Coming from past life experience, if you want to improve a person's prestige and reputation in society, the simplest and most effective way is to do charity.
She benefits the people with real money and silver, no matter how big or small the favor is. When the subjects remember her kindness, their favor towards her will naturally rise sharply.
But there are thresholds for charity. If you don’t have money, you are not qualified to play.
For Empress Wu, real money is not a big problem. After being a queen for all these years, she can't just pull her hair, spit, and fight with the women in the harem, right?
As far as Li Qinzai knew, Empress Wu had accumulated some properties over the years, but these properties were not in her name.
The Wu family's Wu Yuanqing, Wu Yuanshuang, her biological sister the Korean lady, and even Wu Minzhi all had quite rich properties in their names. Some of these properties were earned by themselves by pulling the queen's tiger skin, and some were obtained by the queen.
in their name.
In short, Empress Wu is not short of money.
If you are not short of money and want to earn a good reputation, charity is the best way.
As soon as Li Qinzai finished speaking this suggestion, Empress Wu's eyes lit up.
She is a smart woman after all, and she immediately understood the meaning of Li Qinzai's words.
That's right, charity can really win people's hearts. Whether it's the courtiers or the people, after knowing that the current queen does charity, her prestige has been established invisibly.
Not only did she establish her prestige, but she also occupied the moral high ground. No matter how disgusted or hostile others were to her in the future, with the title of "Queen of Philanthropists" attached to Empress Wu, others would be embarrassed to scold her.
Whoever scolds her is ungrateful and invincible to the people who have benefited from it by millions.
After Empress Wu listened carefully, she was absolutely delighted.
"Jingchu's brain is really... No wonder His Majesty thinks so highly of you. He has never disappointed anyone." Empress Wu praised you repeatedly.
Li Qinzai smiled and said: "It's just a duty to be loyal to the emperor. This move can relieve the queen's worries and is good for the reputation of the Tianjia. The more good deeds the queen's charity hall does, the more the Tianjia will win the hearts of the world."
Empress Wu curled her lips slightly, and then said: "If Charity Hall wants to do well in the world, it will have to allocate countless money and food. Where will these come from?"
“In the early days of the Charity Hall, naturally, it could only be funded by the empress and court wives themselves. Once its influence gradually became more profound, it could be recruited from royal family members and private merchants.”
Empress Wu frowned and said, "How can merchants be willing to raise donations for no reason?"
"Efforts always have to be rewarded, especially for businessmen. We can't expect them to be very kind. The relationship between the Charity Hall and these businessmen who raise charity funds is just a transaction."
"Merchants have money, but they need status. The imperial court's status cannot be increased, but it lacks money. If the two have needs for each other, they can form a long-term mutually beneficial and complementary relationship."
"For merchants to donate money, the queen may wish to represent the Tian family and give the merchants something that can improve their status, such as a plaque praising their kindness, an imperial edict personally praising them by the emperor or the queen, or a grand ceremony in which the local county magistrate personally comes to praise them, etc.
wait."
"To the court, these things are insignificant, but to merchants, they are important evidence that can be used as family heirlooms."
Empress Wu still frowned and said: "In this way, wouldn't the status of merchants be elevated? If even merchants have their day, wouldn't the people develop a bad custom of overvaluing profits and neglecting righteousness?"
Li Qinzai sighed and said: "Queen, the praises I just mentioned did not actually involve anything that could make the descendants of merchants stand out. According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, merchants were not allowed to participate in the imperial examinations in the future. As long as this rule remains, they
Still can’t get ahead.”
"What the court gave them was just temporary glory, and merchants actually knew their status very well and would not think that their status could be changed by donating a few times."
"What they want is the glory of the moment. As long as the court grasps this measure, the Charity Hall can form a virtuous circle and not cause chaos to the court."
"Besides, if the rich donate money to help the poor through the charity hall, the whole thing will only encourage the good atmosphere among the people. The most important thing is not how to get businessmen to donate money, but how to eliminate the corruption problem within the charity hall. The court must send personnel
Officials must supervise closely so that the reputation of the Charity Hall will not be ruined."
Empress Wu thought about it, and finally nodded slowly.
Li Qinzai's suggestion undoubtedly opened up a new world for her. She did not expect that this method could be used to boost the queen's prestige.
Sighing softly, Empress Wu smiled and said: "Jingchu is indeed an important minister of the country. A random idea can make me suddenly enlightened."
Li Qinzai blinked: "I have accepted all the money from the queen. I hope the queen will not feel that this money was spent in vain. I am grateful to God."
Empress Wu chuckled and said: "Not only is it not unjust, I also feel that it is too little. Even if it is a pure transaction, why doesn't Jingchu ask for more? As far as I know, Jingchu is greedy for money, why do you want more from me?"
The offer is so polite?"
Li Qinzai laughed dryly: "This is my first time doing business with a woman. I really can't grasp the woman's mind. I'm afraid that the price is too high. The queen will just keep doing it and get rid of me when the deal is done..."
Empress Wu laughed heartily: "In Jingchu's heart, am I such a stingy person?"
Li Qinzai sighed: "In this case, I really regret it. How about... Queen, could you please add more?"
Empress Wu quickly turned cold and said: "The deal is finalized and there is no reason to add more money. Jingchu is overthinking it."
"I volunteer to help you take charge of the charity hall's financial accounts in the future?"
"I opened a shop to sell arsenic, and even Jingchu had to eat it secretly. How can I hand over the money from the Charity Hall to you? Get out!"
…………
After saying goodbye to Empress Wu, Li Qinzai walked out of Tai Chi Palace, and his steps became much lighter.
If Empress Wu really followed her advice, a major hidden danger in the future of Datang would be eliminated.
Li Qinzai has never doubted Empress Wu's ambition. Her ambition is not only the harem. If the conditions are right, there is nothing she dare not do.
After all, she is the only empress in history, and her ability is beyond doubt.
By doing charity, Empress Wu successfully diverted her attention. From then on, her eyes were no longer on the court, but on the countryside, which was a good thing for Li Zhi and the Tang Dynasty.
There are no losers in this matter, everyone wins.
Especially the couple from the Tian family, both of them won, but Li Qinzai, after coming up with this idea, would decisively stay out of the matter and quietly watch the future changes in the Tang Dynasty and the harem from an outsider's perspective.
Again, Li Qinzai hopes to see a peaceful and prosperous age. What the Tang Dynasty needs is a quiet and steady progress, rather than changing the king's flag on the city wall.