Chapter 863: The Ledger Unveils a Series of Cases, Wealth Rivaling a Nation Becomes Military Funding

Gao Jiong picks up the topmost one, sees the inscription on the cover, his finger pauses for a moment.

"Pillar of the State."

Chen Yan takes the letter.

The cover bears the two characters Chang'an.

Below it is an official title that makes everyone present too afraid to speak.

Chen Yan puts the letter back into the box, a faint cold smile forming at his lips.

"Fine."

"The Gold Vault in Yinzhou even hides a Chang'an blade."

"The Chang'an blade is hidden deeper than Qian Wansan's gold."

After Chen Yan finishes speaking, the Horizontal Blade is drawn, its edge lifts, and the Huojian on the second Secret Letter is cut open.

Gao Jiong stands nearby, pushing the torch forward half a foot.

Gu Yuci does not approach, only orders the Personal Guard to guard the Gold Vault entrance.

Zhang Wenqian watches Chen Yan open the letters, his brows already twisted into a deep furrow.

"Pillar of the State, if it involves senior ministers of the court, this box of letters cannot be made public in Yinzhou."

Chen Yan spreads the paper, scans it, a cold sneer rolls from his nostrils.

"Public?"

"If this thing is made public, someone in Chang'an will lose sleep tonight."

He hands the letter to Zhang Wenqian.

"Read."

Zhang Wenqian takes the letter, reads only two lines, his complexion changes.

"This…"

Chen Yan says, "Read it to them."

Zhang Wenqian looks up at Qian Wansan kneeling on the ground.

Qian Wansan, seeing the letter opened, already begins to shrink back.

Zhang Wenqian reads in a deep voice: "If the Salt and Iron New Law enters the northwest, the Qian Family should block it by halting trade; when necessary, they may use border troubles to restrain Chen Yan, leaving him no time to regulate merchants."

Gu Yuci's eyelid twitches.

"Use border troubles to restrain?"

Gao Jiong takes another letter, opens it, then passes it to Chen Yan.

Chen Yan glances, returns it to Gao Jiong.

Gao Jiong speaks.

"The Rouran Eastern Royal Court needs five hundred iron armor and three hundred crossbow parts; the price is the old rate plus thirty percent, and the Chang'an side will help the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce conceal border reports."

A gasp comes from Zheng Hall.

Lin Xin collapses on the ground, murmuring.

"It's over, really over."

Wu Hongyuan lifts his head, his eyes full of blood vessels.

"Qian Wansan, you even dragged Chang'an people into the water?"

Qian Wansan suddenly shrieks, "Shut up!"

"Do you think you're clean?"

"The Lin family's grain cart passed the Rouran camp, the Lin family's iron shop repaired Turkic horse blades, and Yang Huairen's register in his hand is thicker than anyone's!"

Yang Huairen kneels at the far end, the mud on his face already hardened into a solid lump; hearing this, he says softly, "Qian Wansan, you want to die yourself, don't drag everyone into the mud pit."

Qian Wansan laughs grimly.

"Mud pit?"

"We've been in the pit long ago."

"Do you think handing over the register will let you live?"

"Chen Yan is what kind of person, you know better than I do; would he keep you, this old dog, for the New Year?"

Yang Huairen's skin on his face trembles, he says nothing more.

Chen Yan opens the letters one by one.

Gao Jiong sorts them beside him.

"Pillar of the State, these three are from the Chang'an local government."

"These two are former officials of the Summer Office."

"This one has no signature, but the Huojian bears the seal of a Zheng family branch."

Zhang Wenqian's complexion grows darker as he watches.

"Pillar of the State, the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce has been sending silver to Chang'an each year for these years, probably not less than a million taels."

Chen Yan folds the last letter, puts it back into the Iron Chest.

"Million taels?"

"Qian Wansan's appetite isn't that small."

He looks at Qian Wansan.

"Speak, over in Chang'an, how much do they take from you each year?"

Qian Wansan lies on the ground, stays silent.

Gao Jiong walks to his front, squats, holding a Gold Cake he retrieved from the Gold Vault.

"Chamber Head Qian, this thing, when smashed on a finger bone, shatters quickly."

