The first county magistrate in history

Chapter 289 Killing the Chicken to Get the Eggs

"It's all my fault. For the sake of the great cause of our country, I neglected your age and health." Xia Mochu said with a look of self-blame: "Pass on my oral order. Minister Guo, take good care of your health. I will personally handle the affairs of the Privy Council."

"Yes!" Andehai smiled happily.

All the civil and military officials thought to themselves, as expected, Guo Pingxi is finished too.

I told you to pretend to be sick. This time, you should just stay home and recuperate. As for when to return to work, you can wait and see. I guess you have to wait until you die. How dare you ask the Empress to return power?

Although the empress should have been happy because she had dismissed two dissident ministers, she simply could not be happy.

The walls of the imperial capital are of shoddy construction and must be demolished and rebuilt. Where can we find the money?

The Altar of Heaven also needs to be rebuilt, but we still lack money.

Xia Mochu was very worried. She glanced at the ministers who were keeping their heads down and saying nothing, and she knew that they were useless and could not help her.

Xia Mochu glanced at Andehai.

An Dehai understood immediately: "If you have something to say, please report it. If not, please leave the court!"

At this critical juncture, no one dared to say anything. The ministers took their leave and the empress retreated.

Xia Mo Ning read it from beginning to end, and only then did she learn the basics of the art of being an emperor from her sister.

I feel very emotional. The emperor's skills are so powerful that he can kill people without a knife.

But, it’s so tiring!

Xia Mo Ning is not stupid either. Now the city wall and the altar of heaven need to be rebuilt. The national treasury has no money, so her sister must find money.

After the court was dismissed, she wanted to slip away.

However, Xia Mochu didn't give him a chance.

"Mo Ning, Yuan Bo, let's discuss matters in the imperial study." Xia Mochu turned away.

Xia Mo looked at Yuan Bo with a bitter face, which meant, what should we do?

Uncle Yuan smiled bitterly. How would he know what to do?

Royal study room.

Xia Mochu looked at her sister Xia Mo Ning with a worried look on her face: "Mo Ning, the imperial city wall is of great importance. I didn't want to touch the revenue of the department store, but, as you can see, there is no place to raise money!"

Xia Mo Ning quickly said, "Sister, even though the department store is making a fortune, it hasn't been open for very long. After deducting the costs, there's not much left. It's just a drop in the bucket!"

Xia Mochu nodded: "It's a drop in the bucket, but we have to build the southern city wall first, right? It will be enough!"

Xia Mo Ning: "..."

"Sister, I can't make the decision. My words don't count!" Xia Mo Ning was not stupid either. She pushed the matter directly to her master.

Xia Mochu's face darkened. "The department store is a joint venture between me and Qin Zheng. I have the right to control half of the profits. Xia Mo Ning, you are only temporarily managing the department store on behalf of Qin Zheng. You have no right to refuse. I am not negotiating with you."

Xia Mo Ning was anxious: "How come I have nothing to do with it? My master gave me the department store and his shares..."

Xia Mo Ning quickly covered her mouth, but it was too late.

It’s over, I let it slip.

Xia Mochu and Andehai were shocked.

Yuan Bo closed his eyes and said, "Silly girl, how can you say this?"

If we say that, the department store will be even less likely to be saved.

Xia Mochu was overjoyed and started laughing.

"You are so nice, Qin Zheng. You are so good to my sister!" Xia Mochu was a little jealous.

Qin Zheng treats her sister better than her.

How infuriating!

"Sister, in short, you can't touch the money from the department store. My master said you can't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs! This money is the capital I need to take with me to Liangjin. Otherwise, as a princess and the crown prince, I can't go to Liangjin to reform it empty-handed. It would be a disgrace!"

"Qin Zheng, you said you would go to Liangjin?" Xia Mochu was shocked.

Subconsciously looked at Andehai.

But he found that An Dehai was also shocked.

