My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

"Four strategies?"

Many people were shocked when Jiang Xiaobai said this.

That's right, it's one thing for others to have one strategy, but Jiang Xiaobai just casually offers four?!

That's ridiculous!

This undoubtedly raises some doubts about its authenticity.

Chen Zhanqiu frowned, staring at Jiang Xiaobai, his expression turning slightly somber.

Could this kid actually be capable of figuring out some tricks?

Guo Zhan and Zhong Yu, one a second-place finisher and the other a third-place finisher, both looked at Jiang Xiaobai with slight surprise.

How could you come up with four strategies in such a short time?

This made them somewhat skeptical!

"Oh?"

At this moment, Xiao Jinxuan also showed some interest, staring at Jiang Xiaobai and saying, "Which four strategies? A good answer will be rewarded, a bad answer... will be punished!!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai remained calm and composed, and slowly said, "First, do not increase land tax, but instead collect profit tax."

"Farmers plant in spring and harvest in autumn, relying on the heavens for their livelihood. A good year does not necessarily bring wealth, and a year of disaster will surely lead to poverty. If our court extends an inch more to the fields, it is tantamount to taking food from the people's bowls."

"But the benefits of the world are not limited to the fields."

"The profits from salt, iron, tea, wine, mines, canal transport, and even pawnshops and grain shops in a year are greater than the profits from ten counties' fields."

"The imperial court does not impose additional taxes on the poor, but instead seeks to profit from the rich; this is called 'profits returning to the public.'"

Profits should be returned to the public!

The moment those four words were uttered, many officials were startled.

The expressions of the officials involved in the salt, iron, and grain transport changed slightly.

Damn it, this kid's trying to get his hands on them?

Jiang Xiaobai continued without pausing, "Secondly, instead of cutting military spending, we will change the method of military procurement."

"The military expenditure in the northern border cannot be reduced by a single penny. If the border troops lose a peck of grain, the city walls will lose a bit of courage."

"But we can't cut off the border troops' money, but we can cut off those who take advantage of the border troops' money."

Upon hearing this, the military officers on Tang Kui's side raised their eyebrows, their expressions showing slight admiration. They looked in Jiang Xiaobai's direction and all became serious.

Jiang Xiaobai continued, "The imperial court allocated 100,000 taels to the northern border. On paper, it's 100,000 taels, but there's a layer for grain, a layer for carts and horses, a layer for storage, a layer for transportation, and a layer for the quartermaster."

"How much of the silver actually reaches the soldiers' pockets?"

"Cutting military spending harms the border troops; investigating hidden losses is the way to save them."

"Therefore, students request the establishment of a direct procurement system for military supplies. For all military rations, cloth armor, medicinal herbs, and horse feed, the imperial court shall determine the base price, and merchants from all regions shall submit their bids publicly, with the lowest price and highest quality being selected."

"Then, a three-party inspection system will be established: the Ministry of Revenue will inspect the accounts, the Ministry of War will inspect the goods, and the border troops will inspect their use!"

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai's lips curled up: "In this way, we can save military funds without cutting military spending."

These words caused many officials' expressions to change once again.

Jiang Xiaobai is ruthless!

Especially when it comes to the border troops' inspection, it's as if the judgment of the quality of "military supplies" is partially handed over to the people who use them.

Now, those officials who are used to taking bribes and extorting money from the military supplies are probably not going to be able to sleep soundly!

The eyes of all the military officers gleamed, and Tang Kui couldn't help but whisper, "Brilliant, brilliant! This kid's got some skills..."

"Third, we will not levy new grain taxes, and we will open border trade markets."

Jiang Xiaobai cleared his throat and continued, "The border should not just be a drain on the national treasury."

"The border has horses, hides, medicinal herbs, and the benefits of trading ironware."

"If we only fight wars, it will naturally consume silver every year. But if we defend during wartime and trade during peacetime, the border can be transformed from a wound in the national treasury into its lifeblood."

"Oh?"

Xiao Jinxuan's gaze sharpened slightly: "How do we open it?"

"Simple. Select three border towns, set up official markets, allow border residents and merchants, and horse merchants to enter the markets according to their licenses. The imperial court will collect market taxes, and the border troops will protect the markets."

Jiang Xiaobai glanced at Xiao Jinxuan and smiled, "Thirty percent of the proceeds will go to the border troops, and seventy percent will go to the national treasury. At the same time... the private sale of military equipment and the smuggling of salt and iron are strictly prohibited, and violators will be executed!"

"In this way, the border can be secure, the border troops can be supported, and the national treasury can be replenished."

