Chapter 14: Controversy and Surprises Stirred by the New Policy
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“Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty! Long, long live His Majesty! If these three crops truly exist, they are surely an auspicious blessing for our Great Tang!”
Fang Xuanling cupped his hands slightly, and his solemn court robes swayed gently with the motion.
His voice rang out through the quiet court, carrying a trace of anticipation for the future.
The atmosphere in the hall stirred faintly at his words. The surrounding ministers nodded one after another, whispering among themselves until their voices buzzed through the vast palace like the hum of insects.
Li Chengqian sat upright upon the Dragon Throne, his eyes as deep as an abyss, making it impossible for the ministers to discern his thoughts.
He glanced at Fang Xuanling, his gaze calm and dignified.
“Chancellor Fang, where in this world are there any auspicious omens? In the end, everything depends on human effort.”
Li Chengqian’s deep, resonant voice echoed into every corner of the court.
His words left the ministers staring at one another. Many lowered their heads in thought, trying to fathom His Majesty’s intentions.
What did His Majesty mean?
Could it be that he did not attach much importance to auspicious omens?
It seemed that this emperor valued practical matters and disliked empty, ethereal notions.
“Mr. Qi, investigate the coal deposits throughout the empire. Establish mines and recruit commoners to extract the coal. Compensation shall be determined according to local conditions.”
Li Chengqian turned slightly, directing his gaze toward Mr. Qi.
Sensing His Majesty’s eyes upon him, Mr. Qi hurried out of the ranks and bowed slightly.
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
His voice was steady, and his expression solemn.
Fang Xuanling had only just finished praising Li Chengqian when he heard this order. His eyes widened, filled with astonishment.
The coal mines had been sealed during the previous emperor’s reign because they had caused so many disasters. Why did His Majesty now intend to reopen them?
Moreover, he wished to develop them on a large scale. The risks involved were immense. Compared with the previous emperor’s caution, His Majesty’s boldness was difficult to judge as either blessing or calamity.
His brows drew tightly together, deepening the furrows upon his forehead until they resembled ravines, carving his worries plainly into his face.
His brilliant mind seemed to have sunk into a mire, unable to comprehend the purpose behind His Majesty’s actions.
If only Old Du were still here!
Fang Xuanling sighed inwardly.
“Your Majesty! This old minister has a question!”
At last, Fang Xuanling could restrain himself no longer. He stepped forward, his official boots making a faint sound against the polished floor.
His eyes were filled with confusion and concern, fixed intently upon Li Chengqian.
He knew the responsibility he bore as a minister. He could not stand by and watch a decision potentially harmful to the nation be carried out, even if speaking up might offend the emperor.
“Chancellor Fang, speak freely.”
Li Chengqian replied in a gentle tone.
“Your Majesty!”
“Are you aware that burning coal produces poisonous fumes?”
Fang Xuanling slowly raised his head and spoke with a grave expression. His gaze swept across the ministers, and his steady, measured voice carried each word clearly into everyone’s ears.
“Throughout the dynasties, every winter has seen countless commoners lose their lives because they used coal for heating.”
“In our own dynasty alone, during the third and fifth years of the Zhenguan era, Chang’an suffered two major tragedies caused by coal. One claimed eighty-three lives, while the other resulted in the deaths of one hundred and twelve people.”
“At that time, cries of grief filled the city. Every household wore mourning garments and observed funeral rites. The sight was too terrible to bear.”
“The late emperor was heartbroken and therefore issued an order banning coal within Chang’an from that day onward.”
“Yet even so, countless impoverished people, unable to withstand the bitter cold, continued to steal coal for use. Entire families perished as a result, and such tragedies could never be completely prevented.”
“May I ask Your Majesty: if coal mines are to be surveyed throughout the empire, and the people are to be encouraged to mine coal in exchange for wages, will this not consume vast amounts of manpower and resources, only to yield coal? What benefit will this bring to our Great Tang?”
“This old minister truly does not understand. I beg Your Majesty to enlighten me.”
As he spoke, Fang Xuanling shook his head and sighed.
His voice echoed through the court. The ministers sank into contemplation. Some showed expressions of pity, thinking of the people’s suffering and finding it unbearable to add another calamity to their burdens.
Others furrowed their brows tightly, unable to imagine what countermeasure His Majesty had for the poison of coal.
Li Chengqian slowly rose and flicked his sleeve.
He took two steps forward and looked at Fang Xuanling.
“Chancellor Fang, are you suggesting that I am exhausting the people and wasting the nation’s wealth?”
