Chapter 347: Chapter Thirteen: The Fourth Month

In late spring, after a rain had just cleared, the countryside was probably still filled with the fresh scent of soil, and the mountains and forests were likely swaying with remnants of red blossoms and new green. Even in the cities, there was a sense of the rain washing away the dust.

But a city is still a city, and although the current Dongjingcheng had never fully recovered to its peak state, it was still likely the largest city in the world at that time.

Therefore, after the rain, Dongjingcheng quickly returned to its usual noise and restlessness.

And this noise and restlessness became even more pronounced with the arrival of the fourth month—while the entire city's populace was discussing the news of troop expansion, His Majesty the Emperor received two pieces of bad news, one open and one hidden.

The open one was actually anticipated, so it wasn't worth lamenting over; the hidden one, though somewhat unexpected, was precisely because it was hidden, difficult to bring up for discussion.

To be specific, the so-called open bad news was that the Minister of Revenue, Lin Jingmo, had finally submitted a rough fiscal memorandum to His Majesty. The Ministry of Revenue, comparing population figures, using the tax data from Emperor Shenzong's reign as a reference and the data from the era of "abundance and great prosperity" as a theoretical upper limit, and based on the speed of central fiscal recovery over the previous few years, had roughly given a conclusion that was extremely complex to explain in detail but exceptionally simple to summarize—assuming a three-year timeline, meaning a northern expedition in the tenth year of the Jianyan era, the court would face a minimum shortfall of thirty million strings of military funds and several million shi of grain and fodder.

And if it were five years, then theoretically, sufficient preparations for the northern expedition could be completed.

This memorandum, which was hundreds of thousands of characters long, used many tables that had only become popular in recent years, and was almost like a book, was very persuasive, but also very cruel.

Because in it, everything that could be calculated had been included as much as possible.

For example, Qianzhou in Jiangnanxi Circuit, due to its mines and porcelain, and having many Miao stockades as potential consumers, had long been recognized as a major commercial tax prefecture. From Emperor Shenzong's reign until the Jingkeng Incident, it had consistently provided the court with nearly fifty thousand strings of commercial tax annually. But after the Jingkeng Rebellion, the Qianzhou bandits rose up, and this direct income of fifty thousand strings was completely lost.

And after Yue Fei pacified Qianzhou, in the entire previous year, Qianzhou's commercial tax had quickly recovered to over twenty thousand strings.

In response, the Ministry of Revenue believed that in the next year, Qianzhou's commercial tax would likely recover to over thirty thousand strings, and the year after that would reach forty thousand strings.

But that was it.

In the short term, Qianzhou's commercial tax would remain stuck at the level of forty thousand strings without further growth, and it would be impossible for it to stably supply the level of fifty thousand strings as it had for decades before.

The reason was simple: based on the corresponding land tax, the Ministry of Revenue inferred that Qianzhou had indeed lost some of its consumer population. Not only that, east of Qianzhou's prefectural city was Qili Town, which had a kiln that was a top-tier famous kiln... In those days, Qili Town could directly pay several thousand strings in taxes annually, to the extent that the court had set up an agency similar to a tax office there!

And now? After years of devastation by the Qianzhou bandits, Qili Town still existed, but this porcelain kiln had been out of operation for several years. Even though it had started firing again, due to the collapse of trade routes and the significant shrinkage of the luxury goods market, the recovery was extremely slow... In the coming years, this Qili Town would probably only be able to provide a few hundred strings of revenue.

Therefore, the final conclusion from the Ministry of Revenue was that the total commercial tax for Qianzhou over the next three years would be between one hundred thousand and one hundred ten thousand strings.

In fact, from the commercial tax of Qianzhou, one could see the larger picture and understand the current fiscal problems of the Great Song—the foundation was still there, but the upper limit had been greatly reduced due to population decline and the occupation of the Two Rivers region. At the same time, the war had caused severe damage to the economic system, and restoring it to the theoretical upper limit would take time.

There were many similar details in this Ministry of Revenue memorandum.

