Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 601 The Last Resort
A setting sun hung above the palace, and the evening drums sounded in Chang'an City before Yan Zhenqing left the imperial city and returned home.

When he entered the front yard, he happened to see Yan Yu hiding something behind his back from afar. In the past, Yan Zhenqing would inevitably stop the boy and ask him what he was doing.

That day, Yan Zhenqing ignored it and returned to his main room.

When Wei Yun came over, he asked, "What have you been busy with lately, Er?"

"Did Ah Lang discover it?" Wei Yun said, "He and a few classmates have recently become obsessed with 'studying things' and have been arguing about whether they can create something that can make it easier for ships to sail, something called a compass."

She felt a little uneasy when she said this, because the Yan family had very strict education. Yan Zhenqing had always urged Yan Yu to study the classics, history, and literature, and he did not like his son to waste his time on these strange and cunning schemes.

In addition, he opposed the court spending a lot of money and resources to build ships, so he was probably angry.

Strangely, Yan Zhenqing just nodded and said, "It's good that you don't do anything wrong."

"You've asked more of him in the past."

"The requirements for moral cultivation have not changed, but I have recently been thinking that it is not necessary for him to serve as an official."

Wei Yun was very confused and asked, "What does this mean? The children have their own destiny. Did Ah Lang make them give up their future?"

Yan Zhenqing asked: "Is the Lantern Festival this year very lively?"

"Yes, it is more lively than the past five or six years. It is somewhat like the prosperous scene during the Tianbao period."

"It's a sign of the Tang Dynasty's revival, but even you saw it?"

Wei Yun smiled and said, "I am a woman and I don't know state affairs, but I know that as long as the court does not burden the people, it is a good sign."

Yan Zhenqing stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "The Tang Dynasty is about to be revived. When the time comes, I will retire and we will return to Langya to live in seclusion, 'opening up the wilderness in the south and returning to the garden to farm'. What do you say?"

Wei Yun was stunned. She was living well in Chang'an and had never thought of leaving.

If Du Youlin told Lu Fengniang that he wanted to retire, Lu Fengniang would have kept talking, but Wei Yun was much more understanding. She nodded and said, "Ah Lang, is it because of those rumors? He is just jealous of the Yan family's wealth today."

"Being envied by others is not a good thing."

"If Alang decides to leave, I will go without hesitation. I am just worried that the children will have to shoulder such a heavy burden and no one will help them, especially the little prince."

Of course, she still didn't want to leave.

Yan Zhenqing also had unfulfilled ambitions, and if you ask his true feelings, he did not want to leave.

In fact, he had hesitated for a long time, and finally made up his mind, saying to himself: "Only by leaving can I prove my true intentions to the world."

~~
After the New Year, Xue Bai took the initiative to propose to go to Luoyang for food in order to ease the pressure of water transport in the Three Gorges and organize the freed-up manpower and material resources to reclaim wasteland.

Yuan Zai strongly opposed this matter and submitted a memorial stating that the court was fully capable of raising the grain needed in Guanzhong through many means such as water transport and grain purchase.

So, when the court was meeting, Xue Bai suddenly asked, "Since the war, the warehouses in Heyin, Jijin, Sanmen and other places have been damaged by fire, and the grain transport has not been smooth. Isn't it difficult to transport grain and grass?"

"Your Majesty, it can be rebuilt and repaired within half a year."

"Then we need to recruit another 60,000 or 70,000 civilians. Can the national treasury afford the wages?"

Yuan Zai looked surprised, hesitated for a moment, and said: "I think it is worth it. This matter will be done sooner or later. The sooner the court does it, the more cost-effective it will be."

Xue Bai didn't say anything. He waited for a while, and then Cui Youfu spoke.

"Your Majesty, I heard that Liu Yan submitted a memorial proposing the method of 'setting up warehouses along the water', which is a step further than Pei Yaoqing's 'transporting grain by water'. He proposed to set up warehouses along the four rivers, namely the Yangtze, Bian, He, and Wei, according to their different characteristics. He asked Liu Yan to personally select the location for the warehouses and supervise the construction of grain transport ships, in order to put an end to the bad habits of the transport commissioner, such as the ships being unsustainable and the labor costs being too high."

