Huangming

Chapter 195 The Emperor's Pressure, Financial Crisis

The Nine Ministers were on duty.

Grand Secretary Li Ruhua of the Dongge Pavilion and Minister of Revenue Li Changgeng waited quietly.

It was springtime, and the morning mist was thick. Occasionally, water droplets would fall from the eaves, making a crisp sound.

Li Ruhua sat upright in a sandalwood armchair, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his eyes lowered as if deep in thought.

The teacups on the table had gone cold, but not a drop had been touched.

His brows furrowed slightly, indicating that something was on his mind.

Li Changgeng appeared somewhat anxious, standing with his hands behind his back by the window, his fingertips occasionally tapping lightly on the window frame.

He looked up towards the Qianqing Palace and whispered, "His Majesty summoned me today; I wonder if it's related to the military pay for Liaodong?"

Since assuming the position of Minister of Revenue, Li Changgeng has not had a single night of restful sleep.

The imperial court's expenses are enormous, and it is constantly asking for money—the military pay for the nine border regions is in dire need every year, the war in Liaodong is costly, disaster relief in various places is urgent, the salaries of officials cannot be delayed, not to mention the emperor's wedding this year, the expenses of the inner court cannot be reduced in the slightest.

He faced mountains of petitions every day, yet the treasury of Taicang was growing increasingly empty, and every expenditure felt like cutting flesh to mend a wound.

In the imperial court, military officers demanded their pay, civil officials asked for their salaries, and the emperor inquired about accounts. He was caught in the middle, struggling to cope with everything, and extremely anxious.

The confiscating of Shanxi merchants' property, the seizure of imperial estates, and the recovery of embezzled silver from corrupt officials, which seemed to fill the national treasury like mountains, were quickly melted away like snow in boiling water: Liaodong military pay, annual allowances for the nine border regions, disaster relief and river repair, and salaries for officials—which of these was not a bottomless pit?

Not to mention the emperor's wedding this year, the expenses of the inner court cannot be reduced in the slightest.

Li Changgeng's hair, which was not thick to begin with, is now pitifully sparse.

If it weren't for the official hat he wore to conceal it, his increasingly prominent bald patch would likely have become the subject of gossip among his colleagues in the Six Ministries.

The job in the Ministry of Revenue is harder than walking a tightrope!
Upon hearing Li Changgeng's words, Li Ruhua's fingers tightened slightly inside his sleeve, and he pondered, "The war in Liaodong is about to begin. War is a money-burning affair. His Majesty's summons at this time is most likely for this matter."

He looked up at Li Changgeng and asked in a low voice, "Do you have the account books from last month's Taicang Treasury with you?"

Li Changgeng's expression stiffened, and he pulled out a blue booklet from his robes: "There are only a little over three million taels left. If more is allocated to Liaodong, where will we find the funds for His Majesty's wedding this year? Besides..."

Before the Minister of Revenue could finish speaking, a high-pitched voice of a eunuch suddenly rang out from outside the duty room: "Grand Secretary Li Ruhua of the Eastern Pavilion and Minister of Revenue Li Changgeng are here to pay their respects!"

Li Ruhua straightened his crimson official robe. Before leaving, he glanced at the cold teacup on the table, its surface reflecting his furrowed brows.

"Let us first pay our respects to His Majesty!"

He had served as Minister of Revenue and knew the difficulties involved.

If you were to listen to Li Changgeng's complaints, you could listen for three days and three nights straight.

Looking at Li Ruhua's composed back, Li Changgeng felt a mix of emotions.

He sighed inwardly, suppressing his worries: "Well then, let's see what His Majesty wants to discuss today!"

As his gaze swept over Li Ruhua's crimson cabinet robes, he couldn't help but feel a pang of envy—his old superior had finally escaped the sea of ​​misery that was the Ministry of Revenue and entered the cabinet to become a prime minister.

Meanwhile, he was still struggling in this vortex of money, racking his brains every day for the military pay for the nine border regions and disaster relief in various places.

Hopefully, we can get through these next few years.

He subconsciously touched his thinning temples, and straightened his back even more under his official robe.

"So that, like Grand Secretary Li, one can earn a respectable position in the cabinet."

"Minister Li, His Majesty is waiting impatiently, please come to see him quickly!" The young eunuch was already urging him on.

"I'll go now, I'll go now."

Li Changgeng straightened his official hat, suppressing all his worries.

At least for now, he still has to face the ever-filling hole in the national treasury as the Minister of Revenue.

Li Ruhua and Li Changgeng straightened their clothes and followed the eunuchs through the many palace gates into the East Warm Pavilion.

Morning light streamed through the carved window lattice, illuminating the floating dust motes.

Zhu Youxiao, dressed in a bright yellow casual robe, was reviewing memorials at his desk when he heard the sound and looked up.

The two men prostrated themselves and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, we respectfully wish Your Majesty peace and prosperity."

The emperor put down his vermilion brush and said in a gentle voice, "Rise."

