Chapter 372: Matters of Finance

Just as Yang Bin's imprisonment had come with suddenness, so too did the conclusion of this case arrive unexpectedly, catching the Great Han's court officials, who had been quietly watching the matter, completely off guard. Such a momentous case came to an abrupt halt—from beginning to end, the Yang Bin affair had never been brought to the table for open discussion. Under the Son of Heaven's direction, it was investigated quietly and handled suddenly, and only after the matter was concluded was a simple and bland notice issued...

This process and outcome left the Great Han's court officials suddenly feeling ill at ease. The young Son of Heaven in the Han palace seemed to wield somewhat too much power—before anyone realized it, imperial authority had begun to overshadow ministerial authority.

Under such circumstances, there ought to have been a minister stepping forward to protest the Son of Heaven's unorthodox methods. In times past, the one who charged to the front had been precisely Yang Bin.

Yet as the protagonist of this political affair, now that he had been taken down, surveying all the civil and military officials at court, there was not a single one who possessed the capability and the influence to do so.

Guo Wei did have the prestige, but this military minister had gradually evolved into a political animal—cunning and calculating, able to read the situation clearly, and unwilling to challenge the Son of Heaven's edge over this matter. Wang Zhang's spirits had sunk somewhat due to Yang Bin's fate. Su Yugui still held the title of chancellor, but had gradually faded from the center of power. As for the likes of Feng Dao and Zhao Ying, they lacked the influence.

As for the new political elites like Fan Zhi—not to mention that they had been personally promoted by Liu Chengyou and had shallow foundations—they did not yet have the qualifications to launch a "challenge" against imperial authority.

Suddenly, the Great Han dynasty's power took a major step toward monarchical centralization, all because a single old minister had been brought down. It was foreseeable that for a considerable period to come, no "opponent" of the emperor would appear at the court's center—at least not one as overt as Yang Bin had been.

And Yang Bin's downfall could not possibly pass without ripples. A political reshuffling was inevitable, and the power vacuum left by Yang Bin's departure from court was bound to trigger major upheaval in the political landscape.

The Yang Bin affair did not end with Yang Bin's conviction. Under Liu Chengyou's direction, the political purge targeting the "Yang Bin clique" unfolded calmly and immediately afterward. This was a political faction strong on the outside but weak within—the partisans across the various ministries and six boards had merely attached themselves to Yang Bin. Once the great tree fell, the vines and branches, facing the Son of Heaven's heavy-handed strike, had no ability to resist and could only be manufactured by the Censorate and the Wude Office.

At the first great court assembly after the Lantern Festival, the court officials were filled with anticipation. Liu Chengyou knew what they were anticipating, but he did not satisfy them. He made no direct response regarding the Yang Bin case, and more importantly, he gave no clear directive on the adjustment of the Hall of State Affairs that the ministers were even more concerned about. In short, he emphasized that the sacred mind was difficult to fathom.

The tribulations of the second year of Qianyou had already passed, and the outlook for the third year of Qianyou had been announced at the Lantern Festival banquet. Thus, at the great court assembly, Liu Chengyou genuinely discussed governance, quickly entering his "working state."

There was only one core topic: money. After two years of austerity, the Great Han's finances had barely managed to catch their breath. Yet the fundamental poverty of the state had not improved—from top to bottom, everyone was living a bitter, hardscrabble existence.

Such circumstances could not possibly support Liu Chengyou's grand ambitions, so change was imperative. Having spent two years since his accession consolidating imperial power and reorganizing military and civil affairs, Liu Chengyou could finally free his hands to devote himself wholeheartedly to developing national strength and building a strong state and a strong military.

Regarding finances, it was nothing more than increasing revenue and reducing expenditure. On the side of reducing expenditure, Liu Chengyou led by example, advocating nationwide frugality. The Han palace had practiced austerity for two consecutive years, with all palace construction and repairs completely halted. At court, there was likewise little wasteful spending.

Liu Chengyou had even gone so far as to reduce the salaries and silk rations of court officials—but the resentment this provoked was too great, and most mid- and lower-ranking Han officials were indeed living in hardship, so Liu Chengyou stopped after a brief attempt and did not continue to squeeze his ministers.

