Xiao Qing had only just returned from Jiangnan. Since she understood the state of the people there, she would naturally begin her investigation with Jiangnan.
The Director of the Jiangnan Office had thought of that as well. Gritting his teeth, he stepped forward, bowed, and presented a register with an obsequious attitude. “Reporting to Your Excellency, these are the Yellow Registers for all the prefectures of Jiangnan. The numbers of households and adult males are all recorded here. It’s just that household registrations change from time to time, so they differ somewhat from the actual figures. We subordinates are currently checking them.”
Xiao Qing glanced expressionlessly at the register but did not take it. “Change from time to time? Differ somewhat?”
The Director of the Qilu Office bowed in agreement. “Your Excellency is discerning. It isn’t only Jiangnan. The same is true of Qilu, Zhongzhou, and other regions. Local strongmen have secretly occupied farmland, while unscrupulous commoners have concealed household members. These accumulated abuses have gone on for years and are already long-standing cases. If everything were to be thoroughly investigated and verified, it would consume a great deal of time and effort. It could also easily disturb the local authorities and unsettle the people.”
“That has always been the precedent.” The Assistant Director of the Wuyue Office spoke up as well, his tone seemingly that of a well-meaning warning, though in reality he was evading responsibility at every turn. “The previous Ministers all turned a blind eye, putting stability first. You have only just taken office. If you suddenly conduct a thorough measurement, you may stir up trouble, which would damage your reputation.”
After only a few sentences, they were all singing the same tune. On the surface, they were advising her to handle the investigation cautiously; in reality, they were blocking her from digging into the hidden households and concealed fields.
The clerks below remained silent as well. It was obvious that officials from top to bottom had colluded with one another, intending to conceal these private fields and unregistered households completely. That way, they could pay less in taxes, while the difference became the profit they divided with the local strongmen. Once household numbers were concealed, they could also shave off corvée payments, silver, and grain at every level.
Xiao Qing understood everything in her heart, but showed nothing on her face. She merely turned two pages of the Yellow Registers before her, then let her fingertip come to rest on a patch of mottled writing.
“These abuses have gone on for years. That is precisely why they must be investigated. If household registers are unclear, the number of adult males unknown, and the land-tax figures unsupported, where will the state’s expenses come from? Where will the army’s provisions come from?”
Her gaze settled on the Director of the Jiangnan Office. “You say the household figures differ from reality and have yet to be sorted out. Then let this Minister ask you: how many registered adult males are there in Yangzhou Prefecture? Approximately how many have been concealed or omitted? The current dynasty is settled and the realm is at peace. Why, then, do the population figures keep changing? Have any of those people taken to the hills and turned bandit? If this continues, might rebel armies not eventually rise?”
The Director of the Jiangnan Office’s heart tightened. “That… The number concealed or omitted cannot be thoroughly investigated. It is truly difficult to estimate.”
“Cannot be estimated?” Xiao Qing gently closed the Yellow Registers. “Then there is no need to estimate it.”
“Starting today, every office shall seal and store all Yellow Registers and fish-scale maps from the prefectures and subprefectures under its jurisdiction. Within one month, anyone found to have concealed farmland or failed to report adult males will be charged with embezzling the state treasury.”
“If you are unwilling to conduct the investigation,” Xiao Qing said, sweeping her gaze across the officials present, “this Minister will submit a memorial to His Majesty and request that Imperial Censors be sent here to go from village to village and hamlet to hamlet, measuring every field.”
“When that time comes, will you continue to muddle through matters according to the old precedent, or will you open the old accounts and investigate everything to the very end? The choice is yours.”
When she finished speaking, the entire hall fell deathly silent.
The officials who had just been banding together to shift responsibility all turned pale.
They had assumed that this new Minister was still young, and that even if she had earned merit, it was only because His Majesty had deliberately promoted her. They thought she would not dare investigate these long-standing accounts and abuses too deeply. They had never expected her first move to strike directly at their weakest point. If the concealed fields and hidden households were truly exposed by the Imperial Censors, no one present would escape.
The officials exchanged glances. The defiant spirit with which they had joined forces against her instantly weakened.
Xiao Qing saw it all but remained expressionless. She merely ordered, “What are you still standing around for? Clean out the registers!”
While Xiao Qing was carrying out her sweeping reforms in the Ministry of Revenue, Zhao Xuanye received the news as well.
