Chapter 200
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Chapter 200: Sweet-coated Bombs
A table, two cups of spiritual tea, and Wang Chen and Yu Feihong sat across from each other, engaged in a deep conversation.
The story behind this is quite lengthy.
The events that unfolded today in this remote mountain temple are directly tied to the current national fortune of Da Qian.
During the sixty years of the late emperor’s reign, he consistently implemented a policy of valuing culture over martial prowess, treating scholars with great favor.
To support the educated class, any scholar who achieved academic success was granted tax benefits on agricultural and commercial activities.
From Xiucai to Juren, Gongshi, and Jinshi, the higher the degree, the greater the tax relief!
This was initially a benevolent policy, as many scholars came from impoverished backgrounds, enduring hardship and hunger while studying, with no other means of livelihood. How could they compete with the affluent?
Consequently, many talented individuals were overlooked!
Such privileges undoubtedly aided these capable scholars.
However, over the decades, the gentry class expanded rapidly.
Numerous merchants and farmers, seeking to reduce their tax burdens, registered their shops and farmlands under the names of scholars.
This led to a proliferation of hidden households, hidden fields, and hidden properties!
As a result, Da Qian’s annual revenue saw a significant decline.
During the late emperor’s reign, Da Qian’s annual income exceeded fifty-five million taels of silver.
By the time of the late emperor’s demise, this figure had drastically fallen to around thirty million taels.
A loss of nearly half!
Meanwhile, Da Qian faced constant threats from the Northwest, with last year’s border defense expenses reaching as high as eight million taels.
The treasury was in a perennial deficit, barely sustained by centuries of accumulated wealth.
Upon ascending the throne, the new emperor, determined to reform, decided to take decisive action against the gentry class.
To this end, he established the Investigation Bureau.
The mission of the Investigation Bureau was to uncover hidden households, hidden fields, and hidden properties, thereby increasing revenue from agricultural and commercial taxes.
This was intended to address the treasury’s deficit!
After its formation, the Investigation Bureau’s first target was Jinzhu.
Jinzhu was a region of flourishing commerce and prosperity.
Success here would mean the emperor’s objectives were halfway met!
However, unexpectedly, the Investigation Bureau dispatched three teams to Jinzhu, two of which were ambushed en route, suffering heavy casualties.
The third team, upon arrival in Jinzhu, was besieged by local gentry, leading to a violent confrontation.
The incident sent shockwaves through the court and the public!
The emperor was enraged and commanded the Imperial Guard to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
Yu Feihong, following the imperial decree, headed south and swiftly uncovered part of the truth.
The Zhang family in Jinzhu, deeply entangled in the case with the Investigation Bureau, was the first to be raided by the Imperial Guard and annihilated.
“We confiscated gold, silver, land, and shops from the Zhang family, amounting to three hundred seventy-four million taels of silver!”
Yu Feihong remarked, “Meanwhile, Da Qian’s total revenue last year was only around twenty-nine million taels.”
Wang Chen was speechless.
The wealth of a single family in one state exceeded more than one-tenth of the national treasury!
No wonder the current emperor was ready to wield the executioner’s blade.
If he didn’t take drastic measures, it would be impossible to get through the year!
Yet, the Zhang family was no ordinary group; they had produced over a dozen Jinshi and hundreds of Juren over the centuries. With deep roots and extensive connections, how could they simply submit to execution?
While transporting the Zhang family members to the capital, the Imperial Guard was ambushed by mysterious forces.
After a fierce battle, the Imperial Guard suffered hundreds of casualties.
Though the Zhang family also lost dozens, the rest were all captured.
This was undoubtedly a heavy slap in the face for the Imperial Guard and Yu Feihong.
As the commander of the Imperial Guard, Yu Feihong would not let this go easily. He issued capture warrants and bounty orders to hunt down the remnants of the Zhang family while personally leading a team to pursue the bandits who had abducted the prisoners.
