The new emperor’s cool, cutting reproach sent the entire Golden Hall crashing to their knees, including even Eunuch Feng, who stood at Li Wu’s side.
“This official is terrified…” the assembled ministers said, quaking with fear.
“All of you, rise,” Li Wu said.
The hundred officials exchanged glances, then rose one after another.
“You need not be terrified. Terror is useless — it is not terror that I need from you.”
Li Wu extended his right hand and, in a single motion, pulled off his dragon robe.
“All hundred officials are present today. Since old Bing Ying speaks of cutting expenditure, let us begin with donations. As emperor, I will be the first to set an example—”
The bright yellow dragon robe fell onto the dragon throne. The Minister of Rites widened his eyes and let out a cry of dismay:
“Your Majesty!”
The Minister of Justice raised his head and nearly stumbled backward in fright.
Beneath the new emperor’s dragon robe was unmistakably a patched short robe. And the tall boots he had concealed beneath the dragon robes were a plain pair of cloth boots, washed so many times they had faded to white.
The renowned Hanlin Grand Academician, known for his rigid formality, stared at the patches on Li Wu’s garment, his face flushing deep red, his breathing unsteady — as though the next moment he might faint from sheer agitation.
“Your — Your Majesty…” The Minister of Works’ aged legs failed to obey him; with a heavy thud, he dropped to his knees.
The hundred officials looked up one after another, and upon being struck by the sight of those conspicuous, bright patches, they followed the Minister of Works’ example in rapid succession, kneeling down one after another like dumplings being dropped into a pot.
“I flatly refuse to believe — with a realm of ten thousand li in my hands, a hundred officials kneeling at my feet — that I cannot even resolve a bit of debt?”
With the dragon robe removed, Li Wu’s manner of address shifted as well. The untamed, roguish air returned to his open and handsome face.
“These are the clothes I wore in the countryside, fighting my way up from nothing — they accompanied me through great storms and witnessed my entry into the Forbidden Palace. What do you think they are worth?”
The main performance had begun, and the true players stepped onto the stage one by one.
“They are, of course, priceless!” Li Que, now the first-rank Superintendent of the Supervisorate, stepped forward in a single swift motion, cupped his hands in a bow, and proclaimed in a ringing voice: “Your Majesty is the son of a true dragon. What he shed upon transforming into a dragon is nothing less than a serpent-dragon’s skin. Though this short robe is an ordinary garment, a short robe permeated with the aura of a true dragon is far from ordinary. Your Majesty’s fortune and aura run deep — whoever can obtain the serpent-dragon skin Your Majesty has shed is certain to receive heavenly blessing: ill fortune turned to good, peace within the household, an open road in official career, words flowing like a spring of literary inspiration, a body strengthened and invigorated, and years added to one’s life…”
Before Li Que had even finished speaking, the mouths of many officials in the Golden Hall had already begun to twitch at the corners.
“Priceless… but what if I insisted that you put a price to it?” Li Wu said.
“A serpent-dragon skin shed by a true dragon is a thing that may be encountered but never sought. This official dares — five ten-thousand taels…”
“In silver?” The Director of the Court of Imperial Stud turned his eyes, clearly intrigued.
“In gold!” Li Que declared.
The Director of the Court of Imperial Stud’s eyes went wide.
The Minister of Revenue could not help but say: “It is indeed precious, being clothing worn by Your Majesty during your time as the hidden dragon. But for Minister Li to open his mouth at five million taels in silver — does he think silver grows on the ground, ready to be picked up by bending over?”
“If it grew on the ground by bending over, would Minister Bing not be worth ten million?” Li Que said with a cutting smile.
“You—”
“Old Bing, since you feel that the informal garment worn by His Majesty during his time as the hidden dragon is not worth a hundred thousand, then let you take the lead on His Majesty’s behalf — may I ask what fine offering Minister Bing intends to present, so that everyone here might feel that hundred thousand is truly worth the price?”
“This official is terr—”
“Is Minister Bing truly terrified?” Li Que said with a cold smile. “Just the other day, Minister Bing’s eldest daughter-in-law purchased seven shops in the West Market, where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold. Half a month ago, someone spent a great sum to redeem a courtesan from Chunfeng Tower from her bond. Those present may have seen — this courtesan was carried in a small sedan into a private residence within the Chen Family Garden. If I am not mistaken, that residence happens to be registered under Minister Bing’s third son’s name.”
Bing Ying’s face had gone completely pale. He was holding his breath, unable to let it out.
Li Que disregarded his stricken expression and said with a cold laugh: “From the outside, that residence looks unremarkable. But according to word from the officers who have been keeping watch, the interior is a blaze of gold and jade, gleaming with treasures — calling it a small imperial palace would not be an exaggeration—”
Bing Ying dared not let him continue. He knelt on the hard, cold black tiles with a sharp crack, and his head struck the floor with a resounding thud.
“Your Majesty! This official has been wronged!”