Such as a silver mine in Shaowu Army, Fujian Circuit, gradually becoming depleted, so future annual calculations would need to decrease by three hundred strings;

And a trading market town outside Hangzhou City had completely disappeared during the previous military rebellion, with no signs of reconstruction... These various records were diverse and opened His Majesty's eyes.

Zhao Jiu even learned some other strange and unusual knowledge from this memorandum—for instance, that Suzhou's tax revenue was far lower than Hangzhou's at this time. The reason was that there were many swamps around Suzhou, which limited urban development, and tax revenue had not increased much for decades, while Hangzhou's population and number of markets were constantly rising.

In short, this memorandum was so detailed and persuasive that everyone understood that Lin Jingmo had definitely come prepared. The suggestion to establish a new treasury was likely his idea, and he had probably started preparing this major project as soon as he returned last winter.

In response, His Majesty had to concede. But having to concede also meant that Zhao Jiu had to face that minimum shortfall of thirty million strings.

That's right, it was a minimum, because this Ministry of Revenue memorandum was ultimately an idealized model, calculated based on theoretical sustainable recovery. It did not consider additional expenditures caused by any disasters or calamities, nor did it consider the consumption from small-scale battles that might break out midway.

Therefore, if His Majesty wanted to launch a northern expedition in three years, he would have to secure an additional thirty million strings within three years, outside of normal state finances!

No less, only more.

Speaking of this, one had to mention the other piece of bad news. Zhang Jun had sent a secret letter to His Majesty—his fleet had first gone to Japan, then to Goryeo, detoured for a long time, and finally returned to Dengzhou, but had only sold a quarter of its cargo.

The reason was simple: the fleet was too large, and there was also an obvious armed ship, which backfired and made the Japanese treat it as a major threat... Especially after the fleet sold two shiploads of goods at Hakata Port in Kyushu and tried to move further east, the Japanese were clearly provoked. They dispatched a large number of inland sea vessels to follow and monitor, and all ports completely refused to trade with the fleet, only cautiously providing normal supplies out of respect for the Zhao Song royal flag.

As for forcing a sale?

Don't joke. Although the fleet was large and had one armed ship, it couldn't bear the capital of the entire Jingdong Two Circuits' maritime merchants, the Huainan Two Circuits' major traders, and Commander Zhang Jun, not to mention His Majesty's own capital... Who would be crazy enough to actually go fight with so much silk and porcelain?!

Finally, at Bingo in the Seto Inland Sea, a bold Japanese official came aboard with an imperial decree from the Japanese court to negotiate. After much persuasion, and considering the official documents and flags from His Majesty in Dengzhou, they relaxed slightly, believing about thirty percent. They allowed local Japanese merchants from the western provinces to come aboard and buy another two shiploads of goods. Then, after some negotiation, the Japanese court used silver and gold to buy almost all the copper coins used as ballast... The Japanese indeed liked Great Song's copper coins. From this perspective, a certain amount of precious metal trade might be feasible.

After all, although the Great Song also lacked copper, it was even more short of silver and gold... During the Jingkeng period, the Jin had plundered a huge amount of gold and silver, but surprisingly did not take copper coins, making this trade quite profitable for both sides.

But that was it.

Next, the Japanese absolutely refused to allow the ships to proceed further into the heart of Japan, and also refused to buy more goods than normal demand.

As for the entire Japan trip, it could only be said that Commander Zhang Jun's talk about the Japanese court being on its last legs was pure nonsense! The Japanese court clearly still had sufficient authority and ability to act; otherwise, how could all the ports along the way have coordinated their actions?

And His Majesty's talk about burning the ports if they didn't buy was also nonsense! Thousands of miles away, across the sea, if a fire were set, and it ignited their own silk, who would be responsible?

All of Japan's ports combined weren't worth as much as the silk in those ships' holds!

Finally, the fleet, carrying the Japanese envoy who had come to inquire about the matter—the Bingo no Kami, who had been promoted to Chūnagon for handling this matter properly—prepared to return directly. But the leading member of Zhang Jun's household felt that taking thirty ships over and only selling four shiploads was too embarrassing... So he simply persuaded the others to take a detour north, departing from Hakata Port and heading to Goryeo, arriving at the famous Yeheung Port (Incheon Port) near the capital, Gaegyeong.

