Chapter 233 – Tribute Revenue

After several rounds of drinks, everyone was slightly tipsy. Nong Siji asked Xu Chun, “I heard Duke Wuying say that you’re planning to reform the military system?”

Xu Chun looked at Fang Zijing, knowing that Nong Siji, who had led troops for many years, must have his own insights. He said, “We’re discussing dividing the Ministry of War into the Land Army Department and the Navy Department. The navy will integrate the inland naval forces of the Yangtze, Yellow, Huai, and Ji rivers, as well as the naval forces of Jiangnan, Guangdong-Guangxi, Zhejiang-Fujian, and the Tianhai Guard.”

“In addition, the border troops and the garrisons in the various provinces will be thoroughly inspected and organized into the land army, and troops and commanders will then be uniformly dispatched based on the situations along the borders and coasts.”

Nong Siji praised, “This is a major matter, indeed it should be properly reorganized. To put it bluntly, I’m not even sure how many troops I have on my side now. The numbers reported from below keep changing; they all rely on a few clerks to count haphazardly. Who can figure it out? Not to mention the troops across the empire, how do you plan to reorganize them?”

Xu Chun said, “We’ve selected students skilled in calculations from the Maritime Academy in Minzhou and the Wanbang Academy in Tianhaiwei. We’ll also pick capable officers from the Ministry of War to lead teams. We’re preparing to divide into nine groups and send them to various regions to oversee statistics on troop numbers, military equipment, horse cavalry, and other military supplies.”

Nong Siji nodded. “The establishment of these academies has indeed been beneficial. Otherwise, if we just relied on reports from below, it would all be a mess. Now, with these new-style military officers, who are proficient in military affairs and good at calculating, leading students to various regions to verify the numbers, the figures will be more accurate. No wonder you started with the maritime academy when you tackled maritime affairs.”

He rubbed his hands and laughed. “Give me a few capable students this year too.”

Xu Chun shrugged. “There’s no way around it. This year, the best students were all chosen to become military instructors at the Jiuchou Academy. It was an imperial decree. Even in Minzhou, the same applies to the academies there. The best ones were all sent to Jiuchou first.”

Nong Siji sighed. Xu Chun laughed. “Once Jiuchou Academy cultivates more talents, everyone will have access to them. After these few years, we’re really short on people.”

But Nong Siji looked at Princess Heshun. “Sister-in-law, pick a few excellent female teachers for me.”

Princess Heshun chuckled. “It’s the same with female teachers. The best ones were sent to Jiuchou Academy to teach. His Majesty’s decree, who dares to defy it?”

Nong Siji sighed again and asked Xu Chun, “The investigation will probably take half a year, I suppose. In my opinion, your prestige isn’t enough, so this matter will likely still rely on Duke Wuying to keep things under control.”

Fang Zijing raised his eyebrows slightly but didn’t say anything. However, he wore a rather arrogant expression, as if suggesting that he was the right man for the job.

Xu Chun laughed. “I follow Brother Zijing’s lead. I’m only responsible for finding money.”

Nong Siji laughed. “Brother Yuanlin, the hardest part is finding money. When the vassal states were abolished, their troops came under the jurisdiction of the provincial governments. Everywhere, there are arrears in rations and salaries. Maintaining troops isn’t just a little expensive—it’s very expensive! Disbanding troops requires money, investigating numbers requires money, and so does maintaining and training troops, as well as providing them with food, salaries, and military equipment. Every aspect requires money. By touching the interests of various regions, local authorities will definitely stop funding. They’ll just wait for central funding. Don’t think that just because you issue an order, they’ll obey. There are plenty of officials at the local level who embezzle salaries. They’ll just shrug their shoulders and say they have nothing.”

He looked at Fang Zijing. “This isn’t something that can be filled by any single family’s wealth. It’s a bottomless pit. I believe that the Nanfang family in Pingnan and the current Linhai Marquis are considered rich, but it’s far from enough to maintain troops. A continuous source of income is needed.”

Fang Zijing smiled but didn’t say anything.

Nong Siji asked Xu Chun, “Don’t stick your neck out for nothing. If you haven’t thought it through and can’t handle the troops from the localities, you might abandon the effort halfway, wasting all your previous efforts, and offend all the high-ranking officials and military officers in the provinces and counties. You need to think this through clearly.”

