Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 670: The Nail (Part 1)

After the morning court was adjourned, the enthusiastic Minister Ji briskly went to the Ministry of Revenue, instructing the officials there to prepare to take over the assets confiscated from the Gao Liang Prince Mansion.

The officials of the Ministry of Revenue were instantly invigorated: "Is what Lord Minister said true? Is all the confiscated property of Gao Liang Prince Mansion really going to be fully transferred into the National Treasury?"

"How could it be false? The Emperor’s words are as good as gold, absolutely true." The Left Vice Minister eagerly replied with a smile.

The Right Vice Minister, smiling, continued the conversation: "The Emperor is concerned about the military funding that has been insufficient for years, wanting to fully provide the soldiers with new clothes and satisfy their hunger this year."

"This is the first batch, and there will be subsequent confiscated assets from the Dongping Prince Mansion, and then eighty percent of the properties from the Huaiyang Prince Mansion and Wu’an County Prince Mansion. Our Ministry of Revenue finally has some breathing room this year."

The officials were elated, chatting delightfully: "The Emperor is truly a benevolent and wise ruler!"

"Having such an Emperor is a blessing for the stationed troops, and even more so for us officials!"

"We’re going to be quite busy next."

The confiscated assets couldn’t all be utilized immediately. Gold and silver could be directly used to purchase grain, make uniforms, and provide military pay, while antiques, paintings, jade, field manors, and shops needed to be disposed of and converted into silver.

In the process of disposal, some "loss" is not unusual. For instance, a shop originally valued at two thousand silver would not be surprisingly devalued by half for a quick sale. Those who buy such shops would, of course, be individuals with insider information, possibly even relatives or friends of certain officials from the Ministry of Revenue.

These practices have been customary operations in the Ministry of Revenue. Although the National Treasury is indeed empty, officials from the Ministry certainly aren’t poor. Corruption at every level of the Da Liang government has long been the norm, and as the Ministry of Revenue oversees the nation’s finances and grain, it is naturally the most lucrative department. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Upon hearing that all of Gao Liang Prince Mansion’s assets would be transferred into the National Treasury, the Ministry officials were overjoyed, not only because the Treasury would soon be abundant but also because they would partake in a "feast," filling their pockets and mouths with wealth.

Minister Ji heavily coughed to signal the officials to restrain themselves: "Everyone quiet down, there are some things I need to remind you all about."

"The Emperor has just ascended the throne and is currently still quite accommodating and harmonious. However, you all should remember how the Emperor, as Commandery Princess last year, inspected the Six Ministries!"

"Everyone should work efficiently, without overreaching or being excessively greedy, to avoid displeasing the Emperor. Once he decides to make an example of us, it could be disastrous."

The officials, upon hearing this, sobered up and received their instructions with seriousness.

At that moment, the Imperial Minister Chen Sheren arrived.

Chen Sheren is now the court’s only female official and closest to the Emperor, with promising prospects. Minister Ji, being an old-school official, didn’t approve of women taking official positions. However, since the Da Liang Dynasty has had an Empress, deploying female officials has indeed become more convenient. It might well become the norm in the future.

Minister Ji and the officials greeted her with cupped hands.

Chen Sheren, smiling, held a booklet as she stepped forward: "The asset inventory confiscated from Gao Liang Prince Mansion was originally in the palace. The Emperor ordered me to transcribe a copy and deliver it to the Ministry of Revenue. Please, Minister Ji, proceed to check and receive according to this directory."

Minister Ji quickly took it with both hands: "Thank you, Chen Sheren."

Following etiquette, he courteously invited her: "Chen Sheren, please come inside and have some tea before returning to the palace."

Those who are perceptive would take their leave at this point.

The Ministry of Revenue now had to focus on inventory checks, processing, and accounting for the military roster to calculate the necessities like military pay and provisions for various garrisons, among other tasks, enough to keep the forty-plus Ministry staff busy. At this moment, who had the time to socialize with Chen Sheren?

Unexpectedly, Chen Sheren did not take the hint and cheerfully accepted: "I previously accompanied the Emperor to the Ministry for a few days and found its operations quite interesting. Today, I happen to be free, so I’ll just look around."

Minister Ji: "..."

Ministry officials: "..."

Chen Sheren seemed unaware of the somewhat rigid expressions on the officials’ faces, smilingly saying to Minister Ji: "Minister Ji, do not mind me, let the Ministry busy itself as usual."

Indeed, given such a large amount of assets going into the National Treasury, it was only appropriate for the Emperor to assign a trusted aide to oversee. Can they still act as they did before, deceiving and taking liberties?

Minister Ji promptly adjusted his attitude, courteously inviting Chen Sheren into the signature room, and ordered a pot of good tea to be served. Then quickly assigned various tasks.

These were tasks the officials were accustomed to. Today was evidently fast and efficient.

This Chen Sheren was the Emperor’s eyes. How dare they slack off or be negligent?

Gold and silver were the easiest and quickest to handle, directly moved into the warehouse and added to public accounts, ready for future use. The assets needing disposal and conversion were more troublesome.

Chen Sheren was intrigued enough to stay in Minister Ji’s signature room for half an hour and then began to stroll around, asking questions here and there, keeping the officials tense.

It wasn’t until evening that Chen Sheren leisurely returned to the palace.

"Won’t she come again tomorrow?" an official murmured.

"Is there even a need to ask? Of course, she will come!" another official sighed: "Think back on the Commandery Princess’s previous conduct, this thorn will at least be in the Ministry for ten days to half a month."

"Not necessarily, maybe just two or three days. The Emperor can’t have no aides around."

That reasoning made sense!

Furthermore, Chen Sheren, not understanding the workings of the Ministry, what issues could she possibly uncover?

Thinking of this, the officials’ elevated concerns subsided.

Even Minister Ji thought the same.

The next morning, when Chen Sheren entered, leading a plain-looking man in his thirties, Minister Ji was surprised: "Chen Sheren, who might this be..."

Chen Sheren, smiling, replied: "This is Tang Sili, full name Tang Youyin. The Tang Family Grain Shop is renowned in the North, and I’m sure Minister Ji has heard of it, right? He is precisely the young master of Tang’s Grain Shop!"

The Tang Family Grain Shop was indeed very famous!

In recent years, the Tang Family Grain Shop rapidly expanded, bringing high-yield new grain seeds wherever it went. They sold these seeds, taught people how to cultivate them, and secretly sheltered impoverished migrants, relocating them to Nanyang County...

The master behind the Tang Family was formerly the Nanyang County Princess, now Empress Zhaoping.

Tang Youyin stepped forward, bent over in salute: "Clerk Tang Youyin, meeting Lord Minister."

Minister Ji came to his senses, remaining courteous: "Tang Sili, please rise."

Chen Sheren didn’t wait for further inquiry from Minister Ji and smiled: "Tang Sili previously worked in the Household Department of Xi’e County Government, then entered the Household Department of the Nanyang Prince Mansion, apprenticing under Chief Historian Feng, following his work for several years."

"Chief Historian Feng wanted to stay at the Prince Mansion as a steward, so he sent Tang Sili to the Capital City. From today onwards, Tang Sili will remain in the Ministry of Revenue, under Minister Ji’s direction."

Minister Ji: "..."