The Goryeo people's reaction was even more intense, treating it as an even greater threat.

However, this was not because the Goryeo people were afraid of these few dozen sea vessels. Unlike Japan, which had been relatively closed, conservative, and sensitive since ceasing the tribute missions to Tang, the Korean Peninsula had maintained close exchanges with the Central Plains dynasties for centuries and had a long tradition of maritime trade. For example, during the late Tang and Silla period, the Silla man Jang Bogo, who had served in the army and obtained a green card in the Huaidong area, essentially took over East Asian maritime trade after the Tang fell into civil strife.

At its peak, the number of Jang Bogo's fleet ships that sank each year just on the reefs in front of Mingzhou (present-day Ningbo) port was in the dozens... Of course, the coastal ships of that time were certainly not as large as Commander Zhang's current vessels.

In other words, the Goryeo people had considerable short-to-medium-range combat capability in coastal waters.

The truth of the matter was actually very simple—ultimately, unlike Japan, Goryeo, as a neighbor of the Jurchens and a vassal of both the Great Song and the Great Liao, had been deeply involved in the twenty-year-long war between Liao-Jin and Song-Jin from the very beginning, just without directly participating. So for the Goryeo people, mishandling this could mean their country directly entering a state of total war.

And after Jeong Ji-sang brought back the news of the alliance at the Jinhe River and His Majesty's destruction of the Western Xia, there was intense debate within Goryeo, making them even more sensitive and cautious from a diplomatic perspective.

Also, don't forget that the envoy His Majesty had sent to form an "alliance" had coincidentally just arrived in the Goryeo capital.

Therefore, seeing these thirty large sea vessels arrive, Goryeo naturally treated it as a major threat. They thought this fleet, like the envoy from the Court of State Ceremonial, represented some kind of attitude from His Majesty, who had already been mythologized in Goryeo.

However, fortunately, there was the international friend Jeong Ji-sang, who had the most face. After he personally boarded the ship to inquire, clarify, and resolve the misunderstanding, the Goryeo people, half-believing and half-doubting, chose the same cautious attitude as Japan—they purchased three shiploads of goods, slightly more than normal trade demand.

Moreover, this transaction was centralized and deferred.

It was an official transaction conducted under the tight encirclement of countless coastal vessels, including fire ships, and was a unified transaction carried out after careful and intense political struggle within the Goryeo court, which had also decided on the personnel to visit His Majesty.

After the transaction, the fleet was explicitly told that they would not be received at any port other than Yeheung Port, and were advised to return quickly.

With no other choice, the fleet could only carry the Court of State Ceremonial officials heading to Goryeo, along with Goryeo's Privy Councilor, Jeong Ji-sang's political rival, and the envoy returning to the Great Song on this visit—also considered an old friend of the Great Song people—Kim Bu-sik, back to Dengzhou.

The old man was already in his sixtieth year, yet he still had to travel everywhere daily for state affairs; it was truly hard work.

Regardless, of the thirty shiploads of goods, only seven or eight had been sold. Although there was a surplus, even making a profit of several hundred thousand strings, from His Majesty's perspective, it was undoubtedly a failure—because the cautious attitude of Japan and Goryeo was clear. To conduct trade beyond normal demand would probably require military force, but at this time, the Great Song was not capable of the kind of long-range naval operations His Majesty had previously imagined.

Not that it was impossible, but that it wasn't worth it.

Not to mention anything else, there was still a shortfall of thirty million strings ahead. How much would it cost to launch a long-range surprise naval operation?

Even if successful, with a saturated market, how much more could be earned in three to five years? Could it recoup the costs? Not to mention the possibility of defeat and many other factors beyond human control.

It must be understood that military funds were all the people's hard-earned wealth! They were bought with the blood and sweat of the Qianzhou kiln workers and the Shaowu Army miners! Unless Zhao Jiu had lost his mind, he would not choose to go to war with Japan and Goryeo at this time.

Opening up sea routes, dumping goods, and engaging in economic colonization—it wasn't that it couldn't be done, but it required the right methods and the right timing.

