What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 131 Empress: I want to change the ancestral system!

Hao Jian was completely convinced by Su Mo.

This guy is on par with the top-ranking guy in the left, someone I can't afford to mess with. Let him do whatever he wants!

Su Mo couldn't possibly be boasting about his background or abilities.

He truly has that kind of background and ability!
In the vast Great Wu Dynasty, few dared to use the Embroidered Uniform Guard to intimidate others.

After all, such matters can be easily investigated and clarified; there's no way to lie about them.

Isn't this tarnishing the reputation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

If you dare to use the Embroidered Uniform Guard to bully others, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will dare to throw you into the imperial prison and let you see the eighteen kinds of martial arts of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

Su Mo didn't stay either, sharing roast chicken and wine with Hao Jian.

After saying goodbye to Hao Jian, who held him in high esteem.

He then returned to the Ding group and called Ding Bashi over.

"I need to renovate two restaurants. In the T-group, hmm... are there any craftsmen in the entire artisan camp who are skilled in this field?"

He hesitated for a moment, then added, "The craftsmanship needs to be good."

Ding Bashi was secretly startled upon hearing this.

Restaurants in the capital are not places that ordinary people can open, let alone two!

This is a huge job!
As Su Guandai had previously stated, it would cost fifty coins a day, including two meals.

If you work for thirty to fifty days, you can't make a net profit of two taels of silver, right?
He quickly replied, "Reporting to the commander, the carpenters Tian and He from Group A have been doing this for generations."

"In addition, Niu San from the Zhengzi group is a bricklayer with many men under his command. He also knows how to build houses. Last year, he built a large house for a wealthy family."

The artisan battalion was divided into six groups: main, auxiliary, A, B, C, and D.

In addition, there are two categories: A, B, C, and D.

A total of ten groups, with three hundred military craftsmen.

Ding Bashi grew up in this artisan camp since birth, and was a craftsman who inherited his father's craftsmanship, so he was quite familiar with the situation in the artisan camp.

Su Mo nodded: "Go and call them in. They will come into the city with me."

Ding Bashi hesitated for a moment: "Reporting to Your Excellency, they are not craftsmen from the Ding group..."

Su Mo waved his hand: "Go ahead, I have already spoken to Commander Hao about this."

Ding Bashi then agreed and left.

Su Mo doesn't know how to build houses, let alone ancient wooden and stone structures.

He has some unique insights into restaurants.

However, whether it will succeed depends on consulting with professionals.

The main purpose of this trip to the Craftsmen's Camp is to bring professionals to take a look at those two shops, have them come up with a specific plan, and then submit it to me for review and modification.

Soon, three craftsmen, their faces and bodies etched with the marks of time and their skin tanned dark, appeared.

They arrived at the Su Moqi government office.

He greeted Su Mo first, then stood there with a nervous expression.

Su Mo sized up the three people, paying particular attention to their hands.

All three were in their early thirties, their hair and beards were somewhat disheveled, and they looked old from years of hard work and poor nutrition.

The calloused and scarred hands prove that these people are indeed capable.

Su Mo cut to the chase: "I've heard that you all know how to build houses."

"I have two shops that need to be converted into restaurants, and I would like to hear your opinions."

"If your proposal satisfies me, the restaurant can be entrusted to your renovation!"

Upon hearing this, the three craftsmen all showed hesitation.

Su Mo frowned: "What's wrong?"

These military craftsmen, so poor they can barely afford pants, why wouldn't they make money?

Niu San was tall and his clothes were covered in mud.

Thinking to himself that it was someone from the Zhengzi group, and that Su, the commander of the Dingzi group, couldn't control him, he mustered his courage and said, "Sir, we military craftsmen only earn a living when we stop working, and besides, I've taken on a job with a landlord outside the city, I'm afraid..."

"I'm afraid I won't have time to help the adults."

Upon hearing this, Su Mo immediately laughed: "Are you afraid that I'll make you do things for nothing?"

