Dugong

Chapter 75 Imperial Horse Admiral
Not yet.

Officials filed out of the Hall of Diligent Governance.

The older servants hurriedly moved about, while the servants waiting outside the palace prepared food. The younger and stronger servants were able to endure the hunger and maintain the official decorum.

During the reign of the late emperor, court sessions usually ended at 7:00 AM, and at most at noon.

Since Emperor Yongning officially ascended the throne, there has never been a time when the court session ended before noon.

His Majesty always keeps the eight words "We dare not slacken in building up the ancestral foundation" on his lips. He inquires about everything, big or small, and if he has any doubts, he asks all the officials to explain them clearly.

The officials had no way to refute this; this was the diligent and benevolent emperor they had always dreamed of!

at this time.

Side hall study.

Emperor Yongning left four regents to discuss matters.

"The memorials requesting pay from the Zhenbei Army and the Pingxi Army have been pending for half a month. The Jinghai Guard and Dingnan Guard also need to be paid by mid-year. This matter cannot be delayed any longer!"

After Emperor Yongning finished speaking, he looked around and finally focused on Minister Zhang: "Minister Zhang, do you have a solution?"

Minister Zhang said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue has always been responsible for allocating grain and military pay, while the Ministry of War only assists in the distribution."

Emperor Yongning looked at Grand Secretary Yuan, who, as the head of the cabinet and the six ministries, was well aware of the situation.

"Your Majesty, the national treasury has less than one million taels of silver. If we scrape together enough, we can barely distribute it to the Zhenbei and Pingxi armies. The Jinghai and Dingnan garrisons can be delayed until after the summer tax."

Grand Secretary Yuan then changed the subject: "However, if all the silver is used for military pay, there will be no money left to pay the salaries of officials, which will inevitably cause trouble..."

Emperor Yongning frowned and asked, "According to past practice, how should this matter be handled?"

"Raise taxes!"

Minister Zhang quickly replied, "Following the old system established by the late emperor, we collect extra taxes under the guise of 'prevention tax,' 'pre-levy,' and 'additional levies' to cover expenses."

Grand Secretary Yuan immediately objected, saying, "Your Majesty, the late emperor already imposed twenty-three taxes, causing immense suffering to the people. If we continue to impose them, there is a risk of popular uprising!"

Minister Zhang said coldly, "What do you mean by that, Lord Yuan? The late emperor's body is barely cold, and you're already talking about militarism?"

"How can a mere commoner know the harm of a popular uprising when he speaks nonsense?"

"I am but a commoner who came from the military, which is better than some people who hide in the capital and enjoy the military merits earned by soldiers fighting bloody battles all over the country."

Prince Cheng and Minister Lu remained silent, coldly watching the two argue. The matters of military pay and tax silver were too complicated for His Majesty to handle without his permission.

Emperor Yongning waved his hand helplessly, ordering the two to stop arguing.

"Both Minister Yuan and Minister Zhang are loyal to the country. Military pay must be paid, but taxes cannot be increased. The cabinet and the six ministries should discuss this and draft a memorial to submit."

"According to the order."

Grand Secretary Yuan glanced at Minister Zhang. Arguing and cursing were not his forte. Once he returned to the Six Ministries of the Grand Secretariat, he would teach this fellow a lesson in how to be an official.

Prince Cheng promptly reported: "Your Majesty, the Beijing garrison has been in arrears with its pay for half a year, and the morale of the troops is somewhat wavering."

Emperor Yongning asked in surprise, "How could the wages have been in arrears for so long?"

Grand Secretary Yuan replied, "When the late emperor was alive, he ordered the Ministry of Revenue to prioritize the provisions and pay of the border troops. Half of the provisions were distributed to the Beijing garrison a year ago, but this was temporarily suspended six months ago."

Emperor Yongning frowned. Before his ascension to the throne, the country was at its peak and there were no problems in the court. After his ascension, all sorts of problems erupted.

"This matter will be discussed by the Cabinet."

"According to the order!"

……

This day.

A gentle breeze is blowing, and the sky is clear and bright.

Eunuch Yuan led his retinue to Cining Palace. As soon as he arrived at the gate, he frowned slightly. The middle-aged eunuch had been replaced by two young eunuchs.

His face looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite place his name. His Majesty instructed Eunuch Yuan to clean and sweep the Cining Palace, and under the guise of assigning tasks, he recruited several former servants from the Kunning Palace to act as his undercover agents.

