The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 080 The Extravagant And Wasteful Wang Clan Of Langya!

In the thirtieth year of the Kaiping era, on the eleventh day of February, Emperor Zhao Fu of the Great Song Dynasty flew into a rage in the imperial court and directly dismissed Qin Si, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and Zhao Jing, the Consultant in Policy Affairs of the Department of State Affairs. These two were officials in charge of the Revenue And Expenditure Department. With both of them dismissed and awaiting further punishment at home, the Revenue And Expenditure Department was left without a leader.

In court, Zhao Fu harshly reprimand both Left Prime Minister Ji Wengji and Right Prime Minister Wang Quan. The two dismissed officials belonged to different factions—one to the Wang faction, the other to the Ji faction—severely weakening the morale of both groups.

The next day, Zhao Fu summoned a few of his trusted officials to Chuigong Hall.

Seven to eight prominent officials stood in the hall, waiting for Zhao Fu to speak.

Zhao Fu said, "I originally thought that reopening the Revenue And Expenditure Department was a good and convenient thing. But now, I’m being told that my Revenue And Expenditure Department is rotten to the core. A court official died an unjust death, his body left exposed in the wild, with no one speaking for him, and his corpse even being devoured by wolves! He was once a county magistrate and later became an official in the Revenue And Expenditure Department. He died because of this department. Who will tell me how he died?"

The hall fell into a dead silence.

This incident took place in Jiangnan’s Guangling Prefecture, which in later times would be known as Yangzhou. The death of a mere county magistrate, a seventh-ranked minor official, would not normally cause such a stir. But he wasn’t just any small official; he was a court official closely linked to the controversial Revenue And Expenditure Department.

Zhao Fu’s anger was justified. He wanted to be a sage ruler—how could he tolerate such things happening under his nose?

Minister of Justice Geng Shaoyun said, "We should send someone to Jiangnan to investigate and ease Your Majesty's concerns by uncovering the truth and clearing the name of the deceased."

Zhao Fu asked, "Who should be sent?"

Geng Shaoyun thought for a moment and suggested a few names. He proposed sending the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, along with several officials from the Court of Judicial Review. It was a reasonable suggestion; typically, when such incidents occurred, both the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review would jointly oversee the investigation, allowing for mutual supervision.

Left Prime Minister Ji Wengji stepped forward and said, "Since this matter concerns the Revenue And Expenditure Department, we should also send an official from the Ministry of Revenue."

Wang Quan glanced at Ji Wengji but remained silent.

At this moment, Minister of Revenue Wang Zhen stepped forward and said, "Liu Sixi, assistant director in the Department of Gold within the Ministry of Revenue, would be a suitable candidate."

Thus, the decision was made to send a delegation to Jiangnan.

A few days later, when these officials received their orders and began preparing for the journey, Zhao Fu stood atop the Immortal Ascension Tower, gazing out over the city of Shengjing. Night had fallen, and the wind was strong. Chief eunuch Ji Fu carefully draped a sable cloak over Zhao Fu's shoulders.

"Your Majesty, you mustn’t catch a chill."

Zhao Fu stared at the darkened imperial city, furrowing his brow. "Does it seem to you that something is missing?"

Ji Fu, looking at the moonlit city, hesitated before asking, "What does Your Majesty feel is missing?"

"They’re going to Guangling Prefecture, with Liu Sixi in tow, but I think one more person should go to ensure everything is in order." Zhao Fu pondered for a moment before realizing, "Where’s Tang Jingze?"

Ji Fu cursed inwardly, thinking that Zhao Fu was too much. Here he was, looking at the darkened city of Shengjing, yet his mind was focused on something that was thousands of miles off the mark! He had no idea Zhao Fu was talking about the officials being sent to Jiangnan and mistakenly thought he was referring to something missing in Shengjing itself. People say serving the emperor is like serving a tiger, but for Ji Fu, it was more like serving a king of hell!

Ji Fu forced a smile. "If Your Majesty misses Tang daren, why not summon him to the Chuigong Hall tomorrow?"

Zhao Fu nodded.

The next day, Zhao Fu indeed sent someone to Qinzheng Hall to find Tang Shen, but the eunuch who returned reported, "Your Majesty, Tang daren is currently serving as the deputy examiner for the huishi at the Shengjing Examination Hall."

Zhao Fu paused.

After a moment, he turned to Ji Fu and asked, "Didn’t Tang Jingze just pass the imperial examination as the tanhua three years ago? How is he already a deputy examiner?"

Zhao Fu sent people to investigate and found out that Xu Bi had assigned Tang Shen to the examination hall. But how could anything be kept from the emperor? After further inquiries, Zhao Fu learned that it was actually Grand Secretary Zhou Jin of the Hanlin Academy who had transferred Tang Shen.

