#193 - Killing four birds with one stone, the beginning of chaos
Chapter 191: A Scheme with Four Aims, The Beginning of Chaos
Sighing at the vicissitudes of life, gazing into the distance.
Evening sails are as light as arrows, the setting sun as large as a dustpan.
The wind wearies the banners, the carriages hasten across the flat plains.
A grand dream returns to the river moon, leaping from the golden-scaled pond.
Tianji Year Sixteen, First Month, Twenty-second Day.
If history books were to record it, today would be a day etched into the annals of Da Ning.
But for Wei Changtian at this moment, today might be somewhat different, but that would be all.
At sunset, Li Huaizhong slowly walked out of the Wei residence alone.
Wei Changtian stood by the window, watching his departing figure, his fingers gently tapping the window frame, his expression thoughtful.
Everything went smoothly... or rather, too smoothly.
Li Huaizhong had revealed the Liu family's conspiracy without reservation, and spoke with such detail that it didn't sound false.
Is this old eunuch so eager for a way to replenish his Yin-Yang skill?
Or does he have another purpose?
Wei Changtian wasn't sure. He glanced through the window at Xu Qingwan and You Jia, who were sitting and talking in the front yard.
"Your subject pays respects to the Emperor!"
In the empty hall, a man in a purple robe embroidered with cranes respectfully bowed to Ning Yongnian.
He was Xu Shixing, the head of the Xu family of Da Ning and Minister of Revenue.
"Mm, Minister Xu, take a look at this first. Allow me to finish reviewing these memorials before I speak with you."
Ning Yongnian casually tossed a booklet onto the table and continued to pore over the tedious and lengthy memorials, seemingly displeased.
"..."
Xu Shixing dared not speak further upon seeing this and hurriedly stepped forward to take the booklet.
But after he opened the first page and read a few lines... it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, and a chill exploded from head to toe.
"Your... Your Majesty! This..."
"I said, wait!"
Ning Yongnian didn't look up, but his words carried an invisible pressure.
"Yes, yes."
Xu Shixing's body trembled violently, and it took him a long time to refocus his gaze on the booklet in his hand, which was already soaked with sweat.
One by one, one by one, they were all the shady dealings that the Xu family had engaged in.
The Xu family was the wealthiest in Da Ning, involved in countless businesses, some of which inevitably had unsavory aspects.
Xu Shixing knew some of these things, while others even he, as the head of the family, had never heard of.
But even the parts he knew, if strictly investigated, would be enough to greatly damage the Xu family's vitality.
Having served as Minister of Revenue for more than a decade, Xu Shixing was not just a businessman who knew how to make money.
He was also well-versed in the ways of the court.
So what truly frightened him was not the content written in the booklet, but why Ning Yongnian had given him this booklet to read.
"Liu, Wei, Xu, the people of Da Ning all know these three surnames. There are even jokes in the streets saying that the power of these three families far exceeds Mine..."
Suddenly, Ning Yongnian spoke.
"Minister Xu, what do you think?"
"Thump!"
Without even thinking, Xu Shixing trembled and knelt on the ground in the next second.
"Your... Your Majesty! This subject's loyalty to Your Majesty is as clear as the sun and moon! The matters stated in this booklet..."
"I didn't ask you that!"
Ning Yongnian slammed the memorial in his hand on the table, his eyes slightly narrowed.
"Answer My question just now! Are the Liu, Wei, and Xu families really so powerful?!"
"Your Majesty..."
Xu Shixing suddenly raised his head, tears streaming down his face, "How the Liu and Wei families are, this subject dares not say, but the Xu family is definitely not like that!"
"Is that so?"
Ning Yongnian stared at Xu Shixing and suddenly asked, "Minister Xu, since you are the Minister of Revenue, you should know how much silver is currently stored in the Da Ning treasury."
"Replying... Replying to Your Majesty..."
Xu Shixing felt a great sense of foreboding, but he still bit the bullet and replied, "Nearly... Nearly five hundred million taels."
"Good, then after deducting the salaries of officials, military pay, disaster relief, and all other expenses, how much money can I allocate?!"
"Almost... Almost one hundred million taels."
"One hundred million taels..."
Ning Yongnian slowly stood up, walked around the table, and stepped in front of Xu Shixing.
He leaned down slightly and asked in a low voice, with a smile that was not a smile:
"Minister Xu, how much silver is stored in the Xu family's treasury?"
How much money does his family actually have?
Xu Shixing might know the answer, or he might not really know the exact number.
But whether he knew or not, this question could not be answered.
"..."
Zilan Hall was silent for a time. Looking at Xu Shixing, who was trembling like a sieve, Ning Yongnian didn't ask further, but silently reached out and took back the booklet.
"Minister Xu, I am not the kind of person who is unmindful of old friendships."