For example, the eunuchs standing guard at the palace gate, though seemingly insignificant, could know who had paid their respects to the Empress Dowager. Or the palace maids tidying up the clothes and the eunuchs clearing the way could know the Empress Dowager's attire and itinerary.

The benefits of having control over the Empress Dowager's daily life are self-evident.

Before Eunuch Yuan could even step forward to ask a question, two eunuchs at the door bowed and stepped forward: "Little Yu and Little Meng greet Eunuch Yuan."

"So it was the two of you."

Yuan Gonggong suddenly realized that he had seen the two of them a few years ago when he was investigating corruption at the Tribute Bureau. Later, they became Xiao Anzi's adopted sons.

"Please inform His Majesty that I have come to convey His Majesty's decree."

"Please wait a moment, Eunuch Yuan."

Xiao Yu first spoke with his godfather, then informed the Empress Dowager, and returned to lead Eunuch Yuan and his entourage into the Cining Palace.

Eunuch Yuan walked lightly and silently, his sleeves and robes seemingly frozen in place, only his eyes subtly glancing left and right, carefully observing the eunuchs on duty.

As expected, all the previously planted spies disappeared, replaced by eunuchs who had been recruited and transferred from who-knows-where.

Less than 30% of the original staff of Kunning Palace remained, and most of them did menial tasks such as sweeping and pruning.

"Rumors in the palace say that Xiao Anzi received instruction and training from Eunuch Chu in the Cold Palace. It seems that the rumors are true, otherwise where would he get so many people!"

Yuan Gonggong's gaze narrowed slightly, and after many years, he once again regarded An Gonggong as an equal.

We're like brothers, sharing the same room, sleeping in the same bed, and eating from the same pot!
We arrived at the entrance of the main hall.

Eunuch Yuan composed himself and respectfully kowtowed three times and bowed nine times: "This servant greets the Empress Dowager..."

"Flat body."

Empress Dowager Zhou, who was always kind and gentle, summoned Eunuch Yuan and asked, "What is His Majesty's decree?"

Eunuch Yuan bowed as he entered the room. He quickly grasped the situation with just a glance. Li Ping'an and Eunuch Rong were serving the Empress Dowager, while several old nannies could only serve in the corners.

There is an unspoken rule in the palace that "one inch determines one rank." Judging from the position in front of the Empress Dowager, Eunuch Yuan immediately knew that Eunuch An had already cleaned up the old servants of Kunning Palace.

The fact that a few old nannies were left behind was probably to maintain the Empress Dowager's sentimental and magnanimous image.

"Your Majesty."

Eunuch Yuan suddenly straightened up and said in a loud voice, "His Majesty's oral decree..."

All the eunuchs and palace maids in the hall knelt down, and Empress Dowager Zhou stood up from her phoenix chair, bowing slightly.

"Promote Eunuch An to the position of Director of the Imperial Horse Administration, in charge of the feeding and training of imperial horses, and ensuring the needs of imperial travel and ceremonial processions!"

After speaking, Eunuch Yuan immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty has specifically stated that Eunuch An will remain the chief steward of Cining Palace and will not need to be transferred."

"That's excellent. I can't do without Xiao Anzi's service."

Empress Dowager Zhou nodded slightly, feeling relieved. At present, the Cining Palace relied most on Xiao Anzi, who was loyal, filial, and capable.

Those old maids and servants are utterly useless. They were only recently made Empress Dowagers, and instead of performing their duties properly, they dare to use the name of Cining Palace to bully others and extort money.

Fortunately, Xiao Chuzi left behind a number of reliable people; otherwise, he would have become a laughing stock in the eyes of the Cining Palace.

Did Li Ping'an accept the money? Of course he did, otherwise he would have been the chief eunuch for nothing. But no one dared to complain to the Empress Dowager.

After receiving the decree, he did not get up. Instead, he turned around while kneeling, circulated his inner energy to his eyes, and forced out a few tears.

"Your Majesty's command cannot be disobeyed. This servant cannot attend to you at all times. Your Majesty, please remember to eat and rest on time. I will come to keep watch as soon as I finish my shift tonight. These days Your Majesty has been copying scriptures in front of the Buddha. This servant found the candlelight too glaring, so I specially went to the Tribute Office to get a soft gauze cover..."

Empress Dowager Zhou was deeply moved and personally helped Li Ping'an up.

"Little Anzi, I dreamt of the late Emperor last night. He said that he trusts those he employs, and that you are the most loyal and filial among those in the Cining Palace!"

(End of this chapter)