Chapter 1 The Crown Prince

  "You're welcome."

  After making up his mind, Liu Feng's eyes became even more overbearing, and he faintly spat out two words from his mouth.

  "Thank you, Your Highness."

  Meng Zong bowed his head in thanks and stood up straight.

  "I know you're wondering why I'm targeting you. I'm not afraid to tell you, on the one hand, I'm fed up with Liu Bei, and what I want, my subordinates don't even offer it to me. It's really infuriating." Liu Feng said coldly.

  Meng Zong was taken aback for a moment, and the awe he had just felt towards Liu Feng suddenly disappeared. He knew that Liu Feng was very arrogant, but now he truly understood just how arrogant he was.

  Liking is just cleverly taking by force, if not given, then resorting to tricks to suppress the opponent. Even an emperor can't do this, let alone a crown prince.

  In his heart, he was rather sorrowful about his own future.

  What was on Mo Zhen's mind when he fell to the ground, Liu Feng didn't know, but he could also guess some of it. Of course, Liu Feng was happy to see Mo Zhen think that way.

  "So, Liu Feng continued calmly: 'Secondly, I value your ability to make money.'"

  "Earning ability?" Zou Zhen was taken aback once again.

  "That's right, the ability to make money. I heard that you are as rich as a nation in Xuzhou, and a big businessman. Coincidentally, I also love wealth, so naturally I want to take it for myself." Liu Feng said matter-of-factly.

  "Thank you, Your Highness, for valuing me so much." Although he didn't think much of Liu Feng in his heart, on the surface, he still spoke very respectfully.

  Essentially, Mozi was a man who knew his times very well.

  "Hmm." Liu Feng nodded his head in acceptance of Zou Jue's respect.

  After a moment, Liu Feng said: "Tomorrow is the early court session. I plan to set up tax collectors outside the palace gate. Anyone who wants to enter the palace will have to pay taxes: three taels of gold for the Three Dukes, three taels of gold for the Nine Ministers, one tael of gold for high-ranking officials above 2,000 dan, and two taels of silver for those below 2,000 dan. Everyone must pay taxes, including Chancellor Cao Cao. Otherwise, they will not be allowed to enter the palace. You can go collect the taxes."

  What Liu Feng said was extremely casual, but when heard by Meng Zong, it was like a thunderclap on a clear day.

  What a joke, and yet they still want to collect taxes in the morning? Is this what they mean by "a broken pot can't be mended"? They know the Han dynasty is already finished, so before it's completely gone, they're trying to make a quick buck?

  It's not that Liu Feng is not calm, but rather because his actions are too absurd, even more absurd than selling official titles. It can be said that since the creation of heaven and earth by Pangu, there has never been such an absurd thing in history.

  Liu Feng was indeed shocked. Zhao Yun, on the other hand, didn't show any unusual expression, although he had also heard about such things for the first time. However, Zhao Yun had already become immune to Liu Feng's various actions.

  In order to make a quick buck, Liu Feng dared to defy Cao Cao, let alone something as trivial as collecting taxes.

  How could Cao Mengde be shocked, Liu Feng would not worry and would not explain anything. He just needed one person to come out and collect taxes. Liu Feng had long planned that as long as Yuan Cao did not win or lose, Cao Cao would not put too much pressure on Liu Xie.

  In other words, no matter how absurd he is, as long as Liu Xie protects him, he will be safe.

  To make money, what business to rely on is useless. What makes the most money is power. The best no-capital business can be done in a short period of time to inflate capital.

  Civil and military officials, rich as flowing oil. This is Liu Feng's first step, collecting taxes at the palace gate. Early court sessions are held every three days for a small court session and every five days for a grand court session.

  Xiao Chao is the court meeting of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, as well as important officials above 2,000 dan. Da Chao is the court meeting of officials above 1,000 dan.

  Liu Feng had calculated this sum of money, the three dukes and nine ministers, plus the senior officials, would earn two hundred taels of gold for each grand or minor court meeting, which means that every five days there would be an income of two hundred taels of gold.

  A month is twelve hundred gold.

  For ordinary families, it is a huge sum of money. But for Cao Cao, who now holds great power, it is within the acceptable range.

  Compared with seizing the world, it is simply a trifle.

  No, Liu Feng seems to be like a hundred officials collecting taxes, but in fact he wants to take Cao Cao's idea and indirectly make money from the national treasury. Now the national treasury is managed by Cao Cao, even if Emperor Xian of Han wants to take one penny, he has to go through Cao Cao's consent.

  Liu Feng drew his sword in front of all the officials, and this absurd matter was thus settled. The ministers were certainly full of resentment, and they rose up to attack him together.

  This will lead to further decline in the prestige of the Han dynasty and may even collapse.

  That's the subtlety of it. Cao Cao, on one hand, wanted to strike at Emperor Xian's prestige, but also didn't want him to collapse. Still that condition, the dispute between Yuan and Cao.

  If this Han dynasty established by Cao Cao collapses, then Yuan Shao may establish another emperor in Hebei. This is what Cao Cao does not want to see.

  But to abolish this absurd tax is also impossible. As long as Liu Xie supports Liu Fu, Cao Cao's most likely move would be to compromise, taking money from the national treasury to make up for it.

  Another reason why Liu Feng is so confident.

  So Liu Feng is a puppet, both Liu Feng and his father are puppets, they can't escape anywhere. Money can't be eaten away, it won't disappear. For Cao Cao, what Liu Feng did might just be simply taking the money out of the national treasury and putting it into the imperial palace.

  After Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao and had no more worries, he could take advantage of the situation to abolish Liu Feng and obtain the gold that Liu Feng had placed in the palace.

  Money is only temporarily flowing into Liu Feng's pocket. I believe that with this consideration, Cao Cao will pay the tax very readily.

  So, wearing protective clothing, Liu Feng has no reason not to make money recklessly. Make as much money as possible. And this is just the first step for Liu Feng.

  He then went on to sell his titles. Liu Feng had thought about this problem, in today's chaotic world, either die of starvation or die of overeating. Some merchants made a fortune from the war, with money overflowing. However, merchants were also bitter about their lack of status and yearned for it.

  Millet is just an example.

  He himself was carefree in Xuzhou, with countless wealth and beautiful women. Why suffer with Liu Bei? Loyalty is one thing, but more importantly, it's about looking out for oneself and wanting to move up the ranks.

  There are many people like Mo Zhe. Therefore, Liu Feng selling his title is absolutely feasible. Moreover, selling a title does not mean selling an official position. A title is empty and is a symbol of identity.

  While officials have real power, as long as they sell titles and not official positions, Cao Cao would also be able to tolerate his nonsense. Before Cao Cao and Yuan Shao distinguished themselves from each other in victory or defeat.

  If you want wealth, don't seek fame; if you want power, don't talk about prestige.

  This is Liu Feng's current state.

  All is gambled away, the barefooted are not afraid of those wearing shoes. Frantically accumulating wealth and then accumulating power to drive out Cao Cao, seize control of Xuchang, and thus preserve one's life, standing tall in a chaotic world.

  It's laughable to say that the current Liu Feng doesn't even have the qualifications to stand upright in a chaotic world, he can only be considered a puppet, a pathetic puppet.

  Only after gaining control over Xudu can one be considered standing tall in a chaotic world. Having a bit of autonomy is the capital for self-mastery.