Chapter 1690: Whoever Controls the Right of Disposal Controls the Wealth

At this moment, Chen Chen Guanlou liked Tan Zhang, admired Tan Zhang.

It was rare to meet someone on the same wavelength as him, with such a highly consistent understanding of money.

He chuckled lightly, "You're wrong. Even life and death can be solved with money. A person who should die at sixty, with money, might live to seventy. Without money, they don't have to wait until sixty—a bout of cold at forty could kill them off. The simplest example at the start of life: a premature baby. With money, they can live; without money, being born is just waiting to die!"

Tan Zhang humbly accepted the lesson, "I was shallow. Warden Chen speaks reason. Money can solve all the world's problems, so once next year's summer grain enters the granary, as long as there's no large-scale natural or man-made disaster, the conflict between Prime Minister Xie and His Majesty can be resolved smoothly. When that time comes, all of us officials imprisoned because of the struggle can leave prison safely."

Chen Chen Guanlou nodded, "I've noted it! We'll verify your theory next spring and summer. Speaking of money, the autumn grain has just entered the granary. What is your Prime Minister Xie fighting with His Majesty about? Dissatisfied with getting too little?"

Tan Zhang pretended to be profound, "We both love money. May I ask Warden Chen, regarding wealth, what is most important?"

He didn't actually care about Chen Chen Guanlou's answer, and directly cut in: "In my view, the most important thing is not ownership, but the right of disposal. Whoever controls the right of disposal controls the wealth. The autumn grain has entered the granary—whoever controls the disposal of this wealth owns it. The Emperor wants to fight Prime Minister Xie; how could Prime Minister Xie yield? Once the right of disposal is ceded, it means the dam has burst. All of us officials imprisoned are the sacrifices of this struggle!"

Brilliant!

Chen Chen Guanlou silently gave a thumbs-up.

A brilliant man speaks brilliant words!

Penetrating and to the point!

Ownership of wealth doesn't matter; what matters is who controls the right of disposal. This is a maxim of truth!

"Then do you think Prime Minister Xie can win?"

"Whether Prime Minister Xie can win, I dare not guarantee. But the Emperor definitely cannot win." Tan Zhang said with ringing conviction, drawing his conclusion outright.

Chen Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow slightly, "Tell me your reasons."

He actually quite enjoyed chatting with Tan Zhang.

This fellow wasn't as steady as his teacher Xie Changling—after all, he was still young and lacked experience. Add to that his humbler origins, and his being eager for quick success was understandable.

Moreover, the innate arrogance in his bones made him love to talk at length before others, grandly discussing his views on court politics to show off his own talent.

Xie Changling came from a noble house and was naturally haloed by glory; he had no need to flaunt himself to display his talent. Even if he said nothing, just standing there was enough for plenty of people to flatter him on their own. Even if he played mute, others could still puff him up into a blossoming trumpet flower.

Between the teacher and student, there was still a great difference in how they conducted themselves in the world. In the end, environment shaped character.

"On the surface, the royalist faction is gradually gaining momentum. But the imperial clan's great trait is being stingy, penny-pinching, and mean."

Chen Chen Guanlou, upon hearing this, couldn't help but lower his head and smile.

This fellow spoke amusingly—locked in a cell and still remembering to avoid the taboo.

Emperor is Emperor, why say imperial clan.

The emperors of the Great Qian Dynasty shared a common flaw: stingy, penny-pinching, and mean!

This was publicly acknowledged.

Even young, inexperienced officials who hadn't yet realized this would gradually come to their senses after being beaten down by reality. At most, within two or three years!

He only heard Tan Zhang continue: "Court officials are no fools; everyone knows perfectly well that once the right of disposal falls into the Emperor's hands, everyone's days will be hard. Setting aside whether the capital officials' salaries can even be paid out, what we must worry about more is whether the Emperor will empty the national treasury to fill his private coffers, using the national treasury's silver to undertake grand construction projects and swell the imperial harem.

Judging by the past emperors' conduct, such things have a very high likelihood. Once the Emperor has money in hand, he can't resist building palaces, building gardens. Every such project costs a fortune and can drag down the finances of the entire realm!

Only by keeping the right of disposal firmly in the Zhengshitang is it truly beneficial for officials across the realm and for the common people.

If anyone dares to openly support His Majesty in seizing the right of disposal, that person is surely a traitorous villain, trying to fish in troubled waters and grab wealth for himself! Such a person must be killed without delay!"

Tan Zhang's face was full of murderous fury, wishing he could grab a sword right then and go slay the traitors in court.

Chen Chen Guanlou clicked his tongue in admiration.

The fellow surnamed Tan was indeed arrogant enough, wild enough! Of course, he had the capital to back his arrogance. A zhuangyuan's brain, plus sharp insight, plus his master Prime Minister Xie—enough to let him storm through the officialdom.

"So you agree that the chancellor's power should suppress the imperial power?"

"Don't you agree?" Tan Zhang didn't understand what there was to ask. Any decent official agreed that the chancellor's power should suppress the imperial power.

"Haven't you considered that once the chancellor's power suppresses the imperial power for too long, it might suffer a backlash?"

"Not might—it will definitely suffer a backlash. And the backlash has already begun." Tan Zhang said with ringing conviction.

"Aren't you worried?" Chen Chen Guanlou was curious; looking at the other's calm demeanor, he clearly didn't take mere backlash to heart at all.

"Why worry? This is something bound to happen; no one can stop it, not even the heavens. Since the chancellor's power can suppress the imperial power, in the short term—about five years—it can also firmly suppress this backlash. After five years, it will be a different situation altogether. By then, it won't just be suppression; the greater likelihood is open struggle, from literary combat to armed combat, and then spreading across the entire realm…"

Tan Zhang's expression was calm, his tone indifferent as he spoke of things that might happen in the future.

Any of the possibilities he spoke of, falling on someone else's ears, would be a catastrophe of heaven-falling, earth-collapsing proportions. To him, they were simply predetermined, bound-to-happen events, no need for alarm—there were always ways to respond. Either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind.

He was willing to follow Prime Minister Xie, to stake his entire clan on a gamble for glory upon his person. Even if it was only for a term of ten years, he would have no regrets!

Truly a gambler!

A strong gambling streak!

Chen Chen Guanlou felt admiration rise in his heart.

What he admired most were precisely such people—those who set a goal, charge forward without looking back, die without repenting, steadfast and unwavering. Whether the goal was great, base, or a self-chosen path to death, he admired them all.

Because he himself lacked that drive.

If it were him, eight or nine times out of ten, he would change course halfway and betray his own ideals and goals.

He couldn't pull off rebellion, and probably couldn't pull off being a powerful minister either—too exhausting! He just wanted to slack off!

"If it develops into armed combat, how do you plan to keep fighting?" Chen Chen Guanlou was curious, wanting to probe whether the other had any practical, workable plan.

Tan Zhang smiled mysteriously, "Because the winner takes all, we will inevitably stop at nothing. To win, I will do anything!"

Chen Chen Guanlou leaned in closer and whispered, "Anything, including rebellion?"

"No! We civil officials only want peace and prosperity under heaven." Tan Zhang denied it flatly, dead serious. What a righteous and awe-inspiring Lord Tan!

Chen Chen Guanlou snickered. He didn't listen to the words; he only watched. In the other's eyes, he saw wild ambition, saw reckless daring, but not a trace of panic, not the anger and grievance of someone desperately distancing himself from the mention of rebellion.