Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Fortunately, someone still had a clear head. Prime Minister Li hurriedly spoke up in opposition. “The Jian’an Dynasty has more officials than one can count. Three months ago, we also approved a policy establishing inspectors throughout the regions, adding another considerable number. Raising every salary would involve an enormous sum of silver. I fear the Ministry of Revenue cannot provide it! This official believes the proposal is unworkable!”
The other officials secretly rolled their eyes.
Of course the Prime Minister did not care about a small raise when his own monthly salary was so high, but they cared!
“That is not right. Did we not just confiscate the property of those corrupt Ministry of Revenue officials? Aren’t their assets being counted now? How could the ministry lack the money?” Xie Chengze immediately retorted.
“Your Highness said it yourself. The assets are still being counted, so we do not yet know how much silver there is. And must we not reserve funds for next year’s disasters?” Prime Minister Li reminded him.
“Oh dear, just look at this brain of mine!” Xie Chengze immediately knocked on his own head, his face troubled.
The officials were deeply disappointed. Every one of them looked bitterly at Xie Chengze.
Their raise had slipped right out of their hands. Who would not be upset?
Second Prince, why not try a little harder? They had the distinct feeling there was still room for discussion. The proposal did not have to be killed with a single blow.
“In that case, why don’t we begin by raising the salaries of the civil and military officials at court?” Xie Chengze suddenly smacked a fist into his palm, his face lighting with revelation. “Regional officials may suffer, but do our court officials not suffer too? Take Censor Chen, for example. To donate silver to Yizhou half a year ago, he must have scrimped and saved a great deal. Just look – he seems to have grown so much thinner again!”
The officials all turned toward Censor Chen. Sure enough, the old man’s back had grown more stooped and his frame even leaner.
“This official… donated the silver willingly.” Censor Chen clasped both hands together. His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but pride stopped him time and again.
No one would refuse a pay raise.
“Censor Chen naturally gave willingly for affairs of state, but his monthly salary truly is not enough to support his family.” Xie Chengze raised a hand and continued eloquently, “Censor Chen is advanced in years and cannot walk quickly. To reach morning court on time, he has no choice but to own a home within the capital. Yet how high are the city’s housing prices and living costs? Three generations of the Chen family can only crowd into a small, remote house in one corner of the capital. I calculated it carefully. His salary is barely enough to put food on the table. Whenever the cold pains in Censor Chen’s legs flare up, he can only endure them because he cannot bear to spend money on medicine.”
One official’s eyes reddened. “Yes. Censor Chen truly has suffered too much.”
“Censor Chen is proud and stubborn to the bone. He will not accept assistance. Since the Second Prince has raised the matter, this old official wishes to fight on Censor Chen’s behalf!”
“Old Xu, Old Yang…” Looking at the friends who had spoken for him, Censor Chen sighed heavily, both moved and helpless. “This old official will accept whatever the court decides. Even if life is difficult, I am willing to endure it…”
“Your Majesty, our current monthly salaries truly are too low and often leave us struggling to make ends meet. This official has not bought my wife one of the flowered dresses fashionable in the capital for a very long time…”
“Indeed. This official also believes the Second Prince is right. The court must not chill the hearts of its officials…”
Once again, the officials fixed their burning eyes on Emperor Jian.
Emperor Jian: …
Emperor Jian could not fathom what game Xie Chengze was playing. Did the boy truly seek a pay raise merely out of sympathy for honest officials such as Censor Chen?
While he was still wondering, Xie Chengze said, “Father, when you raise their salaries, do not forget to include this son! Oh, right, and the Crown Prince and Fourth Brother as well. The Crown Prince had half a year’s salary withheld because he failed to donate silver. His funds must be rather tight by now. The six months have just ended, so this is the perfect time to raise his salary and let him eat something decent.”
The civil and military officials: …?
So he had demanded a raise because he wanted one for himself! And he had even remembered to drag the Crown Prince out as a shield!
It seemed all their emotion just now had been wasted!
The Second Prince was still the same Second Prince who wielded the Crown Prince as a weapon to secure his own advantage!
“Hmm…” Emperor Jian considered the matter. “I have indeed been negligent. I never realized my beloved officials lived with such hardship. Since that is so, how about I leave this matter to you, Ze’er?”
Xie Chengze: ?