“Since I have issued this order, I naturally possess a means of dealing with the danger.”
“Chancellor Fang, you may set your mind at ease.”
“Would I not know that coal is poisonous?”
“I have already ordered specialists to research a solution. Coal will be made safe for use, allowing it to drive away the cold for the people.”
“What I seek is the long-term prosperity of Great Tang.”
After hearing Li Chengqian’s words, the ministers still harbored doubts, wavering between trust and suspicion.
Fang Xuanling was momentarily stunned. He cupped his hands and said, “This old minister understands.”
Whether Li Chengqian’s words were true or not, the existence of those three crops alone would be enough to secure his name in the annals of history.
But if he did not understand something, he had to ask for clarification. This concerned the livelihood of the people, a matter of the utmost importance. As the chief minister of the court, how could Fang Xuanling handle such affairs in a muddled fashion?
Li Chengqian glanced at him and waved his hand slightly.
“Think nothing of it, Chancellor Fang. I know you are curious, but while I was in Xianyang, many matters of great secrecy were also involved—such as the sweet potatoes, maize, and potatoes. They cannot yet be revealed.”
There seemed to be a deeper meaning in Li Chengqian’s gaze.
Fang Xuanling fell into thought as well.
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Fang Xuanling returned to his place.
“Coincidentally, the next matter is one I need you to arrange, Chancellor Fang.”
Li Chengqian sat down upon the Dragon Throne once more, his gaze settling on Fang Xuanling again, a trace of expectation in his eyes.
“I intend to measure all the land in the empire and register the entire population.”
Li Chengqian’s voice rang through the court once more, like the thunderous strike of a war drum.
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The ministers could not help drawing in a sharp breath. The court once again fell into deathly silence.
Each minister entertained different thoughts.
This would be a monumental undertaking involving the interests of every faction. It was bound to create a great disturbance and would be far more complicated than the matter of the coal mines.
Could the manpower and resources of the imperial government withstand such a large-scale operation?
Compared with the smaller administrative measures implemented before, the difficulty was on an entirely different level.
Fang Xuanling frowned, a trace of worry flashing through his eyes.
He raised his head slightly and looked toward Li Chengqian. His lips moved as though he wished to speak, yet he hesitated.
“Does Your Majesty intend to measure the land throughout the empire and register the entire population, including the land held in the names of the great clans and officials, as well as the tenant farmers they employ?”
Fang Xuanling asked cautiously. His voice was low, yet in the silent court it could be heard clearly.
He knew how sensitive this question was. The moment the interests of the great clans and local officials were involved, it would surely cause an uproar. Compared with minor matters of little consequence, the seriousness of this issue was self-evident.
His gaze swept across the court. He saw many officials grow tense.
The ministers’ hearts rose to their throats as they waited nervously for His Majesty’s answer.
“Of course.”
Li Chengqian’s tone was firm, and his eyes revealed the determination of one who had burned his boats.
He met Fang Xuanling’s gaze directly, without the slightest intention of retreating.
The ministers trembled inwardly. They knew there was no longer any room for compromise. His Majesty had already fallen out completely with the great clans.
“Your Majesty, I fear this will be difficult to carry out. The great clans and local officials possess immense influence and will surely resist the court’s decrees.”
“Even setting aside their outward obedience and covert resistance, the manpower and resources required of the imperial government alone will amount to an astonishing figure.”
Fang Xuanling pleaded earnestly, his eyes filled with concern and the furrows on his forehead deepening.
He took several steps forward and bowed to Li Chengqian.
“Your Majesty intends both to open mines and to measure the land and register the population. I fear the treasury is nowhere near sufficient.”
The ministers nodded one after another, believing Fang Xuanling’s words entirely reasonable.
Wei Zheng stepped forward at this moment as well. His expression was solemn, and his red court robe made his upright, unyielding bearing even more pronounced.
His eyes held both loyalty and blunt integrity as he looked toward Li Chengqian.
His Majesty may possess great ambition, but he must not act recklessly. I must offer my remonstrance!
“Your Majesty, with sweet potatoes, potatoes, and maize at your disposal, even if you sever relations with the great clans, you can proceed gradually.”
“After three to five years, once the national treasury is full, it will not be too late to begin reforms.”
“During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, his eagerness for greatness and glory led him to undertake too many projects at once. As a result, the Sui treasury was emptied, the people suffered unbearably, and the realm eventually descended into chaos.”
“Your Majesty is a sage ruler. You must never repeat Emperor Yang’s mistakes.”
Wei Zheng spoke with heartfelt sincerity.