Looking at Duke Wuying and the princess, he laughed. “Brother Zijing and Sister-in-law, don’t blame me for meddling. The Fang family is already at its peak. Both of you brothers are favored by the Emperor, and you have Guangzhou as a fallback. But Xu Chun doesn’t have powerful in-laws to help him, his family is extremely wealthy, and he doesn’t have anyone influential protecting him from behind. In the eyes of those adept at power politics, isn’t he just a piece of delicious meat? Why would he choose to lead such an unpopular endeavor? In my opinion, making money is one thing, and everyone benefits from your investments, so everything is harmonious, and being a generous benefactor is great.”

“This military reform, if only slightly modified, with a change in name and some adjustments, shouldn’t be drastically altered. Wait until the timing is more mature, and Xu Chun has gained more support from influential people. Then it would be safer to proceed gradually.”

Xu Chun showed a slight change in expression, realizing that this elder brother Nong, whom he had just met, was sincerely looking out for him. Although he didn’t mention the Emperor once, every word seemed to express concern about the failure of his reforms, becoming the target of everyone’s attacks, similar to Cao Cao’s execution of the grain official Wang Hou.

However, now, Brother Zijing hadn’t mentioned this concern anymore, instead suggesting that he could consider other ways to generate income…

He secretly glanced at Fang Zijing. Fang Zijing’s gaze immediately swept over, looking at him with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “In the grand hall of the Military Affairs Office, His Majesty personally wrote ‘Supreme Justice Hall.’ As ministers, we can only do our utmost.”

Nong Siji sighed. “You still say I’m stubborn! I think you two are truly…,” but he didn’t say anything else, pouring himself a cup of wine and drinking it down.

Princess Heshun laughed. “I see that you brothers are both worried about others while stubbornly going your own way. No wonder you can get along so well. What’s the rush? However, one thing you did say correctly is that I do think the Jingguo Duke’s mansion is somewhat weak. They should forge a more powerful marital alliance. Now that I’m a school supervisor, I feel that there are several female students who are quite suitable for Brother Xu…”

As the saying goes, late marriage leads to good fortune; good food is never too late.

Suddenly, Fang Zixing said, “Speaking of which, several of my subordinates are unmarried. Their families are quite wealthy. Hearing that Sister-in-law is the school supervisor at Wanbang, they’ve all asked me and Sister-in-law to help them find matches. I wonder if Sister-in-law is willing to assist. I didn’t dare to make any rash promises and came back to ask Sister-in-law first.”

Princess Heshun was slightly taken aback and looked meaningfully at Fang Zixing, laughing. “Your subordinates, naturally, have excellent character. Later, draft a list, and I’ll review it.”

But Fang Zijing asked Xu Chun, “What are you planning to do now? The tax revenue from trading ports could be a long-term solution.”

Xu Chun said, “Yes, we’re currently having Jiang Mei calculate how many trading ports are appropriate and how much tax revenue is appropriate. Also, the customs duties and commercial taxes collected from the ports and checkpoints along the canal are convenient.”

Nong Siji said, “Trading ports are good, but they also require time. The trading ports on Yizhou weren’t quickly profitable even after they were built.”

Xu Chun couldn’t resist looking at Fang Zijing again and cautiously said, “I don’t have any methods. But the other day, I saw the accounts from the Ministry of Revenue and noticed that there are now over ten thousand members of the imperial clan, each receiving an annual stipend of four hundred shi. The total tribute rice is nearly five million shi per year…”

Princess Heshun waved her hand and laughed. “You’ve been doing business too much, only focusing on the large expenditures. Whatever you do, don’t poke this hornet’s nest. Members of the imperial clan can’t participate in the provincial or metropolitan examinations, leaving them without a path to officialdom. They can only read in the Imperial College, and even if they catch the Emperor’s eye, they’ll only be given idle positions. They completely rely on this tribute rice and silver for their livelihood. Whatever you do, don’t talk about this outside. It’s taboo. Reforming the military system only offends the ministers. If you consider cutting the tribute silver, you’ll offend the entire imperial clan. The Emperor wouldn’t dare to agree either. Ancestral laws determine that this is the Xie family’s empire.”

Xu Chun looked at Fang Zijing again, recalling what Ninth Brother had said about the non-existence of a single family’s empire… The empire isn’t solely for one family or surname… Ninth Brother, as the Son of Heaven, had never felt that this was the Xie family’s empire. Instead, he constantly thought about the nation’s welfare, shouldered the burden of the empire, practiced frugality, and abstained from luxury. It was only after being with him that he became more human, but he had never indulged in pleasures…

Fang Zijing laughed. “It’s clear that you bear the Xie surname.”

