What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 351 Accompanying the Empress to the Court Meeting!
Su Mo was even more shocked when he saw the system notification!
Not only is it a red mission, but it's also a series of missions!
【Leng Liuxi】: Emperor of the Great Wu (59%! Intimacy 1)

[Task]: Ten million taels of silver (Second in the Disaster Relief Series)

[Requirement]: Raise ten million taels of silver within twenty days.

[Hint]: You know the true extent of the disaster in Tiannan Province, and your damned Mother Teresa instincts have kicked in.

For most court officials, this is nothing more than a cold, hard number on paper. A saintly heart is likely to have a negative effect on promotion and wealth, so it is strongly advised against accepting this task!

[Hint]: You already have a plan in mind!
[Reward]: Empress's Favorability +1%! Intimacy +1!

[Reward]: The right to mint coins!
[Rewards]: Increased power of the Wind and Rain Summoning Divine Ability! Increased power of the Heavenly Net Demon Spider Dharma Form! Increased Dao Heart Realm!
[WARNING]: Once this mission is accepted, subsequent missions cannot be refused!

……

Upon seeing the red mission reward, Su Mo's eyes widened instantly, and he was speechless for a long time!

The first reward is very straightforward.

The Empress's favorability rating is already 59%, but it can't be raised any higher, even after completing the mission of donating millions of disaster relief funds, which shows how difficult it is to increase favorability.

Unexpectedly, I received a reward that increased my favorability and added +1 to my intimacy level!

Once the task is completed and the 60 mark is broken, there might be an even bigger reward!

If only another hundred or eighty warships were available.

In addition, the reward for the previous mission on Ip Man Mountain was +1 intimacy level, and I won't go into the benefits.

The Empress has become noticeably more intimate with him, showing less reservations about many things, and even inviting him to see Empress Dowager Zhang!
They're just one step away from officially announcing their relationship!

But what's truly terrifying is the second reward.

The right to mint coins!
Su Mo won't explain exactly how awesome it is; those who know, know!

Su Mo couldn't understand how the right to mint coins was related to this mission. What did they have to do with each other?

The third reward is that your supernatural powers, Dharma forms, and even your Dao heart realm can all be improved!

Even the system probably felt that its strength was improving too quickly, and its Dao heart cultivation was not keeping up.

Just as Su Mo was in shock, the Empress finally couldn't hold back any longer.

"Su Lang!"

She raised her voice slightly, her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at Su Mo: "Why is Su Lang staring at my head? Is there something on my head?"

She naturally didn't notice anything unusual about her head.

But Su Mo's origins are mysterious, and he may know some immortal secrets that she doesn't, and be able to see things that others can't.

Su Mo then came to his senses and quickly said, "This humble servant does not understand your question, sir."

"There is nothing on your head, sir!"

Leng Liuxi frowned: "If that's the case, why does Su Lang often stare at my head?"

Su Mo coughed lightly: "Ahem... It's like this, when I'm thinking, I have a habit of looking up at the sky at a 45-degree angle, which caused you to misunderstand, sir."

He immediately changed the subject and said seriously, "Sir, after careful consideration, I still feel that we cannot simply provide porridge to the disaster victims!"

Leng Liuxi's attention was immediately diverted, and she frowned as she asked, "What do you mean by that, Su Lang?"

Su Mo said in a deep voice, "All the people under heaven are His Majesty's subjects!"

"If we only provide porridge to prolong their lives, but they still die of hunger and cold in the end, it would be better not to save them at all. How can Your Majesty feel at ease?"

Leng Liuxi remained silent for a moment, then said in a low voice with a somber expression, "I also did not wish to see such a situation."

"But the imperial court truly has no other choice!"

Su Mo sneered: "Solutions are devised by people; the only difference is whether or not they are implemented."

"In my humble opinion, it is absolutely necessary to repair their houses and restore their land."

"If you are worried about criticism from others, you can collect reconstruction taxes every year until you recover your investment."

Leng Liuxi thought for a moment and then slowly said, "This method is feasible."

“It is inappropriate to use public funds for private houses and land, otherwise powerful families will follow suit, and in the end, public funds will only end up in their hands and will not benefit the common people.”

As she spoke, she exhaled and asked again, "But where will the money for rebuilding the fields and houses come from?"

"Su Lang also said that this would require at least ten million taels of silver!"

Leng Liuxi smiled bitterly and didn't hide anything from Su Mo: "Let alone ten million taels, we haven't even raised the two million taels needed for disaster relief and grain purchases."

Su Mo replied without hesitation, "This subordinate will think of a solution!"

Leng Liuxi was immediately taken aback, staring at Su Mo in disbelief: "My lord, can you think of a solution?"

"This is ten million taels of silver, not one hundred thousand taels, nor one million taels!"

Although the Empress believed in Su Mo's abilities.

But this has little to do with ability anymore, unless Su Mo can conjure up silver out of thin air!
If it were so easy to raise tens of millions of taels of silver, would the Great Wu Dynasty be in such a poor state?
Su Mo's expression was serious: "This subordinate never jokes!"

Leng Liuxi was stunned.

