Chapter 134 The Princess's Abuse of Power Leads to National Ruin and Misleading the People! ...
On the twelfth day of the first month of the seventh year of Zhenyuan, all ministries and government offices resumed their duties and all departments returned to their posts.
Xie Yuan issued an edict to merge the four offices of the Sifangguan (East, West, South, and North) into one, and to rebuild an old post station at the foot of the imperial city into a new one.
That old post station was originally used by the previous dynasty to receive princes. Although it had been uninhabited for a long time, the blue bricks and gray tiles were still neatly arranged. The Ministry of Works demolished the low walls that separated the courtyard, opened up the four originally separate halls, connected them with a short corridor, and divided them into four departments according to the topics: military and political affairs, personnel administration, taxation, and border policy. A spacious council hall was set up in the center.
In the same year, the imperial examination system was reformed, changing the examination from once every two years to once every three years.
With the imperial decree issued, the long-silent Sifang Pavilion suddenly became lively again.
In just a few days, more than a hundred people have gathered here.
Xie Yuan went incognito to listen to the story.
Xie Wenjun was awakened by the chirping of birds.
After the victory banquet, Xie Yuan sent two brightly colored parrots to the Princess's residence through the Imperial Household Department. They were kept in the outer wing of her bedchamber. While she was dressing, the maidservants bustled back and forth, serving tea and handing her hairpins with utmost attentiveness.
Yuan Rong smiled and said to Xie Wenjun, "Your Highness, this girl said yesterday that she wanted to go to Sifang Pavilion." She was holding a tray with several gold and jade hairpins arranged side by side on it.
Xie Wenjun glanced at it but didn't say anything. Yuanrong understood and gestured for the palace maid to remove the tray. She then turned and took the willow hairpin that Xie Wenjun usually used from deep inside the dressing case and put it in her hair.
She had been racking her brains trying to figure out how to get Jiang Bojin to Xie Yuan without any problems, but the opening of the Sifang Pavilion solved this difficult problem for her.
Seeing that Xie Wenjun didn't respond, Hu Nu snuggled up to his knees and said, "Your Highness, the Sifang Pavilion is quite lively. I heard that all sorts of people come here. Not only are there scholars in plain clothes discussing national policies, but I also heard there are beggars. When the Sifang Pavilion's interpreter saw the beggar swaggering in, he thought he was a reclusive master and hurriedly invited him into the pavilion. But it turned out that the beggar couldn't read a single word and had sneaked into the Sifang Pavilion to steal snacks and tea after picking up a scholar's discarded policy essay. He was beaten out by the Imperial Guards."
Xie Wenjun remained silent, her almond-shaped eyes curving slightly.
The young woman immediately leaned closer to her arm. "Your Highness, I've heard that the Emperor will also visit the Four Directions Pavilion incognito."
Xie Wenjun said, "The selection of advisors for the Four Directions Pavilion requires a preliminary examination of policy essays. Have you prepared yours?"
The swan girl said, "It's nothing more than land and grain taxes, official administration and military strategy, foreign affairs and diplomacy. I've written quite a lot about these things on a regular basis. Just pick one to take with you."
A newly made wooden plaque stands beneath the Sifangguan council hall, painted with the words "Comprehensive Strategies for All". Several burly soldiers are carrying files and moving back and forth, their steps hurried yet orderly.
An apricot-yellow flag bearing the inscription "Open to wise counsel" was hung under the eaves.
The four departments were located in the same courtyard. The council hall was divided into four rows according to the topics of the four departments, with several tables set up in each row. The interpreters of the East, West, South and North departments had been dismissed and replaced by several confidants of Xie Yuan, who had taken their places and sat in the four rows.
Xie Wenjun traveled light and simply, accompanied by Hu Nu, Yuan Rong, and a few personal guards, to the Sifang Pavilion.
After walking around for a while, Hu Nu recognized Gu Xie at a glance.
"Your Highness, it is the teacher."
Gu Xie turned around and saw the swan girl through the crowd. Xie Wenjun, dressed simply and wearing a crane cloak, avoided the crowd and walked towards the council hall in the center of the Sifang Pavilion. There were many sons of officials in the pavilion, but Xie Wenjun's demeanor was truly outstanding. People who met her couldn't help but take a second look.
When Gu Xie saw Xie Wenjun, he waved a folding fan and swaggered over.