Qian Wansan's eyelid twitched.

"Do you dare to use torture?"

Gao Jiong said: "I have even pried open the mouth of the Western Regions' Duxie; what does your fatty flesh matter to me?"

Chen Yan raised his hand to block.

"No rush."

"He won't speak; the accounts will."

He looked at Zhang Wenqian.

"Summon the accounting office."

"Inventory all the silver, grain, cloth, medicinal herbs, weapons, and contracts in the Gold Vault, itemized by category."

"Simultaneously search and seize every household in Yinzhou; any involvement in colluding with the enemy, hoarding salt, price gouging, assassinating the Political Commissar, bribing officials—nothing shall be missed."

Zhang Wenqian bowed.

"Shuyi will handle it at once."

Chen Yan added: "Seal this Iron Chest, and have the Mingjing Office guard it personally."

"Without my order, anyone who touches it will die."

Gao Jiong took the Iron Chest.

"Shuyi understands."

Qian Wansan watched the Iron Chest being carried away, and finally collapsed.

He shifted his knee forward, his forehead smashing into the ground.

"Pillar of the State, the matter in Chang'an is not the doing of this old man alone."

"They forced this old man to pay silver, forced me to deliver goods; I was also coerced."

Chen Yan sat on a silver box, his finger resting on the Horizontal Blade's hilt.

"Coerced?"

"They forced you to cut off the salt?"

Qian Wansan opened his mouth.

Chen Yan asked again: "Did they force you to assassinate the Political Commissar?"

Only panting remained in Qian Wansan's mouth.

Chen Yan's third sentence fell.

"Did they also force you to sell three thousand sets of crossbow parts to the Rouran?"

Qian Wansan lay on the ground, not daring to lift his head again.

Chen Yan said: "Don't rush to cry injustice."

"I, the Duke, will have each of you speak fully."

Outside the Gold Vault, Zhang Wenqian had already arrived with a hundred accounting officers.

The clatter of abacuses quickly filled the air.

Boxes of silver were carried out of the Gold Vault, seals affixed, vermilion stamps pressed.

"One box of silver, five hundred taels."

"One casket of red gold, twenty taels."

"Thirty-two pieces of Western Regions jade."

"Fine salt vouchers, five thousand shi."

"One hundred twenty‑seven grain‑depot contracts."

Zhang Wenqian stood at the desk, his pen flying.

Gu Yu Ci, watching the boxes of silver being carried out, couldn't help but whisper: "Pillar of the State, will this sum sustain the Xiazhou army for how many years?"

Chen Yan replied: "It depends on how you spend it."

"If only to support troops, three years is not difficult."

"If you need to build roads, allocate fields, establish a salt bureau, and care for fallen soldiers, half a year will exhaust it."

Gu Yu Ci was stunned for a moment.

"Half a year?"

Chen Yan looked at him.

"Money stored in the vault is inert."

"Only when it is distributed to military households, farming households, workshops, salt ponds, and iron mines does it become soldiers, grain, swords, and roads."

Gu Yu Ci thought for a moment, then clasped his fists.

"Shuyi does not understand state affairs, but whatever the Pillar of the State says about spending, Shuyi will protect accordingly."

Chen Yan smiled slightly.

"Just guard the sword well."

"As for the money, Zhang Wenqian will feel the pain."

Zhang Wenqian, hearing this, gave a wry smile and said: "Pillar of the State, Shuyi is already starting to feel the pain."

"With such a huge sum of silver entering the vault, if there is no strict accounting, the subordinates' audacity to reach out will grow."

Chen Yan said: "Therefore the One Heart Society must enter the accounting office."

"For each expenditure, the officials record one copy, the Political Commissar records one, and the people's representative records another."

A spark lit in Zhang Wenqian's eyes.

Duke wants the common folk to see the accounts?

Chen Yan said: "The Yinzhou common folk have been frightened by the merchant association."

"This Duke will allocate land to them, exempt taxes, equalize Salt and Iron; they will be grateful."

"But over time, gratitude will fade."

"Only by letting them know how every coin is spent will they treat the New Law as their own thing."

Gao Jiong returned holding the Iron Chest and heard this sentence.

