dognovel Chapter 1331: It is a blessing from heaven that I have Nian Nian
Chapter 1331: It is a blessing from heaven that I have Nian Nian
She began to elaborate, her words coherent and clear, clearly no impromptu idea: "The imperial court will publicly raise money from merchants and even wealthy people throughout the country, agreeing on interest rates and repayment terms, and use the funds specifically for border warfare."
"And announce to the world that anyone who subscribes to this IOU will not only be supporting the royal army and defending the country, but will also receive the interest promised by the court."
"Even... for those who subscribe to a large amount, His Majesty can personally bestow a plaque on them, or grant their family members some insignificant honors as a form of encouragement."
"in this way……"
At this point, Shen Zhinian looked at Nangong Xuanyu with a clear gaze: "Don't use the existing silver in the national treasury at all."
“Second, do not impose taxes on the people.”
"Three can quickly raise huge military funds."
"Fourth, it demonstrates your Majesty's solidarity with the people and their determination to overcome these difficult times."
"Five can also tie the interests of the world's wealthy merchants to the imperial court..."
"Perhaps, it can help Your Majesty solve his urgent problem?"
When Nangong Xuanyu heard this, his eyes flashed!
This is definitely an extremely bold yet highly feasible idea!
It cleverly circumvented all the disadvantages of tax increases and took advantage of merchants' desire for profit and to improve their social status.
It is indeed possible to amass astonishing wealth in a short period of time!
But Nangong Xuanyu was an emperor after all, and he pondered more deeply: "Niannian's idea is very good, but how can we win the trust of the people?"
"What if the merchants don't believe the court will be able to repay them in the future?"
"And who should be in charge of this matter to ensure fairness and avoid it becoming another layer of exploitation?"
Shen Zhinian seemed to have anticipated the emperor's question and calmly replied, "To gain the people's trust, the most important thing is your Majesty's prestige and your wise words. Your Majesty can personally issue an edict, announce it to the world, and guarantee it with the royal family's reputation."
"Secondly, we can entrust a reputable imperial merchant or similar institution with no vested interests with any party to issue and manage the accounts, and make them public on a regular basis to demonstrate transparency."
"As for the person in charge..."
Shen Zhinian paused, his tone becoming more cautious, yet also carrying a subtle hint of probing: "Of course, he must be an important official whom Your Majesty absolutely trusts and who is well versed in economics."
"Perhaps... the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Household Department could work together to supervise each other?"
She did not recommend anyone directly, but returned the final decision to the emperor.
Nangong Xuanyu fell into deep thought, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. This time it was no longer out of annoyance, but rather a matter of weighing the pros and cons.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Shen Zhinian said no more, but just stayed quietly by his side and poured him another cup of hot tea.
She knew that the seed had been planted, and what she needed next was to give the suspicious emperor enough time to digest and judge.
Finally…take her advice.
Shen Zhinian looked at Nangong Xuanyu's profile as he concentrated on thinking, and his heart calmed down.
This path is certainly risky, but the rewards are also huge.
Once this is accomplished, she will not only establish her irreplaceable position as a virtuous wife and think tank in the emperor's heart, but will also truly have a finger on the pulse of the empire's finances.
It added a weight to the future of himself and the Fourth Prince.
As for those potential risks, Shen Zhinian has his own ways to deal with and resolve them.
After an unknown amount of time, Nangong Xuanyu suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with determination.
The look he gave Shen Zhinian was filled with unprecedented admiration and an indescribable complex emotion.
"Niannian..."
The emperor spoke slowly, his voice deep and powerful: "Today... you really gave me a huge surprise!"
Listening to Nangong Xuanyu's undisguised admiration and praise, Shen Zhinian felt a flicker of shame and guilt in his heart...
Because while she certainly added details to this war IOU based on the current situation, its core conception did not originate entirely from her own ingenuity.
In her previous life, when Shen Zhinian was the prime minister's wife, the heroic lord Nangong Xuanyu had already begun his ambition to conquer the four directions and unify the world.
Years of war have cost the national treasury a fortune.
At that time, it was the cabinet elders and the Ministry of Revenue officials who, after repeated court discussions and heated debates, finally decided to follow the precedent set by some previous dynasties during extraordinary times and introduce the war IOU system to pool private financial resources to support the massive military needs.
Today, Shen Zhinian simply relied on his foresight to select the most suitable parts for the current predicament from the mature plans that had been honed and scrutinized by countless capable ministers, packaged them more exquisitely, and told Nangong Xuanyu about them several years in advance.
She really didn't deserve this surprise from the emperor.
However, Shen Zhinian could never tell the truth.
Facing the emperor's admiring gaze, she could only lower her eyelashes slightly, revealing a hint of humility and fear, and explained softly, "Your Majesty, I am too humble to praise you. I really don't deserve it."
"I also happened to hear that during the wars of the previous dynasty, there seemed to be a similar practice of borrowing money from the people to provide military supplies. Just now, Your Majesty was worried about food and fodder, and I suddenly remembered this matter, which led to this humble opinion."
"If it weren't for your Majesty's unique wisdom and willingness to accept advice, how could my humble opinion have ever been heard by your Majesty?"
"Everything is due to your majesty's wisdom!"
Shen Zhinian cleverly pushed the credit to the emperor, and positioned herself as just a woman in the inner chamber who accidentally provided some inspiration.
Even so, the admiration in Nangong Xuanyu's eyes did not diminish in the slightest.
He laughed heartily, and reached out to embrace Shen Zhinian again, his tone more relaxed and relieved than ever before: "Niannian, there's no need to be so modest."
"The old rules of the previous dynasty are so vast that even an ordinary woman would find them fleeting. Who else could be like you, able to remember them so well and, moreover, to come up with such detailed and comprehensive strategies tailored to the current situation?"
The emperor looked down at her with a deep gaze, as if he had discovered a treasure. "It is a blessing from heaven that I have Nian Nian!"
"Nian Nian is not only my sweetheart, but also my wise wife and a confidant who can truly share my worries!"
These words are already extremely high evaluation and recognition!
Shen Zhinian could clearly feel that the arms around him tightened a little, showing complete trust and closeness.
She smiled shyly: "It is my blessing to be able to share your Majesty's worries."
The emperor was very pleased, and the gloom and irritability of the past few days seemed to be swept away, and the atmosphere in the entire Yangxin Palace became relaxed.
Li Changde watched from the side, his smile spreading like a flower, and his admiration for the Imperial Concubine increased even more!
"Let's do as Nian Nian said!"
Nangong Xuanyu immediately made the decision, his emotions high: "Tomorrow I will summon the Minister of Revenue, the Minister of the Cabinet, and several trusted imperial merchants to the palace to discuss the details of this matter. We must implement the war IOU as soon as possible!"