"That old Zhou Jin isn’t one to handle such trivial matters. This must be Fu Xiru’s doing. Ah, Fu Xiru, your student has only been an official for three years, and you’re already in such a hurry to promote him?" Despite his words, Zhao Fu smiled.

Fu Wei spent his days at home tending to flowers and birds, acting as if he had no interest in worldly affairs. Now, suddenly pulling strings for his student, pushing Tang Shen into the imperial examination hall for a bit of "gold plating," actually made Zhao Fu feel more at ease.

"So Fu Wei isn’t entirely without personal ambitions!"

Since Tang Shen was busy at the examination hall, Zhao Fu gave up the idea of sending him to Jiangnan.

Standing in the Mingyuan Tower, Tang Shen was unaware that he had narrowly escaped being sent into a dangerous situation by the emperor.

By February 19th, the three sessions of the huishi were complete.

The juren candidates left the examination hall, but the examiners had not yet begun grading the papers. For the next three days, thousands of xiucai made copies of the exam papers, sealed the names, and sent them to the grading room. Tang Shen and the others then began reviewing the papers. By the end of February, more than ten thousand exam papers had been graded.

Minister of Personnel Shen Yun then selected the top three candidates, and the examiners were finally relieved of their duties.

It was at this moment that a political storm, which had been brewing in Shengjing, came into full view for these examiners.

The imperial investigators dispatched to Jiangnan had already left, and several officials from the Revenue And Expenditure Department had been dismissed from their posts and placed under house arrest, awaiting further punishment. Tang Shen heard these rumors and went to the Minister of Revenue’s residence to visit Wang Zhen.

When Tang Shen arrived, Wang Zhen was having dinner.

Upon seeing him, Wang Zhen said, "Set another place for dinner."

The steward replied, "Yes."

Tang Shen sat down.

He hadn’t eaten yet, but his mind was preoccupied with questions, so he didn’t touch the food. He stared at the table full of dishes, not picking up his chopsticks.

Wang Zhen glanced at him, chuckled softly, and in a warm tone said, "Since you’re not eating, there must be nothing here that suits your taste. Someone, have the kitchen prepare crab roe meatballs, chicken broth with shredded mushrooms, and Wensi tofu soup." He looked at Tang Shen. "Do you like those dishes, little Junior Brother?"

Tang Shen was speechless.

Crab roe meatballs, chicken broth with shredded mushrooms, and Wensi tofu soup—three famous dishes from Guangling!

Well, Wang Zifeng already knew why he had come.

Tang Shen gloomily picked up his chopsticks and quickly finished his meal. After dinner, they washed their hands with warm water and went to the study.

Wang Zhen brewed tea with a wave of his sleeve and said, "Little Junior Brother, if you have something to say, just say it directly."

Tang Shen steadied himself and asked, "Did Senior Brother already know about the Guangling incident?"

His first question made Wang Zifeng laugh. Looking into Tang Shen’s eyes, Wang Zifeng seemed slightly hurt. "Do you think I’m the kind of person who would stop at nothing to achieve my goals?"

Tang Shen was stunned for a moment and immediately explained, "Senior Brother, you've misunderstood. I wasn’t saying that the death of the county magistrate of Jiangdu has anything to do with you. I just wanted to ask, when did you find out about this?"

Wang Zhen naturally knew that Tang Shen wasn’t suspicious of him, but seeing the anxious and concerned look on Tang Shen’s face, he couldn’t help but curl the corner of his lips in a smile and gave an answer, "On the twenty-ninth of last month."

The twenty-ninth of the first month!

This means that the county magistrate of Jiangdu died in the early part of the first month, and Wang Zhen knew about it half a month later. But it took the emperor more than a full month to receive the news.

As expected, all of this was within the Wang faction's plan!

With this answer, many of Tang Shen’s previous suspicions were confirmed. He said, "I had already guessed that when Wang xianggong proposed the twenty-three tax reforms, it seemed on the surface to be for reforming the tax system, but in reality, it was to provide a cover for 'paper currency' and secretly implement it. However, the Left Prime Minister would never allow it to develop unchecked, so he reopened the Revenue And Expenditure Department to get involved."

Wang Zhen poured a cup of tea, leisurely took a sip, and quietly looked at Tang Shen, "Continue."

"The Left Prime Minister wanted a share of the benefits, but Wang xianggong naturally wouldn’t agree. However, since the Left Prime Minister controls the court, it’s not easy to bypass him in such matters. So last year, Senior Brother publicly agreed to the Left Prime Minister's suggestion to reopen the Revenue And Expenditure Department, dividing the powers of the Ministry of Revenue. If they acted cautiously, it would be hard to catch them; but if they moved too hastily, they might expose a weakness. Reopening the Revenue And Expenditure Department did indeed divide the Ministry of Revenue’s power, but this move has made his ambition apparent, presenting an ample opportunity to seize on any misstep."

