“Ah?”
Shen Jing was completely stunned.
This time, he wasn’t faking it.
Selling official positions?
This…
Were these words coming from the Emperor?
“Yes, selling official positions!”
Emperor Zhou smiled calmly, “The imperial treasury is tight. I want you to offer the method for making white sugar to the court! I deliberately hid my identity to talk with you because I wanted to know your true thoughts, and also to test your talent and see what official position could be exchanged for your white sugar method!”
As expected, it was still for the sugar-making method!
Shen Jing suddenly understood and almost gave Emperor Zhou a thumbs-up.
Saying he would sell him an official position was actually a ploy to make him work for him!
One must know that because the Prince Ji’s rebellion case implicated other cases, the court was already short of officials!
Giving him a decent official position would not only reward him for exposing Prince Ji’s rebellion but also secure the sugar-making method and slightly alleviate the court’s shortage of officials!
Perhaps, he even expected him to be eternally grateful!
Killing four birds with one stone!
He got all the good things!
No wonder he was the Emperor!
His abacus was clacking so loudly, you could probably hear it a mile away!
While Shen Jing was furiously complaining in his mind, Emperor Zhou sighed faintly again: “You may not know this, but the court must pay tribute to Yong Country every year, including sugar, tea, gold, silver, and silk. Most of the annual cloth woven by the Song family is intended for tribute to Yong Country…”
Speaking of this, Emperor Zhou’s face rarely showed a hint of shame.
In the past, Great Zhou was plagued by internal and external troubles, suffering a joint attack from Xiliang and Oirat.
Seeing Great Zhou’s heavy losses, Yong Country also began actively mobilizing troops, intending to invade Great Zhou from the northeast.
To concentrate its forces against enemies in the north and northwest, the court had no choice but to compromise with Yong Country, secretly reaching an agreement to pay Yong Country valuable tribute every year in exchange for Yong Country withdrawing its troops.
“This… this young man truly didn’t know.”
He had only heard Ye Li say that the court had reached a secret agreement with Yong Country, but he didn’t know the specifics.
This Emperor, he truly had a tiring job.
No wonder he looked like a sixty-year-old old man at only forty-five.
“I know you might feel a bit resentful, but I truly need your white sugar.”
Emperor Zhou sighed softly, his eyes flashing with brilliance again: “The Yong people have a sweet tooth. Ever since Ye Li told me about white sugar after returning to the capital from Qinghe, I’ve been wondering if we could use white sugar to replace other valuables as tribute to Yong Country! This way, the court could save a large sum of money!”
Hmm?
This… that’s a good idea!
He knew best the cost of white sugar.
Using white sugar to replace gold, silver, and cloth as tribute to an enemy country was basically beneficial without any drawbacks.
After all, the Yong people didn’t know the saying, “One sulfur, two nitrates, three charcoals, add some white sugar for a big Ivan.”
From this perspective, Emperor Zhou would indeed consider it!
He calculated every account clearly.
Shen Jing pondered silently for a moment, then said seriously: “This young man is willing to offer the sugar-making method to relieve Your Majesty’s worries! However, this young man also wants to earn some silver to support his family. After the court starts making white sugar, this young man will stop making it. This young man dares to ask Your Majesty for a salt license…”
A salt license?
Emperor Zhou was surprised.
He only wanted a salt license?
“One salt license is not comparable to your sugar-making method.”
Emperor Zhou gently shook his head, “I can give you a salt license, but as for an official position…”
“A salt license is enough!”
Shen Jing quickly stopped Emperor Zhou, “This young man is truly not cut out to be an official! Leaving everything else aside, just getting up early for court is something this young man can’t stand! In truth, this young man is just a greedy and lustful person.”
He didn’t even need to think to know that if Emperor Zhou bestowed an official position upon him, it would be a civil one!
What good was being a civil official?!
He wanted military power!
But he wouldn’t dare say that out loud.
