Chapter 576: Donating Funds

After Guo Rong left Chongzheng Hall, he did not return directly to the Bureau of Military Affairs, but followed the palace exit route and caught up with Chang Si.

This old fellow Chang Si, after his audience with the Emperor, had been absolved of his faults, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders—his back was straighter, his steps lighter. Seeing Guo Rong catch up to him, he immediately smiled and said, "Young Lord Guo, the Son of Heaven is magnanimous indeed—He truly did not fault this old man."

As he spoke, a trace of regret showed on his face, and he said, "But why did the Son of Heaven burn the debt certificates I presented from the people of Luzhou? That was a full seventy thousand strings of cash!"

Hearing Chang Si's words, the skin on Guo Rong's face couldn't help but twitch. He had gained an even deeper understanding of this old fellow Chang Si's ignorance, shortsightedness, and greedy, base nature.

Why had Wang Jingchong set his sights on Chang Si? Wasn't it because during his years governing Luzhou, he had amassed wealth excessively, to the point that governance decayed and the people grew poor? The Son of Heaven was fully aware of this. In previous years, upon hearing of similar situations, He had only issued edicts of warning—the time had not yet come to deal with it.

Now, releasing Wang Jingchong was clearly a deliberate move aimed at him. Since Chang Si sensed the crisis and came to the capital to maneuver and beg for help, yet he himself did not reflect on his own conduct. Guo Rong advised him to offer up his family property, and instead he pulled out that stack of IOUs and debt certificates—simply exposing his own weaknesses and admitting his own misdeeds.

Where did that stack of certificates come from? How could the people of Luzhou owe him so much money? Offer them to the Emperor, and have the Emperor send people with those papers to Luzhou to collect the debts? Given the Son of Heaven's temperament, burning them outright without using them as evidence to indict him was already showing restraint.

Ridiculous—this old fellow Chang Si, utterly unaware, with the crisis unresolved, was still here lamenting over those "seventy thousand strings."

His contempt growing, Guo Rong nonetheless maintained his patience, though his expression was grave as he said, "Does Lord Chang think this matter ends here?"

"What does Young Lord Guo mean?" Chang Si was taken aback, puzzled.

"The construction of Kaifeng city is greatly short of funds and grain. Both the State Finance Commission and the Kaifeng government are raising money. Before you take up your post, pledge your contribution of funds and grain!" Guo Rong said directly.

His brows furrowed, Chang Si said, "I already offered seventy thousand strings!"

At this, Guo Rong no longer wished to say more. He gave a slight flick of his sleeve and spoke to Chang Si with some severity in his tone: "If Lord Chang still wishes to enjoy his old age in peace and preserve his family's wealth and blessings, then do not be stingy! Otherwise, even if you are spared today, disaster will surely come tomorrow—regret will be too late!"

Sensing the change in Guo Rong's attitude, Chang Si's face showed displeasure, but after considering for a moment, he said, "How much do you think I should donate?"

"Whatever amount you amassed from Luzhou—donate that much!" Guo Rong said, looking directly into Chang Si's eyes.

Guo Rong's words had become somewhat impolite. Hearing this, an expression of displeasure couldn't help but appear on Chang Si's old face. Seeing this, Guo Rong gave a slight sigh, suppressing the contempt in his heart: "I have said all I will say. As for how to choose, I ask Lord Chang to consider it seriously. I still have official business to attend to—I'll return to my office now!"

Having said this, Guo Rong flicked his sleeves and left. Behind him, Chang Si's aged face accumulated much displeasure. He gave a light snort and muttered discontentedly, "That Guo family brat, so arrogant—in the hall he didn't speak a single word on my behalf, and now he's lecturing me! Even Guo Wenzhong wouldn't dare treat me with such disrespect..."

As for Chang Si's shifting petty thoughts, Guo Rong had no time to concern himself with them—though even if he knew, he would only respond with a sneer. Guo Rong's character was stern and upright, and he held great contempt for Chang Si's conduct as a man and as an official. Were it not for Guo Wei's sake, he would never have helped him.

In Guo Rong's view, toward Chang Si, his Guo family had already done all that could be done. Guo Rong also knew that the Emperor absolutely did not want him meddling in this matter. Guo Rong had sensed Liu Chengyou's attitude in the hall earlier—in that calmness, there was a hint of displeasure.

That very day, Guo Rong ordered someone to carry a letter south to deliver to Guo Wei, informing his father of the Chang Si matter and his handling of and attitude toward it.

At the Kaifeng government office, the central gate was thrown wide open. No cases were being tried today. In front of the hall, under the direction of an official clerk, seats were being arranged—four rows in total, some twenty to thirty seats—with teacups set out in sequence.

Such commotion clearly meant they were receiving some guests, and in no small number. Yet it didn't resemble a gathering—simply one seat and one teacup prepared.

The autumn morning was cold, and within the government office, especially before the hall, under the weight of authority, it felt even chillier. Only when the deep autumn sun rose high and the temperature warmed slightly did the guests finally appear.

Before the Kaifeng government office, dozens of carriages arrived one after another. People dressed in splendid clothes, adorned with gold and silver, obediently presented their invitation cards, respectfully walked into the office, and were guided to their seats by the clerks.

These people were all the notable merchants of the Eastern Capital—every one from wealthy households so rich that even "a fortune of ten thousand strings" could not describe them. They plied various "base trades" and controlled vast resources. Yet a single invitation from the Kaifeng government meant they had to come personally to the office, obediently and properly.

