The imperial capital in early spring still had a hint of chill, but in a low-key and luxurious mansion, a group of people were like ants on a hot pan, anxious and expectant.

"Mr. Fan is back."

With a sound of circulating, everyone stood up and looked at the door neatly.

After a while, an old man wearing a scarlet official robe and a graceful crane embroidered on his chest stepped into the door slowly, and his calm face was as calm as water, and his slight emotion was not seen.

"Mr. Fan, how? Did Your Majesty let go?"

Bathed in the scorching eyes of everyone, Fan Zhengyuan gently twisted his beard and shook his head solemnly.

"Your Majesty still doesn't want to borrow money from [Shengjinlian]."

"Damn it! We have all talked about the 19th centuries of the month, why didn't your Majesty borrow it?"

"That's it! If we hadn't been a sincere patriotism, how could we give such cheap interest? Your Majesty really doesn't know what to do..."

He waved his fists angrily and blurted out his words on his lips. The speaker reacted instantly with the reminder of his companion's eyes and changed his mouth in a disgusting way.

“…Good hearts…”

"Ahem, the treasury is empty and His Majesty refuses to borrow money. How to fight this war? It's impossible to turn a big golden world out of thin air, right?"

The conversation was changed quietly, and the room was looking at Fan Zhengyuan, and a faint greed appeared in his eyes.

Once the cannon fires, there are ten thousand taels of gold!

Even if the military expenditure is not even half of it before leaving Beijing, the rest is enough for them to eat, and their mouths are full of oil!

Looking at their expectant eyes, Fan Zhengyuan sighed heavily.

"Your Majesty wants to collect [Industrial and Commercial Tax] [Mine Tax] [Salt Tax] for military capital."

Bang ~

The seat was knocked down by the people who were stormed, and everyone was furious and looked at Fan Zhengyuan in disbelief.

"Tyrant! He actually disregards the people and fights for profit with the people!"

"My Damin has been rich in the people for hundreds of years, and it has achieved its prosperity today. Your Majesty is so rebellious and hurt the people. Are you not afraid of the world's long-lasting mouth?"

"Add weight and taxes to increase, and to deprive the people of the country, you must not speak up in this policy, otherwise the country will decline and the catastrophe of China will not be far away!"

…………

Listening to everyone's angry roar, Fan Zhengyuan rubbed his eyebrows in pain and waved his hand gently.

"Okay, I understand the truth, but the key question now is where the money comes from! The national treasury is so empty that it can run away rats!"

"The saint does not speak of profit, but only speaks of righteousness. Emperor Damin is the lord of the central destiny. How can he take away the people's career and suck bones and marrow?!"

"It's the extreme, it's the extreme. The saints rule without doing anything, the natural politics is harmonious, and the world is peaceful. Your Majesty is going the wrong way!"

"In short, we must never let this tyranny pass, otherwise we will be responsible for the resentment of heaven and people, and the country will decline!"

…………

The chattering discussion made Fan Zhengyuan feel pain in his mind. He waved his hand helplessly and interrupted.

"Okay, now Your Majesty is determined to collect [Industrial and Commercial Tax]. If you don't have any good solutions, I may not be able to stop you in the court!"

“…………”

After a long silence, a man sighed faintly.

"Your Majesty refuses to borrow money and wants to expel the people, which really makes me embarrassed..."

Upon hearing this, Fan Zhengyuan looked at the tall and handsome figure hidden among the crowd, and his heart was slightly sober.

He was dressed in a classic Thai gentlemanly dress, a gorgeous tuxedo in pure black and gold, a Poirot-style cross tie on the neckline, a gold-wire monocle glasses on the face, a black civilization staff in one hand, and a dazzling and seductive big gold circle in the other hand. Just looking at him, Fan Zhengyuan couldn't help but feel a trance in his pupils.

"Chairman Kong Fang, why are you here?"

"Ah... I heard that the country is in turmoil. Although I have no power to tie a chicken, I have the heart to serve the country. Now I am the chairman of the Damin Shengjinlian. I originally wanted to share my worries, but Your Majesty doesn't appreciate it..."

Holding the big golden round in his hand tightly, Kong Fang sighed in pain.

"Chairman Kong Fang is in love, and your Majesty will definitely feel your patriotism."

"Ah... Lord Fan doesn't need to comfort me. Your Majesty insists on his own will, and he must have been deceived by the treacherous ministers. I only hope that you loyal and virtuous people will punish the evil as soon as possible, and all the righteous will be in full swing, and Damin will be a bright world!"

Looking at Fan Zhengyuan, Kong Fang bowed deeply respectfully.

"Please."

Seeing his actions, everyone in the room bowed neatly.

"Please!"

"Chairman Kong Fang is so angry that I am!"