However, considering only the northern expedition, if the sea could not serve as a shortcut for now, how else could money be raised?

About ten days later, the time came to mid-April. Escorted by the Imperial Camp Army, the Goryeo envoy Kim Bu-sik, the Japanese envoy Taira no Tadamori, the Court of State Ceremonies official Xu Jing who had returned from his mission to Goryeo, and a team specially sent by Zhang Jun to deliver the 'Maritime Trade Compendium' to His Majesty Zhao all arrived together at Dongjing.

Immediately, things took a strange turn. First, all those arriving from the east were ordered to enter specifically through the southern Xunxun Gate. Initially, the Goryeo and Japanese delegations thought this was a mark of respect, since the Xunxun Gate faced directly onto the Imperial Way. However, when they reached the Xunxun Gate, Yang Yizhong, the most trusted of His Majesty Zhao's trusted men, was indeed there with several hundred Imperial Guard troops to welcome them—but only to welcome the 'Maritime Trade Compendium'.

The Goryeans, the Japanese, and even the Court of State Ceremonies official Xu Jing could only watch as those Japanese and Goryeo specialty goods, along with over a hundred thousand strings of silver and cash, made their way up the Imperial Way, escorted by the Imperial Guard straight to Xuan'de Tower, while they themselves were shunted off mid-route to the Guesthouse under the Court of State Ceremonies, where they were then completely ignored.

It was only then that the Goryeans and Japanese fully realized that they themselves were merely an afterthought.

"Lord Leichuan (Kim Bu-sik's style name)."

Arriving at the Guesthouse at noon, within just one hour, in the afternoon, the Court of State Ceremonies Registrar and envoy to Goryeo, Xu Jing, came and went again. He had presumably only made a hasty handover at the Court of State Ceremonies before returning. Once back, this Court of State Ceremonies Registrar came directly to where Kim Bu-sik was staying. Wiping his sweat, he could not help but show a look of shame. "I have neglected you today, Lord Leichuan. I never expected the court to value His Majesty's private purse over diplomatic relations!"

Kim Bu-sik, who was reading the Capital Gazette in the courtyard, slowly looked up. This Goryeo Privy Councilor, nearly sixty years old, carefully examined Xu Jing, who was fully twenty-six years his junior, before sighing: "Mingshu (Xu Jing's style name), how many years have we known each other?"

Xu Jing, just past thirty, was slightly startled but still blurted out: "More than ten years."

"Indeed." Kim Bu-sik pressed the Capital Gazette against his knee and spoke with emotion. "In the past, when the Retired Emperor Daojun was on the throne, it was mostly I who served as Goryeo's envoy to Song. And the Great Song envoy to Goryeo came only once, exactly ten years ago, when you served. Back then, you first studied the Goryeo language with me in Dongjing, then we traveled together to Kaijing, and then returned together. We ate and lived together for two or three years, becoming close friends from different countries... Later came the Jingkang Catastrophe, and I thought we would never have the chance to see each other again in this life. Yet unexpectedly, we can once again sail together... Mingshu, I deeply cherish our friendship, and I can see that you have always been sincere with me."

Xu Jing was slightly startled upon hearing this, almost losing his composure.

To be fair, there was a reason why Xu Jing, as the official Great Song envoy to Goryeo ten years ago, had watched a maritime merchant named Wang Lun from that time rise through imperial relatives to become one of the Nine Ministers, while he himself was only temporarily promoted to serve as envoy now when the court needed diplomatic professionals. Xu Jing was a wealthy young master skilled in calligraphy, painting, and poetry. His greatest achievement before was his mission to Goryeo. But his father, Xu Hongzhong, had been a high-ranking official as the Fiscal Commissioner of the Two Huai Circuits during the Xuanhe era!

And anyone who could sit in that position during the Xuanhe era was most likely a member of the 'Abundance and Great Prosperity' faction.

And indeed, that was the case. Xu Jing's father, Xu Hongzhong, not only attached himself to Cai Jing but also to Zheng Juzhong. So, right at the start of the Jingkang era, he was implicated by his father and sent packing to Chizhou to serve as the head of some tax office. He worked there for four or five years, then his father died, he completed the mourning period, and then he was idle for nearly another year before being summoned back.

