Chapter 382: Foolish Allies

The morning court ended in unease, and Emperor Yongning fell into dread.

Although Lu Guoheng’s accusations were baseless, the sheer power of the aristocratic faction was a real problem.

It wasn’t just the aristocrats who had grown powerful—there was also the far more troublesome Liaodong faction.

Seeing the emperor lost in thought, the remaining cabinet ministers and heads of the Six Ministries silently groaned.

A cunning villain’s elaborate schemes can’t match a fool’s sudden insight.

It’s acceptable to stir discord between the emperor and the aristocrats, but timing matters.

The realm is still not at peace; this is precisely when you need them to fight for you. Doing this now is tantamount to tearing down your own Great Wall.

These civil officials merely scheme daily to curb the aristocrats’ power—not to destroy them outright.

Whether they admit it or not, the aristocratic faction is now the pillar of the Great Yu Dynasty, no longer the empty vessels they once called them.

Everyone here is a beneficiary; none wish to overturn the table.

Lu Guoheng’s public impeachment laid the conflict bare.

At this point, the original plan to reduce their authority must be halted immediately.

Not only must their power not be weakened, but measures must be taken to appease those who have rendered meritorious service.

Any drastic action now risks driving the aristocrats away from the court.

A single independent Liaodong faction already drives everyone mad—forcing the aristocrats into open opposition would make life unbearable.

“Your Majesty, Marquis Wuyang has submitted a memorial.”

“He wishes to resign as Viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi, and recommends Marquis Hanshui for the post.”

Said Minister of Personnel Yue Mingyu.

This memorial should have been debated in court.

But the unexpected disruption at the grand audience left it suspended.

“Approved!”

Emperor Yongning said, expressionless.

Had this appointment been made before today, it would have sparked fierce struggle.

But now, under these circumstances, there’s no need for debate at all.

The aristocrats’ rise depends on the emperor’s support.

The emperor’s hold on the throne depends equally on the aristocrats’ backing.

Even if he harbors deep suspicion, for political necessity, he must now show full trust in the aristocratic faction.

“Draft an edict: elevate Duke Cheng to Special Envoy, Grand Master of the Imperial Household, Left Pillar of State, and Grand Tutor.

Elevate Marquis Wuyang to Special Envoy, Grand Master of the Imperial Household, Left Pillar of State, and Grand Preceptor.

Elevate Marquis Zhenyuan to Special Envoy, Grand Master of the Imperial Household, Right Pillar of State, and Grand Protector.

Elevate Marquis Hanshui to Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince…”

This string of promotions made the civil officials drool with envy.

The Three Excellencies—this was everyone’s lifelong ambition.

Though these were honorary titles, every official granted them in Great Yu was a renowned minister of his age.

Normally, one might emerge only once every few decades.

Even if they wished to oppose, they had no grounds.

The three promoted men had not only achieved great military victories but also excelled in local governance.

“Your Majesty, wise indeed!”

The ministers replied, half-heartedly.

Envy aside, their accomplishments truly warranted such honors.

Using these promotions to appease the aristocrats was undoubtedly the best choice now.

“Enough!

I don’t want to hear any more of this nonsense.

Let’s discuss the tax system of the Eight Southeastern Provinces.

Chief Minister, state your views first.”

Emperor Yongning waved his hand.

Half of Great Yu’s problems stemmed from lack of funds.

He naturally had no intention of relinquishing the tax revenue he’d finally secured.

But the ministers’ opposition was a thorny issue.

If mishandled, it would inevitably trigger further problems.

“Your Majesty, the new tax law in the Eight Southeastern Provinces conflicts with Great Yu’s statutes in several areas.

Given the extraordinary circumstances that prompted this emergency measure, it’s not entirely problematic.

The local officials have only just adapted to the new system; hastily reverting it would cause chaos.

I suggest we allow it to continue for a while longer, and reconsider its revision only when conditions mature.”

Wan Junhui spoke, gritting his teeth.

