Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 405 The Romantic Young Man
In the sixteenth year of the Kaiyuan era, Xiao Song entered the court as prime minister based on his military achievements, which brought about a new change in the personnel structure of the court, transforming the original confrontation between two powerful figures into a tripartite balance of power.

Although Li Yuanhong and Du Xian were still locked in a fierce confrontation, they inevitably had to consider the third person under the Zhongshu Menxia (Secretariat and Secretariat). They dared not exert all their strength in their confrontation and still had to reserve some of their power for defense.

After entering the court, Xiao Song did not submit to the status of a newcomer. Instead, he quickly intervened in the Secretariat and Chancellery, such as by appointing his subordinate Pei Kuan as a secretary in the Secretariat.

Therefore, Li Yuanhong and Du Xian were no longer just glaring at each other in the Zhongshu Menxia, ​​but also had to devote some energy to stabilizing their base and strengthening their control over personnel within their respective provinces.

Du Xian was on duty in the Secretariat today, reviewing the memorials from various places. Soon, the contents of one memorial caught his attention. After reviewing it, he immediately summoned his subordinates and instructed them: "Go to Xingqing Palace and summon Zhang Dai, the Left Remonstrance Official, back to the Secretariat."

Half an hour later, Zhang Dai arrived at the gatehouse of the Provincial Administration Hall, panting. After standing on the steps to catch his breath, he stepped into the hall and greeted Du Xian, who was sitting in the main hall, saying, "This humble official, Zhang Dai, Left Remonstrance Official, pays his respects to Minister Du."

"Zhang Dai, you may dispense with the formalities. I have summoned you to the provincial capital today to inquire about a matter. This morning you presented your memorial regarding the capital of the government office. Are all the evidence you cited true?"

When Du Xian met Zhang Dai, he was quite amiable. He first smiled and gestured for Zhang Dai to sit down without any formalities, and then asked him directly.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai quickly bowed again and said, "Every word I have presented is true. How could I dare to disturb Your Excellency's hearing with false information! Recently, I heard that the Ministry of Personnel has been working to recover debts accumulated from last year to alleviate its financial difficulties, and that its efforts have been quite effective."

Inspired by this, I conducted a thorough investigation into the capital of various government offices and discovered that there were many hidden secrets. Now, the officials of the capital and provincial government, with their keen insight, have recovered over seven thousand strings of cash in interest from the misappropriated capital of other departments. However, there are actually many more hidden elsewhere, with even greater interest being recovered!
For example, the merchant surnamed Zou from the East Market, cited in my memorial, was formerly a clerk in the Ministry of Water Resources, in charge of a capital of 70,000 coins for about three years. He was promoted because of the substantial profits he made. Zou reported a capital of over 70,000 coins, but upon examination, his actual expenditures exceeded one million coins. The Ministry of Water Resources still used 70,000 coins as the initial capital for profit…”

As Du Xian listened to Zhang Dai's account, he compared it with the data in the memorial. After listening to Zhang Dai's report, he frowned and said, "This Zou pawned money and withdrew more than 600 strings of cash in interest in just over three years, yet he still managed to get a promotion because he managed the money well?"

"Indeed, this is only for Zou alone. My calculations show that the total capital managed by the various departments of the Ministry of Personnel last year was only 130,000 strings of cash, but the profits from the trading in the markets alone exceeded 600,000 strings of cash. The profits from these profits are more than four times the capital of the various departments. And this is just a rough estimate by me..."

As a form of government-run usury, the more capital a government had, the more interest it could collect. Therefore, the scale of government capital increased year by year during its existence.

During the Zhenguan era, the capital of the more than seventy departments in the capital was less than 50,000 strings of cash. However, by the early Kaiyuan era, the capital of the capital of the capital departments had reached more than 200,000 strings of cash, and the various departments of the Ministry of Personnel alone had as much as 130,000 strings of cash.

Afterwards, the public fund was reinstated and exceeded one million strings of cash during the mid-to-late Tang Dynasty. The interest income obtained from the public fund alone amounted to hundreds of thousands of strings of cash.

Zhang Dai recounted these stories with only one core purpose: "Recently, the Ministry of Personnel recovered only seven thousand strings of cash from the old debts incurred for the gifts given to the soldiers on the Long March. If these old debts can still be recovered, why not investigate the corruption in the money management of the former officials? If all the money illegally lent out, embezzled, and fraudulently obtained in the past can be investigated and prosecuted, the proceeds from such embezzlement will exceed hundreds of millions!"

"If the profits are so substantial, why doesn't the provincial capital pursue them?"

Upon hearing this enormous figure, Du Xian couldn't help but ask a question.

Although he was not the official in charge of the finance department, as the prime minister, he was certainly aware of the various problems that existed at the time. When he heard that hundreds of millions of yuan could be recovered based on this matter, and that there were precedents to follow, he was naturally very tempted.

"Why worry, Your Excellency? I am not certain either. All the citations are based on inquiries into local records and calculations. Although they are not from the Finance Department's accounting books, they are by no means hearsay. All the records are traceable to individuals. If you could read more of the Finance Department's accounting books, you would surely gain more insights!"

Simply criticizing the Ministry of Personnel for pursuing the return of gifts from border people as illegal and irregular would not only face enormous resistance but also offend a number of officials in the Ministry of Personnel.

Therefore, Zhang Dai simply did the opposite and found another group that was more worthy of investigation and could be seized: those money-collecting officials who used private money to fund official loans for profit.