As he spoke, Cui Youfu glanced at Yuan Zai casually, and then said, "So I think Yuan Zai's proposal is too hasty, and this matter should be planned calmly."

"Good." Xue Bai said, "Since there is still some money in the treasury, it should not be left unused. Money is like water, it needs to flow. What do you think? Can we lend spring seedlings to the people, lend them out in spring, and collect them back in autumn to facilitate the transportation of grain transport. The money must be paid in full by the end of the year, and the annual interest rate... let's set it at one or two cents."

As soon as these words were spoken, most of the officials in the hall changed their expressions.

"His Majesty!"

I don't know who was too excited, shouted incoherently, and was about to leave the line.

Xue Bai waved his hand calmly and said, "Why are you shouting so loudly? We can discuss this another day. I am tired. Let's go."

Since he ascended the throne, he became more and more tired. Whenever he encountered such a situation, he would just say "I am tired" and then wait for the reaction of the officials.

On this day, the officials started talking non-stop when they arrived at the yamen.

"Is it a good thing for the imperial court to lend money and compete with the people for profits?"

Some people also whispered, "Don't you know? Before the Emperor came to the palace, he was a banker. He is very good at calculating."

"I'm afraid this is inappropriate."

"Annual interest rate 2%..."

No one dared to discuss this matter in front of Yan Zhenqing and Du Youlin.

In the official residence of the Secretariat, the two sat opposite each other. Yan Zhenqing spoke first and asked, "Has His Majesty discussed this proposal with you beforehand?"

"No." Du Youlin shook his head, looking worried, and said, "This is no small matter."

This is certainly no small matter. Xue Bai is talking about an annual interest rate of one or two cents, or a deadline to pay in full by the end of the year. What does that mean? If a farmer borrows 100 coins in the spring and repays the money after the harvest, according to the latest deadline, he needs to repay 110 or 120 coins.

Nowadays, private lending, whether from acquaintances or with collateral, is usually 1-2 cents per month, and high-interest loans are often double the annual interest rate. In other words, when ordinary farmers really need to borrow money, they often borrow 100 coins in the spring and pay back 200 coins after the autumn harvest.

As for those who take advantage of others' misfortune and lend money to farmers at high interest rates during years of famine or disaster, what they are after is not the double interest, but the land.

When officials say “compete with the people for profits”, the “people” may not refer to the farmers.

Of course, this policy is extremely complicated to implement, and it is easy for local officials to shirk their responsibilities, or it may affect the interests of too many lenders, turning a move that benefits the people into one that harms them. This is exactly what Yan Zhenqing was worried about.

"Mr. Yan, do you think that His Majesty is taking risks again?" Du Youlin asked.

He used the word "again" because in the eyes of their generation, governing a big country is like cooking a small fish. It is not appropriate to use these drastic measures easily. Instead, they should reclaim more land, levy less taxes, work diligently and love the people, and reduce expenses. Then the country's strength will naturally become richer slowly. Xue Bai is different. He always seeks innovation and change, which means taking risks.

In the past, Yan Zhenqing always came forward to dissuade Xue Bai, but this time, he said, "Maybe I'm too old-fashioned."

"From what Mr. Yan said, do you oppose or support this matter?"

"If your majesty mentions the Spring Seedling Loan, then what you want to do is definitely not just the Spring Seedling Loan."

Yan Zhenqing originally thought that he would retire from the government when the country was stable, but today, after seeing Xue Bai's intention of reform, he became worried again.

He had to remind Du Youlin.

"You and I are both prime ministers, and the pressure we have to bear is not small."

"Yes."

After saying this, Du Youlin hesitated and asked about another small matter.

"Mr. Yan, why have you never asked me whether I really knew your Majesty's background before the fifth year of Tianbao?"

Yan Zhenqing was surprised and asked, "Why should I ask you?"

"A few days ago, my unworthy son asked me about this matter, and I also found it strange." Du Youlin said, "Is there any mystery behind this matter?"

"Du Wulang? He must be asking casually." Yan Zhenqing said, "Did you really know the emperor's background before the fifth year of Tianbao?"

"Yes." Du Youlin stroked his beard.

A thoughtful look flashed across Yan Zhenqing's face.

