Chapter 37: The Double-Entry Bookkeeping Method
Long Chen demonstrated the double-entry bookkeeping method to a dozen veteran accountants. The old man who had previously been unconvinced immediately exclaimed, “Marvelous! This method makes income and expenses clear at a glance.”
The other accountants also discovered the advantages of double-entry bookkeeping—it made accounts transparent and easy to understand.
“With this approach, each item must be recorded under its designated category, allowing every project and fund to be fully tracked,” another remarked.
“Double-entry bookkeeping links at least two accounts together. Following the rule that every debit has a corresponding credit and vice versa, it’s convenient for auditing and reconciliation.”
Long Chen enumerated the benefits, and the group of old accountants clicked their tongues in admiration.
“I’ve been keeping accounts for decades, but I never thought bookkeeping could be done like this.”
“Where did this method originate? I’ve never seen it before.”
“Minister Long, where did you learn this? Who was your master?”
“We’d like to study it as well,” someone said.
In ancient times, masters taught their apprentices the art of bookkeeping, so they assumed Long Chen had a mentor.
Long Chen replied, “I managed provisions in the army. The sheer volume made conventional methods chaotic, so I invented double-entry bookkeeping myself.”
Empress Yu Wei had investigated Long Chen’s background and found he was from the Long Family Army. His explanation matched the facts, so she harbored no doubts.
Looking at the ledger, Empress Yu Wei marveled inwardly: This Long Chen is a genius—his poetry surpasses Yu Shinan, he helped my fourth sister capture Linjiang City, and now he’s an expert in accounting as well. How did such a talent end up serving my fourth sister?
Though Empress Yu Wei sought out extraordinary talents everywhere, the most formidable eunuch was in the hands of Empress Luo Xi, and she deeply envied her for it.
“Minister Long, you truly are a genius to invent such a method.”
The old man bowed respectfully, thoroughly convinced.
“Minister Long, would you teach us?”
A matron asked tentatively.
Normally, such a valuable method would not be shared even for money.
Long Chen was generous: “Of course. I said earlier, if you find it useful, I’ll teach you.”
The accountants bowed as one, declaring, “Minister Long, your noble spirit and tireless teaching inspire our admiration.”
Long Chen smiled and produced two more ledgers, beginning to instruct them in double-entry bookkeeping.
...
Jing Family Residence.
Jing Heng lounged in his study with two dancing girls in his arms, while Chen Hanying, the Assistant Minister of Revenue, reported on Empress Yu Wei’s audit.
“Well? There are no problems with the accounts, I presume?” Jing Heng caressed one voluptuous dancer and started to play with her openly before Chen Hanying. The dancer was not shy, but eagerly cooperated, letting out coquettish moans.
Chen Hanying swallowed hard, secretly aroused.
“Rest assured, my lord. I piled all the ledgers together. Even if a dozen accountants worked on them, it would take the Ministry half a year to audit everything.”
“Moreover, I’ve removed the critical accounts. They could spend all year on it and still find nothing amiss.”
Chen Hanying was originally the Jing family’s accountant, later appointed Assistant Minister of Revenue by Jing Tianlie to serve Jing Heng.
Though nominally a court official, Chen Hanying was essentially a Jing family retainer.
“Excellent. Let them investigate as much as they like. How dare they audit my accounts—hmph!”
Jing Heng waved him away, and Chen Hanying left the room, leaving Jing Heng with the dancers.
...
Ministry of Revenue.
After a day’s work, Empress Yu Wei’s eyes were blurry from examining accounts, but Long Chen remained energetic, his pen flying as he recalculated ledger after ledger.
“Long Cheng’en, would you like to rest?” He Ningxin, feeling sorry for Long Chen, asked.
Long Chen smiled. “It’s fine. There are many issues with these accounts; I’ve already uncovered several. Once I finish collating, I’ll submit them to the princess for review.”
Empress Yu Wei nodded. “Don’t overwork yourself. It’s already dark. I’ll return for now—remember to rest.”
Long Chen glanced at the mountain of ledgers. “No, I’ll stay here tonight. Princess, could you send some guards? I fear the Ministry might act desperately.”
He Ningxin frowned. “Surely not. This is the Ministry of Revenue—who would dare harm us here?”
Empress Yu Wei understood the risks. “Very well. Be careful.”
She immediately transferred over a hundred elite guards from the Eastern Palace to secure the room.
The veteran accountants, eager to practice their newly learned method, were full of vigor.
Long Chen steadily compiled their findings, and the Ministry’s accounts gradually became transparent.
...
Empress Yu Wei returned to the Eastern Palace. Shadow Phoenix delivered an imperial summons—she was to see the Empress.
Empress Yu Wei hurried to Phoenix Song Palace.
Upon arrival, the Empress asked, “How is Long Cheng’en’s audit progressing?”
Empress Yu Wei replied, “Thanks to his help, the Ministry’s accounts, vast and chaotic, are finally being clarified. The accountants I gathered were utterly lost.”
“Long Cheng’en invented a new method of bookkeeping. It is ingenious and greatly facilitates auditing.”
“Now, a dozen accountants are recalculating everything using his method. I expect the accounts will soon be sorted out.”
The Empress raised her brows. “What is this new method?”
Empress Yu Wei beckoned for pen and ink. “Allow me to demonstrate, Mother. Long Cheng’en calls it double-entry bookkeeping.”
She proceeded to demonstrate deftly, and the Empress praised it with admiration.
“This Long Cheng’en, not only skilled in poetry and warfare, but also gifted in accounting.”
“With this double-entry method, fiscal balances are crystal clear. Any discrepancies can be found at once.”
Empress Yu Wei nodded. “Precisely. Long Cheng’en truly is... a talent.”
“Mother, could we...”
The Empress laughed and shook her head. “Discuss it with Luo Xi yourself. I won’t interfere.”
She knew Empress Yu Wei wanted Long Cheng’en in the Eastern Palace, but Luo Xi would never agree.
As a mother, she treated all her children equally, showing no favoritism.
If you want Long Chen, you must win him yourself.
“What a shame. How did my fourth sister discover Long Cheng’en’s abilities?”
Empress Yu Wei had sought countless talents, but none rivaled Long Chen.
“It seems he was sent by the Purification Chamber, not chosen by Luo Xi herself.”
The Empress smiled.
Empress Yu Wei nodded, as if understanding. “So that’s it—the Purification Chamber.”
After finishing her report, Empress Yu Wei left Phoenix Song Palace and made her way to the Purification Chamber.
At the entrance, Chief Steward Wei Xian hurried to greet her.
“Your humble servant Wei Xian greets the Princess.”
Wei Xian wore a servile smile, full of obsequiousness.
“Did you handle Long Cheng’en’s purification?”
“Not me, your highness. It was Wu Jian who performed Minister Long’s purification.”
Wei Xian silently wondered why she was asking—could it be Long Chen’s surgery wasn’t thorough?
In the palace, such things happened; sometimes a eunuch’s procedure wasn’t complete, and after some time something would regrow.
So Wei Xian quickly shifted the blame—any problem wouldn’t be his responsibility.
“Wu Jian? Do you have any other eunuchs as clever as Long Cheng’en?”
Empress Yu Wei inquired.
Wei Xian replied hastily, “Princess, you jest. In just a few months, he rose from a lowly eunuch to minister. Since the founding of Eastern Zhou, only Lord Long has achieved such a feat.”