“In what way has Minister Bing been wronged? Speak your grievance, and I will certainly see justice done,” Li Wu said, settling back into his seat, his backside coming to rest squarely on the golden dragon embroidered across the dragon robe. He propped one foot on the footrest and stretched the other straight out, managing to make the gleaming golden dragon throne look exactly like a bench in a common teahouse.
“This official… this humble official…”
Bing Ying stammered, unable to get a coherent word out.
What was there to say? That the shops had not been bought? That the courtesan had not been redeemed from her bond? That he was an innocent who had been kept in the dark, not having caught so much as a whisper of it?
The jackals and wolves of the Supervisorate had long been watching hungrily for an opportunity to search his home. Did he dare so easily utter such lies?
“What is the annual salary of a first-rank official?” Li Que said. “In under a month, Minister Bing’s household spent several tens of thousands of taels in silver on nothing but buying shops and redeeming a courtesan. In my view, Minister Bing is not terrified in the slightest — on the contrary, his courage is quite substantial—”
Silence fell over the Golden Hall.
Li Wu propped his chin in his hand and said nothing, as though lost in thought.
Cold sweat soaked through his official robes; when the wind blew, Bing Ying trembled from head to foot.
Killing one to warn a hundred… He was the chicken who had leapt forward asking to be killed!
“This official…” Bing Ying spent a moment silently cursing his worthless children with every insult he knew, then with an expression of anguish like a warrior cutting off his own wrist said: “This official has failed to govern his household with strictness. I beseech Your Majesty to give this official an opportunity to redeem his faults through merit… This official is willing to donate the Chen Family Garden residence and the courtesan, as a fitting start to Your Majesty’s donation drive…”
“The residence — let us set that aside. Would it be quite appropriate, if Minister Bing offers Your Majesty’s donation drive a start by way of a courtesan?” Li Que said.
Every time Li Que opened his mouth, Bing Ying gritted his teeth. Suppressing his anger and forcing a smile, he said: “And what is Minister Li’s esteemed suggestion?”
“To keep things standardized and easy to tally, let the donations be counted in silver taels.” Without waiting for Bing Ying to respond, Li Que cupped his hands in a bow toward Li Wu on the dragon throne. “What does Your Majesty think?”
“His Majesty thinks that is an excellent idea,” Li Wu said. “Let it be so.”
“Da Yan is in need — the Bai Family steps forward to help!” Bai Rongling, who held only a minor post under the Six Supervisions and had just barely qualified to attend morning court, beat his chest and stepped forward. “For this support of the national treasury, the Bai Family is willing to donate one million taels of silver!”
The moment Bai Rongling’s words fell, a collective sharp intake of breath swept through the hall. The Minister of Revenue stared at him, wishing he could swallow this wealth-flaunting fellow whole — a million taels the moment he opened his mouth; was he trying to squeeze everyone who donated after him?
“Let us not mix separate matters together. I know of the Bai Family’s loyalty. Rich as you may be, I cannot have it said that my reason for marrying the Empress was to gain an extra purse at my waist. One million — that is too much—” Li Wu waved his hand.
Li Que cupped his hands and said: “This official’s salary is meager. Fortunately, I set aside some savings before entering official service. I am willing to donate ten thousand taels toward the relief of Your Majesty’s difficulties.”
The Deputy Minister of Works, Fang Tingzhi, stepped out of rank at that moment, cupped his hands, and said: “This official is willing to donate ten thousand taels toward the relief of Your Majesty’s difficulties.”
After Fang Tingzhi, Bai Rongling spoke up again:
“In that case, I will donate ten thousand taels in my own name.”
The Six Ministers exchanged a glance, every one of them quaking inwardly — could the hint be any more obvious?
First-rank officials must donate at least eighty thousand, third-rank officials at least ten thousand, seventh-rank officials at least ten thousand — it was practically a posted price list!
Refuse to donate? That was also an option — had they not heard what the shamelessly fawning… ahem, what Minister Li Que, the person closest to His Majesty, had said? Donating opens up a broad road in one’s official career. Those who do not donate can go home and till the fields to generate tax revenue for His Majesty instead!
Whether one extended the head or drew it back, the blade would fall either way. The Minister of Revenue, Bing Ying, steeled himself and, clenching his teeth, said: “This official is willing to contribute what little he can — a donation of thirty thousand taels of silver, plus whatever proceeds come from the sale of the Chen Family Garden residence.”
After the most miserly of them, Bing Ying, had spoken, the Golden Hall resounded with the continuous sound of officials untying their money pouches, one after another without pause.
Li Wu’s set of specially made serpent-dragon skin — the garment rushed to order the previous night — ultimately fell as the prize to Bing Ying, who had donated the most. Bing Ying clutched his serpent-dragon skin purchased at the cost of nearly one million taels, his smile more painful to behold than weeping.
“Your honored officials have been so generous today — I have felt your goodwill keenly. But to truly resolve the national treasury’s deficit, we must also devise means to increase revenue,” Li Wu said. “Last night I did not sleep a wink, and I have thought of several methods. I would like to hear the views of the assembled officials.”
“Your Majesty, please speak — this official is all ears,” Li Que said, cupping his hands.
“Your honored officials — I ask you: does this realm beneath heaven belong to me?”
