The Fallen Nation System, Turning the Tide - Chapter 81: Reward Silver

Chapter 81: Reward Silver

All along, she had actually been sleeping atop a mountain of gold and silver.

Xu Ying ordered someone to release Madam Zheng from prison and sent two imperial physicians to the Zheng residence to apologize, conveying the message: “We were unaware it was truly Madam Zheng of the Zheng family. We hope you can forgive our offense. Hearing your household has the joyous occasion of twins who have yet to receive formal names, we bestow upon the infant girl the name ‘Disease Exorciser,’ praying it protects her from illness and disaster, allowing her to grow up safe and sound.”

Madam Zheng, covered in wounds, was carried back to the residence, startling the Zheng family members. When they heard Xu Ying had inexplicably bestowed the name “Disease Exorciser” upon a young lady, chills ran down their spines.

“What has Xu Ying discovered?” Zheng Song wondered in alarm.

The offspring of the late Crown Prince often died young. By deliberately giving such a name, was Xu Ying warning them that she already knew about Consort Lin’s affair?

The Zheng family fell into panic. Madam Zheng lay face down on the bed, moaning and pounding the mattress fiercely. After several sharp, piercing cries of pain, she exclaimed: “It must be Xu Zhen who noticed something and told Xu Ying! That wretched girlnot only is her womb useless, but after ruining my son, she now seeks to destroy our Zheng family! We never should have chosen her. If Xu Lang had married my son instead, we’d probably have grandsons running all over the place by now. Xu Zhen is nothing but a calamity, a home-wrecker…”

Zheng Song felt a headache coming on hearing Zheng Wangshi’s complaints. Rubbing his temples, he solemnly stated: “Enough. What’s done is done. Regret is useless now that Xu Ying knows the imperial grandson is being raised in our household. She likely won’t let this rest easily. We must contact Wei Qiandao to act soonerforce Xu Ying to abdicate!”

Madam Zheng’s eyes immediately lit up with delight, casting all thoughts of Xu Zhen and Xu Lang aside. The imperial grandson was young, and their Zheng family was closest to him, qualifying them to govern on his behalf. When that time came, why would they need to endure the Xu family’s arrogance?

With just a slight hint from Xu Ying, the Zheng family suspiciously spread news that the imperial grandson still lived, attracting former loyalists and connecting with families opposed to the brothel ban. Suddenly, storm clouds gathered on the horizon.

Xu Lang and Zhang Yu hurried to Azure Wave Study to deliver the bad news to Xu Ying: “Your Majesty, this is terrible! An imperial concubine from the Crown Prince’s palace secretly gave birth to an imperial grandson, and the Zheng family plans to use him to force Your Majesty to abdicate and return power.”

“Excellent!”

Xu Ying jumped for joy. The Zheng family had lived up to her expectationstheir efficiency was remarkable.

Xu Lang and Zhang Yu knitted their brows in confusion, particularly Xu Lang, who deeply worried about Xu Ying’s situation. He suggested: “Your Majesty, should we mobilize troops? Sun Zhuo is still in prisonlet him secretly eliminate the imperial grandson!”

Unhurried, Xu Ying raised her arm. “No, killing the imperial grandson would only give people grounds for criticism. We need do nothing. Don’t worrythey can’t stir up any real storm.”

“How much remains in the national treasury now?” Xu Ying felt she could see the dawn of victory; the banner leading her home was waving toward her. She needed to complete one final task before peacefully passing away.

Zhang Yu didn’t understand why Xu Ying suddenly asked about the treasury but replied: “Reporting to Your Majesty, the confiscated wealth from the closed brothels has made the national treasury more abundant than ever before.”

Precisely because of this, many below had already defected to the Zheng family. Supporting the imperial grandson was both legitimate and allowed them to reclaim lost intereststhus, they largely no longer pledged allegiance to Xu Ying.

Xu Ying, with her immense wealth and bold demeanor, waved her hand grandly. “Reward all those involved in sealing the brothels. Since I took the throne, those who work for the people’s benefit shall be generously rewarded. Isn’t there a major bandit suppression campaign in the southwest? Regardless of rank, everyone who participates will receive their share. And for families who contribute soldiers to service, we must not betray their supportsubsidies should also be distributed. All confiscated assets, along with the funds from my private treasury, are to be bestowed as rewards. Huaiyang, you go and tally and verify the contributions, distributing rewards accordingly.”