"I am not an unreasonable person."

"Renovating this restaurant will cost 50 coins a day for skilled workers and 30 coins a day for unskilled workers, including two meals."

Upon hearing this, the three craftsmen immediately swallowed hard.

Niu Sangeng couldn't help but stare wide-eyed at Su Mo: "Sir... are you serious?"

Su Mo snorted: "Do you think I would lie to you?"

Ding Bashi, who was standing to the side, immediately snorted, "Don't you know what's good for you!"

"The lord is benevolent and righteous, as everyone in the Ding group knows. Yesterday, the lord gave us three taels of silver to improve our group's meals!"

"If Group T hadn't been so bad at creating a favorable environment, such benefits wouldn't have fallen into your laps!"

Su Mo looked at Ding Bashi with slight surprise.

Who would have thought that this burly guy would be so quick-witted?

No wonder he's doing so well in the city's blacksmith shops; he has good connections in the artisan corps as well.

Niu San and the others swallowed hard again!

Fifty coins a day, if you work for a month, is enough to cover a family's expenses for the whole month!

Isn't all the money left over from the work our family members do?

Well, take them to work as laborers, and you'll get thirty coins!

There's even more left!
Su Mo smiled and said, "You will all follow me into the city later."

"Whether it works out or not, I'll give you fifty coins."

"Furthermore, each of you will submit a proposal. Whoever's proposal satisfies me will receive three taels of silver!"

He paused, then added, "However, I have only one request: it must be quick!"

After speaking, Su Mo looked at the three craftsmen.

They were expected to be extremely excited by the generous reward.

They all looked bewildered.

Finally, it was Niu San, the bravest of them all, who stammered, "Sir... what is the plan?"

Su Mo's forehead creased with annoyance...

Dogmatism has tricked us again.

He could only frown and ask, "Architectural blueprints? Do you understand?"

Niu San, Tian the carpenter, and He the carpenter all replied in unison, "Your Excellency, we don't understand!"

Su Mo was speechless: "Then how do you usually build your houses?"

Niu San honestly replied, "The master tells us what kind of house to build, and I build it according to that standard..."

He hesitated for a moment: "Only the Imperial Workshop of the Ministry of Works can build mansions that require blueprints."

Su Mo was speechless.

It turns out that the artisan battalion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard doesn't have many real skills.

No wonder the Ministry of Works' craftsmen have taken over all the work for the imperial court.

Seeing that Ding Bashi's iron-making skills were extremely high, he assumed that other craftsmen were the same!
You've fallen into a misconception.

His two restaurants are quite crucial.

It was the groundbreaking work that opened up the reputation of Shenjing.

This is also the key to whether or not the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Phoenix Cry Division can be firmly bound together, so it must be done to the best of its ability!
We still need to find real experts to handle this.

Isn't the Minister of Works the one behind Chu Jianghe?
The Ministry of Works will oversee the work.

As long as the Minister of Works gives the order, why should the Directorate of Works not exert its utmost efforts?

I've helped Chu Jianghe so much, surely Chu Cheng wouldn't refuse to give me this much face?
It's not like I'm not willing to pay!

Hmm, let's sound out Chu Jianghe first.

Perhaps I can get on the road to becoming the Minister of Works along the way.

He was a high-ranking official of the second rank in the imperial court, a true bigwig in the court!

Thinking of this, Su Mo waved his hand: "Then forget it. I'll go to the Imperial Workshop first and ask them what's going on!"

"You may all go back now."

Niu San and his two companions looked at each other in bewilderment.

In the end, he could only leave Su Mo's office dejectedly.

It's because I'm not as skilled as others.

The big job just slipped away like that!

Su Mo was too lazy to tell Hao Jian about skipping work.

He rode his chestnut horse straight back into the city.

……

Outside the Lizheng Hall in Shenjing.

Several true high-ranking officials of the empire exchanged glances, each seeing suspicion in the other's eyes.

