Dragon's Origin

Chapter 608: An Even Bigger Pie (Part 1)

Everyone has subconscious cognitive biases, which is normal, even Wang Sheng. To describe it with an ancient poem from Earth, it would be "Unable to recognize the true face of Mount Lu, simply because I am in the mountain myself."

Whether it's the Emperor, the Three Grand Masters, or even the court officials, their perspective on problems is definitely directly from the Emperor's point of view. It's no wonder they're worried when there's a group of powerful and unwelcome guests right at their doorstep.

But if you think about it the other way around, the result is completely different. These people are here to seek refuge, so would they destroy this only refuge? Who would want to live in constant fear? If that's the case, why not live in their own capital, wouldn't that be safer?

Different perspectives lead to different conclusions. The Emperor and the others are clearly stuck in a dead end.

With Wang Sheng's reminder, the Emperor understood, so that's how it is. No wonder Wang Sheng said it was a good thing? The more important figures from various vassal states come, the greater the power of mutual restraint between the parties, and the safer the capital will be.

Anyone who dares to make a move at this time is definitely an enemy of the world. Those who want stability will definitely use experts to eliminate those who break the rules in order to maintain the rules. This is like how fighting is not allowed in the inner city of Worry-Free City. No matter who makes a move, the people of Worry-Free City will all take action against them.

With almost more than half a month of worry gone, even Mei'er and the Empress's identities were revealed to Wang Sheng. With the Emperor's two major concerns settled, he felt relaxed and drank happily.

"Do you want to make a fortune?" Seeing the Emperor happy, Wang Sheng suddenly had an idea and asked the Emperor.

"Make a fortune?" The Emperor was stunned. Who would dislike more gold coins? However, it was obvious that Wang Sheng was planning to make a fortune from those important figures from various vassal states, but it wouldn't be easy to earn their gold coins, right?

"How do you mean?" The Emperor was eager to earn, but also had doubts, so he directly asked Wang Sheng for advice. The resolution of so many problems told him that it was not shameful to ask Wang Sheng for advice.

"These people are coming to the capital to seek refuge, so they have to pay some protection fees, right?" Wang Sheng replied without thinking, "Just let them take refuge for nothing?"

"How do we collect?" The Emperor nodded. These guys had made him lose sleep for so many days for nothing, so it was right to collect some protection fees.

"Let's make it clear first, a fifty-fifty split." Wang Sheng did not answer directly, but stretched out his big hand, revealing five fingers, waving them in front of the Emperor.

The Emperor's eyes widened, and he was about to get angry. He was joking, this was paying protection fees to the Emperor, and you actually dare to take half?

"Daughter! Daughter!" Seeing the Emperor's posture, Wang Sheng directly said "Daughter! Daughter!", and half of the Emperor's anger dissipated before it could be released.

"Give me a straight answer, is a fifty-fifty split okay?" Wang Sheng waited for the Emperor to calm down before asking while munching on the side dishes.

"Okay!" The Emperor replied with gritted teeth. For Mei'er's sake, he gave it, just considering it as Mei'er's dowry.

"Collect taxes!" As soon as the Emperor agreed, Wang Sheng immediately gave the answer. Then the Emperor was dumbfounded.

"Are you asking me to raise taxes and then be cursed for heavy taxation?" The Emperor asked through gritted teeth, looking at Wang Sheng with murderous intent.

"Who asked you to collect taxes from ordinary people?" Wang Sheng glanced sideways at the Emperor with disdain: "I told you it's a protection fee, of course it's collected from those important figures."

"I'll send someone directly to their door to collect taxes?" The Emperor laughed in anger: "Do you believe that my tax collector will be kicked out the door after saying this?"

"Buying a house and land requires transfer of ownership and registration with the government, right?" Wang Sheng gave the Emperor and Steward Zhou another contemptuous look at the same time: "I don't believe you've happily approved all the transactions during this time, they must still be suppressed, right?"

"So what?" The Emperor asked back.

"When transferring ownership, collect a transaction tax of 10% of the transaction price." Wang Sheng casually gave a plan: "In addition, for living in the inner city of the capital, add a 10% 'peace and prosperity' tax on the value of the property."

Pfft! The Emperor couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of wine again.

"Collecting some transaction tax for buying houses and land is fine, and those people don't lack this 10% since they are buying houses and land at twice the market price." The Emperor couldn't help but spout at Wang Sheng: "What is this 'peace and prosperity' tax? Why should it be collected?"

"Just because you are the Emperor, you have to work hard to build the capital into the safest and most preventive place." Wang Sheng said something shocking: "Therefore, while collecting taxes, you will announce that the city walls of the inner city of the capital will be torn down. Of course, if you find the outer city walls unpleasant, you can torn down them together."

Demolishing the city walls of the capital, Wang Sheng had told the Emperor before, it was not a whim. However, at that time it was to make the Emperor supported by the people, but now, it is to once again release a strong signal to the various vassal lords that the Emperor has even demolished the city walls, obviously not defend against the various vassal lords.

Once this signal is released, the various vassal lords will become more and more at ease with the Emperor. The Emperor has done this, so what is giving some gold coins? Even because of the Emperor's statement, if the parties don't have to worry about the Emperor sneak attack from behind, they themselves will fight even more fiercely.

The most ⊥ new ⊥ small ⊥ said ⊥ in ⊥ six ⊥ 9 ⊥⊥ book ⊥⊥ bar ⊥⊥首⊥发(首⊥发: first ⊥ hair)!

The Emperor is the Emperor, and in an instant he thought of many benefits from Wang Sheng's sentence about tearing down the city walls. At this critical moment, the Emperor's posture of not defense is simply a stroke of genius!

Pa, the Emperor slapped his thigh and couldn't help but praise: "Brilliant!"

Demolishing the city walls is simply the most brilliant strategic retreat technique, it's truly magical. When the Emperor looked at Wang Sheng again, he couldn't help but want to give Wang Sheng the official title of imperial son-in-law so that he could honestly help him come up with ideas.

"By the way, the gold coins from selling the land vacated by tearing down the city walls must also be split fifty-fifty." Wang Sheng did not forget to peel another layer of skin from the Emperor.

"Don't even think about it!" The Emperor was furious. The idea was a good idea, but why should Wang Sheng get half of the gold coins from selling the land after tearing down his own city walls? The city walls around the inner city of the capital, the area inside the moat, is definitely not small, and it's too easy to sell for hundreds of millions of gold coins.

"You'd better think carefully before you speak." Wang Sheng stared at the Emperor without yielding: "Otherwise I'll let Mei'er talk to you, and it won't be as simple as a fifty-fifty split then."

PS: Yesterday's.