EWRN - Chapter 73
Chapter 73: Disaster
In the blink of an eye, time flew by, and soon it was the autumn harvest season.
This year, the Great Yuan Kingdom was struck by a severe drought. The number of times it had rained could be counted on one hand. Fertile fields were parched, lakes had dried up, and river levels had fallen. The few small rivers that remained were choked with thick, yellow mud.
The people of the northern Great Yuan Kingdom heard that the south had many rivers and no shortage of water. To escape the harsh taxes as well, they began to move their entire families southward. For a time, the northern cities were thrown into chaos.
The common folk of the north had already abandoned their fields and fled. The soil was dry and cracked, and the few remaining seedlings had withered and died. In the first year of the Yuanye reign, the north yielded no harvest whatsoever.
The south of the Great Yuan Kingdom was not much better. With a massive influx of refugees into southern cities, they too fell into a state of chaos. Some of the more volatile refugees banded together, engaging in arson, murder, and plunder. To prevent the cities from descending into anarchy, local officials had no choice but to order the gates sealed, barring any more refugees from entering.
However, while the cities were inaccessible, the surrounding villages were not. As a result, many southern villages suffered devastating pillaging. Fertile lands were seized by gangs of refugees, and these gangs then turned on each other, fighting to occupy more territory and become the new landowners.
For a time, the Great Yuan Kingdom was truly plunged into an abyss of suffering.
The Imperial City of the Great Yuan Kingdom.
On the surface, the Imperial City still appeared to be a scene of thriving prosperity. Within the palace walls, there was music and dance daily, and revelry every night.
Huo Jinye feasted on the palace's finest delicacies. The monthly tax revenue was used to lavishly purchase fine wines and meats imported from the Western Regions, exquisite silks and satins, and precious vessels. Because of the precedent set by Huo Jinyu, who had once spent a million taels of silver on a top courtesan, Huo Jinye felt he could not be outdone. He began to emulate his predecessor, frequenting different brothels daily, casually spending thousands to buy the first night of top courtesans and other girls. He even used tax money to buy the freedom of several courtesans, brought them into the palace, and granted them the rank of Noble Consort.
This act infuriated a group of old ministers to the point of vomiting blood. However, the truly infuriating events were still to come.
Early in the ninth month, in the throne room.
Huo Jinye slouched on the Dragon Throne as if boneless, propping his head up with his right hand and occasionally yawning. It was clear he'd had another night of debauchery and little rest.
The old ministers below watched this scene with aching hearts. They all heaved a long sigh, thinking that with the former Emperor Huo Jinyu's fate unknown, and the new Emperor Huo Jinye being such a good-for-nothing, the Huo imperial clan was doomed to have no worthy successor.
Previously, the old ministers had harbored reservations about Huo Jinyu's conduct. But now, with Emperor Yuanye Huo Jinye as a point of comparison, Huo Jinyu's virtues became apparent. During Huo Jinyu's reign, though she had been nonchalant, not a single matter had ever gone awry. And this one before them? He was addicted to women, spent money like water, and... and he was even withholding their salaries!
His addiction to women, they tolerated. His squandering of gold, they tolerated. His nightly revelries, they tolerated. But the one thing they absolutely could not tolerate was Huo Jinye withholding their salaries!
No one wants to be at odds with their own money!
Huo Jinye's attitude was very strange. He had refused to distribute salaries for two months. The Ministry of Revenue was supposed to be in charge of taxes and salaries, but Huo Jinye had seized control of it. Since his ascension, Minister of Revenue Li Wenjie had not been able to set foot inside the national treasury—he couldn't even get near it. Huo Jinye had ordered the treasury to be heavily guarded, to the point that not even a fly could approach.
This left Li Wenjie feeling utterly aggrieved. Was he the Minister of Revenue or not?! Damn it all!
Two months of delayed salaries was a major affair! Now, the third month was nearly over, yet there was still no movement from Huo Jinye. The ministers were frantic with anxiety.
