The Emperor and Little Chubby Boy 3

Back when Zimo was his study companion, whenever he wasn’t serious about his studies or got distracted during the teacher’s lectures, Zimo would always have that same expression. Over time, he developed a habit of straightening up and paying attention whenever Zimo’s face changed.

And now, that old habit resurfaced—

Lin Lang noticed the Emperor’s shift from impatience to seriousness and felt hopeful about his mission to support the Emperor. He continued, “There are nine reports from various regions. Among them, the governor of Shu reports that last year, Shu had a bountiful harvest, with a ten percent increase in grain production. Medicinal herbs like Chuanbei, Chuanxiong, Angelica, and Salvia also saw a ten percent increase, as did Shu brocade. He claims these achievements are due to Your Majesty’s wise guidance. Recently, a Buddha’s light appeared atop Mount Emei, a heavenly sign praising Your Majesty’s wisdom. Having such a wise ruler is truly a blessing for Cangxuan and its people!”

The Emperor’s handsome face twisted as if constipated, clearly disgusted by the flattery at the end of the report. He hesitated, “Didn’t you say I don’t need to read those reports praising my wisdom?!”

Lin Lang, with an earnest and slightly innocent expression, replied, “I believe the main point of Governor Li’s report is to inform Your Majesty about the situation in Shu. Since Shu is far from the capital, Governor Li had to embellish it a bit, even mentioning the Buddha’s light on Mount Emei. Naturally, I had to read it all to Your Majesty.”

The Emperor: “There’s no need…”

He picked up the report from the governor of Shu, didn’t even glance at it, drew a circle on it with a red pen, and tossed it aside.

Lin Lang’s forehead twitched, “Is Your Majesty just going to draw a circle?—”

The Emperor looked at him, puzzled, “What else? I used to not even look at these reports. Now, drawing a circle is enough for them to be grateful—”

Lin Lang: …

It seems he was too naive. The road to guiding the Emperor to become a wise ruler is still long and arduous!—

After circling several reports, there was one left about the northwest border affairs, submitted by General Ma Ai. As a straightforward military man, he didn’t bother with flowery language. After a brief greeting, he reported that while resources were scarce beyond the border, the troops were strong. They requested to trade with Cangxuan. Ma Ai believed that although there were many cunning and fierce people among the Hu, there were also straightforward and loyal ones. If trade were opened, selling Jiangnan’s silk, tea, and Shu’s medicinal herbs, salt, and spices to the Hu in exchange for cattle, sheep, horses, and furs could greatly increase the national treasury. He hoped Your Majesty would consider opening trade with the border.

The cabinet had annotated the report, stating that the Hu were deceitful and cruel. If trade were opened, allowing them to see the vast and rich resources of the Central Plains, it would only fuel their ambitions, posing a threat to the Central Plains.

Lin Lang couldn’t help but frown. Before he awakened his modern memories, he might have agreed with the cabinet ministers. But after awakening, he knew that powerful dynasties always had confidence, opening their doors to trade, greatly improving the material living standards of the people.

In contrast, weak dynasties that were closed off only sowed the seeds of disaster.

The Emperor picked up the report, dissatisfied, “The cabinet brings such unresolved matters to me?!” He tossed it aside, intending to return it as is.

Lin Lang picked it up again, “What does Your Majesty think about border trade?”

The Emperor leaned back on his throne, arms resting on the armrests, legs crossed, looking leisurely, “I’m just a foolish ruler. Why would I care about such state affairs?”

Lin Lang couldn’t help but frown. The Emperor instinctively wanted to sit up straight but quickly realized that the person in front of him wasn’t Zimo, just someone very similar, the new top scholar. Even the frown was similar. In the past, whenever Zimo frowned, he couldn’t help but reflect on whether he had done something wrong to upset Zimo, almost like a conditioned reflex.

Lin Lang knew the person before him had great talent and vision. He didn’t understand why, after he was gone, this person became so self-destructive, ignoring state affairs, ultimately benefiting that scoundrel Xue Yao.

At this moment, a system prompt sounded in his mind, “The Support the Wise Emperor System has been activated. Please persuade the foolish Emperor to agree to border trade. Reward: Little Chubby Boy’s detoxification, strong and healthy as a little bull buff.”

Lin Lang’s heart stirred. The reward of detoxifying the little guy and making him strong and healthy was indeed tempting. But he was still a bit skeptical, “Didn’t Imperial Physician Sun just say he had a prescription for detoxification?! Are you sure you’re not just bluffing?!”

