You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Second, go to Qiongzhou Island on the other side of the strait to mine, bear the profits and losses yourself, and pay taxes normally.

According to the newly promulgated "United Empire Mineral Compensation Law", the Ministry of Revenue has the right to redeem any privately mined mineral within its territory, and will compensate the mine owner with 50 times the annual profit declared by the mine owner.

Guangxi Company redeemed more than 300 large mining areas in one go.

The mine owners concealed their profits, believing they were making a fortune.

In the end, it all benefited the empire.

This move is aimed at rebuilding trust.

With a keen understanding of human nature, Chief Minister Chiang is using all legal and reasonable means to severely crack down on all "non-citizens" residing within the territory of the United Empire!
The purpose of encouraging engineers who failed the imperial examinations to mine in Hainan Island was to guide them to establish a correct view of the imperial examination system, showing them that it was not the only option and that mining also offered a promising future.

……

Third, join the Imperial Foreign Legion.

The Roman Empire needed barbarian guards.

A small but extremely elite barbarian guard can effectively balance the internal power of the United Empire and suppress any restless factions.

The Flag Guard is growing increasingly weary, and the Miyun Army is struggling to survive on its own.

Therefore, it is imperative to form a loyal foreign legion!

.........

Fourth, join the armed anti-smuggling team under the Imperial Salt Administration.

The central government is preparing to gradually abandon the direct collection of imperial grain from the people and instead replace land tax with salt tax.

The shift from direct taxes to indirect taxes is a tremendous step forward.

As a time traveler, Jiang Qingyun knew very well that with the poor organizational capacity and technological level of the feudal dynasty, the cost of levying direct taxes was too high.

Indirect taxes are more civilized.

And it can sweep most of the petty officials into the dustbin of history.

Great, needless to say.

The Salt Administration Office was officially established, and it is expected that the price of government-mandated salt will rise significantly within the next five years.

Salt tax will be the economic lifeline of the empire.

The empire will spare no effort to crack down on all illegal salt dealers.

Old Ma once said:

With a 20% profit margin, smuggled salt dealers become active.

With a 50% profit margin, smugglers of salt are willing to take the risk.

Driven by the pursuit of 100% profit, smugglers of salt dare to trample on all human laws.

With a 300% profit margin, smugglers of salt are willing to commit any crime, even risking beheading.

Old Ma was right.

The United Empire's campaign against salt smugglers will be a long war.

To prevent collusion between soldiers and bandits, bringing in a large number of foreigners to serve as members of armed anti-smuggling teams can effectively curb this phenomenon.

(Note: Foreign Legion members and armed anti-smuggling units may be awarded non-hereditary life titles of knighthood and barony based on their military merits.)
……

In the future, the main revenue of the United Empire will be divided into two parts.

One piece outside:
A currency pegged to the gold standard.

Tea monopoly profit sharing.

One piece inside.

Salt tax.

Mining tax.

Customs export tax.

With a series of frameworks in place, the central government of the empire achieved a doubling of its fiscal revenue for six consecutive years, reaping enormous profits.

Furthermore, the central government shed many burdens, and the national treasury was overflowing with gold and silver.

On the advice of the alchemist Exa Newton, the United Empire secretly launched a century-long plan to exchange silver for gold.

The United Empire will not become a Silver Empire.

The United Empire aims to become a golden empire.

……

Springtime, 1683.

Standing on the gate tower of Yongdingmen, watching the scholars from various countries enter in single file, dressed in blue robes, Chief Minister Chiang Kai-shek said with satisfaction, "All the talents in the world are now under my control."

With the proliferation of foreign scholars holding official titles, the central government issued another decree.

Regulation:

From 1680 onwards, foreigners who passed the imperial examinations were required to serve as officials in any of the vassal states of the United Empire for the first three years after completing their studies at the Foreign Preparatory Bureaucratic School, before they could be transferred to the ranks of official empire officials.