The reason why he never asked Du Youlin this question was because he only needed to ask when he was not sure whether Du Youlin was lying, and he knew from the beginning that Du Youlin was lying.

It seems that Du Wulang knows something, but what about the emperor?

~~
That night, Yan Quanming said to Yan Zhenqing: "Zhang Yi passed away a few days ago."

"How did you die?"

"It must be the end of old age."

Yan Quanming actually knew that it was Yan Zhenqing who, through Zhang Yi, interviewed a large number of people who knew about the case of the Three Commoners, and finally found Guo Suo, proving the legitimacy of the current emperor.

But because the emperor was the son-in-law of the Yan family, if others knew that it was the Yan family who found Guo Suo, it would make the matter less convincing. Therefore, Yan Quanming kept it secret.

"I understand." Yan Zhenqing did not react to Zhang Yi's death. "You can go and have a rest."

"Here."

After Yan Quanming left, Yan Zhenqing closed his eyes, stroked his forehead, and looked tired.

He recalled the afternoon when he met Zhang Yi.

"You don't have to have any expectations. Fake is fake." Zhang Yi said, "If he is Xue Xiu's concubine, Tang Chang may not recognize him. But how could Tang Chang not recognize Li Ying's third son? Zhang Jiuling and He Zhizhang adopted those criminals for many years. It's not like Tang Chang has never seen those children before."

When Zhang Yi said this, there was a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.

"You see, the truth is always easy to discern, but power is hard to discern. From the moment Tang Chang lied to help Li Cong ascend the throne, the truth was lost. You are the only one who cares about the truth. What is there to care about?"

Yan Zhenqing was distraught when he said goodbye to Zhang Yi.

He finally confirmed that his son-in-law, his student, was pretending to be the heir to the throne, and was only one step away from usurping the throne of the Tang Dynasty. The guilt made him extremely painful. At the same time, he felt a little reluctant, unwilling to see the upcoming peace and stability go to waste.

During that time, he thought about killing Xue Bai himself. Even if it would make his daughter heartbroken, the Yan family could sacrifice for the Tang Dynasty.

It was at that time that he received an invitation to meet someone.

It was the words he spoke to that person that kept him going until today.

"Yan Qingchen, the Emperor asked, 'Can I entrust the Tang Dynasty to you?'"

"The most important affairs of a country are sacrifice and war. After Wu Zhou, the Tang Dynasty was still the Tang Dynasty. What was important was the blood of Emperor Zhongzong or the fact that Emperor Zhongzong sacrificed to the ancestors of the Li family? The Tang Dynasty took Emperor Deming, Emperor Xiantian, and Emperor Gaoshang Daguangdao Jinque Xuanyuan Tianhuang as its ancestors, but were the Li family really their descendants? If, after thousands of years, the tablets of the Li family's ancestors are still enshrined in that ancestral temple, then the Li Tang Dynasty is still the Li Tang Dynasty." "Xue Bai is Li Qian. There is someone who can prove this. I will teach you how to find him."

"You are a minister who is loyal to the country, not the emperor. You are not needed to seize the throne, but you are the last resort to ensure the continuation of the Li Tang country."

"If I still can't deceive Xue Bai in the end, he will definitely be enraged. Then neither I nor the emperor will be able to convince him. Only you may be able to convince him."

"Well, don't let anyone know about this meeting, forget your conversation with Zhang Yi, and forget your previous conversation with me. You can't fail, do this alone with these secrets."

……

The next day, Yan Zhenqing was awakened by the sound of birds singing.

He looked up and found that he had slept on the table all night, wearing a cloak. Wei Yun must have been worried that he would catch a cold, but she couldn't move him.

Today is a double-day and there is no court meeting, but he still went to the palace to ask for an audience with Xue Bai.

The deaths of Cui Zhongwei and Zhang Yi made him realize that if he stayed in the court, he would inevitably give people a chance to talk about him, thus causing all kinds of speculation. It would be better for him to retire as soon as possible and downplay the past events before he ascended the throne.

He suspected that Xue Bai had guessed something, so he was actually worried deep down.

"My father-in-law is here, I guess he's here to talk about the Chunmiao loan?"

