Chapter 724

The Cangshan clerk was not short; he stood sideways in the middle of the Ministry of Revenue's main gate, more eye‑catching than the two stone lions.

Now he lay in the middle of the gate, still holding a belt, shouting that he would hang himself in front of the Ministry of Revenue! He hadn't been hoisted up yet because the gate was too tall to reach……

Anyway, the deterrent effect was top‑notch.

This time not only those queuing nearby came to watch, but also people coming to handle business at other offices gathered, and the front of the Ministry of Revenue was noisy.

Hearing that someone was attempting to hang himself at the gate, Minister Zhang almost choked on his own saliva! The laws of the Northern Border are harsh and have long been a weapon used by southern gentry to attack the King; this was the first time he had heard of anyone daring to cause trouble at a government office.

Minister Zhang rushed out in a hurry; the King was dragging Old Seven about, jumping and mixing things up…… oh no, he was just keeping order.

"Those watching, step back, step back! You stepped on a child!"

"And you, speak if you have something to say, don't wail uselessly!"

The man lying on the ground immediately, upon hearing this, cried in his strange Northern Liang accent about how miserable the Cangshan County office was, how hard his journey had been, and how long it would take to re‑seal the documents if he went back. All ahead was darkness; better to hang himself at once.

Old Zhang's steps paused; that busiest figure in the scene…… didn't give him time to think before the King turned around. Old Zhang staggered, but was pulled by a nearby clerk and avoided falling flat.

!

Cursing inwardly, he had no time to wonder why this person was here; he earnestly lunged forward, shouting, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The vegetable market fell silent at once.

The gate guards immediately knelt, and the officials and clerks forcefully watching from both sides—none of whom were qualified to attend court—first followed Old Zhang's gaze southward, wondering, "Your Majesty? Where are you? I don't see any ceremonial guard!"

The King sighed inwardly, this Old Zhang is just honest‑to‑a‑fault; if it were Lu Tong or, failing that, Xie Yuan, nobody would come up and expose his old tricks! He's dressed like this and still does the kowtow—this fellow also looks south, curious, trying to play dead, wondering where the Majesty is.

Besides Old Zhang, there was another honest person on the scene—his family's Old Seven.

Old Seven heard the call to greet the Majesty, while his elder brother had no reaction yet; the child tugged at the King's hand, stretched out a sticky‑saliva‑covered claw, and pointed at Minister Zhang, meaning "He's calling you!"

The King: ……

Wei Shen had long since slipped into the crowd, pretending to be an ordinary onlooker, and watched happily from the side.

Serves him right, he ran into an honest‑to‑a‑fault fellow!

In that short while, someone had already turned the corner.

If the Majesty were an adult, he'd still be hard to find, but they know the Majesty's age—how young—and every little clerk knows it; thus the only suspect in this area is……

The crowd realized and clattered down to their knees, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

At this moment, besides the King, the only one left feeling embarrassed was the man lying on the ground.

His limbs were stiff and unmoving; what should he do—could he still get up to pay his respects?

But who is the King? The word "embarrassed" doesn't exist in his dictionary; if he ever wrote it by mistake, he'd erase it at once.

The King solemnly said, "I just want to see how you respond to sudden incidents. Minister Zhang, facing this situation, how do you plan to handle it?"

Wei Shen gave him a thumbs‑up in the crowd—you've got to react fast!

Minister Zhang knelt, dazed, and murmured that the court said the Majesty had exhausted himself on campaign and was resting in the palace; apparently he had come out to ambush them!

"I, I will persuade him to come down."

"First get up and reply. I ask you, if he's already hung, would mere verbal persuasion make him come down if you don't settle the matter? I see he's thrown caution to the wind, no longer caring about life or death—how would you convince him?"

Old Zhang wiped his sweat; heaven knows he wasn't originally this radical—it was all the King's good persuasion.

"I, I will think of a way for him?"

The King slowly said, "Oh, you're allocating according to the disturbance—are you going to show favoritism?"

Old Zhang knelt again, "I dare not!"

