Chapter 577: Funds and Grain Numbering in the Millions

"I am willing to donate fifty thousand strings of cash for the Governor's use!" Before a stick of incense had even burned, a fat, aged man rose to his feet, beaming with delight, and spoke eagerly. This man dealt exclusively in the livestock trade, owning numerous shops among the meat markets of the Eastern Capital's various bazaars. Every year, he transported and sold sheep, pigs, and other livestock into the capital, all numbering in the tens of thousands.

With someone taking the lead, others gradually rose one after another to pledge donations, ranging from three thousand to seven thousand strings. Each adopted an eager attitude, yet their offers were "stingy," and all the while, they observed Murong Yanchao's expression, watching his demeanor closely.

Murong Yanchao was also a man fond of amassing wealth. In his daily life, he had devoted himself to studying the ways of commerce and had come into contact with many merchants. Seeing the behavior of these men now, he immediately perceived that they were playing the trick of "bargaining" with him over their donations, their initial offers serving to test his attitude.

At this thought, Murong Yanchao was immediately displeased. He was an imperial uncle, the Governor of Kaifeng, who had personally invited them to accompany him, served them tea, and spoken every kind word—and this was all they could offer, this "little" bit of money? When had he, Murong Yanchao, ever been so easy to deal with, that his time and face were worth so little?

Of course, the twenty-odd men, when added up piecemeal, still came to over a hundred thousand strings of cash—more than the first batch of funds Liu Chengyou had allocated. But Murong Yanchao had gone through so much trouble; how could he be satisfied so easily?

"Heh heh..." Murong Yanchao smiled a smile that did not reach his eyes, taking a sip of tea he did not particularly appreciate.

At this reaction, the wealthy merchants, skilled at reading expressions, all felt a jolt in their hearts—clearly, Governor Murong was not satisfied.

"Have all the pledges you gentlemen just made been recorded?" Murong Yanchao turned his head, casting a meaningful glance at the clerk.

The clerk took the hint, rose with a somewhat "flustered" air, and clasped his hands: "Please forgive me, Governor, this humble one is slow and clumsy, and has not managed to record them all..."

"Then record them anew!" Murong Yanchao waved his hand dismissively, his face cold as he swept his gaze around the room: "The stick of incense has not yet burned out!"

The meaning was clear—pledge again!

The wealthy merchants present grew increasingly solemn, seriously considering just how much blood they would need to shed to satisfy Murong Yanchao.

"This old man pledges one hundred thousand strings!" Just as the crowd hesitated, a booming voice shattered the stillness of the scene.

All turned to look, and there was Chang Si, approaching at a leisurely pace. Seeing him, Murong Yanchao's dark face relaxed into a smile as he rose to greet him, clasping his hands: "Why has Lord Chang come?"

A strained smile on his aged face, Chang Si said: "The Governor is raising funds for the city expansion. This old man has been ordered to assist in the matter—how could I not come to the office and do my utmost?"

"Lord Chang truly is a veteran elder of our Hedong! Come, please sit!" Murong Yanchao was delighted, ushering Chang Si to a seat, and asked: "Is Lord Chang's pledge of funds truly sincere?"

At the question, though his heart bled, Chang Si still feigned heartiness in his reply: "Before the Governor's hall, with all these people present, how could I speak falsely? This old man has received great favor from the state, and now is the time to repay it!"

"Lord Chang is a true loyal minister!" Murong Yanchao laughed twice, then instructed the clerk: "Record a pledge for Lord Chang!"

"Yes!"

Watching the brush fall upon the pledge register, Chang Si's heart twisted as if pierced by knives, wracked with agony. With this single act, nearly half of the wealth he had painstakingly amassed over many years was gone.

He had originally intended to disregard Guo Rong's advice, but that vicious wolf Wang Jingchong was still in Luzhou. The more he thought about it, the more afraid he grew. However reluctant he was, he ultimately decided to spend money to buy peace.

Chang Si's bold gesture made the breaths of the assembled magnates grow short. A hundred thousand strings was no easy sum for men like them to produce. Their gazes toward Murong Yanchao's face grew increasingly grave—if this was to be the standard, it would be more than just a heavy bleed.

"Governor, I am willing to pledge forty thousand strings of cash, along with three thousand dan each of millet and grain!" At this moment, He Fuyin rose to his feet, bowed, and spoke with a calm expression.

Seeing this, Murong Yanchao could not help but size him up. He did have some impression of this great merchant who was active around the circles of the powerful. A smile spread across his face as he nodded with an approving air: "A righteous merchant indeed!"

"Record it!" Clearly, Murong Yanchao was quite satisfied with what He Fuyin had offered. Pointing with his finger as he gave the order, he looked at him and said: "Rest assured, neither the court nor this office will treat those of merit unfairly!"

"Thank you, Governor!" He Fuyin replied respectfully.

From He Fuyin onward, this fundraising gathering finally proceeded at a proper pace that satisfied Murong Yanchao. Those invited successively pledged their donations, with even the least offering thirty thousand strings of cash.

After it concluded successfully, Murong Yanchao held a banquet in his office to entertain the merchants. Only after "host and guests were thoroughly pleased" did he release them to prepare their pledged funds and grain.

"I hear the Kaifeng government held a fundraising gathering and reaped no small harvest. How much did it bring in?" Strolling through the palace grounds, Liu Chengyou asked with mild curiosity.