Tax reform had eluded every previous emperor of Great Yu.

The success in the Eight Southeastern Provinces was pure accident.

The rebels had severely crippled the gentry class, reducing resistance to tax reform to its lowest point.

Under threat from the rebels, countless gentry had chosen temporary compromise.

To force reform under such pressure, Wan Junhui lacked the courage.

But now that the outcome was a fait accompli, the situation had changed.

Opposition from court officials wasn’t uniform—it varied by circumstance.

Officials from the northern provinces opposed because they resented extending the Eight Southeastern Provinces’ reforms nationwide.

But if the reforms were confined solely to those eight provinces, without harming their own interests, they still hoped the court’s finances would improve.

Even within the Eight Southeastern Provinces, officials held divergent views.

The tax reform harmed the gentry—but even this was not uniform.

Not all gentry engaged in commerce; many were still traditional land-owning scholar families.

These “conservatives” despised merchants and advocated agriculture over commerce.

They were not strongly opposed to increased commercial taxes.

Moreover, some gentry who had lost in prior competition were happy to watch the chaos.

After all, the aristocrats’ tax reform had left land untouched.

Had they been consulted before implementation, they might have opposed it—but now it was settled.

The new tax revenue was primarily used for military and postwar reconstruction, making them beneficiaries too.

Judging from the ministers’ earlier behavior, though some clamored for army cuts, it was not the prevailing view.

The fiercest opponents of army cuts were the officials of the Eight Southeastern Provinces.

Having endured the horrors of war, they understood the value of peace.

Those opposing tax reform and those opposing army cuts were the same group—proof their resistance was not fierce.

Understanding human nature, Wan Junhui decided to take a gamble.

The court’s revenue had surged; most current troubles could now be resolved.

If the situation improved, he could remain Chief Minister for several more years—no need to resign and return home so soon.

Once one has tasted the allure of power, few willingly relinquish it unless forced.

“Your Majesty, the Chief Minister speaks wisely.

The situation in the Eight Southeastern Provinces is unique; drastic changes are inadvisable in the short term.

For the sake of the realm, we must temporarily burden the merchants of the Eight Southeastern Provinces.

Let us set a three-year limit, and revisit the matter only after stability is secured.”

Gu Jiaxi chimed in.

The emperor’s intent was clear—he had no intention of letting his hard-won revenue slip away.

No matter how many flaws the tax reform contained, before the annual tally of over thirty million taels of silver, they were negligible.

Given Emperor Yongning’s nature, even with ministerial opposition, he would likely push ahead anyway.

After all, the tax reform was the aristocrats’ doing—they would surely support it.

The more than three hundred thousand conscripted troops in the Eight Southeastern Provinces were its strongest backers.

Local resistance could be crushed by force.

With these allies, the emperor had the strength to defy the ministers.

Knowing the emperor held leverage, and seeing the Chief Minister take the lead, Gu Jiaxi immediately decided to follow.

“Grand Secretary Gu, this is inappropriate!”

“The Eight Southeastern Provinces have just suffered war—taxes should be reduced, not endlessly extorted!”

Qiu Ruiyang immediately objected.

In truth, he didn’t wish to play the villain.

The tax reform harmed the gentry but benefited the court.

Having reached the cabinet, his thinking no longer centered on local interests—he must consider the realm as a whole.

As an official from the eight southeastern provinces, he could not betray his class at a time like this.

His complex inner thoughts made his opposition half-hearted.

The reasons he found to oppose were half-baked, more like going through the motions.

Seeing this, officials who had been wavering instantly made their choice.

After a heated debate, the supporters gradually gained the upper hand—just as everyone thought the outcome was settled.

“My loyal ministers, since you all agree the tax reform in the eight southeastern provinces is sound, could it not be extended nationwide?”

Emperor Yongning’s words left the ministers utterly furious.

No matter how much you want reform, you must choose the right time!

Right now, the priority is to preserve the fruits of reform, not rush to extend it nationwide.

