Chapter 1490: The Property of Emperor Liu

"Less than seven million strings of cash." The cautious report seemed to form a wave of sound, drilling unceasingly into Emperor Liu's ears, penetrating directly into them.

Of course, this was already a huge sum of money, yet it brought Emperor Liu a strong sense of disparity. It wasn't that he belittled such a vast amount, but looking at the twenty-year timeline, that the inner treasury held less than seven million strings of cash was truly somewhat hard to accept.

"How can it be so little!" His expression was somewhat gloomy, his tone chilling. Emperor Liu glanced at Yan Tuo: "After twenty years of accumulation, this is all that remains? What's going on? Could there be something fishy in all this?"

Noting Emperor Liu's gaze and sensing the suspicious tone, Yan Tuo hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty, in the early years the state's tax revenue was insufficient, and the annual income to the inner treasury was less than three million strings of cash. Only when conditions later improved did it grow year by year. Even so, after the Kaibao era began, the annual intake was still under four million strings.

Thus over twenty years, the total income to the inner treasury came to roughly sixty to seventy million strings. However, the daily expenses of the palace—the salaries of the empress, consorts, and palace women, rewards during festivals, repairs to the halls and chambers—each year's consumption was no small matter.

Two years ago, there were still over two thousand strings remaining. After deducting loans to the state treasury and the income and outgo of these past two years, only less than seven million strings remain in the inner treasury's coffers..."

Hearing Yan Tuo's explanation, Emperor Liu's expression finally softened somewhat, though the strange feeling in his heart remained. Frowning, he said: "That still doesn't add up. Can palace expenses really be that enormous? How was all the money spent?"

In recent years, whenever the state's finances were in poor condition, Emperor Liu had been very sensitive about "money," and it was often at such times that he advocated frugality and cut back on the palace's imperial expenditures.

Thus, in his subconscious, palace spending was still somewhat restrained—as for daily expenses, how much could they amount to? But this was ultimately the Kaibao era after all. The realm was at peace, society was advancing, the economy was developing. No matter how one practiced so-called frugality, one could never return to the "hard work and plain living" of the early Qianyou days.

Emperor Liu was a man of great perseverance and great will. He could do it, but there was no need, and moreover, he could not truly make the entire harem and all the nobles and ministers of the court be like him.

When there was a more comfortable life to be had, why be overly harsh on oneself? Having spurred martial glory for over twenty years, carved out such a vast realm, and fought for a world of peace and contentment—the purpose was not to continue living a simple, even hard, life.

On the other hand, Yan Tuo's report was still somewhat conservative. At least many expenditures were not detailed—such as the construction of the dragon boats and the Dragon Palace, the costs of banqueting various ministers and officials on ordinary days, the compassionate pensions for deceased elder ministers and even some timely acts of grace and reward, the expenses of the princes' and princesses' marriages, the costs of imperial tours and hunts, and there was also an imperial city in the Eastern Capital, plus the maintenance costs of the various temporary palaces across the realm—and so on, and so on.

If one truly listed them out one by one, the various expenditures of the palace were truly not small, and among them, the outlays surrounding Emperor Liu himself accounted for no small proportion.

And it seemed—perhaps because habit had become second nature, or perhaps because he had never specifically reflected on or paid attention to it—Emperor Liu had not been aware of this. Hearing it suddenly, he even felt a sense of surprise.

These things, Yan Tuo naturally dared not actually list out for Emperor Liu, otherwise wouldn't he be implying that His Majesty was extravagant and wasteful, slapping the face of his "plainness and thrift"?

But Emperor Liu was no ordinary man—how could he be completely unaware? Noting Yan Tuo's reaction, the strange feeling in his heart grew stronger. Frowning, he asked: "Aside from the imperial army guarding the palace, how many people are currently in the palace?"

Emperor Liu had hit upon a key point. Yan Tuo inwardly breathed a slight sigh of relief and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the consorts of the harem, the officials and clerks of the various bureaus, the palace eunuchs of the various halls, and the palace maids—altogether over four thousand people..."

"So many people!" Emperor Liu's voice was slightly startled, his brows rising. "Where did all these people come from?"

Yan Tuo said softly: "Aside from normal replenishment, after the pacification of the Later Shu, Jiangnan, and Nanyue, most of the palace women of suitable age who were captured were brought into the harem."

At this explanation, Emperor Liu understood. In fact, the current scale of palace women was already after some of the over-age palace women had been released.

Yet Emperor Liu felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest, his expression not relaxing: "How much is the palace's annual daily expenditure?"

"Approximately over two million strings..." Yan Tuo answered.

