Li Zhi, don't be a coward

From the experience of previous lives, the easiest and most effective way to improve one's prestige and reputation in society is to do charity.

Real gold and silver are given to the people, big favors and small favors are all kind, and the subjects remember her goodness, and their favor towards her will naturally rise in a straight line.

But there are thresholds for doing charity. If you don't have money, you are not qualified to play.

For Empress Wu, real money is not a big problem. After being a queen for so many years, it is impossible to only care about pulling hair, spitting and fighting with the women in the harem, right?
As far as Li Qinzai knew, Empress Wu had accumulated some properties over the years, but these properties were not listed in her name.

Wu Yuanqing, Wu Yuanshuang, her sister, Mrs. Han, and even Wu Minzhi from the Wu family all had rich properties. Some of these properties were earned by pulling the queen's tiger skin, and some were hanged by Empress Wu. under their name.

In short, Empress Wu is not short of money.

If you are not short of money and want to earn a good reputation, doing charity is the best way.

As soon as Li Qinzai finished his suggestion, Empress Wu's eyes lit up.

After all, she is a smart woman, she immediately understood the meaning of Li Qinzai's words.

That's right, doing charity really wins people's hearts. No matter the courtiers or the common people, after knowing that the current empress is doing charity, the prestige will be erected invisibly.

Not only did she gain prestige, but she also occupied the moral high ground. No matter how disgusted or hated others are towards her in the future, if the title of "Queen of Philanthropy" hangs on Empress Wu, no one will be ashamed to open their mouths and scold her.

Anyone who scolded her would be ungrateful, and would be invincible to those people who have benefited thousands of times.

After Empress Wu listened carefully, she was really elated.

"Jing Chu's mind is really... no wonder His Majesty treats you so highly, and you really have never disappointed me." Empress Wu praised repeatedly.

Li Qinzai said with a smile: "It's just the duty of being loyal to the emperor. This move can relieve the queen's worries and benefit the Tian family's reputation. The more good deeds the queen's charity hall does, the more the Tian family can receive the hearts of the world."

The corner of Empress Wu's mouth twitched slightly, and then said: "If the Charity Hall wants to do good in the world, it must allocate countless money and food. Where do these come from?"

"The Charity Hall can only be funded by the queen and court wives at the beginning. When the influence gradually becomes far-reaching, it can be recruited by the royal family and private merchants."

Empress Wu frowned and said, "For no reason, why are merchants willing to solicit donations?"

"Efforts always have to be rewarded, especially for merchants. You can't expect them to be kind. The relationship between the Charity Hall and these merchants who donate money is nothing more than a transaction."

"Businessmen have money, but they need status. The court's status cannot be increased, but it lacks money. The two have mutual needs, and they can form a long-term mutually beneficial and complementary relationship."

"Businessmen donate money, and the queen might as well represent the Tian family to give the merchants some things that can improve their status, such as a plaque praising their kindness, an imperial edict written by the emperor or the queen, or a grand occasion where a local county magistrate personally visits the door to praise them, etc. wait."

"For the imperial court, these things are irrelevant, but for merchants, they are important documents that can be used as family heirlooms."

Empress Wu still frowned and said, "If this is the case, wouldn't the status of merchants be elevated? If even merchants have their day, wouldn't the people develop a bad habit of valuing profits and forgetting righteousness?"

Li Qinzai sighed, and said: "Queen, the praises I just said just now did not involve anything that can make the descendants of merchants stand out. According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty, later merchants are not allowed to participate in the imperial examination. As long as this is still in place, they Still can't make it out."

"What the imperial court gave them was nothing more than a temporary glamor, and the merchants are actually very aware of their status, and they will not try to change their status by donating a few times."

"What they want is the scenery at this moment. As long as the court grasps this scale, the Charity Hall can form a virtuous circle and will not add chaos to the court."

"Besides, the rich donate money to help the poor through the charity hall. The whole thing will only encourage the good atmosphere among the people. The most important thing is not how to get merchants to donate money, but how to put an end to corruption and corruption inside the charity hall. The imperial court must send Officials, strictly supervise, so as not to damage the reputation of the Charity Hall."

Empress Wu thought about it, and finally nodded slowly.

Li Qinzai's suggestion undoubtedly opened up a new world for her. She never thought that this method could be used to boost the empress' prestige.

Sighing lightly, Empress Wu smiled and said, "Jing Chu is indeed an important minister of the country, and any random idea will make this palace suddenly enlightened."

Li Qinzai blinked: "The minister took the queen's money, I hope the queen won't feel that the money was spent unjustly, and I will be thankful."

Empress Wu smiled lightly and said: "Not only is it not wronged, but I also feel that it is too little. Even if it is a pure transaction, why doesn't Jing Chu ask for more? As far as I know, Jing Chu is greedy for money. The asking price is so polite?"

Li Qinzai laughed dryly: "This is the first time I've done business with a woman. I really can't grasp the woman's mind. I'm afraid that the asking price will be too high. The queen simply doesn't do anything. After the matter is done, I will get rid of the minister..."

Empress Wu laughed heartily: "In Jingchu's heart, is Ben Gong such a stingy person?"

Li Qinzai sighed: "In this way, the minister really regrets it, or...the queen, can you add more?"

Empress Wu quickly turned cold: "The sale is finalized, there is no reason to add more money, Jing Chu is overthinking."

"I volunteered to help you manage the money accounts of the Charity Hall in the future?"

"I opened a shop to sell arsenic, and even Jing Chu had to steal two mouthfuls. How could the money from the Charity Hall be handed over to you? Get lost!"

…………

After bidding farewell to Empress Wu, Li Qinzai walked out of the Tai Chi Palace, his steps becoming much lighter.

If Empress Wu really followed her own suggestion, a big hidden danger would be eliminated in the future of Datang.

Li Qinzai has never doubted Empress Wu's ambitions. Her ambition is not only in the harem. If the conditions are right, there is nothing she dare not do.

After all, she is the only female emperor in history, and her ability cannot be doubted.

By doing charity, Empress Wu successfully diverted her attention. From then on, her eyes were no longer on the court, but on the folk countryside. It was a good thing for Li Zhi and the Tang Dynasty.

There are no losers in this, everyone wins.

Especially the couple of the Tian family, they are all overwhelmed, and Li Qinzai, after coming up with this idea, will resolutely stay out of the matter, quietly watching the future changes of the Tang Dynasty and the harem from the perspective of an outsider.

Still the same sentence, Li Qinzai hopes to see a peaceful and prosperous world. What the Tang Dynasty needs is to make progress slowly and quietly, not to change the king's banner at the top of the city.