IDWBE -Chapter 367 The National Treasury

“Ah…”

Wang Xiaoshuan couldn’t help but sigh. “What you said makes sense.”

To put it plainly, there was now a gap between him and his good friend.

One was an official; the other, an ordinary commoner. Their identities were no longer on the same level. From the very beginning, the line between them had already been clearly drawn.

They could no longer share fortune and misfortune as before.

The thought left him dejected.

“This is perfectly normal. Why pull such a long face?” Li Sanniang said with a smile. “If you become a high official someday, I won’t go looking for you either. Otherwise people might think I’m asking you for favors. We’d have to avoid suspicion.”

“Exactly, exactly,” Zhu Rourong chimed in. “If you strike it rich and sit at the same table as prefects and generals, how could a nobody like me feel comfortable sitting there too? It’d look like I was relying on your power. I wouldn’t go courting that sort of dislike.”

“Enough. I understand what you mean,” Wang Xiaoshuan said, feeling an odd sense of loss.

“I’ve got to head to the South Gate,” Liang Qingshu said, standing up and stretching. He tapped his pipe against the table as he spoke. “Our family’s grain convoy should be arriving soon. I need to hurry and hand it over to the treasury. If there’s any delay, Lord He won’t spare me.”

With that, he mounted his horse and left with two young assistants.

“Fine, I’ve got work too,” Li Sanniang said, finishing her cup of water. She tied up the hem of her skirt at her waist. “I don’t know what that bastard Ma Jie is up to—barely in office and already finding fault with me. I’d better check the accounts first. Tomorrow morning I’ll go give him a piece of my mind.”

She left without looking back.

Hong Ying’s reappearance after half a year away caused noticeable ripples—not only in Prince He’s residence but also in the military and official circles.

First, He Jixiang transferred all martial experts of the seventh rank and above from Prince He’s residence into the Capital Camp, on the grounds that the residence no longer needed them.

Second, Sun Chengde reverted from being Prince He’s carriage driver to becoming Chief Instructor of the Capital Camp once again.

Finally, Xiao Xizi was officially appointed by Emperor Delong as the Brush-Holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. The position of Chief Eunuch (Keeper of the Seal), however, remained vacant.

Everyone knew that post was reserved for Hong Ying.

Whether he chose to take it or not, it would never fall to Tan Xizi.

Although the war between Great Liang and Wadan still raged fiercely, it did not prevent Prince He’s wedding from proceeding.

A prince’s marriage followed the same Six Rites as that of commoners: proposal, exchange of names, divination of auspiciousness, betrothal gifts, setting the wedding date, and welcoming the bride.

But given the urgent circumstances, everything was simplified—including the betrothal gifts Lin Yi provided.

“Chief Steward, isn’t this a bit… scant?”

Chen Jingzhi, who oversaw all arrangements for the prince’s wedding, stared at the two chests before him. It was already the stage of presenting betrothal gifts, and Chief Steward Hong had brought only two boxes—containing some silk and incense candles.

What was the meaning of this? Was there even two hundred taels of silver in there?

Even common families wouldn’t be so shabby!

“It’s not too little,” Prince Dai said with a smile after glancing at Hong Ying. “Our Great Liang is at war with Wadan. Expenditures are enormous. As Regent, Prince He must set an example of frugality. Extravagance would chill the hearts of the soldiers at the front.”

The true reason, however, was known only to those familiar with Lin Yi.

He was stingy.

More importantly, this Commandery Prince He Shun was hardly worth lavish spending.

Once possessed of immense wealth—now gone so easily. It was lamentable.

Pitiable, yes—but not without fault.

“Prince Dai speaks truly,” Hong Ying said with a smile. “Lord Chen, let us proceed as such. Explain clearly to the Commandery Prince. He is a reasonable man and will surely not take offense.”

On matters like this, he did not even need to consult their prince. He could decide on his own.

If he dared to give more, their prince would surely scold him harshly.

Prince He despised wasteful spendthrifts.

“I understand,” Chen Jingzhi said in disbelief. “Then I shall deliver them?”

Over a hundred men would go beating gongs and drums to the Hu residence—carrying just two chests?

Even if the Commandery Prince didn’t mind, what would the people of Ankang think?

This was utterly improper!

He felt too embarrassed to deliver them.

Shameful!

This was a prince’s wedding!

Hong Ying waved him off. “Go. Don’t delay the auspicious hour. In a few days we’ll set the wedding date.”

“Yes.”

Chen Jingzhi stiffly turned and descended the steps. As he did, he raised his hand mechanically, and the sound of gongs and drums erupted behind him.

Old Twelfth watched his unsteady figure with deep sympathy.

This crafty Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial would not die so easily.

But he might very well die of embarrassment.

How disgraceful.

It was once again the season of autumn harvest. From atop the walls of Ankang City, one could see stretches of golden wheat in the distance.

“Another year of abundance,” Lin Yi said.

The weather had turned cooler. He now wore a long robe, its trailing hem constantly hindering his steps and gathering dust after only a few strides. Strangely, he found himself missing Sanhe.

“Thanks to Your Highness, there has been no major fighting this year, and many burdensome levies were remitted,” said Gan Mao, Minister of Revenue, standing behind him with a deferential smile. “The people have reclaimed land tirelessly. Even the hills are planted with sweet potatoes and maize. With grain to eat, there are noticeably fewer beggars in Ankang now.”

“Continue reforming taxation,” Lin Yi said calmly. “Reduce where it should be reduced; increase where it should be increased. Especially the powerful clans—show no leniency. If they use roads built by me, they must pay the toll.”

Gan Mao bowed. “Yes, Your Highness. I will do my utmost.”

“And is the national treasury now full?” Lin Yi asked.

Gan Mao hesitated for a long moment before replying, “Your Highness, Hongzhou, Yuezhou, and Jingzhou are exempt from taxes. All related expenditures are covered by Sanhe and Nanzhou. As for silk, gauze, horse fodder, salt taxes, and customs duties from Wuzhou and Yong’an, they have not yet been delivered to the Inner Treasury.”

“I understand what you’re implying,” Lin Yi snorted coldly. “These eunuchs have quite the audacity.”

The Treasury was divided into the Inner Treasury and the Outer Treasury. The Inner Treasury was the emperor’s private property, managed by eunuchs; the Outer Treasury was overseen by the Ministry of Revenue.

When his father ascended the throne, the Inner Treasury ran a deficit. So his father dispatched trusted eunuchs to oversee mining and taxation across the provinces.

These mining supervisors and tax commissioners, empowered by imperial authority, extracted silver ruthlessly—levying heavy taxes and committing every imaginable abuse.

Part of the silver went into the Inner Treasury; part was divided among themselves.

The one left pitiful was the Ministry of Revenue. The Outer Treasury was often empty, and whenever funds ran short, it had to request allocations from the Inner Treasury.

Now, although Yong’an and Wuzhou were under Lin Yi’s control, their vast territory and limited manpower meant he could not effectively manage every corner.

He could only rely on existing departments to collect a portion of the taxes. The real bulk of revenue remained in the hands of those mining supervisors and tax commissioners.

With the political situation at court still unclear, there was naturally no reason for them to escort those taxes to Ankang.