"Duke, if those merchants use this to incite the common folk, claiming the officials falsify accounts?"

Chen Yan said: "Then let them step forward to investigate."

"If no problem is found, the false accuser will be punished according to law."

"If problems are found, implicated officials are executed, and the One Heart Society branch responsible for supervision is also dissolved."

Zhang Wenqian nodded.

"In this way, no one dares to cheat."

Gu Yu Ci couldn't help but smile.

"Duke, this slash cuts to their wrists."

Chen Yan said: "Wrong."

"It cuts to their hearts."

"From today onward, the old merchant association of Yinzhou, this piece of meat, this Duke will chop into pieces and give to the common folk to eat."

The Gold Vault inventory continued until night fell.

Outside the Merchant Association Headquarters, torches lit Zhuque Avenue brightly.

The news that the Four Great Chambers of Commerce mansions were simultaneously searched spread throughout the city.

When the Qian family mansion's door was forced open, several sons of Qian Wansan were still hiding in the rear courtyard's warm pavilion.

A youth dressed in a Brothel was dragged out from under the bed by soldiers, still swearing.

"Do you know who I am?"

The leading Beiwei Dead Guard raised his hand and delivered a slap.

"We know, the traitor's son."

The youth was hit so his face twisted to one side, yet still tried to struggle.

"My father knows a high official of Chang'an!"

The Beiwei Dead Guard clamped a wooden shackles onto his neck.

"Just so, Duke also wants to get acquainted."

In the Lin family mansion, several stewards shoved the account books into the fire pit.

A Hidden Agent from the Mingjing Office fell from the beam, a slash overturned one, the fire pit was kicked over, and the half‑burnt account pages scattered on the ground.

"Burned accounts?"

"Manually chopped."

In the Wu family iron shop backyard, the Cellar yielded bundles of crossbow strings and Grassland Leather Armor.

The leading Colonel looked at Wu family's second elder and asked.

"Is this farming tool?"

Wu family's second elder knelt on the ground, his crotch soaked.

"General, spare me, I was only inspecting the vault."

The Colonel sneered.

"Then go look on the execution platform."

More and more common folk gathered on the street.

Someone hurled rotten vegetable leaves at the merchant association youths being dragged out.

Someone holding a child stood under the eaves watching, clenching teeth without speaking.

An old woman, leaning on a wooden staff, shakily walked to the Qian family gate and smashed a broken bowl onto the threshold.

"My son pulled your family's salt cart, froze to death on the road, and you didn't even give any compensation money."

"Today Heaven opened its eyes."

A nearby soldier gave her a hand.

"Old woman, don't get too close."

The old woman wiped her face.

"General, the old lady is not afraid."

"I just want to see the day they also bow their heads."

At the top attic of the merchant association, Chen Yan stood leaning on the railing.

Below, the flames, iron armor, wailing, and angry curses all merged into the backdrop of Yinzhou's Great Purge.

Zhang Wenqian carried the preliminary account books upstairs.

"Duke, the Gold Vault's initial tally: eight million four hundred thousand taels of silver, one hundred thousand eight thousand taels of red gold."

"Additionally, ten thousand shi of grain, seventy thousand bolts of cloth, three thousand boxes of medicinal herbs."

"Weapons and armaments are still being inventoried; the quantity is not small."

Gu Yu Ci stood aside, couldn't help but curse.

"These people hold so much grain, yet still dare to let the common folk lack salt, lack rice."

Zhang Wenqian turned to the next page.

There are also usurious loan contracts, land deeds, servitude contracts; the quantity is too great for the accounts office to tally at once.

Chen Yan said, "Move the food first."

"Tonight transport one hundred thousand shi of grain to the Four Corners Square, set up tents and distribute porridge."

"Continue selling salt and iron at low prices; do not let it stop."

Zhang Wenqian said, "The common people will settle down completely."

Chen Yan shook his head.

"Settling down is still not enough."

"They must know who harmed them and who saved them."

Gao Jiong clasped his hands.

Shuyi has ordered the Mingjing Office to rush making proclamations, listing the merchants' guild colluding with enemies, smuggling, assassinating the Political Commissar, hoarding salt and raising prices, each item clearly stated.

