Great Tang: Ordered to Confiscate Estates, the Second Phoenix Begs Me to Stop

In the Taiji Hall, Li Shimin stared at the account books and wept. "The treasury has only 298 strings of cash left. The Turks are raiding our borders, and the ministers are all pleading poverty. How are we supposed to fight this war?!"

The assembled officials pretended not to hear. Only Lu Jiuheng, seated among the condemned prisoners, raised his head.

"Your Majesty, let me out and give me an official post. I can rake in ten million strings for you, but I want ten percent of the dirty money!"

The officials scoffed. "Madman! The treasury is empty. Who are you going to ask, the ghosts?"

Three days later, a hundred ironworks belonging to Zhangsun Wuji were sealed, and he was forced to pay 5,000 strings in environmental taxes!

Half a month later, the secret cellars of the Taiyuan Wang and Qinghe Cui clans were unearthed, and ten million taels of silver filled Chang'an!

Three months later, the renowned [Black Armored Heavy Cavalry] marched north. The aristocratic clans paid for all their armor, provisions, and soldiers' wages!

On the day the Turks were destroyed, Li Shimin looked at the gold and silver overflowing the treasury, then at Lu Jiuheng, who commanded troops of his own. Trembling, he said:

"Minister Lu... You practically keep my entire Tang Dynasty afloat. How about I let you sit on the throne for a few days, too?"