Chief Steward Lu stood behind Huo Jinye with a clear conscience. Whether Emperor Yuanye paid the salaries had nothing to do with him. In any case, every time he accompanied Huo Jinye on an outing, the emperor would reward him with a handsome sum of silver. Thus, the only person in the palace who likely wasn't short on money was Chief Steward Lu himself. Besides, that person had instructed him that the more chaotic the palace became, the better—a veritable cesspool was ideal. Therefore, Chief Steward Lu frequently encouraged Huo Jinye to visit the brothels to 'listen to music,' and even offered him plenty of advice regarding women. As a result, he was deeply favored by Huo Jinye, and the palace, just as that person had wished, was indeed descending into a foul and chaotic state.
Chief Steward Lu: Hiding his deeds and name...
In the throne room, the officials paid their respects to Huo Jinye. Only after receiving his command did they rise to their feet.
"Present your memorials if you have them, or court is dismissed if you do not," Huo Jinye said listlessly. His mind was already on his harem of consorts. At the thought of the night's fragrant and titillating scenes, a wicked heat stirred in his gut. He was already impatient to go and bestow his favor upon his noble consorts.
Hearing Emperor Yuanye utter such a perfunctory dismissal with such an idle air, the ministers were incensed. Court had just begun, and he was already eager to end it. Did he truly see them as nothing but air? Were they supposed to be grateful that he was even willing to attend court at all?
"This subject has a matter to report!" Minister of Revenue Li Wenjie stepped forward from the ranks and announced loudly.
"What is it, Beloved Minister Li?" Huo Jinye frowned slightly. He was not only eager to see his consorts, but he was also especially impatient when it came to dealing with the Minister of Revenue.
Because he had a guilty conscience.
Minister of Revenue Li Wenjie hesitated for a moment but spoke up anyway. "This subject implores Your Majesty to grant permission for me to go to the national treasury and distribute the salaries to all the officials! We have not received our pay for nearly three months!"
Right, so it was about this! Huo Jinye's brows furrowed so tightly he could have crushed a fly between them. As expected, the Minister of Revenue never opened his mouth with good news. He had struck right at Huo Jinye's sore spot.
Huo Jinye fell silent, unsure how to respond. The officials in the court were all looking at him expectantly, and he felt an unprecedented, mountain-like pressure.
"We will not trouble Your Majesty; this subject can handle the distribution myself," Minister of Revenue Li Wenjie said, looking at Huo Jinye with some confusion. The Great Yuan Kingdom's foundation, built over a thousand years, was no trifle. The Minister of Revenue knew exactly how much gold, silver, and treasure the national treasury held. Huo Jinye had been on the throne for less than a year. No matter how wasteful he was, he surely couldn't have spent that much. There was no need for Emperor Yuanye to be so secretive. He should just say what was on his mind. Why withhold their salaries for nearly three months?!
Could it be that Emperor Yuanye was afraid that they, his subjects, would reprimand him?
But now, Huo Jinye could no longer find an excuse. He had already used every pretext he could think of, hoping to stall for another day, just to muddle through. He never expected this day of reckoning to arrive so soon.
In truth, Huo Jinye had already raised taxes. Logically speaking, in such a vast kingdom, the monthly tax revenue should have been a considerable sum. But it was no match for Huo Jinye's squandering. He had idly consumed the state's resources, leading to this current, awkward predicament from which he could not extricate himself.
"Your Majesty?" Li Wenjie called out cautiously.
"We are listening! Stop shouting." Huo Jinye rubbed his aching head. It seemed he had no choice but to face reality. He… he no longer even had the most crucial thing: money. The army's expenses were becoming unsustainable. In reality, the kingdom he supposedly controlled was already teetering on the brink of collapse, slipping from his grasp.
He had no idea what the ministers at court would think.
"Chief Steward Lu, take the Minister of Revenue to the national treasury," Huo Jinye ordered with a pained wave of his hand.
Having been by Huo Jinye's side for so long, Chief Steward Lu knew his situation better than anyone. He was well aware that the national treasury was so bare that even rats would starve in it. "Your Majesty, this…" Chief Steward Lu began hesitantly, feigning a look of concern for the emperor.
Seeing this, Huo Jinye felt a little more settled. That was right, he still had Chief Steward Lu. The man was so clever. He would have to consult with him properly after court was dismissed.
"Chief Steward Lu, you need not say more. Just go." Huo Jinye had resolved to face reality.
Minister of Revenue Li Wenjie was completely baffled. With a look of utter confusion, he followed Chief Steward Lu toward the national treasury.
