The Empress remarried, and I retaliated by wiping out the court.

The Imperial Study.

"This humble subject, Cui Yueqiao, greets Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

Ye Wudao looked calmly at Cui Yueqiao, who was wearing a black and white dress. Although there were no gorgeous embellishments, it still couldn't hide her graceful figure.

She had an oval face, fair skin, and her hair was styled in a bun, making her look very dignified.

Ye Wudao was slightly surprised, not expecting that Cui Yueqiao would be so beautiful after taking off her prison clothes.

If Li Yanran is a bookish and intellectual beauty, then Cui Yueqiao, while beautiful, also carries a confident and composed air that comes from years of experience in the business world.

No need for formalities.

Ye Wudao said calmly, "You are very bold to come to me on your own initiative."

Cui Yueqiao was not afraid at all: "Your Majesty, merchants have no official protection. No matter how much wealth they have, they are nothing more than fatter pigs and sheep. I just don't want to repeat the same mistakes."

"Speak, my time is limited."

Cui Yueqiao handed over a letter and said earnestly, "This is a plan that I came up with overnight, which includes the way to cooperate with His Majesty, the business direction of the Cui family, and the profit sharing."

Ye Wudao took the letter and read it carefully.

It's no wonder that once you start looking, you realize that Cui Yueqiao seems like a time traveler.

Merchants seeking profit is human nature. If the court only knows how to seize wealth but not how to nurture it, it will deplete the wealth of one merchant today, and tomorrow there will be one less merchant. This cycle will repeat itself, causing all merchants in the land to fear and hoard their wealth, ultimately leading to the gradual depletion of the nation's riches.

Therefore, I believe that if Your Majesty wishes to enrich the nation, you should not merely seize the wealth of the rich, but rather ensure that the wealth of the entire nation circulates freely.

Isn't this what modern people mean when they say "money needs to circulate in order for the economy to function"?

This woman's mind is comparable to that of modern people.

Also.

Cui Yueqiao wanted the title of "Imperial Merchant". In the future, 70% of the profits from the Cui family's business would be handed over to Ye Wudao, and the remaining 30% would be used for business operations and the Cui family's profits.

Ye Wudao put down the memorial and said calmly, "Your proposal is very good. Is there anything else you'd like to add?"

Cui Yueqiao cupped his hands and said, "This humble subject begs Your Majesty to guide merchants throughout the land!"

Ye Wudao looked at her with interest: "Oh? Continue."

Cui Yueqiao explained earnestly, "Has Your Majesty ever considered how many merchants there are in the world, and how much wealth is hidden in their hands?"

"Throughout history, the imperial court has always left merchants to their own devices. When silver is needed, taxes are levied; when goods are needed, they are requisitioned. But on ordinary days, merchants are never truly guided."

"As a result, merchants fought amongst themselves, their goods becoming stuck in one place and their wealth in one place. Despite the existence of countless precious goods throughout the world, they were left to rot in the hands of the common people because there was no one to transport them or to buy and sell them."

Ye Wudao's gaze gradually turned serious.

Cui Yueqiao said in a deep voice:

"I once went to the South. Once, a caravan was transporting goods through a mountain village. In a farmer's house, I saw a pile of dried medicinal herbs. The herbs had a strange color and a strong smell. I knew at a glance that they were expensive."

"But the farmer said that they had always regarded that thing as a wild grass in the mountains. They didn't know what it was called, what diseases it could cure, or how much it was worth. So, the medicinal herbs were piled up in the corner and eventually became a pile of unwanted waste."

Cui Yueqiao looked at Ye Wudao: "But what if someone knew its value? What if someone bought it and transported it to where it's needed?"

"What if someone processed it into medicine and sold it to pharmacies, clinics, and the general public?"

Her eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"The same pile of things, when left in a farmer's house, is weeds; when left in the hands of a medicine merchant, it is goods; when delivered to a pharmacy, it is money; when made into medicine and used to save patients, it becomes even more valuable."

"Your Majesty, the wealth in this world never disappears into thin air; it's just that many times, things don't circulate."

"Therefore, I believe that the imperial court should not only focus on the grain in the fields, but also on the trade routes throughout the country, which are also the lifeblood of the nation."

Ye Wudao looked at her quietly, his heart already churning with turbulent emotions.

Cui Yueqiao's theory is the prototype of a planned economy. In a country's impoverished stage, a planned economy can stimulate economic development to the greatest extent.

He added, "You've moved something from the farmer's hands to the merchant's hands, and finally it becomes silver, but that's not enough!"

Cui Yueqiao cupped her hands in greeting: "Your Majesty, please enlighten me!"

Ye Wudao smiled faintly and said, "I want it to pass through more hands before it becomes silver: farmers grow grain, merchants collect grain, cart drivers transport grain, warehouses store grain, restaurants use grain, and ordinary people buy grain."

"Every movement creates new demand, and every transaction results in someone profiting!"

"Money doesn't appear out of thin air, but as goods flow continuously and people's needs are constantly met, the wealth of the world will increase!"

Cui Yueqiao stared wide-eyed at Ye Wudao.

She originally thought that after she put forward her idea, Ye Wudao might find it absurd, scold her, or even throw her into prison.

Because in the eyes of many people, the social hierarchy is scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, and merchants are nothing more than profit-seekers with the lowest social status.

But she never expected that Ye Wudao not only understood her words, but also added things she hadn't thought of.

"Your Majesty...is also knowledgeable in business?"

Cui Yueqiao's voice was filled with undisguised surprise.

Ye Wudao smiled and said, "I know a little about everything."

Cui Yueqiao thought to herself: You don't just know a little bit! You know far more than I, someone who's been in business for years!

"What I want to do is not to seize all the silver in the world for myself, but to ensure that everyone in the world has business to do and money to earn!"

A light that Cui Yueqiao had never seen before shone in Ye Wudao's eyes.

"I only need to pave a broad and prosperous road for merchants throughout the land, and they will help me to make that road wider and wider!"

At this moment, Cui Yueqiao fell completely silent.

She suddenly realized that the person standing in front of her was not a young emperor who had just ascended the throne, but a genius chess player!

She thought she would return empty-handed, but she never expected to have such a huge harvest!

The Cui family will surely seize this opportunity to rise to the top!

"Your Majesty, your wish will surely be fulfilled!"

Cui Yueqiao kowtowed deeply, almost bursting into tears of joy!

Ye Wudao said calmly, "I can give you the title of Imperial Merchant, and I can grant you every request you make, but... why should I trust you?"

Ye Wudao's words caused a sense of panic to rise in Cui Yueqiao's heart.

Trust is the biggest issue between a ruler and his subjects.

Once she loses Ye Wudao's trust, all their previous conversations will be nothing but castles in the air, and they will collapse in the blink of an eye!

Cui Yueqiao cupped his hands and asked, "How can this humble subject gain His Majesty's trust?"

"It's very simple..."

Ye Wudao's dangerous gaze lingered on Cui Yueqiao's curvaceous figure.

"I'll give you everything!"