I Want to Be Emperor.

Summary

Liu De, suppressing his dissatisfaction, leads his guards to inspect the Flag Pavilion, a crucial administrative building in Pingxin City. With city magistrate positions vacant, low-ranking clerks, fearful of exposure for corruption, panic at Liu De's arrival. The clerks, aware of the harsh punishments for embezzlement, dread the consequences of their actions. Liu De learns from Cheng Yong, a long-serving official, about the city's operations and taxes, revealing a stark contrast between the bustling workshops and the meager tax revenue. This reflects the common collusion between officials and merchants in the Han Dynasty, suggesting that without official support, wealth is precarious. Liu De recognizes the systemic corruption, understanding that significant profits likely benefit the noble ministers rather than the state.

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