He hoped Li Chengqian would consider the matter carefully and not bring disaster upon Great Tang through a moment of impulsiveness.
His Majesty had already made up his mind, and these measures were bound to be implemented. Yet the state of the treasury was plain to see, and the Ministry of Revenue would certainly oppose them fiercely.
As a minister, Wei Zheng had a duty to make Li Chengqian understand the advantages and dangers involved.
After all, governing a great nation was like cooking a small fish. Attempting to impose every decree in a single stroke was simply impossible.
The ministers secretly agreed with Wei Zheng. Every word he had spoken seemed reasonable. His Majesty was still too young.
The younger officials, however, had eyes that shone with excitement. They placed complete faith in every decree issued by Li Chengqian.
Xianyang was living proof!
“I know that perfectly well. But when did I ever say that this money would come from the national treasury?”
Li Chengqian countered. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he looked meaningfully at the assembled ministers.
His eyes held confidence and composure, as though everything lay within his control.
The ministers were bewildered, unable to guess what medicine His Majesty had hidden in his gourd.
“If Your Majesty is not taking the money from the national treasury, then where will it come from?”
Fang Xuanling asked in confusion. He truly could not understand Li Chengqian’s meaning, and his eyes were filled with bewilderment.
He had served at court for many years and had never heard of any other source of funding capable of supporting such a vast undertaking.
He frowned and glanced at the other ministers, hoping to find an answer in their faces, only to see the same confusion reflected there.
The young men, however, all wore expressions of confidence.
The older ministers speculated among themselves. Could His Majesty possess some secret source of wealth?
“The money will naturally come from my private treasury,” Li Chengqian said calmly.
“My personal coffers are overflowing with wealth, more than enough to support these measures.”
“I will not touch the funds in the national treasury, so as not to disrupt the normal operation of the state.”
“Chang’an will henceforth serve as a trial region like Xianyang. After court, any ministers who wish to learn the relevant regulations may consult Grand Tutor Qi.”
The ministers were deeply shocked. They had never imagined that His Majesty would be willing to use his own private treasury—and that his private treasury might actually be wealthier than the national treasury.
Where had he obtained so much money?
Could Xianyang truly possess such vast riches?
At this point, Li Chengqian glanced at Mr. Qi. The man seemed delighted by the title of Grand Tutor Qi, his face glowing with joy and the corners of his mouth nearly reaching his ears.
He knew that this was a sign of His Majesty’s trust. He would certainly fulfill his mission without disgracing that confidence. Unlike the others, Mr. Qi knew the whole truth.
He straightened his back and bowed slightly to Li Chengqian.
“Let me reveal one matter in advance. In the future, the salaries of Chang’an officials will no longer include official stipend fields. All such fields will be surrendered to the national treasury and converted into imperial estates.”
The moment Li Chengqian’s words left his mouth, the court erupted as though a bomb had gone off.
The older ministers began whispering among themselves, their noisy discussion resembling the din of a marketplace.
The younger officials, however, remained completely unmoved. These policies had already been implemented in Xianyang.
Some officials’ faces became extremely grim.
These stipend fields had been granted by the court. They had never embezzled anything, and half of their household income came from these lands. How could the fields simply be taken away?
How would they support their families afterward?
Others were utterly astonished, as though they could not believe what they had heard.
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His Majesty was preparing to make sweeping changes. Who knew what would follow? This was entirely different from the minor adjustments of the past.
Some whispered among themselves, speculating about His Majesty’s purpose.
Could His Majesty have a better arrangement in mind?
The atmosphere in the court instantly grew tense and chaotic. The ministers’ emotions surged and ebbed in wave after wave.
Most of the officials’ faces turned livid. Never had they imagined that His Majesty would make such a decision.
Their family lands were the foundation of their households. To surrender them to the national treasury caused a pain in their hearts like that of a knife cutting into flesh.
Compared with the great clans, they relied even more heavily upon their land.
Even the usually composed Fang Xuanling looked somewhat unnatural.
A complicated expression flashed through his eyes. He was reluctant to part with his family’s fields, yet helpless before His Majesty’s decision.
He did not know why His Majesty had taken this step, but it seemed inevitable. He only hoped it would not cause too great a disturbance. This conflicted with the stable development he had originally hoped for.
Li Chengqian quickly changed course. He raised a hand, signaling the ministers to be silent.
The clamorous voices in the court gradually faded, and the ministers’ gazes once again focused upon him.
“I know that all of you are pillars of Great Tang and upright officials who conduct yourselves with integrity. Naturally, I will not treat you unfairly.”
