Chapter 346: High Society Night Banquet (Part 1)

"What does the Crown Prince mean by this? Is he only giving this Prince a warning, or is he warning every mourning prince?"

After returning to the manor in Jingyang County, Prince Yong Li Lan paced in the study and asked Gao Shang beside him, "'Condolence'—the Crown Princess is merely a front; the real reason Li Chang does this is probably to convey a message!"

After returning to the residence, Li Lan's mind finally turned a corner and realized the matter was not simple.

He does not doubt the note's content is true, but why Li Chang would do this also leaves one puzzling over it.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince's move is merely to draw disaster eastward, letting the other princes act first while he waits like a yellow bird in the rear."

Gao Shang examined the note repeatedly; it contained exactly sixteen characters, not a single one more!

Damned Li Chang, writing a few more characters would get him killed, yet he insists on being a riddler!

Gao Shang cursed Li Chang in his heart almost to death, yet he had to admit: this Crown Prince, whose position is precarious and whose future is uncertain, is far more clever than Prince Yong.

But what good is cleverness?

It must be a useless person like Li Lan to obey him; a clever one would be harder to manipulate!

"Is that really the case? Yet the Crown Prince has no troops, not even many ministers; when he meets a minister, he must report to the Emperor, as if he's confined in a prison."

"Li Chang wants to be the yellow bird in the rear; is he fit for that? This Prince still has some household slaves he can use!"

Li Lan asked, puzzled, "Don't be fooled by Li Chang being the Crown Prince; he doesn't control a single soldier. The Shen Ce Army guarding the Eastern Palace is entirely the Emperor's private troops!"

Of course, secret bribery doesn't count. Yet the Crown Prince's title is only big; he has hardly any private funds, what can he use to bribe confidants?

This is also what confuses Li Lan.

To say Li Chang harbors a desire to kill the Emperor, I believe it. But his minuscule power is like an egg striking a stone against Ji Ge; is he even fit for that?

What does he aim for?

Seeing Li Lan's confused expression, Gao Shang wished he could step forward and slap him a few times!

What does it mean to say Li Chang has no capital? The Crown Prince position itself is the greatest capital! He is the legitimate heir according to the Tang Empire's law!

When the Emperor passes away, the Crown Prince naturally becomes Emperor. Countless people who wish to ride the dragon's success will follow him and guard his ascent!

Who will get the deer when it dies? It's still uncertain!

Gao Shang is completely speechless toward Li Lan's wooden‑headedness.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince himself is Li Chang's greatest capital. If the Emperor suddenly passes, he will hold the great cause, have far more maneuverability than you, and by slipping into the Shen Ce Army's main camp he will have troops."

Then he can gradually win over court officials and establish a new central government.

For ordinary princes, inserting confidants into the Shen Ce Army's high ranks is extremely difficult! Only a mutiny can rival Li Chang.

"Li Chang's move is just to let the other princes test first, isn't it?"

Gao Shang explained with anguish, and Li Lan finally understood.

"Yes, yes, I thought the same. So how should we respond now? Should we just act as if nothing happened?"

Li Lan spoke hurriedly, even a bit impatient.

"In a few days will be the Sage's birthday banquet."

Though the invitation hasn't arrived, a prince not attending the Sage's banquet would actually confirm Li Chang's words aren't false.

If the princes are invited to the banquet, we can closely observe the Sage's demeanor.

As long as he is ill, there will be clues; Your Highness can study them carefully then.

If Your Highness wants to explore the impact of this matter, we must first verify its truth, otherwise it's meaningless."

Gao Shang said calmly.

"Indeed so."

Li Lan nodded slightly and said.

Whether the Emperor truly suffers a terminal illness must be confirmed in person. Yet, as Gao Shang said, if the Emperor doesn't invite princes like Li Lan to the banquet, that would be too bizarre, and it actually solidifies Li Chang's claim.

"Your Highness, the Sage sent a messenger with the invitation; in three days a birthday banquet will be held at Hua Qing Palace. The eunuch who delivered the invitation has already left."

As Li Lan and Gao Shang were discussing important matters, a eunuch outside the study said a reminder.

"That old immortal really does have a problem!"

Li Lan's face lit with excitement, clenched his fist and shouted!

If there were no ulterior motive, why would the eunuch delivering the decree drop the invitation and leave? It must be because he's worried the princes will turn the question back to the messenger, fearing some secret might be discovered.

"Your Highness, this matter is of great importance; I think it's necessary to send someone to Youzhou. I believe this news will change the thoughts of some military governors."

Gao Shang threw out his trump card.

He had already negotiated with An Lushan, but that fellow died on the road. Yet, in Youzhou, is An Lushan the only one?

News of the Emperor's serious illness is enough to stir many ambitious people. After all, who doesn't want to ride the dragon's success?

