To Get Rich, Build Roads First

Zhou Wanwan looked utterly helpless. These old guys really had a penchant for attending court sessions; she couldn't stop them, she simply couldn't.

It's as if they feel restless if they don't attend court for a day.

But Zhou Wanwan really didn't like living that kind of life. She liked to sleep until she naturally woke up in the morning, and now that plan was ruined.

Zhou Wanwan coughed and said, "Summon them in."

Soon, hundreds of ministers filed in from outside, leaving the dozens of ministers inside dumbfounded.

Good heavens! The main force is here!

All the ministers entered, and then they all knelt down, shouting in unison, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

This was far too formal; the dozens of ministers were so frightened that they prostrated themselves on the ground.

Previously, although they acknowledged Zhou Wanwan as their leader, they did not attend court or handle government affairs; they simply ate, drank, and had fun.

Now that these ministers have arrived, things suddenly feel different.

Zhou Wanwan said loudly, "My beloved subjects, rise."

Oh my god! This is so awkward, isn't it?

Who would have thought that being an emperor was such a tiring job?

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said, "Why are you all here? Aren't there many of you in the capital?"

Zhao Muyuan said, "We were worried about Your Majesty's safety here, so we all came."

Zhou Wanwan muttered to herself, "Why would they worry about my safety? I feel more comfortable here than anywhere else."

She smiled and said, "My dear subjects, you've all worked hard. Actually, I've missed you all quite a bit."

Zhao Muyuan smiled and said:

"The border is not Taiping right now, so we thought we could come here to protect His Majesty."

Please rest assured, Your Majesty, we will do our utmost to assist you.

Zhou Wanwan nodded and said, "Then I'll trouble you. Someone, arrange accommodations for all my beloved subjects and treat them well."

Everyone expressed their gratitude.

Zhao Muyuan led everyone away, Zhou Wanwan breathed a sigh of relief. She had just sat down in the imperial study, intending to rest for a while, when Zhao Muyuan walked in from outside with several officials.

Zhou Wanwan quickly put on her shoes and looked at the memorial with a serious expression.

Zhao Muyuan smiled and said, "Your Majesty has worked hard. I recently heard that the imperial examinations will be postponed for a few more months. You can now boldly develop your career here."

Zhou Wanwan put down the memorial in her hand and said, "Why is it being postponed again?"

Zhao Muyuan explained:

"When the Emperor of Great Xia heard that there was news from the border that the tomb of the War God of the Northern Frontier had been found, he had no interest in holding the imperial examinations!"

The imperial examination was postponed for several months, and the exact date is still unknown; it is only said to be pending.

He and Noble Consort Ning organized a large number of people to search for the tomb of the War God of the Northern Frontier.

Zhou Wanwan's lips twitched. "Huh? That's so exaggerated?"

Zhao Muyuan nodded and said:

"The border will soon be in chaos, which is one of the main reasons we rushed here."

Moreover, these military officers are all very capable; as long as they are here, we have confidence."

Qin Shan's lips twitched as he said, "Isn't there a possibility that you're no longer needed here?"

Zhao Muyuan frowned and asked, "What does this mean?"

Qin Shan said:

"Because these military commanders at the border are all our own people now! Hahaha..."

These are generals from the Northern Desert, these from the Western Rong, and these from the Great Qi.

Everyone looked at the generals and said, "Huh? What are the enemy generals doing here?"

Amur quickly replied, "We're all on the same side, absolutely on the same side."

Okay! So fast?

Zhao Muyuan coughed and said, "That's pretty fast. Alright! So what should we do next?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said, to be honest, the border doesn't really need too many people right now.

But since these ministers have already come, we can't blame her for what she's done.

Zhou Wanwan looked at them and said:

"Actually, there are many other things to do in the city, such as farming, road construction, house building, mining..."

Why don't you make some arrangements?

Cheng Chao nearly died laughing. Sending those old ministers to farm, build roads, construct houses, and mine?

Zhao Muyuan's lips twitched as he said, "Aren't these things a bit inappropriate?"

Zhou Wanwan smiled and said:

"I was just kidding, why would I give you those jobs?"

However, we are indeed short of manpower at our border right now.

Alright then! I'll assign you positions, and you can go directly to your respective posts in the border regions.

There are more than thirty cities on the border, which Zhou Wanwan really can't manage. The arrival of these ministers is just the right thing to do.

Soon all the ministers were settled, and even Zhao Muyuan was given a good job.

Zhao Muyuan looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "You want me to be the lord of Crushed Stone Fort?"

Zhou Wanwan chuckled and said:

"That's right! Grand Tutor Zhao, I think you're the most suitable person to be the lord of Crushed Stone Fort."

The rubble at Crushed Stone Fort has now been completely cleared away.

In the past, all you needed to do was give orders and manage things.

Zhao Muyuan looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "Does Your Majesty find this old minister an eyesore here?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said:

"How could that be? Grand Tutor, you're overthinking it. I'm genuinely too busy right now."

"This region has 36 cities, and each city needs a lot of administrative talent. With you here, my job is much easier."

Zhao Muyuan was truly helpless, and soon all of these hundreds of people were assigned to their posts.

Each city was allocated dozens of [units/items]. Except for Yanmen Pass, which has gradually developed, the other towns are still in ruins.

Old Scholar Tree and Zhou Wanwan escorted Zhao Muyuan to Shattered Crushed Stone Fort Crushed Stone Fort. Looking at the conditions there, Zhao Muyuan's lips twitched, and he said, "This... how come the conditions at this fortress are so poor?"

Zhou Wanwan sighed and said:

"Yes! They're all thatched huts. Look at this ground, it's all bumpy and muddy."

If you want to get rich, build roads first. I've had some cement brought over from home, so let's start by building roads.

Little by little, it will improve gradually.

Zhao Muyuan couldn't help but click his tongue and say, "That cement, we put in so much effort to make it, are we really going to use it to build roads? That's too extravagant!"

Zhou Wanwan looked at Zhao Muyuan and said:

"Grand Tutor Zhao, have you ever considered how prosperous this area would become if I developed all these border towns?"

This is the border area between several countries, a place bustling with people.

If this place can really be governed well, wouldn't it be much better than the capital?

Zhao Muyuan looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "You mean you want to turn this place into the capital?"

That's simply unbelievable; the climate here is indeed quite nice.

But everywhere is barren yellow earth, not a blade of grass grows. How can we improve it?

Zhao Muyuan immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. This humble subject believes that establishing a capital here is not appropriate. I beg Your Majesty to rescind your decree."

Zhou Wanwan looked at Zhao Muyuan, "Grand Tutor Zhao, don't kneel down so easily. Let's discuss this properly."

Zhao Muyuan had no idea what Zhou Wanwan was thinking. How could the capital be built in such a dilapidated place?