Chapter 1732: Each Level Presses Down on the One Below

"This cup of wine—consider it my congratulations on your happy occasion!" Finally ending the conversation, Liu Yang picked up a wine cup and gestured toward Liu Jichang.

"Your servant is truly overwhelmed with shame!" Seeing this, Liu Jichang hurriedly rose, took the cup passed over by Wang Yue, and held it with both hands in response.

After drinking, he set down the cup and solemnly assured Liu Yang: "Rest assured, Your Highness. Your servant will surely work with his colleagues to rectify the tax chaos, draft strict and detailed regulations, strengthen oversight and enforcement, relieve the people's burdens, and restore peace to the marketplace!"

Clearly, regarding the matter of "tax farming," Liu Jichang—or rather, the Kaifeng administration—still had no intention of giving it up. After all, it was a source of revenue, and a massive one at that; even a wealthy office like the Kaifeng administration found it hard to part with.

Most crucially, it was convenient and effortless—just as Liu Yang had said, one could collect money while sitting down. As for the drawbacks of this policy, they were all too easily overlooked in the face of enormous profits.

Now that the Crown Prince had noticed it and raised demands for rectification, the proper attitude was simply to comply. Reform was imperative, but how much effect it would actually have remained to be seen in the execution.

Liu Yang could hardly have been oblivious to the tricks involved here. But after so many years in power, he also knew that some things could not be accomplished by his driving and demanding alone—especially when such a vast sum of interests was at stake.

Giving Liu Jichang a long, deep look, Liu Yang said flatly: "I've heard your words. No need to say more. I'll only watch how you handle things, and only look at results!"

"Yes! Your servant understands!" Liu Jichang bowed again.

After talking for so long, the atmosphere in the Taihe Pavilion seemed to have completely changed. The clamor was gone, replaced by an awkward silence—after all, Liu Jichang, the host, had abruptly left his seat.

Pointing outward with his hand, Liu Yang said to Liu Jichang: "Today I've played the part of an unwelcome guest and delayed your banquet! Go on, then—feast your guests, raise your funds. Don't keep the worthies of the Eastern Capital waiting!"

"Your Highness speaks too gravely!"

"I'm returning to the palace!"

"Your servant will see Your Highness off!"

"No need!" Liu Yang waved his hand, coming quietly and leaving just as lightly.

Only after Liu Yang's figure had disappeared did Liu Jichang's taut nerves finally relax. His legs felt weak, and he involuntarily stepped back twice before collapsing into his chair. He drew a silk handkerchief from his sleeve and, with trembling hands, wiped the sweat from his brow.

In the space of a few moments, Liu Jichang had broken into sweat several times. Even with kidney deficiency, one wouldn't sweat this profusely—it was simply that the Crown Prince's imposing presence was too overwhelming. Though His Highness was known for his leniency and benevolence, when he truly grew angry, it was more than ordinary men could bear—and Liu Jichang was no ordinary man.

After a while, two figures walked in with small steps—one fat, one thin, both ornately dressed—and with a measure of caution, bowed and said: "Your Excellency!"

These two were the Registrar and the Finance Judge of the Kaifeng administration, both key officials of the prefectural office wielding considerable authority, and both trusted men newly promoted and installed by Liu Jichang.

Liu Jichang was still immersed in his recent exchange with the Crown Prince and paid them no mind for a moment. Only when they called out again did he snap back to attention, waving his hand: "Sit!"

"Thank you, Your Excellency!"

Taking their seats, the Finance Judge Zhang Tong cautiously asked: "May I ask, Your Excellency, what matter caused you to leave the feast so abruptly? Just now this subordinate saw a figure departing—might I ask who..."

"A mighty deity, that's who!" At the question, Liu Jichang sighed and said with a bitter smile: "Trouble! Especially for you!"

Hearing this, Zhang Tong was greatly alarmed and could no longer stay seated. He rose and asked: "Has this subordinate done something improper? I beg Your Excellency to enlighten me!"

"Improper? Whether it's even a crime is hard to say!" Liu Jichang said at once: "Those people who roam the markets collecting taxes from small peddlers on behalf of the government—what sort of persons are they?"

Hearing Liu Jichang suddenly inquire about this matter, Zhang Tong was puzzled, but alarm also rose in his heart. He said cautiously: "To answer Your Excellency, these are folk from the streets and alleys who possess standing among the people and considerable skill, and handle matters efficiently..."

