Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 586 - 422 Border Rations

"You do know how to avoid the main issue. Your good disciple claims to have studied the outline together with Gu Chengyu. However, when asked about some legal issues by me, he couldn’t answer. What is the truth, I believe you already have a conclusion in your heart. Xia Aiqing! Your disciple’s character is quite wanting!"

The Emperor glanced at Xia Qing and spoke earnestly.

Xia Qing hastily kowtowed to the Emperor to admit his mistake, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty! Min Feng is still young and inexperienced, and affected by entering the officialdom for the first time, his temperament has been influenced. I beg Your Majesty to spare him, considering my loyal service."

The Emperor did not order him to rise, so Xia Qing naturally dared not stand. Moreover, the matter concerning Min Feng still required his intervention.

The Emperor saw Xia Qing submit humbly and sighed inwardly. Xia Qing indeed has genuine affection for Min Feng, enough to plead for him.

He looked at Xia Qing, kneeling below, noticing the strands of silver in his hair, reminding him that Xia Qing had followed him since he was still the Crown Prince.

Since ascending the throne, he has served with diligence. Although his desires have grown now, he has never colluded with the Princes.

"Xia Aiqing, you are an elder statesman who has relieved my burden greatly over the years. Yet, you should understand how treason should be handled."

Despite the Emperor’s softened heart, he would not allow anyone to disdain imperial authority.

Though no evidence is held, he is the Emperor; if he declares it treason, it is treason. Who dares have dissenting opinions?

Xia Qing realized it would require a significant cost to settle this matter. If the Emperor truly wanted to convict Min Feng of treason, he wouldn’t need to wait for him to come; he would have already issued a decree.

Xia Qing pondered for a while and recalled the recent report by the Minister of War at the court.

It mentioned that the troops guarding the borders had already been delayed pay for four months, and if the court did not issue pay soon, the troops wouldn’t even have food.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor became furious and questioned the Ministry of Revenue why the salaries hadn’t been issued. But the Ministry claimed there was no money, constantly lamenting poverty, which infuriated the Emperor to the point of nearly falling ill.

The lack of funds in the Ministry of Revenue was known throughout the court. However, to claim there is none at all is certainly impossible. Even if not covering everything, two months could still be managed.

But the border troops’ salaries are no small sum, requiring millions of taels.

As the treasury of the court, if the Ministry of Revenue gave all the silver to the border troops, how could it handle emergencies requiring funds?

Now it’s May, Da Xing is in the season of thriving flora and fauna, with plenty of food and drink, and the possibility of warfare is minimal.

Therefore, the Ministry of Revenue continued to delay, not in a hurry.

Xia Qing thought if he could resolve this issue for the Emperor, not only would the Emperor spare Min Feng, he would be greatly pleased.

However, this matter is rather tricky.

Firstly, the National Treasury’s emptiness needs addressing; secondly, his relationship with Minister Shen, the Minister of Revenue, is strained. If he approaches Shen, it will surely end in disappointment.

He must carefully consider whom in the court can speak up on this matter.

If he could seize evidence against Shen Shikang, the issue would naturally be resolved. But Shen is shrewd and cunning, and over the years, no one has managed to catch him.

The Second Prince, with his good nature, appears unremarkable yet has no evidence for anyone to seize.

Those trivial matters, often used as pretexts against the Emperor, won’t work here.

Xia Qing suddenly felt at a loss, unsure of where to start.

Currently, the Emperor’s main concern is the military pay; other matters must take a back seat.

Xia Qing resolved to do whatever it takes, even exhaustively, to solve this for the Emperor. Furthermore, with the Emperor’s increasing coldness toward him lately, it’s time to produce some achievements.

Having understood this, Xia Qing considered and then said, "Please, Your Majesty, grant mercy! It was due to my poor teaching that he made such a mistake. Please give me a chance to atone for my sins."

The Emperor looked deeply at Xia Qing; since Xia Qing had already submitted, he shouldn’t complain about the outcome.

Just as he was worried about the border pay issue, although the Ministry of Revenue was lamenting poverty, that too was true, so he hadn’t forced the Ministry for funds.

He didn’t care what method Xia Qing used, as long as it didn’t exploit the people, finding a way to cover the month of owed military pay.

Only solve the one month, deliver some food to the border troops with the remaining silver, and he would no longer pursue Min Feng’s mistakes.

The rest of the over three months would just have to be delayed.

Seated before the Imperial Desk, the Emperor felt weary. These days, he couldn’t sleep at night, worrying over this matter.

Further delay of the military pay will surely incite dissatisfaction among the border soldiers; this matter is urgent.

"Currently, the National Treasury is empty, as you know. The Ministry of Revenue can’t provide funds, coming to cry poverty. Those border troops are owed several months of pay already; do you have any good ideas?"

The Emperor looked at Xia Qing and spoke straightforwardly, no longer beating around the bush.

Xia Qing did not expect the Emperor would directly bring up this matter, showing the Emperor is deeply anxious.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, as I see it, a solution must be found within the Ministry of Revenue. The Ministry isn’t entirely without funds, only Minister Shen refuses to bring them forth. I believe the urgent priority should be to have the Ministry of Revenue issue funds to the borders, resolving the immediate crisis."

The Emperor frowned; Xia Qing was not unaware of the Ministry’s lack of funds.

Yet he suggested having the Ministry issue funds on short notice. But if the treasury truly empties, and a major issue occurs like severe flooding, wouldn’t that leave them hopelessly watching?

"The National Treasury has no funds, don’t you know? If I could have the Ministry of Revenue provide money, why would I still be worried?"

Without a method to replenish the treasury, the remaining funds absolutely can’t be touched, leaving the Emperor feeling disappointed in Xia Qing.

Everything said, no reliable solution was proposed.

"Your Majesty! The treasury’s lack of fullness is due to limited income from the court. I think an increase in taxes on merchants would be better. Those merchants are incredibly wealthy and should contribute a modest effort for the court."

Xia Qing had long expressed dissatisfaction over merchant taxation. Merchants easily earn money, yet the taxes collected are even less than property taxes.

Increasing property taxes is out of the question; originally, citizens’ taxes were around fifty percent, able to manage during good years.

Thus currently, land tax, head tax, and salt and iron tax are the primary taxes of this dynasty.

But merchants are living richly, and he’s long wanted to take a piece of meat from them.

However, raising taxes is also challenging; major merchants typically have backing, and one doesn’t know which official supports them.

Moreover, raising taxes requires justification; if increasing based on the past would naturally make merchants lament. So a new guise must be devised.

Upon hearing this, the Emperor pondered; merchants naturally have money, but extracting money from them requires justification.

It’s not that it hasn’t been considered, but five years ago, various merchant taxes were raised by ten percent; further increases would be unreasonable.

"Do you have a plan for this?" The full court of officials was at a loss; he wanted to see what good methods Xia Qing could propose.