Blue Mountain in Northern Liang is a thousand li from Secluded Province; a round trip takes half a year, and delaying another half year would still leave things unresolved before winter snow. For such a special case, does the Grand Ministry of Revenue have any flexible measures? From top to bottom you're all stubborn—is this how you serve me?!

Minister Zhang's feelings were mixed; the old man who had just chatted with the King was even more so. To the clerks of Great Jin, the Emperor's Majesty was merely a distant symbol, and given their station they would never in a lifetime get to see him face to face. He now realized things were different—the Emperor had a vivid countenance. Isn't it that some people are born fit for that position? How old is he!

"I feel ashamed; please show me the way, Your Majesty."

"The Central Government Office exists to keep our great Jin state running smoothly. Rules are dead, but the officials who carry them out are alive; a round‑trip that often takes half a year needs special handling, so we must devise a suitable solution. For example, if the seal is shallow, after verifying it's correct, two or more handling officials should sign and witness it, keep a separate ledger, so that even if the seal later disappears there will be attestors. This time I will personally sign it for you."

"Your Majesty is sagacious!"

That big man from Blue Mountain finally got to his feet; he heard that the Emperor would settle this matter for him!

With the Emperor's signature, this document is more than just submitted—it might even be approved tomorrow! Seeing the Emperor for the first time, he didn't know the etiquette, and now he didn't know what to say; he knelt and shouted "Your Majesty is sagacious!" together with Minister Zhang and the clerks all around. His accent was still outstanding, and this time the King finally couldn't help laughing.

"All right, I've taken care of this for you—get up."

The King again pointed at Minister Zhang, "Come in with me."

The Blue Mountain big man heard that the matter was settled, and tears nearly welled up. Seeing the Emperor about to leave, he recalled a phrase he could say to the King, knelt upright and shouted loudly, "May Your Majesty's martial fortunes prosper!"

"Oh, you're quite eloquent! Good, then I wish my martial fortunes prosper." The King was pleased; he loved hearing that.

Minister Zhang: …!

In this situation, although he was about to be scolded, he inexplicably felt a bit moved—what was going on?!

The King's silhouette had vanished, but the big man was still grinning foolishly; the clerk beside him joked, "Brother, you really made a splash today—you got the job done, your luck's too good. Have you studied?" Even the Majesty made him laugh.

The Blue Mountain man rose, smiling and waving his hand, "I also learned it from hearing our county lady often say so. In Blue Mountain there aren't many who have studied; I'm just a errand laborer." He was chosen for the job because of his sturdy build, able to endure the long road.

Amidst everyone's envious gaze, an official from the Office of Affairs called him inside.

This matter is far from over; in the Ministry of Revenue's hall, Minister Zhang, perceptive as ever, continued to plead guilty, just opening his mouth to say, "I feel ashamed," when the King cut him off.

I don't know if you're stuck in delivering documents because you can't come up with the silver? I know. But you can't be so stubborn and unchanging! Even Cang Mountain is that poor—if this year a county magistrate and his old mother freeze to death, I'd actually have some face. If you lack silver, think of a way—open sources and throttle expenditure! Save, earn, borrow! In short, don't keep slowing efficiency to delay.

Zhang Sinong opened his mouth, realizing that what he wanted to say had already been said by the Great King.

This sly person doesn't give people any leeway at all!

Just as he was about to throw caution to the wind, get scolded, and ask the Great King where to borrow, Ling Yin shuffled in from outside.

The Great King asked: "Anything?"

"Your Majesty, the envoy from the Wide Mausoleum has arrived in the Secluded Prefecture, and the Chancellor is ordering people to search everywhere for Your Majesty."

The Great King recalled and then remembered that the trouble had been caused when the Jin family merchant convoy entered the city of Thorny Prefecture; how long has it been? He has already conquered half of the grasslands, and only now has Lao Er finally thought to give a reply.

Isn't this like sleepiness bringing a pillow? The Great King handsomely waves his claw, "The wealthy patron has arrived, I'll take you to make some money!"

Zhang, the Minister of Agriculture: …!

What point? To strike!