She looked at Su Mo suspiciously for a long time before finally asking with some doubt, "Then tell me, my lord?"

She really didn't believe that Su Mo could conjure up millions of taels of silver out of thin air!

Even if you ransacked all the merchants in Qinghefang, you might not have this much silver.

Of course, even if Su Mo really wanted to do this, she would never agree to it.

After a moment's thought, Su Mo said in a deep voice, "Two million taels of silver is easy to resolve."

"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Qinghefang should be able to collect one million taels of tax."

"With the addition of funds from His Majesty's private treasury and the Ministry of Revenue, there is still a shortfall of 500,000 taels. We can raise the funds by launching a fundraising campaign."

The Empress narrowed her eyes slightly: "Chief Minister Xiao also proposed a fundraising strategy, but he only mentioned 100,000 taels of silver."

“Those powerful and wealthy families won’t easily hand over their money.”

"How could you possibly have the means to raise 500,000 taels of silver, sir?"

Upon hearing this, Su Mo immediately smiled: "Since Chief Minister Xiao is willing to step in, then things will be much easier!"

"With such important officials and scholars as Grand Secretary Xiao stepping forward, how could those powerful families and wealthy clans not give them some face?"

He paused slightly, then said, "I will publicize this matter in the weekly newsletter. When one place is in trouble, help comes from all sides. I believe that people with spare money will actively donate."

"Furthermore, if we continue to promote the idea that the greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people, even powerful outlaws and immortal sects might not remain indifferent."

"Merchants who generously donate can be awarded honorary titles by the imperial court, such as plaques for righteous merchants to be hung outside their shops. With the court's recognition, it will naturally be much easier for them to conduct business in the future..."

Leng Liuxi stared at Su Mo in disbelief as he spoke confidently and eloquently.

She finally understood the difference between a talker and a doer.

Without a doubt, the current Grand Secretary is all talk and no action, merely using his influence to persuade wealthy and powerful families to contribute money.

But Su Mo's strategy managed to wipe everyone out in one fell swoop.

From powerful aristocratic families to ordinary merchants, they spared no one, not even the most notorious outlaws.

The man I chose... um... the imperial tutor I worshipped, I really didn't make a mistake!
Just as the Empress was in shock, Su Mo brazenly leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Of course, this alone is not enough to raise the huge sum of 500,000 taels."

"Your Majesty may instruct Chief Minister Xiao to do so..."

For a moment, Leng Liuxi forgot that Su Mo had no concept of hierarchy between ruler and subject. She stared at Su Mo in disbelief, then subconsciously swallowed.

"It can...it can be like this?"

Su Mo chuckled: "Of course!"

"Those aristocratic and powerful families value their reputation the most. As long as we seize their weakness, I don't believe they won't obediently submit!"

Leng Liuxi was completely speechless!
What seemed like an insurmountable problem to the six cabinet ministers was resolved by Su Mo with just a few words!

If those powerful and aristocratic families knew that this idea came from Su Mo, wouldn't they hate Su Mo to death!

*Ahem*... I certainly won't tell Xiao Yuan that it was Su Lang's idea.

Given Xiao Yuan's status and reputation.

Those aristocratic families probably wouldn't dare to hate him too much! For the sake of the court, they could only wrong Chief Minister Xiao.

The Empress took a deep breath, a glimmer of hope in her eyes: "What about the remaining eight million taels of silver?"

Leng Liuxi was starting to believe it.

I'm sure this all-powerful man can really raise eight million taels of silver!
Upon hearing Leng Liuxi's question, Su Mo took a deep breath and slowly uttered two words: "National debt!"

Leng Liuxi was taken aback: "National debt?"

Su Mo nodded: "Eight million taels of silver can only be raised through this method!"

He then explained, "Government bonds are loans from the people backed by the nation's credit."

"We can set a deadline!"

"The state may pay a certain amount of interest within this period, and then return the principal to the lender when the time comes."

Leng Liuxi frowned: "Young Master Su, you are mistaken! How can the country borrow money from its people!"

Su Mo looked at the Empress expressionlessly: "Why not?"

"Merchants can borrow money from banks to conduct business, so why can't the government lend money?"

"Of course not!" the Empress replied instinctively, then her voice suddenly stopped, and her expression turned strange.

Subconsciously, she felt that this was utterly absurd.

Throughout history, there has never been a case of a state borrowing money from its subjects.

But if you really asked her to point out what was wrong with it, she honestly didn't know how.

Seeing the Empress's expression, Su Mo suddenly asked, "Your Majesty, may I ask, if those merchants borrow money from the banks, are the banks willing to watch the merchants go bankrupt due to poor management?"

The Empress replied without hesitation, "Of course I'm willing!"

Su Mo...

The Empress then added, "When ordinary people borrow money from banks, they usually provide collateral, and the value of the collateral should be equal to the amount of money borrowed."

"If the borrower can't repay the loan, the money lender can take back the collateral and make even greater profits!"

Su Mo was both amused and exasperated.

I didn't think it through.

Finally, the only option left to ask was: "What if there is no collateral?"

