This son-in-law is wicked in a good way!

The Left Prime Minister raised his head and looked at the Empress.

"Your Majesty, the most urgent task at present is to stop construction at the construction site in the south of the city to prevent the flood of disaster victims from continuing to pour in."

"Otherwise, the capital will be in grave danger!"

The Empress glanced at him and said expressionlessly, "Prime Minister Lu, you flatter me."

"Even if Zhang Ping'an is ordered to stop work now, the news won't reach the disaster victims in a short time, and it won't stop them from coming to Beijing."

"Xiaoyu, deploy 100,000 Imperial Guards to be stationed 30 li north of the capital to deal with any possible unrest in the capital."

"Yes, sir!" Mo Yu bowed and said.

"Li Dekui, immediately summon Zhang Ping'an to the palace to see me."

"Here you go!"

The chief eunuch Li De Kui quickly left to arrange for someone to deliver the imperial decree, as he still needed to serve the Empress.

"The matter of halting construction will be discussed later. Court is adjourned!"

After a series of arrangements, the Empress coldly surveyed her ministers.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty!"

The Left Prime Minister led the way in bowing.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty!"

The ministers shouted in unison.

The Imperial Study.

The Empress slammed the memorial to the ground, her beautiful face filled with murderous intent.

"hateful!"

"Who exactly is trying to trip up Zhang Ping'an?"

"If I find out, I will exterminate their entire family!"

Mo Yu, standing to the side, advised, "Your Majesty, please calm down!"

"It's very difficult to find out who's behind this kind of thing. Right now, we can only hope that Zhang Ping'an's side can speed things up."

"Get the houses built as soon as possible. Even if we don't have to stop construction, the disaster victims won't come to the capital."

The Empress frowned slightly. If the floods were not stopped, the disaster victims would be like rootless duckweed, with nowhere to go.

Only three days have passed, and the spies she sent out have not yet returned with news. She wonders if Zhang Ping'an will be able to successfully control the flood.

If it doesn't work... the disaster will likely worsen.

However, these disaster victims who entered the capital urgently needed help.

Even if Zhang Ping'an finishes building the house now, it will take time to sell it, and the disaster victims who are pouring in from all directions will not give him that time.

Just as the Empress was frowning in worry, Li De Kui walked in quickly with small, quick steps.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Ping'an has arrived."

"Send it here!" The Empress's eyes lit up.

Afterwards, she and Mo Yu went to a side room, where she continued to talk to Zhang Ping'an through a curtain.

Zhang Ping'an entered with his head bowed, knelt down to pay his respects, and shouted, "This humble servant Zhang Ping'an greets Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

After bowing, Zhang Ping'an secretly raised his head and glanced at the scene.

Sure enough, there was still no one behind the dragon table directly in front of them.

The Empress's voice rang out from the inner chamber: "Rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zhang Ping'an stood up, looking extremely respectful.

Why does the Empress want to see me at this time? Is she perhaps inquiring about the progress of the project?

"Zhang Ping'an, how's the progress on your end?" The Empress's voice remained unreadable.

"Your Majesty, everything is going smoothly. In another half month, the main structure will be basically completed," Zhang Ping'an replied honestly.

The main structure was completed... The Empress's lips twitched.

"Zhang Ping'an, you did a great job resolving the disaster relief issue for me."

"However, because you treated the disaster victims so well, hundreds of thousands of disaster victims from other places flocked to the capital."

"The capital city probably cannot accommodate so many disaster victims. If too many disaster victims gather, trouble may break out, and the capital region will be in turmoil, which will be the beginning of chaos."

Zhang Ping'an carefully pondered the meaning behind the Empress's words.

"Then what does Your Majesty think should be done?"

The Empress pondered for a moment and said, "Today in court, the ministers advised you to stop your work."

Work halted?

Zhang Ping'an frowned.

What happens after work stops?

Hmph, now it's time to punish him!

Perhaps the people behind the scenes who incited those disaster victims to come to the capital are among these ministers who demanded a work stoppage?

However, Zhang Ping'an had no evidence, and he also understood that it was difficult to find evidence in such matters.

"Your Majesty, the influx of disaster victims into the capital is now unstoppable, and even if we stop the work now, it will be of no use."

"Furthermore, I must first congratulate Your Majesty. The opportunity to replenish the national treasury has once again been presented to you."

The Empress was completely confused and couldn't help but look at Mo Yu.

Mo Yu also looked confused and shook her head to indicate that she didn't understand what Zhang Ping'an was talking about either.

"Zhang Ping'an, did you not understand what I said? Or have you lost your mind? What nonsense are you spouting!"

The empress's voice was somewhat cold, as if she was angry.

"Your Majesty, please calm down! Please allow me to explain," Zhang Ping'an said hurriedly.

"I plan to build a road between the two capitals, and these disaster victims have arrived at just the right time."

"At that time, their treatment will be the same as that of the previous group of disaster victims."

"Once this road is completed, it will bring His Majesty a continuous stream of income."

"Shouldn't this humble servant congratulate His Majesty?"

Road construction?

The Empress looked completely bewildered.

"There are several official roads between the two capitals. Why build more roads?"

"Furthermore, how can road construction generate revenue?"

The Empress voiced her question.

Ha, you ignorant ancient people, so what if he was an emperor?

Don't you know where the road maintenance fee comes from?

"Your Majesty, the road I am to repair is not an ordinary dirt road, but a brand new stone-paved road."

"If I were to explain it now, Your Majesty would probably not understand. But once I have built a section of the road and Your Majesty has seen it, Your Majesty will understand."

The Empress simply could not imagine a way to replenish the national treasury.

"Alright, since you are confident in solving the disaster victim problem, then I will give you another chance."

"Tell me what you need, and I will order my men to do everything in their power to assist you."

The Empress wanted to see what other tricks Zhang Ping'an could come up with.

If building a road can truly solve the problems of hundreds of thousands of disaster victims and also generate income, then we can give those court officials a good slap in the face.

"His Majesty's cooperation is indeed needed for this road construction."

"I will plan this in detail when I return, and then report back to His Majesty."

Zhang Pingan said.

"Alright, you may step down now. Submit your plan as soon as possible." The Empress was already eager to see Zhang Ping'an's plan.

"This humble servant takes his leave!"

Zhang Ping'an left the imperial study with a brisk pace.

"Hehe, those who framed me never dreamed that they actually did me a great favor."

"If we could really build a road connecting the two capitals, we could make a fortune and also gain a good reputation."

Back at the Night's Watch office.

Zhang Ping'an found the map and studied it carefully.

Commercial exchanges between the two capitals were very frequent, and transportation mainly relied on mules and horses for land transport.

The original official road was basically impassable during rainy or snowy weather.

The rainy and snowy weather between Beijing and Tokyo lasts for about four months a year.

This greatly affected the efficiency of caravans and restricted the economic development of the two capitals.

If a stone-paved road were built, even in rainy or snowy weather, mule and horse caravans could still travel smoothly and at a speed several times faster than those traveling on official roads or dirt roads.

Even if a commercial tax of 20% to 30% were levied, I believe some caravans would still be willing to pay it.

Zhang Ping'an drew a line on the map; this was the road he wanted to build.

However, we need to repair a small section first so that the Empress can see it.

It's difficult to make the Empress understand the business opportunities hidden within just by talking.

Of course, repairing this small section of road first was not only for the Empress's benefit, but also for his God of Wealth.