Chapter 606: Idle Talk at the Tian Guan Fu

Evening.

The setting sun, blood‑red, dyes the soaring eaves and corners of Tian Guan Fu into a sheet of gilt.

The evening breeze, warm with early summer, carries the scent of street‑side locust trees, sweeps through the hall and stirs the plain curtains hanging there.

The hall is sparsely furnished, holding only a heavy sandalwood desk and two chairs upholstered in brocade.

On the desk, the Blue Porcelain Teacup emits a faint tea aroma, its steam curling, spreading a hazy mist in the dusk.

Yuwen Hu wears a dark‑colored four‑clawed python robe, its hem embroidered with fine cloud patterns, a jade belt at his waist, giving him an upright bearing and dignified demeanor.

He sits upright on the Grand Master's Chair, one hand lightly pressing the desk, the other twirling the jade ornament at his waist; his gaze passes through the open window toward the darkening sky, a faint smile at his lips, and he asks slowly, "It's May; the wheat in Chang'an should be ripe now, right?"

Across from him, Shang Ting, clad in a purple official robe, thin‑faced, nods slightly at the words, lifts his teacup and takes a sip; the warm tea slides down his throat, soothing his whole body.

"Indeed."

He sets down the teacup, bows his hands and smiles, "I went out of the city yesterday for inspection, walked along both banks of the Wei River, and saw the wheat heads in the fields bowing under their heavy golden heads; just looking at them fills one with joy."

"The farmers are busy diverting water to irrigate; the canal water gurgles into the fields, and the people on the Field Ridge wear smiling faces, muttering that this year will surely be a good harvest."

He pauses, recalling yesterday's scene, his tone becoming more earnest: "To speak of it, it's thanks to Jing Zhao Fu last autumn and winter, which organized laborers to dredge those water channels that had been silted for years…."

"Otherwise the drought this spring would have delayed the farming season; there would be no such promising bounty now!"

Yuwen Hu, after listening, smiles even broader, strokes his short beard under his chin, and praises, "The governance of Jing Zhao Fu together with Chang'an and Wannian Xian this year has indeed been effective!"

He pauses again, then continues, "I hear the pavement of Xi Shi has been expanded, and the Hu merchants come and go incessantly…"

"Spices from the Western Regions pile on the stalls, and together the silk and grain trade of Dong Shi has flourished far more than before; the streets are bustling with traffic all day, very lively."

"Grand Preceptor's words are spot on!" Shang Ting smiles, brings up the matter, and opens the floodgates, speaking as if recounting family treasures: "Liu Mu Zhi, who serves under Chen Zhuguo, is a pragmatic man; since taking charge of the administration of Wannian Xian and Jing Zhao Fu, he has done many concrete deeds…"

"First he reformed the markets, cracking down on the rogue gentry who bullied merchants, unified the chaotic weights and measures; merchants no longer worry about short measures and can trade with peace of mind!"

He takes a sip of tea and continues, "He also led the repair of alleys, paving the long‑neglected earthen roads of Chang'an into smooth stone slabs, so one's feet stay clean of mud."

"He also installed drainage ditches in each alley, cleared the clogged hidden channels; now even with continuous rain, the people can travel without stepping in mud, and the alleys have lost their old musty smell…"

Yuwen Hu, hearing this, lowers his head and rolls the Jade Ring on his thumb, the warm smoothness reaching his fingertip; pride fills his face, and he can't help but sigh, "A Yan really knows how to recognize and employ talent!"

He shifts the conversation and adds, "Liu Mu Zhi is also capable; an ordinary person would likely not be able to shoulder such a burden."

Shang Ting wholeheartedly agrees and adds, "Moreover, the tax revenue of these five months has risen by a full thirty percent compared to the same period last year…"

He deliberately emphasizes his tone; seeing a hint of surprise in Yuwen Hu's eyes, he smiles and explains, "It's not that Jing Zhao Fu raised taxes; rather, it reduced the land rent for some poor farmers."

"The tax increase is, first, because the agricultural harvest looks abundant; farmers have surplus grain and naturally are willing to pay."

"Second, commerce thrives; market and customs taxes have nearly doubled compared to previous years."

"Third, Liu Mu Zhi's iron‑faced impartiality strictly investigated tax evasion; those noble families that hid land and refused taxes now must report accurately, daring not to underpay a single cent."

At this point, Shang Ting's tone is full of praise: "Thus the tax revenue naturally rises, and the people not only have no complaints but are grateful to the Court, saying they have met an upright official and a good era!"

Yuwen Hu's smile gradually fades; he lifts the teacup but does not drink, merely gazes at the floating tea leaves, and says in a deep voice, "When the people are stable and the treasury is full, that is the foundation of governing a nation!"

Thinking back to those years, the Liu Zhen uprising, the Er Zhu usurped power, the Gao bandits stole the nation, wars raged across the four corners, smoke filled the land, the people were displaced, could not fill their bellies, even resorted to cannibalism; even now recalling it still makes one's heart tremble…

He gently sets down the teacup, his voice tinged with emotion: "Now, children in Chang'an can chase and play at the alley entrance without fearing the calamity of war…"

"Elderly folks can sit under a tree, bask in the sun, chat idly, and enjoy their twilight years…"

"Merchants can conduct trade with peace of mind, farmers can diligently sow crops, tending their own acre and a bit more, hoping for abundant harvests year after year."

