Fortunately, over the years, Da Qian has earned quite a bit of money from exporting grain seeds and other goods to the Immortal Dynasty, so it hasnāt gone completely broke.
Wang Shizhao looked at Emperor Ziāanās expression: "Your Highness, should we still approve this development plan? If itās not feasible, I can have them redo it."
"Approve it! Why wouldnāt we?!" Though Emperor Ziāanās heart was bleeding, he gritted his teeth and said, "Da Qian is currently in a period of rapid development, and the pace of development cannot be halted; otherwise, it will affect a series of subsequent plans."
As he spoke, he suddenly glanced at Wang Shizhao meaningfully: "Shizhao~ Iāve heard that your family has stirred up quite a commotion in Beizhou and Yan Kingdom, earning quite a bit~"
Wang Shizhao sat up warily: "Your Highness, the spoils acquired from military support abroad count as Meritorious Points. The state has policies, and they are not subject to tax."
"Who said anything about taxes?" Emperor Ziāan was speechless but recalled the intelligence he had received, still feeling envious, "If Iād known sending troops to Yan Kingdom would earn so much, I wouldāve sent the Imperial Guard there too, and I wouldnāt be fretting about construction funds now."
"..."
Wang Shizhao was at a loss for words.
Your Highness, did you think this through?
The Imperial Guard is one of a nationās trump cards. Besides rotating to serve at foreign battlefields, it usually wouldnāt be dispatched easily.
Not to mention that we are still at war with neighboring countries. Even in peacetime, if Emperor Ziāan dared to send the Imperial Guard to another nation, South Qin and West Jin would likely go to war immediately, taking advantage of Da Qianās vulnerable rear to bite off a piece.
"No, I have to go talk with Wang Shouzhe properly." After the initial envy, Emperor Ziāan gradually calmed down, "There are so many spoils that the Wang family canāt digest them all at once. It would be better to lend them to me to develop the nation. By the way, what was that term again?"
"Oh right, āloanā."
This time, Emperor Ziāan couldnāt avoid borrowing funds from Wang Shouzhe.
...
Soon after.
Longzuo County, Changning Garrison.
Wang family Main Residence.
With years of development and an increasing number of Wang family members, the Wang family Main Residenceās area has also grown larger, now almost unable to contain even Pingāan Town.
But even so, the estates near Zhuwei Lake remain residential places for important members of the Wang family. The homes of brothers Wang Shouzhe, Wang Shou Yong, Wang Shoulian, and elders like Wang Longyan, Wang Xiaohan, and Wang Dingzu, Wang Dinghai, are mostly around here.
Of course, dozens of guest residences have also been built to accommodate relatives from in-law families when they come to visit.
Not far from Wang Shouzheās small courtyard is a peaceful and Spiritual Energy abundant small courtyard named "Secluded Dragon Cottage."
This cottage has an excellent location, rich in Spiritual Energy within the courtyard, and even benefits from a trace of Li Xianās Immortal Spirit Qi. It also features many exotic plants and flowers, with an overall serene and elegant layout, allowing those living there to enjoy themselves with a sense of seclusion.
This Secluded Dragon Cottage was created as a leisure guest house at the strong request of Emperor Ziāan.
However, Emperor Ziāan is usually too busy with affairs of state to unwind, having only visited the cottage two or three times since its completion.
At this moment.
In the serene garden pavilion of Secluded Dragon Cottage, two figures of extraordinary demeanor are drinking tea, playing chess, and chatting, with several attendants serving them.
One of them, naturally, is the rare visitor Emperor Ziāan, and the other, unsurprisingly, is Wang Shouzhe.
With the year-end approaching, the Return to Dragon City is buried in snow and wind, but over in Longzuo County, the weather remains clear, though a bit colder.
Unbeknownst to him, it had already been 114 years since Wang Shouzhe first entered the capital.
After all these years, Da Qian is no longer what it once was; it has a brighter future. Even Zhao Zhikun, who turned away from darkness and had his sentence reduced, has long been released and went to the Immortal Dynasty. Reflecting on it evokes a profound sense of transience.
Through the vicissitudes of life, both men have notably changed from their past selves, acquiring a calm and steadiness honed by the epochs. Even in casual, loose-fitting home clothes, they evoke respect and dare not be underestimated.
"Hahaha~" Emperor Ziāan won another round of chess, feeling utterly refreshed, and laughed heartily, "Shouzhe, Shouzhe, your chess skills are as bad as ever, making me nostalgically recall our carefree days in Return to Dragon City."
Most proficient chess players donāt really enjoy beating novices. After all, itās too easy, and winning brings no sense of achievement.
But how could Wang Shouzhe be the same as ordinary novices? Defeating him carries its own exhilaration.
"Your Highness is busy with state affairs, and now with the year-end approaching, itās the busiest time. Your visit to our Wang family this time surely isnāt to reminisce about Shouzheās chess skills, right?" Wang Shouzhe calmly packed away the chess pieces, putting them back into the chess basket one by one, with a tone as light as a breeze, "Just say what you need. Everyone is busy, letās save each other some time."
"Hehe~ I just love the faintly vexed look on your calm face, Shouzhe." Emperor Ziāan stretched and chuckled, his expression filled with satisfaction, thoroughly enjoying it.
"Ahem!" Standing by, Wang Shizhao couldnāt bear to watch any longer and coughed, reminding, "Your Highness, donāt forget the main business."