Clearly, they had no idea why Her Majesty the Empress had summoned them without any warning!

But the matter is definitely not insignificant!
Don't you see, all those who come are cabinet ministers who have entered the Wenyuan Pavilion!

Grand Secretary of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, concurrently Minister of Rites, Junior Tutor, and Chief Grand Secretary Xiao Yuan.

Wang Hao, Grand Secretary of the Jianji Hall and concurrently Minister of Revenue, was the second Grand Secretary.

Yang Ji, Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall and concurrently Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

Cui Xuan, Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.

Yuan Xingdao, Grand Academician of the Observatory and Director of the Astronomical Bureau.

Wang Hua, Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion and concurrently Left Censor-in-Chief.

All six Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet are present!

Even Zhu Bi, a Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion who was not admitted to the Wenyuan Pavilion, was not qualified to come!

This demonstrates the high level of importance attached to this small court assembly!
Empress Wu ascended the throne, and the court was reshuffled.

The position of the Three Dukes, a first-rank official, was vacant.

Among the six Grand Secretaries, only Xiao Yuan holds the titles of Junior Tutor, Junior Preceptor, and Junior Guardian of the Three Sovereigns!
The six cabinet ministers now in control of the government.

Even nobles and high-ranking officials must avoid his sharp edge.

After the grand court assembly ended, an official informed them to go to the Hall of Establishing Government, as His Majesty had summoned them!
The high-ranking officials were taken aback, but dared not hesitate, and arrived one after another outside the Hall of State Administration. Outsiders believed that the grand court assembly in the Golden Palace would decide important matters of the court.

In fact, the real decisions of the imperial court were all approved first in the Hall of Establishing Government, and then discussed in the Hall of Supreme Harmony as a formality.

The meeting at the Lizheng Hall was also known as the Small Court Assembly.

The small court assembly is the place where the struggle for imperial power, immortal power, and ministerial power is the most intense!

After exchanging glances, the six Grand Secretaries all looked at Xiao Yuan, the Grand Secretary of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Chief Grand Secretary, and the Junior Tutor.

The chief minister is the head of all officials.

Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Xiao Yuan couldn't help but give a wry smile: "Don't look at me anymore!"

"I also do not know why His Majesty has summoned me this time!"

Wang Hao, the Grand Secretary of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, frowned immediately: "Does Chief Minister Xiao also not understand His Majesty's intentions?"

He turned his gaze to Yang Ji, the Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall: "Does Lord Yang know about this matter?"

Upon hearing this, everyone else's gaze fell on Yang Ji.

He was able to serve in the Wenyuan Pavilion as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, becoming one of the six Grand Secretaries.

Everybody knows.

This is the reason for his merit in following the dragon!
Yang Ji was originally a Grand Master of Ceremonies and a Palace Attendant. When the Empress was vying for the throne, he stood on the Empress's side without hesitation.

After the Empress ascended the throne, he was promoted from the third-rank Grand Master of the Palace to the third-rank Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and Grand Academician of the Wenhua Hall, almost reaching the pinnacle of officialdom!
Simply put, he's a member of the imperialist party!

Yang Ji shook his head: "This official also does not know what Your Majesty has summoned me for."

"My lords, please do not be impatient. Once His Majesty summons you, you will understand."

Upon hearing this, the cabinet ministers looked at Yang Ji with suspicion. It didn't seem like he was faking it, and their brows furrowed even more.

Even the Empress's confidants were unaware of this matter.

Just as everyone was suspicious.

The newly appointed Chief Censor, who seems to be highly favored by the Empress, has recently emerged.

The female official glanced somewhat timidly at the cabinet ministers outside the hall, then took a deep breath.

"My lords, His Majesty has summoned you!"

"Please follow me into the palace, my lords!"

Grand Secretary Xiao Yuan straightened his official robes and solemnly stepped into the Lizheng Hall first.

The remaining cabinet members entered the cabinet in order of their ranking.

