Chapter 972: Who Will Step Forward?

Chen Xun opposed, and Yu Qian stepped forward to support Hu Ying, strongly so.

The Minister of Revenue couldn’t help saying, “The court is not short of talent—why must you repeatedly petition to reduce redundant officials, yet still push for cultivating more?”

“Short-sighted!” Yu Qian said bluntly. “Talent isn’t confined to the official path. Every trade and profession under heaven needs talent.”

Hu Ying deeply agreed and fully endorsed Yu Qian’s view.

“True people’s strength lies not only in food, clothing, and shelter, but in education. If our Great Ming can ensure every learner can read, write, and understand propriety, then the people are truly strong;” Yu Qian said, “When the people are strong, the state grows rich; when the state is rich and the people stronger still, the world achieves unity.”

The more Yu Qian spoke, the more his spirit stirred, his eyes bright as if he had rediscovered the ambition of his youth.

He had forgotten this feeling for too long.

Before entering office, wasn’t this exactly the future he had envisioned?

Both family and nation, even humanity itself, could advance further.

But after entering office, he devoted himself to relieving disasters, investigating corruption, and fortifying the borders—not just him, but countless ministers in court with grand ambitions did the same.

During the late emperor’s reign, their greatest goal was to have him favor virtuous ministers and distance himself from villains, to overthrow Wang Zhen, put out fires everywhere, and lighten the people’s burdens.

Today, Hu Ying’s proposal finally reminded Yu Qian that beyond putting out fires and easing burdens, they could dare to dream a little more.

Yu Qian’s spirit lifted, and he threw his full support behind Hu Ying’s proposal.

Chen Xun was so furious his beard seemed ready to blow off. He kept repeating, “The imperial treasury has no money.”

Yet more than half of the officials supported Yu Qian and Hu Ying.

Chen Xun nearly resigned on the spot and gave no one a good face the entire grand audience.

As he passed Yu Qian, he let out a loud, scornful snort.

Yu Qian paid no mind; instead, he casually draped an arm over Chen Xun’s shoulder: “Brother Chen, I think this isn’t a problem for you.”

“Then let’s swap,” Chen Xun snapped. “You take the Ministry of Revenue, I’ll take the Ministry of War. Why don’t you go see the imperial treasury yourself? The rats there are nearly starving.”

Yu Qian: “Each has his specialty. Minister Chen excels at finance—he belongs in the Ministry of Revenue. The village schools won’t even begin until next spring, and we won’t start with a grand scale. In half a year, I’m certain you can spare this sum.”

Hu Ying had drifted over from behind: “I believe it too.”

Believe a damn thing—he didn’t even believe himself.

Chen Xun frowned: “Jingchu had a good harvest this year—adjust their taxes after autumn?”

Yu Qian’s face turned cold. He pulled his arm away and said sternly, “Minister Chen, don’t keep raising taxes every time you need money. Jingchu suffered drought two years ago, then last year was hit by floods from Jiangnan and Zhejiang just as rice was about to be harvested. It was barely a harvest at all. This year they’ve only just recovered—now to impose taxes is to cut off the breath they’ve barely regained.”

Hu Ying also stroked his beard: “Minister Chen, aren’t you afraid Jingchu might produce another Deng Maoqi?”

“If you use it for the people, you must take it from them. Can you expect me to lay eggs without a chicken?” Chen Xun asked, biting back his anger.

Yu Qian: “If the Ministry of Revenue can only increase revenue by raising the people’s taxes, what justifies it being the foremost of the Six Ministries?”

Chen Xun sneered: “You said the same thing to Cao Nai last time—when the Ministry of Personnel was the top ministry.”

He glanced at Hu Ying beside him and sneered: “Will you turn right after I leave and tell Hu Minister that the Ministry of Rites should be first?”

Hu Ying also looked at Yu Qian: “Yes, Grand Secretary Yu, where does our Ministry of Rites rank among the Six Ministries?”

Yu Qian: “...Chen Xun, just tell me—can you find a way to increase imperial treasury revenue? No raising taxes on the people, no printing more treasure notes.”

Chen Xun glared: “You won’t even let me print more treasure notes?”

Yu Qian said gravely: “It’s the emperor’s will,” he paused, then added, “and the State Master’s advice. The treasury and imperial household’s credibility is already low due to treasure notes. Now we must rebuild that credibility—so no more printing.”

Chen Xun turned and walked away: “This won’t work, that won’t work—then just wait for the imperial treasury to collapse.”

It was just a tantrum.

As Minister of Revenue, he had more than just these two options to increase income—these were merely the easiest.

Raising taxes on the people shifts the burden onto them;

Printing more treasure notes? They’re already worthless—what difference does it make if they sink further?

Other methods include adding surcharges—levying extra fees for transportation and storage losses, spread evenly across every taxpayer;

The Three Additional Levies: Northern Levy, Suppression Levy, Training Levy.

The north just finished a major war last year, and now we must remain on guard against the Wala; border skirmishes erupt constantly—so we must levy funds for the northern army. This is the Northern Levy.

The Suppression Levy funds quelling rebellions across the land; the Training Levy funds new army drills.

The Three Additional Levies bring in substantial revenue, just like raising taxes.

Beyond that, we could raise salt tax, tea tax, and customs duties—all commercial taxes, not people’s taxes—but the State Master is actively promoting open trade, so this would be inappropriate.

Without printing more treasure notes, we can’t repeat last year’s practice of paying salaries in notes. Thinking of low-ranking officials, Chen Xun sighed and crossed out this option. Last year, when salaries were paid in notes, even at New Year, officials returned home with armfuls of worthless paper—some impoverished clerks couldn’t afford charcoal for winter.

This year, the State Master spoke up, and the emperor issued a strict order: no more printing of treasure notes. Salaries are now half-silver, half-notes. To revert to notes again would not only anger the emperor and the State Master, but also chill the hearts of the officials.

What about donations?

Chen Xun wrote two characters and fell into thought: What official posts could the court sell now?

They couldn’t be real posts—only honorary titles. Otherwise his reputation would be ruined.

Chen Xun drew a circle after the words.

Aside from these methods...

His pen unconsciously drew one circle after another on the paper, his expression grim.

There was still one other method: land survey!

It could uncover vast amounts of hidden land, increase land taxes, and raise head taxes. It would also expose many corrupt officials—confiscating their wealth alone could yield substantial revenue. But!

Chen Xun frowned deeply, breathing slightly faster. But if he advocated this, he, Chen Xun, would either be shattered after success—or dragged to account in old age.

The State Master has done so much, yet never openly spoken of reform. Must he be the one to point out the hardest part?

Chen Xun snapped back to reality, saw the messy circles on the paper, tightened his chest, and immediately erased them.

Yu Qian waited three days, pressed Chen Xun repeatedly—Chen Xun said nothing. Yu Qian knew: Chen Xun wouldn’t act.

He thought a moment, then wrote a personal letter and delivered it to him.

Chen Xun thought he was mad—why write a letter in person?

He tore it open in one swift motion, scanned it in a glance—and froze.

Yu Qian wrote: “I will submit the petition for land survey. If the emperor approves, I ask you, Minister Chen, to oversee its implementation. All consequences—I, Yu Qian, will bear.”

Chen Xun clenched the letter, lips pressed tight, silent for a moment, then nodded.

The matter was settled.