In other words, this Ambassador Xu, Registrar Xu, was essentially a hybrid of the Lu Benzhong brothers, the Zheng Yinian brothers, and the Gao Yanei brothers. In terms of misfortune and the extent of ancestral misdeeds, he certainly couldn't compare to the Gao and Zheng brothers, and his entire family had escaped the Jingkang Catastrophe. In terms of luck, he certainly couldn't compare to the Lu Benzhong brothers either—that Lord Lu Xiang's legendary experiences after Jingkang were probably unique in all of Great Song... Of course, his poetry wasn't as good either, though he was said to be quite skilled at painting.

But none of that mattered. The key point was that, in order to curry favor with the Retired Emperor Daojun back then, he had inadvertently acquired a foreign language specialty... This shows that knowing a foreign language is still quite important.

"Mingshu."

Kim Bu-sik became even more emotional upon seeing this. "Although we are close friends, I am nearly thirty years older than you. If you don't mind, I will speak to you today of some things that friends of a gentlemanly sort shouldn't say."

Xu Jing had always respected Kim Bu-sik. Hearing this now, he naturally suppressed all kinds of emotions, stepped forward into the courtyard, and sat down facing him in the shade of a tree.

"Mingshu." Kim Bu-sik pressed the Capital Gazette in his hand and spoke seriously. "First, tell me the truth. Because of the ups and downs in your own official career, do you harbor any resentment towards your current Lord Zhao?"

"How could that be?" Xu Jing gave an awkward smile and turned his head away to answer. "My family's decline happened during the Jingkang era. If I resent anyone, it would only be the Yuansheng Emperor, at most dragging in the retired Lord Lu Xiang and Lord Xu Xiang, or even Li Guang, Censor-in-Chief Li. His Majesty has only shown me the grace of reinstatement."

Kim Bu-sik remained silent, just staring fixedly at him.

Xu Jing was silent for a moment, looked around, and then spoke in a low voice: "Actually, I'm somewhat dissatisfied with those who rose through favoritism, like Wang Lun. A maritime merchant, just because he took the path of imperial relatives, became one of the Nine Ministers overnight and was placed in the Imperial Library..."

"Just Wang Lun?" Kim Bu-sik finally spoke, but still stared at him.

"Naturally, it's not just Wang Lun alone." Xu Jing hesitated, then finally sighed in a low voice. "Returning to the capital after all this time, although I've become a seventh-rank capital official again, none of my old acquaintances are around. It still stirs a feeling of desolation... Besides, all the high-ranking officials in the court are former minor clerks and low-ranking officers. I know this is due to the great chaos in the realm and the circumstances, but I still find it hard to accept in my heart... I keep thinking, hoping to advance further, so as not to bring shame to my ancestors."

By the end, Xu Jing was actually blushing, and he directly lowered his head.

"I understand." Kim Bu-sik nodded slightly and continued smoothly. "And then you developed a vague sense of resistance towards the entire court's general policy and towards your sovereign... This is actually quite human. Even I, in Goryeo, because I lead the Kaijing (Seoul) faction of the aristocracy, am not I locked in a life-and-death struggle with the Seogyeong (Pyongyang) faction? But Mingshu, Great Song and Goryeo are not the same..."

"Yes." Xu Jing forced himself to look up, his expression still somewhat embarrassed.

"In Goryeo, I always have a three-tenths chance of dealing with those people." Seeing the other's unsettled expression, Kim Bu-sik slowed his tone and smiled slightly. "But here in Great Song, it's Lord Zhao's one-man rule! And there's no way around it. Your Lord Zhao rose amidst great chaos, won people's hearts, established the Imperial Camp, and in seven or eight years brought the state to this point. Even if there are one or two dissatisfied people, what of it? Who can truly oppose him? A figure like Li Gang, Li Boji, submitted such a vehement memorial—did it shake him even a little? And you, a mere seventh-rank capital official, if you truly harbor resentment, what good can you possibly find?"