The court fell silent once more, everyone's face filled with shock.

This is no longer just about financial management; it involves linking border control, military spending, and even commercial profits together.

More importantly, the border troops received 30%.

In this way, the northern border troops will not only not object, but will actively protect the trade.

Is this really something a spoiled brat could come up with?

Li Bingzhang stood among the civil officials, his eyes flickering slightly as he looked at Jiang Xiaobai with admiration and a gleam in them.

Tsk tsk, he truly is a good son-in-law.

That's a really quick mind!

Guo Zhan and Zhong Yu exchanged a glance, lowered their heads, and clasped their hands tightly together.

Why couldn't they have thought of these things?!

Could Jiang Xiaobai's talent really surpass theirs?

impossible!

How could Jiang Xiaobai, a spoiled brat and an incompetent person, possibly think so far ahead!

While the two were filled with resentment, Jiang Xiaobai continued speaking, raising his hand and saying, "Fourth, do not blindly investigate corruption; first, clear up the accounts of the entire nation."

"It's easy to investigate corruption, but difficult to investigate accounts. Killing a corrupt official may bring temporary relief, but if the accounting system isn't reformed, killing one today will only lead to ten more tomorrow."

"Students request that the accounting system be revised, and that all the money and grain of the prefectures and counties throughout the land be re-enacted using the new digital system."

"Every penny of silver and grain must be clearly stated, including where it came from, which granary it entered, who handled it, and how much it was lost."

"If the accounts are clear, then the silver is clear; if the silver is clear, then the national treasury will naturally be full."

As the last sentence fell, the Golden Palace fell into a deathly silence.

Chen Zhanqiu's face was grim.

An Zhiyuan collapsed to the ground, her lips turning white.

Because Jiang Xiaobai's four strategies are not just answers to His Majesty's questions, but more like a knife, a knife that cuts from the national treasury into the accounts of the six ministries!

Xiao Jinxuan's eyes flashed slightly. After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "New digital technology?"

"Your Majesty, I went to the Imperial Academy yesterday and happened to see Master Song, who has a new method for clearing accounts."

Jiang Xiaobai's lips curled up, his gaze falling on the astonished Master Song, and he said with a smile, "Master Song, am I right?"

Upon hearing this, Master Song immediately stepped forward, glanced at Jiang Xiaobai with a puzzled look, but still forced a smile and said, "It is indeed true, but this new method of divination has not yet been fully promoted."

"Oh?"

Xiao Jinxuan looked on in surprise: "Who created this new method of divination?"

"this……"

Master Song's face flushed red as he glanced at Jiang Xiaobai and said, "The other party wants to keep a low profile, so I... dare not reveal it rashly!"

Xiao Jinxuan frowned, then waved his hand and said, "Very well, if this new divination method can truly make account clearing more efficient, then let's officially promote it!"

"yes!"

Master Song nodded respectfully and stepped back, letting out a sigh of relief at the same time.

If Xiao Jinxuan pressed him for answers, he really wouldn't know whether to tell or not.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Jiang Xiaobai then chimed in, "With this new method of divination, trying to falsify accounts will, hehe, become several times more difficult!"

Upon hearing this, several officials in the Ministry of Revenue turned pale instantly.

Xiao Jinxuan took in everything, his gaze gradually turning cold. He looked at Jiang Xiaobai again and continued, "So, you mean the national treasury's predicament isn't due to a lack of money?"

"Exactly."

Jiang Xiaobai's voice was calm and steady: "The problem with the national treasury is not poverty, but leakage."

"The student dares not suggest a single strategy that could bring prosperity to the world."

"But... I dare say that if these leaks are plugged, Your Majesty's treasury will at least no longer be complaining about being poor while simultaneously fattening up parasites."

After saying that, Jiang Xiaobai looked in the direction of Chen Zhanqiu and An Zhiyuan: "Don't look at me, I'm talking about you two!"

"You son of a bitch..."

Chen Zhanqiu's face twitched, and he really wanted to jump up and curse, but in the end he suppressed his anger.

Jiang Xiaobai sneered and continued, "What, am I wrong? Today's imperial examination is a perfect example!"

"Hmph, the imperial court sets up the imperial examination to select talents for the country, but if the rules are broken and even the top scholar can be bought, then the national treasury can naturally be emptied."

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai turned to Xiao Jinxuan again and solemnly cupped his hands: "Therefore, I dare to request Your Majesty to first investigate the Ministry of Rites."

"If this is true, then execute them both!"

"In that case, it wasn't for nothing that the students risked so much to get involved!"