"Yes."

Yan Zhenqing was still thinking about how to test Xue Bai, and did not have much to say about the Chunmiao Loan.

"It is inevitable that there will be concerns when these new policies are proposed." Xue Bai said, "I am definitely not a person who makes decisions arbitrarily. Let's discuss this matter together."

"That being said," Yan Zhenqing said, "For example, if your majesty wants to build a ship and send people out to the ocean, even though the Secretariat opposes this, your majesty can still do it in the name of a private business. This is not arbitrary, but it is really willful."

Xue Bai smiled and said, "That's because I have the ability."

"If all officials are against the Spring Seedling Loan, then I'm sure Your Majesty will let Fenghui Bank handle this matter?"

"Yes, in fact, Fenghui Bank has had this business for a long time, but it has not been publicized."

When faced with these things, Yan Zhenqing did not strongly oppose them, but instead listed all the possibilities that he was worried about.

For example, although building seagoing ships for long voyages might harm the interests of merchants and travelers on the Silk Road, few people thought that far. This matter was simply a matter of money. However, the Secretariat did not approve it, and the emperor used his private funds to build it, which was equivalent to saving the national treasury some money.

Chunmiaodai is different, as it affects the interests of too many people.

Therefore, Yan Zhenqing finished speaking and finally said: "Your Majesty's foundation is not stable yet, please think twice before doing these things now."

"I know." Xue Bai said, "This is what I think. How about turning Fenghui Bank into the property of the imperial court?"

Yan Zhenqing was stunned and speechless for a long time.

Why Xue Bai was able to usurp the throne was because of his achievements on the surface, but the most fundamental reason was his strength in secret. He privately made copper coins, ironware, and gunpowder, and used teahouses and restaurants like Fengweilou to gather information. More importantly, Fenghuihang was able to control a large part of the money transactions in various parts of the world.

It is said that Xue Bai's foundation in the court is not stable, which is only superficial. In fact, Xue Bai's most solid foundation is Fenghui Bank. Now he wants to give it up?

This question is difficult to answer, and Yan Zhenqing was also worried that Xue Bai was testing him, so after thinking about it, he asked a question.

"Will Du Erniang agree?"

"If the court could grant her an official position, she would surely agree."

"It is absolutely impossible for a woman to be an official."

Yan Zhenqing shook his head, thinking that Xue Bai was not really sincere in wanting Fenghuihang to be owned by the court.

"Everything depends on human effort." Xue Bai said, "Since Du Jin has managed Fenghui Bank to such a high level, she must have the talent to be an official. At least she is much better than most people in the court who are just sitting there doing nothing."

Gradually, Yan Zhenqing understood what Xue Bai meant.

If Fenghui Bank is nationalized, it is equivalent to the court having a government office that is specifically responsible for flying money and lending, and it will also be involved in the tax calculation of the country. This integration process is also the process of Xue Bai expanding his own power.

In other words, Xue Bai never gave up his political demands. He wanted to build a sea ship but the Secretariat disagreed, so he built it privately. He wanted to inspect the country but officials disagreed, so he started by living in Luoyang. He wanted the court to issue a spring seedling loan, and he also had his own way.

What happened next? Changes in the tax system, the imperial examination system, and even the suppression of aristocratic families.

Yan Zhenqing could feel Xue Bai's ambition, but his worries grew deeper and deeper.

"I'm afraid this is not the time to do this."

"I have been on the throne for three years. Isn't it time yet?" Xue Bai said, "I can wait another three years, but will my father-in-law support me by then?"

Yan Zhenqing pondered in silence.

If he were to be honest, he hoped Xue Bai would wait twenty, thirty, or even longer years before making any changes.

By then, few people in the world and officials in the court would remember the secret history between the Tianbao period and the early Zhengxing period, and the Li Tang Dynasty would be stable. Even a new emperor named Li Zuo would ascend the throne, and there would be no more trouble.

Perhaps, he had another consideration in his mind, which was that he did not want Xue Bai to become a powerful emperor. Powerful people are usually prone to doing whatever they want and do not like to be bound.

