Happy Emperor

Chapter 60: Changes in Shengjing

Arrange matters in Ningfeng Province.

Lin Tian and Huang Tianba led the army back to Shengjing.

Two days later.

In the southern study room shrouded in moonlight, the atmosphere was somewhat depressing.

"Your Majesty, all the vassal kings have announced that if you do not come forward, they will no longer pay taxes."

An Bilie handed a prepared list to Lin Tian with a somewhat ugly expression.

Lin Tianqian had only been in Ningfeng Province for a few days.

The chief secretaries of the royal palaces in various places collectively wrote to the emperor asking him to come forward to explain the Zhen Niu Bi incident.

But because Lin Tian was not in Shengjing, An Bilie repeatedly refused.

Earlier today, the chief secretaries of the royal palaces submitted a collective petition.

If they didn't see the emperor again, they would collectively stop paying taxes.

Lin Tian knew without thinking that this was the secret plot of King Pingdong.

It is nothing more than exerting economic pressure on imperial power.

Those petty princes changed their attitudes according to the situation.

Although they did not pay much tax, they were naturally very happy to have an excuse to save this money.

"Duan Chengming, excluding the taxes paid by the princes of various regions, how much tax does Shengjing and its three provinces generate in a single year?"

Lin Tian knocked on the table with his hand and asked in a cold voice.

Duan Chengming now serves as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, so he is more familiar with the taxation issues.

"Return to Your Majesty."

"Shengjing City's annual tax revenue is three million taels of silver. The figures reported by the Batu family in Liaoan and Jifeng provinces are around 20 million taels of silver. Ningfeng's officials are not aware of this."

Duan Chengming's eyes were bloodshot, and it was obvious that he had not slept well in the past few days.

"Ningfeng Province makes about 10 million a year." The seventh prince added as he stood beside Lin Tian.

After hearing this, Lin Tian frowned and said nothing.

In peacetime, the three provinces collected a total of 33 million taels of silver in taxes each year, which seemed like a lot.

But the army they controlled was as many as 350,000, and the annual expenditure was as high as 35 million taels.

Unless the army is disarmed, Lin Tian won’t be able to support these troops.

This does not include some basic expenses.

"How much tax does King Pingdong pay in a year?" Lin Tian asked again.

"About two million taels. Excluding the three provinces of Ningfeng, the rest of the vassal states, big and small, have surrendered a total of five million taels of silver."

Duan Chengming replied truthfully.

"Your Majesty, if all else fails, we should disband the 50,000 newly recruited soldiers. That way, even if those vassal kings stop paying taxes, we can still maintain normal operations."

An Bilie suggested in a low voice.

"Sixth brother, this isn't the way to do it." The Seventh Prince said hurriedly after hearing this.

"The economy in the south is vibrant, especially the three provinces controlled by Prince Pingdong, which are the main economic powerhouses of Daxia. The number of troops they can support is far greater than those in the north."

"And the emperor's uncle is a martial artist, if..."

What the Seventh Prince said was also what Lin Tian was worried about.

But now it is hard to say when King Pingdong will launch the Northern Expedition.

The exact number of troops he had was not clear, but it was definitely no less than this number.

Disarmament is easy, but recruiting troops during wartime is difficult.

Moreover, the combat effectiveness of three newly recruited soldiers may not be as good as that of one veteran soldier who has been through many battles.

So disarmament is not feasible now.

In fact, there is a solution. Lin Tian had already thought of a solution.

He had been ordering people to secretly develop thermal weapons, and he gave up his original fantasy of directly creating an AK.

But the prototype of simple musket production has already been created.

Now it is still a question when mass production will be possible.

"Don't they want to see me? Then let's recruit them all into the palace tomorrow."

Lin Tian frowned and replied in a deep voice.

After the powerful ministers left, Lin Tian took out the letter written by King Pingdong to the prince.

I copied a letter based on the handwriting of Prince Pingdong.

After doing this, Lin Tian came to Batujin's bedroom with a heavy heart.

Batu Jin did not ask Lin Tian to escort him back to Shengjing as early as when he was in Solo Town.

So even though they were husband and wife in name, they had not yet engaged in sexual activity.

"His Majesty!"

As soon as he walked into the room, Batujin came to greet him.

He took the clothes from Lin Tian's hand and put them aside.

Looking at the beauty in the moonlight, Lin Tian felt much more relaxed.

Also!

The current situation is much better than when he first came here, so why should he worry about tomorrow?

Reject internal friction.

Thinking of this, Lin Tian asked Batujin with a smile.

"Jin'er, why haven't you rested yet?"

He lifted Batujin's chin and looked at her delicate, slightly red cheeks, his heart agitated.

"I know that Your Majesty has returned to Shengjing, and I have been waiting for Your Majesty to come."

Batujin's voice was as soft as a mosquito's, and he lowered his head with a blushing face.

I rub!

Lin Tian was seduced several times by Ouyang Qing and Qi Mengchan in Ningfeng Province these days.

The little flame in my heart could no longer be suppressed.

However, because I was busy with government affairs, I had no way to vent my emotions.

Seeing Batujin in such a charming manner again, the little flame seemed to be doused with gasoline and grew stronger.

"Jin'er, a night of springtime is worth a thousand gold. I've really treated you unfairly."

As Lin Tian spoke, he picked up Batujin by the waist and walked towards the bed in the inner room.

"Wait a moment, put me down first. I have a surprise for you."

Batujin leaned over shyly and whispered in Lin Tian's ear.

"surprise!"

Lin Tian was stunned.

Put Batujin down.

Another surprise?

This scene seems to have happened in An Caier’s room!

"Your Majesty, please come in later!"

After Batujin finished speaking, he walked into the inner room.

"You must not come in before I tell you to."

Seeing that Lin Tian also wanted to follow in, Batujin lay at the door and pushed Lin Tian out with a coquettish look.

"Damn, this surprise isn't going to be some kind of mirror, is it?"

Lin Tian thought of the day when An Caier asked him to wait outside the room, but in the end only showed her the mirror.

I just smiled bitterly in my heart.

But he didn't want to disturb the surprise that Batujin had carefully prepared.

I had no choice but to be patient and wait outside the room.

What kind of surprise is this?

After waiting for a few minutes, Lin Tian began to feel anxious.

Can you bear this?

Everyone here is ready to go to war.

But he was dawdling inside, and no one knew what he was doing.

After a while, Batujin's voice finally came from the room.

"Your Majesty, you may come in."

Lin Tian stood up as if he had heard the charge.

He took two steps at a time and pushed the door open.

What the hell!

What a surprise!

As soon as Lin Tian walked into the room, he was stunned.

Staring straight at everything in front of you.

A large wooden bathtub was filled with flower petals drying in the sun.

Batujin sat in the water in the wooden barrel. In the hot steam, a hazy figure was faintly visible.

This is not counting.

An Cai'er and Queen Ji Lan were seen standing outside the wooden barrel in thin clothes.

When he saw Lin Tian coming in, he slowly walked towards him.

One person on each side supported Lin Tian and walked to the wooden barrel.

"Your Majesty, the Ningfeng Province delegation has worked really hard."

Queen Ji Lan's face flushed as she said shyly, "I'm going back to the palace today to wash away all the ups and downs."

"Your Majesty, let me help you undress." An Cai'er also smiled shyly.

This is so fucking hard, it's so blissful.

Lin Tian threw the two men into the wooden barrel one by one.

The room is full of spring colors.

"......"