Chapter 114

Taxes in Dayong may not seem overly burdensome on paper, but to the common people, they are an insurmountable mountain.

With Xiao Chenyan's temperament, nine out of ten officials in the Ministry of Revenue could be dragged out and executed on the spot.

However, governing civil administration is not the same as leading an army. Even if they are useless, these officials still have some value—at least until fresh blood can take their place. For now, these deadweights can still be set to work.

If it weren't for Xiao Chenyan's considerable private assets, he wouldn't have been able to sustain the vast northern territories all these years.

That said, Xiao Chenyan's ambitions remain constrained for now. Though the Eastern Palace has fallen, its title and position still command significant influence.

And then there's the old emperor, whose ambiguous and inscrutable attitude further complicates matters.