After the two men stood up, Zhu Youxiao's gaze swept across Li Ruhua and Li Changgeng's furrowed brows like a blade, and he cut straight to the point: "The war in Liaodong is about to begin. Military pay, food, gunpowder, clothing, and warhorses—none of these supplies can be lacking. I have summoned you two today to ask you about this."

"Is the existing silver in Taicang enough to cover the expenses?"

Li Changgeng's throat tightened, and he glanced at Li Ruhua out of the corner of his eye.

Seeing that Li Ruhua remained unmoved, Li Changgeng had no choice but to step forward, his hands still tightly clasped in his sleeves, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, this year the Imperial Treasury holds 3.7 million taels of silver, but the grain transport tax and the annual allowances for the nine border regions have not yet been disbursed. If all of it is transferred to Liaodong, I fear..."

The emperor frowned, his sharp gaze sweeping over Li Ruhua and Li Changgeng. His voice was low and deep: "I remember that four million taels of silver went into the national treasury from the confiscation of the property of Shanxi merchants; and two million taels went into the imperial granary from the ill-gotten gains of imperial merchants and corrupt officials. How long has it been, and we're already short of money again?"

Li Changgeng, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise. Last year, the war in Liaodong was intense, and the expenditures on military pay, provisions, and equipment were enormous. In addition, there were outstanding debts to the nine border regions, and frequent disasters occurred in various places. Expenditure on relief, river repair, and other items could not be reduced..."

As Li Changgeng's expression grew increasingly grim upon seeing the emperor, the pressure on him intensified, his voice grew softer, and he became increasingly insecure.

Seeing this, Li Ruhua slowly stepped forward and tried to smooth things over for Li Changgeng, saying, "Your Majesty, I dare to speak frankly. Although the Taicang granary has received silver, the expenses of the country are vast, and the military pay for Liaodong is only one part of them. If we allocate more funds, it may lead to deficits elsewhere and shake the foundation of the country."

The emperor snorted coldly, slamming his fingertips heavily on the imperial desk: "Undermining the foundation of the nation? Do you think letting the soldiers of Liaodong fight on empty stomachs will prevent the foundation of the nation from being undermined?!"

The hall fell silent instantly, with only the sound of wind chimes tinkling outside the window, clear yet jarring.

Li Changgeng, steeling himself, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, why don't you use some funds from the Imperial Treasury first? I've heard that the Imperial Treasury has tens of millions of taels in reserve."

Before he finished speaking, Zhu Youxiao's face darkened abruptly, and he slammed his vermilion brush heavily onto the inkstone with a sharp "snap." The East Warm Pavilion fell into an instant silence, so quiet that even breathing could be heard clearly.

"Li Qing."

The emperor's voice was as cold as ice.

Do you know what the imperial treasury is used for?

Cold sweat instantly beaded on Li Changgeng's back, and his legs trembled slightly beneath his official robes. "Your Majesty, I am foolish."

Li Changgeng prostrated himself on the ground, his forehead pressed against the cold gold bricks.

"However, the military situation in Liaodong is extremely dire."

"enough!"

Zhu Youxiao slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, scattering the memorials on the table all over the floor.

In the morning light, the floating dust churned violently, making the dragon pattern on the emperor's bright yellow robes appear ferocious and lifelike.

"When the late emperor passed away, the imperial treasury was empty. I used every means possible, even enduring infamy, to obtain a small amount of money. The Qianqing Palace is dilapidated and leaking, and I couldn't bear to spend imperial funds to repair it, yet you've set your sights on it!"

Li Ruhua suddenly knelt down, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Chang Geng was worried about the affairs of the state and spoke inappropriately. It was only because the Ministry of Revenue was short of funds that he was punished. Please forgive his crime."

Zhu Youxiao said coldly, "The imperial treasury is for me to train troops, not to fill holes! I have been on the throne for less than a year and I have given you so much money. If you don't know how to use it, I will replace you with someone who knows how to manage finances!"

Li Ruhua's expression was solemn, his fingers clenched slightly inside his sleeve, yet he still maintained the respectful demeanor of a subject.

Li Changgeng's face turned pale, and cold sweat poured down his forehead. He dared not look directly at the emperor's face.

Zhu Youxiao continued, “The proceeds from the confiscation of property are divided 30/70 between the imperial granary and the imperial treasury. In recent years, has the imperial treasury spent little money on military supplies and disaster relief? I support hundreds of thousands of new soldiers, and their food and lodging cost thousands of taels of silver every day! Do you really think the imperial treasury is an inexhaustible treasure trove?”

Although his voice was not loud, every word was as cold as ice, and the air in the East Warm Pavilion seemed to freeze suddenly.

Li Ruhua's eyebrows twitched slightly, and his fingers slowly closed inside his sleeve, yet he maintained a composed demeanor.

Li Changgeng's face was slightly pale, and cold sweat had not yet dried on his forehead. He dared not speak rashly.

After a moment of silence, Li Ruhua slowly bowed, his voice hoarse but steady: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. We are not coveting the imperial treasury, but the situation in Liaodong is urgent. If the soldiers rebel due to lack of pay, the border will be unstable, which would jeopardize Your Majesty's grand plan to train troops..."

