Chapter 46: Disrobing in the Imperial Court
“What rumors?” Jing Heng looked coldly at Long Chen.
“There are rumors outside,” Long Chen said loudly, “that the Jing family has produced generations of outstanding generals, yet Lord Jing is unable to so much as bind a chicken, because Lord Jing was born a eunuch!”
The ministers in court were stunned; none had ever heard such a thing. However, now that Long Chen had said it, it seemed to make sense.
“So Jing Heng is a natural eunuch, no wonder he can’t practice martial arts.”
“I always wondered—every generation of the Jing family produced martial generals, why only him? Turns out he’s a eunuch.”
“But didn’t he have a son? Whose son is that...?”
Listening to the ministers’ whispered discussions, Jing Heng was so furious he nearly exploded.
“Nonsense! I am a man through and through, how could I be a eunuch!”
“And you! Everyone in court says you’re not truly a eunuch! That you’ve sullied the imperial harem!”
The Empress and the three princesses changed color at his words.
Long Chen burst into laughter. “Perfect timing! All the ministers are present. Why don’t we disrobe right here in court and let the ministers examine us? That will put these rumors to rest once and for all.”
With that, Long Chen began to untie his sash...
The Empress shouted angrily, “Long Cheng’en, to undress in court is outrageous!”
Long Chen bowed and replied, “Your Majesty, it is a small matter for Lord Jing to slander me, but a grave insult to the royal family. I must give the world a clear answer!”
He shed another layer of clothing.
“Lord Jing, I’ve already started undressing. Why do you hesitate? Unless you truly are a eunuch?”
Long Chen removed yet another garment.
The ministers watched Long Chen’s composure and were more convinced than ever that Long Chen was a true eunuch, while Jing Heng...
Jing Heng glared at Long Chen, so enraged he could hardly speak. As the scion of the Jing family, how could he possibly strip in court? The shame was too great.
“Long Cheng’en, you... you’ll be the death of me!”
Jing Heng’s face turned purple as he shook with fury, pointing a trembling finger at Long Chen.
Di Yuwei stepped forward and reprimanded, “Long Cheng’en, put your court robes back on immediately. Such behavior is disgraceful!”
Long Chen bowed. “First Princess, slander repeated a thousand times can destroy a man’s bones. I must set the record straight before the court.”
“That is not the way!” Di Yuwei replied, her anger barely contained.
Long Chen looked troubled and turned to Lord Li. “Lord Li, you have served two reigns. What do you think should be done?”
Lord Li looked at him with distaste. “Disrobing in court is improper!”
Long Chen asked, “Then shall I go to the marketplace after court and prove my innocence to the people of the capital?”
Lord Li’s beard bristled with anger. “Don’t ask me about this matter!”
Long Chen sighed helplessly. “I am willing to prove myself before the court, yet there are those who dare not. So be it.”
He unhurriedly put his clothes back on, leaving only Jing Heng fuming, his face the color of a purple pig.
The Empress’s lips curled slightly as she said, “Enough, Long Cheng’en. I give you three years to make up the Ministry of Revenue’s deficit. What do you think?”
Long Chen scratched his head. “Three years is too long. Two years. I promise the Ministry will have a surplus within two years.”
A gasp ran through the court.
Jing Heng’s proposal of one year was clearly impossible, yet to fill a deficit of over six million taels in two years was sheer arrogance.
“Very well! Two years. If you fail, it will be considered treason and you will be executed on the spot!” Jing Heng seized the opportunity to shout.
Long Chen ignored the mad dog—no, the mad pig.
The Empress, equally displeased with Jing Heng, addressed only Long Chen. “A ruler’s word is law. All the ministers bear witness. Are you sure?”
Long Chen bowed. “Two years. If I fail, I willingly accept punishment.”
The Empress was delighted. “Good! Two years.”
With that, she happily dismissed the court and returned to Phoenix Song Palace, while Long Chen was led away to the Western Palace by Di Luoxi.
Seated on the couch, Di Luoxi demanded, “Two years—how will you make up a deficit of over six million taels?”
Before Long Chen could reply, Xuan Yi announced that Di Yuwei had arrived.
Di Luoxi frowned; the First Princess rarely came to the Western Palace except in childhood. But since she now oversaw the Ministry of Revenue, and Long Chen had taken on this task, her arrival was understandable.
Di Yuwei entered with He Ningxin. Di Luoxi, reclining lazily, greeted her with indifference. “Elder Sister, you’re here.”
Di Yuwei was equally cool, seating herself opposite Di Luoxi without a word and addressing Long Chen directly. “You promised in court to make up the Ministry’s deficit in two years—what is your plan?”
In truth, Di Yuwei had intended to summon Long Chen to the East Palace, but He Ningxin had warned her that Di Luoxi watched over him closely and had strictly forbidden anyone from the East Palace from approaching Long Chen, lest it cause a scene.
Left with no choice, Di Yuwei had come to the Western Palace.
Seeing that Di Yuwei ignored her, Di Luoxi lazily turned away, paying her no further mind.
Long Chen bowed. “There are only two ways: open new sources of income and reduce expenditures. All unnecessary expenses must be cut, and we must find new revenue for the Ministry.”
Di Yuwei asked, “How will you increase revenue? By raising taxes?”
Long Chen smiled. “We cannot raise taxes—the people of Eastern Zhou are already heavily burdened.”
Di Luoxi couldn’t help but ask, “Then how will you fill the deficit?”
All eyes turned to Long Chen.
“The coal mine in Hell Mountain has become quite productive. In fact, over the past half year, the Ministry of Works has earned a considerable sum from it—over five hundred thousand taels—which has not yet been entered into the Ministry of Revenue’s accounts.”
Briquettes were distributed not only to officials but also sold to the common people, with the proceeds going to the Ministry of Works. The money was supposed to be transferred at year’s end, but Long Chen had deliberately withheld it.
“So much?” Di Luoxi was astounded, feeling as if her husband had been hiding private funds.
Di Yuwei nodded. “That still leaves a deficit. To achieve a surplus in two years is not enough.”
Long Chen said, “When the Ministry of Revenue reviewed the accounts, I began to consider ways to fill the shortfall. My idea is to establish a government trading association, like the Universal Guild, to conduct business across the realm.”
Di Yuwei thought for a moment, then shook her head. “That will not work. The Universal Guild has taken a century to build a network of shops and merchants throughout the land. Even with imperial support, it would take at least a decade.”
Di Luoxi agreed. “Let alone doing business throughout the world, even spreading shops across Eastern Zhou would take many years.”
“As for Southern Liang, Western Xia, and the Barbarians, we have no hope of entering their markets.”
These were hostile territories; they would never allow Eastern Zhou to do business there.
Long Chen replied, “I have already considered this.”
Di Yuwei and Di Luoxi both shot him a look of disdain—if you have something to say, just say it and stop beating around the bush.
Long Chen continued, “I’ve made inquiries. Besides the Universal Guild, there is another commercial association called the Dragon Guild.”
“We could choose to cooperate with them—become their silent partners, support their trade, and share in the profits.”
The Dragon Guild was a smaller organization; the previous head of the Universal Guild had two sons. The elder inherited the Universal Guild, while the younger struck out on his own to found the Dragon Guild, though its strength was much less.
Di Yuwei said, “I’ve heard of the Dragon Guild, but they’ve always been overshadowed by the Universal Guild.”
“The key question is, why would they want to work with you? Why share their profits?”