Thus, the focus of the great court assembly's discussion was solely on how to increase revenue. Given the limited vision of the Great Han's court officials, most of them could only think of tinkering with taxes. Liu Chengyou basically ignored the opinions of these people.

In the great catastrophe of Yelu Deguang's destruction of the Jin, the Central Plains had been severely wounded, and after the rise of the Han, several more wars had followed—far from the point of recovery. Although under the court's policy of nurturing the people and allowing them to rest, the Great Han's subjects had managed to live barely stable lives, for most people—especially grassroots farmers—their livelihoods remained impoverished.

The Han court's taxation was already heavy to begin with. Liu Chengyou had abolished many exorbitant levies at the start of his reign, but he had never shown any intention of changing the series of policies that Wang Zhang had spearheaded, which squeezed the blood and sweat of the people.

The burden was already heavy enough. If further tax increases and additional levies were imposed, Liu Chengyou could foresee that popular unrest would surely arise. And if one added the local officials and military officers of dubious quality across the regions—these executors of policy—Liu Chengyou could not guarantee what kind of disastrous consequences they might bring about.

Therefore, no matter how difficult the finances, the court should not continue to squeeze the farmers. In fact, what Liu Chengyou was considering was appropriately reducing the farmers' burden—which would only intensify the court's fiscal pressure.

Pooling wisdom from all sides always yields results. The Administrative Assistant of the Budget Bureau, Xue Juzheng, and others did put forward some proposals that satisfied Liu Chengyou. The core was a single point: continue to tap the potential of the court's existing tax revenues.

For example, the state-run salt and iron, and liquor and yeast—these two categories had always been major sources of court revenue. They suggested re-establishing regulations, deepening standardization, and simultaneously cracking down severely on illegal operations.

Building on salt, iron, liquor, and yeast, they proposed continuing to expand the scope of state operation, bringing tea, sugar, and other items entirely under the court's "unified" management and operation. Monopolies always make money. Liu Chengyou's only hesitation was whether the court had the execution capability...

Someone proposed continuing currency reform—the exchange of old and new coins left too much room for manipulation in between.

Some ministers also turned their eyes to commercial taxes, but the Great Han's commerce was not particularly developed. Liu Chengyou's thinking was to fatten them up before slaughtering—he not only refused to agree to increase commercial taxes, but instead decreed the implementation of the previous policy of reducing and regulating customs duties. Previously, too many local officials and military officers had treated court policy as a fart, and it was time to begin rectifying this.

For the sake of the state's finances and taxes, the ministers vied to offer advice and strategies—yet Wang Zhang, who headed the State Finance Commission, remarkably did not speak a single word or offer a single proposal.

It was again in Chongzheng Hall. Liu Chengyou took a sip of hot tea to relieve the fatigue of prolonged policy discussion. He summoned Wang Zhang before the imperial presence and asked him about the court session: "The state is impoverished, finances are strained, and I have long been at my wit's end over matters of money and grain. At Chongyuan Hall, your fellow ministers vied to speak and offer strategies—why, Minister Wang, did you remain silent?"

"Your servant is dull-witted by nature and knows nothing of adaptation; I truly have no good strategies. Moreover, the court is now full of talent—why would it need this old pedant of mine to speak recklessly!" Wang Zhang's answer caught Liu Chengyou somewhat by surprise, and he felt that there was something beneath the words.

Staring at Wang Zhang, whose face was cold and hard, Liu Chengyou felt displeasure rise within him—the sense of being offended was rather strong.

"Why does Minister Wang belittle himself? Since the founding of the state, all matters of finance have been entrusted to you. Your toil and merit—I have seen it all!" Liu Chengyou said softly, but his tone was somewhat lukewarm.

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhang sat behind the table and was silent for a moment. Then he suddenly rose, walked to the center of the hall, and bowed: "Your servant has a request—I beg Your Majesty to grant it!"

Seeing this, Liu Chengyou had originally thought Wang Zhang had some new insight on financial matters, but he did not expect that what came out of his mouth was a resignation.

"Your servant is afflicted with illness, and after long without a good physician, I have grown increasingly feeble. I no longer have the strength for the toil of official documents. Lest I delay state affairs, I now humbly request retirement..." Wang Zhang said calmly.

At these words, Liu Chengyou was briefly at a loss. His gaze upon Wang Zhang gradually deepened.