"Over two million what?" Emperor Liu's tone grew harsher.

Yan Tuo was startled, then continued with his head lowered: "This servant only knows a rough figure. The exact amount would require checking the account records."

"That's still a lot!"

He glanced at Yan Tuo, not pressing further, and fell into thought. After a moment, his spirits lifted and his voice rose: "That still doesn't add up!"

Emperor Liu said in a certain tone: "I remember that after Chengdu, Jinling, and Panyu fell, large quantities of wealth and goods were shipped back. What about those?"

Emperor Liu at this moment seemed to have a mindset of trying to make up for something, as if he had discovered some problem. Seeing this, Yan Tuo maintained his cautious demeanor and answered unhurriedly: "Your Majesty, the gold, silver, jewels, jade objects, paintings and calligraphy, precious armor and famous swords, silks and satins—all are stored in the palace treasury. But the surplus cash in the inner treasury is indeed less than seven million strings..."

In fact, the property used by Emperor Liu, or rather the imperial house, could not possibly be just a few million strings. Twenty years of accumulation—both wealth and property—constituted a vast fortune. Not to mention the rare treasures, gold and silver imperial utensils, famous wines, and fine horses stored in the palace, even the imperial gardens, temples and bureaus, and lands managed by the Shaofu constituted a comprehensive industrial complex, contributing large revenues to the imperial house every year.

Just the various imperial estates around the two capitals numbered over a hundred, let alone the rest. The imperial house's annual income was not limited to the tax revenues shared with the court; there were also the tributes from vassal states and foreign envoys each year, and the local offerings from various regions—these were also considerable.

Emperor Liu did not press further. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly raised his hand and instructed: "Notify the various palace commissioners and the Shaofu to conduct a full inventory of the palace's stored treasures and the imperial properties, and also go through the detailed accounts of these past years. I want to review them!"

His Majesty wants to audit the accounts? Yan Tuo was startled inwardly, but his reaction was quick. He verbally assented promptly and took his leave to carry out the order.

Only, as he withdrew, Yan Tuo's lightly powdered face grew even paler, and his expression was especially grave. Yan Tuo naturally had reason for concern—though not for himself. Although his hands were not entirely clean in daily matters, he had a good sense of proportion and never touched anything taboo.

The key lay in the people under him. As the chief eunuch of the palace, his authority came from Emperor Liu, but he also could not do without the support of his subordinates.

Among the palace personnel serving within the palace, there were naturally many of his confidants holding key positions in the various bureaus, directorates, and offices. Whether these people had any problems—Yan Tuo naturally had a certain answer in his heart.

The Great Han's palace expenditures were enormous, and it was not just the extravagance and enjoyment of the emperor, empress, and consorts. In the past, Emperor Liu had not paid much attention, so it was inevitable that amid the magnificent halls there existed some dark corners and shady dealings.

However, when Emperor Liu turned his attention to it, that was the holy light shining everywhere—at least it could bring light for a certain period. And Yan Tuo could almost be certain that once an investigation was conducted, problems would definitely be found—problems that would enrage the emperor.

Once that happened, there would inevitably be another upheaval within the palace. For Yan Tuo, what he feared was the fire burning himself. And he had no doubt at all that problems would be found—on this point, Yan Tuo's understanding was very clear.

How to resolve it, how to avoid danger—this inevitably gave him a headache. Serving at Emperor Liu's side, one could not last long without a sharp mind. Yan Tuo could not help but rack his brains, yet after thinking this way and that, he still ended up with a feeling of powerlessness.

At most, he could consider the situations that might implicate himself and take precautions. As for the rest, it was not convenient to do anything. To deceive the emperor right before his eyes was the act of a fool, and Yan Tuo considered himself a smart man—he naturally would not be so foolish.

And to have been the head of the palace eunuchs for over ten years, what Yan Tuo had always insisted on was serving Emperor Liu wholeheartedly—that was the fundamental reason his favor never waned.

Emperor Liu naturally did not know that a simple decree would stir so many thoughts and calculations in the mind of the head eunuch at his side. He merely sat there brooding, his mood clearly poor, with a feeling of dejection.

Through this exchange with Yan Tuo, he once again felt a sudden enlightenment, and the result startled him greatly—this was an instinctive vigilance as an emperor.

Unknowingly, he was drifting further and further from his former style. Previously, Emperor Liu had often worried about the dukes, nobles, and civil and military ministers indulging in pleasure, but suddenly looking back, he seemed to have no essential difference from them. Realizing this point made Emperor Liu feel a sense of bewilderment and even terror within his heart.