The imperial edict stated that within the Four Directions Academy, one should not be concerned with one's background, nor should one bow to officials or kowtow to the emperor; all scholars should speak freely and equally.
It is rare to see a time when the royal family does not have to pay homage.
"Your Highness."
Seeing her looking so unserious, wandering aimlessly with a fan in her hand, Xie Wenjun said, "In the first month of the lunar year, don't you feel cold waving around with a fan in your hand?"
"My daughter is hot; please help to dispel the heat."
The group then headed together to the council hall.
Gu Xie said, “Your Highness, I arrived a little earlier. I have seen the four halls: the East Hall for Taxation, the West Hall for Administration, the South Hall for Military Affairs, and the North Hall for Policy and Diplomacy. The East Hall was the most lively and crowded, while the West Hall had the fewest people.”
It should be said that improving the administration of Dalin is an urgent matter, yet few people are discussing it extensively.
Upon hearing this, Xie Wenjun glanced towards the west hall and indeed saw only a few people coming and going.
With the completion of the new Sifangguan building, more than 60 officials from the original four branch offices were dismissed. These people were not transferred to other departments and were only paid salaries without official titles.
Limit privileges granted by family connections and reduce redundant officials.
Everything unfolded as Xie Wenjun had predicted; opening the Four Directions Hall to recruit capable ministers and devise policies to govern the country was nothing but a charade.
The merger of Sifangguan was both a trial and a beginning.
Xie Wenjun said, "Let's see if there's anyone in this Sifang Pavilion who dares to speak frankly and offer advice that hits the nail on the head for the Emperor."
The council chamber was filled with heated arguments, the debate growing increasingly intense.
A middle-aged man dressed in coarse brown clothes held a map and said urgently, "The repeated defeats in the South are not due to weak soldiers, but to incompetent generals! Hengmiao has been defeated several times in this small Southern Continent, wasting the national treasury. In my humble opinion, this war in the Southern Continent should not have been fought long ago. The court should trade with neighboring countries. The Southern Continent is a wealthy country, and it is wiser to trade with them than to wage war."
As soon as he finished speaking, a scholar carrying a book immediately chimed in, "I also have a theory. The war is intense in both the north and south, and the rebel army in Xiling is rampant. We should follow the ancient method again and have the border people settle down and cultivate land. They can be soldiers in wartime and farmers in peacetime, which will save on food and supplies and strengthen the border defenses!"
...
"You all have said a lot, but none of you have hit the nail on the head."
What insightful opinion does this gentleman have?
The voices in the audience lowered, and everyone turned to look at the person who had spoken.
He looked him up and down.
This man was thin with a narrow, long face. He wore a square headscarf, a long robe, and cloth shoes. The robe was faded from washing, and there was a barely noticeable patch on the blue cloth robe. He was dressed like a schoolteacher.
Seeing that his clothes were old and simple, making him look somewhat shabby, the people in the museum stopped paying attention to what he was saying.
He said, “Nowadays, taxes are too heavy and complicated, causing businesses to go bankrupt and people to flee. It would be better to simplify the tax system and only collect regular taxes.”
The sounds of mockery were pervasive.
"Tax cut? The imperial court needs money to fight wars, and the last thing it can reduce is taxes!"
“It can be reduced. The root cause of the problems in Da Lin today lies neither with the ruler nor with the people.”
"That depends on whom?"
"Princess Jiangning".
While the other three speakers were still passionately reciting their speeches, the council hall fell into an eerie silence as soon as this person spoke.
"The eldest princess abuses her power, bringing disaster to the country and misleading the people!"
The four interpreters all looked at Xie Wenjun, who was standing in the corner.
Hu Nu, Yuan Rong, Rong Jun, and Gu Xie all turned their heads at the same time, their expressions ranging from surprise to restraint, all intently watching the show.
The man continued, “The common people have lost their land and are struggling to feed themselves, while the powerful and wealthy are becoming increasingly extravagant. In the current court, the number of officials in each department is 30% overstaffed, and the number of officials in the various government offices under the Six Ministries is more than double that of the Xuan Yuan era. The officials in each government office are as numerous as carp crossing a river, yet they shirk their responsibilities when it comes to matters. The salaries of the officials in the Guangyong Capital alone consume a quarter of the national treasury’s money and grain. The tax grain that the people save from their teeth is used to feed these parasites of the country, good-for-nothings. The culprit behind all this is Princess Jiangning’s ‘Record of Ten Thousand Officials’.”
