The central plains north of the Jin state were in ruins, awaiting revival. Even though Zhao Hanzhang had promulgated the property tax decree and quickly collected considerable wealth, it still wasn’t enough under the enormous consumption.
So Zhao Hanzhang was still poor. Her allocations to each province and prefecture remained limited.
When Zhao Kuan returned home, he began rummaging through boxes and cabinets. Ornaments, decorative pieces – finally he looked at the clothes in his wardrobe and told his attendant, “Pack up all these clothes too. Leave two semi-worn everyday outfits, and pawn everything else.”
The attendant was shocked and heartbroken. “Young master, why must you spend your own money to be an official?”
Zhao Kuan waved dismissively. “The Great General has put her entire family fortune into this – she hasn’t had new clothes for ages. Though I can’t compare to her, I shouldn’t care about these trifles.”
He said, “Pawn all these things. Use the money to find grain merchants and buy provisions to prioritize the seaside. You must watch the people below closely – we can’t slight Minister Fu.”
The attendant could only agree.
At this time, far away in Chen County, Zhao Hanzhang also sat cross-legged on the floor, watching Ting He lead the maids in rummaging through boxes and cabinets.
They were about to move to Luoyang. Zhao Hanzhang had already determined the posthumous titles for three emperors. Her emperor, the late great emperor – he had no achievements but also no major faults.
He’d been somewhat unlucky, inheriting the throne amid chaos, rotating between the control of Sima Yue, Gou Xi and other powerful ministers, constrained by all officials, living his whole life indecisive, never managing to be brave and decisive even once until his death.
So she gave him the same posthumous title as in history: “Huai,” making him Filial Emperor Huai.
As for the other two Xiongnu emperors – Liu Yuan – actually, deep in her heart, she admired him. Four-fifths of Jin’s officials were willing to acknowledge his imperial status. Of the remaining fifth, half were just paying lip service to her flattery.
But after she expressed her own views, they immediately changed their attitudes.
Liu Yuan was a man who endured humiliation and hardship. Once he gained power, though he became somewhat carried away, he still contributed to his subjects. He spent his life working to govern the Xiongnu with Han methods, wanting to treat Han people and Xiongnu equally. Though he ultimately failed due to heavy resistance, undeniably, during his reign, his subjects lived better than under Jin rule.
So from among the posthumous titles drafted by officials below, Zhao Hanzhang chose the one history had given him: Guangwen.
Oh, this posthumous title was advocated by his son Liu Yi, who felt his father deserved the title of “Wen” Emperor.
Zhao Hanzhang gave him this face.
Speaking of which, Liu He and Liu Cong were both terrible sons. Liu Yuan had been dead for so long, yet neither had thought to draft him a posthumous title. Oh, perhaps because Liu Yuan’s remains had been in Zhao Hanzhang’s hands all along.
For Liu Yuan, Zhao Hanzhang was lenient. For Liu Cong, she wasn’t so courteous – she hated Liu Cong.
She showed this very clearly, directly giving him the posthumous title “Li.”
Kind-hearted Liu Yi fought for his brother, hoping Zhao Hanzhang would give him a gentler posthumous title, but after Zhao Hanzhang refused, he stopped arguing and obediently accepted this posthumous title.
Mm, little darling Liu Yi had also learned to read situations.
Then, she had no money to bury the three emperors.
Of course, she hadn’t planned lavish burials, but she couldn’t be too neglectful either, especially for her late great emperor. Wronging anyone else was better than wronging him too much, or else the officials’ and aristocrats’ criticism would drown her, and even Zhao Ming couldn’t agree.
Though very reluctant, the fact was that appearances had to be maintained, because this involved legitimacy and future customs among other important issues.
She didn’t want people pointing at her nose months later cursing about declining morals.
Current morals were already bad enough – she couldn’t let them get worse.
Zhao Hanzhang gritted her teeth and swallowed the blood, smiling as she began preparing all the expenses for the late emperor’s burial.
Of course, she wouldn’t bear this pressure alone. She told this matter to her dear court ministers, oh, and also the little emperor and his teachers, asking them to decide together.
So everyone set their sights on the money just collected in the national treasury.
“But what about the disaster victims waiting for relief?”
“Matters have different priorities,” Yin Hua said. “The late emperor has been deceased for some time. The coffin cannot be kept any longer.”
Changning held the opposite view. “Disaster victims are more important. You prioritize the ruler lightly. Matters have different priorities – the people should be prioritized, and disaster relief is urgent.”
Ji Yuan glanced at Zhao Hanzhang sitting at the head in silence, stepped forward and said, “This humble one finds what Zining said reasonable. The people come first. If the late emperor knew, he would also prioritize the common people.”
Zhao Hanzhang’s expression showed some relaxation.
Ming Yu then said, “This humble one also believes Chamberlain Chang is correct.”
Some officials anxiously looked at Zhao Ming, whispering, “This isn’t good. Are we really going to ignore His Majesty’s coffin?”
Zhao Ming lowered his eyes in thought for a while, feeling Zhao Hanzhang didn’t want to postpone the burial. If she wanted to postpone, she needn’t consult them at all – she could directly say the mausoleum wasn’t ready yet and move the late emperor’s coffin to a temple for a period. Who could trouble her over that?
She specifically brought this up to be criticized, so it must be about the scale issue.
So Zhao Ming asked with a cold face, “How much expense do you lords think is needed to bury Filial Emperor Huai?”
This had to be asked of the Ministry of Rites and Ministry of Revenue.
Chang Ning was currently in charge of the Ministry of Revenue. As for the Ministry of Rites… everyone turned to look at Xun Fan.
Xun Fan was now not only the Grand Tutor specially teaching the emperor, but also held a position in the Ministry of Rites, so asking him was right.
Chang Ning directly said, “The Ministry of Rites has not yet sent an official document.”
Xun Fan pondered briefly then said, “This minister will return to discuss with the elders and draft a plan.”
Zhao Hanzhang sighed and nodded, then turned to look at the little emperor sitting to one side, smiling. “Your Majesty, today’s discussion ends here.”
The little emperor came back to his senses and nodded repeatedly.
Xun Fan wasn’t stupid – of course he understood Zhao Hanzhang’s meaning.
Her status was different now. She was starting to act more reservedly, her joy and anger harder to read from her face. But court matters could be glimpsed through Ji Yuan, Ming Yu, and Changning.
The three of them clearly said to prioritize the common people, so evidently she didn’t want to spend too much on the late emperor’s funeral.
Therefore, as long as it met ritual requirements, the funeral should be simplified where possible and save money where possible.
Of course, she couldn’t propose this herself to avoid being criticized by many, so Xun Fan had to proactively share some of the criticism for her.
Xun Fan had no complaints and obediently did as asked.
He felt he’d already economized enough, but the expenses listed still made Zhao Hanzhang’s heart ache.
So she could only return home to rummage through boxes and cabinets selling things.
Of course, she wasn’t the type to do good deeds anonymously. So while she didn’t widely publicize selling the things she’d gathered to exchange for money to bury Filial Emperor Huai, she didn’t hide it either.
Thus, news that Great General Zhao Hanzhang was selling family property to bury the late emperor quickly spread throughout Chen County, then from Chen County throughout the world.