The empress, dressed in a dragon robe and wearing a phoenix crown, sat majestically in the Hall of State Affairs.

Xiao Yuan and the others knelt and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, we pay our respects!"

Leng Liuxi said calmly, "My dear ministers, please rise!"

He then turned to an elderly eunuch beside him and said, "Please take a seat!"

The old eunuch quickly brought over brocade stools for the cabinet ministers and greeted them with a smile, inviting them to sit down.

The Grand Secretary dared not presume to presume.

This old eunuch is the chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who can check and balance the cabinet. His power is no less than theirs!
He thanked her and then sat down on the brocade stool.

Then they all looked at the Empress.

Grand Secretary Xiao Yuan, with a serious expression, stood up again, bowed to the Empress, and spoke first: "Your Majesty, may I ask why you summoned us to the Lizheng Hall?"

Leng Liuxi frowned before saying calmly, "The magistrate of Tianchang County has failed to effectively supervise the many members of the Heavenly Mother Cult, which has greatly disappointed me. I have decided to dismiss him from his post!"

Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.

Although Tianchang County was an attached county, and the county magistrate was a high-ranking official of the sixth rank, that was about it.

It's not like Wannian County or Changzhi County, which are located within the capital city.

The appointment and removal of a mere county magistrate requires summoning cabinet ministers to the Lizheng Hall for a small court assembly.
The cabinet ministers looked at each other, somewhat confused about the Empress's intentions.

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Yuan said, "Your Majesty can make the decision on this matter. I have no objection."

The other cabinet ministers also saw no need to go against the Empress over such a trivial matter, and they followed Xiao Yuan in expressing their opinions one after another.

Leng Liuxi nodded, then said, "Tianchang County is the gateway to the capital, and its responsibilities are immense. The position of county magistrate cannot be left vacant. Do any of you ministers have a suitable candidate to recommend?"

The cabinet ministers were slightly surprised to hear this.

Normally, when the county magistrate is dismissed, the county assistant magistrate takes his place.

However, since the Heavenly Mother Sect is involved, the county magistrate and the registrar will probably be punished. It would be good enough if they weren't dismissed, let alone promoted.

They quickly rummaged through the bag in their minds to see which name was suitable for recommendation!

The magistrate of the county attached to the city wall was not a minor official position.

However, the official rank of someone who could get them to write their names on their briefcases was certainly not low, and for the time being, it was really hard to find a suitable candidate.

Xiao Yuan was about to suggest that this candidate needed to be carefully considered before recommending him to His Majesty.

Before he could speak, the Empress said slowly, "Since none of you ministers have a suitable candidate to recommend right now, I do have one: Xue Shan, the magistrate of Changping County. What do you all think?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned once again.

Xue Shan, the magistrate of Changping County?

What the hell is this?

Ok?
It seems that some time ago, the Tianmu sect caused trouble in Changping County and almost damaged the Ancestral Emperor's Mausoleum.

Despite not knowing His Majesty's intentions, Xiao Yuan frowned slightly and glanced discreetly at the Second Assistant Minister, Wang Hao!
Wang Hao shook his head slightly.

He's just a county magistrate of the sixth rank; it's not worth going against the Empress!

Neither the chief minister nor the deputy chief minister offered any opinion.

Yang Ji, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, coughed and said, "The magistrate of Changping County is only a seventh-rank official, while the magistrate of Tianchang County is a sixth-rank official."

“If I were to promote him directly, I fear it would cause controversy.”

Xiao Yuan, Wang Hao, and the others all looked at Yang Ji with some surprise.

This guy is a staunch supporter of the Emperor, how dare he speak against His Majesty?

snort!
There's more to come!

As expected, just a second later, Yang Ji asked, "Your Majesty, may I ask what merit Xue Shan has that warrants a promotion of two ranks?"

Leng Liuxi said calmly, "Two months ago, the Heavenly Mother Cult attempted to disturb the spirits of my ancestors."

