appearances, was surprisingly "petty" in inviting all the officials to the banquet this time because it was not a celebration banquet, but a banquet for reflection.

Li Hong picked up his bowl and slowly spoke: "Do you know why the dishes served at this banquet I summoned today are so simple?"

The officials remained silent.

Li Hongdao said, "What is laid out before you now is the daily meal of the common people of my Wuzhao Kingdom. This is still during peaceful times; if there were a year of famine..."

"The common people probably can't even afford these things. Today, I want you all to taste with me the food the common people eat, and see how it differs from the delicacies you usually enjoy, and the rice you receive as your stipend."

After saying that, he picked up a mouthful of rice with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth.

The officials immediately grabbed their chopsticks and silently stuffed rice into their mouths.

The brown rice was hard to swallow, and many officials frowned, but dared not spit it out.

Li Hong, however, remained unfazed and ate three bites before stopping.

Just as Feng Chun offered him tea, Li Hong raised his hand and refused.

"I invited you to this meal to tell you that everything you eat and use comes from the hard-earned money of the people."

They feed you with these things, allowing you to feast and revel, but you have disappointed the people, and you have disappointed me as well.

The war between Wu Zhao and Chu has been going on for almost a year now, but I never imagined it would turn out like this. Whose fault is it, you tell me?

Upon hearing this, many officials began to sob softly. Some sobbed from the bottom of their hearts, while others could not shed a tear but forced out a few. Still others simply raised their sleeves to wipe the corners of their eyes, which were dry of tears.

For a moment, a somber atmosphere filled the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Li Hong stood up and continued, "I never expected that the Wu Zhao Kingdom would suffer such a crushing defeat under my rule!"

"As the ruler of this country, I am naturally to blame, but what about you? Don't you bear any responsibility?"

"Woooooooo..."

"Whoa, whoa..."

"Uh uh uh……"

For a moment, the hall was filled with sobs, but no one dared to cry out loud.