Otherwise, Emperor Zhou would turn around and chop him up.
If it really didn’t work, just make me some kind of Marquis!
“Greedy and lustful?”
Emperor Zhou stroked his beard, looking troubled: “The imperial treasury is tight, so I can’t give you much wealth! As for lust, I can’t give you that either!”
“You already have a legal wife. I can’t possibly make Ye Li your co-wife or even a concubine, can I?”
“Grand Tutor Su is my mentor, and I can’t make you divorce Miss Su just to make you a consort to Ye Li, can I?”
Listening to Emperor Zhou’s words, Shen Jing almost wanted to pry open Emperor Zhou’s head and take a closer look!
What the heck!
His thought process was truly novel!
When did he ever say he was interested in that little girl, Ye Li?
How did he conjure up such a scenario in his mind?
Did he think that little girl Ye Li was a charmer whom everyone wanted to marry?
He certainly didn’t want to marry a princess and bring her home to worship as an ancestor!
“Your Majesty has misunderstood.”
Shen Jing quickly spoke, “This young man absolutely harbors no covetous intentions towards Princess Ye Li!”
“Is that so?”
Emperor Zhou seemed somewhat unconvinced.
“This young man swears to Heaven!”
Shen Jing said with righteous indignation, about to swear an oath.
“Alright, if there isn’t, then there isn’t! Why swear an oath!”
Emperor Zhou stopped him and then said with a chuckle: “I will definitely bestow an official position upon you! I had you attend court today because I wanted to see your adaptability in court, and you did not disappoint me. At your age and with your experience, to be able to navigate the court with ease shows that you…”
“Urgent report from Qu Prefecture…”
Suddenly, an anxious voice rang out.
Hearing this voice, Emperor Zhou’s words abruptly stopped.
Emperor Zhou involuntarily looked in the direction of the voice, a hint of tension inexplicably appearing on his face.
Urgent report from Qu Prefecture!
He didn’t know if it was good news or bad news!
Hopefully, it was good news!
Soon, a palace guard rushed over: “Reporting to Your Majesty, an urgent battle report from Qu Prefecture!”
Without Emperor Zhou needing to speak, Yu Rang immediately scurried forward, took the urgent report, and presented it to Emperor Zhou.
Emperor Zhou quickly opened it.
Looking at the contents of the urgent report, Emperor Zhou’s face suddenly became incredibly grim.
Seeing Emperor Zhou’s expression, Shen Jing already understood.
It must be bad news!
Soon, Emperor Zhou looked up at Yu Rang, “Immediately summon all officials of the third rank and above for a meeting! Any who dare to delay will be severely punished!”
“Yes!”
Yu Rang dared not delay and quickly scurried out.
Shen Jing also did not ask about the contents of the battle report but quickly stood up and, with good sense, said: “Since Your Majesty has matters to attend to, this young man will take his leave first!”
“No need!”
Emperor Zhou raised his hand to stop him, “You may not offer opinions, but listening in will do you no harm!”
Listening to Emperor Zhou’s words, Shen Jing felt a wave of speechlessness.
I don’t even want to be an official, so why should I listen to this nonsense?!
He truly didn’t want to be involved in this commotion.
Seeing Shen Jing’s unwilling expression, Emperor Zhou couldn’t help but glare at him, “Don’t be ungrateful, young man! If it weren’t for Grand Tutor Su’s sake, and the fact that you indeed have some talent, I wouldn’t even give you the chance to listen in!”
He genuinely intended to cultivate Shen Jing.
Shen Jing had a simple background and was quite talented at a young age.
Such a person had boundless prospects!
If he was properly nurtured, he would become a pillar of the court in the future!
He could even be left to future emperors, allowing them to use him to counterbalance Yao Jian or other powerful ministers.
Shen Jing didn’t know Emperor Zhou’s thoughts. Seeing that Emperor Zhou wouldn’t let him leave, he could only reluctantly stay…