Chapter 693: Prince Jin is gone

The imperial court wants to increase the poll tax, and the Heavenly Prison guards can't escape either; everyone is treated equally, and everyone has to pay taxes.

The good thing is that the guards' income is guaranteed, unlike the commoners who don't know if they'll have the next meal, and can go bankrupt just by paying taxes.

The capital, which had finally recovered a bit of popularity, suddenly became gloomy and filled with curses again.

The imperial court officials, however, were smiling like flowers.

Looking at the extra money in the national treasury, the decision to increase taxes was indeed wise. As for the commoners' curses and spells, they were just farts! In front of money, everything was floating clouds.

The officials, petty officials, and miscellaneous servants responsible for collecting taxes were also smiling broadly. It was all grease! Just sticking a hand in meant a handful of grease. They wished for days like this every day, every month.

In short, the officials were happy, and the commoners were sighing in unison!

Emperor Taixing was also very happy; the problem of lack of money was solved instantly. Not only was there money to transport grain and supplies to the two "gold-swallowing beasts" in the north and south, but there was also a surplus for him to build gardens and palaces.

Emperor Taixing wanted to inherit the late Emperor's will of embarking on large-scale construction and restart the projects that had been suspended for nearly three years.

Even though court officials criticized and everyone tried to persuade him, they couldn't stop Emperor Taixing's expanding heart. At the same time, he ordered the Lesser Palace to prepare for selecting beauties to enrich the harem.

The bureaucratic class and the upper society were like flowers embroidered on brocade, a scene of prosperity, as if a golden age had arrived. The lower society was suffering, miserable, and no one paid attention.

"This dog-day world!"

As Heavenly Prison guards in the citizen class, they couldn't help but curse. Although the taxes collected by the imperial court couldn't compare to the money they lost gambling on weekdays, it didn't stop them from cursing every day, especially when they saw with their own eyes how the people above were living in luxury, making the resentment in their hearts even deeper.

Chen Guanlou didn't appease them; when people have emotions, they should vent them instead of blocking them.

Once vented, the heart feels comfortable, and they won't make big moves in the future. Long-term blockage leads to either perversion or explosion.

In the blink of an eye, the second year of Taixing ended, and the third year of Taixing arrived.

The first thing in early spring: Prince Jin is gone, died of a sudden illness!

He died so fast and suddenly that he didn't leave a single last word.

As for what specific illness it was and why he died so fast, it was all unknown, not understood, don't ask, don't talk nonsense!

Chen Guanlou poured a cup of wine and tilted it toward the direction of the Prince Jin's mansion. "Go well!"

He had long known Prince Jin would have this day, but he never expected it to come so soon; the man was gone just after the new year. Emperor Taixing's personality was indeed impatient; he couldn't even wait another two or three years.

This move, in the eyes of the royal clan, further ruined his reputation. Prince Chu had another excuse to win people's hearts and gained a slight advantage in the battlefield of public opinion.

Emperor Taixing didn't care about scholarly public opinion or the hearts of the people at all.

The late Emperor's reputation was ruined by deposing the Crown Prince, but at least he took some remedial measures afterward, treating the deposed Crown Prince kindly.

Emperor Taixing learned the late Emperor's coldness and ruthlessness, but he didn't learn the late Emperor's "master of water-cutting" methods.

Medical Official Mu sighed.

Back then, he was a firm orthodox believer, firmly believing that the Crown Prince was the Son of Heaven. Now, his wish had been fulfilled, and the former Crown Prince, now the Emperor, had stirred up so many things in just a few short years, acting so impatiently; observing his words and deeds, he didn't look like a wise monarch.

Chen Guanlou chuckled and asked him, "How is your perception?"

Medical Official Mu drank his wine alone, his face full of irritation. "Is he really that anxious, unable to wait even two or three years?"

"I said long ago that believing in someone's character or that someone's background can do something well is subjective imagination, just like gambling."

Medical Official Mu waved his hand irritably. "Forget it, forget it, how is it our turn to worry about imperial court affairs."

Anyway, it was Emperor Taixing whose reputation was ruined.

He used to think the late Emperor was a muddled monarch. Now, by comparison, the late Emperor was the truly mature Emperor. His seemingly chaotic and muddled operations were actually all firmly under control.

If it weren't for the natural and man-made disasters in the last few years, and people raising the banner of rebellion among the commoners, and even the clan raising the banner of rebellion, his reputation wouldn't have been so bad.

Marquis Pingjiang had been pacifying rebels in the northwest for several years without any achievements; he couldn't kill Guo Dachun no matter what. The court officials had lost patience.

A group of people led by Xie Changling demanded the recall of Marquis Pingjiang and the selection of another virtuous person to go to the northwest to pacify the rebels.

At first, it was just a small-scale discussion.

After a period of fermentation, this matter became a major event for collective discussion in the imperial court. Prince Jin's death was naturally thrown aside, and no one cared.

The most awkward person now was the Hou Fu's heir, Chen Guanfu.

Emperor Taixing looked hesitant, as if he couldn't make up his mind.

Chen Guanlou took one look and saw that he was clearly acting.

"Who is Xie Changling? He is the Emperor's top confidant, an old official of the Eastern Palace. The words he speaks represent the Emperor's meaning. It's even possible that everything he says is instructed by the Emperor! The Emperor has taken a liking to acting now; his hesitation is just to show the military generals and nobles: 'I haven't discarded the bridge after crossing the river, and I certainly won't cook the hunting dog after the rabbit is dead!' This time, the Marquis cannot escape; he will definitely be recalled."

Chen Guanlou sat in the Hou Fu's small study, chatting with the Hou Fu's chief steward.

Why were the two of them together? Because the Hou Fu had luggage again that needed Chen Guanlou to send to the northwest, to Marquis Pingjiang.

The chief steward drank tea, his face calm, neither sad nor angry. "According to your opinion, the Marquis will definitely be recalled this time? Who can replace the Marquis to command, and who can command those arrogant border troops in the northwest?"

"His deputy general is the best choice. Taking a step back, just promote one from the many generals in the northwest, and it can stabilize the situation. Anyway, if you can't wipe out Guo Dachun, then maintain the current situation. Since it's just maintaining, changing someone to command won't affect the overall situation."

"If at this time, Guo Dachun launches a counterattack, causing the situation in the northwest to rot, what then?"

"If the situation in the northwest truly rots, the Marquis will naturally have to continue to remain in office. It's just, can the Marquis bear this charge?" Chen Guanlou asked with a smile that wasn't a smile.

Clearly, the Marquis didn't want to return to the capital.

Returning to the capital meant he could only continue to be an old dandy, with money and power but no authority! Compared to a marshal commanding tens of thousands of troops, a mere Marquis is a fart.

Once power is in hand, the Marquis is the local emperor in the northwest. Even the clan and vassal kings have to be molded by him. After returning to the capital, he can only be idle at home.

Chen Guanlou didn't know how big the Marquis's ambition was, to what extent. Would he cause the northwest to rot just to remain in office?

He wanted to probe a little.

The chief steward stopped the conversation. "The imperial court cannot be without the Marquis, and the northwest cannot be without the Marquis! I believe His Majesty will understand this truth! This time, it's the old rules: don't let people see, don't let people know, quietly bring the things to the eldest master!"

Chen Guanlou still reminded him, "You are calculating, but the imperial court, the palace, is also calculating. What you can think of, Xie Changling and that group of people can surely think of too. This time, they are coming aggressively and are determined to win. If you mess around, one wrong move, and you could lose everything. If you ask me, it's better to be steady! After all, it's still the Great Gan's world." ===== CHAPTER 694 =====