Chapter 79

Forcing the nobles to pay taxes—doesn't that mean forcing them to rebel?

When I swept through the six states back then, I only dared to destroy their nations; I never dared to touch the nobles!

Why?

Because the nobles hold money, grain, and soldiers!

Even after destroying a state, the nobles remain nobles; their hearts of rebellion would not be too strong!

But if we move against the nobles, and still destroy the six states in ten years to unify the world?

Heh!

Even with another hundred years, the six states could not be destroyed!

The nobles hold land, money, grain, and soldiers!

Therefore, the nobles are the foundation of a nation!

Whoever moves against the nobles is shaking the very foundation of the state!

Seeing Ying Zheng was furious, but at the same time, he was racked with a splitting headache!

He felt that if Facing Ying Su did things this way, it would surely cause great chaos.

It might even lead to the destruction of the Qin State!

Seeing Ying Zheng frowned again and again, but... now he had not the slightest solution!

Because... the current him was no longer the Emperor!

However, just at this moment, Zhao Gao suddenly spoke: "Your Majesty, this servant believes that the Sixth Young Master's actions are actually helping Your Majesty reclaim the throne!"

As he spoke, he bowed down before Seeing Ying Zheng!

The moment these words left his lips, Seeing Ying Zheng's eyes instantly lit up: "Explain."

Zhao Gao was somewhat panicked and bowed down before Seeing Ying Zheng: "This servant dares not speak recklessly!"

Seeing Ying Zheng's gaze turned icy: "Speak!"

Zhao Gao, panicked to the extreme, kowtowed to Seeing Ying Zheng: "Your Majesty, please first pardon this servant of any crime!"

Seeing Ying Zheng said: "I pardon you of any crime!"

Zhao Gao said: "The Sixth Young Master demands taxes from the nobles; the nobles will inevitably be dissatisfied. And once the nobles are dissatisfied, their first instinct will be to seek out Your Majesty, hoping Your Majesty can resume governance!"

"Surrounded by the hundred officials, Your Majesty can return to the throne!"

"As for Li Yuanba, he can be handed over to the Yin-Yang School. As for Han Xin's eighty thousand soldiers... Your Majesty can send someone to defect Han Xin!"

"Without Han Xin, without Li Yuanba, even if the Sixth Young Master is capable, he is merely a paper tiger! Impressive to look at, but useless in practice!"

"And now, Your Majesty only needs to wait quietly. Wait three days until the nobles refuse to pay taxes. Based on the Sixth Young Master's nature, he will inevitably kill indiscriminately!"

"And after his indiscriminate killing, the nobles will be enraged! They will invite Your Majesty at the first opportunity!"

"As for right now, Your Majesty should first leave the palace!"

As he spoke, he kowtowed fiercely to Seeing Ying Zheng!

At the same time, his body trembled and shook constantly!

He was terrified!

One must know, this is participating in a struggle for imperial power!

If the First Emperor succeeds, then I can live a few more years!

If the First Emperor fails, Facing Ying Su... is very likely to kill me!

Therefore, he was incredibly afraid, incredibly panicked!

At this moment, he even regretted it, regretted speaking these words!

But he was loyal to Seeing Ying Zheng. Seeing Seeing Ying Zheng day and night, unable to eat or drink, only worrying about his lost throne, he felt heartache!

Out of heartache, he could only offer this idea!

And after Hearing Ying Zheng heard these words, brilliant light exploded in his eyes.

At that moment, he said nothing!

In the air, there was only silence!

On the other side!

Inside Outside Xianyanggong!

Right at this moment!

In Zhang Liang's room, two people sat beside Zhang Liang!

Facing Ying Su and Huang Chao!

"Mr. Zifang, you do not have to participate in this matter, but Huang Chao's actions will require your strategy and counsel!"

"Whatever advice you give, I will support it!"

"Whatever advice you give, I will carry it out!"

"Mr. Zifang, the matter of making the nobles pay taxes is entrusted to you!"

Facing Ying Su spoke while bowing down to Zhang Liang!

Seeing this scene, Zhang Liang was utterly stunned; how could he dare to delay even an instant? He immediately knelt and kowtowed to Facing Ying Su: "If Your Majesty does this, how can I, your subject, not give my life for you?"

He shouted repeatedly while kowtowing fiercely!

Seeing him act this way, Facing Ying Su smiled!

That's right, he intended to pull Zhang Liang onto his ship!

Zhang Liang's talent is so astonishing; I must obtain him.

He has no loyalty to me?

Then I will do everything possible to cultivate his loyalty!

During the Republic era, a great warlord once said it well!

People are just like dogs; they must be trained!

There are no disloyal dogs in this world, only people who cannot train dogs!

Once people are trained well, they are even more loyal than dogs!

Now, he must train Zhang Liang!

The ultimate goal is to train him to the same level of loyalty as Li Yuanba!

He is responsible for raising the questions, while Zhang Liang is responsible for solving them!

He simply does not believe that after all these attempts, Zhang Liang would still lack loyalty toward him!

Hehe...

Ying Su smiled proudly.

Under Ying Su's instruction, Huang Chao was not at all stingy with his own devotion.

He treated Zhang Liang like a grandson treats a grandfather, serving tea and water, and even washing his feet and socks!

Moreover, through Ying Su, he even obtained some fruit wine and gave it directly to Zhang Liang to drink.

All of this was naturally for the issue of noble tax collection three days later!

He asked Zhang Liang what should be done if the nobles refused to pay grain!

For instance, what if the nobles made excuses saying they had no grain for the time being?

Or for instance... what if the nobles claimed they needed a few days of grace?

He asked Zhang Liang about all of these things!

And Zhang Liang was also offering him strategies and plans.

If they encountered stubborn opponents with arrogant attitudes, just kill them directly; no need to be polite!

If they encountered those playing the rogue, also kill them; no need to be polite!

After all, Ying Su had Li Yuanba at his disposal; no matter how fiercely the nobles rebelled, Ying Su had the backing to cover it, so there was no need to fear!

Of course, this was after all the state collecting taxes, not a home robbery, so it had to be done with some dignity!

At the very least, it had to be something people could look upon with acceptance!

For instance, if they encountered families whose conditions were truly poor, such cases could be granted a grace period!

If they encountered those with good attitudes who obediently paid their taxes, such cases must be commended, and commended greatly.

They could even be granted an additional title of nobility on top of their existing official rank or noble title!

This way, it would not only demonstrate the Emperor's benevolence, helping the Emperor build connections, but also undermine the nobles' cohesion!

All of these things, Zhang Liang was teaching Huang Chao!

Finally, he advised Huang Chao that when collecting taxes three days later, they should start with the nobles behind Li Si!