Chapter 1232 - 304: Furious (Part 2)

Chapter 1232: Chapter 304: Furious (Part 2)

"What’s the matter?"

"Today in the Imperial Study, it seems there was a military discussion."

"What’s the point?"

"The Ministry of War hinted that there might be a stir at tomorrow’s court assembly."

"A stir?"

"There may be war."

"War, now?"

"Yes, a war worthy of a court assembly, not like Eldest Brother’s petty skirmishes in Nanwang City with that Qian State brat."

"How would we wage war? You know the current state of our Yan treasury, Fourth Brother. Otherwise, we wouldn’t still be living here."

According to existing rules, when a prince establishes his household, the national treasury and the inner treasury will allocate a "settling fund" for purchasing a residence. Additionally, the prince’s monthly allowance will be greatly increased for household expenses.

While living in the prince’s residence, theoretically, there is a communal dining provision, providing meals, a few eunuchs, and palace maids for service. The monthly allowance is as low as the palace allowance for Ji Chengsu.

In fact, not just that, over the past two years, with the passing of the family elders, the memorandum for their successors ready to inherit the title has been delayed.

If you inherit a year later, the court can save a year’s expenses, claiming it’s processing your identity, evaluating your character, assessing your qualifications for inheriting the title, and deciding the rank upon inheritance.

If you dare to cause trouble?

Go ahead.

In severe cases, they’ll judge your character unfit and strip your family’s title; in lighter cases, they’ll lower your rank by two tiers for a lesson.

For Yan princes, take Fourth Prince and Fifth Prince as examples; they now share a prince’s political treatment. Once they establish their household, they’ll receive a lifestyle equivalent to a prince.

This treatment lasts until one of them attains the throne, changing their relationship from a prince to an imperial sibling, then traditionally, they voluntarily lower their noble rank.

Ignoring their court stipend which is just two hundred taels a year, as a prince, they receive ten thousand taels and ten thousand stones of grain annually, excluding the seasonal rewards from the palace.

For other titles, the money and grain are less annually than for princes, but there are many aristocrats in Yan, so collectively, the scale becomes quite large.

Lord Zheng, holding a count title, receives two thousand taels and two thousand stones of grain annually, which is specifically accounted for when the court allocates funds to Snow Sea Pass.

In summary,

Just by Fourth Prince and Fifth Prince residing in the prince’s estate, the court saves twenty thousand taels and twenty thousand stones of grain annually.

Ji Chengjue’s reputation among the Royal Family and nobility has been extremely poor in the past two years because he unhesitatingly cut down on the aristocracy during the court’s financial difficulties.

Not only are the nominal expenses restricted, but he’s exchanging their money and grain for commercial banknotes, forcing them to redeem equivalent value merchandise at commercial establishments.

Banknotes as a business existed long ago, particularly common in Qian State’s Jiangnan, predominantly for business transactions, not widely circulated among civilians. Ji Chengjue dare not use it widely but uses it for subsidies to the Royal Family and nobility, requiring them to sell back such notes at an eighty percent discount, clearly exploiting them!

Yet,

The Yan Emperor’s authority is overwhelming, and the residual fear from the horse trampling of noble doors is still strong. If it were another emperor, the Royal Family and nobility might have already gathered to cry at the palace gates.

They dare not confront him;

This indirectly reflects Yan’s financial strain since taking proper care of the Royal Family and nobility, conditions permitting, is still necessary, even if some have become deadwood. Nonetheless, they must be maintained, for their ancestors once shed blood and sweat for Yan and the Ji Family, earning the prosperous life for descendants.

If mishandled, who would be willing to continue sacrificing for the Ji Family?

Everyone pursues the eternal glory and honor for their family.

Fourth Prince smiled,

said:

"I estimate, it’s likely war is unavoidable."

"Without money, without grain, how to fight?"

"Can living men be stifled by urine? If a war is necessary, a way will always be found to wage it, so you shouldn’t bother repairing the river works."

If war breaks out,

there’s no spare money, grain, or manpower to allocate to river projects.

Fifth Prince shook his head, said, "Until father decrees, I must do what I should."

"Alright, you’re obedient."

At this moment,

Sounds came from outside.

The attendant eunuch beside Fifth Prince ran over to report:

"Master, Your Highness, Third Prince has returned."

Fourth Prince and Fifth Prince immediately exchanged a glance, both noticing the shock in each other’s eyes.

Honestly,

they had already prepared themselves for a lifetime without seeing Third Brother again, since in every possibility, he was unlikely to leave Huxin Pavilion.

Fourth Prince murmured, "I heard yesterday, Zheng Fan visited Huxin Pavilion to see Third Brother, so does this count as an explanation, reconciliation?"

Fifth Prince shook his head, said, "I don’t think Third Brother would truly reconcile."

"Ha, you weren’t locked in there."

"If being locked in there provides me with wood, I wouldn’t mind."

"You’re the crazy one."

Fourth Prince jumped off the table, tidying his clothes.