“Of course it belongs to Your Majesty!”
The question was too simple — the Golden Hall immediately erupted with voices eagerly competing to answer.
“These ten thousand li of mountains and rivers — do they belong to me?”
“Of course!”
“Would it be unreasonable for me to collect a toll on the imperial roads that I built?”
Li Wu’s words brought every official below to an involuntary standstill.
They had heard of bandits collecting tolls — they had not heard of an emperor collecting tolls. Would this petty, undignified action not become a laughingstock once recorded in the history books?
…Looking at this His Majesty’s expression, he truly did not care.
Li Wu was an emperor who had come to the throne by an unconventional path, and he truly was, as he himself had said, not an ordinary emperor who did ordinary things.
“This…” the Minister of Revenue, Bing Ying, did not wish to be the one to step forward and court trouble again. But this matter fell under his jurisdiction, and there was no choice but to grit his teeth and open his mouth. “If taxes were suddenly increased, I fear the common people would be dissatisfied…”
“How is this an increase in taxes?” Li Wu said. “Paying the imperial road toll is voluntary. Those who wish to pay, pay; those who do not wish to pay, do not pay. Those who pay will receive an official military escort, will have post stations at which to rest, and will enjoy the warm hospitality of our officials who love the people as their own children — guaranteed to feel at home and receive guests with all proper welcome… If any official falls short of this, they will be replaced with one who does not. In short, this money will certainly not be paid by the common people for nothing.”
That was all well and good, but if the imperial roads had military patrols for protection, the bandits would certainly swarm to the smaller side roads. Once the likelihood of losing one’s property on a side road increased, any merchant who could afford to pay the toll — who would bother saving that small sum?
“This toll… how does Your Majesty intend to set the price?” Bing Ying ventured to ask.
“High volume, low margin — we do not intend to get rich from a single toll.” Li Wu said. “Those visiting family and friends and those traveling for trade and commerce certainly cannot be charged the same rate. This matter will be discussed further below. Beyond the imperial roads on land, our river channels must also be brought under a new system of rules. Each year I spend such a vast sum managing the river channels and sea routes — what sense is there in providing free service to some merchants?”
Bing Ying did a quick mental calculation of the revenue that this toll might generate — even calculated at a single copper coin per person, his two hands began to tremble slightly.
“And this sea prohibition can be lifted as well,” Li Wu said. “What — do you fear our Da Yan’s mountains and rivers will be lost, or that Da Yan has nothing worth presenting? Those foreign nations who wish to trade may trade — on condition that they conduct themselves peaceably. If they send their money to me, what reason would I have to refuse it?”
“Your Majesty must absolutely not—!” the Minister of Rites said urgently. “Those not of our people harbor different intentions. Once the sea prohibition is lifted, what if—”
“What if they don’t know the height of heaven and the depth of the earth,” Li Wu finished his sentence for him, “then I will send the General of Commanding Might to deal with them.”
At the mention of the General of Commanding Might’s name, the Golden Hall fell involuntarily silent.
Though this general, who had helped the new emperor conquer the realm, remained in the capital, he held the rare privilege of being exempt from morning court unless summoned by imperial decree. His extraordinary strength was said to be without equal under heaven. Whenever historians sought to record the military achievements of this new emperor, they could not but devote considerable ink and flourish to the General of Commanding Might.
“But…”
There were still those in the hall who felt something was amiss and wished to offer counsel against it.
Li Wu said: “If the honored officials feel this method is inappropriate, I have an alternative — include the gentry families and those holding official ranks within the scope of taxation. Since you are all subjects under my rule, let us do away with special privileges—”
“Your Majesty! This official finds the road toll and the lifting of the sea prohibition perfectly viable!” Before Li Wu had even finished speaking, Bing Ying declared with forthright conviction.
At the mention of requiring them to pay taxes, the officials who had a moment ago been wearing expressions of opposition fell silent. One after another, voices arose seconding Bing Ying, declaring that the road toll and the lifting of the sea prohibition were both entirely reasonable, were in keeping with the currents of the times, and were only a matter of when.
The rest proceeded simply enough. Eunuch Feng called out in his sharp voice that court was dismissed. The officials, each having been stripped of a layer of skin, departed the Golden Hall with drooping heads. Preparations for the road toll and the lifting of the sea prohibition began in earnest and at great speed.
One month later, the new policies were formally promulgated.
Because the policies were not compulsory, their impact on ordinary commoners who had lived in one place for generations was minimal. The new policies met with little opposition as they rolled out.
At first, the hundred officials still harbored doubts about Li Wu’s new policies. Then, one month later, when the Ministry of Revenue released its latest treasury income and expenditure figures, every last one of them closed their mouths. After the sea prohibition was fully lifted, the treasury’s deficit was completely wiped out. With the exception of a handful of arch-conservative old fossils like the Hanlin Grand Academician, every one of them became staunch supporters of the new policies.
On the seventh day of that month, Li Wu fulfilled his promise to Shen Zhuxi and held for her the grandest, most lavish, and most unconventional wedding ceremony that Da Yan had seen in a hundred years.