Wang Zhen gazed at Tang Shen with a long, penetrating look, making Tang Shen feel uneasy.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Senior Brother?"

Wang Zhen: "The Revenue And Expenditure Department has been reopened for half a year now. Have you been following it closely, little Junior Brother?"

Tang Shen: "Yes."

"Why the interest?"

Tang Shen thought for a moment, "I am after all part of the Wang faction and stand with you, Senior Brother. How could I not care about something so important? Besides, I’ve always trusted you. Last summer, when I told you about the paper currency in Shu, I knew you wouldn’t just ignore it. You must have thought of something and acted on it."

Every word was full of trust, with a hint of admiration and respect that even Tang Shen himself hadn’t noticed.

He was genuinely praising Wang Zhen.

It wasn’t flattery or sycophancy, but in his heart, he truly believed that Wang Zhen was capable of such things.

These words hit home for Wang Zifeng, making his smile even brighter.

Tang Shen shared his speculations over the past few months, and Wang Zhen subtly confirmed some of them. Though he didn’t fully reveal the Wang faction's plans, Tang Shen felt as if he was on the verge of uncovering the truth hidden behind the fog.

However, despite all the revelations so far, the most crucial point was still unspoken.

Tang Shen asked, "Who exactly killed the county magistrate?"

Wang Zhen opened a tea box and pinched out some tea leaves with his fingers. He divided them into three piles. The first pile was the largest, spread out flat. The second pile was smaller, but piled much higher than the first. The third pile had the least amount of tea leaves, but they were stacked tightly together, towering in height.

Wang Zhen pointed to the three piles of tea leaves and said, "Consider these tea leaves as people, and their height as their wealth. Does it seem symbolic, little Junior Brother?"

Tang Shen immediately understood Wang Zhen’s meaning and nodded.

"Since the time of the late emperor, the Song Dynasty has always faced a money shortage. There's a lack of bronze, silver, and gold—materials needed to mint currency. The Song Dynasty is vast, rich in resources, and although trade is flourishing, creating a high demand for currency, it shouldn’t be that there are no metals for minting. Yet, there's a shortage. Have you ever wondered why that is, little Junior Brother?"

Tang Shen had no idea.

"Why?"

"Because too much has been hoarded!" Wang Zhen poked at the third pile of tea leaves with his finger, scattering them across the table.

Wang Zhen: "Take the Wang clan of Langya as an example. They're an aristocratic family with a centuries old legacy and great wealth. Over the centuries, they've hoarded vast amounts of currency and refuse to put it into circulation, making money scarce. This is one of the reasons for the currency shortage. According to the laws of the Song Dynasty, a thousand copper coins equal one tael of silver, and ten taels of silver equal one tael of gold. But if you truly wanted to exchange ten thousand copper coins for a tael of gold, you couldn’t! You’d have to add an extra thousand copper coins before someone would agree to the exchange! Gold is the most valuable, followed by silver, and copper is the least. The Wang clan of Langya has had a treasury full of gold for over a hundred years, but only the head of the family knows how much gold is hidden inside!"

Tang Shen suddenly realized the truth.

According to the official exchange rate, a thousand copper coins should equal one tael of silver, but that’s just a rule. If someone doesn’t want to exchange their silver, then you can’t trade for it!

Gold is the most valuable and hardest to devalue; silver is next in line.

These aristocratic families and wealthy clans have hoarded too much wealth, and by not using it, they make currency more and more scarce!

Wang Zhen shifted the conversation, his gaze turning cold as he looked at the scattered third pile of tea leaves on the table, "I don’t know who killed the county magistrate of Jiangdu. But he must have died at the hands of these people. The use of paper currency cuts into their profits. It benefits the Song dynasty but is terribly detrimental to these people."

"So, little Junior Brother, do you now understand why he died?"

Reforms throughout history have always been class struggles.

Tang Shen understood clearly in his heart and sighed deeply, "Now that you’ve explained it, Senior Brother, I understand."

Wang Zhen smiled, "As long as we push for paper currency, these kinds of conflicts will inevitably arise. Since the Left Prime Minister is willing to reopen the Revenue And Expenditure Department and take the lead, let him go ahead. The Left Prime Minister is noble, selfless, and willing to stand against the extravagance and waste of these aristocratic families. Truly admirable! I respect him greatly, though I cannot hope to match him!"

At first, Tang Shen almost laughed at Wang Zifeng’s words, but then he realized—

Wait a minute, you’re the legitimate heir of the Wang clan of Langya, leading the charge against aristocratic families, and you're using your own family as an example... Is this really okay?!

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The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 079 Deputy Examiner Of The Metropolitan Imperial Examination