After passing the imperial examination, if someone voluntarily relinquishes their official position and returns to their hometown for personal reasons, the empire will grant them a lifelong title (Lord), the Imperial Elite Medal, and a substantial retirement pension.

Europeans have a strong attachment to titles.

Many people chose to relinquish their official positions and return home in glory as nobles, which greatly delayed the de facto collapse of the global civil service examination system.

There are houses of gold in books, beauties like jade in books, and abundant grain in books.

Chiang Kai-shek repeatedly emphasized in cabinet meetings that ensuring every scholar (regardless of nationality) could live a comfortable and dignified life was the key to the long-term stability of the empire.

(Note: All those who pass the examination automatically acquire the status of citizens of the Empire and must swear allegiance to the United Empire under the flag.)
……

By 1689, the United Empire, no longer a fledgling entity, had become a beacon of civilization, boasting a wealth of talent, a full treasury, and abundant food supplies.

University boom~
Technological boom~
Wealth explodes!
The empire is like a spacecraft equipped with planetary engines, fueled by gold and talent, and propelled towards the constellation Centaurus with 150 trillion tons of thrust!

When the year came to 1692...
60-year-old Jiang Qingyun proclaims to the entire nation:
Bearing in mind the teachings of the sages and promoting the doctrines of Confucius and Mencius, from this day forward, we shall abolish the imperial grain tax and, in conjunction with the central government of the empire, cease levying a single grain of grain on any farmer in any province.

(Local authorities may still collect 50% of the original amount for local disaster relief, engineering projects, education, and other purposes.)
Once this decree was issued...

The people were in an uproar, and the local area was in an uproar.

Chiang Kai-shek's personal prestige broke through the troposphere and rose directly into the exosphere.

From this moment on, the Grand Secretary is a god!

From this moment on, any opposition is like an ant.

……

1695, winter.

Yuquan Mountain, Tangquan Palace.

The palace and the plants are exactly the same as they were 40 years ago, but the singers and dancers serving Chiang Kai-shek have changed several times.

Since ancient times, beauties have lived among commoners, and were not allowed to grow old in the human world.

The Grand Secretary cannot bear to see an old woman; it would sadden him.

Warm sunlight streamed through the glass windows onto the recliner inside. Tree branches swayed gently in the breeze, and laughter and the scent of perfume filled the Prime Minister's nostrils and spread throughout his lungs.

A maid walked barefoot to the recliner.

A few playful strands of black hair fell onto Jiang Qingyun's cheek as he bent over, carrying the pleasant scent of soapberry.

"Prime Minister, Vice Minister Niu has arrived."

"Invite him in."

"Yes."

After entering the hall, the Second Secretary of the Cabinet, Newton, still bowed meticulously, just like a primary school student.

Jiang Qingyun was furious.

"Little Niu, how many times have I told you, you don't need to bow to me! Why won't you listen to me?"

"Grand Secretary, etiquette must not be disregarded."

"sit."

"Yes."

Despite the presence of beautiful women nearby, Newton remained completely unmoved. This wasn't an act; he genuinely had no interest in women. For him, alchemy was far more fascinating than any sexual encounter.
Newton was a pure man! A man who transcended base desires!

……

"Prime Minister, this is my latest research result. Please take a look."

"Oh? You've made a breakthrough in alchemy?"

Upon hearing this, Newton blushed and felt a pang of guilt.

"Not yet, but I feel it will be soon."

Jiang Qingyun smiled and took the paper.

"(Political) law of universal gravitation?"

"Yes."

Paper opening:
Earth is the center of the universe, the United Empire is the center of the world, and Jade Spring Mountain is the center of the empire. Therefore, Jade Spring Mountain is the center of the universe.

The closer the monarchs of various countries were to Yuquan Mountain, the stronger the attraction of civilization they received.

There is also a mutual attraction between different civilizations.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Qingyun frowned slightly. It wasn't that the summary of the law of universal gravitation was bad, but rather that he felt it lacked sufficient scientific support.