He had originally been worried that Xiao Qing would be unable to handle those old hands and had planned to send someone to assist her from the sidelines. Now, it seemed that would not be necessary.
The problems in the Ministry of Revenue were also the ones that concerned him most. His imperial ancestor had found it easy to conquer the realm, but holding it securely was truly difficult.
He needed money to expand the empire. He needed money to build irrigation works. Even the emperor’s racetrack was not as large as those of some military commanders. The thought of it left him stifled with frustration.
·········
When it was time to leave the offices, Xiao Qing saw Zheng Mingyuan waiting at the entrance.
“Qufeng, you’ve finally finished for the day. I’ve been waiting for you so long I’m practically falling asleep.”
“I only took office today, so there was a great deal to handle at the ministry. I made you wait all evening. I’ll host dinner tonight—we’ll have a proper celebration.”
Zheng Mingyuan glanced around while pulling her along, then lowered his voice. “The timing is perfect. I’m taking you somewhere good. I guarantee you’ll like it.”
His words stirred Xiao Qing’s curiosity. “Where?”
Zheng Mingyuan pulled her into a carriage. “This isn’t the place to talk. I’ll tell you once we’re in the carriage!”
“Why are you taking a carriage today?”
“Isn’t it to look after you? You’ve just ridden back from Yangzhou for days on end. You surely don’t want to ride again.”
Xiao Qing laughed. “How thoughtful. If you were a young lady, I’d definitely have my mother come propose marriage.”
Zheng Mingyuan gave her a sidelong glance. “If I were a young lady and you married me, you’d suffer terribly. Look at those thin arms and legs of yours.”
“All right, enough fooling around. Where are we going?”
“Several new top courtesans have recently arrived at Jiaofangsi[1]acts as a luxury, entertainment pavilion populated by elite courtesans jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3498945_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3498945_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });. I hear they’re peerless in both beauty and talent. We’re going to take a look today.”
Xiao Qing’s expression changed at once. She immediately turned around, intending to go back. “You dare go there? Aren’t you afraid your father will beat you?”
Zheng Mingyuan hurriedly grabbed hold of her. “How old do you think I am? Isn’t it perfectly normal for me to go there?”
“I’m not going!”
“Oh, come on. What’s the big deal? What man doesn’t go? You were still young before, but didn’t you experience such matters last night? Today, your older brother is taking you out to broaden your horizons.”
Xiao Qing was startled again. “You even know about that?”
“I knew this morning. News about you travels the fastest. How many families in the capital are hoping to have you as their son-in-law?” Seeing that she was still stubbornly trying to get out of the carriage, Zheng Mingyuan exerted more force and pinned her in place. “Several of us are all here, and we’ve arranged this gathering especially for you. Would it really be appropriate for you not to go?”
“Do you want people saying that now you’ve been promoted, you no longer recognize your brothers?”
As though he still could not get over her attitude, he shot her another glare. “Damn men, pretending to be so innocent! It’s not as if you’ve never done it before. Just wait until you get there and see how beautiful those top courtesans are. By then, even if they drive you out, you won’t want to leave.”
Zheng Mingyuan blocked every rebuttal she might have made, leaving Xiao Qing speechless. What kind of situation was this?
They were supposed to be holding a welcome celebration for her, but she could not enjoy herself. She had to watch them enjoy themselves while nervously worrying that her identity would be exposed—and she would still have to pay for everything!
Seeing her puffed-up expression, Zheng Mingyuan began to laugh. “I’m saying, how can a perfectly good man be so awkward? I’m taking you to a place of gentle pleasures so you can have some fun. I’m not taking you there to become a top courtesan.”
“Much less am I taking you to a men’s brothel. What are you afraid of?”
Xiao Qing’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’ve even been to a men’s brothel?”
As she spoke, she clutched her clothes tightly and regarded him warily. “I’m absolutely telling Uncle Zheng and having him break your legs!”
“Hey, hey, hey! I haven’t! I only like women! I’ve merely heard people talk about it—I’ve never been there!”
“Then who did you hear it from? I’ve never heard any of the others mention a men’s brothel.”
Zheng Mingyuan held it in for a long while before finally saying only, “Anyway, I’ve never been there!”
When he was little, someone had tricked him by telling him that a men’s brothel was a place to eat. He had nearly been detained there. In the end, his father had brought money to ransom him and had also paid those people to keep their mouths shut, so no rumors had spread.
But it was far too humiliating a matter for him to tell anyone.
References[+]