Chapter 355: Shanghe City is almost becoming Li Chen's blessed land! (Please subscribe)

For those low-level officials without backgrounds, Luo Hui certainly solved it himself.

Most of the names presented on this list were somewhat related to imperial relatives; no matter how high Luo Hui's official position was, it was hard to offend them all.

The only one who dared to deal with them without fear of offending people was certainly only Li Chen.

Li Chen was the emperor; according to his way of thinking, the ones you should fear are me!

Li Chen closed the jade slip and said indifferently: "Handle it strictly according to the law, to serve as a warning to others."

This sentence announced the method of handling.

Luo Hui received the order and retreated. The Minister of Works couldn't wait to stand out, his face glowing: "Your Majesty! The national railway main line has been fully connected, and branch lines in various prefectures are also being laid urgently. Within three years, the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty will surely realize the magnificent sight of 'ten thousand miles of the same track, one thousand cities connected by car'!"

He presented a meticulously drawn railway blueprint. Li Chen examined it carefully, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes.

"Not bad. In this project, Lin Mo contributed greatly. Bestow a mansion in the Imperial Capital and add the title of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works to show commendation."

The Minister of Works was overjoyed and hurriedly thanked him.

The Minister of Rites was just about to step out to report matters, but seeing Prime Minister Zhao Wenyuan had already stepped out a step ahead, he had no choice but to retreat resentfully.

Zhao Wenyuan's expression was serious, and he said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the Eternal Day Empire has recently increased commercial taxes on our southern subordinate kingdoms and blockaded shipping lanes. The southern small countries are full of grievances, and three countries have already sent envoys to seek help."

Hearing this, Li Chen understood that the Eternal Day Empire had begun to fight a trade war; this was their customary way.

"Since the Eternal Day Empire wants to play, then we will accompany them to the end."

Hearing Li Chen say this, the court officials' hearts also surged with waves.

Especially the Vice Minister of Revenue Liu Minghan; he knew that once a trade war started, it was burning money.

Fortunately, Li Chen had severely harvested a sum from the Dragon Emperor's tomb; otherwise, this time it would certainly have hurt the muscles and bones again.

The reason Li Chen spoke so toughly was certainly because he had a foundation.

Today's morning court lasted a long time; every first morning court after Li Chen returned from a long trip was like this.

This time it even opened until noon, and some court officials were so hungry they couldn't stand it, but they still seriously 'held the meeting'.

During Li Chen's time as emperor, he had indeed mobilized their work enthusiasm.

They were all participants in the various constructions of the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty.

With fewer complex party struggles and less deceit between ministers and the emperor, there was indeed a lot of time to handle proper business.

At the very least, being a minister without having to guess every day whether the emperor would go crazy and chop you to death was actually already very good.

When Li Chen returned to the Imperial Palace, waiting for him were also memorials piled up like mountains.

Eating was done in the Imperial Study, but Li Chen could also be considered used to it.

After handling most of it, the graceful and luxurious Imperial Consort Jiang walked in.

Jiang Rong's scale was originally very large, and now after being tempered by Li Chen for a long time, it had indeed advanced several levels, making Li Chen unable to put it down.

"You came just in time, your Jiang family is also a commercial family..."

Li Chen simply explained the trade war between the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty and the Eternal Day Empire.

Under Jiang Rong's development, the Jiang family's industry had changed from a big family in Shanghe City to a big family in the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty.

If Jiang Rong used her influence in Shanghe City to conduct trade with the Southern Kingdoms, it was estimated she could swallow a lot of resources.

Because the Eternal Day Empire increased various taxes, if the Southern Kingdoms' products couldn't be sold externally, it would lead to some economic collapse in their countries.

The Eternal Day Empire's meaning was: if you are obedient, I won't increase it; if you are disobedient, I will increase it.

The Heavenly Strategy Dynasty was also a superpower. Li Chen felt that Jiang Rong could let family members do foreign trade; as long as she dared to take the lead, plus the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty's help.

Once they obtained sweetness, then those merchants of the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty would head south as if they didn't want their lives.

Because transportation costs were reduced, it was indeed possible to consider importing a large amount of Southern Kingdoms' goods, but it couldn't cause damage to the domestic industry.

Li Chen had been considering this degree.

Hearing this, Jiang Rong became energetic; she had commercial talent since she was small, just had ability but no background.

Now the background had come, right? Jiang Rong said some of her own thoughts.

The two chatted in the Imperial Study for a full two hours, making other concubines passing by surprised: they were actually communicating normally?

That feeling was as if their abnormal competition was normal, and normal was abnormal.

However, concubines like Chu Ruoyan and Wu Nanzhi were also very sensible. Hearing Li Chen and Jiang Rong discussing trade issues, they waved their hands to let others not disturb them, and the food and tea were served by the two of them personally.

After coming in, they didn't say anything; if Li Chen needed them, they served tea and poured water; if Li Chen didn't need them, they didn't say a word.

This was where they were sensible, knowing they couldn't help and wouldn't add to the chaos.

After chatting enough, some of Jiang Rong's points satisfied Li Chen; in her view, as long as Li Chen needed it, she would do her best to help.

As a merchant, she did indeed think that earning more was better.

But sometimes, it was the country's need, and she would support it at all costs.

Because the nation is already gone, no matter how much she earns, it is useless; for the upper echelons of other nations to want to harvest it, wouldn't that be an easy task?

Who was her backing, who gave her the confidence—Jiang Rong understood this point very well.

Being able to say these words, Li Chen felt she was a woman who understood righteousness; marrying her was truly marrying right.

After chatting enough, Jiang Rong prepared to say goodbye and leave.

At this moment, Li Chen said: "You came to find me just now, was there something?"

Actually, when Jiang Rong came, she intended to say let Li Chen go to the Shanghe City hot pot restaurant to eat a hot pot.

But now it seemed Li Chen was very busy, and her private affairs certainly couldn't delay Li Chen's national affairs, so she intended to leave.

As Li Chen's woman, she couldn't hide it from Li Chen, so she opened her mouth and said: "Your Majesty, actually there is no major matter, it's just that I haven't been to Shanghe City for a long time, and a branch is just about to open there. I am also the president of the Shanghe City Chamber of Commerce, and I want to go over. At the time, I was thinking if you had time, I would invite you together. Now I really dare not disturb you."

Hearing her say this, a smile appeared on the corner of Li Chen's mouth; it seems you think my work is too complicated.

A trade war is not fighting a war; there is no need to go to the battlefield personally. I only need to set the general policy and let the ministers handle it.

If everything needed me to go, then why does the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty raise them?

Regarding the ability of this group of ministers, Li Chen was still very reassured.

The Minister of Revenue Liu Minghan was a child prodigy of the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty; people had worked in this department for decades.

Now that it was his main battlefield, with his character and ability, Li Chen could say without exaggeration that it was more reassuring than letting Guo Poyun go to war.

Those who could mix to this point in the court were no mediocrities; it just depended on whether they were willing to work for the emperor.

Matters regarding the Southern Kingdoms still needed preparation for a period of time. Li Chen felt that going to Shanghe City to relax was also not bad; after all, every time he went, the harvest was full.

Shanghe City is almost becoming Li Chen's blessed land!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 356 =====