Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 79 National Affairs Are of Utmost Importance
The morning light in Wenhua Hall, carrying a hint of lingering coolness, slanted through the window lattices, casting dappled shadows on the golden brick floor.

In the interplay of light and shadow, dust particles danced silently, much like the unresolved and chaotic thoughts in the minds of officials after the court session had ended.

The eerie silence, solidified by the will of the emperor, seemed to still cling to the hem of every official's robe. With their heavy and deliberately slowed steps, it was carried back to the various government offices in the capital, and then spread rapidly like ink dripping into clear water.

The Ministry of Revenue, Guanzheng Hall.

The air here was several times more stifling than usual. The gilded crane-beak charcoal brazier in the hall was burning the finest silver frost charcoal, but it seemed to only generate heat and not light. The hot air it emitted swirled in the gloomy air, but it could not dispel the chill that seeped from the bottom of people's hearts.

Wang Jiazhen, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, sat behind his large rosewood desk, his face ashen, his eyes vacant as he stared at a cup of Biluochun tea that had long since gone cold. The tea leaves unfurled at the bottom of the cup, their shape beautiful, just like his once proud career.

However, now he only felt that the veins of the tea leaves were like a cage, trapping him inside.

Last night, Wei Zhongxian's gentle yet chillingly malicious smile kept flashing through his mind like an inescapable nightmare.

He was silent.

Like a clay Buddha, he watched helplessly as that absurd national policy passed unimpeded under the unquestionable gaze of the young emperor.

Like him, a dozen or so colleagues who had received greetings, either openly or secretly, last night also chose to remain silent, exchanging their shameful silence for the temporary peace of their families.

At this moment, the officials, both high and low, in the hall, including the lucky ones who had not yet been greeted, were gathered in twos and threes, whispering among themselves. They did not know what kind of ordeal Wang Jiazhen and others had gone through, but with the instincts honed in their decades of official careers, they sensed a dangerous and abnormal atmosphere.

"Rewards, relief, and trade... all three at the same time! This is unheard of!" A senior official from the Ministry of Revenue lowered his voice, his tone filled with shock and incomprehension. "My lords, I personally audited the accounts at the end of last year. The total amount of usable silver in the national treasury was less than two million taels! Which of these three national policies isn't a money-devouring behemoth? This... isn't this going to empty the entire treasury?"

“It’s not just about money and grain,” the physician in charge of finances chimed in, his voice filled with worry. “Our ancestors always treated trade with the border regions with utmost caution, as if walking on thin ice. This is because the barbarians fear our power but do not appreciate our virtue. If you trade with them today, they might use the ironware you sold them to forge arrows and shoot them at your people tomorrow! Now, this open trade is like releasing water from a floodgate. What if… what if it benefits the enemy? Who will bear the enormous consequences?”

In the corner, an elderly official with white hair and beard held a teacup. He didn't look at anyone; his gaze seemed to be fixed on the floating tea leaves. His voice was extremely low, as if he were talking in a dream: "Your Majesty's decisive actions are a blessing to the country. However, such a huge expenditure of public funds is related to the foundation of the nation and cannot be taken lightly."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a stone thrown into stagnant water, causing everyone present to instinctively hold their breath.

No one dared to agree, and no one dared to refute. The hall was deathly silent, with only the heavy breathing of the crowd.

No one could forget the colleague who had been reprimanded in court and even imprisoned a few days ago for his poor performance. The young emperor's patience was clearly much less than they had imagined.

After a long silence, the old official sighed again, as if trying to convince himself: "We are paid by the emperor, and we must be loyal to him. We must carry out His Majesty's orders without fail. But the more so, the more we must check the accounts carefully, double-check the warehouses, and ensure that every word in the official documents signed with the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works is correct. This... is how we share the emperor's burdens and serve the country faithfully."

These words were spoken in a grand and impeccable manner.

The officials around him kept their heads down, but their tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

They found a seemingly impeccable reason, a shield to hide behind.

The decree belongs to His Majesty and is sacred and cannot be disobeyed, but the rules for carrying out the decree have been passed down from our ancestors and have been in effect for hundreds of years.

This complex and precise process is like a huge and tough spider web. They dare not use it to fight against the raging winds of imperial power, but they can hide deep in the web, hoping that the winds will be weakened by the countless threads as they pass by, and eventually become gentle.

They were afraid of being struck by the emperor's wrath, yet unwilling to break the balance and dignity that had been maintained for many years. So, they could only choose to cower within these rules, adopting the most rigorous and loyal attitude to engage in the most thorough passive resistance.

Will it drag on for three to five months? Or perhaps longer.

At that time, the military situation at the front may change, and His Majesty's mind may also change. This is their only hope at this moment.

Wang Jiazhen listened to these unspoken words of advice, and his lips moved slightly.

A long-term plan? Room for maneuver?

A bunch of self-righteous idiots.

You have no idea what kind of emperor you are facing. Wang Jiazhen has figured it out. He is an emperor who would rather burn this web and the spider on it than allow his will to be delayed even a little bit!

……

Just then, a series of light, hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall, accompanied by the slight scraping of armor plates against the scabbard of a sword. This sound was unlike anything that was typical in a government office; it lacked the composure of an official and the humility of a constable, carrying instead the sharp efficiency and ominous intent of an intruder.