The system hesitated, “Do you think without the system’s help, the rules of the small world would allow such an easy detoxification of the little guy? Even if detoxified, are you sure there won’t be any side effects under the small world’s rules?”

Lin Lang: He wasn’t sure, nor did he dare to gamble—besides, the condition didn’t seem too difficult, so he said directly, “Deal.”

He seemed to ponder for a moment, then stared straight into the Emperor’s eyes, “Is Your Majesty, like the cabinet ministers, afraid of the Hu beyond the border?”

Being stared at by eyes almost identical to Ning Mo’s, the Emperor couldn’t help but become obedient, but quickly snapped out of it, realizing he was facing Lin Lang, merely using him as a stand-in for Zimo to ease his longing. Yet, he still fell for it so easily every time.

He turned his head awkwardly, a bit annoyed, “Afraid?! The word ‘afraid’ isn’t even in my dictionary—”

Lin Lang couldn’t help but chuckle, remembering someone who was afraid of the dark as a child, crying when sleeping alone—

The Emperor, seeing his reaction, couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed and angry, “What?! You don’t believe me?!”

Realizing his lapse, Lin Lang gently turned his face, covering his mouth with his hand to hide his smile. When he turned back, he was completely serious, “Of course I believe. Your Majesty is the supreme ruler, what is there to fear from the Hu beyond the border?”

“Then why doesn’t Your Majesty agree to General Ma’s request, opening part of the border trade as a trial? During the trial, ten percent of the trade revenue can go to Your Majesty’s private treasury. If successful, Your Majesty’s treasury will be enriched. Once the trial expands, this portion of the tax can be handed over to the national treasury. If unsuccessful, it can be closed at that time.”

The Emperor seemed to ponder for a moment, “Sounds good, but why should I listen to you?”

Lin Lang, with a calm expression, said, “Who would complain about having too much money in their pocket?!”

The Emperor couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re quite interesting. No minister who claims to serve the country and the people would think of ways to put tax money into my pocket. In this, you’re very different from Zimo—”

Lin Lang smiled, “The cabinet ministers don’t want to open border trade. If Your Majesty is willing to be the pioneer, naturally, risk and reward coexist.”

“Besides, it’s just a trial, with a time limit of no more than a year. Once the ministers see the benefits, it will eventually be handed over to the national treasury.”

The Emperor took the report, picked up the red pen, and drew a circle on it, looking at Lin Lang, “I hope Minister Lin’s words can be fulfilled—”

Lin Lang maintained a calm and serene smile, but inside he was thinking, what if it can’t be fulfilled? The benefits all go to this person, but would he have to bear the consequences?

He remembered in the book, the Emperor didn’t even look at this report, and Ma Ai’s request for trade wasn’t approved by the court. But the Hu had a great demand for Central Plains tea, silk, porcelain, medicinal herbs, and salt. Xue Yao took this opportunity to secretly establish trade caravans with the Hu, earning a fortune and accumulating the first pot of gold to later overthrow Cangxuan.

Now, by having the Emperor agree to the trade request, the portion the Emperor can take is just a small fraction compared to what will later be handed over to the national treasury. Once the border trade makes money, the biggest beneficiaries will be the court and the border army. With money, they can strengthen their forces and eliminate entrenched problems.

Such a great benefit, he just wanted to exchange it for Little Chubby Boy’s detoxification and strong health—

However, after the Emperor drew the circle with the red pen, the system didn’t prompt that the task was completed. It seemed that the Emperor’s control over the court was so lax that this matter would still require some debate in the court—

All the reports were reviewed in less than an hour, with most of the time spent on Ma Ai’s border trade report. The efficiency was impressive.

The Emperor even had a momentary illusion that reviewing reports wasn’t such a tedious and boring task, but rather quite easy and simple.

When this pile of reports returned to the Ministry of Rites and the cabinet, the ministers were astonished. The Grand Tutor and the Prime Minister were especially gratified, feeling that the Emperor was finally willing to engage in state affairs again.

Seeing the red circles on the reports, they were moved to tears, exclaiming, “The fortune of Cangxuan! The fortune of the state! The fortune of the people!”

Lin Lang, who was there to convey the imperial edict, couldn’t help but twitch his forehead. It seemed like the Emperor drawing a circle on a report was such an incredible thing. How unreliable must the Emperor be for the ministers to have such low expectations—