Chapter 304: The Taxation Bureau

These words made Shen Tingyun's face turn red with embarrassment.

For a moment, Shen Tingyun didn't know what to say. Argumentation was never his strong suit to begin with, and besides, this had come upon him so suddenly that it was only natural his hastily assembled rebuttal had holes in it—but what he had said was the truth.

Everyone present knew perfectly well that what these meritorious nobles and imperial relatives had done had nothing to do with willingness, nor were they truly loyal to the sovereign and devoted to the state.

If given the chance, these meritorious nobles and imperial relatives would immediately go back on their word. If they could pay a bit less tax or embezzle a bit back, they would absolutely do it—of that there was not a shred of doubt.

It was just that this could not be said aloud. If it were spoken, it would be tantamount to dragging the matter out into the open, and where would His Majesty's face be then?

So Shen Tingyun could only swallow his words. To put it plainly, the Duke of Ying was using righteous principle to crush people.

This so-called righteous principle could in fact be understood as what later generations would call political correctness.

Zhu Youxiao made no comment on this, but in his heart he had already made up his mind.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at the assembled ministers and said slowly, "Enough, no need to keep squabbling. We shall establish a new office! For now, this office will be placed under the Imperial Household Department."

After saying this, Zhu Youxiao wasted no more words. He stood up directly and walked toward the back, clearly not wanting to continue discussing matters with these ministers.

After Zhu Youxiao left, the civil officials and the meritorious nobles and imperial relatives exchanged glances with one another, snorted coldly in unison, and each went their own way out.

The civil officials were quite displeased—what should have been in their grasp had slipped away.

As for the meritorious nobles and imperial relatives, this power had never had anything to do with them in the first place, so getting it or not was of no consequence. What displeased them was that they had still ended up being played by the civil officials.

The meritorious nobles felt a pang of pain in their flesh—even if this power hadn't fallen into the civil officials' hands, in the end it was still their own people who had to pay the money.

After returning to the Western Park, the anger on Zhu Youxiao's face vanished.

Lying back in the rocking chair, tapping the armrest with his hand, Zhu Youxiao began pondering his next matter.

This business of taxing the manorial estates could in fact be considered concluded for now.

As for whether the civil officials and the meritorious nobles and imperial relatives would keep fighting each other, Zhu Youxiao didn't care much. If they wanted to fight, let them fight—the civil officials were constantly at each other's throats anyway, so the two sides going at it was nothing major.

In any case, he had never intended to hand this matter to the Shuntian Prefecture or the Ministry of Revenue, much less to the Five Armies Command.

Zhu Youxiao had originally planned to take this power into his own hands. There were too many things to be done in the future, and without money and grain, nothing would work.

If the Ministry of Revenue and the Five Armies Command were to collect the taxes on the nobles' manorial estates, the money would likely never reach his hands. Even if some did reach him, who knew how much. He had no interest in, and was too lazy to, wrangle with them over it.

Lifting his head to look at Chen Hong, Zhu Youxiao said, "Go to the Office of Transmission and fetch Chen Sihai."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chen Hong hastily bowed in acknowledgment, then turned and walked out.

The matter of taxing the manorial estates having settled, even Chen Hong breathed a sigh of relief, having feared he might be dragged into it.

During this period, Chen Sihai had been lying low.

Ever since the Henan case last time, this Lord Chen could be said to have risen to fame, drawing attention throughout the entire civil official system.

Of course, most of it was ostracism, but there were no small number of people who held Chen Sihai in high regard. For instance, Minister of Justice Huang Kezuan, and also Ou Dalun—both were extremely fond of Chen Sihai.

But more people kept their distance from Chen Sihai in respectful wariness—no one dared to provoke such a figure.

The officials of Henan, from the Governor at the top down to the most insignificant petty clerk, had all been cleaned up by this formidable man. No one dared offend him, terrified of being targeted by him.

This kind of man had ability and feared not death. The key point was that he stood in the Emperor's favor—whatever he did, he had the Emperor's backing. Provoking such a person was not worth it. Even if you dragged him down with you, what would that accomplish?

This time, Zhu Youxiao planned to bring Chen Sihai out for a spin.

Last time he had let Chen Sihai pull off a big one; this time releasing him meant having him pull off another big one.

Of course, it was also time to give Chen Sihai a promotion—this position suited him quite well.

Chen Sihai walked in from outside with a grave face, his expression stern, his stride firm.

For Chen Sihai, this period had been unbearably idle. Now that he learned His Majesty had summoned him, he understood in his heart that some great matter was about to be undertaken, so he had come in haste.

However, so that His Majesty would not look down on him, Chen Sihai still put on a very composed demeanor.

"Your subject Chen Sihai, paying respects to Your Majesty."

Upon seeing Zhu Youxiao, Chen Sihai hastily bowed in salute.

Zhu Youxiao simply waved his hand and said directly to him, "Enough, rise."

After Chen Sihai straightened up, Zhu Youxiao finally spoke: "I have a task for you."

"Please give Your Majesty's command." Chen Sihai bowed and said.

"You should have heard about the goings-on at court by now, right?" Zhu Youxiao looked at Chen Sihai and said, "This newly established office—I intend for you to be in charge of it."

"Your official rank shall be Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, but you will be placed under the Imperial Household Department. This newly established office shall be called the Imperial Household Department Taxation Bureau."

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Chen Sihai couldn't help but hesitate.

