"Four strategies?"
Jiang Xiaobai's words left quite a few people looking stunned.
Indeed, others might offer a single strategy, yet Jiang Xiaobai opened his mouth and offered Four Strategies?!
That was absurd!
It inevitably made people question whether he could really deliver.
Chen Zhanqiu frowned as well, his gaze fixed on Jiang Xiaobai, his expression darkening slightly once more.
Could this brat really manage to work out something worthwhile?!
Guo Zhan and Zhong Yu, the second- and third-place graduates respectively, also looked at Jiang Xiaobai with some surprise.
Four strategies in such a short time?
They found that rather hard to believe!
"Oh?"
Xiao Jinxuan also showed a flicker of interest as he looked at Jiang Xiaobai. "Which four strategies? Speak well, and you shall be rewarded. Speak poorly... and you shall be punished!"
Jiang Xiaobai remained unruffled at those words and began slowly. "First, do not increase land taxes. Tax profits instead."
"Farmers sow in spring and harvest in autumn, depending on Heaven for their meals. A good harvest does not necessarily make them rich, but disaster always makes them poor first. If our Imperial Court reaches another inch into their fields, it is snatching grain from the people's bowls."
"But the wealth of the realm does not lie in farmland alone."
"Salt, iron, tea, wine, mining, canal transport, even pawnshops and grain merchants-their annual profits exceed those of the farmland in ten counties."
"The Imperial Court should not increase levies on the poor, but take a share of substantial profits. This is called Return Profits to the State."
Return Profits to the State!?
Those words sent a jolt through the hearts of many officials.
The expressions of those involved in salt, iron, and canal transport shifted slightly.
Damn it, this brat was reaching into their pockets now?
Without