Chapter 120: The Youngest Debt Collector in History
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
In the solemn atmosphere of the hall, the king’s anger was palpable. His fists were clenched as he issued a stern command, “Bring those old fools into the hall.”
The treasury was empty, desperately in need of funds for disaster relief, yet these stubborn old officials refused to repay their debts.
Eunuch Wang led a group of ministers into the hall, each a portrait of age with snowy white hair and beards, their heads bowed low in submission. They prostrated themselves on the ground, their actions heavy with the weight of their years.
“Your Majesty, I have dedicated my life to serving North Zhao with all my strength until my last breath. However, I truly have no money to offer,” one minister cried, tears streaming down his face as he lifted his trousers to reveal the worn patches on his official robes.
The air thickened with their pleas of poverty, all obstructing the king’s efforts to collect the debts. His expression darkened further with each plea.
Amidst this tense backdrop, one aged minister stood resolutely. “Your Majesty, I am prepared to donate three years of my salary to aid the disaster victims in North Zhao!” he declared, his voice echoing with sincerity.
Another stepped forward, his face etched with desperation. “Your Majesty, I assure you, I do not embezzle funds. I live solely on my salary each year. I cannot repay the debt owed to you, but I am willing to donate my home and move my family into a rental property.”
Internally, the king grimaced, [Great, now rumors will spread of me mistreating my ministers.]
As the ministers continued their increasingly desperate claims, the king raised his hand to silence them. “I am merely asking if each of your households could contribute thirty thousand taels!” he exclaimed. With eighteen of them, this sum could significantly alleviate the financial strain.
The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the Deputy Minister of Revenue. “Lords, please assist us. Over decades, you have borrowed millions of taels. Now, North Zhao desperately needs these funds repaid.”
These ministers, who had been instrumental in the founding of the nation alongside the former king, had been granted loans due to their initial lack of funds. For example, the Minister of Personnel had borrowed thirty thousand taels and had also taken many valuable paintings from the treasury, which were priceless. Grand Duke He Shu, the former king’s only brother, had received a loan of one hundred thousand taels of silver. The Protectorate Duke had borrowed fifty thousand taels, and the family of the dowager, led by the king’s uncle Duke Xiao, had borrowed a staggering one hundred fifty thousand taels!
Not a single tael had been repaid to this day, and the total amount loaned was over a million taels.
As the ministers trembled before him, a peculiar scene unfolded. Lu Chao Chao, merely a year and a half old and clutching a sandwich biscuit, munched loudly. Her tiny teeth, like little grains of rice, gnashed at the biscuit, yet she couldn’t chew hard things.
“I only ask for thirty thousand taels from each of you!” the king repeated sternly.
The ministers professed their loyalty and willingness to sacrifice everything for North Zhao but lamented their inability to produce the required sum.
Inwardly, Lu Chao Chao was already laughing wildly, [Haha, they are willing to live and die for North Zhao, yet they are refusing to produce thirty thousand taels despite having the money. That king’s uncle is actually the wealthiest of them all.]
Unable to contain his frustration, the king finally bellowed, “Get out!”
The Crown Prince, witnessing this, poured tea for his father, trying to calm him. “Father, the former king couldn’t collect this debt, how can you expect to do so?”
As the ministers were reliant on their past glories, the king hesitated to press them too harshly, not wanting to be accused of mistreating the founding ministers. “This kingdom still belongs to the Xie family. They shouldn’t be so presumptuous! A bunch of old fools, taking advantage of their age to pressure me!” he fumed.
Eunuch Wang, seeing the king’s irritation, suggested, “Your Majesty, why trouble yourself with collecting the debt and risk damaging the bond between you and the ministers? It would be better to delegate this task to someone else.”
“Someone else? Those fools at the Ministry of Revenue only cry poverty to me. They’re incapable of collecting debts! What’s the point of keeping them around?” the king retorted.
The Crown Prince, observing Lu Chao Chao happily munching away, swinging her feet on the chair, smirked with a bold idea. “Father, I have a plan. If they are being unreasonable due to their age, we should send someone equally unreasonable.”
He nodded towards Lu Chao Chao. “A child so young and innocent, if she says or does something wrong, no one would take offense. Besides, you’ve seen Chao Chao’s abilities. She has the remarkable capacity to summon deities.”
The king, skeptical yet intrigued, listened as the Crown Prince continued, “Chao Chao, can you help us with a task? If you succeed, my father, the king, will reward you. If you manage to recover the money, you’ll receive ten percent. How does that sound?”
Lu Chao Chao, focusing on the reward, sat up straight, her interest piqued. After a moment of contemplation and a brief count on her fingers, she tapped her head, annoyed by the complexity of the calculations but intrigued by the promise of a substantial reward.
“If you collect one hundred thousand taels, you get ten thousand. If you collect a million, you get one hundred thousand. How about that? And this money, your mother won’t be allowed to take away!” the Crown Prince elaborated, making the stakes clear. “If you accomplish this great feat, my father will grant you a favor.”
The king, seizing the moment, declared, “If you can truly collect the debts, I will adopt you as my daughter, include your name in the royal lineage, and officially make you a princess. How about that?”
He secretly rubbed his hands together, proud of his cleverness. The debt would be recovered, and Chao Chao would become his daughter.
Lu Chao Chao looked at him with disdain. “Mama must agree, though. Fathers can’t be chosen randomly; Mama hits hard,” she stated firmly.
The king nodded, and without hesitation, he issued an edict appointing Lu Chao Chao as the official debt collector.
Thus, history witnessed its youngest debt collector at merely a year and a half old.
Hi how many tiers there are?
Does 5USD enough to read the book until its finished?
Nah, except 1st one which 1usd i think, every 5usd you got +1 unlocked chapter ahead. Like, you give 5 you got 1 unlock, give 60 you got 12 unlock chapters etc.