Xu Jing sat opposite Kim Bu-sik, pressing his hands on his knees, and couldn't help but let out a long breath, as if putting down some burden: "Who says it isn't so?"

"And what you said earlier actually had some truth to it." Kim Bu-sik continued his patient guidance. "You are what is called a remnant of Cai Jing's faction, looked down upon by those slow-advancing Jiangnan faction members and the old officials of the Yuansheng Emperor who have already been cast aside by this sovereign. If it weren't for this sovereign and the Chief Councilor, who rose from a minor clerk, being in power, what chance would you have had to re-enter officialdom? And what chance would you and I have to speak so candidly here? You should cherish the present."

Xu Jing sighed, finally stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed his head: "Lord Leichuan is right. I was wrong."

"It's good that Mingshu understands this reasoning." Seeing the other admit his mistake, Kim Bu-sik felt relieved and nodded. "Nowadays, Great Song's government is clear and enlightened, and the sovereign is enterprising. You are so young. As long as you adopt the right posture and work earnestly, you may yet surpass your predecessors and outshine your ancestors... Please, sit."

Xu Jing sat back down, nodding repeatedly, and became even more relieved.

But Kim Bu-sik leaned in close and spoke earnestly: "Now, let's go back and look at what you said earlier. Even without the resentment showing, your words were wrong! Think about your sovereign. His harem has only two Imperial Consorts, his eunuchs number only a few hundred, mostly old hands from the Jingkang era. The palace gardens, some are turned into fish ponds, some into cuju fields... When I saw him in the palace three or four years ago, I knew this Son of Heaven harbored great ambitions, single-mindedly intent on avenging the shame of Jingkang... A Son of Heaven like that, who paid no attention to his private purse for seven or eight years, how could he suddenly care about it today? In my view, this so-called private purse is probably a public purse. The Maritime Trade Compendium that Zhang Jun sent, nine times out of ten, will be stored away for state use."

Xu Jing was silent for a moment, then slightly raised his eyebrows and shook his head: "Even so, valuing inanimate objects while ignoring diplomatic relations is still putting the trivial before the essential..."

"That may not necessarily be the case." Kim Bu-sik suddenly smiled bitterly. "I think your sovereign is giving a warning to me and those Japanese next door... But Mingshu, haven't you read the latest issue of the Capital Gazette?"

Xu Jing was slightly startled: "What does Lord Leichuan mean? What's in the Capital Gazette?"

"Mingshu, please pay a little more attention!" Kim Bu-sik smiled even more bitterly, folded the Capital Gazette on his knee, and thrust it at him. "Here, I just had someone buy it. I've only just finished reading the front-page headline. You read this front-page headline first before you say anything else!"

Having said this, Kim Bu-sik clasped his hands behind his back, stood up, and began pacing back and forth in the courtyard of his lodging, shaking his head.

Xu Jing opened the Capital Gazette in his arms, took one look, and stood up in shock. Then he turned his head to look at Kim Bu-sik: "The court has actually come up with such an absurd policy? What kind of decency is this?!"

"The Jingkang Incident—that was what was truly indecent!" Kim Bu-sik said without turning his head, pacing with his hands behind his back, sighing deeply. "The state's Northern Expedition is short by thirty million strings of cash. How can openly asking the realm for strategies to gather wealth be considered indecent? Besides, isn't this action carried out according to your Lord Zhang's fiscal strategy? It can be considered showing sincerity to the people."

"But..."

Xu Jing started to speak but stopped, clearly thinking of something. "This move has a bit of a flavor from the Xining Reforms. Prince Shu of Wang wanted to implement the New Policies and would see anyone... It's just that there wasn't such a powerful Capital Gazette back then... And our sovereign does indeed admire Prince Shu of Wang."

"Indeed." Kim Bu-sik continued pacing in the courtyard with his hands behind his back. "The current situation really does resemble the Xining Reforms. And I have always admired Prince Shu of Wang's scholarship, but I have many reservations about the Xining Reforms themselves... Because everyone knows the reforms ultimately failed. The Western Xia wasn't conquered, and instead, popular resentment boiled over."

"Then..." Xu Jing spoke instinctively.

