Chapter 349

Bian Liang, Ministry of Revenue office.

The crackling of abacus beads was as dense as raindrops, intertwining with the clerks' low voices checking accounts; the air was filled with the scent of ink and the distinctive paper-and-ink smell of newly printed ledgers.

Zhang Cheng, who held the titles of Same as Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi and head of the Ministry of Revenue, sat upright behind the huge desk.

What lay before him was not the usual household tax and register ledger, but several summaries of commercial affairs and frontier customs reports from different channels.

On his usually steady face, little expression showed now, only an occasional flash of sharp light in his eyes revealing his inner calculations and resolve.

"In False Song territory, silk prices in Jiangning Prefecture (former Southern Tang lands) have fallen more than twenty percent in half a month;"

"In the Suzhou-Hangzhou area, high-quality silk cloth prices have also dropped nearly fifteen percent."

A Ministry of Revenue langzhong holding the just-delivered southern commercial report spoke rapidly.

"According to reports from our firms, many state-run weaving workshops in False Song territory have recently struggled to ship goods, with large backlogs."

Another lang outside added, "Its quality was already inferior to the silk cloth produced by our Great Chen workshops borrowing… borrowing the 'New Style'; now that we have pressed down its price, it is even harder to sell."

Zhang Cheng gave a slight nod, his fingers lightly tapping the desk.

"The so-called 'New Style' naturally alludes to Chen Wen's 'Ability Granting' enhancement of efficiency in state-run handicrafts."

Great Chen's state-run workshops, during specific periods and stages, enjoy far‑above‑ordinary efficiency boosts; whether spinning and weaving or ceramics smelting, their output is not only greater in quantity but also superior in quality.

And costs are kept under control thanks to the efficiency increase.

Previously, these high‑quality goods were mainly supplied domestically, or exchanged through strictly controlled channels for urgently needed strategic materials.

But after the 'Dual Titans Confrontation' pattern became clear, especially following the 'Bone‑Corroding' disaster, Zhang Cheng and Chen Wen conferred in secret and adjusted their economic strategy.

A covert and efficient trade route gradually took shape under the secret escort of the Jing'an Si and the tacit approval of certain 'friendly' forces.

Large quantities of high‑quality, low‑price Great Chen goods—especially silk cloth, porcelain, fine iron farm tools, etc. —began like trickles, bypassing the light barrier's obstruction, flowing continuously into False Song territory via intricate trade routes.

These goods, like a fierce tiger charging into a flock of sheep, swiftly struck the False Song market, already fragile from militaristic excess and devastated livelihoods.

"How will the False Song court respond?" Zhang Cheng asked.

"Replying, Minister Zhang, the False Song authorities attempt price caps and strict investigations of goods' sources."

"But our goods are mostly disguised as old Southern Tang items or civilian smuggling, making inspection futile."

The lang outside replied, "Moreover, wealthy merchants and even some officials in their territory, seeking profit, secretly partake in the transport, rendering the bans nearly meaningless."

Zhang Cheng's mouth curled into a faint, stern arc.

Economic law can sometimes be sharper than swords and spears.

False Song, to maintain its huge 'Divine Martial Army' and face the military standoff with Great Chen, levies extremely heavy taxes, and the populace has long been unable to bear them.

The influx of Great Chen's high‑quality goods first satisfied the demand of False Song's elite and wealthy households, sucking away their gold, silver, and copper cash;

Second, it lowered the prices of related goods, making survival ever harder for False Song's native industries of the same kind; workshop owners went bankrupt, artisans lost jobs, further intensifying social contradictions;

Finally, this ongoing economic drain is slowly but steadily weakening False Song's fiscal foundation.

"How are salt prices?" Zhang Cheng asked again.

Salt is a state's vital instrument and also the lifeline of its finances.

"According to reports, False Song's eastern coastal salt works have recently unstable output."

"Our Xiezhou pond salt, via the Shanxi merchant guild, has already entered in large quantities their Jingji and Jingdong circuits; because of its purity and fair price, it is popular with civilians and now occupies nearly thirty percent of the market."

The official in charge of salt and iron replied, "False Song's salt tax will surely have a shortfall recently."

Zhang Cheng nodded.

This series of economic measures was not improvised on the spur of the moment, but based on a precise grasp of False Song's internal contradictions.

Zhao Kuangyin relies on the support of the Iron Crow Army to maintain his rule by force, but his domestic realm is not monolithic.

Heavy military expenditures, the tribute pressure from distorted alliances, plus Great Chen's ongoing economic penetration here, are like ropes continually tightening, strangling the neck of the seemingly fierce but actually hollow beast that is False Song.

"Continue increasing the effort."

Zhang Cheng issued a solemn order: 'Especially goods that False Song urgently needs and that we can supply in large quantities.'

"Not limited to silk cloth and porcelain; medicinal herbs, leather, and even some fine military‑material supplies, as long as they are profitable and can drain their finances, may be exported as appropriate."

"But we must gauge the degree, lest we cause it to collapse too early, nor let ourselves become dependent on this route."

"The core remains strengthening our own dynasty."

"Your subordinate understands!"