With the emperor's verbal command, the soldiers guarding the treasury stepped aside. The great doors swung open. They passed through a long corridor lit by ever-burning lamps and arrived at a treasury that was completely empty.
Li Wenjie: ???!!!
He was too astonished to speak.
The civil and military officials waited anxiously in the hall for the outcome. Soon, they saw Minister of Revenue Li Wenjie hurry back with Chief Steward Lu, his face as foul as if he had just eaten dung.
Upon his return, Minister of Revenue Li Wenjie dropped to his knees with a thud. "Reporting to Your Majesty! This subject does not understand what is happening!" He kowtowed once and waited for Huo Jinye's explanation.
Huo Jinye slammed his fist on the table. "We do not understand what is happening either! We only discovered this on the day of my ascension." He was seething with rage. Huo Jinyu! Huo Jinyu! That damned Huo Jinyu! It must have been him! He must have arranged this in advance and completely emptied the national treasury!
The civil and military officials watched this unfold in astonishment, completely clueless as to what was going on. Someone please explain!
"Your Majesty! An empty treasury is a matter of grave importance! Why did you not inform us?" Li Wenjie demanded through gritted teeth as he knelt on the floor.
"Insolence!" Huo Jinye slammed his hand on the small table, splashing tea everywhere. "Do We need to report to a mere subject like you? If that damned old fox Huo Jinyu hadn't emptied the treasury, We wouldn't have to suffer such indignity!" he said hatefully.
The treasury is empty??? Huo Jinyu emptied the treasury???
For a moment, all the officials felt as if they had been struck in the chest by a heavy hammer. If the former Emperor Huo Jinyu had emptied the treasury, didn't that mean the Great Yuan Kingdom was now as poor as a stray dog?!
"Reporting to Your Majesty! Why were we not informed of a matter as critical as an empty treasury?!" an old minister demanded, stepping forward from the ranks.
"Your Majesty! If the treasury is empty, and Your Majesty has already increased taxes, why is it that even our salaries cannot be paid?" a younger minister stepped forward. Full of youthful impetuousness, he laid the ugly truth bare for all to see.
"Reporting to Your Majesty! Since you knew the treasury was empty, why did you not make plans sooner, instead continuing with your nightly revelries and daily celebrations?!" a highly respected old minister stepped forward to rebuke him.
"Your Majesty…" Another minister stepped forward, only to be viciously cut off by Huo Jinye before he could finish.
"Enough! All of you, shut the hell up for Us!" Huo Jinye slammed his hand on the table, turning it red as his whole body trembled with rage.
"Who gave you the nerve to criticize Us like this?!" Huo Jinye was completely deaf to the officials' doubts and accusations.
"This subject dares to say it! Your Majesty truly needs to wake up! You must not indulge in women! You must not frequent filthy places like brothels! And you must stop squandering money like water!" an elderly minister declared, stepping forward to admonish him.
"We said, shut your mouths!" Huo Jinye grew increasingly impatient. Was it wrong for him to exercise his rights as a man? His ears were filled with the incessant accusations of these old ministers, and his head felt ready to explode. "Guards! Drag him out for Us and give him fifty strokes of the cane!"
No one had expected Huo Jinye's sudden outburst. But it made sense. He was the emperor, after all, and a short-tempered one at that. How could he tolerate being so openly rebuked by his own subjects?
And so, under the astonished gazes of everyone present, the highly respected old minister was dragged away by the guards.
"Your Majesty, we implore you to reconsider!" the ministers cried, falling to their knees.
"We beg Your Majesty to show mercy!"
"Your Majesty, we implore you to reconsider!"
The ministers all pleaded on the old man's behalf, but Huo Jinye was determined to make an example of him. By the time the sound of the caning outside stopped, the old minister was barely breathing.
The court session was thus summarily dismissed. A sense of unease settled over the ministers. None of them had expected the new emperor to be so tyrannical.
The ministers dispersed, still shaken, and hurried to their respective homes. They needed to discuss their next steps with their families.
Only Hou Yuwen, the General of the State, secretly made his way toward Huo Jinye's bedchambers.
Hou Yuwen: Huo Jinye, I want you to be happy!
Huo Jinye: Meow meow meow? I thought of you as a brother, and you actually want to...
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