Chapter 984: Going With the Flow

"The foundation of a nation lies in its people, and the people's livelihood depends on food; food is money, it is the economy!" Xue Shao said solemnly. "When the people have no money, they cannot take a single step; when the state has no wealth, it too cannot take a single step."

"Since His Late Majesty perished on the northern campaign, I have often felt profound relief, grateful that the High Emperor Taizu left behind ironclad policies—the military household system ensures the army can sustain itself; otherwise, with today’s treasury revenues and reserves, the northern campaign would have plunged the state into chaos."

"The court needs money to pay officials’ salaries; disaster relief requires money—without it, this year’s typhoon in Quanzhou will claim countless lives; dredging the Yellow River demands money, building seaports demands money, maintaining troops costs nothing, but warfare demands money..." Xue Shao stepped forward slowly. "In your eyes, your Gu family does good by protecting villagers; but in mine, you are embezzling state wealth. One Gu family, two Gu families, many Gu families united together—how many lives and families have you destroyed?"

Gu Qingyan’s face turned pale, muttering: "Money..."

"Precisely. Money. The Great Ming needs money—money that does not come from raising taxes on the people, but from reclaiming vast sums while lightening their burdens. So tell me, where should this money come from?"

Gu Qingyan’s gaze flickered; his previously foggy mind finally cleared. He spoke firmly: "From the officials and gentry—from the nobles and imperial clan who own the most land and resources—and also from merchants."

Xue Shao looked at him with approval and nodded. "Good."

Gu Qingyan swallowed hard, glancing at Xue Shao, then at Pan Yun standing beside him, and asked softly: "Aren’t you afraid of death?"

Xue Shao: "Everyone must die eventually."

Pan Yun: "I don’t think I’ll die."

Gu Qingyan stared intently at her and asked: "Miss Pan, are you a Daoist priest?"

Pan Yun shot him a sharp look. "No."

Gu Qingyan muttered: "Daoist priests are the worst liars—never speak a word of truth. So you must be one."

Pan Yun was astonished, studying him for a moment before turning to Xue Shao: "You’re good. He’s slow in some ways, but sharp in others."

Xue Shao nodded slightly and asked Gu Qingyan: "Are you interested in criminal justice?"

Gu Qingyan: "How do you know I’m interested in criminal justice?"

His eyes brightened with excitement. "Are you going to introduce me to Xue Shaoqing?"

Xue Shao said: "I can write you a letter. When you go to the capital, take it to my uncle—I believe he will take a great liking to you."

Gu Qingyan, overjoyed, grabbed Xue Shao’s arm and pulled him backward. "Come on, come on, let’s go back—I’ll have the kitchen prepare lunch for you. Guo... Daoist Pan, no—Miss Pan, don’t leave yet, stay for lunch. I’ll treat you to local specialties—my cook makes the best fish."

The Gu family’s cook truly made excellent fish; it was late autumn, the peak season for fat fish—whether steamed or braised, every bite was delicious.

Knowing his master was hosting guests, the cook prepared a full fish banquet. Pan Yun enjoyed it immensely and no longer minded Gu Qingyan’s earlier foolishness.

Having received Xue Shao’s letter, Gu Qingyan said earnestly: "I’ve thought deeply about it—I believe your idea is sound, Brother Xue. Wait for me to pass the imperial examinations; when I present this policy, I will surely lend you my support in court."

He added: "Once this method is adopted, my Gu family won’t need to worry about collecting and managing land deeds anymore. Actually, taxing land isn’t bad—it only means less income for us, but it also spares us countless social obligations. Our moods have improved greatly."

Pan Yun teased: "You’re the ones collecting land deeds—aren’t people always coming to you with deeds begging for your service? Isn’t it them who owe you social favors?"

Gu Qingyan smiled bitterly: "It’s not that simple. Only my father and I hold official degrees—we have limited quotas. Whose land to accept, how much to accept, whose to refuse, how to decline—each case must be handled perfectly. I can’t offend the wicked, yet I don’t want to reject the virtuous. It’s exhausting. Dealing with one such matter is harder than writing ten policy essays."

Pan Yun sighed: "If only all officials and gentry thought like you."

Xue Shao smiled: "Master Gu doesn’t love wealth."

Pan Yun made a grand vow: "If only all officials and gentry in the realm were like Master Gu—unattached to wealth!" Pan Xiao, crouching nearby, absorbed in eating fish, lifted its head with a sharp "Meow!" and gave Pan Yun a look of disdain: [You’re making wishes here?]

Pan Yun shot it a glare: [Eat your fish.]

The entire fish banquet brought great joy to the three people and the cat.

As they prepared to leave, Pan Xiao looked back longingly at Gu Qingyan, sending a chill down his spine.

Rumor had it the State Preceptor owned a spirit-connected black cat, extremely powerful. Was this cat staring at him like this because he had some hidden problem?

Pan Yun picked Pan Xiao up from her shoulder and hugged it close, warning: [He gave you fish—don’t scare him to death.]

[It’s your fault—you’ve been spreading rumors everywhere.]

The chill on Gu Qingyan’s body vanished. He quickly assured Xue Shao: "When the government office runners come, I will return all the land deeds to their rightful owners."

Xue Shao nodded, thanking him on behalf of the court for his reasonableness, and promised the government office would not pursue any liability against the Gu family.

＿￠〇

In reality, during every land survey, aside from gentry who actively resisted, the government office rarely pursued post-facto punishment—too many people were involved; too strict a policy would only cause unrest.

Governing a region is an art. Truly wise and capable county magistrates never impose excessive harshness.

Gu Qingyan saw them off at the gate, hesitated, then said: "I heard from several elders in the village that the last batch of government office runners didn’t get the registry or land deed lists, so they arbitrarily picked a few places and said they’d survey them later."

Xue Shao asked: "What’s wrong with those places?"

Gu Qingyan replied: "The places they marked are all newly reclaimed wastelands from the past two years. By regulation, no land tax is due for the first three years. But from what the elders say, the runners seem to intend to record them as cultivated land and demand back taxes for last year and this year."

Xue Shao frowned slightly—he understood the runners were avoiding offending the Gu family and those under its protection, so they used the reclaimed land as a token gesture to satisfy superiors.

Had Gu Qingyan not mentioned it, this matter might have slipped through unnoticed.

Xue Shao said: "I understand. Thank you for the warning, Master Gu."

Gu Qingyan exhaled slowly, smiling bitterly: "Returning the deeds, then waiting for the official land survey—there’s so much left for the Gu family to do."

What’s this? This is only a land survey—population inspection hasn’t even begun.

But one must eat rice grain by grain, drink water sip by sip—this cannot be rushed.

Xue Shao comforted Gu Qingyan, then called to Pan Yun and they departed together.

Gu Qingyan stood by the roadside, watching the two figures grow distant.

The old steward appeared silently behind him and asked gravely: "Master, will you truly return the land deeds?"

"The tide is turning," Gu Qingyan said calmly. "To endure, one must flow with the current."

Moreover, Xue Shao had truly awakened him. The root of his suffering now had a solution—wasn’t that worth striving for?