Tang Dynasty: Father, if you don't rebel, I will!

It was nearing the beginning of winter in the eighth year of the Zhenguan era.

However, the national strength of the Tang Dynasty was like the steam rising from factories all over the country, growing stronger day by day.

Minister of Revenue Feng Deyi and President of the Royal Bank of the Tang Dynasty Wu Shihuo are currently working intensively with their officials in charge of accounting to review the revenue and expenditure accounts of various regions this year.

In front of an abacus that was several meters long and required several people to lift, several accountants were calculating summaries of bills from various locations.

Behind them, representatives from the Ministry of Revenue and bank branches across the Tang Dynasty waited anxiously for the results with solemn expressions.

Besides Feng Deyi and Wu Shiyue, all the members of the cabinet of the Chang'an Royal Bank, as well as the other ministers and vice ministers except for Li Daozong, the Minister of Justice, were also gathered here today.

While waiting for the results from this side, they also discussed some recent matters at hand.

"Grand Secretary Du, your son will be taking up his post as Provincial Governor in Southeast Asia next year. However, many of the countries in Southeast Asia have not yet established proper official documents and systems, and they also have language barriers with our Great Tang. How will your son proceed?"

Tang Jian, the Minister of Rites, asked the question.

Upon hearing this, Du Ruhui shook his head and sighed. He was naturally happy about his second son, Du He, who seemed to have completely changed, but the latter's stubborn temperament was also a major headache for him.

He waved his hand.

"Enough, enough. Why bother with that rebellious son? Let's handle official business as it is. Since he doesn't take my words seriously, he can take responsibility for whatever happens in the future. I'm just worried that if he carelessly throws away his life, that's one thing, but if he delays His Highness's important matters, alas..."

Wang Ming, the Minister of Personnel, glanced at the old man.

Stroking his beard without speaking, Tang Jian knew that everyone present was a cunning old fox. When he inquired about Du He, was he genuinely worried about Du He's safety? Or was he trying to gauge the Ministry of Rites' attitude towards the Southeast Asian countries?

Du Ruhui said he didn't care, but did he really not care?

That was to tell them that he was still unclear about how to manage the South Seas, whether it should be like the checks and balances in India, or some other method, and that he still needed to see what the Crown Prince wanted.

really.

As soon as everyone finished speaking, several pairs of eyes focused on Wang Ming.

"Ahem... Now that so many things are piling up, although I am the Minister of Personnel, most of the official business I have received recently is about the Northern Desert and the Eastern Seas. As for the Southeast Asia... it is still uncertain."

Everyone looked away in disappointment, but Wang Ming changed the subject and spoke quietly.

"but......"

Everyone's attention shifted back to the present.

He coughed lightly: "Although there is no specific plan for the management of Nanyang yet, in my opinion... Your Highness will definitely not allow Nanyang to become like India today. After all, India at least has relatively powerful forces like the Chaluqi, but Nanyang... is mostly inhabited by some tribal barbarians."

"I have heard that His Highness intends to expand the planting of rubber trees. The Duke of Yue did not even stay in Chang'an until His Highness's ascension to the throne next year, but returned to Lingnan Road ahead of time. This must be for this matter. According to those maritime merchants, Southeast Asia is more suitable for rubber tree planting."

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines, and Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui felt another throbbing pain in their heads.

"Ahem, Grand Secretary Fang, if that's the case, then it seems we'll have to intensify our policies to encourage people to have children next year." Feng Deyi's old face was also etched with distress and worry.

Such major policies, which involve the entire country, often have far-reaching consequences.

The surge in population necessitates not only maintaining the country's basic food reserves, but also increasing expenditures on various other areas such as education, infrastructure, land allocation, and healthcare.

He is now nearly seventy years old.

Almost every month, Li Chengqian needs to send someone to deliver some kind of secret medicine in order to be able to cope with the heavy workload of government affairs.

This is also because this old guy is a complete power-hungry official and really can't bear to give up the power in his hands.

However, now that things have come to this point, even someone as ambitious as Feng Deyi can't help but feel panicked. Is he really going to die in this position of Minister of Revenue?

If I were to die in this position, what posthumous title would His Highness the Crown Prince give me?

He lowered his head, trembling slightly, and couldn't help but let his mind wander.

While the officials were whispering and discussing among themselves, in the outer hall, a tax settlement that had lasted for several days was finally coming to an end.

Samurai Ge held his teacup, his expression solemn.

Beside him, Yu Shinan, the Crown Prince's Junior Tutor and concurrently the Director of the Tian Ce Prefecture's Inspectorate, quietly awaited the result.

Soon, the clicking sound of the abacus gradually stopped.

A young senior executive from the Royal Bank strode over.

Her face was flushed with excitement, and she was clutching a copy of the settlement results she had just written, her hands trembling.

"Bank manager, Dr. Yu, the results are in..."

"How much?" Both Duke Yingguo Wu Shiyue and Yu Shinan slowed their breathing slightly, staring intently at each other. Behind them, Fang Xuanling and the others came down the stairs.

The young official began to report loudly.

"From June of the seventh year of Zhenguan last year to June of the eighth year of Zhenguan, the various circuits of our Great Tang have collected a total of 8.3 billion Tang Yuan in taxes... According to the old system, that is 830 million Guan!"

Eight, eight hundred million strings of cash...

When Wu Shige took over as president of the Royal Bank, he already had a rough estimate of the amount in mind.

But when the final results were actually presented to him, his hand holding the teacup still trembled involuntarily.

An eerie silence fell over the scene.

No one gasped, no one questioned; everyone seemed stunned, staring at each other like wax figures, their eyes filled with immense shock at the "eight hundred and thirty million strings of cash" mentioned by the young official.

Feng Deyi's old face flushed with excitement. He opened his mouth as if to shout excitedly, but the next moment his eyes rolled back and he was about to fall backward when Zheng Jiang, the Vice Minister of Rites, reacted and quickly helped him up.

"Elder Feng, Elder Feng! You... Quickly! Summon the imperial physician! Summon the imperial physician!"

Feng Deyi was helped to lie on the ground. His eyes were glazed over, but he slowly opened them again. He was still muttering that terrible number in a trembling voice.

"Eight hundred and thirty million strings of cash... This, this... In all the dynasties of China, has any dynasty ever been as wealthy as our Great Tang?!"

He shouted excitedly in his hoarse voice.

"Even ten times the amount of taxes levied during the prosperous Kaihuang era of the previous dynasty could not compensate for this!"

Because of his actions, the excitement of Fang Xuanling and the others was somewhat dampened. Although they were also extremely excited, they were not as excited as he was to the point of fainting.

Fang Xuanling took a deep breath and exchanged glances with several members of the cabinet and the ministers.

It all happened in an instant. Once His Highness learns about this year's total national fiscal revenue, he'll probably make another big move.

If His Highness were to be like those emperors of ancient times, repairing the Epang Palace or building the Bronze Sparrow Terrace, Fang Xuanling and the others would not find it a problem; on the contrary, they would be very pleased.

but.......

"Eighty-three billion?! You're not mistaken?! Is it really true that this year's total fiscal revenue will reach eighty-three billion?!"

In the Taiji Hall, Li Shimin, sitting on the throne, exclaimed in surprise.

Almost the next second after Fang Xuanling and the others nodded helplessly and stiffly.

Emperor Zhenguan leaped directly off the dragon throne and landed right in front of Crown Prince Li Chengqian, who was standing with his brothers.

"Brilliant! Eighty-three billion! Eighty-three billion Tang Yuan!"

"You, you give me two billion! I can't wait any longer! This year! This year, the western expedition!"