The poorest member of the Imperial Guard, the Empress begged me to embezzle.

squeak...

The door to the study of the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard slowly opened.

"come in."

Chu Xiu's voice came from inside the study.

"Your subordinate greets Your Excellency."

Li Jingtian straightened his official robes as a deputy commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, entered the study, and bowed to Chu Xiu, who was sitting at the desk processing documents.

"No need to be polite."

Chu Xiu said calmly, "But has the number one manor in the world already been taken over?"

"Reporting to the Marquis, the Number One Manor under Heaven has been completely razed. I have ordered Nie Kuangren to confiscate all the wealth of the Number One Manor under Heaven, and I have also dispatched our elite Imperial Guards to participate in the affairs of the Number One Manor under Heaven, and to confiscate the homes of Jianghu people who have a certain amount of wealth."

Li Jingtian said with a solemn expression.

"Speak, what else do you want to say?"

Chu Xiu smiled slightly and looked at Li Jingtian.

If it were just these matters, Li Jingtian wouldn't be in such a hurry to return to the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters to report.

There must be something more important.

Upon hearing this, Li Jingtian said with admiration, "Your Excellency is wise."

Chu Xiu smiled and remained silent.

Li Jingtian revealed in detail his plan to subdue the Qin family of Huaiyin and make the entire Qin family serve the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

This included demonstrating the power of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's killing blade formation and raising his own cultivation level to the eighth level of the Celestial Realm.

And his requirements for the Qin family of Huaiyin.

He also gave three slots, allowing three members of the Qin family of Huaiyin to join the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Hall of Worship, and explained the whole story of how they became Embroidered Uniform Guard servants.

"It's just a small matter."

"If the Qin family of Huaiyin could be used by our Embroidered Uniform Guard to supervise the Wang family of Taiyuan, it would be of no harm to us."

"Just proceed according to your plan."

Chu Xiu waved his hand and said to Li Jingtian.

"Thank you, Lord Marquis."

Li Jingtian said respectfully.

"Li Jingtian, now that you're back..."

"Then the water conservancy project should officially begin!"

“We will extract money from our Jinyiwei public welfare special fund and send it to the prefectures and counties in various places where waterways need to be dredged and dikes need to be built. Our Jinyiwei will supervise the process to ensure that every copper coin is used effectively.”

Chu Xiu pondered for a moment, then said to Li Jingtian in a low but powerful voice, "Any people recruited to participate in the construction of water conservancy projects can have their entire family exempted from three years of corvée labor."

I will go to the palace to seek His Majesty's approval on this matter.

"Your Excellency is truly righteous!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jingtian was stunned for a moment, then knelt down before Chu Xiu, expressing his gratitude with tears in his eyes.

He was expressing his gratitude to Chu Xiu on behalf of the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty who participated in the water conservancy project.

Exempting someone from three years of corvée labor is such a great kindness and virtue!

“Constructing water conservancy projects benefits the country and the people, not only the common people, but also our Great Zhou Dynasty.”

"It is only right to exempt the people who have contributed to the construction of water conservancy from corvée labor."

Chu Xiu shook his head and said, "In addition to exempting people from corvée labor, the wages for all recruited people will be increased by 30% according to the market price. This will ensure that not a single penny of this money will end up in the pockets of the people. Anyone who dares to embezzle or make things difficult for the people will be executed without mercy!"

"Yes, sir!"

Li Jingtian's expression turned solemn, and he spoke in a firm and powerful voice.

"In addition, when constructing water conservancy projects, it is essential to ensure that the people have food and lodging."

"We guarantee that after a day's work on water conservancy projects, we will not be without even a temporary shelter."

"Moreover, people need to have white flour steamed buns for their three meals a day."

"Plenty of white flour buns, but lunch must include meat!"

"Even if there is no meat in the other two meals, there should be meat soup."

"We must do our best to ensure that people have enough to eat, eat well, and live well."

"Furthermore, by recruiting doctors from the community, people can receive timely medical treatment if they fall ill."

"You must not continue to work until you have fully recovered."

"It is absolutely forbidden to mistreat or beat the people in any way when water conservancy projects are being carried out."

"This is a bottom line, and no one can cross it!"

"The people have built water conservancy projects for our Great Zhou Dynasty, so we must protect every one of them."

"The people can support a boat, but they can also capsize it!"

"I absolutely do not wish for any accidents to occur during the construction of water conservancy projects!"

"With our elite Imperial Guards as the backbone and our various Imperial Guard units as the skin, we must ensure that every section of the river has our Imperial Guards."

Chu Xiu stood up, his killing intent chilling, and said, "None of these rules can be touched. Anyone who dares to touch them will die!"

"I obey my orders!"

Upon hearing Chu Xiu's words, Li Jingtian's blood boiled, and he spoke with conviction.

"Li Jingtian, you shall compile every rule I just mentioned and send it to the various thousand-household and hundred-household offices of our Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"Send a copy to all the prefectural and county governments as well!"

"I want them to know that these are the rules I set!"

"Anyone who dares to disobey me will be killed!"

Chu Xiu said calmly.

"My subordinate understands!"

Li Jingtian nodded and said with a serious expression.

"First, compile everything I just said and deliver it to me as soon as possible."

Chu Xiu waved to Li Jingtian and said, "I will take this document to the palace to meet the Emperor."

Chu Xiu hadn't thought of exempting himself from three years of corvée labor beforehand; it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Such an important matter naturally required an audience with the Empress Murong Si.

However, based on Chu Xiu's understanding of Murong Si, Murong Si would never disagree with such a thing.

Murong Si would wholeheartedly support anything that benefited the people.

If it weren't for this era of great strife, with Murong Si's abilities, she would surely have become a sage ruler.

However, even in this era of great strife, now that he has come to this world, Chu Xiu must do his part to help Murong Si become a sage ruler and suppress those treacherous demons and monsters.

Whether it's a sect or a powerful family, anyone who dares to rebel will be suppressed!

When poor, cultivate your own virtue; when rich, benefit all under heaven!

Not to mention, he is already entitled to system rewards for doing positive things.

"Yes, I am resigning."

Li Jingtian bowed and withdrew.

Chu Xiu took a step and disappeared into the study of the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

After a cup of tea.

Outside the Imperial Palace, Taiji Palace.

Chu Xiu walked slowly to the outside of Taiji Palace, bowed and said, "Your humble servant Chu Xiu has come to see Your Majesty."

"Minister Chu has arrived?"

"Could it be that the water conservancy project is finally about to officially begin?"

"Jiang Wan'er, go and greet them quickly!"

Upon hearing Chu Xiu's voice, Empress Murong Si, who was intently reviewing memorials at her desk in the Taiji Palace, brightened up and revealed a look of surprise. She then spoke to Jiang Wan'er, who was waiting beside her.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Jiang Wan'er exchanged a glance with Pei Guanyin beside her, and then walked out of Taiji Palace.

Not long after.

Jiang Wan'er then led Chu Xiu in.

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

Chu Xiu bowed respectfully to Murong Si.

"Minister Chu, you may rise. Guards, please bring a seat for Minister Chu!"

Murong Si said calmly.

Her expression returned to calm after Jiang Wan'er left Taiji Palace.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Chu Xiu thanked Murong Si before sitting down in the chair.

"Everyone except Jiang Wan'er and Pei Guanyin, may leave."

Murong Si said calmly.

"Yes."

The Taiji Palace maids responded and withdrew.