Long Fei smiled encouragingly at Zhang Ziling. Initially, there was concern about whether she could handle the current situation, but unexpectedly, she managed it with surprising ease.
In the court, after the civil and military officials rose, the Minister of Rites imdiately stepped forward, cupped his fists, and reported, "Emperor, I have sothing to report!"
Zhang Ziling stared at him with a furrowed brow, knowing he was one of the Pri Minister’s people, but she still responded, "Go ahead!"
The Minister of Rites cupped his fists and said, "Emperor, according to ancestral regulations, within a month of the new emperor’s ascension, a grand ceremony must be held at the Altar of Heaven to announce it to the world, to worship Heaven. Our lord is wise and almighty, inheriting the great lineage, and must follow the ancestral laws, preparing to worship Heaven at the Altar of Heaven to comfort the Divine Spirits. This matter must not be delayed, the Emperor must decide."
Zhang Ziling’s lips curled up, already knowing what his sche was.
She remained calm and said, "Very well, this matter will be left to your Ministry of Rites to prepare. A month is too long, with the Demon Calamity at hand, the sooner the better."
The Minister of Rites was pleased and imdiately seized upon her words, cupping his fists and bowing, "Our lord is wise. Then, in three days’ ti, a grand ceremony will be held at the Altar of Heaven."
"Excellent!"
Zhang Ziling nodded, addressing the ministers in the court, "Is there anything else?"
The Minister of Public Works stepped forward and said, "Reporting to the Emperor, recently refugees have flocked to Celestial Realms City, their numbers exceeding ten million. The surrounding eight cities are all in chaos, with people everywhere. Not to ntion other problems, just the daily discharge of the refugees clogs the streets, making life unbearable for the original citizens of the eight cities. Subordinates have submitted petitions requesting the court build temporary shelters for the refugees so they have a place to stay."
"This is a good thing, isn’t it? Approved!"
Zhang Ziling agreed before he could finish speaking.
The Minister of Public Works’ lips curled up, continuing, "However, Emperor, I had soone roughly calculate the costs. To build houses and shelters for the refugees and provide daily porridge and rice relief, at least a billion Spirit Stones are needed. Currently, the tax routes of each city are cut off, and the national treasury is depleted, unable to hold on for a few more days!"
"Is that so?"
Zhang Ziling looked towards the Minister of Revenue.
The Minister of Revenue cupped his fists and reported, "Reporting to the Emperor, this is indeed the case. Everywhere needs money right now, the Ministry of Revenue hasn’t had any inco for three months, and we’re basically out of resources."
Zhang Ziling realized this group of people was not working for the welfare of the people but was deliberately causing her trouble.
The Minister of Public Works, with righteous indignation, dug a pit for her, just waiting for her to fall into it.
"Two old foxes!"
She cursed in her heart, looking at them and saying, "What do you two intend? Do you want to take out so private money to help you?"
The two ministers quickly shook their heads, repeatedly saying, "Emperor, I had no such intention."
"Emperor, this approach only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause. Long-term planning is needed!"
Zhang Ziling said, "What solutions do you have?"
Of course, they had solutions, but they just didn’t want to say them, deliberately making things difficult for her.
They shook their heads, finding an excuse, "Emperor, the Demon Race is rampant currently, and all the cities are in self-rescue. There’s truly no solution."
"Emperor, there are too many places where money is needed, even the most resourceful can’t make sothing out of nothing!"
Zhang Ziling coldly said, "So you’re saying, you have no solutions?"
The two cupped their fists and waited, exchanging a glance and falling silent.
Zhang Ziling said, "Since you have no solutions, then hand over your positions to those who have. I see the two ministers are getting old, better to temporarily go ho to rest and recuperate, let the younger ones share this heavy burden!"
"This!"
"This..."
The two stamred, surprised by her decisive move, montarily speechless.
At this mont, Li Yuanrui stepped forward, cupping his fists to Zhang Ziling, "Emperor, I have a solution."
"Speak on!"
The cold expression on Zhang Ziling’s face eased slightly.
Li Yuanrui said, "Emperor, teaching a man to fish is better than giving him a fish. With so many refugees, it’s impossible to provide relief to all. While giving aid to the refugees, why not employ them through work relief programs, arranging jobs for them, so they can support themselves."
The two ministers glared at him, thinking this young man was trying to steal their jobs!
They both questioned, "Where are there such jobs available for millions of people?"
"Young general, are you daydreaming?"
Li Yuanrui smiled and said, "Honorable ministers, do not forget, it’s exactly the ti when manpower is needed. Not to ntion recruiting so refugees into the army against the Demon Soldiers, this Celestial Realms City’s irrigation, fields, and mines, many places need repair and clearance, which requires a large workforce. These refugees are not only not a burden, but rather an excellent resource of labor. We only need to spend a little cost, even just providing them with als, and they can work for us, turning a bad situation into a good one, isn’t that right?"
"General Li speaks well, we agree!"
The Celestial Mystery Four Heroes stood out one after another, reporting to Zhang Ziling, "Our Ma Army has recently suffered heavy losses and needs to recruit a batch of logistics and combat personnel, numbering two hundred thousand."
"Our Imperial Guards also need thirty thousand manpower as a supplent!"
Li Daoxun stepped forward to support the proposal.
Everything seed to have been pre-arranged, with seamless cooperation, leaving the two ministers wide-eyed.
The Minister of Revenue stamred, "You, you, you’re thinking too wishfully. The Ministry of Revenue is depleted, the military budget is an issue, how do you support so many people?"
Li Daoxun said, "The issue of military expenses doesn’t need to trouble you, honorable minister. Our Great Marshal already has a solution. Not only can it fill the national treasury, but it can also stabilize the nation."
"What solution?"
The Minister of Revenue was sowhat unconvinced.
Zhang Ziling looked at Long Fei, wanting to laugh but holding back, deliberately asking him, "What solution does the Marshal have?"
Long Fei cupped his fists and responded, "Reporting to the Emperor, when I was in Tianguan City, I proposed that the Ministry of Revenue establish the Celestial Realms Spirit Bank to absorb private savings through fixed interest. At the sa ti, buy and develop mines in various cities as the Ministry of Revenue’s assets, serving as the Spirit Bank’s reserve. In other words, however many Spirit Stones a mine can develop in a year, we issue that many Spirit Stones externally. This way, we fully ensure stable prices, fundantally alleviating the Ministry of Revenue’s situation."
Zhang Ziling looked at the two ministers, her small face proud, "What more do you two have to say?"
The two wiped cold sweat from their foreheads, not expecting to be dug into the very pit they’d set.
They had been waiting for her to make a move and ended up falling into a trap instead.
Out of options, they both reluctantly cupped their fists and said, "We agree, nothing more to say."
Zhang Ziling laughed and said, "Then it’s decided, the Great Marshal will be responsible for preparing the Celestial Realms Spirit Bank, and Li Yuanrui will temporarily take on the position of Minister of Public Works."
"Understood!"
The ministers all showed different reactions: so gloating, so sighing and shaking their heads, so inspired, each harboring their own thoughts, cupped their fists in agreent.
After the court session, the two ministers walked outside, so agitated they were almost in tears, "I have labored for the Heaven-Piercing Palace for three hundred years, and to end like this in my old age?"
"Minister, don’t be hasty! We haven’t lost yet, hasn’t the Minister of Rites already set things up?"
Soone reminded them.
The two ministers recalled, exchanged glances, and temporarily suppressed their emotions.
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