Even if she were no longer emperor, she intended to distribute the wealth before bankruptcy, pouring the state treasury’s money back into the people. If the Zheng family truly succeeded and imposed harsh policies, this would sustain the populace for a while and provide initial capital to overthrow the Great Jin.

Xu Lang and Zhang Yu were both stunned, as if dreaming, seeing in Xu Ying the shadow of a wasteful and decadent ruler.

Could a mere Zheng family provoke such a reaction?

Impossiblethis must be a minor link in their intricately connected strategy.

Zhang Yu shook his head, pushed his dropped jaw back into place, and calmly accepted it.

Xu Lang stepped forward and sniffed around Xu Ying, detecting no scent of alcohol. Why was she speaking such drunken nonsense?

“Your Majesty, such a vast sum of moneyeven divided among everyone, each person could receive as much as ten taels of silver, with possibly some left over. Are you truly going to bestow it all?”

Xu Ying nodded and declared without hesitation, “Yes, do you remember what I said? The people are noble, the ruler is light. No one can defeat someone supported by the masses!”

“The money from sealing the brothels was always meant to be used for the people. Lavish rewards serve as both motivation and widespread publicity, teaching officials to advocate for the people and letting the populace know the court values them. With both forces united, officials and people as one, the Great Jin will advance steadily and improve. So, the money bestowed is of great value.”

Xu Lang stood dumbfounded, and after a long pause, she bowed with shame. “Your Majesty’s foresight is profound; Huaiyang was narrow-minded.”

Zhang Yu listened, his heart surging with emotion. Before entering officialdom, who didn’t have lofty ambitions to benefit the people? Unfortunately, reality taught him that was naive and irrational. Dragged into the bureaucratic world, he gradually lost himself, obsessed only with titles, high positions, and wealth.

Until he met Xu Ying. She wasn’t using “the people are noble, the ruler is light” to win heartsshe genuinely practiced it. Knowing full well she would offend all the powerful, she resolutely implemented her policies.

Zhang Yu had a premonition that following Xu Ying was the most correct decision he had ever made. He had arrived at the right time.

Similarly, Liu Xu received the news and was asked if he would support the Young Imperial Grandson. Liu Xu firmly refused.

Chief Minister Lu Jian was greatly puzzled. “Sir, the Young Imperial Grandson is the legitimate heir of the Xu line. Why do you not support his ascension?”

Liu Xu remained silent for a moment before speaking calmly. “It’s uncertain whether the Young Imperial Grandson will even live past three years. Moreover, the Zheng family has the heart of a tiger and wolf. By the time the Young Imperial Grandson comes of age to rule, the Zheng clan will likely not relinquish power easily.”

The dominance of maternal relatives is a hidden danger. When Empress Zheng was alive, the late emperor worked hard to transfer the Zheng family away from positions of real power, using Princess Anyang to appease them and forbidding the crown prince from getting close to the Zheng family to prevent him from favoring them upon succession.

Fortunately, the crown prince lacked virtue and wasn’t very bright. The Zheng family repeatedly tried to curry favor, but the crown prince didn’t understand their intentions. At the slightest displeasure, he would whip the Zheng family members who came to flatter him as an outlet for his anger.

There was another layer to this matter. Liu Xu remarked, “All the princes’ sons are in Youzhou. They fear that Her Majesty might use the children as leverage, yet they also understand that the crown prince is highly likely to be chosen from among these princes and imperial grandsons. Whether to support the Young Imperial Grandson or Her Majesty is self-evident.”

Supporting Xu Ying still offered potential benefits, whereas backing the Young Imperial Grandson would require confronting both the former crown prince’s faction and the Zheng family. Assuming regency would mean contending with other noblesexhausting efforts only to invite trouble. It would be far better to wait for one’s own son to be legitimately appointed as crown prince.

Lu Jian sighed and said, “Your Excellency is right. With the Winter Examination approaching, many scholars are counting on this exam to rapidly advance their careers. Most are unlikely to support the Young Imperial Grandson.”

