Chapter 1489: Borrowing Money Again? Not Lending!

"Borrowing money again? The Finance Commission truly treats my privy purse as a lending vault, letting you take and take, borrowing whenever you please? Twice before you borrowed and have yet to repay, and I have not pressed for it—so now you grow even bolder?"

Inside the hall, Emperor Liu paced on the imperial dais, his hand waving unconsciously, his gaze fixed tightly on Wang Qiwu and Shen Yilun, who stood with bowed waists and clasped hands, his tone carrying a hint of indignation: "I do not believe the treasury is so strapped that it cannot even disburse funds and grain for disaster relief?"

The two ministers below the vermilion steps, seeing Emperor Liu's fierce, clawing demeanor and hearing his dissatisfied rebuke, could not help but reveal a trace of embarrassment on their aged faces.

Yet embarrassment aside, beneath the dragon's might of Emperor Liu, their expressions did not waver. Their purpose in coming was simple and direct—the treasury was in difficulty, and they had come to borrow money from Emperor Liu.

But this time, hearing their purpose, Emperor Liu's attitude was markedly different, even showing rare indignation, which made them inwardly begin to murmur with some unease.

Previously, after the triumphant return of the second northern expedition, due to the enormous war expenditures, the finances had been overdrawn and the court had fallen into fiscal difficulty. At that time, Emperor Liu had twice proactively lent funds from his privy purse, helping the court barely tide over the crisis.

This time, due to the great floods in the Central Plains, from the start of flood-fighting and disaster relief, the court had allocated funds and mobilized men and materials—naturally spending money like water. The disaster had barely ended, and the post-disaster reconstruction and resettlement efforts, in every aspect, entailed enormous expenditures; the spending simply could not stop.

Thus, Wang and Shen, once again feeling the fiscal strain, turned their thoughts once more to Emperor Liu's privy purse. Though they did not know exactly how much reserve it held, the Great Han's treasury and privy purse had been kept strictly separate for over twenty years now, and over twenty years of accumulation was bound to be considerable—Emperor Liu remained the wealthiest man in the Great Han...

Yet this time, they were met with a torrent of rebuke and interrogation from Emperor Liu, and judging by his demeanor, he clearly was unwilling to lend again—this was truly unexpected.

Moreover, Emperor Liu's indignation was not feigned. Shen Yilun was already past sixty, with old arms and old legs, and Wang Qiwu was even the Vice Chancellor, yet at this moment Emperor Liu did not even spare a word to bid them sit, leaving them standing, with an attitude that felt positively aggressive.

However, since they had already opened their mouths, they could only steel themselves and continue pressing the request. Lowering his head slightly, Shen Yilun spoke in a steady voice, at a measured pace: "Your Majesty, to relieve this disaster, the Finance Commission has already disbursed over 9.36 million strings of cash, transferred 1.37 million dan of grain, and shipped all manner of supplies to the disaster zone by boatload and cartload. Post-disaster rewards and consolation, relief distribution and pacification, support for reconstruction—every item entails enormous expenditure. Add to that the losses in various regions, and the court has also exempted the affected prefectures and counties from taxes for a year and a half..."

"I do not wish to hear you recite these accounts!" Hearing Shen Yilun's somewhat long-winded words, and even sensing a kind of pressure from them, Emperor Liu grew even more displeased and retorted: "The amounts of relief funds and supplies are certainly enormous, but with the Great Han's vastness and abundance of produce, can it truly not bear the burden?

The court has been resting and recuperating for over a year now—with more than a year of accumulation, can it not even withstand a single flood disaster? Is the Great Han court truly so fragile?

Is the treasury truly empty? Can it not even cope with disaster relief and emergency aid?"

Facing this barrage of harsh, rapid-fire questions from Emperor Liu, the embarrassment on the faces of the two ministers, Wang and Shen, grew thicker. But those who play politics have thick skins, and those who manage the money bag become all the more spirited when it comes to accounts of funds and grain.

After a moment of silence, letting Emperor Liu calm his mood somewhat, Wang Qiwu spoke, his attitude humble but his tone mild and unhurried: "Your Majesty, after the northern expedition, the court's deficit was enormous, forcing the implementation of many fiscal and tax reforms. Now they are only just beginning to show results. This year and more of rest and accumulation has only slightly made up for the depletion of the northern expedition.

It is true that the treasury still has some surplus, but the court has many places requiring funds, and every expenditure has its designated destination—pull one hair and the whole body moves. This great flood was a sudden calamity, arriving without warning. To fight the flood and provide relief, the officials of the Finance Commission have racked their brains and exhausted their strength, raising funds and supplies from every quarter, which has already affected other matters of the court.

If we divert too much, I fear it will disrupt the normal functioning of other court affairs..."

"Hmph!" Emperor Liu was not so easily persuaded, and seemed to have no intention of sympathizing with the Finance Commission's difficulties. He immediately gave a cold snort and said: "Matters have their priorities—their relative importance and urgency. At present, for the court, disaster relief and distribution, comforting the people and reconstruction—these are the court's first priority, its most urgent task. Everything else can be set aside!