"'The merit of following the emperor brings blessings to one's descendants.' If one person follows the emperor and achieves merit, even his chickens and dogs will rise to the heavens, be promoted and granted land. The father's sons and sons' grandsons, and all relatives and collateral branches will receive a share, passing it down from generation to generation. If this continues, how can the court not be in debt? How can the people survive?"
"Without rectifying official corruption, no matter how many talented people are recruited, the court will be powerless to reverse the situation! If Your Majesty is wise, you should abolish the 'Record of Ten Thousand Officials,' eliminate idle officials, establish fixed positions and quotas, promote the capable, and demote the incompetent!"
An uproar erupted in the audience.
The people gathered here, and for a time, governance became the hottest topic in the Sifang Academy.
Xie Yuan sat in the inner room of the council hall, his brows furrowed as he listened to the heated debate. Only when this person's words stirred up a storm did Xie Yuan's expression ease slightly.
The memorials piled high on the Emperor's desk in Chongzheng Hall were filled with phrases like "emergency border situation," "funding shortage," and "overstaffing." Despite the issuance of government orders, various government offices were passing the buck. One memorial alone, concerning the repair of the Zhudong River, listed thirteen government offices requiring joint consultation; getting their seals stamped would take half a month.
But the flood season waits for no one.
Even urgent matters like disaster relief and epidemic control had to be signed by seven or eight officials in the Ministry of Revenue, reviewed by the Vice Minister, examined by the Minister, and finally submitted to the Emperor.
Before the new Sifangguan building was completed, the four branch offices in the east, west, south and north had a newly established "Copying Office" with thirteen people. They did nothing but copy documents once a day, yet each of them received a salary.
There are too many officials, who eat the people's food and drain the court's resources. But if we really start to rectify them, who knows how many entrenched relationships will be involved.
Xie Yuan said, "Officials are as numerous as ants; how can the people bear it?"
Even if it's incredibly difficult, the knife must still be dropped.
He turned his head to the side and said, "Write down this person's name and his policy essay, and bring him to the palace. I want to question him in detail."
Having said that, he prepared to return to the palace.
Yan Feng said, "Your Majesty, I obey your command. The Princess is also at the Sifang Pavilion."
"Whatever she wants."
The man in the council chamber had just finished speaking and let out a breath when he was gently patted on the shoulder. He turned around and saw Gu Xie standing behind him with a complicated expression, but the smile on his lips had a nonchalant, childish feel to it.
The man was surprised for a moment, "Miss, it's you."
"Han Song, how have you been all these years?"
Han Song lowered his head, looking embarrassed, and blushed. "After that case was closed, I spent several years in prison and had no chance to take the imperial examinations. How much better could things have been?"
"Having heard that Sifang Academy is recruiting talented people regardless of their background, I rushed here from Cangnan."
The news of the opening of the Sifang Pavilion had only been out for a few days, and it was still unknown whether it had reached Cangnan, but he rushed over.
Gu Xie asked, "Did Xingqian send you a letter?"
Han Song nodded. "Is everything going well for you, Marquis? I only arrived in Yongdu this morning and haven't had a chance to pay my respects to the Marquis of Xuanping's residence yet."
"Xingqian is doing well." Gu Xie said, "What you just said was very insightful and far superior to the empty words of other wise men."
Han Song said, "What I have said may be known to others. However, firstly, they are afraid of offending the Princess, and secondly, they are wary of the power of the aristocratic families and are afraid of getting burned. So no one dares to speak frankly. But if that's the case, why come to this Sifang Pavilion?"
"Everyone here is pretending to be confused, aren't you afraid of getting burned?"
"Young lady, I am not willing to accept this."
Han Song raised his head, his expression showing a hint of excitement. "I am no ordinary person. I was the second-place scholar in the first class of the Xuan Yuan era, and I am full of strategies for governing the country. I never expected to end up like this. I am not reconciled!"
"Han Song, calm down."
Han Song followed Gu Xie to a corner of the hall, where a woman wearing a crane cloak stood. She wore only light makeup, but her brows exuded a dignified air.
Han Song stopped in his tracks, momentarily forgetting the rule that one did not need to kowtow within the Sifang Pavilion. He cupped his hands to the woman, then turned to look at Gu Xie, "Miss, who is this?"
“Her,” Gu Xie said, “is not a big deal. She’s just the Jiangning Princess you mentioned, the one who brought disaster to the country and misled the people.”
Author's note: Thank you for reading this far!
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