Chapter 940

"What matter could make even you so troubled?"

Fang Fang Xuanling had always been known as "Fang's Strategy"; in terms of intelligence, he could be considered the number one in Great Tang.

How could he be so hesitant?

Fang Fang Xuanling's stuttering appearance further aroused Li Er's curiosity.

Fang Fang Xuanling sighed mournfully.

"Your Majesty, I don't know when, but an invisible tycoon suddenly appeared within the borders of Great Tang."

"Invisible tycoon?"

Upon hearing this, Li Er felt that this matter was indeed bizarre.

In the world of Great Tang, basically all the benefits, if they didn't belong to the imperial court, were divided up by the major noble families.

There had never been any talk of an invisible tycoon.

Fang Fang Xuanling nodded and continued.

"At first, your subject also felt it was suspicious, so I sent people to verify it.

This invisible tycoon force is secretly purchasing a large amount of land in Jiangnan and then hiring tenant farmers to cultivate it.

The magical thing is that their land is all registered under the names of major noble families, enjoying the tax reduction treatment of the imperial court."

Registered under the names of noble families?

Li Er pondered in his heart, could this be a new trick played by those noble families?

Otherwise, with the shrewdness of the noble families, how could they let people take advantage of them for nothing?

"Fang Xuanling, have you investigated clearly what relationship this invisible tycoon has with the noble families?"

Fang Fang Xuanling had long considered this point.

"Your subject also suspected at first that this was a new trick played by several major noble families together.

Later, when the rice was harvested, your subject discovered that the tenant farmers were paying rent, but not to the noble families.

This invisible tycoon transported half of the rent collected to the major noble families. The remaining half was all sold to Great Qin merchants at an extremely low price!" Hearing this, Li Er also realized that the matter inside was probably not simple.

It wasn't as simple as the noble families just playing tricks.

Otherwise, why must they sell it to Great Qin merchants?

And at such a low price?

"Fang Xuanling, have you continued to investigate? Or asked those noble families in person to see what they say?"

When Fang Fang Xuanling said this, he began to show a confused expression and reached out to wipe his face.

"Your subject asked my wife to return to the Lu family to inquire in secret. The result of the inquiry was that the invisible tycoon is actually from the Empress Zhangsun family.

Setting up a separate portal and using the noble families to evade taxes is just to hide their strength.

They said this is a dark move by the Empress Zhangsun family.

But your subject has also asked Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji in a roundabout way, and he flatly denied this matter."

Li Er finally understood.

The noble families said that this force was the hidden force of the Empress Zhangsun family.

But Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji didn't admit it.

In the end, it became a state of buck-passing, and no one could say clearly whose family this force belonged to?

To deal with this kind of messy matter, there had always been a simple method.

Li Er patted the dragon desk and said.

"If you want to investigate clearly, it's simple; you send people to capture all the clansmen of that tycoon and torture them for questioning. You will definitely be able to get a result!

Fang Xuanling, you just lack that decisiveness of Du Ruhui."

Being teased by the Emperor, Fang Fang Xuanling could only laugh at himself.

"Otherwise, why do people say 'Fang's Strategy, Du's Decisiveness'? If I were decisive, wouldn't I be stealing Du Ruhui's job?"

After joking for a few sentences to slightly ease the tense atmosphere.

Fang Fang Xuanling's brows furrowed again.

"Your subject also thought that if it didn't work, I would go and capture the people, and the truth would definitely come to light.

However, just at this time, Lord Empress Zhangsun suddenly came to find your subject and told me not to investigate anymore. That invisible tycoon is indeed the hidden force of the Empress Zhangsun family."

Fang Fang Xuanling's words stopped abruptly here.

Although he didn't say it explicitly, he aimed the spearhead at Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji....

Li Er laughed and comforted Fang Fang Xuanling.

"Since it is the hidden force of the Empress Zhangsun family, then don't worry about it. Fang Xuanling, what else do you have to worry about?"

Li Er's trust in Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji was not ordinary.

Even knowing that the Empress Zhangsun family had hidden such a huge hidden force, he still didn't ask or care.

It really makes one wonder, how could Li Er's heart be so big?

Fang Fang Xuanling didn't have such a big heart.

"Your Majesty, the methods they use are truly harmful to the country! They keep purchasing land at low prices.

The grain produced by these lands of theirs does not need to pay taxes to the imperial court.

In other words, for every mu of land they buy more, the imperial court will collect one mu less of tax!

This is encroaching on the national strength of Great Tang!"

Li Er was stunned.

He also realized the loopholes in this policy.

Previously, in order to appease those major noble families, he gave them preferential policies of tax reduction and exemption.

At that time, the noble families didn't own much land in total. So the drawbacks of this policy didn't show up.

But now, they actually thought of using the imperial court's preferential policies to encroach on the national strength of Great Tang.

This was too much!

No wonder Fang Fang Xuanling bit onto this matter and wouldn't let go, and even investigated for so long?

After all, Fang Fang Xuanling was still very loyal to the monarch and loved the country.

"Fang Xuanling, then what do you think should be done about this matter now?"

This matter was indeed very tricky, and one couldn't suddenly cancel the tax preferences for the major noble families.

In this way, the noble families would be dissatisfied again.

Li Er felt caught in a dilemma.

Fang Fang Xuanling came to see Li Er not just to complain, but actually to offer a strategy.

"Your Majesty, your subject believes that we should first set an upper limit for the tax-free quota for each family.

Since the Empress Zhangsun family has acknowledged this invisible tycoon, please ask the Empress Zhangsun family to come out and make up for the unpaid taxes!" Li Er was somewhat hesitant.

If this was done, it would definitely make Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji unhappy.

Now, the development of Yingzhou, Zhuya, and various cooperations with Great Qin were exactly the times when he needed to rely heavily on Empress Zhangsun Zhangsun Wuji.

Suddenly causing such a matter might not be a good thing for the imperial court or the noble families.

"Fang Xuanling, why don't we endure it for a while? After a period of time, find an opportunity to explain it clearly to Zhangsun Wuji?".