Zhu Youxiao's eyes turned cold, and he tapped his fingertips heavily on the table: "Minister Li, as I just said, my private treasury is for training the new army, not for filling the deficit of the Ministry of Revenue! If you can't even manage the funds in the imperial granary properly, I'd like to ask how you've been doing your job in the Ministry of Revenue?"

Upon hearing this, Li Changgeng immediately prostrated himself and kowtowed: "Your Majesty, we are incompetent and beg for your punishment! However, last year there were frequent natural disasters, and the expenditures on relief, river works, and other projects were enormous. In addition, the war in Liaodong was ongoing, and military funds were being spent like water..."

Zhu Youxiao's gaze was sharp as a knife, and his fingertips tapped heavily on the imperial desk, causing the ink in the inkstone to ripple slightly.
"The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the national finances. There should be a plan for how the money is used and where it is spent, and the expenditure should be based on the income of the state!"

If expenditures are excessive, you should consider why salt taxes have decreased by 30% annually since the founding of the dynasty; why the 500,000 bolts of silk owed by the Suzhou Textile Bureau have not yet been deposited into the warehouse; and why the Yangzhou Customs Office's commercial taxes last year were 70% lower than during the Wanli era. These are the issues you should be concerned about.

Li Changgeng's knees made a faint sound as they ground against the gold bricks, and the back of his official robe was already soaked with cold sweat.

Li Ruhua looked up and said, "Your Majesty is wise. The problem with the salt tax lies in the collusion between officials and merchants. Just last month, the Transport Commissioner of Lianghuai discovered thirty smuggled salt ships, and the Ministry of Revenue is currently investigating."

"Investigate?"

Zhu Youxiao interrupted with a cold laugh.

"Only investigating now? What were you doing before?"

“You keep saying that the laws established by our ancestors cannot be changed, but the fish-scale registers from the time of the founding emperor were accurate down to the acre, and now we’re getting more and more backward!”

Li Ruhua and Li Changgeng simultaneously prostrated themselves on the ground, their foreheads pressed against the gold bricks, their backs taut beneath their official robes.

Li Ruhua's voice was low and heavy, each word weighty: "We, your subjects, are incompetent and have failed to manage the national treasury, resulting in a shortage of military funds and an emergency at the border. This is truly our fault, and we beg Your Majesty to punish us!"

Li Changgeng followed closely behind, his voice trembling slightly: "As the Minister of Revenue, I failed to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, resulting in an empty treasury and unsustainable military supplies. I cannot escape my guilt, and I beg Your Majesty to punish me severely!"

Zhu Youxiao stared coldly at the two of them, his silent gaze only adding to their pressure.

Li Changgeng, in particular, felt like he could barely breathe.

After a long silence, the emperor spoke slowly, his voice cold and stern: "Punish? Severely punish? If I dismiss you now, who will fill this hole?"

His gaze was sharp as a knife.

"I can allocate funds from the imperial treasury to cover the Liaodong military expenses, but the Ministry of Revenue must give me an explanation within three months! Collect the salt tax, commercial tax, grain transport tax, and land tax that are due, and investigate those that are due! If I hear the words 'we can't collect them' again, you need not come to see me again!"

The Minister of Revenue does not perform the duties of the Ministry of Revenue.

They're afraid of offending this person, and they dare not do that person.

What is the purpose of your position as Minister of Revenue?
Can't do it?
Then let's replace him with someone who can do the job!

The emperor was furious, and Li Ruhua knew he had to make a statement now.

He kowtowed deeply, his voice hoarse but firm: "Your Majesty, I obey! I will do my utmost to reform the finances and live up to Your Majesty's trust!"

Li Changgeng was also pragmatic.

If he doesn't do his job well, forget about his dream of entering the cabinet; he might not even be able to step down from his position as Minister of Revenue safely.

He immediately kowtowed heavily and said in a tone as if he were making a solemn pledge, "Your Majesty, I will certainly investigate the deficit thoroughly and recover the overdue taxes. I will never dare to cause Your Majesty any more worry!"

Seeing that the two men were somewhat sensible, Zhu Youxiao said softly, "Step down! Do your job well!"

"I obey your orders!"

The two bowed again and slowly withdrew from the East Warm Pavilion.

The morning mist outside the hall had dissipated, and the sunlight was dazzling. Li Ruhua raised his hand to shield his eyes, but his fingers inside his sleeve were still trembling slightly.

Li Changgeng said in a low voice, "Your Excellency, this matter..."

Li Ruhua took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Let's go back to the duty room first and then discuss it."

A wise and benevolent ruler is a blessing for the nation.

But for these officials, it might not be a good thing.

When a foolish ruler is in power, it's not a big deal if you don't do your job well.

However, His Majesty is very knowledgeable about the affairs of the Six Ministries. If they don't do a good job, they will really have to pack their bags and leave.

Taxes! Taxes!

Now we have to bite the bullet and go collect it!

(End of this chapter)