Chapter 95

After flipping quickly through four or five volumes of tax records, Elara threw the scrolls onto the table and didn't want to look anymore.

She let out a soft breath but didn't immediately order the removal of the excessive tax rates to return to Plumera State's original system. That was because not only were High Qiong and the others in Huayan County doing this, but the entire tax rate under Lord Gregory's control had always been harsh and bloodsucking. If she continued using Plumera State's tax policy, even if it was slightly better than what High Qiong and the others enforced, how would she be any different from Lord Gregory and his kind? She'd still be squeezing the people dry.

At this point, all of Huayan County's policies had to be re-established. Everything had to be adjusted based on the actual needs and financial ability of the common people and honest merchants.

But clearly, this was a massive task.

In modern times, this kind of work would take at least dozens of economists, mathematicians, and sociologists to gather together. They would base their discussions on complex data, debate for tens or even hundreds of days, and only then reach a preliminary conclusion.

But Elara didn't have that kind of time now. The problems in Huayan County were already urgent. She didn't have dozens or hundreds of experts at her side either.

All she had was herself and the former top scholar of Plumera State, whom she had tricked into coming along.

Elara turned her eyes slowly toward Scholar Fu, thinking about how she could quickly discuss a solution with him. At the very least, they needed a temporary plan within a few days. But then she saw him suddenly reach back into the pile of scrolls and pull out three more.

With neatly trimmed fingers holding the edge of the bamboo scrolls, he handed them to her.

"Since Your Highness was willing to execute corrupt officials and greedy merchants for the people of Huayan County, opened the granary, and sold grain and salt at near-cost prices, you must also not want the people here to suffer heavy taxes and labor. But the tax rate set by Plumera State is still too high for Huayan County. Based on the actual situation in the county, I've drafted a preliminary tax plan. Please take a look."

Elara's prepared words caught in her throat. She looked at the three scrolls he handed her in genuine surprise.

"You already drafted a preliminary tax plan based on the situation here?"

She had just been thinking about finding some capable people to help, like warehouse clerks and officials who handled finances. She was planning to fill those positions, then have them support Scholar Fu and herself in coming up with an initial tax draft.

Even though Huayan County was small and not overly complex, the work would still take three to five days. And that was assuming she hired at least a dozen assistants.

But now, Scholar Fu had actually finished this huge task by himself? And in such a short time?

Elara couldn't help but glance again at the stack of scrolls behind him. She had assumed they were materials he hadn't looked at yet. Now it seemed they were ones he had already processed.

What kind of efficiency was this?

Even for Elara, unless she was in her peak state as the CEO of the Xia Corporation in her past life, she couldn't have handled so much work in so little time.

They had only arrived in Huayan County today. Scholar Fu had only been summoned to help her two hours ago. And in that short time, he silently completed so much work?

Elara studied the calm and quiet scholar once more, then looked down at the scrolls he had handed her.

The more she read, the higher her brows arched.

Even by her strict standards, this wasn't just a rough draft. It was already a detailed and ready-to-use plan that could be brought straight into official discussions.

With just a few finishing touches, this could be implemented immediately for all the people and merchants in Huayan County. It could completely replace the old harsh and broken system with fair, detailed, and loophole-free regulations. The entire county would be transformed.

People would no longer be crushed by heavy taxes. Merchants wouldn't be forced to raise prices just to survive the greedy officials. And her new administration would finally have a reasonable, stable tax income.

When Elara finished reading and looked up at Scholar Fu, there was already a smile on her face.

The original owner of this body might have been a terrible ruler, but they certainly had a talent for capturing useful people. Whether it was Mathias, Emory, Oswyn, General Qi, or now the composed Scholar Fu in front of her, they were all exceptional talents.

Those things the original did could now be seen as helping her gather these brilliant minds in advance.

With this proposal, Elara's urgent problems were resolved.

Her gaze toward Scholar Fu grew gentler. She leaned in slightly and pointed her chin at the pile of scrolls behind him.

"So you've already gone through all those? And in just two hours?"

Scholar Fu looked over calmly and nodded without hesitation. "Yes, Your Highness."

Elara's smile grew wider. She had noticed his high efficiency before when he mapped the travel route to Huayan County.

But now, with this nearly complete tax proposal in her hands, she realized he was even more efficient than she had imagined.

It was to the point where she almost felt like no normal human brain could operate this fast.

In just two hours, he had done what she thought would need at least a dozen people. Not only that, but the records on local finances, citizen status, and the fifteen volumes of customs records she mentioned earlier had all been organized and summarized by him.

Every question she asked, he answered with precision and detail.

Such a clean, sharp work style, such knowledge and accuracy. Elara was more and more convinced that bringing him to Huayan County was absolutely the right choice. Scholar Fu truly deserved to be considered on par with Mathias as one of the capital's brightest minds.

If someone like him existed in the modern world, she doubted even a million-a-year salary could hire him. People like him would be fought over by every powerful group, including the government.

But now, this person sat quietly in front of her, handling every task she gave him with total dedication.

Elara couldn't suppress the feeling that she had scored a huge win.

As a boss, what could be more satisfying than getting an SP-level employee for free?

And he wasn't the only one. After arriving in this world, Mathias, the Qi brothers, Emory, Damon, Oswyn — so many talented people were now working for her in various ways.

Although their relationships with her were all a bit complicated, they were still under her command.

Thinking about this, Elara's smile became impossible to hide.

This must be the joy of gaining without cost.

Her brows lifted slightly as the gloom caused by the dire state of Huayan County disappeared.

Looking at Scholar Fu's calm and refined profile, she couldn't help but feel incredibly at ease.