The officials received the order and each went off busy.

Zhang Cheng sat alone behind the desk, his gaze deep.

He well knew that this economic countermeasure, though it bears no blade light or sword shadow, is no less fierce and effective than battlefield carnage.

It accelerates the depletion of False Song's internal resources, exacerbates its social contradictions, and from within undermines its war potential.

Meanwhile, through a trade surplus, Great Chen is continually drawing False Song's 'vital essence' and converting it into nourishment for its own development.

With this waning and waxing, the balance of the standoff is gradually tilting toward Great Chen.

False Song, Bian Liang, the old imperial city.

Zhao Kuangyin looked at the memorial presented by the Ministry of Revenue, his face ashen.

The treasury's revenue again fell month‑on‑month, especially salt and commercial taxes, the shortfall obvious.

Officials from Jiangning Prefecture, Suzhou‑Hangzhou and elsewhere repeatedly memorialized, noting that civilian weaving households were massively bankrupt, drifters increasing, and requesting relief or tax reductions from the court.

Meanwhile, border commanders continually demanded grain and materiel, claiming that Great Chen has long stationed troops on the northern front, morale is unstable, and urgent replenishment is needed.

"Nonsense!"

Zhao Kuangyin violently threw the memorial onto the dragon throne, his chest heaving violently.

"All trash! Can't even control a few merchants! Let Chen Wen's goods flow in so recklessly?"

The officials standing in the hall were silent as cicadas in winter, none daring to speak.

Everyone knows that the root of the problem is not with the merchants, but that Great Chen's goods are genuinely good quality and cheap, and that False Song itself faces livelihood hardships, with the people voting with their feet;

It lies in the crushing taxes and military costs that suffocate the people, granting smuggling trade vast profit margins and a foothold;

Moreover, it lies in the oppression and fear brought by the master of the Iron Crow Army, rendering the entire bureaucracy inefficient, self‑serving, and incapable of action.

"Your Majesty, please quell your anger."

An elderly official stepped forward, gritting his teeth, "The urgent task is to strictly investigate the borders and eradicate smuggling."

At the same time, one could… one could consider imposing an emergency commercial tax to make up for the treasury's shortfall.

"Raise taxes?" Zhao Kuangyin burst out laughing in fury, "Another tax increase, are you trying to drive those peasants to defect to Chen Wen?"

He paced irritably within the hall.

Chen Wen's move is utterly vicious.

Without striking or killing, it leaves him feeling like a bone stuck in his throat, utterly uncomfortable.

He knows this is an open plot, yet he finds it hard to counter.

Unless he can immediately let the people of the False Song live better than in Great Chen, or instantly conjure enough money to sustain the huge expenditures.

But is that possible?

The master of the Iron Crow Army can grant him a mighty "Divine Martial Army" and grant him the eerie "Bone-Corroding" technique, yet seems unable to conjure enough food and money, unable to win back the already scattered popular support.

"Issue the order!"

Zhao Kuangyin halted his steps, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes, "Strengthen inspections everywhere; whoever is caught smuggling Great Chen goods will have the goods confiscated and the principal offender executed on the spot!"

At the same time, tell those great clans: if anyone dares again to secretly collude with the opposite side, do not blame me… for being ruthless!

He can only rely on harsher punishments and more direct threats to try to curb it.

But how effective this will be, he has no idea.

After court, Zhao Kuangyin alone came to the depths of the secret chamber.

The vague silhouette of the Iron Crow Army's master swayed in the gloom.

"Economic… erosion."

The master of the Iron Crow Army's voice carried a hint of electronic-static noise: "As expected."

The "variable" will always try to exploit any means within the rules.

"What about the second phase of your 'Cleansing Agreement'? Why hasn't the 'Bone-Corroding' technique crushed them?" Zhao Kuangyin could not help but ask, his tone laced with suppressed anger.

The 'Bone-Corroding' is taking effect.

but its Fortune Momentum foundation is more stable than estimated, and the Ministry of Works' response speed exceeds expectations.

The Iron Crow Army master's response was unflappable: "Economic means are also warfare."

You need to deal with it yourself.

Or… accelerate the formation of the "Divine Martial Army", seek a breakthrough militarily, and destroy the economic order on which it relies.

Zhao Kuangyin clenched his fist.

He knows that this cold "existence" does not truly care about the life or death of the False Song's people; it only cares about the "correction" of history.

The economic predicament ultimately still requires him to solve it himself, or, through a total military victory, to divert and conceal it.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the agitation in his heart.

"I understand."

"The 'Divine Martial Army'… will not disappoint its master."

He turned and left the secret chamber, his silhouette in the dim light appearing ever more desperate.

In the eastern and western capitals, the two monarchs engage in another form of fierce combat on different battlefields.

Zhang Cheng sits steadily in the Ministry of Revenue, planning strategies, using commerce as a blade;

Zhao Kuangyin is trapped in the False Palace, beset by internal and external pressures, gradually feeling suffocated.

The subtle currents of economics are silently eroding the dam of the standoff.

Perhaps at some point, this seemingly minor erosion will become the final straw that breaks the camel's back.