At 60 years old, although I need emotional support, I also need to save face.

……

However, as he continued reading, he discovered that the essence of the paper was not the universal gravitation mentioned at the beginning, but rather the "Three Laws of Jiang" that followed.

First Law:

Any kingdom that is not influenced by Chiang Kai-shek's ideology will always remain in a state of relative ignorance or relative backwardness.

Second Law:

The speed of a kingdom's development is directly proportional to the Chiang Kai-shek ideology it adopts, and inversely proportional to the stubbornness of its monarch. Third Law:

For every one of Chiang Kai-shek's ideas, there was a corresponding, erroneous feudal monarchical idea.

Looking at Newton, he was sitting upright with his hands on his knees, like a first-year graduate student meeting a renowned professor with a long list of publications for the first time.

"Prime Minister, what do you think?"

"Good, good, good. This paper successfully integrates physics and political science, creating a unique discipline of science."

Jiang Qingyun praised it highly.

Seeing the Prime Minister's excitement, the pretty dancers curiously gathered around to watch the spectacle. While they recognized the individual characters, they couldn't understand the meaning when they were put together.

Unaware of the severity.

The dancers whispered among themselves that, following Chiang Kai-shek, Confucius, and Mencius, a fourth sage—Niu*—was likely about to be born.

……

The Grand Secretary, wearing a cotton robe, strolled in the garden with Newton.

"Little Niu, what troubles do you think the Empire might face in the future?"

"trouble on the frontier!"

"Go on."

"Under the Grand Secretary's command, the United Empire has become a beacon of civilization, surpassing any powerful empire in recorded history."

Get to the point!

"Yes, because of the empire's location, barbarians will always appear on the borders, and pirates will always appear on the ocean. Although there are none yet, there will definitely be in the future. We must learn from the experiences of the Roman Empire and the Ming Empire."

"What do you think should be done?"

"The Prime Minister has already given the answer. The strategy is to prevent problems before they arise, that is, to send the most devout Confucian disciples to various countries and destroy the environment that gave rise to barbarians from the root."

"A true friend is hard to find, but with you here, I am not lonely."

Jiang Qingyun patted Newton on the shoulder meaningfully, and Newton immediately shrank back a couple of feet.

"troubled you."

"No, physics is a minor path; governing a country is the great path. Without the Prime Minister's discerning eye, there would be no achievements of Isaac Newton."

Gazing at the majestic Forbidden City in the distance, Jiang Qingyun suddenly asked sadly, "Tell me, what will the empire become after I die?"

"The Grand Secretary's policy will remain unchanged for 500 years."

"Is it really possible?"
"It definitely can."

Jiang Qingyun felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders, as if he had made up his mind.

……

Suburbs of Beijing.

Yesanpo.

In a remote and desolate valley, there was a school with an extremely simple appearance.

A young teacher walked into the thatched-roof, mud-brick classroom.

"stand up."

The students stood at attention in unison.

The teacher straightened his clothes, held his head high, and spoke in a loud voice: "Just look at the future of the world."

The students exclaimed in unison, "It must be our world!!"

"Very good, sit down."

The teacher looked around at all the students in the classroom, his voice calm and firm.

"Good morning, students. Today's lesson is very important, so please listen carefully. The topic of this lesson is—How to build a disciplined group?"

"First, we need a continuous supply of funds. Without sufficient funds, brave team members cannot receive material rewards, and the families of injured or killed team members cannot make a living. In that case, strict discipline would be out of the question."

"In other words, if funding is sufficient, strict and even cruel discipline will be resolutely implemented."

The teacher paused for a moment.

The students' eyes sparkled.

"So, the question is, how do we raise the funds ourselves?"

The teacher turned around and slowly wrote on the blackboard: "A vile nobleman, a greedy money lender, a disorderly dock, and an ancient church."

……

in the afternoon.

The instructors were officers from the Baoding Military Academy, who taught urban CQB tactics on site.