If even one of these targets can be verified, hundreds or even thousands of strings of cash in illegal profits can be recovered, which is much more efficient than dealing with border guards.

Zhang Dai didn't know if this step was part of Yuwen Rong's revenue-generating plan, but in such matters, whoever speaks first gets to decide. Moreover, this would grant him a crucial power: to investigate the old accounts of the Ministry of Revenue, especially the Ministry of Finance!
Since you've turned the provisions that should have been given to the Long March soldiers into illegal gains with just a few words, wouldn't all the expenditures and financial calculations your Ministry of Revenue has done over the years also become illegal operations in the face of the current situation where the overall situation is of utmost importance? After listening to Zhang Dai's explanation, Du Xian held the memorial and read it for a while before raising his eyes to look at Zhang Dai and asking in a deep voice, "Are you confident that you can find out the truth?"

"Even if we ultimately find nothing, it will only be a matter of straining my eyes and reviewing old records. Since I am paid this salary, why should I fear hardship!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai immediately straightened his chest and expressed his agreement.

Upon hearing this answer, Du Xian looked at Zhang Dai with even greater appreciation and immediately nodded slightly, saying, "In that case, you shall select the clerks to consult the old records of the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Justice, and other relevant departments, and investigate any illegal activities!"

It would be even better if this could open up new sources of income and generate some unplanned revenue, but even if it couldn't, it wouldn't be a significant loss for the Ministry of Finance.

Moreover, Yuwen Rong was arrogant and domineering, and very conceited. After he returned to the court to take charge of the Ministry of Revenue, he became even more arrogant than before, and even the Secretariat and the Chancellery found it difficult to interfere in the affairs of the Ministry of Revenue.

As the prime minister, Du Xian was naturally very unhappy about this situation, but Yuwen Rong had indeed monopolized finances too deeply, and he had no opportunity to intervene.

Zhang Dai's memorial undoubtedly provided him with an excellent opportunity. If he could seize this opportunity to thoroughly investigate the old accounts of the Ministry of Revenue, would Yuwen Rong still dare to be so arrogant?
Moreover, this is not meant to cause trouble for the Ministry of Revenue, but rather to follow the Ministry's methods and expand upon them on a larger scale. If it yields results, it will be far more beneficial than the current achievements of the Ministry of Revenue!
Of course, Du Xian was also aware of the risks involved. Any attempt to dig up old dirt would arouse suspicion and retaliation from some vested interests. If he couldn't withstand the pressure, the situation would be difficult to resolve.

Du Xian currently has no better candidate to take on this task, and Zhang Dai, who submitted this proposal, is himself a very suitable candidate.

Firstly, the problem was discovered by him; secondly, Zhang Dai's grandfather, Zhang Shuo, was the current examiner and could be protected; and thirdly, Du Xian had also heard about the coordination between Zhang Shuo and Pei Guangting. Du Xian also hoped that these guys who were eyeing the prime minister's position would fight among themselves.

Zhang Dai was overjoyed to receive this order and immediately puffed out his chest, promising that he would not disgrace his province. If he did investigate, he would find something!
Looking at Zhang Dai's spirited and enthusiastic demeanor, Du Xian couldn't help but feel a bit complicated. He suddenly spoke up again, saying, "Having seen the vast ocean, one finds it hard to be impressed by mere rivers; having beheld the clouds of Wushan, one finds other clouds pale in comparison. What kind of unforgettable story or person could evoke such profound feelings in Zongzhi?"

Zhang Dai was taken aback when he heard this. We were just talking about making things difficult for Yuwen Rong, why are you asking me these things?
Although he was somewhat surprised, he couldn't refuse to answer since his elder brother had spoken. So he quickly said, "Please forgive my ignorance, sir. I am young and inexperienced. The other day, His Highness the Crown Prince summoned me to the Hibiscus Garden and asked me about my talents. I forced myself to write a new poem and pretended to be sad, which resulted in this couplet."

"I see. I thought... that young man Zongzhi, there's nothing or no one you're infatuated with?"

Upon hearing this, Du Xian's smile became even warmer, and he then looked at Zhang Dai and said with a smile, "You are at the perfect age to admire young women, and you even have an old work called 'Golden Robe.' You are certainly capable of being a dashing young man!"

"I am still young, yet I have already received the Emperor's favor and the superiors' kindness, and my salary is generous. I should be diligent in my work and serve with self-discipline, how can I have time for anything else!"

Zhang Dai was worried that Du Xian suspected him of being young and frivolous and not careful enough, and that he would lose the task. So he quickly added: "I only care about making progress, I don't care about anything else!"

"Excellent, excellent! A young man should have such ambition!"

Upon hearing this, Du Xian immediately stroked his beard with a smile and said, "Lord Yan is currently on duty for the annual examinations, and I imagine he is very busy. I haven't had a heart-to-heart talk with him in a long time. Once his business is finished, I will certainly pay him a visit. Zongzhi will also be there to serve wine!"

"Of course, of course! I would be honored. I will prepare my bed and wait for your arrival as soon as I return!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai quickly lowered his head and said that Du Xian's unexpectedly amiable statement was probably because his superior felt the increasing pressure in the political situation and wanted to further deepen his interaction with his grandfather, hoping for a longer-lasting response in the future.

This is a very good sign. Du Xian was born a border soldier and is also a person who can rise from general to prime minister. Even if he is dismissed from his post as prime minister in the future, he can still guard important border towns and become a powerful regional official with great power over border defense. For Zhang Dai, who also aspires to make contributions on the border, there will be great room for cooperation between them.

(End of this chapter)