The buzzing conversation abruptly stopped, and everyone instinctively fell silent, looking up at the doorway.

The light and shadow at the entrance were cut off by several figures.

The group of people at the head of the group were dressed in gorgeous yet strangely eerie robes, wearing pointed hats and thin-soled boots. Their faces were excessively pale from years of lack of sunlight, while their lips were painted with bright red lipstick, making them stand out starkly in the gloomy hall.

They're from the palace!
He's one of Wei Zhongxian's men!

Wang Yongguang's brows furrowed instantly, and he slowly stood up.

"Oh dear, Minister Wang, Vice Minister Wang, all the esteemed officials are here. I've arrived at just the right time." The head eunuch strode in with small, quick steps, his face beaming with smiles, yet those smiles were as chilling as icy shards in winter. "I am Li Chaoqin, a eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial. Today, I have come by order of His Majesty and by the command of Eunuch Wei to assist and oversee national policies."

Li Chaoqin!
The name was like a cold, poisonous needle, instantly piercing the ears of everyone present and making their hearts skip a beat. This was one of Wei Zhongxian's most favored and ruthless adopted sons.

In the past, he only acted arrogantly in the palace or the Wei family mansion. He had never set foot in the Ministry of Revenue, a government office where nobles and officials gathered.

Wang Yongguang's face was ashen, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Eunuch Li, the Ministry of Revenue has its own rules for handling official business. The matter of rewarding Xuanda is a matter of national importance, and the officials of this ministry are currently discussing it. We dare not delay His Majesty's will in the slightest. However... the national treasury's funds are enormous, and every transaction must be carefully audited and signed by multiple parties to ensure accuracy. Please wait in the side hall for a moment, and allow us to proceed according to the established procedures."

His words were neither humble nor arrogant, and they were perfectly watertight. This was the Tai Chi push-hands that the imperial civil officials were best at: a soft but firm approach that used gentleness to overcome strength.

Li Chaoqin's smile widened, and his handsome face even appeared somewhat innocent and carefree because of it. He walked slowly to Wang Yongguang, but instead of looking at him, he stretched out his slender fingers and gently picked up a document on the desk, as if admiring the handwriting.

“Minister Wang is right. Rules must be followed, of course. I am the most law-abiding person.” He said softly, his voice high-pitched and thin, “However… before I left the palace, His Majesty gave me a special instruction.”

He paused, then slowly raised his serpentine eyes, the innocence vanishing instantly, leaving only a cold indifference as he stared intently at Wang Yongguang.

"His Majesty said that national affairs are of utmost importance; even a moment's delay is a crime that would harm the country."

His voice suddenly deepened, no longer high-pitched, but instead carrying a metallic quality. He slammed the document in his hand onto the table with a loud "bang"!
"Here in my house is a blank document with the Imperial Household Department's approval and the Emperor's vermilion seal!" He took out a roll of yellow silk from his sleeve and unfurled it. The bright red seal, like a pool of congealed blood, stung everyone's eyes.

"Minister Wang, and all you gentlemen, would you like to stamp these ledgers yourselves without any fuss, or..." He smiled slightly, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth, "...would you like me to do it for you?"

boom!
The entire Guanzheng Hall seemed to have been drained of all air; you could hear a pin drop.

Blank printed documents!

These four words struck every civil official like a thunderbolt!

This means that the emperor has completely abandoned all procedures, bypassed all checks and balances, and authorized this eunuch to issue any order on behalf of the Ministry of Revenue!

This is a blatant threat, an undisguised humiliation!
Wang Yongguang's old face instantly turned a deep purplish-red. He was trembling all over, pointing at Li Chaoqin, his lips trembling for a long time before he managed to utter a few words: "You...you...how dare you do this! This is a violation of the government! This is...a corruption of the court!"

"Disorderly governance?" Li Chaoqin laughed, laughing so hard he almost fell over. His sharp laughter echoed in the silent hall, piercing everyone's eardrums.

He abruptly stopped laughing, his figure blurred, and he moved like a ghost to Wang Yongguang's ear, speaking in a sinister voice that only the two of them could hear:
"Minister Wang, have you thought this through? There are still several south-facing rooms empty in the imperial prison."

Wang Yongguang was struck dumb, his body stiffened, and he staggered. If the clerk behind him hadn't caught him quickly, he would have collapsed to the ground.

Last night, that unseen hand had already gripped the throats of some people; today, that hand is blatantly displayed before everyone!
Rules? Regulations? Ancestral laws?

When the butcher's knife is already hanging over one's neck, and one has just drunk blood, how much weight do these things have left?
The light in Wang Yongguang's eyes went out.

Li Chaoqin straightened up with satisfaction, looking around at the pale faces in the hall. He enjoyed the pleasure of crushing the dignity of the so-called upright and incorruptible people little by little. His voice softened again, as if nothing had happened.

"Guards, prepare writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for all the officials. I will stay here and work alongside you. Make sure that all the money, grain, cloth, salt, and iron needed for the reward of Xuanfu are counted, shipped out, and loaded onto carts before Shenshi (3-5 PM)!"

(End of this chapter)