Chapter 556: As Long As I Choose the Path, It Lies Beneath My Feet

The day before New Year's Day, the Ministry of Revenue, under Chen Yan's leadership, hurriedly worked and finally completed the final report data.

In Zhenguan Year Five, all the Ministry of Revenue's income, expenditures, various lands, and household registrations were laid out clearly; any literate person could understand them.

That evening, the document Chen Yan called a report—actually, to Du Gou and the others, just a larger piece of paperwork—was handed up and placed before Li Shimin.

Looking at this large document, similar to the one Chen Yan handled back in Weinan County, Li Shimin chuckled.

"I told you, this lad is born to eat this bowl of rice; look at this paperwork—who else could have produced it but him?"

Wushe, standing nearby, nodded vigorously in agreement.

Only… after Li Shimin finished reading, he clicked his tongue and said, "No wonder Dai Zhou and Chen Yan complain of poverty; the Ministry of Revenue's income is high, but its expenditures are equally large."

"My private treasury is ample, but the Tang Dynasty's state treasury revenue hasn't risen; I hope that once Zi An officially becomes Minister of Revenue, there will be a change."

"Your Majesty, the Duke of Wei seems never to have disappointed you yet…" Wushe said with a smile.

"That's different…"

Li Shimin, hands clasped behind his back, stood up and said, "Ordinary trade can't compare with the Ministry of Revenue."

"I will not raise taxes; instead, I must find ways to reduce them, so the people can enjoy good lives."

"But how difficult it is to increase state treasury revenue while cutting the people's taxes!"

"Moreover, next year is another tumultuous autumn… let's take it slowly."

Li Shimin's words trailed off; he merely shook his head and said, "By the way, has the Taishang Huang been visiting Zi An's home lately?"

"Uh…" Wushe forced a bitter smile, "Your Majesty, the Taishang Huang's fortune is nearly drained by the two Princesses and the Wei Wang Consort. Every time he leaves the Duke of Wei's residence, he is dark‑faced."

"I have heard that the Taishang Huang has pawned his own jade pendant seven or eight times."

Li Shimin: "......"

He couldn't help rubbing his forehead, truly not knowing what to say.

Chen Yan's idea was good; the Duke of Wei's mansion has so many of Li Yuan's relatives, all grandchildren, which Li Yuan naturally favored.

When everyone sat together and had some fun, Li Yuan was naturally pleased.

The problem, however, is that Gao Yang and Li Lizhi are playing contrary to convention.

They make Li Yuan lose everything day after day; the point is, the old man refuses to accept defeat, losing money and still going tomorrow.

Going continuously and losing continuously.

Rushing to give money to others.

Li Shimin, helpless, waved his hand, "Send someone to speak with Zi An, tell Gao Yang, Changle, and the Wei Wang Consort to be more lenient with the Father Emperor… a bunch of kids winning elders' money all day—what does that look like?"

"At least let them win once."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wushe actually wanted to laugh but forced himself not to.

Leaving Ganlu Hall, gazing at the heavy snowfall, Li Shimin sighed softly.

"Another year has passed…"

"......"

"Mr. Chen, tomorrow is New Year's Day; why did you have me meet Brother Yuan today?"

On a tall building in Chang'an, three figures braced against the wind and snow, watching the night scene of Chang'an beneath the storm.

After a while, Li Chunfeng spoke slowly, "Or have you already set our next target for us?"

Chen Yan shook his head, "No, Wujingqi just returned a few days ago; how could you set out again so soon? Let the soldiers recuperate first; life at sea is hard."

Yuan Tiangang said, "If it isn't about Wujingqi, then do you have something on your mind today, Mr. Chen?"

Given what they know of Chen Yan, he would never make a pointless move, especially the day before New Year's Day.

It's impossible that he summoned the two just to stand on the balcony and feel the wind and snow, right?

Chen Yan paused for two breaths, then asked a question long hidden in his heart, "Once, the two of you together calculated my fate; do you still remember?"

Bringing it up, the two exchanged a glance; Li Chunfeng, recalling it, could not hide his shock, "I may forget many things, but I will never forget this."

"One person simultaneously possessing two destinies—unprecedented, unheard of."

Chen Yan nodded slightly, "Hmm, I recall you mentioned a Tianxiang star, something about upper and lower grades; this should be the Prime Minister destiny, right?"

Regarding their insider jargon, Chen Yan didn't understand much, only recalling a rough idea.

"Indeed, this is a top‑tier literary Dao destiny, extremely noble and rare; searching the entire Tang Dynasty, no second example can be found," Yuan Tiangang exclaimed.

That remark surprised Chen Yan a bit, "Does Cai Duke not have one?"

Yuan Tiangang explained, "Mr. Chen is mistaken; with such a destiny, barring any mishap, it is almost guaranteed to reach that position—it's a heavenly blessing, a smooth ride."

"But since ancient times, countless have become prime ministers, yet most relied on their own effort, enduring countless hardships; they cannot be compared."

Ah!

Chen Yan suddenly understood.

That explains it.

One is fed by heaven, the other starves without.

He was born destined for Rome, while others must endure hardships and need luck to reach Rome.

Thus the two are clearly unequal.

Chen Yan suddenly was puzzled, "Then I also seem to rely on my own effort? I've achieved many merits."

Li Chunfeng twitched the corner of his mouth and began patiently explaining to Chen Yan.

After listening for most of the time, Chen Yan summed it up in one sentence.

Everything is predestined.

He grew tired of speaking and directly raised today's main issue, "Alright, let's set aside whether this is predestined. I have a question: I have seen the Tianxiang star, and I am about to become Minister of Revenue."

"At my age, reaching the prime minister position—if not guaranteed, it's not far off."

"But what about the Wuqu Zuo destiny you mentioned?"

"That sounds like a military officer destiny, doesn't it?"

Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang fell silent at once.

Honestly, they still haven't understood it, and who knows what's going on with him?

One civil, one martial, both are top‑tier destinies.

If it's predestined, then Chen Yan is already on the civil official path, and the end is not far away.

What about the martial destiny?

"We... do not know!"

After a while, Li Chunfeng uttered a sentence.

Chen Yan tilted his head and said, "According to what the Grand Historian said earlier, everything is predestined; does that mean that in the future I am destined to don armor and go into battle, becoming a true martial destiny?"

"We... also do not know!"

"We don't know... if we don't know, then let it be; knowing only adds needless trouble. Whether civil or martial, I, Chen Yan, never believe in fate—if I choose the path, the road is right beneath my feet!"

"......"