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"Father, with Xia Guo Jiu in hand, the Empress will surely submit!"
It was impossible for one person to calculate such vast amounts of data in just two days. I contacted Wu Dachen and coerced the Empress into agreeing to pay compensation, as long as this batch of reparations arrived! I believe that Jiu will honor the agreement and pay us half of it.
A fierce expression appeared on Che Chengyun's face. He knew that the Xia Kingdom's court had not demanded such a large sum from the Great Zhou Dynasty! Everything was a request made jointly by Langya Prince and Che Chengyun. This compensation would naturally be divided between the two parties.
Langya Prince calculated this matter in his mind. After deriving the data for the first month, he would need to layer it repeatedly, and each calculation would have to build upon the previous data. Therefore, it was impossible for a large number of people to calculate the data simultaneously.
The data progressed as follows: on the first day it was one, on the second day it was two, on the third day it was four, and on the fourth day it was eight. This continued, not only needing to transform into the data from ten years later but also requiring the summation of each day's data. While calculating the data from ten years ago might be feasible, summing all of it together would necessitate having access to those figures. Accomplishing this within two days was absolutely impossible!
Thinking of this, Langya Prince couldn't help but smile and asked, "Jiang Han, what is the current situation?"
To his dismay, that fellow had gone missing again. The people he had sent to track Jiang Han suddenly lost him! Che Chengyun reported truthfully.
"Useless!" A murderous intent flashed in Langya Prince's eyes as he murmured, "Prepare a stunning beauty to enter the capital as a courtesan. Find a way to have this courtesan follow Jiang Han; we must uncover where Jiang Han is receiving supplies."
"Yes, Father!" Che Chengyun immediately set about making arrangements.
In the palace, within the imperial study!
Su Qianxue waited for Jiang Han all day but did not see him. Helplessly, she returned to the palace. Inside the study, Wu Quncheng had already gathered there, all looking distressed over Xia Guo Jiu's questions.
"Your Majesty! What shall we do?"
"This data," said an old minister with a sigh, "in my opinion, cannot be calculated at all. Why not start gathering funds right away?"
The Minister of War stepped forward and lamented, "Your Majesty, the Xia Kingdom is vast with numerous troops. Even just one detachment has dealt us such damage; if we anger them further and they send a large army against our Great Zhou, I fear our Da Zhou Army could be completely annihilated!"
It is difficult to fend off the elite cavalry of the Xia Kingdom, Your Majesty. We must start gathering funds immediately! I can lead by example and sell all my possessions; I might be able to raise three taels of gold!
Three taels? Su Qianxue was taken aback, staring at the old minister in disbelief. Wang Ai Qing, you have served as Minister of War for fifteen years, and your entire family's wealth amounts to only three taels of gold? I can't believe you! Surely your family's high-end purple clay teapots and jade screens are worth more than that?
What exactly are you trying to achieve? Su Qianxue's expression showed confusion; she couldn't understand what these old ministers were up to.
Meanwhile, those who had already followed Langya Prince and the Minister of War continued, "Your Majesty, even if we military officials sold all our possessions, we could only gather five thousand taels of gold. We implore Your Majesty to issue a nationwide tax increase and collect silver and silk to offer tribute to the Xia Kingdom!"
Indeed, what Lord Wang said is true. Even if we Wu Quncheng fully support our nation, it would still be a drop in the bucket! We must raise taxes across the country; otherwise, when the Xia Kingdom Army arrives at our gates, it will be too late! The Minister of Rites stepped forward with a righteous demeanor and presented a banknote. "Your Majesty, this is two taels of gold that I have obtained by pawning my entire fortune!"
As his voice fell, a large number of Wu Quncheng affiliated with Langya Prince stepped forward one after another. They all took out banknotes and silver notes, expressing their willingness to contribute for the sake of the country.
Seeing this scene from her dragon throne, Su Qianxue felt no gratitude; instead, her teeth nearly ground together in anger as her fists clenched tightly within her sleeves. This group of Wu Quncheng appeared to be sacrificing everything for the nation by offering their wealth to assist me! But what they contributed barely amounted to a fraction of their fortunes. In reality, it was likely less than one-thousandth of their wealth, yet they acted so noble.
Wasn't this just a way to pressure me into issuing a nationwide tax increase? My loyal ministers, our Great Zhou Dynasty has been at war repeatedly; it is no longer appropriate to raise taxes. The burden on our people is already extremely heavy! We cannot impose further taxes! Su Qianxue struggled to suppress her anger as she scanned half of the Wu Quncheng present and was about to speak.
"Minister of War Wang," she began again, "are you suggesting that I pawn the royal treasury's jewels?"
You! Su Qianxue was instantly furious. Even if I pawned the royal treasures, it would only last for a year or so. What about two years from now? If we cannot provide the necessary funds for tribute, will the Xia Kingdom not come to attack us?
Su Qianxue furrowed her brows, staring intently at Minister Wang. She spoke slowly, "My esteemed ministers, I ask for just one day’s time! I will do my utmost to find the answer to this problem, even if it means calculating step by step. There is still time."
"If, in the end, I cannot find the answer, we can discuss it then."
"Your Majesty!" Minister Wang pressed on relentlessly. "What if you cannot answer this question? How shall we proceed?"
Su Qianxue found herself cornered, momentarily at a loss for words.
After much contemplation, Minister Luo Yuhua finally stepped forward and said, "Minister Wang, let us wait until that moment arrives to discuss it!"
"There are only two possibilities," Luo continued. "It is certain that we will not have an answer. If we cannot provide one, we either submit to the higher authorities or refuse to comply while the Xia Kingdom Army attacks! May I ask you, Luo, how shall we respond when the Xia Kingdom Army invades our dynasty? It would surely lead to devastation among the common people."
"Why not issue a nationwide tax increase now, to burden the wealthy and buy us some time?"
"Enough!" Su Qianxue slammed her hand on the table. "The time needed for an answer is until the morning court two days from now; we still have time. We will discuss it then."
She ordered all the ministers to return home and rest. Then she dispatched the Female Guard to keep watch at Jiang Han's shop, instructing them to report immediately if Jiang Han returned.
At present, only Jiang Han might be able to provide an answer to this question. Otherwise, a nationwide tax increase would undoubtedly incite rebellion among the populace—a burden that the Great Zhou could not bear.
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