Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 669: Choices (Part 4)

The older ginger gets, the spicier it is.

Prime Minister Wang opened his mouth, hitting Wang Jin’s worries right on the mark.

Wang Jin rubbed his forehead and let out a genuine, long sigh: "One moment you see him building a grand mansion, the next you see it collapse. When Jiang Yi was alive, I frequently visited the Gao Liang Prince Mansion. These days, I witnessed it being seized, and from now on, there will be no more Gao Liang Prince Mansion in the Capital City."

Prime Minister Wang glanced over: "Are you afraid that the Wang Family will meet the same fate in the future?"

Wang Jin looked up, meeting Prime Minister Wang’s eyes: "Father, aren’t you worried?"

Prime Minister Wang proudly said: "I, as the Prime Minister, have served across four dynasties, holding the position for decades. Even now, the position of Prime Minister is still mine, and no one can take it. Who dares to move against the Wang Family, who could possibly touch the Wang Family!"

Without waiting for Wang Jin to speak, he continued: "You’re now serving as the Secretary of the Secretariat, and after a few years of seniority, you can be promoted to a position in one of the Six Ministries. With you there, the Emperor will surely favor the Wang Family."

...The burden of a thousand weights, but that’s all it is.

Wang Jin couldn’t help but smile bitterly, whispering: "Father, the Wang Family is considered the foremost noble family of the Da Liang Dynasty, with family members gathered in the Capital City and our ancestral home, and many serving as officials elsewhere. Among them, some are bound to be careless in their duties, like my older brother who was once too ostentatious. It was solely because of father that his life was spared, but it was not a small blow to the reputation of the Wang Family."

"If such incidents happen a few more times, no amount of imperial favor could sustain the Wang Family."

Prime Minister Wang’s gaze flickered: "You want to discipline the clan members?"

"Yes," Wang Jin directly admitted: "To stabilize the court, the Emperor has promised not to stir up trouble within three years. In the short term, the Wang Family need not worry about destruction. The Emperor trusts and values me also to put Prime Minister Faction officials at ease."

"However, one should be cautious even in times of peace. If we wait until a major error occurs to remedy it, it will be too late. Therefore, we must establish rules for the clan early on, to restrict their words and actions. For those who are truly inappropriate, we need not wait for the Emperor’s judgment; we should handle them ourselves beforehand."

After Wang Jin finished speaking, he braced himself to be scolded by his father.

Never did he expect that Prime Minister Wang not only didn’t scold him but approvingly nodded: "You’ve been well-trained of late, with deep thoughts. Do as you said!"

Wang Jin was taken aback: "Father agrees too?"

"What you said is right, why wouldn’t I agree?" Prime Minister Wang raised an eyebrow: "With each generation comes a new Emperor and courtiers. Now the Empress has ascended the throne; she’s smooth in her methods, wise and decisive, and strikes ruthlessly. If we do not restrain ourselves, we will soon suffer."

"The Wang Family has been wealthy for decades, accumulating vast wealth. If we can preserve it in the future, we’ll be fortunate."

"Since I’ve chosen you as the heir, the affairs of the Wang Family will be your responsibility. If you wish to discipline the clan or deal with wrongdoers, just do it."

Wang Jin, moved to the point of tears, said: "Thank you, Father!"

Prime Minister Wang calmly said: "Enough, don’t put on a show in front of me. Even if I disagreed, would you not act?"

"You are determined to assist the new emperor in accomplishing great achievements, and you won’t allow the Wang Family to hold you back. I also hope you will become successful in the future, truly supporting the Wang Family. These trivial matters are yours to handle." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Wang Jin, seeing his plans exposed, had no embarrassment and cupped his hands in response: "I will certainly not disappoint Father’s high expectations."

Looking at his resolute son, Prime Minister Wang genuine sighed: "For someone who has spent a lifetime as a powerful minister, it’s rare to have raised such a son who is both loyal and filial, concerned for the country."

The sarcastic remarks were ignored by Wang Jin, who replied with a smile: "It seems loyalty and ability run in the Wang Family’s blood, passed down through the generations."

Prime Minister Wang sneered, suddenly asking: "When do you plan to marry and have children?"

In the past, Wang Jin could not possibly become Jiang Shaohua’s son-in-law, and nowadays it’s even less possible.

Marrying to produce heirs is Wang Jin’s responsibility.

After a brief silence, Wang Jin said: "Please give me three years, Father."

In the next three years, Jiang Shaohua needs to stabilize the court, gradually taking control and consolidating the ministers. Wang Jin, wholeheartedly assisting the new emperor, truly lacks both the mind and time to marry.

Prime Minister Wang calmly said: "Fine, I will give you three more years. After three years, I will choose a suitable marriage for you. You must not refuse with any excuse."

...

The next day at the small court meeting, Jiang Shaohua said to Minister Ji of the Ministry of Revenue: "Minister Ji, the family assets confiscated from the Gao Liang Prince Mansion will all be put into the National Treasury."

Minister Ji was overjoyed and repeatedly cupped his hands in thanks.

The military budget shortfall this year is enormous, with the Ministry of War continuously submitting memorials requesting military pay. Minister Ji was so worried that his hair was falling out by the handful. Originally he had calculated that allocating half of the Gao Liang Prince Mansion’s assets to the National Treasury would barely cover a portion of the military expenses.

Now, with the Emperor’s generosity, putting everything directly into the National Treasury immediately solved the urgent needs of the Ministry of Revenue.

Minister Dong cupped his hands and suggested: "According to tradition, half of the assets from the confiscated Gao Liang Prince Mansion should go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Since the Emperor has allocated it all to the Ministry of Revenue for the military budget, might the Ministry of Internal Affairs have some opinions?"

This was the subtlety in Minister Dong’s words.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is merely a servant of the Royal Family, managing the gold and silver of the inner treasury. What right does it have to "have some opinions" on how the Emperor disposes of the seized assets?

The real potential dissent would come from the greedy Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

Jiang Shaohua understood this in his heart and said earnestly: "The most urgent thing right now is to first gather military salaries, especially for the stationed troops. In recent years, these have been repeatedly cut, and the soldiers are barely able to eat a full meal, let alone have the strength to train and fight."

"The first major task after my ascension is to fully issue all military salaries, ensuring adequate provisions for food and clothing too."

Vice Minister Ding of the Ministry of War was the first to join in agreement, singing the emperor’s praises: "The Emperor’s concern for ordinary soldiers’ pay and life moves heaven and earth. I must put today’s events in the Ministry of War’s official documentation and send it with the salaries to every army, so that all soldiers know the Emperor’s kind heart."

The courtiers all took notice. Usually unremarkable, Vice Minister Ding turned out to be quite eloquent. No wonder he smoothly became the Acting Minister of War. It seems it won’t be long before the acting title is removed, becoming the official Minister of War.

Vice Minister Wang ground his teeth in secret.

He had persistently written memorials demanding military funds for the stationed troops to embarrass the Ministry of Revenue and add to the new emperor’s troubles. Who would have thought, the Emperor was this generous, directly appropriating the entire assets of the Gao Liang Prince Mansion for military use. Watching Vice Minister Ding bask in glory, his heart seethed with envy.

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept over Vice Minister Wang’s face: "Next, the seized assets from the Prince Dongping Mansion, and eighty percent of the assets from the Prince Huaiyang and Prince Wu’an Mansions, will all be used for military expenses."

"This should suffice for this year’s military funding.