The Hero Xiao Wentian, who had been shot dead by the divine crossbow earlier, was one of the targets!
As for the master and servant who had just been taken away, Wei Chi Zhong was a family retainer of the Zhang family, while the Young Boy was the direct grandson of the elder branch.
They had obviously fled here to meet with Xiao Wentian, but did not expect the Imperial Guard to track them down.
Caught all at once!
“Now, Jinzhu has become as chaotic as a boiling pot.”
Yu Feihong took a sip of spiritual tea, a cold smirk curling at the corner of his lips: “A group of scholars is fervently sending petitions demanding the emperor to behead me.”
“Ha-ha.”
“The emperor is under a lot of pressure too.”
The Zhang family was actually not that significant, just local tyrants at most.
However, the Zhang family had close ties to the Bai Lu Academy and was an important member of the “Deer Party.”
The Deer Party held enormous power in both the court and society, with at least one-third of the current court officials hailing from Bai Lu Academy. The current emperor’s decision to bypass the cabinet and establish the Investigation Bureau undoubtedly greatly affected the interests of the Deer Party.
The underlying struggles and dangers behind this situation could not be fully explained in just a few words!
“Master Wang…”
Yu Feihong sincerely said to Wang Chen, “As far as I know, Bai Lu Academy has always held hostility towards the Yunyang Immortal Sect, believing they should dismiss the Celestial Guardians’ residences.”
“The governor of South Shao County, Ruan Zhaoming, is a member of the Deer Party, and the position of Celestial Guardian in South Shao has been vacant for three years now. I’m afraid people in the Celestial Guardians’ residences may have begun to harbor ulterior motives; you must be cautious!”
Wang Chen nodded, “I understand.”
Yu Feihong’s words were credible, but they couldn’t be fully trusted.
As for whether there were any ulterior motives within the Celestial Guardians’ residences…
He was utterly indifferent.
Wang Chen had ventured into the Mortal Realm primarily to escape the turmoil within the Yunyang Sect.
All he desired was a period of quiet and stability.
Should anyone dare to disturb his peace, Wang Chen would ensure they deeply regretted it!
Observing Wang Chen’s lack of concern,
Yu Feihong sighed inwardly.
The Immortal Masters from the immortal sect stood aloof, detached from worldly affairs, and had little grasp of the darker aspects of human nature.
While Immortal Masters were indeed formidable, they were not invincible.
Yu Feihong knew of instances where innate martial artists had successfully assassinated Immortal Masters in the past!
The Mortal Realm, a land devoid of spiritual energy, was despised by cultivators, and most would not willingly linger there.
If Wang Chen were to perish in South Shao, the Yunyang Sect would undoubtedly be enraged, but it was unlikely they would take drastic measures.
However, the Imperial Guard would surely face dire consequences!
After a moment of contemplation, Yu Feihong gestured to a woman serving nearby and said, “Master Wang, since you’re heading to South Shao alone, daily life might prove inconvenient. Allow Xiao Wan to accompany you.”
“Xiao Wan is a member of our Imperial Guard, and I vouch for her loyalty and reliability.”
“Moreover, she possesses a top-level cultivation level and will not be a burden.”
“Additionally, she is well-acquainted with the situation in South Shao, so you can confidently entrust her with any minor tasks!”
Yu Feihong’s eloquent persuasion actually swayed Wang Chen.
Initially, he had refused.
Living freely and independently meant fewer complications when he was alone.
But Yu Feihong’s reasoning was quite compelling.
Wang Chen was on a mission to serve as the celestial guardian in South Shao, and upon assuming his duties, he could not afford to neglect his responsibilities.
Having an assistant would greatly simplify matters.
There were numerous tasks he could delegate to her.
When the time came for him to take action personally, he could save a significant amount of time!
Although Yu Feihong’s suggestion carried the hint of a sweetened trap,
Wang Chen accepted with a smile: “Excellent!”