Chen Yan said, "Add the parts from the Chang'an secret letter that can be made public."

Zhang Wenqian was startled.

"State Pillar, over in Chang'an…"

Chen Yan looked at him.

"Do not write the name."

"Only write that someone in the court received bribes from the merchants' guild and covered up border smuggling for them."

Gao Jiong understood immediately.

"Leaving half a blade in its sheath is more terrifying than drawing it out."

Chen Yan said, "Good."

"If they don't know whose name this Duke holds in his hand, everyone will feel uneasy."

Zhang Wenqian whispered, "Chang'an will be in chaos."

Chen Yan looked at the distant flames.

"Whether Chang'an is in chaos or not is Yuwen Hu's concern."

"This Duke is only responsible for delivering the evidence before his case."

At this moment, a Personal Guard hurried upstairs, holding an urgent letter from Lingzhou.

"State Pillar, the Lingzhou crown prince's 800‑li urgent letter."

Chen Yan took it and opened it.

Yuwen Ze's handwriting was elegant and upright, but the strokes carried urgency.

"Brother A Xiong, the matter of Yinzhou has already reached Lingzhou."

"I, your younger brother, have heard the merchants' guild colluding with enemies; my heart burns with uncontainable anger."

"Qian Wansan and others are chief evildoers with crimes beyond measure; if Brother A Xiong needs Lingzhou's cooperation, I am willing to dispatch troops to block the eastern road."

"As for these traitors, how should they be sentenced? I am ready to follow Brother A Xiong's command."

Chen Yan, after reading, handed the letter to Zhang Wenqian.

Zhang Wenqian, after reading, whispered, "The crown prince and the State Pillar share the same intention."

Chen Yan walked to the desk, lifted his brush and dipped it in ink.

Gao Jiong asked, "State Pillar, what will you reply?"

Chen Yan did not look up.

The brushstroke landed on the xuan paper, writing only a single character.

Cut.

The ink was thick and heavy, seeping through to the back of the paper.

Gu Yu Ci, upon seeing that character, felt the fire in his chest settle.

"This punishment, the people of Yinzhou will accept."

Chen Yan handed the paper to the Personal Guard.

"Send it back to Lingzhou."

"Tell Yuwen Ze, tomorrow at noon, a public trial at Yinzhou Central Square."

"Qian Wansan, Lin Xin, Wu Hongyuan, Yang Huairen, the four will be punished publicly."

Gao Jiong said, "Zhao Tiezhu's wound has not healed yet."

Chen Yan said, "Let him come."

"The six Political Commissars killed at Heifeng Pass need someone to witness it with their own eyes."

Gao Jiong lowered his head.

"Shuyi will go arrange it."

The night grew darker.

Yinzhou's streets and alleys were covered with proclamations.

The common people held torches, gathered by the walls, reciting the accusations word by word from the notices.

Someone read that the merchants' guild smuggled pig iron to the Rouran, and the torch in his hand nearly fell to the ground.

"Isn't this treason?"

The man beside him reddened his eyes.

"My younger brother died in battle up north two years ago; they say the Rouran's swords are sharper than before."

"So the swords were sent over by those beasts."

Another voice read that Heifeng Pass had assassinated Political Commissars, his voice trembling.

"Those Political Commissars are here to audit our accounts."

"They killed the Political Commissars because they're afraid we would learn the truth."

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

Then, someone—no one knows who— cursed out first.

"Tomorrow I will go watch them die."

"I'll go too."

"The whole family will go."

"Let the children watch as well, so they can see clearly what fate awaits a traitor."

In the merchants' guild loft, Chen Yan listened to the curses coming from afar, his fingers gently pressing down on the Iron Chest filled with Secret Letters.

Gao Jiong stood in the doorway.

"Minister, the proclamation has been posted."

Chen Yan asked, "What are the common folk saying?"

Gao Jiong replied, "Yinzhou is boiling."

"Tomorrow's Square probably can't accommodate that many people."

Chen Yan opened the Iron Chest and looked at the topmost Chang'an Secret Letter.

"If it can't fit, just stand on the street."

"This trial must be heard by all of the Seven Prefectures of the Northwest."