The success in the eight southeastern provinces was only possible because over three hundred thousand troops stood behind it.

Those gentry who dared openly oppose were physically eliminated.

In other regions, even if the court issued reform orders, the edicts would never leave the yamen.

No matter how good a policy is, if no one implements it, it ends in chaos.

It brings no practical benefit except damaging the emperor’s and the court’s prestige.

“Your Majesty, this must not be done!”

“An orange grown south of the Huai becomes an orange; grown north of the Huai, it becomes a citron.”

“Take customs duties as an example—you must first have overseas trade to collect them.

Our dynasty’s maritime trade is concentrated in the south, which is why we can collect massive tax revenues.

In the northern provinces, you’d struggle to cover the cost of collection—setting up an office would be a waste.

Local governance must adapt to local conditions; one-size-fits-all won’t work!”

Wan Junhui swiftly rebutted.

The emperor’s sudden idea was utterly disastrous.

He’d bet his life that word of today’s incident would spark a massive uproar in court.

Northern provincial officials who might have been won over would now be pushed to the opposition.

If you truly want reform, do it quietly—why announce it at all?

For instance, Sichuan’s current situation is perfect for pushing reform.

Just issue a secret imperial edict to the Marquis of Zhenyuan—he could directly replicate the achievements of the southeastern reforms.

Once the facts are established, the court merely needs to tacitly accept them.

Similar operations could be carried out in Shanxi as well.

Civil officials cannot advance reform—but the military can.

Whenever a province rebels, launch reform there.

Decades later, tax reform could be extended nationwide.

Having accomplished this great feat, all of us could achieve fame and glory, remembered for eternity.

This excellent situation was ruined by a single sentence from Emperor Yongning.

Deep inside, Wan Junhui was so furious he wanted to kill someone.

Without hesitation, the ministers once again unified their stance and immediately rebuked Emperor Yongning.

…

Lianzhougang.

As the ship’s horn sounded, the eyes of the prisoners of war gradually grew moist.

Whether they would ever return to their homeland in this lifetime was uncertain.

But there was no choice—life in Guangxi, though slightly better than farming at home, granted them abysmal political status.

As exiled criminals, they were looked down upon wherever they went, and their families suffered by association.

Unless absolutely necessary, they stayed within their labor zones and never visited the military households.

Even if unspoken, their families still envied the military households just one wall away.

While they labored, the military households farmed the garrison’s land and received high profit shares.

The garrisons even provided livestock and seeds; in famine years, they covered losses.

If a family member enlisted, they received a stipend of qianliang.

As long as they didn’t have too many children, they could eat coarse grain and vegetable buns until full.

During festivals, they could even enjoy a meal of meat.

Their standard of living was better than wealthy villagers back home, comparable to small landowners.

These convicts fared far worse—lower rations, barely seven or eight tenths full.

Fortunately, the garrisons heavily promoted high-yield vegetables, so they benefited too; otherwise, life would have been even worse.

Eating meat was a luxury unless they earned merit.

Even so, the family members who came with them quickly accepted reality.

They had lived at the bottom anyway; after exile, their living standards were slightly better—what more could they expect?

Most crucially, the debts weighing on them were now erased.

Had they not joined the rebellion and seen something of the world, they might have been content.

But precisely because they had seen the world, they could no longer accept their fate.

The military households next door were their objects of envy.

Not only did they enjoy higher living standards, but they also had hope for upward mobility.

Enlisting in the army, if one earned merit, could change an entire family’s fate.

Now that they had a choice—even risking death in a foreign land—countless volunteered.

Treason was a capital crime; even if the emperor pardoned the realm, they would not be included.

Entering Annan to fight for their lives was their only chance to change their fate.

“Third brother, how did you end up here?”

“Didn’t we agree you’d stay home to care for the family while I went to risk my life?”

Seeing the familiar face, the middle-aged man with a sallow complexion immediately demanded an answer.