“I will never make you surrender your family lands for nothing,” Li Chengqian declared loudly.
“After the fields are surrendered, Chang’an officials will receive compensation one rank higher than that granted to officials in Xianyang. For every acre of land, you will receive ten bushels of grain.”
“From this day forward, each acre will receive an annual compensation of one bushel of grain. In addition, no member of the imperial clan or official residing in Chang’an may own private farmland. The annual salary of every such person will be doubled.”
The ministers were stunned at first. Then expressions of delighted surprise spread across their faces.
Ten bushels of grain for every acre, followed by an additional bushel each year from then on—
That meant the court was compensating them with an entire decade’s worth of grain in a single payment!
And their annual salaries would be doubled as well. Such an extraordinary benefit was beyond anything they could have dreamed of.
Excitement sparkled in the ministers’ eyes. Their anger and dissatisfaction vanished in an instant, like clouds dispersed by sunlight.
They began calculating how much they stood to gain.
With this arrangement, my family’s income will not decrease. It will actually increase! His Majesty is truly wise!
Others secretly rejoiced.
Fortunately, His Majesty had provided such compensation. Otherwise, this would have been a tremendous loss.
The ministers began discussing the matter once more, but this time their voices were filled with excitement and anticipation.
In the past, the official fields belonging to their households had to be cultivated by hired farmers every year.
An acre producing one bushel of grain in a year was considered a bumper harvest. In reality, however, the yield fell below one bushel in most years.
They still had to pay the tenant farmers’ wages and settle the taxes.
After laboring throughout the year, they had expended enormous amounts of manpower, resources, and effort, yet the actual returns were meager.
Now, however, the court was offering such generous compensation in grain, while doubling their annual salaries as well. This was truly an immense benefit.
As a first-rank chancellor, Fang Xuanling silently calculated how his own income would change.
He knew exactly what this meant for himself and his entire family. A first-rank official was allocated one qing of land—an entire hundred acres.
At ten bushels of grain per acre, that amounted to one thousand bushels of grain.
Thereafter, he would receive another hundred bushels each year. His annual grain stipend had originally been five hundred bushels; doubled, it would become one thousand.
His monthly salary was twelve thousand copper coins. Once doubled, it would be twenty-four thousand…
At this thought, Fang Xuanling could not help drawing in a sharp breath.
Such generous compensation was unprecedented.
Even if he remained upright and incorruptible for his entire life, never taking a single illicit coin, it would still be enough to let his family live in abundance.
If he could witness such prosperity for his clan during his lifetime, he would have done right by his ancestors.
Under such conditions, anyone who still dared to embezzle or accept bribes would be condemned by Heaven and Earth. They would have no face to stand before His Majesty’s benevolence.
A gratified smile appeared on his face, and his gaze toward Li Chengqian held a little more gratitude.
“The compensation I have granted is generous. I hope all of you will not betray my intentions.”
“High salaries are meant to preserve integrity. If corruption occurs again in the future, do not blame me for showing no mercy.”
“We shall respectfully obey Your Majesty’s will!”
“That is all for today’s court session. From now on, the morning court need not convene every day. It shall be held once every seven days.”
Li Chengqian made the announcement, weariness evident in his voice.
After all, reaching these decisions had consumed a great deal of his energy.
He leaned back slightly against the Dragon Throne and rubbed his temples.
These measures were difficult, but for the long-term peace and stability of Great Tang, they had to be implemented.
“If any locality has a memorial to submit, send it directly to the Three Departments for review. Once they have examined it, place it upon my desk.”
“If a region suffers a major natural disaster, all urgent memorials are to be sent directly to me without prior notification.”
Li Chengqian arranged the affairs of state methodically. He knew that such details concerned both the stability of the nation and the safety of the people.
His expression grew solemn. He straightened in his seat, resolving to govern the empire well.
“As for ordinary decrees, I shall have Grand Tutor Qi notify all civil and military officials. You need only attend to your respective duties and carry out my orders.”
Li Chengqian’s gaze swept across the assembled ministers.
“This morning’s court session ends here. At the next session, seven days from now, I hope to see that all of you have completed every task assigned today.”
Li Chengqian rose and prepared to leave the court.
“Before I forget, Chancellor Fang, draft regulations concerning the late emperor’s funeral and his interment at Zhaoling, and submit them to me. Everything is to be kept simple. The same applies to my enthronement ceremony—everything is to be simple.”
With that, he hurried away.
A group of ministers remained behind, some deep in thought and others brimming with excitement.
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