Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

Winter in the ninth year of Xuanji seemed to come later than usual.

The plane tree leaves in Jinling City had not yet all fallen, but inside the Ministry of Revenue, there was an oppressive heat and excitement.

The Minister of Revenue, carrying a thick account book, hurried through the palace corridors and headed straight for the Wenhua Hall.

His face wore a complex expression that mixed disbelief, ecstasy, and a hint of fear.

This ledger is a summary of the national fiscal revenue for the nine years of Xuanji, which has just been calculated.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! An unprecedented crisis! An unprecedented crisis!" The usually composed and steady Minister of Revenue was now somewhat flustered, his voice trembling.

Xiao Chen was reviewing memorials when he heard the noise. He looked up and saw the Minister of Revenue, who was panting and flushed. He raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, "What's the matter that you're so flustered?"

"Your Majesty, please look!"

The Minister of Revenue held the account book high above his head, his voice slightly distorted with excitement, "The fiscal revenue for the ninth year of Xuanji has been calculated! The most crucial item—the customs tax—has been deposited into the treasury, totaling… 3.12 million taels of silver!"

He practically roared the number, then took a deep breath and added in an even more trembling voice, "And this year's total national land tax revenue, converted to silver... is approximately two million eight hundred thousand taels!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the Wenhua Hall.

Even the eunuchs and guards standing to the side subconsciously held their breath.

Customs tax exceeded land tax?!

This is unprecedented since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty, no, it should be said that it is unprecedented in the thousands of years of recorded history of the Chinese dynasties!

Since ancient times, "agriculture as the foundation of the nation" has been a matter of course, and land tax has been the foundation of the country and the pillar of its finances. Commercial taxes and customs duties have always been regarded as "minor profits," merely supplements to land tax. But now, this ironclad rule has been broken!

Xiao Chen put down his vermilion pen and slowly stood up.

He didn't speak, but walked to the huge map of the world in the hall, his gaze slowly moving from the vast inland farmland to the long coastline and the sea marked with words such as "Dongning", "Luzon" and "Penang".

His face showed little emotion, but his deep eyes seemed to hold the shimmering light of stars.

"Three million one hundred and twenty thousand taels...two million eight hundred thousand taels..."

Xiao Chen repeated the two numbers in a low voice, his tone heavy with authority, "Customs revenue has already exceeded land tax... Uncle (Zhang Juzheng's courtesy name), what do you think?"

Zhang Juzheng, the Grand Secretary who had been standing silently by his side, could not hide his shock at this moment.

He stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty is wise! This is truly a testament to Your Majesty’s vigorous reforms and strategic management of the maritime frontier! Since the promulgation of the New Regulations on Maritime Trade, the customs service has cleared up long-standing abuses, the tax system has become simpler, and merchants and travelers have found it convenient; the navy has pacified the seas and protected trade routes, and the countries of Southeast Asia, fearing your power and respecting your virtue, have vied to pay tribute; overseas outposts such as Dongning and Penang have gradually become trade hubs. Exports of silk, porcelain, and tea have doubled; silver, copper, and spices have flowed in steadily. The surge in customs revenue is truly a natural consequence and a sign of national prosperity!”

He paused, his voice tinged with emotion: "In my youth, I studied and heard of Guan Zhong's exploitation of mountains and seas, and Taigong's promotion of abundant fish and salt, which were seen as signs of a prosperous era. However, at their core, they were still bound by the constraints of agriculture. Today, in our dynasty, customs revenue surpasses land tax—a transformation I have thoroughly examined throughout history, truly unprecedented! The era Your Majesty has created cannot be encompassed by the word 'prosperous age'; it is… a world-shaking event!"

"The creation of the world?"

Xiao Chen turned around, looked at the chief minister known for his composure and pragmatism, and a rare smile appeared on his face. "Uncle, you flatter me. I was merely following the times and doing what needed to be done."

He walked back to his desk, picked up the account book, and gently stroked the cover with his fingers: "Three million one hundred and twenty thousand taels... This money can do a lot. It can build more 'Azure Dragon' class warships, allow Zhao Tie's Academy of Sciences to open more furnaces of good steel, build more roads connecting the north and south, establish more schools in the northwest, and also... reduce the taxes paid by my people on a few acres of land."

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Zhang Juzheng bowed again, saying, "Increased customs revenue can alleviate the people's suffering. I suggest that next year, some of the disaster-stricken provinces should be appropriately exempted from land taxes to demonstrate the Emperor's boundless grace. At the same time, we should increase investment in the navy, the Academy of Sciences, and overseas trading posts to consolidate this positive momentum."

"allow."

Xiao Chen nodded. "The Ministry of Revenue and the Cabinet should produce a detailed budget plan as soon as possible. It must be based on our means, but also have a long-term perspective. Now that we've found a way to prosper through maritime trade, we must continue down this path with unwavering determination!"

As Zhang Juzheng walked out of the Wenhua Hall, his emotions remained unsettled for a long time.

He glanced back at the majestic palace, then looked at the faint outline of the city visible on the distant horizon, and felt a surge of emotion.

The fact that customs duties exceeded land taxes was not just a simple change in fiscal figures.

This means that the empire's economic center is shifting from traditional, land-dependent agriculture to a dynamic, world-connecting commercial and maritime economy.

This means that the empire's vision is shifting from the closed inland to the open sea.

This also means that the series of reforms implemented by Xiao Chen—military innovation, naval construction, overseas expansion, and trade regulations—have yielded their most fruitful results.

"An unprecedented upheaval..."

Zhang Juzheng repeated his words in a low voice, a wise glint in his eyes, "Perhaps this truly is only the beginning. Where will the Great Xia Dynasty go in the future? How vast are the grand plans in Your Majesty's heart?"

The sea breeze blows from the southeast, carrying the moist, oceanic scent, brushing against the eaves and brackets of Nanjing, as if whispering stories from afar.

The imperial dragon flag flutters in the wind, guiding this ancient yet young nation on its journey toward the azure sea, a land brimming with both opportunities and challenges.