Influenced by clan values, everyone placed immense importance on continuing the ancestral line.

Even when risking life, one wouldn’t stake everything.

“Big brother, I signed up without telling you.”

“Father and mother agreed.”

“As for home matters, since we’re out here risking our lives, the garrison will take care of them.”

The young man replied immediately.

This exile resulted from their joining the rebellion, which dragged in many relatives.

Trouble had been caused—it needed fixing.

Even if they weren’t assigned together, the simple logic held: the trouble you caused, you must fix.

Though unspoken, he had seen his parents weep countless times, saying they had no face to meet their ancestors.

This opportunity came only once—he wouldn’t let it slip.

Even if the eldest brother went, he was only one man—how many heads could he take?

If they couldn’t secure amnesty for everyone, how could they return with any dignity?

“Ah!”

“You shouldn’t have come!”

“If anything happens, the ancestral line will be broken.”

The eldest brother’s lament received no agreement from the young man.

“Big brother, in our situation, even if we stayed home, the ancestral line would still be broken.”

“What decent family would consider marrying into ours?”

As if struck by resonance, the prisoners on the ship all burst into tears.

The poor had no right to descendants.

Not just now—even before exile, they were all bachelors.

The few who had married did so only after joining the rebellion, using plundered wealth to marry and have children.

Precisely because they had nothing, they dared to risk their lives.

“Enough—dry your tears.”

“We’re taking you out not just to redeem yourselves, but to seek wealth and rank.”

“The court has promised: half of all looted wealth will be yours.”

“If you worry about your ancestral line, go capture more women—take them home and breed slowly.”

“The Annamese are weaklings—easy to crush.”

“If you fight bravely, you’ll get military merit, land, and women—all of it!”

…

The commanding officer immediately launched into his big lie mode.

The method was crude, but the effect was excellent.

When a person hits rock bottom, what they need most is hope.

Even if the path to success is filled with risks, everyone is still willing to fight for it.

……

Zhennan Pass.

The farce in the capital has not yet reached them; everyone remains immersed in the joy of victory.

The end of the southern campaign means not only that reinforcements are coming, but also that resources will be redirected.

The Annan war has, up to now, remained in a defensive posture.

Besides strategic necessity, resource considerations have also played a part.

It is not difficult for Guangdong and Guangxi alone to defeat the Annan forces militarily; the difficulty lies in how to annex Annan.

“The dust has settled; everyone can relax now.”

The progress of the campaign has been even smoother than expected.

A portion of the pre-collected military funds remains unused.

In addition to using it for postwar reconstruction, we have also received our share.

One million five hundred thousand taels of silver and eight hundred thousand shi of grain will be delivered to Guangxi within three months.

I have already coordinated matters; the Viceroy of Fujian and Zhejiang and the Viceroy of Jiangnan have both agreed to provide us with supplementary funding.

The exact amount of supplementary funding will be determined after the autumn tax collection is completed.

Now we can act freely and fight a battle against the Annan people!”

Li Mu said to the group with great heroism.

Those attending the meeting were all the core team he had painstakingly built.

Their loyalty was not lacking, but their vision was truly limited.

There was no way around it; their upbringing had restricted their horizons.

Only after joining the military did they begin to make up for it through learning.

Knowledge can be acquired, but deeply ingrained beliefs are not easily changed.

Most people opposed the plan to administer Annan.

Why leave the comfort of Great Yu for the remote, backward land of “Annan”?

The strategic plan had moved forward only thanks to Li Mu’s persistence.

Even now, most merely gave surface support; secretly, they had no hope for administering Annan.

This was the fault of books.

Texts described Annan as either a poor backwater or a land rife with “miasma.”

Even though Li Mu repeatedly assured them that Annan’s land was fertile, they still lacked confidence.

Many feared that the scouts below had sent false intelligence to deceive their Marquis.

If Annan was not wealthy enough to generate tax revenue in the short term, the war expenses would become a crushing burden on this group.

(End of Chapter)