Chapter 972: Chapter 970: So There Are Weaknesses After All
The Imperial Censors sent to various localities were originally responsible for supervising and suppressing the soldiers dealing with civilian rebellions, preventing them from committing atrocities such as killing innocents for accolades or looting large households amidst chaos.
Yin Xiaocheng was proficient in military management and upheld strict discipline. Although the local garrison was mobilized occasionally, military discipline was well maintained, with no violations of law and order.
The Imperial Censors had little opportunity to showcase their skills in their primary duties, but instead uncovered the reasons behind the civilian rebellions — the taxes in places like Yuanzhou were indeed excessively heavy, extraordinarily so.
The Yuanzhou region was commercially prosperous, with fertile arable land, known as a place of wealth, generating substantial tax revenue. Correspondingly, the officials serving in places like Yuanzhou were relatively well-off.
In other words, the taxes in Yuanzhou and similar places were inherently heavier than elsewhere. However, starting from previous years, the taxes in Yuanzhou and several surrounding prefectures and counties had reached a frightening level.
The reason being: the court required funds to construct transportation tracks.
Thus, the rumors of civilian uprisings instigated by the heavy taxes in Yuanzhou were not baseless; the court indeed implemented exceedingly heavy taxes in places like Yuanzhou.
The evidence and data gathered by the Imperial Censors varied, but one fact was consistent: the taxes in Yuanzhou for two consecutive years far exceeded the amount recorded by the Ministry of Revenue, and were not even found in the private accounts of the Crown Prince’s Mansion and the Ministry of Revenue.
This reckless plundering could genuinely cut off the lifeline of a vast area. In fact, even before the drought occurred, commerce in the Yuanzhou region had already been severely affected. Farmers reliant on the whims of nature were oppressed by the heavy taxes to the brink of survival, barely maintaining a living.
Thus, when natural disasters struck, places like Yuanzhou were utterly powerless to respond.
The reports submitted by the Imperial Censors were drastically different from the accounts presented by Jinrong, and were impossible to conceal. Less than ten Imperial Censors were sent to the disaster area. Yet, with their entourage, it was impossible to prevent the news from leaking out.
Yu Shiqing, the Minister of Revenue, had been anxiously anticipating the arrival of this day since the dispatch of Yin Xiaocheng and the Imperial Censors. And then, this day inevitably came, the proverbial sword hanging over their heads was unavoidably unsheathed.
The reports from the Imperial Censors were placed on the desk, and the Emperor along with the four ministers of the Cabinet remained silent.
Much was left unsaid, or needn’t be articulated.
The Crown Prince’s unparalleled greed in amassing wealth was terrifying; a Crown Prince such as this could truly not be tolerated. If such a Crown Prince were to inherit the throne, there’d be no need for external enemies to invade, the Crown Prince would extinguish his own empire.
It’s lamentable! Individuals like Yu Shiqing and others, knowing fully well the Crown Prince’s disposition, still chose to support him in ascending the throne. Were they aspiring to be ministers of a fallen state?
The Emperor, without making the accounts public, merely investigated the taxation affairs of Yuanzhou, ultimately demoted the Crown Prince to Prince Jing, Yu Shiqing poisoned himself, and various other Ministry of Revenue officials were executed, exiled, or dismissed accordingly in due time.
Conversely, the local officials, except for a few in high power who knew the inside story, the rest were merely following orders.
The Imperial Commissioner investigating local officials, bearing the Ministry of Justice’s confession and the Emperor’s edict, along with the trusted aides dispatched from the palace, proceeded to Yuanzhou to apprehend the officials involved.
The Imperial Court was instantly shaken.
...
These matters had little relevance to the common people, who were even exuberant and praised the court’s impartiality in punishing officials.
Ye Xinyan, despite being of nobility, was unaffected too. Two weeks later, the Qi’s family at the back alley of the Duke’s Mansion was bustling as Qi Younian settled affairs in Yuanzhou and returned to the capital.
