Chapter 652: Han Zhongliang: First Eat the Pork Knuckle, Then Pull Up the Trousers, Follow the Adult

"No interference… mutual checks…"

The crowd muttered those two words, glanced at each other, and tacitly stopped asking further.

The Ministry of Revenue needs no further explanation.

And the Money Shop appears to be under Chen Yan's control, but who actually profits?

It's the horse‑riding Li Shimin!

The Money Shop was settled long ago; from now on it belongs to the Imperial Family, to be passed down.

Now Chen Yan, to prevent the Money Shop's influence from expanding, controls the world's grain prices with one hand and uses the Ministry of Revenue to counterbalance…

Honestly, they don't really approve of this decision, but they vaguely guessed Chen Yan's intention.

Why is that?

Because the horse‑riding Ministry of Revenue also falls under the Imperial Family; even the Minister of Revenue, is he still a subject?

If both are under the Imperial Family, should a tyrant appear, what meaning does this check have?

Left and right fighting each other?

Impossible!

So the answer is obvious.

The Ministry of Revenue farming may just be a transition; it can't check the Money Shop.

Going forward, they speculate Chen Yan will find a better option to counterbalance the Money Shop.

Of course.

Perhaps there's also a slight test of His Majesty, to see if he can accept it.

But that has nothing to do with them; after all, Chen Yan is the Tang Dynasty's weight‑lifting king, handling everything alone.

"Zi Anxiong, what plans do we have moving forward?" Du Gou steered the conversation.

"We do."

Chen Yan nodded, smiling at the group: "The Buddhist Establishment matters are settled; we won't need to intervene further. Those are for other officials, the Prime Minister, even matters that trouble His Majesty."

"Our Ministry of Revenue, what's the primary goal?"

Ma Zhou: "Increase tax revenue… no, it should be finding ways to boost the treasury without raising taxes."

"We still owe the Money Shop a huge sum."

"Right." Chen Yan said cheerfully: "Not going to hide it from you, in the past few days I've thought of several solutions. I personally think they're all good, but I'm afraid you wouldn't dare to act on them."

Du Gou raised an eyebrow: "Zi Anxiong, you say that, we even dared to move against the Wei family, we even toppled the Buddhist Establishment!"

"We've dealt with aristocratic families in Weinan County, and even fought in the Court."

"What else is there we wouldn't dare to do?"

Han Zhongliang exclaimed excitedly: "First eat the pork knuckle, then pull up the trousers, follow the adult's steps!"

"You just start the group, leave the rest to us!"

Everyone: "......."

Ma Zhou's expression turned odd.

What's up with Han Zhongliang?

Last time they let Han Zhongliang start the group, they had to expend tremendous effort, barely persuading him to join.

Although Han Zhongliang did join, it was with clenched teeth.

He was certainly displeased inside.

"This time Chen Yan even said he's afraid they wouldn't dare to act, likely another sizable matter; why is this kid Han Zhongliang no longer afraid?"

Du Gou and Fang Yizhi shared the same thought, as did Chen Yan.

They all looked at him with odd expressions.

Han Zhongliang ignored the gazes, pounded his chest and said: "Sir, if you're truly uneasy, lend me your 'reason' to use. If later there's that blind refusal, I'll go up and give him a brick slab."

"I guarantee he'll be screaming loudly."

After speaking, he paused, "By the way, sir, after I finish, if I'm captured, you must remember to pull me out, okay."

Chen Yan: "......"

Han Zhongliang was truly excited at this moment.

Last time with Chen Yan, it was genuinely exhilarating.

The boss may look unreliable, but the boss truly leads the group.

And once the group forms, it inevitably draws all firepower, and will also protect the calves on the side; they just need to keep scolding people.

Damn it.

Who understands this feeling?

Safety feeling maxed out, sir!

After the Buddhist eradication incident, Han Zhongliang had already made up his mind.

Me! Han Zhongliang!

I am the current White Tiger Holy Envoy, Marquis of Weinan, Minister of Revenue, the top vanguard under Chen Zai Jiu, that is Han Zhongliang!

Start the group!

Must start the group!!

"....... Zi Anxiong, what's the matter?" Du Gou couldn't help asking.

Chen Yan smiled meaningfully, didn't speak immediately, but asked: "Back then, Emperor Han Wudi Liu Che fought the Xiongnu with an almost life‑or‑death style of warfare."

"Such a war drains the treasury enormously, after all war consumes people and economy!"

"Even though Han Wudi inherited the hard‑won wealth of previous monarchs, it's still hard to sustain such a life‑or‑death war expenditure."

Later, what did Emperor Wu of Han do to gain huge economic benefits?

Among those present, except for Cheng Chu Mo and a few others, who hasn't read the histories thoroughly?

Soon, after they thought it over carefully, they began to list one after another of Emperor Wu of Han's actions.

Chen Yan just listened, without offering any opinion.

Ma Zhou said: "Exactly, to sustain such war expenditures, Emperor Wu of Han also reclaimed the salt and iron sales rights that originally belonged to local feudal lords or wealthy merchants, directly bringing both ownership and management under central control."

From then on, aside from the court, no one else was permitted to sell salt and iron. Salt and iron were directly handled by the government, from production to sales, all done by the government.

Through monopolistic methods, the Han dynasty obtained huge fiscal revenue, which it used to sustain prolonged war expenditures.

Chen Yan grinned and said: "Not bad. What do you think about our Tang dynasty also emulating Emperor Wu of Han by monopolizing salt?"

He didn't mention iron, only salt.

Although the Han dynasty already had a monopoly on salt and iron, early Tang dynasty management was lax, leading to rampant private salt and iron.

Previously, these things were all done by the aristocratic clans.

Upon hearing Chen Yan's words, everyone first frowned.

Monopolizing salt—wouldn't that seriously harm the interests of the aristocratic clans...

Eh?

Wait a moment.

Everyone widened their eyes, suddenly recalling something.

Since the fourth year of the Zhenguan era, a previously unknown fine salt suddenly appeared among the populace, not only pure as snow but also free of any bitter or astringent taste.

Thanks to its relatively low price, it gradually took over the market, causing the aristocratic clans' salt to be unsellable.

Although many people still don't know who is behind this.

But they are all too aware of it.

The method for producing fine salt had long been given by Chen Yan to Li Shimin.

If it's fine salt, there's no need for any nominal monopoly; as soon as fine salt appears on a large scale, it itself already constitutes a monopoly.

Moreover, the aristocratic clans can't say anything about it.

But the problem is, fine salt is now in Li Shimin's hands....

Thinking of this, everyone's hearts were startled again.

Holy crap!

Chen Yan just finished with the Buddhist Establishment, and now he's apparently setting his sights on Li Shimin?

The more they thought about it, the more plausible it seemed; the few who had just been united in purpose were now each drinking, eating, and awkwardly chatting.

They no longer had the lofty ambitions they had just moments ago.

"Um... sir..."

Han Zhongliang said embarrassedly: "I was just joking earlier, trying to make everyone laugh; keep your 'reason' to yourself."

"......"