"According to the reports, all pledged eagerly, and the total take amounts to roughly one million strings, along with one hundred thousand dan of grain! That is enough to support the reconstruction and expansion of the Eastern Capital for half a year!" Li Fang reported the figures he had recorded to Liu Chengyou.

"That is indeed no small sum!" A slight smile tugged at the corner of Liu Chengyou's mouth, a look of relief appearing on his face as he remarked: "Somewhat beyond my expectations. I still remember when I first entered the Eastern Capital—all trades were in decline, the state impoverished and the people destitute. Who would have thought that after these few years, such wealth would have accumulated, and that the great merchants and magnates of the Eastern Capital would hold such fortunes in their hands..."

"This is all the fruit of Your Majesty's diligent governance—securing public order, encouraging agriculture and commerce, and abolishing oppressive taxes and levies, so that all trades revived!" Li Fang flattered.

"Is this pledge not itself an oppressive levy?" Liu Chengyou remarked.

Li Fang replied: "Without the court's policies, how could these merchants have prospered and gathered? This is giving them an opportunity to repay the court!"

"Moreover, merchants pursue profit and seek fame. This time, while the government raises funds, it also grants them fame and profit in return—how could they not pledge eagerly!" Li Fang added, a note of contempt for merchants creeping into his words.

Liu Chengyou smiled faintly: "This imperial uncle of mine truly has no ordinary talent for making money. I'm almost tempted to appoint him to the State Finance Commission!"

Of course, Liu Chengyou was only joking. What Murong Yanchao excelled at was not generating wealth, but seizing it through the authority in his hands. Had it not been for Liu Chengyou's guidance from above, given Murong Yanchao's style, this fundraising would likely have been outright coercion, with no profit or fame for the merchants.

"Additionally, Vice Minister of Works Chang Si pledged one hundred thousand strings!" Li Fang glanced at Liu Chengyou and reported.

"He's reaped quite a harvest after all these years in his post!" Liu Chengyou said calmly, waving his hand dismissively.

After a moment's deliberation, Liu Chengyou instructed Li Fang: "Convey my decree—warn Murong Yanchao that although the bricks, tiles, stone, timber, and other materials for the city's construction may be distributed among the merchants, quality must be strictly controlled. Any who cut corners or use inferior materials shall be severely punished without mercy!"

"Yes!"

Returning to the main hall, before he had even warmed his seat, the usher reported that the Censor-in-Chief and the Vice Censor-in-Chief, Bian Guidang and Zhao Li, had come to seek an audience together.

Leaning back against the imperial throne, Liu Chengyou swept a cold gaze over Bian and Zhao. The two stood before the throne with hands clasped and bodies drawn in, facing the Son of Heaven's scrutiny directly, their composed countenances concealing a hint of unbending rectitude.

Liu Chengyou withdrew his gaze and asked: "The two of you come together—is it still for Wang Jingchong?"

"Your Majesty sees clearly—indeed it is!" Bian Guidang clasped his hands in reply.

"Wang Jingchong acts arbitrarily in the localities, flaunting his power and violence. Everywhere he passes, he oversteps his authority and violates regulations. The harshness of his punishments and the extent of his exactions are nothing short of shocking. In the name of the imperial envoy, he commits deeds that harm officials and oppress the people, and now local officials and commoners alike are crying out in grievance. This man damages the court's prestige and tarnishes Your Majesty's sacred name. We beg Your Majesty to recall this treacherous minister and cruel official, call him to account for his crimes, and reassure the people!" Bian Guidang said: "Your ministers have already submitted memorial after memorial, earnestly beseeching Your Majesty to heed loyal words!"

Zhao Li also spoke: "Your Majesty, at present, within and without the Eastern Capital, public sentiment is seething, and local generals and officials everywhere fear for their own safety. If this continues, disaster will surely arise. Your Majesty has labored diligently in governance to bring peace to the people's livelihood—you must not let one treacherous minister throw the realm into chaos!"

"Heh heh!" Liu Chengyou laughed: "A mere Wang Jingchong could throw the realm of the Great Han into chaos? Are you overestimating him, or underestimating me?"

"Your ministers would not dare!" At the Son of Heaven's rather blunt words, Bian and Zhao unconsciously bent their waists a little lower.

Drawing a deep breath, Liu Chengyou looked at the two men seriously: "Those whom Wang Jingchong has investigated—from military governors at the top down to clerks and commoners at the bottom—every single case rests on solid evidence. Were those men's corruption and exactions not deserving of investigation and punishment?"

Bian and Zhao fell silent. Seeing that the Son of Heaven still appeared to be shielding Wang Jingchong, Bian Guidang replied in a low voice: "Your Majesty, if local generals and officials have committed wrongdoing, capable officials may be dispatched to investigate them according to law. But Wang Jingchong's position is irregular, his methods are hasty, and he lacks any sense of the greater good. His own person is not upright, and his conduct does not follow proper standards—he is a minister who brings chaos to governance. We beg Your Majesty to think thrice!"

"By your words, Vice Minister Bian, my employment of Wang Jingchong constitutes breaking the law and disrupting governance?"

"Your minister truly has no such intention! I only wish that Your Majesty would consider the greater picture, heed the many memorials, and win the hearts of the people!"