A small amount of lard was used to moisten the door hinge.

The door hinges opened silently.

The crossbowmen quickly entered the courtyard.

Knock knock~
Two scarecrows were hit by arrows.

The crossbowmen quickly retreated to the sides to reload, while the spearmen behind them rushed forward, piercing two more scarecrows. They then discarded their spears, drew their short swords, and charged up the narrow, cramped staircase.

The instructor shook his head.

"gather."

"Your performance today was not decisive enough, nor swift enough. Town CQB must remember three things: ruthlessness, speed, and silence. Dismissed. Everyone, continue to familiarize yourselves with your weapons and positions. Repeated training is only for the purpose of achieving a one-shot kill when carrying out a mission."

……

The next day.

The lectures were given by officials from the Ministry of Rites.

"Dear students, you have already read the History of Ming Dynasty. In your opinion, how was Li Zicheng, the rebel leader, able to gather hundreds of thousands of troops in such a short period of time? What were the key factors?"

Parisian student: "Charm?"

"wrong."

Students in St. Petersburg: "Eat their mother's food, wear their mother's clothes, if the rebel leader comes, will we not have to pay taxes?"

Everyone laughed.

Teacher: "Partially correct, but not comprehensive enough."

London student: "Because there were famine victims everywhere at the end of the Ming Dynasty?"

Teacher: "Partially correct, but not comprehensive enough."

The discussion was very lively, and without realizing it, they had opened up a new world.

At last!
The teacher assigned a problem.

"If you hadn't entered the chaotic period at the end of the Ming Dynasty, how would you have managed to get farmers who had enough to eat and drink to willingly follow you? The answers are varied and numerous. Students, submit your papers tomorrow."

……

May 1697.
Newton was officially crowned "Crown Prince".

His official title is—Successor to the Grand Secretary, the helmsman of the empire.

No one objects!

Because Newton publicly promised that he would never make any changes.

The empire's emerging class was delighted with this, and various provinces expressed their support for Chief Minister Niu as long as he kept his word.

Everyone is happy, and this will last forever!
This is a brilliant arrangement.

Newton was a foreigner who was not interested in women, never married, had no children, loved science, and was obsessed with alchemy. He had no ambition to become emperor, nor did he have the foundation to do so.

In other words, he was merely ordered to take charge of the vast empire.

6 month.

In a heavily guarded metallurgical workshop under the Ministry of Works, Newton looked at a small lump of gold in front of him and laughed happily.

"God! I did it!"

Seeing the prince with tears in his eyes, the people around him cheered.

这一次实验，牛次辅动用了300斤白银、200斤黄铜，100斤紫铜、100斤锡、50斤铁、以及2000斤焦煤，最终提炼出了3两黄金！
The global currency market made a staggering $3 million without any fanfare.

He was extremely excited to have earned a small profit of 3 taels from his alchemy experiment.

suddenly~
The noise coming from outside.

Outside the door~
The adopted son of the Third Eunuch and the Sixth Eunuch held the golden seal of the Grand Secretary, their faces solemn.

"Your Excellency, the Grand Secretary has summoned you. Please come up the mountain immediately."

"Yes."

Escorted by a large number of armored soldiers, Newton once again set foot on the Jade Spring Mountain Palace.

"Secondary Minister, please~"

Newton walked into the house, and behind him, Uncle Liu gently closed the door.

Reclining in a deckchair, the once powerful and influential prime minister is now old and frail.
"The Grand Secretary~"

Newton's eyes welled up with tears.

Jiang Qingyun seemed not to hear, gazing at the swaying treetops outside the window, recalling the afternoon he received his admission letter from Aurora University.

A long time~
"Prime Minister, is there anything else you would like to say?"

Jiang Qingyun muttered, "Machiavelli is not a Machiavellian!"

……

【Complete book】

[There will be a final author's note tomorrow, expressing the author's emotions, summarizing experiences, and looking to the future. It's free, so remember to read it.] (End of Chapter)