"The Xu family contributed to My ascension to the throne. It is precisely because of this that I have repeatedly condoned the Xu family's actions..."
"But this time, I really don't know what to do. Why don't you tell Me?"
"..."
The afterglow of the setting sun shone into the hall, reflecting on Ning Yongnian's robe, as if adding a layer of blood color to the golden dragon with its fangs and claws.
After a brief moment of panic, Xu Shixing, although still looking terrified, was no longer as mentally paralyzed.
Clearly, Ning Yongnian's move was testing his bottom line.
The Xu family had been rooted in Da Ning for hundreds of years, and had flourished for more than a hundred years. Such a deeply entrenched force could not be overturned by a few words or a book of evidence.
Ning Yongnian knew this, and Xu Shixing knew it even better.
So the key was how much the Xu family would have to pay to satisfy Ning Yongnian's appetite.
"Your Majesty, this subject knows that he cannot escape responsibility for the disasters caused by his clansmen."
"This subject is ashamed to continue to bear the heavy responsibility of Minister of Revenue and wishes to resign and return to his hometown!"
"I beg Your Majesty to grant my request!"
"Thump!"
Knocking his head heavily on the ground, Xu Shixing decided to hand over his power first.
According to his judgment, the Da Ning treasury was currently full and did not lack money, so Ning Yongnian's actions must be to seize the power to control the finances.
Under normal circumstances, this idea would not be wrong.
It was just that what Ning Yongnian wanted to do this time was far more than that.
"Resign and return to his hometown?"
Sighing softly, Ning Yongnian said calmly, "Minister Xu, do you really think that the flower feather on your head is something you can wear when you want and take off when you want? Do you really think that this capital is a place you can come and go as you please?"
"If you really want to resign, it's not impossible..."
"Since you are from Jizhou, then I will grant you a residence in Jizhou Prefecture, and you can take your wife and children to spend your old age in peace."
"As for the rest... let them all stay in the capital."
"Wh... What?"
Hearing these words, Xu Shixing suddenly raised his head, his eyes full of disbelief.
He never expected that Ning Yongnian's appetite would be so great, that he would open his mouth and ask for all the family property that the Xu family had accumulated over hundreds of years!
"Your Majesty, even if the Xu family is at fault, I am afraid that it does not deserve such a fate!"
"If Your Majesty feels that this subject's resignation is still not enough, then this subject is willing to die to atone for his sins!"
"But if you want this subject to hand over the entire Xu family, please forgive this subject for being unable to obey!"
At this moment, Xu Shixing was very clear that he could no longer retreat.
If the official position was gone, he could cultivate future generations.
If the money was gone, he could earn it again.
But if the Xu family's centuries-old foundation was destroyed in his hands, then he would have no face to face the ancestors of the Xu family, even in death!
“Dong!”
In the midst of speaking, another loud kowtow landed.
However, Xu Shixing's actions this time showed no timidity, and even faintly contained a hint of wanting to contend with Ning Yongnian on equal footing.
He was gambling, betting that Ning Yongnian would not dare to risk throwing Da Ning into chaos by completely breaking face with the Xu family.
And with the Xu family's foundation, Xu Shixing believed he had the confidence to do so.
It's just that...
“Minister Xu, We underestimated you.”
Ning Yongnian shook his head, seemingly not caring much about Xu Shixing's previous “disrespectful” behavior.
“We previously thought that compared to the Liu and Wei families, you should be the most loyal to Us...”
“This humble minister is indeed loyal to the Emperor!”
Xu Shixing actually interrupted directly, saying: “But this minister is also a member of the Xu family!”
“Hahaha! A good member of the Xu family!”
Ning Yongnian looked up and laughed: “So you think We wouldn't dare to touch your Xu family, is that right?!”
“This minister would never dare to think that way!”
He said “would never dare to think that way”, but Xu Shixing's tone was very firm.
Compared to the Liu family, although the Xu family's power was slightly weaker, its partisans were also spread throughout the court.
Compared to the Wei family, although the Xu family's military strength was slightly inferior, it also had a large number of experts under its command.
More importantly, the Xu family had money.
Money was always a panacea sufficient to make up for all shortcomings.
So... what if you are the Son of Heaven?
In an instant, the atmosphere in the Ziluann Hall had reached the point of being on the verge of exploding.
If Wei Changtian were here at this time, he would definitely be greatly surprised.
Before his transmigration, his understanding of feudal imperial societies mostly came from TV dramas and novels.
In these works, the emperor seemed to have absolute supreme authority, so how could he be challenged by a minister like this?
But in fact, in real history, even more exaggerated situations were not uncommon.
From Cao Cao to Zhao Gao to Zhang Juzheng to Ao Bai... each and every one of them were masters who didn't take the emperor seriously at all.
To put it bluntly, “Son of Heaven” was just a title, and who actually held the “power of the Son of Heaven” depended on the strength of each faction.
