Chapter 1030: Resigning in a Fit of Pique

Yu Qian saw that the lives of military household descendants were improving, and naturally recognized the impact of craftsmanship on the people's livelihood.

Times are no longer what they were; when the empire was first stabilized after chaos, bandit uprisings raged across the land, and many regions remained unruly, so the Taizu Emperor established a strict household registration system.

But now, the state is peaceful, and this harsh household registration system has instead caused military and artisan household descendants to flee en masse, increasing the number of refugees and gradually sparking rebellions.

Yu Qian was not a stubborn man; otherwise, he would not have stabilized troop morale and pretended to cooperate with Shi Heng and others despite knowing they were problematic.

He was upright, but not foolish.

So after careful thought, he solemnly said: "If it benefits the state, it should be abolished."

"Think thrice, Tingyi! If artisan registrations are abolished, the court may not even find craftsmen to build bridges or lay roads!"

Because of the artisan registration, the imperial palace could issue orders summoning craftsmen from across the land to serve in constructing palaces, repairing palaces, building government offices, and building bridges or laying roads.

"And the imperial tombs," Cao Nai whispered angrily, "the late emperor's tomb must be repaired, the emperor's own tomb must be excavated—if artisan registration is abolished, do you believe the craftsmen now in the tombs won't just run away?"

Yu Qian sighed: "You've all seen the changes these past two years. The newly appointed Metropolitan Graduate of this year may own no horses or sedan chairs, but which family doesn't have a pedal cart? And the telegraph machines sent to every prefecture and county—this morning, the Zhuang people of Guangxi gathered at the county office to resist forced labor, and by afternoon, Jingcheng received confirmed news—all thanks to craftsmen."

Yu Qian said: "You can't expect the horse to run without feeding it—how is that reasonable? The emperor just raised officials' salaries; we cannot turn around and tear down the bridge he built. This doesn't just cut off their livelihood—it cuts off our own future."

The senior grand secretaries fell silent.

Long moments passed, then a voice softly spoke from the corner: "If three tasks are hard, set aside the hardest one and handle the other two first."

Everyone turned—and only then noticed it was Hu Ying.

Cao Nai felt a flicker of doubt: this old senior official was elderly, rarely came to the Grand Secretariat—why was he here today? When had he arrived?

Yu Qian: "Are you referring to reducing artisans' labor service time and improving their treatment?"

Hu Ying slowly nodded: "Abolishing artisan registration is difficult for now—start with the other two measures."

Chen Xun couldn't help saying: "Reducing labor service time and raising pay—do you know how much extra cost that will add?"

Hu Ying said coolly: "Money? Squeeze it out."

Chen Xun snapped: "You're not from the Ministry of Revenue—you speak without feeling the burden."

Hu Ying: "If you can't squeeze it out, earn more. I think you just don't think or work hard. Before, the Ministry of Works suppressed craftsmen—but since the State Master arrived, craftsmen's treatment improved, and how many profitable things did they produce? Look how rich the Ministry of Works is now."

"Your Ministry of Revenue just counts coins—and still can't earn as much as the Ministry of Works. Minister Chen, shouldn't you reflect on yourself?"

Chen Xun looked skeptical: "Lord Hu, why are you defending the Ministry of Works? Did they teach you their new papermaking formula and printing technique? I knew it—just this year's paper consumption, your Ministry of Rites has already taken countless taels from the Ministry of Revenue."

Hu Ying: "Nonsense! Slander! Can money corrupt my resolve? Aren't craftsmen subjects of Great Ming? They merely possess ancestral skills, generation after generation contributing to our empire—why should they be ranked lower than common households? Look at those great craftsmen of the Ministry of Works—Gong Fang, Zhao Zhen—who hasn't rendered outstanding service? Yet both hold only seventh- and sixth-rank posts."

"Wasn't Kuai Xiang promoted to Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works? That's Third rank—hardly low."

Hu Ying: "He was promoted this year only. With his achievements, he could have been Minister."

"Is Lord Hu truly sincere, or is it because you're close friends with the State Master? All court officials know you and the State Master meet every few days—you've become bosom companions."

Hu Ying's white beard trembled with anger: "My friendship with the State Master is one of ageless harmony—gentlemanly bonds, pure as water, rooted in spiritual affinity, untouched by worldly interests. You common mortals dare not sully such noble friendship with your base thoughts!"

Cao Nai looked bewildered, pleading with the room: "What did I say? How is that base?"

"Isn't friendship based on mutual benefit base?"

Cao Nai snapped: "Lord Hu, if you'd truly cultivated the Dao, you wouldn't still be an official. As long as you draw imperial salary, you're bound to this mortal world—even the State Master, half-immortal as she is, can't escape it. Your closeness to her, your bias toward her—that's human nature, not base! I merely oppose your bias!"

"Nonsense! When the late emperor lived, I petitioned to retire. Last winter, I petitioned again to resign and retreat—only because His Majesty insisted I stay did I remain!" Hu Ying's beard shook violently as he shouted: "You suspect me of self-interest? Fine—I'll go resign from office right now!"

Hu Ying stormed out, immediately heading to resign.

Colleagues rushed to stop him; Chen Xun turned to Cao Nai: "Apologize at once!"

Cao Nai's temper flared—especially after Chen Xun told him to apologize. He was furious and heartbroken.

He glared at Chen Xun, eyes brimming with tears: "You won't speak for me—and now you tell me to apologize? I've truly been a fool to befriend you!"

Tears streamed down his face as he said bitterly: "Don't rush—resigning is nothing. Who clings to power?"

Saying this, he pushed past several men, opened the door first, and stormed straight toward the Imperial Study.

Cao Nai went to the Emperor to resign.

The Emperor stared, bewildered: Cao Nai was in his prime, had played a major role in the recent official reforms, and was currently deeply favored by the throne—why resign now?

Before the Emperor could ask why, Hu Ying burst in, ignoring all attempts to stop him, face flushed with rage, demanding to resign.

The Emperor: …

Then Yu Qian and other Grand Secretaries arrived one after another, urging the two to speak calmly, while explaining to the Emperor why they wished to resign.

The Emperor: …

This was so hard.

Besides handling state affairs, he now had to mediate quarrels among his ministers.

The Emperor sighed, glanced between the two, first comforted Hu Ying; seeing Cao Nai's face darken further, he turned to soothe Cao Nai.

By the time the Emperor had calmed them both, night had fallen.

Hu Cheng knew his memorial had caused two Grand Secretaries to quarrel and nearly resign together—he quietly stayed inside the Ministry of Works, refusing to step outside, even sleeping in place.

Pan Yun laughed heartily, telling Pan Xiaohei gossip: "In my timeline, it was Yu Qian and Shi Heng who threatened to resign and forced the Emperor to mediate—but in this timeline, Shi Heng was disgraced and stripped of office, so he lost the chance to resign alongside Yu Qian. Yet the same thing happened to Hu Ying and Cao Nai—do you think this is historical necessity, or mere coincidence?"

(End of Chapter)