Transmigrated To Ancient Time: Thrive With An Auction System!

Chapter 475: Alternative Materials ( 4 )

Xue Ya’er noticed the strange items and knew that they must be something from the Lei family. As she opened one of the folders, she asked, “Husband, is this from the Lei family?”

Lu Qianxuan shook his head and replied, “I don’t know if these are from the Lei family. But they were indeed given by the person sent by Lei Feng to inspect the underground workshop.”

Xue Ya’er didn’t ask about that person’s information and focused on reading the documents. Half an hour later, she looked at her husband and asked, “Husband, are you planning to buy these materials from the Lei family?”

Lu Qianxuan smiled at his wife’s words and nodded. “I do have this intention.”

“Besides these materials, Gui Feng also showed me the flashlight yesterday, and I already tested it out. This item could illuminate a large area and make it as bright as daytime. But this item is not from the Lei family and was given to him by the contact person, named Hu Niang.”

The moment Xue Ya’er heard the name, her eyes widened in surprise. Besides her, no one knew that Hu Niang was actually Lei Feng.

Noticing his wife’s reaction, Lu Qianxuan asked, “Wife, you know her?”

Since this matter concerned her friend’s safety, Xue Ya’er didn’t plan to tell her husband and nodded. “Didn’t I tell you that I hired an accountant to help me check the ledger a few days ago?”

When he heard this, Lu Qianxuan nodded and asked, “Is that person Hu Niang?”

Xue Ya’er nodded. “I thought that she was a widow and hired her to help lessen her burden. I never expected that she was actually someone from the Lei family.”

“She is not from the Lei family. At most, she could be counted as a distant relative. So, you don’t have to worry about offending her,” Lu Qianxuan reassured her.

After a moment of pause, he asked, “Wife, since you know her, can you help me contact her?”

“Husband, if you want to buy the materials, isn’t it better to contact Young Master Lei directly?” Xue Ya’er asked him back.

“I want to ask if Hu Niang has more flashlights. If we can use flashlights, they can help the patrolling guards see clearly. This way, it won’t be easy for spies to sneak through the cliff.”

Hearing her husband’s words, Xue Ya’er thought for a moment before she said, “I will ask Hu Niang. But, I can’t guarantee that she would sell the flashlights to us.”

Lu Qianxuan held his wife’s hand and smiled. “Wife, don’t feel pressured by this matter. It’s good if we can get our hands on them. But if we can’t, then it’s okay.”

“Okay.”

They talked for a few more minutes before Lu Qianxuan had to return to the military camp. Now that he had finally found the alternative materials for building the barracks, he had to discuss this matter with his people.

He also needed to inform the craftsmen to start working on the underground workshop’s drainage and ventilation systems.

Meanwhile, in the Capital, inside the Imperial study, the Emperor threw a teacup at the Vice Minister of Revenue.

The teacup hit Yu Wenzhou’s forehead and shattered as it hit the ground. Despite the blood flowing from his forehead, his posture was still ramrod straight, and he was as calm as usual.

“You can’t even solve the tax problem. What use are you?!” Emperor Tianwu roared as he pointed at Yu Wenzhou.

Yu Wenzhou, with his head and gaze lowered, replied, “Your Majesty, the amount of grain and money collected from the prefectures is already the highest the commoners can afford. Even if we mobilize the army and force them to pay the tax, the result will be the same.”

The moment Emperor Tianwu heard this, his temper flared up again. But before he could lash out at Yu Wenzhou again, Qian Kun, the Minister of Agriculture, quickly interrupted him.

“Your Majesty, this subject thinks that increasing the tax again is unwise. With the recent bad weather, most areas are unable to get a good harvest.”

“If we continue pushing the tax collection, it might give some people an opportunity to muddy the water. Even rabbits will bite if cornered. With just a slight provocation, the commoners might rebel.”

When he heard this, Emperor Tianwu indeed calmed down.

Although he was young, he knew that these ministers were loyal to him, or to be precise, to the throne. He didn’t have much power to begin with. So, he shouldn’t push them too hard, or they would change their hearts.

Seeing that the Emperor was no longer as angry as before, the Chief Eunuch quickly poured a new cup of tea for him and placed it on the desk.

Emperor Tianwu drank the tea before he asked, “Do you have any suggestions to resolve this matter?”

When he heard this, Qian Kun bowed to him and said, “Replying to Your Majesty, to solve this matter, we must solve the root of the problem.”

“The reason the people are unable to pay the tax is because of a failed harvest. If we can find a way to ensure that they have a good harvest, then the matter regarding the tax would be solved naturally.”

After he said this, Yu Wenzhou finally took out a booklet from his sleeve and held it up with both hands. “Your Majesty, this is the latest report from De Long City.”

Emperor Tianwu glanced at the Chief Eunuch, who soon went to get the booklet and handed it to the Emperor.

As the Emperor read the report, Yu Wenzhou continued, “According to this subject’s investigations, the fief under the Duke of Zhenguo had a good harvest this year.”

“Despite the bad weather and locust plague, they managed to harvest an average of 200 jin per mu. This is the highest yield over the past 10 years.”

After he read the report, Emperor Tianwu said, “Since they are able to get this number, they must have discovered a new planting method.”