"No rush; we'll discuss after the banquet."

Li Lan waved his hand lightly, still feeling Gao Shang's idea was too radical.

Bringing border troops into Chang'an is akin to Dong Zhuo's entry into Luoyang back then. What this means is self‑evident.

If the Imperial Guards were available, who would bother bringing in border troops for a coup?

Li Lan may not be very clever, but after being trapped by the Longevity King once, he has learned a bit.

Previously colluding with An Lushan was because he knew An Lushan also needed a patron. More importantly, at that time Li Lan clearly understood how long the Emperor could still live; the variable was too great.

If he doesn't gamble by bringing border troops into Chang'an, he'll never get a chance, and public sentiment and righteousness won't be on his side.

Yet now times have changed; if the Emperor falls ill, does that mean… actually there's no need to be so radical, other solutions are possible.

Li Lan has made up his mind; he decides to first observe at this Emperor's birthday banquet.

However, Li Lan doesn't know that similar stories are playing out among other adult princes now. Those princes, like Li Lan, have gathered their trusted ministers to discuss strategies.

Some are clueless, not knowing how to respond;

Others think further than Li Lan, even having already solidified some key matters.

Unsurprisingly, they all received the Emperor's invitation and must attend the banquet at Hua Qing Palace in three days.

Among Ji Ge's sons, only Crown Prince Li Chang did not receive an invitation.

……

Three days passed in a flash; overall, the situation in Chang'an was calm, yet a major event still occurred!

A matter of great importance to the people's livelihood!

Initially, the court introduced the "Jiaozi loan" to provide start‑up capital for impoverished peasant farmers. The households used the money to buy tools and seed grain, grateful for Ji Ge's kindness. The court cared for the common people.

However, now that the autumn harvest has arrived, the households must, according to the contract's "government‑guided price," exchange their grain for Jiaozi, then use those Jiaozi to repay their debts, completing the whole process.

Yet the current situation is vastly different from the original.

Chang'an Jiaozi has sharply depreciated; peasant farmers holding grain, even those who borrowed Qingmiao loans from landlords, can exchange a small portion of their grain for Jiaozi to repay debts, keeping the rest for themselves.

It's like pulling wool and ending up pulling the government's.

Consequently, in the Guanzhong region, every prefectural and county office that had implemented the Qingmiao Law refused to accept Chang'an Jiaozi, instead forcing peasant farmers—and even some large landlords—to complete the contract by turning in grain, after which the government would give them Chang'an Jiaozi.

Then these people use the Jiaozi to repay their debts.

In other words, you may use Jiaozi to repay a Qingmiao loan, but you cannot directly use Chang'an Jiaozi; a grain‑transfer "document" is required to do so!

Frankly, the government has its own considerations, and the reasons are well founded.

When the Jiaozi were originally lent to you, a contract was signed. Now that the harvest is in, you should follow the contract; the price is the price. You now want to repay at market price, which plainly violates the contract—are you rebels, you obstinate people?

Yet the farmers and some landlords have something to say.

If I take this grain to sell inside Chang'an, I can settle accounts in minutes and still have a good surplus. Isn't it better to use it to buy some items for the family and save some money for emergencies?

On what grounds should I take this silent loss?

The profit is right before our eyes; the contract is worthless! That scrap of paper is even too hard to wipe one's butt with!

You talk about contracts or whatever, but I have only one line: I won't listen! I won't listen! I won't listen!

It seemed as if someone were secretly inciting them; farmers across Guanzhong gathered in front of local prefectural and county offices, petitioning day after day, sitting silently, demanding that the court allow them to sell grain at the Chang'an market and then use the obtained Chang'an Jiaozi to repay Qingmiao loans!

If they disagree, they will prevent the local government from conducting business normally!

These people cannot be blocked or persuaded away, and many local big households quietly stir the trouble from within!

Actually, this is easy to understand.

Many big households have secretly plotted: if the court opens this loophole, they can buy up the now‑worthless Chang'an Jiaozi at low prices within Chang'an, then use those Jiaozi to purchase grain from peasant farmers at high prices, letting those farmers use the Chang'an Jiaozi to repay Qingmiao loans.

This is equivalent to local big households and farmers jointly pulling the government's wool. The court loses, the big households appear virtuous—what's not to like?

In an instant, sentiments across Guanzhong surged, and bizarrely, farmers even organized to storm the county office.

Ji Ge, at Hua Qing Palace, upon hearing this nonsense, ranted that the rioting farmers were ungrateful and insolent! Yet for a moment he could not think of any good solution; aside from sending troops to suppress them, there seemed no other remedy.

After all, this concerns real profit. A few dozen strings of cash is just a meal for the elite, but for farmers it can cover years of expenses.

The government says "don't want it, then don't want it," right?