Princess Heshun scolded. “I’m not just thinking about my own tribute silver. I know he’s trying to create a huge problem. This is genuinely for Brother Xu’s sake. Young people don’t understand the severity of the situation and mustn’t act rashly. If you truly offend someone, even the Emperor won’t be able to protect you.”

Xu Chun hesitated. “Members of the imperial clan have no prospects. Why can’t these many people participate in the imperial examinations?”

Princess Heshun laughed. “Everyone says it’s the Xie family’s empire. They believe that everyone in the empire is their servant. If they were selected as officials, who would dare to be their superior? Moreover, during the provincial and metropolitan examinations, would they allow imperial clan members to undergo body searches like commoners?”

Xu Chun looked at Princess Heshun. “Imperial clan women can now enter the Wanbang Academy. Among the female teachers selected for Jiuchou, aren’t many of them princesses and county princesses? Why don’t imperial clan children also attend Jiuchou Academy? This way, even if they acquire a skill, whether in literature or martial arts, it would be better than just studying classics in the Imperial College. As long as they have a future, they wouldn’t have to rely on that bit of tribute rice, right?”

Princess Heshun looked at him with a smile. “Many members of the imperial clan are corrupt and useless. Even the Imperial College is just a formality, and they may not be willing to enter the new schools like commoners. Besides, your military maintenance requires a constant flow of money. Since your future is bright, I advise you not to get involved in this mess.”

Xu Chun pondered, noticing that Fang Zijing was nonchalantly urging Nong Siji to drink more wine the whole time. Duke Wuying didn’t mention the imperial clan at all, but Ninth Brother understood his intentions the moment he heard. And the complications involved were indeed troublesome. Princess Heshun treated him sincerely but also advised him not to touch it.

So, Brother Zijing, did you guess something? Did you guess that Ninth Brother would surely also think about the tribute silver of the imperial clan?

By the time the banquet ended, it was already late at night. Xu Chun returned to the palace slightly drunk. Xie Yi was still reading memorials under the lamp, smiling when he saw him return. “Why, drinking with Nong Siji and the others didn’t get you drunk? How come you got drunk at the Fan residence?”

Xu Chun took a handkerchief, washed his head and face, then held a cup of hot tea as he sat down beside him. “Duke Wuying didn’t let me drink much. With the presence of ladies, they served cherry wine, sweet and unlikely to get one drunk. Besides, I had matters on my mind.”

He recounted the conversation about the imperial clan that occurred during the banquet and looked at Xie Yi. “I know that Ninth Brother has never thought about the Xie family’s empire, but the tribute silver of the imperial clan seems indeed difficult to touch.”

Xie Yi smiled. “Yuanlin has his heart fully set on state affairs, and I’m deeply moved. But how could letting you shoulder the burden of raising funds alone be possible? You don’t have to worry about matters regarding the imperial clan. I, the Emperor, will make arrangements for them. But you’re right; we must first provide them with a path forward. Allowing imperial clan members to study at Jiuchou Academy is a good idea. Your suggestion is excellent. I will issue an imperial decree tomorrow.”

Xu Chun watched as Xie Yi lavished praise, but he knew that Ninth Brother, who had ruled for many years, must have long noticed the chronic illness of the imperial clan. Abolishing the vassal states was already difficult; how could he easily touch the tribute silver? This was not something that could be accomplished overnight. Jiuchou Academy was initiated by Ninth Brother. Perhaps when he decreed the establishment of Jiuchou Academy, Ninth Brother had already considered allowing imperial clan members to attend. Now, he was attributing the credit to him just to encourage and commend him.

But Ninth Brother’s efforts to please him made him feel extremely satisfied. Leaning against Xie Yi, his right hand fell along the armrest of the dragon chair, caressing Xie Yi’s knee with the tip of his finger, drawing circles gently. He laughed. “I know that Ninth Brother must have had a plan long ago. Why didn’t you teach me?”

Xie Yi smiled faintly. “Reducing the tribute of the imperial clan can only be done on a large scale.” Reaching out, he gripped the wrist that was causing trouble. “I’ll discuss it with you in detail tomorrow. It’s late tonight. We should focus on the proper duty of serving the emperor.”