Chapter 110: Fight! (1 / 2)

Da Xia has always faced a shortage of currency.

Whether it was copper coins or gold and silver, there was never enough in circulation. Let alone the fact that some people would bury large amounts of gold, silver, and copper with them as burial items.

— Hence, the use of silk as currency and the eventual invention of paper money.

A whole silver mine? They could swallow that entirely.

At this moment, who cared about whether the Wokou Country Envoy had deceived them? Forget it for now—don’t let it delay their discussions about how to secure this money!

The Ministry of Rites officials stepped forward, smiling, and escorted the Wokou Country Envoy away. To avoid raising suspicion, they claimed they needed to discuss the next tribute session.

As soon as the envoy left, the Emperor ordered the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) to form a large perimeter around the area, forbidding anyone from approaching. He then began speaking on the spot: “The Jinyiwei previously infiltrated the Wokou Country Envoy…”

The local officials and vassal kings, who couldn’t hear the Emperor’s internal thoughts, looked at him with increasingly subtle expressions.

“His Majesty/Our Father is so controlling now? He even planted Jinyiwei in a mere envoy delegation! Then around us…”

The Emperor smiled gently.

These people instantly felt a chill down their spines, growing uneasy and as silent as chickens. Even their breathing became shallow.

In reality, the Emperor silently recited to himself: “Think of Bai Ze. Think of the silver mine. Being misunderstood as overly suspicious isn’t a big deal!”

Beside him, the historian was furiously scribbling: “The Emperor is overly suspicious, placing Jinyiwei among the Wokou Country Envoys…”

Of course, the historian knew that wasn’t the truth, but history books couldn’t exactly record: “The Emperor had Bai Ze.”

The Emperor began to fabricate a story.

“The Jinyiwei within the Wokou Country Envoy overheard them speaking in Wokou, disrespecting our Da Xia. They said our people are foolish and rich…”

The Minister of Revenue couldn’t hold back. He was anxious.

“Your Majesty! Since they disrespect us, let’s fight them directly!”

Forget about the doubts in the minds of those who couldn’t hear the Emperor’s thoughts. Let’s get to the main topic directly!

Little Bai Ze was seated right there. All of us capital officials were waiting for him to reveal more about the silver mine—ideally, its location! So we could rush straight to the destination upon disembarking.

That silver mine could produce over 5 million taels annually!

Even if they didn’t know how many years they could mine it for…

The Minister of Revenue seriously contemplated and reached a conclusion.

If he transformed into the most corrupt official now, accumulating wealth from cash, real estate, and priceless antiques, it would still take him twenty years to amass 5 million taels.

Which meant that even if the mine could only be excavated for two or three years, it would still be worth it.

After doing the math, the Minister of Revenue stood up with a bang, his voice as sharp and abrupt as lightning splitting a tree:

“Your Majesty!”

“The costs of war—I’ll approve them!”

Everyone in the room, familiar with his usual stingy nature, was utterly shocked.

The iron rooster was finally plucking its feathers!

But on second thought, it made sense—after all, this was a silver mine producing 5 million taels annually!

[This is what a true Heavenly Dynasty and a great power’s dignity should be. What is lost must be regained doubly!]

Many ministers nodded internally.

Indeed!

[If the court also knew about Japan’s Iwami Silver Mine and Sado Gold Mine… those are the ‘gold’ in the fabled Gold and Silver Islands—55 mines collectively, capable of producing 10,000 taels of gold annually and mined for nearly 400 years.]

400 years…

400 years?!

Thud— The Minister of Revenue collapsed to the floor. None of the officials moved to help him; their thoughts were entirely consumed by this “400 years.”

The Emperor was the first to recover, his face red, lips trembling. He almost roared: “Fight!!! We must fight!!!”

A gold mine producing 10,000 taels annually and a silver mine yielding 5 million taels annually—if he had all this gold and silver, he could replenish the national treasury!

He could reduce corvée labor and taxes!

He could develop waterworks!

And various public welfare projects…

Of course, a robust economy isn’t solely about having money, but with this silver, Da Xia could hire external experts to improve its people’s livelihood—nearby countries also recognized silver’s purchasing power.

This was just an initial idea. The specifics would require a court assembly to discuss further.

In any case, with this money, the Emperor was confident he could leap over two or three generations of foundation-building and directly—

Establish a golden era from the start!

Many ministers’ eyes turned green with envy.

To reach their current positions, none of them aimed to be corrupt officials who’d be exposed. Who wouldn’t want a sentence in the annals of history, declaring them a “founding pillar of the Heavenly Rule’s golden era”?

[Don’t talk anymore! Attack!]

“Your Majesty! You cannot attack!”

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Who said that?!

The Minister of Revenue had just regained consciousness and was immediately stunned to hear those words. He widened his eyes to see who had spoken.

The speaker was Liang Rui, the county magistrate of Qingpu County. Liang was an excellent official who never embezzled public funds and didn’t allow his subordinates to do so either. During his five years in office, he abolished unnecessary taxes and focused on local economic development, resulting in a prosperous populace and a strong militia.

The Minister of Revenue had heard of him and knew the emperor had also taken notice of Liang, planning to promote him to the central government after his seven-year term as county magistrate ended.

The emperor, who valued talent, managed to suppress his initial frustration and asked, “Why?”

However, he made up his mind that if Liang’s reasoning boiled down to clichés like war being a burden on the people or attacking over a minor slight being overly aggressive, then Liang was not suitable for the central court and should remain in local governance to benefit the people.

Liang Rui stood up calmly, saluted, and then explained, “Your Majesty, there is an ominous phenomenon in that land, aided by an evil wind. During the Zhou Dynasty, Emperor Gaozong led three expeditions against the Wokou. Every time, just as they were about to conquer the nation, a strange wind arose, leading to catastrophic defeats for the Zhou army. If Your Majesty were to attack that nation, I fear we would lose both prestige and troops.”

“Evil wind?”