Chapter 2

Chapter 2

By the time I finished morning lessons, it was already five o’clock.

Time to go to Qianqing Gate for the Imperial Gate Audience.

Why so early again?

Because I did it on purpose.

The Late Emperor had always held morning court at six in the summer and autumn, and seven in the winter and spring.

After I ascended the throne, I wanted to show some consideration for my officials.

I considered changing it to seven in the summer and autumn, eight in the winter and spring, and reducing the number of morning courts. If there was business, they could submit it to me separately.

After all, not everyone could afford a house beside the imperial city.

Officials who lived far away had to get up at midnight.

I was afraid they would drop dead like Fifth Elder Brother.

If they died, no one would be left to work for me. Compensation, selecting replacements-all of that cost silver.

Better that they stay alive.

But the moment I so much as mentioned it, the officials knelt down and begged me to reconsider.

Some even started preparing to remonstrate unto death.

They acted as if, should I make the change, I would no longer be a wise ruler.

I even caught the court historian lifting his brush, ready to mock me to my face again.

You all love attending morning court that much?

Then I will let you attend to your heart’s content.

From now on, except for New Year’s Day, the Imperial Gate Audience will be held every day at five o’clock.

I sit inside Qianqing Gate while the officials line up outside and enter one by one to present their reports.

Originally, the civil and military officials made their reports together, but with too many people, trouble was easy to stir up.

In the previous dynasty, there had even been a brawl involving the entire court. They tore a treacherous minister apart with their bare hands, and blood splattered across the Golden Throne Hall.

Too many people also made comparisons inevitable.

Who had more achievements, whose literary talent was better.

The whole court turned noisy, smelly, and endlessly long-winded.

In the end, Taizu could not stand it anymore. He streamlined the reporting officials, standardized the word count for memorials, and had them report individually in rotation.

Taizu was wise indeed!

The first to present a report was my Seventh Younger Brother-Prince of Fu.

He requested a fief.

Looking at me with those tearful eyes was useless.

Trying to run?

Denied.

If I cannot be an idle prince, then neither can you. All of you, get up and work for me!

Watching him leave in a huff, I guessed he was probably going to complain about me to Imperial Mother again.

Next, the Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of War, and Ministry of Works took turns reporting.

Ministry of Revenue: The state treasury is empty. (We are out of silver.)

Ministry of Rites: Sacrifices must be performed. (We are out of silver.)

Ministry of War: A war must be fought. (We are out of silver.)

Ministry of Works: Roads must be repaired. (We are out of silver.)

Fine, fine, fine. So all of you are saying there is no silver, is that it?

Then where did the silver in the state treasury go?

The ministers of all four ministries will stay behind. Withdraw and think carefully about how to get silver. We will discuss it again this afternoon in Yangxin Hall.