"The magistrate of Changping County has been loyal and dedicated, and has made great contributions. I see no problem in promoting him to magistrate of Tianchang County!"

Yang Ji nodded: "If that's the case, I have no objection!"

Wang Hua, a Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion and concurrently the Left Censor-in-Chief, also said in a deep voice, "I have no objection either!"

Xiao Yuan glanced at the Left Censor-in-Chief with a blank expression.

They were in cahoots with Yang Ji, both belonging to the Emperor's faction.

Although he, Wang Hao, and Cui Xian might not be unable to refute the emperor's will.

But like I said, it's unnecessary!

Furthermore, we can't grasp Yuan Xingdao's thoughts, so this matter is not easy to handle.

Yuan Xingdao is a very gloomy person. He rarely expresses his opinions and is difficult to fathom.

Therefore, Xiao Yuan nodded: "I also agree to transfer Xue Shan to be the magistrate of Tianchang County."

After the cabinet ministers expressed their opinions.

The Empress's expression suddenly turned serious.

"I summoned you all for another matter..."

Xiao Yuan and the others sat up straight in unison, their expressions becoming serious!

The main event is finally here!

The Empress sighed, her phoenix brows furrowed: "The national treasury is empty now. Even with the relief of the court's finances, only half of the military pay can be allocated."

Her gaze fell on Wang Hao, the Minister of Revenue and Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices: "Minister Wang, do you have any way to increase the court's revenue and alleviate the financial difficulties?"

Wang Hao's expression changed slightly!
Does His Majesty intend to increase taxes?
He took a deep breath and quickly said, "Your Majesty!"

"I believe that to increase the court's revenue, we must increase revenue and reduce expenditure!"

The Empress nodded slightly: "Please continue, my dear minister!"

Wang Hao immediately replied without hesitation, "But now that the people have just settled down, there are still many disasters and famines in various parts of the country, so it is not appropriate to increase taxes."

"The only solution is to cut costs."

The Empress frowned and pondered for a moment: "What Minister Wang says is quite right."

"Does my esteemed minister have any strategies for reducing expenditures?"

Wang Hao hesitated for a moment: "When I return, I will summon the officials of the Ministry of Revenue to discuss this matter."

The Empress nodded: "Then I'll have to trouble you, my dear minister!"

She paused, then suddenly added, "However, I do have some thoughts on the matter of open source."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan, Wang Hao, and others, including Yang Ji and Wang Hua, the two members of the Emperor's faction, all changed their expressions drastically.

Everybody knows.

If the imperial court wants to increase its revenue, there is another way besides increasing taxes!
Enfeoffment of feudal lords!

Aristocratic families and powerful clans!

Immortal Cultivation Sects!

Collect their taxes!
Taxes from feudal lords, aristocratic clans, and immortal cultivation sects are basically impossible to collect!

But none of these three can be moved!

Needless to say, the feudal lords.

When Emperor Wu of Han was vying for the throne, he was able to succeed only with the help of the feudal lords.

After the establishment of the state, in order to consolidate the power of the feudal lords, Emperor Wu issued an edict that the feudal lords could control the military and financial power!
If the empress were to collect taxes from the feudal lords, wouldn't that be forcing them to rebel?

You must know that there are hundreds of feudal lords in the Great Wu Kingdom, and the number of soldiers under their command is in the millions!

If the purse strings of the feudal lords are touched, the world will surely descend into chaos!
Although the cultivation sects are far less powerful than the feudal lords.

But they are individually very strong!

If things get chaotic, it will be disastrous!

As for the aristocratic clans?

Of the six cabinet ministers, only Yuan Xingdao represented the interests of the Taoist sects.

The other cabinet ministers themselves were from aristocratic families!

Just as everyone's expression changed, and they were thinking about how to persuade or stop the Empress from having this idea.

To everyone's surprise, the Empress slowly said, "I have decided to change the ancestral rules!"

This chapter was damn hard to write!

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(End of this chapter)