The following day, the Son of Heaven convened the morning court.
Deyang Hall.
Li Jue, Guo Si, and Fan Chou jointly submitted a memorial recommending Zhang Jing of the Taiping Prefecture for the post of Governor of Yan Province, while nominating Minister over the Masses Yang Biao to serve as the imperial envoy.
The assembled officials were instantly stricken with alarm.
Led by Grand Commandant Zhou Zhong, numerous officials stepped forward to voice their opposition.
However, Li Jue and the other two remained unwavering.
Just as the court session seemed on the verge of descending into chaos, Yang Biao stepped forward and declared that he was willing to undertake the mission to Yan Province himself.
After the court session ended, at the Department of the Secretariat.
Within a secluded courtyard, Jia Xu sat across from a middle-aged man in a green robe with a lean, refined face as the two quietly played a game of Go.
“The winds are about to rise over Chang’an once again.”
After placing a stone on the board, Jia Xu spoke in his usual calm voice, betraying not the slightest emotion.
“That doesn’t sound like you.”
The green-robed man, who had been about to make his move, paused slightly before smiling faintly.
“The Jia Wenhe I know wouldn’t say something like that. Could it be because of Cao Mengde?”
“Wenyou, there’s no need to tease me.”
Jia Xu glanced at him and replied indifferently, “Although Cao Mengde possesses some ability, he is hardly enough to stir my emotions.”
The man in green was Li Ru, courtesy name Wenyou.
He had once been one of Dong Zhuo’s principal strategists.
During Dong Zhuo’s domination of the Imperial Court, many of the latter’s major decisions had been planned by Li Ru.
Even after Dong Zhuo’s death…
Li Jue had personally recommended Li Ru for official appointment.
However, the Son of Heaven firmly refused, and since Li Ru himself had already developed the desire to retire from public life, the matter was ultimately dropped.
“Then what is it?”
Li Ru looked at Jia Xu with curiosity.
He knew this man’s capabilities.
If anything, Jia Xu was even more brilliant than he himself was.
What could possibly move someone like him?
“My elderly mother fell ill several days ago.”
Jia Xu kept his gaze fixed upon the Go board, his expression tranquil.
“I’m afraid she may not survive until next year.”
“I see.”
Realization dawned on Li Ru’s face.
He said nothing further.
Knowing Jia Xu’s character, he understood that the old lady’s remaining days were likely few.
“Chang’an will not descend into chaos just yet.”
Placing another stone, Jia Xu continued, “Even if Cao Mengde were to act, I am still confident that I can stabilize the court until the grain reserves run dry.”
“But as a son, I cannot avoid returning home.”
“When do you intend to leave?”
Li Ru nodded in understanding.
With Jia Xu’s mother nearing the end of her life, and given Jia Xu’s filial nature, he would almost certainly have to return home and observe at least a year of mourning.
“That is difficult to say.”
Jia Xu shook his head before looking at Li Ru.
“That depends on Heaven’s will.”
“What are your own plans, Wenyou?”
“We shall see.”
After pondering for a moment, Li Ru replied, “The court has become what it is today, and heroes have risen throughout the realm. The age of competing warlords has become inevitable.”
“That Zhang Jing first distinguished himself during the Yellow Turban Rebellion. He established the Qihuo Army and founded the Taiping Prefecture.”
“His momentum is formidable indeed.”
“Once you leave Chang’an, Wenhe, I certainly won’t remain here for much longer.”
“Zhang Jing?”
Jia Xu glanced at Li Ru, his brows knitting slightly.
“If the rumors are true, then he is indeed an extraordinary man.”
“The Taiping Prefecture can now legitimately be counted among the realm’s warlords.”
“Whether the rumors are true or not, we’ll know once we see him ourselves.”
Looking at Jia Xu, Li Ru added, “But compared with Zhang Jing, I’m even more interested in that Cheng Yu.”
“One must never underestimate the people of this world.”
Jia Xu sighed softly.
Although he knew relatively little about the Taiping Prefecture, he had certainly heard no shortage of rumors about it.
“I simply wonder how far Zhang Jing can ultimately go.”
A trace of anticipation appeared in Li Ru’s eyes.
