Chapter 676

"Using the royal family as a brand—Lord Gao, continue your fabrication, I am waiting for you to fabricate!"

In the Imperial Study, Wu Zhao's voice sounded, a touch of coldness on her face.

Gao Yang looked at Wu Zhao, confirmed she wasn't angry, and then continued.

"Your Majesty, the importance of a brand is very significant. To put it small, this is for making money; to put it big, this is for the women of the world!"

"If there is a royal signboard, who in the world would dare to force good women into prostitution? Furthermore, the money Your Majesty earns can also be used for the people's livelihood."

"This subject hates lechers most in his life, especially wealthy lechers. Your Majesty might as well take the money in their hands!"

Gao Yang's voice rose, echoing through the great hall.

Wu Zhao's face darkened. She was willing to do this business; making money was secondary, but she was very interested in the Horizontal Alliance tactics and Commercial Alliance tactics Gao Yang had mentioned.

The binding under interests was very tempting to her.

But to directly slap on the royal name—this was somewhat excessive.

This Gao Yang was getting a bit too pushy!

Gao Yang also observed the expression on Wu Zhao's face; this royal signboard was definitely a trump card.

Even without adding foot baths and other series of methods, it would definitely be explosive, not to mention adding full-body massages and other modern methods.

He couldn't even imagine the level of popularity.

And if the club was sensational enough, his entire commercial map would have taken a huge step forward.

A poisonous strategist is called a poisonous strategist; he should prepare a few more backup plans.

Wu Zhao originally wanted to refuse directly, but upon second thought, her gaze shifted.

"Royal No. 1 Club—once implemented, it will definitely be impeached by the censors, and even I will face greater pressure."

"For this, you must add more money!"

Wu Zhao picked up a memorial and said, "The censors from various places have repeatedly reported that the corruption of officials in our Da Qian has been rising year after year."

"Curbing corrupt officials is imperative. Forty percent of the club's profits is enough; let's use a poisonous plan to curb corrupt officials to offset it."

"How about it?"

Wu Zhao said lightly, her gaze fixed on Gao Yang.

The meaning was very simple: if Gao Yang could come up with a way to curb corrupt officials now, the Royal No. 1 Club would be approved by default.

If he couldn't come up with a way to curb corrupt officials, the matter was off the table.

Wu Zhao's eyes held a sharp glint. After all, Gao Yang had given her many brilliant plans; if she refused directly, it would make Gao Yang too cold-hearted, and she feared he wouldn't work for her in the future.

A method to resolve corruption was a disguised refusal!

But if Gao Yang could really curb corrupt officials, she wouldn't lose out.

Since ancient times, corruption in every dynasty had been difficult to curb. The methods of the Da Qian Taizu were even more radical, being extremely harsh on corrupt officials!

The "Da Qian Law" stipulated that any official who committed corruption exceeding one hundred guan would be sentenced to death by strangulation!

The punishments for corrupt officials in the "Great Proclamation" were even more dazzling: slow slicing, beheading, exposure in the market—everything was there!

She had been troubled by this curbing method for a long time, but had never found a good way.

Gao Yang was stunned upon hearing this.

Since when did this Wu Zhao become a 'money-adding' Empress?

"Your Majesty, should we summon that Top Scholar Cui for an audience..."

Gao Yang asked tentatively.

Upon hearing this, Wu Zhao, who had just picked up a peach blossom pastry, couldn't help but pause, and she was stunned.

Gao Yang's meaning was that he seemed to have a curbing method.

"Lord Gao, there is only one Top Scholar Cui in all of Da Qian; stop shearing him so much."

"If you shear him bald, he'll be gone. Next time."

"For this plan, I have someone else to take the blame; you just speak."

Wu Zhao spoke slowly, her gaze fixed on Gao Yang.

Gao Yang pondered for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, this subject has a plan that might curb corrupt officials."

Once these words were out.

Wu Zhao's eyes instantly brightened.

"You already have a brilliant plan?"

A smile appeared on Gao Yang's face, and he then said.

"This subject feels that the corruption of officials in the world undoubtedly falls into two types. The first type is corrupting for the sake of living, thus embarking on a path of no return!"

"Since our Da Qian Taizu founded the nation, we have aggressively suppressed corrupt officials, and the salaries were set very precisely, often only enough for officials to support their families."

"But wherever there are people, there is a world, and the officialdom is no exception. This will inevitably give birth to interpersonal interactions; one must give gifts when a superior has a birthday, and give gifts when a colleague has a birthday. Relying solely on a meager salary is simply not enough."

"Moreover, times have changed. Over a hundred years have passed, and while salaries haven't risen much, the prices of rice, flour, grain, and oil have all risen, which undoubtedly increased the pressure on officials."

"This led some officials who originally did practical work for the people to gradually be unable to cope, so they started to corrupt. Once this opening was made, there was no turning back."

Wu Zhao frowned upon hearing this.

"Is Lord Gao suggesting that I raise salaries to curb corrupt officials?"

She did not think highly of this method.

But based on her understanding of Gao Yang, she waited for what was to come.

Gao Yang shook his head, "For those officials who originally didn't want to corrupt but were forced to, raising salaries is a good method."

"But this cannot solve the root of the problem, because for most corrupt officials in the world, it is greed and human nature at work!"

"For those corrupt officials who corrupt due to their own greed and to live a more luxurious life, this subject feels... Your Majesty is not ruthless enough!"

These words caused a shock to Wu Zhao.