"I know what you want to ask, or what you want to say. But today, the Great Song sovereign's actions make it hard for me to casually comment." Kim Bu-sik continued pacing with his hands behind his back. "Because I truly don't know if he will succeed in the future... Ten years ago, who knew the Jurchens could suddenly cause the Jingkang Incident? Seven years ago, who knew your sovereign could recover the old capital, sweep clean the Northwest, and even subjugate the Khitans and Mongols?"

"But..." Xu Jing looked at the other's back, sweating on his forehead, and even swallowed before asking nervously: "But I still want to ask Lord Leichuan... Can this matter actually succeed?"

"Mingshu, asking me today whether this matter is appropriate is like asking whether the Northern Expedition can succeed. But how would I dare to know that?" Kim Bu-sik, with his back to Xu Jing, sighed faintly. "You must understand, whether this matter succeeds or not concerns not only your Great Song and your sovereign, but also the life and death of us Goryeans! My purpose in coming this time is simply to seek a state of 'not daring to know'."

Xu Jing hesitated, then still clutching the Capital Gazette, pressed on: "Lord Leichuan, just between you and me, as a private question, do you think it can succeed?"

Kim Bu-sik finally stopped, then turned around. His brows were tightly furrowed, and his eyes, like lightning, fixed on this foreign old friend.

Xu Jing was momentarily frightened, not knowing how to respond.

After looking at him for a moment, Kim Bu-sik finally closed his eyes and sighed: "Mingshu... in my heart, I probably think it can succeed. But I still dare not say it, cannot say it!"

Xu Jing was flustered for a moment, nodded hastily, and then actually fled, clutching the Capital Gazette under his arm. Kim Bu-sik watched the back of his young friend, standing solemnly and silently in the courtyard amidst the blooming flowers and green willows.

Leaving aside Kim Bu-sik's reflections for now, on the other side, Xu Jing fled the heavily guarded courtyard housing the Goryeo delegation. But he did not go far. Instead, he passed the equally heavily guarded courtyard of the Japanese delegation and entered another heavily guarded guesthouse courtyard.

Once inside this courtyard, Xu Jing followed the Imperial Guards filling the yard, hurriedly turned into a small side courtyard, and without lifting his head, directly prostrated himself in a bow. Then, still without raising his head, he recounted the previous conversation without reservation.

"That's what he said?" Zhao Jiu, sitting in the courtyard enjoying the sun, seemed thoughtful.

"Yes." Xu Jing clutched the Capital Gazette, not daring to lift his head.

"He saw through you." After a moment's thought, Zhao Jiu suddenly laughed from his seat. "This old man is far stronger than Zheng Zhichang, not even in the same league. His purpose in coming here was precisely to show goodwill while firmly refusing to take a stance, to avoid Goryeo facing the Jurchens alone... Believing that I can succeed in the Northern Expedition on one hand, yet not daring to say it, unable to say it on the other... That is exactly what he wants to say to me and the Great Song court. The man is open and aboveboard, which makes our use of cunning tactics seem rather petty."

Xu Jing looked up, sweating profusely, momentarily panicked.

Wang Lun, the Court of State Ceremonies Minister standing respectfully to the side, quickly cupped his hands and spoke: "Your Majesty, Registrar Xu has merit, not fault. Setting this aside, his mission to Goryeo, following your decree to bring Kim Bu-sik—a man who can truly do things and manage affairs—instead of Zheng Zhichang, can in itself be considered a successful completion of his task."

Zhao Jiu continued to sneer: "I never said he was at fault, and even this trip can't be considered a failure... I've only just figured it out myself. Although Jin Fushi has some ability, he's ultimately constrained by a small state, constrained by Goryeo's factional strife... Those words of his were both what he originally prepared to say to me and what he was forced to say."

Wang Lun and Xu Jing both breathed a sigh of relief, and the latter even clutched the court gazette in his hand, lifting his head slightly.

The next moment, Zhao the Sovereign suddenly rose, and the armored guards around him also started moving under Yang Yizhong's lead. But after no more than three or four steps, this Sovereign turned back: "Registrar Xu, do you still have something to say?"