If Xue Bai makes drastic reforms, it will inevitably affect the interests of the aristocratic families. For example, the Spring Seed Loan is aimed at annexing the land. If the reform fails and riots are aroused, the opponents will first attack Xue Bai's weaknesses. As the contradictions intensify, when Xue Bai realizes that Li Qian's identity has become his weakness, he may risk it; and even if the reform succeeds, Xue Bai will become a more powerful emperor.

No matter how you look at it, the risk of subverting the country is greater than its benefits.

But, can it be stopped?

After pondering for a long time, Yan Zhenqing spoke, but changed the subject and said, "Your Majesty has lofty ambitions and needs talented people to assist you. Why don't you invite Li Mi to come out of retirement?"

Since Li Heng's death, Li Mi retired and lived in seclusion.

This is also a person loyal to Li Tang. Yan Zhenqing has been very worried recently, and before coming here, he had thought of asking Li Mi to help him.

Xue Bai said: "I'm afraid I can't convince him anymore."

Yan Zhenqing said: "Perhaps I can give it a try."

"Alright."

Both of them wanted to test the other, but in the end neither of them made it clear.

Finally, when Yan Zhenqing left, Xue Bai walked out of the Xuan Zheng Hall and watched him walk down the stairs step by step. He gradually felt a little reluctant.

When facing Li Longji, Xue Bai said that sooner or later when his achievements were great enough, he could tell the world about his origins. He felt that as long as his country was prosperous and the people lived well, it didn't matter what his last name was. People always cared about their own lives, and who he was was not important to them at all.

Because Xue Bai has always been an ambitious and selfish person. His desire to govern the country with civil and military power and to make life better for the people of the world is not entirely out of public interest, but a sense of achievement from constantly climbing up.

If his achievements could surpass the emperor's surname, he would be so excited that he would tremble.

But recently he often wondered what Yan Zhenqing would do if that day came? Would he die for the Tang Dynasty or be happy for the prosperity of his country?
In other words, for Xue Bai himself, if he really had such an achievement, would it matter whether it was exposed or not?
Will he still care what people in the world think by then?

He realized that he cared more about what Yan Zhenqing thought.

~~
"Mr. Yan!"

"Mr. Yan!"

Just as Yan Zhenqing walked out of the palace gate, he suddenly heard the eunuch calling him from behind.

He turned around and saw a young eunuch running up to him and saying, "Please wait here, Lord Yan. His Majesty will be here soon."

"what for?"

Yan Zhenqing was very puzzled, but he still stopped and waited for a while.

Afterwards, Xue Bai dressed up in casual clothes, walked out of the palace in an ordinary robe, and came to him and said, "How about we go out together again today?"

"Your Majesty, how can you be so absurd?!" Yan Zhenqing said in a low voice, as if he was going to give advice.

"Teacher, do you remember the time when you took me to catch runaways outside the city?" Xue Bai said, "I haven't seen those farmers for a long time."

After hearing this, Yan Zhenqing sighed slightly, nodded, and actually took Xue Bai out of the palace in disguise.

The two of them went straight out of the city from Chunming Gate and walked towards the field, chatting casually as they walked.

"Teacher, do you believe me when I say there is a continent on the other side of the ocean?"

"How can you be sure?"

"I am sure of it." Xue Bai said, "I want to make a promise with the teacher. Is that possible?"

"What is the agreement?"

“If the teacher can trust me and support me with all his strength, I can help the teacher achieve his wish.”

Yan Zhenqing stopped and asked, "Do you know what I wish for?"

When he asked this question, he felt a little uneasy.

Because if this matter was exposed, it would prove that Xue Bai already knew that Guo Suo was arranged by him, proving that he did not deceive Xue Bai in the end.

However, Xue Bai did not answer the question. He picked up a willow branch and recited a poem softly.

"The Tang Dynasty was established, and Heaven has bestowed upon all nations. The ancestors responded to the command, and the four clans followed the order..."

After hearing this, Yan Zhenqing was in a trance for a moment.

He could not determine Xue Bai's views on his life from this poem, but he could determine Xue Bai's views on the Tang Dynasty.

When he heard the following words, "The great-grandson continued his legacy and enjoyed the highest honor from the gods," he felt even more relieved.

As long as things proceed in this direction, it will be the best outcome for him.

(End of this chapter)