This was just a plan she and An Dehai discussed, but Qin Zheng actually knew it all?

Qin Zheng's reasoning skills are terrifying.

Uncle Yuan closed his eyes, not knowing what to say.

Princess, you are so kind. Although Qin Zheng didn’t do it on my back, he also warned you not to tell anyone!

Xia Mo Ning didn't realize she had said the wrong thing yet, and nodded foolishly: "Yes, my master said that when he returns from this mission, the transformation of the imperial capital will be almost complete. He should go to Liangjin to take up his post. And I still need to learn, so my sister will definitely let me follow."

Xia Mochu felt relieved, she really thought that Qin Zheng was a fortune teller and knew her plan.

Andehai also breathed a sigh of relief. So that's how it is. It makes sense, very reasonable.

Otherwise, Qin Zheng would be too terrifying!

Xia Mochu smiled. This was great. Now that Qin Zheng and his sister knew about it, things would be easier.

but.

"Mo Ning, things have their priorities. This money is a loan from me. It will take several months for Qin Zheng to return. By then, taxes from all places will have been paid. I will be the first to repay you. Don't worry, you are my sister. How could I let you embarrass yourself in front of the people of Liangjin?"

Xia Mo Ning hesitated. She really wanted to help her sister, but she also knew that her sister was having a hard time.

But her master asked her to keep the money!

Seeing her sister's hesitation, Xia Mochu said, "Mo Ning, this throne and this great land of Daqian will be yours sooner or later. I work so hard day and night so that you won't have to worry about anything in the future. I want you to enjoy a peaceful and prosperous era upon ascending the throne. You're not helping me now, you're helping yourself, understand?"

Xia Mochu said so, and Xia Mo Ning's heart softened: "Okay, sister, I'll lend it to you first. But you have to pay it back! I know you are helping me, but I promised my master that I will never use this money."

Yuan Bo thought, well, the princess is still too naive, and she was fooled.

But he didn't dare say anything.

Xia Mochu smiled brightly, "Don't worry, sister. I'll return the money to you before you go to Liangjin." Then she changed the subject, "Mo Ning, Master Qin Zheng is a good one. He loves you very much. Can you talk to him about borrowing money from Hongtong County?"

"Ah?" Xia Mo Ning was shocked.

He shook his head vigorously. "Hongtong County has run out of money to develop new products. Now, when the department store supplies goods, they have to wait for a certain amount of payment before they can continue production and send another batch of goods."

"Oh?" Xia Mochu frowned and glanced at Andehai, somewhat unconvinced.

An Dehai didn't say anything, but his expression showed that he didn't believe it either.

"Sister, you don't believe it, do you? If you don't, ask Qin Zheng. Hongtong County is just a small county. How much money can it have? Moreover, the goods we are given are all ex-factory prices, with very little profit! The rumors outside about being rich enough to rival a country are all bragging. No matter what, Hongtong County is sparsely populated and remote. How can it be rich enough to rival a country?"

Xia Mochu thought this made sense, and nodded, saying, "Sister, I understand. You should go back and get some rest."

Xia Mo Ning said worriedly, "Sister, there's still not enough money. What are you going to do? Where are you going to raise the money?"

Xia Mochu smiled and said, "Sister will find a way, go ahead!"

Xia Mo Ning took her leave.

Yuan Shiqing also took his leave and followed Xia Mo Ning away.

An Dehai only then said, "I didn't expect Qin Zheng to be so kind to the princess. In the past, he was also very kind to Your Majesty, giving you whatever you asked for. But now he has grown arrogant and is no longer obedient."

Xia Mochu frowned slightly and looked at An Dehai: "Uncle An means that, back then, I was the empress, so Qin Zheng obeyed me. Now he knows that Mo Ning will become the empress in the future, so..."

An Dehai sneered and said, "I am just imagining things. Qin Zheng may not be such a person. It may be a coincidence."