“If the Taiping Prefecture succeeds, the great aristocratic clans of the realm will surely be plowed over like fields by an ox-drawn plow.”
“I eagerly await the arrival of that day.”
……..
Early August.
Dongping Kingdom, Yan Province.
Wuyan City.
Inside the main hall of the Taiping Prefecture, Zhang Jing sat in the seat of honor while his civil and military officials occupied the seats on either side.
“My lord.”
Cheng Yu rose and bowed respectfully.
“According to my calculations, the grain tax collected over the past month amounts to a total of 7.86 million shi.”
“It is estimated that in the coming days, another over five million shi of grain will be delivered into the granaries.”
As Cheng Yu finished speaking the faces of every civil and military official lit up with joy.
They all understood that this grain was the very foundation of the Taiping Prefecture.
The more grain they possessed the larger an army they could sustain and the better they could protect the territories under their rule.
“How much grain is currently recorded in the government granaries?”
Zhang Jing nodded slightly.
He had already calculated these figures countless times in his own mind.
“My lord.”
Cheng Yu respectfully replied, “After deducting the grain already distributed to various regions, the official granary inventory now stands at 9.7 million shi.”
“Last month alone, the army, the workshops, the Ministry of Works, and the various other departments consumed a combined total of 480,000 shi of grain.”
Ever since the beginning of the seventh month the Taiping Prefecture had tripled every soldier’s grain ration.
In other words, each man now received six jin of grain per day—roughly equivalent to three jin (about 1.5 kilograms) in modern measurements.
That amounted to one and a half jin per meal.
Once cooked, each serving yielded about two jin of food.
Such a ration was enough to satisfy the vast majority of the troops.
The Taiping Prefecture maintained an army of nearly two hundred thousand soldiers.
Supplying them required 300,000 shi of grain every month.
In addition, the warhorses and packhorses consumed another 100,000 shi or so.
The grain needed by the artisans in the workshops and the laborers of the Ministry of Works also had to be supplied from the government granaries.
“Why is there so much more than expected?”
Zhang Jing was slightly taken aback, a trace of surprise flashing across his face.
“My lord, this is thanks to the Taiping Merchant Guild.”
Cheng Yu respectfully explained, “This year has been a bountiful harvest. The Taiping Prefecture assessed taxes based on a yield of two shi of grain per mu, and because you exempted many commoners from paying taxes, those whose households had surplus grain brought it to the Merchant Guild in exchange for goods and money.”
“I see.”
Zhang Jing nodded in understanding.
He had indeed exempted many people from taxation—those who had reclaimed new farmland, the families of soldiers who had fallen in battle, disabled veterans, and others.
Under normal circumstances during the spring planting season, the Taiping Prefecture had provided the people with 5.2 million shi of seed grain.
After the autumn harvest, they should have collected more than fifteen million shi of grain in return.
Yet according to Cheng Yu’s report the total came to only just under thirteen million shi.
The missing two million shi represented the portion that had been exempted from taxation.
“My lord.”
Xun You rose and cupped his hands in salute.
“I believe that now that the Taiping Prefecture’s trade network has begun to show results, it is time to lift the restrictions at the passes, reopen the four commanderies, and resume the exchange of goods with the outside world.”
Ever since Zhang Jing had founded the Qihuo Army and later established the Taiping Prefecture, the four northeastern commanderies of Yan Province had existed in a state of near total isolation.
Their only substantial dealings with the outside world had been the grain trade overseen by Cheng Yu.
In Xun You’s opinion, such a situation was unhealthy.
Upon hearing his proposal, everyone turned their gaze toward the seat of honor.
Guo Jia and the others knew that only their lord could make such a decision.
Opening trade routes and fully reopening the four commanderies were two entirely different matters.
None of them dared voice their support lightly.
“Zhongde.”
After weighing the advantages and disadvantages, Zhang Jing turned to Cheng Yu.
“Gongda’s proposal is not without merit. What do you think?”
“My lord.”
After a moment’s consideration, Cheng Yu replied, “I believe the benefits outweigh the risks.”
“The Taiping Prefecture has already weathered its most difficult days. Even if we reopen the city gates and mountain passes, no one would dare act rashly against us.”
Zhang Jing nodded slightly.
“In that case, It is approved.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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