Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 592 - 428: Spine-Chilling

The speaker was Li Wei, Minister of the Ministry of Rites and Imperial Scholar of the Central Hall. He was one of Xia Qing’s trusted allies, therefore he was called by Xia Qing to discuss this matter.

He was accompanied by two others, one being You Shaofeng, Left Minister of Communication, and the other Ji Yan, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Li Wei and You Shaofeng were favored most by Xia Qing.

Ji Yan was also one of Xia Qing’s allies, yet he never imagined being involved in such an important matter, and his heart couldn’t help but stir with excitement.

Having gained the favor of Chief Minister Xia, it seemed he was not far from a meteoric rise.

Xia Qing valued the affair of frontier salaries greatly and called Ji Yan because he was a minister of the Ministry of Revenue. The resolution of such matters still required resources from the Ministry of Revenue, hence his presence was requested for discussion.

"Sir! The Emperor has given you such a short deadline, resolving the frontier salaries is urgent, we must quickly come up with countermeasures, get through this crisis first, and plan further thereafter."

You Shaofeng also offered his thoughts, following Li Wei’s statements closely.

He glanced at Li Wei askance, feeling somewhat resentful. Both he and Li Wei were among the officials most trusted by the Grand Secretary, brought in to consult whenever uncertain affairs arose.

He considered himself closer to the Grand Secretary than other officials within the faction, harboring a sense of superiority.

Yet Li Wei, after being taken under the Grand Secretary’s wing two years ago, often seemed to rival him.

The Grand Secretary particularly valued this person, often including him in discussions of major events.

This person had extraordinarily deep calculation, akin to a smiling tiger, skilled in concealing threats within smiles, constantly making him look bad in front of the Grand Secretary.

He suffered setbacks twice at the hands of this person, no longer daring to underestimate him.

Xia Qing listened to You Shaofeng’s words, his expression becoming more sombre. Didn’t he know the immediate priority was to resolve frontier salaries?

He invited them over precisely to have them deliberate and offer solutions. Who had the patience to listen to their nonsense?

"Of course, I know what needs to be done urgently now, do I need you to tell me? I called you here to offer strategies, yet half a day has passed without solutions."

Xia Qing was both angry and anxious, suddenly standing up from his chair and began pacing back and forth in the room.

"When dawn breaks, there will be a court meeting, no matter what, we must devise a countermeasure tonight."

Everyone, seeing the Grand Secretary’s face dark enough to drip water and getting rebuked, did not dare say more.

Xia Qing seeing them resembling quails, got even more irate, flicking his robe sleeve and snorted coldly, useless bunch.

"Ji Yan, as Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, this is inherently your Ministry’s affair, now I am barely managing this for you, you must find a way to have the Ministry of Revenue produce silver to compensate frontier salaries."

Xia Qing, seeing their silence, started naming names. In normal times, wanting benefits, they’d all come forward.

Now with difficulty, they were all pulling back, how could he not be infuriated?

Hearing this, Ji Yan shivered all over, being the least favored within Xia Qing’s faction, without as many benefits as others, yet was put on the forefront of affairs.

He originally thought the Chief Minister wanted to employ him heavily, and came to Xia Mansion full of joy.

But the moment he fully realized, it was just because he was an official of the Ministry of Revenue?

He promptly stood up from his chair, face full of bitterness, respectfully replied: "Sir, I am just a Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, cannot manage the silver vault! The Minister does not agree, I am powerless!"

Being a Standard Fifth Rank, he did not have the ability to instruct the Minister to allocate silver to the frontier.

You Shaofeng and Li Wei were likewise troubled, hardly able to afford sympathy for Ji Yan, thoughts raced, preparing solutions should they themselves be called upon next.

At this moment, the adviser He Zhongkuan spoke up, "Sir! Recently, I have pondered carefully, the Emperor assigns this matter to you perhaps with other thoughts in mind."

Xia Qing hearing this hastily urged: "Mr. He, please explain your thoughts in detail."

Upon hearing this Ji Yan couldn’t help but express gratitude with a glance towards He Zhongkuan, while internally relieved.

Had it gone on, the Sir would undoubtedly fly into a rage, He Zhongkuan seemingly saved him from peril.

"Sir, think about it! The Emperor didn’t insist the Ministry of Revenue allocate silver, but only wants you to find solutions. And he forbids increased taxes, nor disturbs merchants, does that not leave you to fend for yourself?"

Xia Qing instantly felt a chill, could it be the Emperor had sights set on his family fortune?

But thinking again, it seemed unlikely. Though he often received considerable benefits from officials, how could his mere silver coin compare to frontier salaries?

Difference of a hundred thousand and eighty thousand miles! At most, his mansion’s fortune merely reached tens of thousands, far from repaying the owed frontier salaries of a million!

Beside them, the adviser Zhang Xiansheng felt dissatisfied, how much could an official embezzle? This was the Capital, not a distant province.

In provinces, where the Emperor is far, embezzling may go unnoticed by the Emperor.

But in the Capital, inspectors watched daily, dare you accept bribes, disrupt morals, they would impeach you in a report.

Besides, the Grand Secretary was often impeached, but the Emperor considering old ties or wary of him did not thoroughly investigate.

Thus, Sir subsequently restrained somewhat, not daring to be excessively brazen.

Silver from one mansion could hardly fill the frontier salary deficit, such claims were absurdly alarmist.

Normally, Sir deeply respected He Zhongkuan, who indeed resolved numerous matters for Sir.

This person had profound calculation and adept interpersonal skills, Sir invariably treated him courteously.

Even personally, there lingered fear towards this person, but internally held resentment, same advisers, disparities in position and treatment inevitably irked.

"Sir, I feel this matter unlikely, the wealth from your mansion falls far short of..."

Though Xia Qing also deemed it improbable, adviser He Zhongkuan wasn’t one for baseless claims. He interrupted Zhang Xiansheng, indicating He Zhongkuan to continue.

Yet suddenly a flash of insight, perhaps the Emperor truly harbored intentions. But not targeting him personally, rather his clan.

For these years, his clan bestowed numerous benefits, maybe the Emperor had long taken notice of illicit wealth gained by his clansmen.

Previously, an official proposed during court meetings that he indulged his clan in extensive profiteering in provinces. Then, the Emperor vaguely acknowledged, later court memorials presented, the Emperor continued withholding them.

He once thought the Emperor valued old ties, compounded by prior favor, therefore secretly gloated.

Turns out the Emperor was biding time! He only felt terrifying chills, how deeply concealed the Emperor’s intentions were!