Chapter 575 - 327: A First Grade Official!
Chapter 575: Chapter 327: A First Grade Official!
It was to be expected that Liu Hong would be punished.
Xiao Jinghong was not surprised by this outcome. What surprised her was that the Holy Emperor had issued a decree of punishment based solely on a single memorial from her grandfather. It seemed far too direct.
According to the laws of the Imperial Court, convicting a Second-Grade Officer required an investigation by an imperial envoy, a trial by the Nine Ministers, and a final ruling by the Holy Emperor. None of these steps could be skipped. Furthermore, Liu Hong had committed the severe crime of treason and colluding with the enemy. At the very least, they needed to figure out who his accomplices were and whether he had any remaining factions.
Take Zhu Hao, for example. He had illegally sold ironware to Poshisu Country through the Ji State Trading Company. The evidence was clear, and his crimes warranted death, which meant the people of the Ji State Trading Company also had to be arrested and brought to justice. The same logic applied here.
Liu Hong had been in Shu State for many years, and his power was deeply entrenched. Every family and faction he had contacted needed to be investigated to prevent anyone from slipping through the cracks.
As Xiao Jinghong thought about this, the look in her eyes softened slightly.
Liu Hong’s conviction was a good thing for both the Xiao Family and Shu State. As for the members of other Noble Families, without Liu Hong shielding them on the front lines, the Xiao Family’s influence would eventually uproot them one by one. Moreover, with Zhu Hao brought to justice, life would be much easier for the Xiao Family and the Dingyuan Army in the future.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Xuanshuo smiled and said, "From what Eunuch Feng implied, the Holy Emperor flew into a rage during the court assembly the day before yesterday.
"Even Celestial Minister Cui Mao was reprimanded for poor supervision and failing to promptly discover the circumstances of the Foreign Officials.
"He brought up issues like embezzling public funds, collusion between officials and merchants, dereliction of duty, and treason. His words were harsh, leaving the Courtiers on pins and needles."
"And then?" Xiao Jinghong asked.
Seeing her interest, Xiao Xuanshuo lowered his voice and continued, "Using the cases of Liu Hong and Zhu Hao as a pretext, the Holy Emperor seems intent on initiating a series of reforms.
"He plans to tighten the control over Salt Tokens, while also bringing tea and porcelain under state monopoly. Furthermore, he wants to audit agricultural estates..."
Hearing this, the look in Xiao Jinghong’s eyes shifted slightly beneath her partial armor.
The trade of salt and iron was a crucial source of silver coins for the border Commandant’s Office, especially the Salt Tokens. Salt Merchants would hand over grain to the Capital Commandery in exchange for an equivalent amount of Salt Tokens. They would then use the tokens to withdraw salt and sell it in designated areas.
The rules and regulations were strict. Even so, the salt trade was an incredibly profitable business, yielding margins several times higher than grain or medicinal herbs. Naturally, this bred a great deal of corruption.
Even without conducting an investigation, Xiao Jinghong knew that Zhu Hao and his associates extorted no less than a hundred thousand silver coins from the Salt Merchants every year.
If tea and porcelain were added to the monopoly, the national treasury and imperial coffers would indeed see a significant increase in silver, but it would also breed even more corrupt individuals.
And then there was the auditing of agricultural estates...
Across the Great Wei Nine State and Three Prefectures, there were countless Noble Families and Clans. Which family could claim they had never concealed their land holdings?
Even in Tonglin Town, the Xiao Family’s fief, people reclaimed wastelands for farming every year. The total agricultural land had increased by an unknown, massive amount compared to two hundred years ago. If all of this was accurately calculated, the grain tax the Xiao Family would have to pay each year would be no small sum.
Of course, since the Xiao Family was farming within their own fief, having extra land wouldn’t result in punishment. However, the amount of land swallowed up by some Noble Families was simply too egregious. It wasn’t just single households being absorbed; entire villages were being annexed, and such occurrences were all too common.
"I assume there is a lot of opposition?"
"You are absolutely right, Niece Jinghong. As soon as the topic was broached, many ministers immediately jumped out in opposition." Xiao Xuanshuo said with a sneer, "They are terrified that the Holy Emperor will uncover their own family’s hidden estates, threatening their generational inheritance.
"However, the Holy Emperor didn’t fly into a rage over this. Instead, he simply said he would consider it. Those Courtiers had wanted to continue arguing to dissuade him, but they were interrupted by another matter."
At this point, Xiao Xuanshuo’s expression turned serious. "Chen Xuanji has returned."
Hearing the name, Xiao Jinghong paused slightly, searching her memory. "My husband’s father? The current Patriarch of the Chen Family who was sent as an envoy to the Buddha Country?"
Xiao Xuanshuo nodded. "That’s him.
"He returned to the Capital Prefecture right in the middle of the court assembly. The Holy Emperor actually paused the assembly and personally led officials to welcome him. It shows just how deeply he values him.
"But that wasn’t all. After receiving Chen Xuanji, the Holy Emperor brought him straight into the ongoing assembly. After asking a few questions, he immediately issued a decree to reward him."
Xiao Xuanshuo looked at Xiao Jinghong and said in a deep voice, "Chen Xuanji was promoted to the First Grade. He has been appointed as one of the Nine Ministers—the Minister of War."
"Minister of War?"
This time, Xiao Jinghong was truly taken aback.
Before being dispatched to the Western Continent Buddha Country, Chen Xuanji was the Governor of Jiangnan Prefecture. His qualifications and talents were indeed sufficient for a promotion to the Nine Ministers. What surprised her, however, was that he was made the Minister of War—a position that oversaw the promotions of all military officers and the distribution of military armaments throughout the world.
"Then... what about Lord Luo?"
Knowing she was referring to the former Minister of War, Luo Yong, Xiao Xuanshuo shook his head slightly. "He retired and returned to his hometown."
"By the Holy Emperor’s intention?"
"It was likely a mutual decision discussed between him and the Holy Emperor prior to that day, but the announcement was delayed until Chen Xuanji’s return to the Imperial Court."
Xiao Jinghong nodded in understanding. That made sense.
After a moment of thought, she added, "If I recall correctly, Chen Xuandu is currently the Right Minister of the Governor’s Office in the Northern State?"
"Indeed. The Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family is truly illustrious, currently basking in the Holy Emperor’s profound favor."
Xiao Xuanshuo couldn’t help but think of their own family. Compared to the Chen Family, the difference was like night and day.
Chen Xuanji was now one of the Nine Ministers, Chen Xuandu held a Second Grade post managing a state’s administration, and the Chen Family’s eldest son, Chen Yunfan, currently served as the Assistant Governor of the Shu State Governor’s Office...
At this thought, Xiao Xuanshuo’s expression grew a bit solemn. With a hint of hesitation, he said, "Niece Jinghong, there is something I’m not sure if I should say..."
Xiao Jinghong glanced at him. She could roughly guess what he was going to say, so she simply shook her head and replied in an even tone, "Let’s talk about it after we get back."
Seeing her response, Xiao Xuanshuo sighed inwardly and said no more.
The Chen Family was illustrious now, while the Xiao Family was in decline. Even though Chen Yi was currently just a live-in son-in-law of the Xiao Family, there was no guarantee that the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family wouldn’t use some underhanded means to influence the Xiao Family through him.