Logically speaking, this was a good thing. After all, his official position was being promoted, and at the same time it showed that he had gained His Majesty's esteem.

This was an opportunity to take charge of matters on his own. As long as he did well, future promotions would be no problem. But Chen Sihai truly did not want to go.

Because in Chen Sihai's view, tax collection was not a good assignment—there was no great difficulty in it; and the trivial matters of transport and the like were even less what he wanted to do.

Seeing Chen Sihai hesitate, Zhu Youxiao asked, "If my minister has something to say, speak freely."

"I report to Your Majesty: your subject understands little of many things in officialdom, yet delights in investigating and rooting out corrupt officials. Here at the Office of Transmission, your subject works very comfortably. But if you ask me to collect taxes, I fear I lack the meticulous disposition for it."

Glancing at Chen Sihai, Zhu Youxiao didn't even know what to say.

Did these officials at court never blush or have their hearts race when they spoke?

One should know that Chen Sihai's entire record was etched in Zhu Youxiao's mind. Chen Sihai's words were nothing more than an excuse for not wanting to go.

Zhu Youxiao understood this in his heart, so he looked at Chen Sihai and said, "This matter is not so simple."

After saying this, Zhu Youxiao picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Chen Sihai couldn't help but be startled, his eyes brightening.

Seeing that he had aroused Chen Sihai's interest, Zhu Youxiao continued, "If it were merely collecting taxes, I would not send you."

"Though I may not count as a sage ruler, I do understand how to know people and put them to proper use. Your seriousness, your uprightness and integrity, and your ability—all these I know well. If I sent you to collect taxes, that would truly be a waste of great talent."

Hearing these words, the expression on Chen Sihai's face finally relaxed, and he hastily asked, "Then may I ask what Your Majesty intends for your subject to do?"

"Naturally, I intend for you to investigate people."

Zhu Youxiao looked at Chen Sihai and said, "The Great Ming has been around for over two hundred years, and the meritorious nobles and imperial relatives for over two hundred years as well. In these two hundred years, one could say the seas have turned to mulberry fields and things have changed beyond recognition—how many people still remain utterly loyal to the Great Ming? Still cling to the glory of their ancestors?"

"These things, I don't know about, but what I can be certain of is that many of them have already degenerated. These people spend their days in drunken revelry, with not a shred of loyalty, righteousness, honor, or shame. They oppress the good and honest, making the common people of Great Ming suffer beyond words."

"I'm sending you to investigate them. Start with the taxes and levies—see how many common folk they've harmed, how much land they've embezzled."

"This matter is likely more dangerous than Henan. One misstep and something could go wrong. So I want to ask you: do you dare to go?"

Zhu Youxiao would never believe in the so-called rules of officialdom.

Many people had once said that in officialdom, one couldn't take lives—that there were bottom lines. Zhu Youxiao didn't believe a word of it.

Once it came down to a threat to one's own life, what bottom line was there left to speak of?

Murder and arson—they were fully capable of such things!

"Death by suicide"—those three words weren't said idly.

If Chen Sihai truly stirred up something big, it would be fraught with peril. At worst, he might be "suicided," or meet with some "accident."

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Chen Sihai didn't shrink back—on the contrary, he grew excited.

He stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, please let your servant handle this matter. Even if I die a hundred deaths, I shall have no regrets. At the same time, Your Majesty may rest assured—your servant will not disappoint you, and will investigate everything thoroughly!"

Zhu Youxiao looked at Chen Sihai and said with a smile, "Then do it well."

"Oh, right—I'm placing the Embroidered Uniform Guard under your command. Didn't you and Xu Xianchun cooperate quite well? This time, bring him along. For one thing, the Embroidered Uniform Guard can protect your safety; for another, it's fitting to have them handle any manpower matters. After all, the Embroidered Uniform Guard isn't deeply entangled—there are many places where they have no involvement."

"Also, if you have any other conditions, you can raise them." Zhu Youxiao looked at Chen Sihai and said with a smile, "As long as they aren't too excessive, I'll grant them all."

"Your Majesty, your servant wishes to have one person accompany me to the Tax Bureau." Chen Sihai didn't stand on ceremony and said directly.

"Who do you want to bring?" Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Tell me."

If it wasn't anyone too remarkable, Zhu Youxiao was prepared to let him go. After all, at a time like this, it was only natural that Chen Sihai needed more hands—the matter wouldn't be easy to handle, after all.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, what your servant wants is Ou Dalun, Lord Ou." Chen Sihai said hurriedly.

Ou Dalun?

That man was not one to get along with easily—an absolute stubborn old fossil, a disciple of Hai Rui, Hai Gangfeng.

Zhu Youxiao never would have imagined that Chen Sihai wanted Ou Dalun.

But Zhu Youxiao could understand it—after all, this kind of matter required someone like Ou Dalun to handle it.

Just like when Hai Rui was in Jiangnan back in the day—even Xu Jie's family lands were collected without exception. No matter who you were, if you violated the laws of Great Ming and did evil deeds, he'd come down on you with everything he had—he wouldn't even spare the face of Governor-General Hu Zongxian of the Southeast.

"If he goes over there, you'll probably have to be his deputy again." Zhu Youxiao looked at Chen Sihai and said with a smile.

"Working for Your Majesty, working for the court—official rank doesn't matter." Chen Sihai hurriedly bowed and said, "As long as the job gets done well."