The matter arose suddenly—I did not expect you, Qi Wu, to say such things. What, in over twenty years, with so many disasters occurring across the Great Han, has the court made no preparations at all?

Is there no emergency reserve in the treasury? If there is not, then that is your failure and oversight, and I shall have to think carefully about whether you have managed the Great Han's finances well, and whether you have fulfilled your duties!"

When Emperor Liu's words fell, both Wang Qiwu and Shen Yilun's bodies trembled, and their heads sank even lower—whether from shame or simply to keep Emperor Liu from seeing their expressions and discerning their thoughts, it was hard to say.

In recent years, among the court officials, whether old ministers or close attendants, few could still face Emperor Liu with head held high and chest out.

"Your Majesty, calm your anger!" It was Wang Qiwu again who steadied his mind and continued in a measured tone: "No matter how difficult the disaster relief and aftermath efforts, we ministers will do our utmost, daring not to hold anything back. Only, this great calamity has inflicted heavy losses on the court, and for the urgent matters, we have also made some deliberations and plans.

The summer tax is already being collected. Though dozens of prefectures and counties in Henan and Hebei have been severely hit by the floods, the remaining tax-paying regions can still supply the court. Once the autumn harvest concludes, the court's finances are certain to see great relief.

Only, distant water cannot quench a nearby fire—the court still faces immediate difficulties. We ministers merely wish to request a temporary loan to quickly tide over the present crisis. Once the two taxes are fully collected from all regions, all matters can be resolved..."

Hearing this, Emperor Liu could not help but smile at last, the anger gradually fading from his face, his expression returning to its usual composure. He turned and sat back behind the imperial desk, adjusted himself into a comfortable position, and stared straight at Wang Qiwu: "Qi Wu, I understand your meaning. Only, I also have a question I wish to ask you!"

"Your Majesty, please speak!" Sensing the shift in Emperor Liu's tone, Wang Qiwu dared not be careless and bowed in response.

Emperor Liu said in a flat tone: "When the court faces fiscal difficulties and needs funds and grain to resolve them, you come to me, hoping to relieve the crisis with the reserves of the privy purse. What—for this vast empire, this vast treasury, is the only solution to be the privy purse? When you encounter difficulties, do you only know to rely on me?

Fine—family, state, and all under heaven, I bear the responsibility, and by all reason should not be stingy or hoard for myself! But if I face difficulties, should I also look to the treasury for solutions—borrowing, diverting?

Tell me!"

Emperor Liu's words left Wang Qiwu stunned, and Shen Yilun also slightly startled. Coming back to their senses, the two raised their heads, faces showing a hint of panic. Wang Qiwu no longer maintained his composure and said with shame: "Your Majesty, it was improper of us to consider this and rashly offer our counsel. Please forgive us!"

Emperor Liu's expression did not change as he gazed at Wang Qiwu and said calmly: "You are not guilty—merely caught in the midst of the situation, it is hard to see beyond the leaf before your eyes! You are both important ministers of the state, well-versed in great righteousness. Why I insisted on strictly separating the privy purse from the state treasury back then—you cannot claim not to know the intent. Since the rule was established, it must be observed. I certainly must, and so must you!"

"Your Majesty's instruction is correct! Our deliberations were inadequate, too eager for quick results..." Wang Qiwu made his self-criticism in a sighing tone.

But Emperor Liu would not accept this, and directly instructed: "I can tell you plainly—ten million strings, the privy purse has enough. But this time, I have no intention of lending, nor should I lend! The court's finances are naturally managed by the Finance Commission. If there are problems, find ways to solve them. If you cannot solve them, then I will deal with those in charge!"

He paused, his tone softening slightly, and continued: "Minister Shen has been managing finances for some years now, and you two are both skilled at managing money. I do not believe you cannot think of a way! Without the privy purse's support, will the Great Han's finances collapse? Will disaster relief and comforting the people become impossible?

Go—find your own solutions. With your talents and the Great Han's foundation, can you not get past even this difficulty?"

They had arrived full of enthusiasm and high expectations, only to be met with Emperor Liu's almost merciless rebuke and rebuttal, ending up with faces covered in ash.

Wang Qiwu had been rebuked by Emperor Liu before, but only this time did he feel the most shame and humiliation, and the most loss of face. When he left Chuigong Hall, his expression was gloomy, with the word "shame" practically written across his face.

In fact, as Emperor Liu had said, the so-called difficulties of the Great Han's finances were only relative. If truly urgent relief was needed, there was no way they could not think of solutions—it was merely that turning to the privy purse was the most convenient...

"How much money is left in the privy purse?" After the two ministers left, Emperor Liu's indignation had not yet subsided, and he had also taken an interest, turning to ask Yan Tuo.

Yan Tuo was the head of the palace eunuchs, and had the authority to inquire into the privy purse for consultation, though previously Emperor Liu had rarely asked.

At this question, a strange expression appeared on his face. Lowering his head cautiously, he said in a tone of reminder: "To answer His Majesty, less than seven million strings..."

Hearing this, Emperor Liu's facial muscles twitched twice, and for a moment he was speechless.