Gao Feng turned around in astonishment, looking at Gao Yang. The gaze exchanged between father and son was meaningful.

This scene felt familiar to him.

Wu Zhao's lips curled slightly, her words were as precious as gold, "Speak."

"If your plan satisfies me, not only will you be without fault, Gao Yang, but you will also be rewarded."

The officials' eyes focused on Gao Yang. Compared to their initial disdain, after Gao Yang's ruthless strategy, they were clearly more apprehensive.

This young man's scheme seemed rather sinister.

Gao Yang's voice echoed in the Jinluan Hall.

"From the perspective of the tea merchant, his goal is simple: hire people at low cost to clear land and complete the task as quickly as possible."

"But the local people are mostly lazy. Clearing land is exhausting and arduous. Even if the merchant offers high wages, without any local influence, the people will just slack off."

"To achieve the goal, one must manipulate human nature."

"My method is simple, just one scheme is needed!"

"I call this scheme the Monkey-Show Scheme."

Wu Zhao straightened her posture, her phoenix eyes fixed on Gao Yang.

She pressed, "How do you manipulate human nature, and how do you set up the scheme?"

"If I were the tea merchant, I would first offer three to five times the usual wages to hire a dozen locals to clear the land."

Gao Yang's voice resonated through the Jinluan Hall, and Wu Zhao furrowed her brows.

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"Is that all? I thought you had some brilliant plan, but it's just this," Wang Zhong scoffed.

What manipulation of human nature, what scheme, he really thought Gao Yang had a solution, but after all, it was still about high wages.

Cui Xinghe also shook his head to himself.

Gao Yang remained unfazed and continued, "For the first few days, have the people focus on clearing the land. If they slack off or sleep, just scold them anxiously, make it look convincing."

"The people are inherently lazy, mostly pretending to work. In their eyes, my anxious antics would seem like a ridiculous monkey."

"They might even secretly laugh and continue doing as they please."

"But after a few days, I would bury a few pieces of gold in the barren mountain, and the scheme would be complete!"

As the last words fell, the Empress instantly sat upright, her eyes filled with shock.

Gold buried in the barren mountain!

This plan was ingenious; she already knew what Gao Yang would do next.

The officials were also in an uproar.

Gao Yang continued calmly, "With gold buried in the barren mountain, the people who have been focused on clearing one area would not be able to hide it if someone digs it up."

"Even if the person who finds the gold is quick, they can't hide it from the others working alongside them."

"Once a dispute arises, I would take the opportunity to nervously demand they hand over the gold, even offering some silver to keep them from spreading the news about finding gold on the mountain, to prevent others from coming to compete."

"This act, in just a few hours, would spread the news of a gold mine under the barren mountain throughout the village."

"Just a piece or two of gold would reveal the greed inherent in human nature."

"Those who witnessed the gold being found, under the temptation of a gold mine, would be unable to sit still, like ants on a hot pan. The ones who found the gold would mobilize their entire families to secretly go up the mountain. This is human nature. By then, rumors would spiral out of control, and there would be no need for wages. Entire families would be carrying hoes up the mountain to dig through the night."

With these words, the officials were shaken, all looking at Gao Yang.

The root cause of the people's laziness was that clearing land was both exhausting and laborious. Even with triple wages, there was no motivation.

But if they believed there was a gold mine under the barren mountain, driven by rumors, especially with the first person's lead, the villagers would swarm to dig the mountain, dreaming of getting rich overnight.

Even Cui Xinghe, after understanding, had to admit it was brilliant.

Though the plan had flaws, it was definitely feasible!

Gao Feng also looked at Gao Yang in shock, his eyes wide open.

Was this his son, Gao Feng?

Had he suddenly become enlightened?

"Brilliant, using gold to draw out human greed, making the entire village go up the mountain to clear the land."

"Later, randomly burying gold in different parts of the mountain would make the people firmly believe there was a gold mine under the barren mountain. This not only saves a lot on clearing costs but also makes the villagers work through the night."

"The son of Vice Minister Gao did not disappoint me."

"This plan is indeed ingenious."

Wu Zhao praised, her phoenix eyes resting on Gao Yang with satisfaction.

Gao Yang smiled, "Your Majesty, hold on, the scheme is not yet over."

"On the contrary, the most sinister part is just beginning."

Wu Zhao was surprised, "The most sinister part is just beginning?"

The officials were also astonished. Achieving the goal of quickly clearing the land was just the beginning?

"In a remote and impoverished area, the people are lazy, and the local County Magistrate likely doesn't get any benefits, so there's a high chance he's corrupt. Before setting up the scheme, you can bribe him heavily."

"If the County Magistrate assists, the scheme will be twice as effective."

Gao Feng's face changed, scolding, "You unfilial son, what nonsense are you spouting?"

But Wu Zhao waved her hand, "No matter, even if this is hypothetical, aren't there plenty of corrupt officials in the remote areas of Great Qian?"

"Gao Yang, continue. What happens after bribing the County Magistrate?"

Gao Yang smiled and said, "According to the laws of Great Qian, the barren mountain is private property of the tea merchant. The villagers going up the mountain at night to dig for gold have already violated the laws of Great Qian."

"If I were the tea merchant, I would immediately report to the authorities, have officials and soldiers sent to arrest them, and demand they hand over the gold they dug up."

"People are envious by nature, unable to stand others doing well, and will surely report each other."

Wang Zhong felt a chill down his spine, his eyes wide with astonishment, "Without spending a penny, yet getting the people to clear the land for free, and even reclaiming the gold dug up."

"This plan is too vicious!"

Wang Zhong looked at Gao Yang, his face filled with fear.

Wu Zhao also nodded in admiration, "First bribe the County Magistrate, then exploit the evil in human nature to reclaim the gold initially placed. Though this plan is somewhat sinister, it achieves the most efficient land clearing with minimal cost."

"This is still a brilliant plan."

Cui Xinghe's face was sullen. He was one of the Four Great Talents of Chang'an, the eldest son of the Cui Clan of the Seven Surnames and Five Clans, and the Top Scholar of the court, but at this moment, Gao Yang had stolen the spotlight.

This was hard for him to accept.

He said in a deep voice, "Bribing the County Magistrate is no small expense. The villagers might at most return the gold, but is it worth the risk of execution?"

Gao Yang smiled, "Lord Cui, aren't there plenty of cases of collusion between officials and merchants in the world? Who would start with a heavy bribe? Whether an official is clean or corrupt, you can find out by mingling among the people."

"And the sinister nature of this plan doesn't stop there. What if the gold is only gold on the outside but copper on the inside?"