The Xu family's power might not reach the level of “not taking Ning Yongnian seriously”, but it was more than enough to support Xu Shixing in saying a few firm words.
“Your Majesty! This humble minister dares to say a few more words!”
“When Prime Minister Liu was alive, the Liu family's power almost tilted the entire court, from various states and prefectures to the imperial court, from eighth-rank county magistrates to third-rank vice ministers of various departments, the appointment and promotion of most officials, large and small, required the Liu family's nod!”
“Such a serious crime of forming cliques for private gain, has Your Majesty ever seen it?!”
“The Wei family has controlled the Suspended Mirror Division for hundreds of years, and the Three Guards and Three Offices almost control everything related to martial artists in Da Ning! They can kill any official at will, and destroy a sect or family with a wave of their hand, and even that Wei Changtian dared to lead thousands of people to kill his way into the Prime Minister's residence!”
“Such lawless actions, what did Your Majesty ultimately do?!”
“Even if the Xu family has a thousand mistakes, it should not be as serious as the crimes committed by the Liu and Wei families. Why does Your Majesty insist on not tolerating my Xu family?!”
“Your Majesty!”
“This minister does not understand!!!”
“...”
The high-pitched questioning voice echoed in the hall, and Xu Shixing's eyes were full of grief and indignation.
What he asked was not without reason.
The Liu family and the Wei family are clearly a greater threat to you than I am, and I have always been developing in a low-key manner, so why do you have to deal with me?
Do you really think my Xu family is a pushover?
It was both venting and exerting pressure.
After Xu Shixing finished speaking, he stared at Ning Yongnian, who remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking again.
However, he didn't seem to be answering Xu Shixing, but rather talking to himself.
“It seems it was right not to wait any longer.”
“Cannot tolerate the Xu family?”
“Hehe...”
He chuckled lightly, looking at Xu Shixing, who was frowning tightly.
“Minister Xu, you are wrong.”
“It is not that We cannot tolerate the Xu family, but rather...”
“Whoosh!”
The wide robe suddenly moved without wind, rustling.
Xu Shixing felt something was wrong in an instant, but he still didn't believe that Ning Yongnian would really dare to plunge Da Ning into chaos.
He raised his head high, straightened his chest, and prepared to show his attitude again with the determination to die.
As long as he could get through this, the Xu family would be safe!
However...
The palm filled with the aura of an emperor came closer and closer.
It was not until this palm was printed on the crane on his chest that Xu Shixing finally understood—
It turned out that he was wrong.
But why?
“Bang!!”
With a muffled sound, the official hat with long pheasant feathers suddenly flew into the air, then rolled down, and the eyeballs that were almost popping out still retained a strong sense of incomprehension.
“...”
“Alas, Minister Xu, originally you didn't have to die.”
At his feet, the lifeless Xu Shixing slowly collapsed to the ground, while Ning Yongnian seemed to have a bit of regret.
However, this regret only lasted for a moment.
Turning around, he completed the sentence he had not finished saying earlier.
“It is not that We cannot tolerate the Xu family, but rather...”
“We cannot tolerate anyone.”
Half an hour later.
There was no abnormality in the Ziluann Hall. Ning Yongnian was still sitting behind the desk reviewing memorials, and in front of him stood another man in purple robes.
“Your Majesty, I wonder why you summoned this humble minister?”
Wei Xianzhis body was straight and his tone was neither humble nor arrogant.
“Hahaha, Minister Wei, sit down, We have two things to tell you.”
Compared to just now, Ning Yongnian's attitude at this time could simply be described as “amiable”.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for the seat.”
Wei Xianzhi was not polite and sat down, waiting for the next words.
As Ning Yongnian spoke, his expression became more and more complicated.
There was anger, shock, doubt, and hesitation.
Fortunately, he at least walked out of the Ziluann Hall alive, only his steps were a little heavy.
Another half an hour passed.
“Your Majesty...”
“Minister Liu, sit down, We have something to discuss with you!”
“Yes, Your Majesty, please speak...”
“...”
From dusk to night.
When the current head of the Liu family, Liu Yuanshan's second younger brother, and also the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Liu Zhongchun, walked out of the Ziluann Hall thoughtfully, it meant that Ning Yongnian's preliminary layout for consolidating domestic forces was about to fully unfold.
To resist external aggression, one must first secure the home front.
Liu, Wei, Xu, and there is also a Buddhist sect.
Who to start with first?
After thinking about it for the past few days, Ning Yongnian's final choice was—all of them.
Killing four birds with one stone.
“Let the chaos begin...”
Standing at the entrance of the hall, looking up at the Yellow Dragon of Fortune that only he could see in the night sky, Ning Yongnian laughed softly:
“The more chaotic, the better.”
Two-in-one chapter