The Empress was speechless: "Without collateral, why would anyone lend you money?"

Su Mo blinked: "So, I say, let's use the court's credit as collateral!"

"Do the people really think the imperial court can't repay its debts?"

"The more money the imperial court owes those merchants and powerful families..."

He hadn't finished speaking when he said that the more money the wealthy families owed, the more they feared Da Wu getting into trouble.

The Empress was looking at him with a strange expression, and said quietly, "They are really afraid that the court will not repay the money."

Su Mo was speechless for a moment.

It seems things aren't as simple as I thought.

But if they don't issue national bonds, where will they get the eight million taels of silver from?

If even the Empress couldn't be seduced, how could one possibly persuade wealthy people to buy government bonds?
It seems that Da Wu Credit is not very well regarded in the eyes of powerful clans and wealthy families.

Well... after all, the imperial court has done a lot of things like confiscating property and exterminating families over the decades, so its reputation is pretty good.

Who knows if they lent money to the imperial court, and when it came time to repay, the court couldn't pay it back. Would they just find some excuse to confiscate their property and have their whole family beheaded at the Meridian Gate?

That means we don't have to pay back the money.

Lending money to the imperial court is extremely risky!

Su Mo frowned.

Seeing this, the Empress did not say anything to disturb Su Mo.

If a country lacks credit, it seems that collateral is still necessary, and lenders' confidence needs to be strengthened before they will buy bonds.

Su Mo pondered for a moment.

How did those amazing people in the past manage to draw up such grand plans and secure billions in investment with just a PowerPoint presentation?
After pondering for a long time, Su Mo looked at the Empress with a serious expression and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that issuing national bonds is feasible!"

"This allows us to concentrate our resources on major undertakings!"

"Moreover, those merchants and wealthy people who lend money to the imperial court will be even more supportive of the court, fearing that the court might be unable to repay its loans if something goes wrong!"

Leng Liuxi gave a bitter smile: "Let's not even talk about whether the imperial court can disregard its reputation and ask for money."

"That depends on whether others are willing to lend money to the imperial court!"

The Empress, who rose to power later in life, was not as rigid as the former Crown Prince; she was more receptive to new things and ideas.

However, she wasn't the only one who knew about the government's financial relief efforts.

Why would anyone lend money to the imperial court?

Su Mo said in a deep voice, "Everything is difficult at the beginning. As long as His Majesty gives them confidence, it will be much easier to issue national bonds in the future."

"Since they don't trust the court for the time being, let's give them collateral."

The Empress immediately asked, "What collateral are you referring to?"

Su Mo answered without hesitation: "Sweet potato!"

"If they knew that the imperial court possessed such a divine seed, they would surely be able to grow countless grains in the future, and they would naturally believe that the imperial court could repay the money!"

The Empress fell into deep thought.

Su Mo then added, "This money can be used for work relief!"

"Your Majesty may repair roads, construct water conservancy projects, reclaim wasteland in the mountains, and plant sweet potatoes in Tiannan Road!"

"Newly developed mountain land can even be used as collateral for lenders!"

"In that case, I believe that the eight million treasury bonds will definitely be sold."

The Empress frowned in thought, not in a hurry to reply to Su Mo.

After all, Su Mo's words were far too progressive and did not conform to the prevailing ideas of the time.

After pondering for a long time, the Empress finally looked up at Su Mo and said, "My lord's words have indeed shocked me!"

“There are too many disaster victims in Tiannan Road. Even if we give them a bowl of porridge, they will have no houses to live in and their fields will be difficult to cultivate. They will definitely have to flee to other prefectures and counties!”

She let out a long sigh: "With tens of millions of disaster victims, I'm afraid there's nowhere to accommodate them!"

Leng Liuxi paused for a long time before slowly saying, "However, the Grand Preceptor's words are already national policy and cannot be easily concluded!"

"Although I am the ruler of a country, I cannot act unilaterally."

Su Mo immediately asked, "What does His Majesty mean?"

The Empress solemnly replied, "This matter needs to be discussed with the Cabinet, the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers, and other important court officials before a decision can be made."

"but……"

The Empress looked intently at Su Mo: "I fear that one person alone will find it difficult to persuade the others. I need Minister Su to accompany me to the court meeting to discuss this matter with the ministers!"

Su Mo was instantly dumbfounded!
The Empress then said solemnly, "If Minister Su can persuade the senior officials, I will fully support Minister Su in issuing national bonds to provide relief to the disaster victims!"

Su Mo remained silent for a moment, and finally could only say in a deep voice, "Your subject obeys the decree!"

Even the Empress herself was convinced, so he refused to believe that he couldn't handle Xiao Yuan and the others.

Who disagrees?

That’s easy!
If many people in Tiannandao starve or freeze to death in the future, he will be fine as long as he dares to take responsibility!
If he can take responsibility once the flood of disaster victims breaks out, that will be enough!
Furthermore, if a major epidemic occurs, those who oppose it will be held responsible!

Having a saintly heart is not a good thing, but it also puts you on a moral high ground!

If they had any shame at all, wouldn't they have been suppressed by me?
(End of this chapter)