"Such a scene has not come easily!"

Shang Ting solemnly nods, rises, bows his hands, and gravely echoes, "Grand Preceptor's words are spot on!"

He recalls yesterday's observations in Cheng Nan and smiles, "I, the subordinate, inspected Ci En Fang in Cheng Nan yesterday, passed the tofu shop on the street; the shop was steaming, and a strong bean aroma drifted far."

"The shopkeeper, upon seeing my official robe, did not shy away; instead he warmly offered a bowl of hot tofu pudding, adding plenty of chili oil and minced scallions."

"He said business is good now, customers steady; the monthly earnings, besides supporting the family, allow considerable savings, and in two years he'll have enough to marry his son and acquire a new house."

Shang Ting looks at the dusk rising outside the window, his eyes full of satisfaction: "Such a scene of peaceful livelihood, even when one flips through the annals of history, is a rare era of tranquility."

Yuwen Hu listens to Shang Ting's words, his mouth corners slightly up, a warm sense of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

He slowly leans against the chair back, looks at the deepening night outside, sighs long, and says with a tone of relief and emotion, "It's not in vain, my efforts with you all these years of painstaking work, staying up late and rising early!"

That sigh encapsulated countless nights and days under the stars, hiding countless exhausted schemes.

From court disputes to neglected livelihoods, from border stability to bustling markets, every step taken has been soaked with hard work.

Shang Ting, hearing this, also nods with a light laugh, lifts his teacup, offering tea in place of wine, and respectfully toasts Yuwen Hu from afar.

At that moment, a light, steady footstep sounds from outside the hall; a Personal Guard clad in Xuan Armor bows and enters, his steps steady, his expression respectful.

He clasps his fists, bows his head and reports, "Grand Preceptor, Chen Zhuguo requests an audience!"

"A Yan has arrived?" Yuwen Hu is briefly startled, then a bright gleam flashes in his eyes; the previously somber expression instantly turns to a joyous smile, he waves his hand without hesitation and says, "Invite him quickly!"

"Yes!" the Personal Guard replies, stepping back, his steps light as he heads toward the gate.

Yet after a moment, a steady footstep sounds from outside the hall.

Chen Yan, dressed in a purple official robe, strides in.

Upon entering the hall, he bows deeply to Yuwen Hu and Shang Ting, his voice clear, his manners complete: "Greetings, Grand Preceptor! Greetings, Elder Chen Zhuguo!"

"No need for formalities, no need," Yuwen Hu smiles, raises his hand, indicating him to rise, then turns to the attendant waiting nearby and orders, "Serve tea to Chen Zhuguo!"

The attendant obeys, and shortly brings a steaming Blue Porcelain Teacup, gently placing it on the desk before Chen Yan.

After thanking, Chen Yan sits, lifts the tea bowl and takes a sip; the warm tea fragrance spreads over his tongue, then he looks up at Yuwen Hu and says loudly, "Thank you, Grand Preceptor!"

Yuwen Hu's gaze falls on Chen Yan, his smile deepening; the conversation he had just begun with Shang Ting has not yet ended, and he points at Chen Yan, laughing to Shang Ting, "Myself and the other were just now still discussing Chang'an's current livelihood…"

Having said that, he turns to Chen Yan, his tone full of praise, "A Yan, the Liu Mu Zhi you brought back from the northwest truly has great ability!"

"It's no waste that he shares a name with the humerus trusted by Liu Laohu, both are great talents in civil administration!"

Chen Yan puts down the tea bowl, a modest smile on his face, and says earnestly, "It's also thanks to Mu Zhi!"

"I, the subordinate, have not been hindered by tedious affairs, and can concentrate my efforts on matters..."

"You rascal!" Yuwen Hu hears the words, can't help but laugh, raise his hand to point at him, his eyes full of admiration.

Immediately, he exhaled a puff of foul breath, shifted his tone, and brought up the daytime incident at Du Liu Xingchang, "This time, letting those three troublemakers in Huazhou run amok, then with thunderous force capture them and execute as an example, that's a good strategy!"

"Having eliminated the Bloodsucking Parasites and also intimidated those scheming noble families, a win‑win!"

Shang Ting sat beside them, stroked his beard and nodded at the words, then picked up the thread, "After this incident, those who were still secretly trying to obstruct the Imperial Academy's expanded recruitment will have to reconsider!"

"From now on, the Imperial Academy's expanded recruitment will likely proceed far too smoothly…"

That hit the nail on the head, Chen Yan's smile broadened, and he clasped his hands and laughed, "Nothing can be hidden from the Grand Preceptor and the elder Pillar of the State Shang's keen eyes!"

Yuwen Hu watched his demeanor, raised an eyebrow slightly, and twirled the Jade Ring on his finger; its jade was warm and smooth, glowing softly in the candlelight.

He looked at Chen Yan with a half‑smile, and in a tone full of implication asked, "You came to Tian Guan Fu at this hour on purpose; there must be other matters, you wish to see me, right?"

"Exactly!"

Chen Yan nodded, his eyes flashing, then rose, respectfully clasped his fists before Yuwen Hu, his posture as upright as a pine, his gaze full of earnestness and depth: "I, your servant, wish to request a piece of the Grand Preceptor's ink work!"