The common folk, usually so reasonable, have suddenly become unreasonable; clearly they are the ones breaking the contract!

Ji Ge was full of irritation; the birthday feast was imminent, and he had no mind for state affairs, so he tossed this burden onto Right Prime Minister Li Linfu!

Now Ji Ge lives day by day, unwilling to spend any thought on these vexing matters. Those obstinate people break the contract—do they even have a point?

Ji Ge gave Li Linfu a stern order: this autumn harvest must not produce any rogue Jiaozi, by any means! If rogue Jiaozi appear, you, Right Prime Minister, may as well stop serving!

After Li Linfu received the news, he wore a bewildered expression.

When the Qingmiao Law was first introduced, it indeed received an excellent response. Farmers, with low‑interest loans, purchased tools and seed grain under the supervision and coordination of local governments. This boosted the economy of the Guanzhong region.

With money, consumption can be driven; with consumption, prosperity can be created.

Li Linfu understood this principle, but he did not grasp that Chang'an Jiaozi were depreciating too quickly—so fast that policy could not keep up with the change!

The policy's honey has now turned into arsenic. The farmers who once benefited are now forced to take a loss.

With no other recourse, Li Linfu summoned Liu Yan, the deputy director of the Ministry of Revenue's Jiaozi Department, to discuss countermeasures.

"Now the public is in uproar, and I am also at a loss; may I ask Deputy Liu what good plan you have?"

"Grand Treasury Director Yang Shenjin cannot be relied upon; I place great hopes in you."

In a small study of Li Linfu's residence in Pingkang Fang, Li Linfu smiled at Liu Yan, asking him while personally brewing tea, leaving Liu Yan looking both honored and startled.

"Right Prime Minister, in my humble opinion, breaking the contract will bring endless trouble; this wind must not blow long. Once this loophole opens, we will face not just peasant farmers but a flood of opportunistic landlords and powerful magnates."

Liu Yan took the tea cup Li Linfu handed him and replied cautiously.

"I am fully aware of the situation you describe, but how shall we proceed safely?"

Li Linfu stared intensely at Liu Yan and asked.

"Right Prime Minister, we could allow the people to sell grain in Chang'an. However, the government here only accepts Hexi Jiaozi, not Chang'an Jiaozi. When the contract was signed, it never stipulated which Jiaozi must be used for repayment, right?"

"Borrowing a certain amount and repaying the same amount is a matter of principle. The court cares for the people, and the people must understand the court's difficulties as well."

Liu Yan suggested softly.

Li Linfu nodded slightly, then thought of something and asked Liu Yan, "Why doesn't the court reclaim the issuance rights of Hexi Jiaozi? We could print Hexi Jiaozi and send them to Liangzhou for circulation; that wouldn't be a problem."

"Right Prime Minister, if we do this, Hexi Jiaozi will inevitably depreciate sharply. When trading with the Western barbarian merchants, we will be at a disadvantage. And if Hexi Jiaozi become the next Chang'an Jiaozi, what will become of the western frontier troops?"

"Jiaozi that are not interchangeable are like burning a forest to cut off fire! With a barrier, one region may fall into chaos without the whole nation descending into disorder; I believe preserving Hexi Jiaozi's independence is necessary."

"I have recently been contemplating reforms to the Jiaozi system; once the plan is complete I will report to you, Right Prime Minister. For now, we can temporarily use Hexi Jiaozi to address the immediate crisis."

"The reputation of Chang'an Jiaozi is deteriorating daily; abolishing it and issuing new Jiaozi may already be inevitable."

Liu Yan used as polite language as possible to describe his method to Li Linfu.

His method, simple as it is, is to use the relatively stable Hexi Jiaozi currently circulating in Chang'an as an official monetary substitute, allowing farmers to sell grain at the Chang'an market, but requiring them to turn in Hexi Jiaozi.

Or, following the court's approach, adopt an "internal digestion" method, settling accounts with grain.

Either way, there are only these two paths.

If the court has already provided a solution and people still try to skim off the wool, they are truly obstinate; don't blame the Shen Ce Army's iron fist for the pain it inflicts!

"Hmm, this method might be worth a try. Have you really thought through how the new Chang'an Jiaozi should be?"

Li Linfu sighed helplessly, couldn't help but remind Liu Yan, saying.

Now the problem isn't just the Chang'an Jiaozi!

The Jiaozi's sharp depreciation is, in essence, wealth being crazily extracted and plundered by the court. If the system isn't reformed, the new "Chang'an Jiaozi" will still follow the same old path! In that case, what will be damaged is the court's institutional authority!

"Please, Right Prime Minister, rest assured, this humble official has already found a solution and will certainly not disappoint the Right Prime Minister."

Liu Yan, full of confidence, crossed his hands in a salute and said.

(End of chapter)