Already harboring doubts, seeing such a scene—all the great merchants arriving together—only added to their anxiety. Governor of Kaifeng Murong Yanchao was no kind man; for him to make such a commotion, it likely boded nothing good.

Those who knew each other, or had business dealings, spoke in low voices, exchanging information and discussing the situation. The buzzing murmur affected the solemn quiet of the office, but the clerks and runners standing by did not stop them, simply remaining at their posts.

He Fuyin, a great merchant of the Eastern Capital, had in his early years relied on the support of the Prince of Yan, Zhao Kuangzan. In recent years, he had spent heavily in the Eastern Capital to cultivate connections with the powerful. With a solid backing, and being shrewd by nature, his business had grown larger and larger.

By now, his holdings spanned ceramics, grain and flour, medicinal herbs, silk, restaurants, and brothels—a considerable enterprise. Though he had the cunning of a merchant, he was very clever: besides currying favor with the powerful, he was highly deferential to the court and paid close attention to court policies.

Before the campaign against Huainan, when the court was procuring military supplies such as medicines, shoes, and clothing, he sold all his stockpiles to the government; when the Eastern Capital faced grain shortages, he spent money to buy grain from various regions and sold it at fair prices; recently, when the court was preparing to attack Shu, he dispatched his merchant caravans toward Guanzhong...

Essentially, he followed the court's lead, not intending to make too much profit from the court. For He Fuyin, thin margins sufficed. What he wanted was stability.

Amid the others' discussions, He Fuyin stepped forward and quietly produced several silver ingots, pressing them into the hand of the clerk in charge.

The clerk's eyes lit up, and with remarkable dexterity he accepted the silver, slipping it into his sleeve with an unchanged expression. He Fuyin seized the opportunity to ask, "May I ask, sir clerk, what business the Governor has summoned us for? Could you let something slip, so we might be prepared?"

The clerk swept his gaze over the merchants and said with a smile, "Good news!"

He revealed only those two words, with no intention of saying more. Seeing this, He Fuyin's hand reached again toward his sleeve. The clerk's eyes brightened further, and he gave a light cough, then said in a low voice, "What the Governor plans is not something a minor clerk like me would know. However, lately the Governor has been focused on the expansion of the Eastern Capital's city walls..."

The hint stopped there, but He Fuyin returned to his seat, privately mulling it over—the situation matched his guess closely enough.

"The Governor arrives!" At the announcement, the assembled merchants immediately fell silent and solemn.

Before his person appeared, Murong Yanchao's booming laughter came first. When he showed himself, the assembled crowd hurriedly rose and said in unison, "We pay our respects to the Governor!"

"No need for formalities!" Murong Yanchao sat down in the center with a swaggering posture.

Ordering someone to pour tea, Murong Yanchao's dark face wore a rare "benevolent" expression as he said, "Drink your tea first! These tea leaves are tribute goods from Jiangnan, bestowed upon this office by the Son of Heaven. I can't bear to drink them on ordinary days—today, I've brought them out to entertain you all!"

"Many thanks to the Governor for his generous hospitality!"

Though it was only a cup of thin tea, since it was tied to the Son of Heaven and touched with imperial aura, the assembled crowd had no choice but to react with flattered astonishment.

After seeing everyone drink his tea, Murong Yanchao's dark face broke into a smile again. He looked around the room and said, "I am a rough man—I don't like beating around the bush, so I'll speak plainly now! I summoned you all here because there is important business to discuss, and I need your efforts. I hope you will actively cooperate!"

"May I ask the Governor, what business is it?" one person asked.

"The situation east of Kaifeng's city walls—you all have sharp eyes and keen ears, so I imagine you already know!" Murong Yanchao said. "The Son of Heaven has charged me with overseeing the expansion and construction of the Eastern Capital. I feel the weight of this responsibility and dare not be negligent. But at present, the court's expenditures are enormous, and the national treasury cannot allocate too much funding. I am suffering from a shortage of funds and grain..."

At this point, everyone basically understood Murong Yanchao's meaning, but no one spoke up, waiting for him to finish.

"Expanding the city is a good thing that benefits the nation and the people. You are all the great merchants and wealthy men of the Eastern Capital. After the construction, it will also benefit your goods and businesses. I summoned you here hoping to pool funds to relieve the government's difficulties. You came at my invitation and drank my tea—you should give me face and not disappoint me, right!"

"Of course, I won't owe you for nothing. The Son of Heaven once used a phrase—'cooperation and mutual benefit.' All who donate will receive the title of 'Qianyou Righteous Merchant,' which the Son of Heaven has permitted. Additionally, after the new city expansion is completed, you may each select a residence in the inner city, and there will be shop spaces in the new market as compensation, along with tax reductions for the coming year or so. Of course, all of this will depend on how much each of you donates.

"Furthermore, many of you have been involved in the business of construction auxiliary materials, haven't you? From now on, I can decide on my own authority to purchase all the stone, brick and tile, timber, and other construction needs from your hands..."

"I've said my piece. I'll give you the time it takes to burn one stick of incense to consider!" Murong Yanchao's tone carried forcefulness. He waved his hand: "Prepare the donation register!"

At the side, a clerk immediately spread open a register and prepared brush and ink. As for the assembled merchants, they all began to consider seriously, their expressions unable to remain composed. This tribute tea didn't seem so fragrant after all...