Chapter 744

Wang Zhen acknowledged the order and was about to withdraw to make arrangements when the Emperor suddenly called after him. "Sir, tell Me—is the national treasury Mine?"

Wang Zhen bowed. "The whole realm belongs to Your Majesty. Naturally, the national treasury does as well."

The Emperor nodded in satisfaction and waved a hand. "Go."

If the national treasury was equivalent to His private treasury, then there was nothing wrong with taxing official ships.

Just as Pan Yun had said in her secret letter, even he, the Emperor, was paying. How would those imperial clansmen and powerful nobles dare refuse?

Pan Yun was still chattering away at Cao Jixiang, painting him a glorious future. "See that? See that? We haven't even begun, and so many people are already yearning for maritime trade. Once the maritime ban is officially lifted, every one of them will have a ship in hand. Every trip in and out will mean silver!

As long as the Emperor pays taxes, everyone else will have to pay too. The Emperor is merely shifting money from his left hand to his right—it is all his money anyway. If even the Emperor is taking out money, how would they dare not do the same? This is taking money from other people's purses and putting it into the national treasury. It all belongs to the Emperor!"

Pan Yun's three large ships had already docked, and everyone was moving cargo aboard in an orderly fashion.

The Martial Arts Alliance, the Prefectural Yamen, the Navy government office, and the Maritime Trade Office—everyone preparing to sail was carrying bundles and bidding farewell to family and friends. Thus, Quanzhou Port, usually so deserted, was packed with people.

Some peddlers had learned the news in advance. Carrying shoulder poles and pushing handcarts, they shouted themselves hoarse