"Standing?" Liu Jichang grew somewhat angry: "The 'standing' you speak of—could it be the 'standing' of those who bully the market, oppress the people, and make themselves feared whether one likes it or not?"

"Why would Your Excellency say such a thing!" Zhang Tong grew nervous.

"How have you been managing this?" Liu Jichang rebuked: "I don't even need to see it with my own eyes to know how these people conduct themselves, and how the small folk and peddlers flee from them!

You let things slide, and now that it's come to light, I'm the one taking the blame! Let me tell you plainly—this matter has been exposed. Those people were caught red-handed by the Crown Prince, and he just now questioned me about it. What do you think I should do to quell His Highness's anger?"

"The-the Crown Prince!" Zhang Tong's face showed panic: "How could His Highness..."

"Never mind the Crown Prince for now—think hard about how to clean up this mess! I've already promised His Highness that I will seriously rectify the tax-farming profits and the chaos they've caused!" Liu Jichang said coldly: "If this task is not handled well, I needn't spell out the consequences, need I?"

"Your subordinate understands!" Zhang Tong hurriedly declared.

"Understands?" Seeing how easily he said it, Liu Jichang pressed: "What do you plan to do?"

Zhang Tong answered: "Your subordinate will summon those in charge today, give them a stern reprimand, impose restrictions, and make them act with caution to eliminate any disturbance to the people."

"That's your plan?" Before he could finish, Liu Jichang could no longer contain himself and said angrily: "Are you fobbing me off, or do you think the Crown Prince can be trifled with?"

"Your subordinate would never dare!" Seeing how harshly Liu Jichang spoke, Zhang Tong said hastily.

"To fob off responsibility and muddle through like that—isn't that just courting disaster?" Liu Jichang said: "Let me tell you, from the Crown Prince's tone, whether this tax-farming practice can even continue at all is in question, and you still dare to be lax!"

Hearing this, Zhang Tong was stunned and said instinctively: "Your Excellency, this is a huge sum of tax revenue—over a million strings of cash every year!"

"If it weren't for that, would I have explained and argued before the Crown Prince to buy some room to maneuver? I'd have ordered this policy banned long ago!" Liu Jichang's eyes blazed with fury.

"Your Excellency, please calm your anger. I beg you to issue your command, and your subordinate will act accordingly!" Zhang Tong immediately declared.

Seeing this, Liu Jichang's anger subsided somewhat. He put away his furious expression, considered for a moment, then raised his eyes and instructed: "You must act with bold and decisive measures—harsh means, and make a big show of it! Pick out a few of those people who have acted without restraint and flaunted their power, investigate and punish them. Arrest those who should be arrested, fine those who should be fined. Best of all, execute a few as a warning to the rest! And to give the Crown Prince an accounting!"

"Your Excellency, must it be this severe?" Zhang Tong hesitated slightly.

"If you don't deal with them, then the Crown Prince will deal with me, and I will deal with you! Do you want to lose your office, or lose your head?" Liu Jichang said coldly.

"Yes!" Zhang Tong had no objections this time, and his attitude immediately turned resolute: "Your subordinate will surely carry out a strict rectification!"

"Not only must you deal with the people—you must also produce a set of management measures suited to the times, codified into regulations!" Liu Jichang added: "Whether it's His Majesty or His Highness, both favor good rules and statutes. Only by forming a complete system can this policy have any chance of continuing!"

"Yes! Your Excellency is most wise!"

"Just wait—this matter won't be so easily settled!" Having vented, Liu Jichang's spirits flagged again, and he said with a sigh: "Even if it's preserved, the prefectural office will no longer be able to fully control these tax revenues. Now that this has been exposed, what reaction do you think the Finance Commission will have? In the past, they let things be. But now—can the Finance Commission still keep silent and not stick its hand in?"

At this point, even Liu Jichang couldn't help showing a pained expression, as if he were about to have flesh cut from him.

"Your Excellency, things have come to this—we can only adapt to circumstances and salvage what we can. Perhaps the outcome won't be as dire as you imagine?" The Registrar, who had remained silent all along, now spoke up.

"You do know how to console people!" Liu Jichang sneered.

Rising, he straightened his festive robes and said with a face full of gloom: "Let's go!"

"Is Your Excellency returning to the residence?"

"The matter isn't finished yet! The banquet continues!" Liu Jichang said irritably.

"Regarding the fundraising for the new policy, I have already reported to His Highness!" Liu Jichang said to Zhang Tong: "For this matter, we've made such a big show of it—the funds must be raised in full. You'd best keep a clear record of that!"

"Yes!"