Xie Chengze hurriedly waved his hands in alarm. “No, no, no. This son is incapable. Better to let…”
He played eeny, meeny, miny, old man, finally pointing at Censor Chen. “Censor Chen has always lived frugally, so he must know the prices in the capital’s markets extremely well. Three generations of the Chen family also live under one roof, giving him ample experience in managing the expenses of a five-person household. No one could be better suited to calculate the new salaries. However…”
He paused, then looked toward Shen Yuan. “Censor Chen is, after all, far too frugal. I fear he might calculate the salaries right at the bare minimum. Then if someone falls ill or must pay for a wedding or funeral, there will be no money to cover it, defeating my original purpose. Why not have Lord Shen use his discretion to increase the amounts, with the Ministry of Revenue assisting, so they may complete the task together?”
After speaking, he deliberately smiled at Shen Yuan, perfectly displaying the face of someone “giving Shen Yuan a plum assignment in order to win his friendship.”
The officials: Ohoho.
So the Second Prince was seizing this chance to recruit Lord Shen!
No wonder he had suddenly raised the subject of salaries. He was truly bringing down several birds with one arrow!
Off to the side, Xie Jinyu’s face darkened. His gaze traveled repeatedly between Xie Chengze and Shen Yuan, as if something displeased him.
A member of the Eldest Prince’s faction narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled at the scene.
It appeared that the Second Prince had indeed been persuaded and intended to recruit Shen Yuan.
He looked forward to seeing the Crown Prince and Second Prince fight while others reaped the rewards.
“Since that is so, we will proceed accordingly.” Emperor Jian lifted a hand. “Censor Chen, Lord Shen, you are to submit the new salary schedule to the Ministry of Revenue within half a month. Can you do it?”
“This old official obeys.”
“This official obeys.”
At once, Xie Chengze shouted enthusiastically and showered the emperor with flattery. “Father loves his officials as his own children. From this day forward, we will surely devote ourselves even more completely, working to our dying breath!”
The officials bowed and shouted joyfully as well, “We will never fail Your Majesty’s boundless grace! We shall labor day and night with still greater diligence!”
–
After court, apparently afraid Emperor Jian might catch him and make him review memorials, Xie Chengze dusted off his backside and rolled out of the Golden Throne Hall at top speed.
Emperor Jian: …
Did the brat think that just because I cannot drag him to the Imperial Study, I cannot go to Chenghuan Hall and catch him myself?!
Emperor Jian therefore dumped every memorial on the Crown Prince and personally hurried to Chenghuan Hall to catch Xie Chengze the moment he returned.
Yet he waited until noon without seeing Xie Chengze. When he sent someone to ask, he learned that Xie Chengze had gone to the Imperial Observatory.
Emperor Jian rushed to the Imperial Observatory, only to find that Xie Chengze had already left. No one knew where he had gone.
Emperor Jian: …
Rotten brat. He certainly knew how to hide!
“Forget it. It is only a modest salary increase. Winter has arrived, and prices in the capital are climbing. Without a higher monthly salary, veteran officials like Censor Chen and their large families may truly struggle to survive.” Emperor Jian shook his head helplessly. “We shall consider it a return of the silver they donated to Yizhou.”
Eunuch Zhao nodded. “Your Majesty is benevolent.”
“But what exactly is that brat plotting? Could he really be doing this merely to care for veteran officials like Censor Chen?” Emperor Jian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I keep feeling it cannot be so simple.”
Eunuch Zhao smiled. “The Second Prince may appear mischievous, but he never acts without purpose. Perhaps Your Majesty will learn the answer very soon.”
Just as Eunuch Zhao predicted, Emperor Jian soon learned why Xie Chengze had suddenly sought to raise every official’s monthly salary.
On this day, Emperor Jian attended court according to routine, questioned Xie Chengze according to routine, and received the routine answer, “Dunno. Ask so-and-so.”
Suddenly, from beyond the palace doors came the deep, distant peal of a great bell. It rolled like thunder across the heavens, passed through layer upon layer of palace walls, and struck directly into the Golden Throne Hall. Another peal followed, then another. Every note fell like a hammer upon the heart, shaking everyone to the core!
Every official in the hall paled.
This was – the warning that the Imperial Observatory was about to issue a celestial pronouncement!