In just one year, Xu Ying had already gained so many supporters.

The northern expedition and relocation of the capital to Youzhou had uprooted the power base of Chang’an’s nobility. Had they been given a few more years to establish themselves in Youzhou, things might have been different. But now, hastily supporting the Young Imperial Grandson would likely prove difficult to accomplish.

Moreover, in defending against the Western Rong, talents emerged in abundance from the Hall of Gathered Talents. Western regions submitted, local governance was purified, and many were duly honored for their merits. A change of emperor might strip these rewards awaythose who had genuinely received accolades were Xu Ying’s staunch supporters.

Most importantly, Xu Ying had the people’s hearts. Starting from the prayer for rain during the sacrificial ceremony, her decisive return to the capital during the epidemic in Chang’an, pacifying the Northern Barbarians and Western Rong, cracking down on corruption, advocating frugality among the wealthy, and rectifying local governance… In every instance, Xu Ying refused palanquins, declined imperial lodgings, governed diligently, and loved her people. Such practices spread from top to bottom, becoming common custom. The common people were the first to feel these changes.

The Zheng family’s schemes were likely to fail. Furthermore, Xu Ying’s willingness to expose the Young Imperial Grandson’s identity indicated she had long prepared countermeasures.

Based on Liu Xu’s repeated defeats, he concluded they were destined to lose this time.

However, since that group had pushed his nephew Yu Weiwen forward as a diversion, why should he exert himself thanklessly to help them out of their predicament?

Liu Xu now understood: rather than chasing so-called legitimacy, it was better to support the most suitable candidate for emperor. Though reluctant to admit it, someone like Xu Ying was idealstrategic, decisive in critical moments, appointing the capable, yet possessing a benevolent heart.

Liu Xu glanced at the detailed register submitted by the Imperial Academy and circled a few names.

Just then, the edict drafted by Grand Secretariat Sun Wanyun arrived. Liu Xu unrolled it and read:

Reward the team investigating brothels with five hundred taels of silver. Households contributing labor to resist the Western Rong shall receive ten taels each (separate from military merits; further rewards will follow the army’s triumphant return). Households supporting corvée labor for palace construction in Youzhou shall receive ten taels each. Those who donated to fortification projects shall receive a five percent refund. Households practicing frugality by reducing servants shall receive one hundred taels each. Verified reports from inspections shall be rewarded one tael per case. Officials serving in the Hall of Gathered Talents shall receive rewards starting from ten taels based on merit. Local officials suppressing banditry shall receive ten taels each, with exceptional performers granted one hundred taels. Casualties shall receive additional compensation.

The Ministry of Revenue shall dispatch specialists, accompanied by the Surveillance Agency and military, to transport the rewards. Inspectors and officials may supervise. Those embezzling rewards shall face execution of three generations of their family.

Liu Xu shot to his feet, clutching the edict tightly, and exclaimed in shock, “Xu Ying has gone mad!”

Lu Jian was baffled and craned his neck to take a look. His feet instantly slipped, and he fell solidly to the ground, gasping incessantly. He had never seen so much reward silver in an imperial edict before. The national treasury had just been replenished, and with these rewards, it would be emptied immediately!

The Ministry of Revenue had already begun working overtime to verify the list and calculate the reward silver. Xu Ying converted all the animosity into silver coins, instructing the system to place them beneath her residence, and ordered people to come and dig.

Box after box of glittering gold and silvery white treasures emerged. Xu Lang stood dumbfounded; all this time, she had actually been sleeping on a mountain of gold and silver.

Xu Ying also pretended to be astonished as if she hadn’t expected it: “In my dream, an old man gifted me gold and silver, telling me that this wealth could only be used to improve people’s livelihoods and enhance welfare. Anyone who used it for personal pleasure would meet a sudden death. When I woke up, I wanted to test it to verify the dream’s authenticity, but I never expected there really was gold and silver!”

As a box of silver passed by, Xu Lang casually picked up an ingot and saw the inscription on itit was minted during the Pingkang era and was old silver.

Xu Lang chided, “Indeed, even an immortal cannot turn stone into gold; one must accumulate old silver.”