He quickly supported his wrist and helped him up, Fan Zhengyuan's heart was filled with emotion.

Such a sincere patriotic person, how could Your Majesty bear to refuse him?... Isn't it just borrowing some money? My Damin is rich and can pay off any taxes...

After feeling moved, Fan Zhengyuan cheered up and carefully discussed solutions with everyone.

"Since Your Majesty refuses to borrow money, he can only impose a new tax. The farmer is the only one who is the merchant. I think a new agricultural tax should be imposed!"

"That's right, merchants are small in profits and have few populations, so they can't collect much tax. Only agricultural tax can solve the urgent problem!"

…………

Listening to their discussion calmly, Fan Zhengyuan hesitated and frowned.

"But the poor peasants in the world are already full of complaints. If the agricultural tax is increased, will it arouse civil unrest?"

In fact, Fan Zhengyuan has already said it very tactfully. The current situation is not full of complaints, but it is just that rebels are everywhere!

If the agricultural tax is added, I am afraid that even Zhili will have turmoil...

"I, Damin, have raised farmers for hundreds of years and have hidden wealth among the people. Now is the time for them to serve the country!"

"That's right, it's just a temporary hardship for the people, and good days are still coming!"

………………………………………

Hurry up~

The bow of the ship splits the waves, and the huge fleet is moving forward like a ghost in the thick fog, like a predator lurking in the shadows, quietly approaching the prey.

"Does this fog often do this?"

Standing on the deck, Zhao Yinshun took a deep breath, and the clear water vapor rich in spiritual energy poured into his lungs, as if an ice spring was pouring into his heart.

"Yes, such a spiritual fog often appears on the sea of ​​smoke, so thick that it is like smoke and dust blocking the sight, so it is named [Sea of ​​Smoke]."

Cen Xing stood behind the boy and replied respectfully.

"No wonder those pirates hid their nests here. It's indeed a good place. If it weren't for Yanni's glasses, it would be really hard to find..."

With a dark eyes looking into the depths of the fog, under the [high-dimensional vision], the outline of an island that was looming has gradually entered Zhao Yinshun's eyes.

"The Changqin Islands are actually not difficult to find, but the spiritual senses and compass on the sea of ​​smoke are interfered by some kind of force, so it is easy to get lost."

“What is the interference?”

"I don't know very well, it has been like this since ancient times. There is a guess that there are water veins at the bottom of the sea and earth veins that converge, producing some kind of supernatural power."

…………

While chatting, the island in front was clearly visible. The hideous and cruel steel giant ship cut through the thick fog, and the island suddenly screamed.

"It's not big, it doesn't seem to be a lot of people..."

Looking at the island with a diameter of only a few kilometers, Zhao Yinshun was in a lack of interest.

"This is just the outskirts of the archipelago. Continue to walk north. There are more than a dozen main islands that are quite large. Yanhai County has set up a county here before..."

Attached to the boy's ear, he whispered softly. As Cen Xing spoke, the fleet's muzzle slowly raised, and a volley shot towards the island.

boom!

The violent flames almost covered the entire island. After the cruel smoke, only the devastated scorched earth was left, dense bomb craters were spread all over the island, and all buildings were razed to the ground.

"It seems that there are still a few small broken ships in the port, so it's better than nothing..."

The huge fleet passed by the island without slowing down. As they passed by, Zhao Yinshun saw the surviving boat in the port setting sail, as if he wanted to escape, so he lazily raised his left hand, pointed like a sword, and gently stroked it across a long distance.

Scream ~

The invisible sword aura flew across the sea and quietly cut off the decks of several ships. When the strong wind blew, it seemed like a can of a bottle was opened. The deck fell down with the mast, exposing the space inside the cabin to the air.

The deep vision clearly captured the pirates' stunned appearance. Zhao Yinshun couldn't help but pursed his lips and threw them behind him with the warship.

Several third-level destroyers and transport ships immediately left their formation and approached the island. Soon the army, like wolves and tigers, boarded the land and completely occupied the island.

"The Changqin Islands happen to be distributed on the southernmost waterway from [Guanhe Port] to Liaozhou. They are like a chain that divides the sea of ​​smoke into two. If the navy's transit base is built here, then we can advance and attack and retreat and defend, which will have a huge impact on the subsequent war form."

Seeing Cen Xing gesture on the chart, Zhao Yinshun nodded slowly and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Mainland power is a killer. It does not attach importance to the ocean at all. Even such an important strategic location is allowed to be occupied by pirates. If this country can be well managed, there will be ghosts!

If it is occupied by the Taixi powers in the future, it will be a sharp knife that is pressed against Damin's throat, and the entire northern part of the empire will be placed under the muzzle!
To be continued...