Mr. and Mrs. Jiang Yifan, along with the two sons of the Qi family, and Yuan Shang, accompanied by several stewards and esteemed craftsmen from the Construction Industry, ceremoniously welcomed Qi Younian back.
Everyone enjoyed a warm meal, settling the elderly gentleman into an early rest, and agreed to reconvene the next day.
The following day, Jiang Yifan and others promptly arrived, joined by Yuan Shang and others, formally welcoming Qi Younian.
Though Qi Younian had traveled for over ten days, his spirits were good, especially after a night’s rest, with his grandsons and great-nephews by his side, he was cheery, and seemed lively.
People gathered in the parlor, after tea and fruits were served, they engaged in friendly conversations and catching up.
Both sides clearly explained their respective situations, and when Qi Younian narrated the plight of the afflicted in Yuanzhou, everyone sighed with great sympathy.
The Qi family had established seven branches of the Construction Industry around Yuanzhou and neighboring prefectures and counties. They recruited many skilled and unskilled laborers locally, making Qi Younian well-informed about the exploitation suffered by the Yuanzhou residents over the past two years, comparable to what the Imperial Censors discovered.
Although the rumors and the situation disclosed by the court were true, having someone who personally witnessed it recounting brings another level of heaviness, leaving the listeners deeply moved.
Fortunately, Qi Younian’s trip was remarkably successful. When he arrived, Yuanzhou was a place full of starvation and decay, and many skilled craftsmen were idle, willing to work for just sustenance, allowing the selection of skilled artisans.
Furthermore, Grandfather Cheung was sent to oversee operations, and he also brought resources, personnel, and equipment from nearby Qingyuan County, quickly establishing the seven branch bases. Additionally, the temple construction project funded by the court supported the Guangsha Construction branches to firmly establish themselves.
Among those present, except for Yuan Shang and the craftsmen managers, everyone was family, so Ye Xinyan didn’t hold back either, sitting beside Jiang Yifan.
The previous day’s brief meeting left her no time to inquire about the Yuanzhou branches’ situation, but now listening to Qi Younian’s detailed account of the Construction Industry branches operation in Yuanzhou, she couldn’t help but feel ecstatic.
The top construction business she once hoped for wasn’t far away now.
After everyone had finished, she chimed in and asked, "Grandfather, with Grandfather Cheung and Li Jingnian overseeing the branches, you won’t need to go back, right?" She had long looked forward to her grandfather’s return.
Qi Younian laughed, "Indeed, with your Grandfather Cheung overseeing, Li Jingnian and Zhao Qiusheng are our own people too, so I, the old man, won’t be needed for now."
Even though Qi Younian hadn’t been in the capital for long, his granddaughter, grandson, and great-nephew were all in the capital. Hence, the capital was home, the place that made him feel connected and warm.
At this point, Qi Younian was already very satisfied. Initially, he resumed his old trade to earn dowries for his granddaughter and establish a business for his grandson, now his accomplishments had exceeded his expectations beyond measure.
He was content.
Jiang Yifan chuckled by the side, "Grandfather, you wouldn’t know, Ah Yan has been worried these days, always longing for your return to manage the Construction Industry, just look at how happy she is."
Ye Xinyan also laughed, saying, "I truly am unfamiliar with the detailed operations of the Construction Industry, having recruited many craftsmen recently, these days have truly stressed me out."
Previously, Qi Younian, Grandfather Cheung, and Wong Qiao managed the specifics, even after coming to the capital, Zhao Qiusheng, Li Jingnian, Yang Jin assisted, leaving Ye Xinyan feeling she only had to speak, or come up with appearances, concepts, without feeling any shortcoming.
It was when Qi Younian took away most reliable and skilled individuals to build the Yuanzhou branch bases that Ye Xinyan realized she wasn’t really adept at management, suddenly feeling overwhelmed under pressure.
Only then did she feel how comfortable and pleasant it was to be a carefree loafer.