"Yes... Your Majesty, Sovereign!" Xu Jing, who had just turned around, hurriedly and flusteredly unfolded the court gazette in his hand, hastily finding the front-page headline.

Zhao Jiu turned his head completely, his smile growing even brighter: "Do you have a good method to gather wealth for the state?"

"Your subject has one strategy." Xu Jing swallowed his saliva and forced himself to respond. "Sovereign can raise taxes! Raise commercial taxes!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Lun immediately shook his head, and even Yang Yizhong rarely furrowed his brow slightly.

As for Zhao Jiu, he actually hadn't held out hope from the start... Ever since he was forced by reality to publicly ask for help, the memorials and suggestions he and the Chancellery had received these days were extremely varied, but most didn't go beyond the predetermined plans of professional bureaucrats.

For example, raising commercial taxes was, of course, under consideration... When necessary, draining the pond to catch all the fish wasn't impossible, but that was for when it was truly necessary, only to be done when the state had no other path left.

Therefore, Zhao the Sovereign, while inwardly tagging this man as an impatient and reckless second-generation scion, only useful for Goryeo affairs, nonetheless spoke with a pleasant smile, preparing to brush him off with a single sentence, and then hurry back to update the *Water Margin*, which had already become a weekly serial.

However, this second-generation scion with a specialty in foreign languages seemed to see through Zhao the Sovereign's thoughts, or perhaps he had finally organized his language, and quickly explained: "Sovereign, the commercial tax increase your subject speaks of is not those old taxes, but a new tax. Your subject realized it from this experience of Grand Commandant Zhang's fleet in Japan... I just saw it in the court gazette and had an idea."

Zhao Jiu finally steadied his mind and asked seriously again: "Specifically, how so?"

"Sovereign... may it please the Sovereign to know." This Xu Jing knew the critical moment had come, and also knew the opportunity was rare, so he quickly spoke. "On this fleet's trip to Japan and Goryeo, the flags and documents bestowed by the Sovereign in Dengzhou proved extremely useful... So on the return voyage, an old maritime merchant on the ship said he would be willing to buy one of the Sovereign's flags for the price of ten thousand strings of cash a year!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Lun, the Chief Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, who came from a maritime merchant background, couldn't help but let out an involuntary "Tsk," clearly having realized something... This was essentially selling "licensed shop" qualifications to maritime merchants.

How did the title of "licensed shop" come about? Wasn't it from having the official right to brew one's own liquor? That also required paying money to the court.

In other words, this was fundamentally a precedent, and having a precedent meant there was no resistance or relatively little resistance... Xu Jing's suggestion was truly a good way to open up a source of revenue.

But at the same time, Zhao Jiu, who had just been smiling, had a sudden flash of insight in his mind and was stunned on the spot... This wasn't because he was awed by the other's creativity in selling flags, but because he was stimulated by the other's idea, and then recalled that in later ages there seemed to be a similar method of raising revenue, a type of tax, also based on the idea of selling state and imperial credit. Not only did it not accumulate popular resentment, but it was even praised as a good tax.

But he just couldn't recall the specific details for the moment.

"And then?" Zhao the Sovereign snapped back to reality, frowning deeply as he pressed on. "Is it just selling flags to maritime merchants?"

"Of course it's not just selling flags..." Xu Jing quickly explained. "Sovereign, similar things can be issued for every trade... It doesn't necessarily have to be flags; more often, it's a document stamped with an official seal..."

"Stamp tax! It's a stamp tax!" Zhao Jiu bypassed Xu Jing and slowly sat back down in the chair under the tree in the courtyard, then looked up and sighed. "Plus Northern Expedition fund lottery tickets, plus royal qualification auctions, maritime standard flags, the corporate system, the rise of a great power... I've only been Sovereign for a few years, and I've really forgotten everything... A thousand difficulties and ten thousand obstacles, there are always ways, aren't there... Minister Xu, I have always been one to keep my word. Your suggestion today is worth the post of Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial!"

Xu Jing was first bewildered and uncomprehending, then overjoyed beyond measure.

PS: Thanks to the new alliance leader, Mortal You're So Annoying!