But now that the Sage Emperor had passed such a decree, they had no choice but to follow it.
Even if it was Fumeng Lingcha and Go Seonji, they could only kneel down and thank the emperor for his magnanimity.
…
“Even though that wasn’t my intended outcome, the results are still satisfactory!”
Wang Chong heard the news while he was still in the ‘imperial prison’. Even though he was fairly satisfied with the outcome, he still felt that it was a pity that the ‘regional commanders’ policy was approved.
For the sake of this matter, he had done everything in his power. The old master had also written a memorial to the Sage Emperor. He had even earned the support and approval of countless Han generals.
However, the gears of destiny still continued to rumble on. Fate was not something that could be altered so easily.
That being said, his hard work was not completely futile.
At the very least, the ‘utilizing Hu talents’ policy had been abolished. This meant that it would be difficult for the Hu to wield as much influence over the Great Tang’s military as they did back then.
This would limit the destruction the rebellion of the Hu would cause to Great Tang. Furthermore, the decree stating that ‘the number of Han commanders in a border army regiment cannot be below 20 percent as long as the number of Han soldiers in a border army regiment exceeds fifty percent’ was also a huge improvement.
At least the Han troops had a real chance at promotion now.
As for the three months of imprisonment, that was actually the least of Wang Chong’s worries. In any case, he could spend this period of time cultivating his 《Little Yinyang Art》. Making a rough estimate, it should be enough time for him to achieve the Minor Accomplishment.
Hualala!
The chains shook, and Wang Chong quickly calmed down. Immediately after, balls of red light started flowing through his body.
…
“To think that he could survive even like that!”
Within the Yuzhen Palace, holding on a letter with the Sage Emperor’s verdict written on it, Yang Zhao muttered. There were many powers who had been paying careful attention to this matter, and Yuzhen Palace was one of them.
This matter would determine how those in power would treat the Wang Clan, whether they should get intimate with Wang Chong or keep their distance, and whether they should approve Wang Chong or oppose him.
This matter had caused many Hu generals to stand out and demand Wang Chong’s death; Fumeng Lingcha, Go Seonji, Geshu Han… Just their names were sufficient to leave Yang Zhao’s hair standing on end.
With such tremendous pressure, he thought that Wang Chong would be doomed. At the very least, he would be subjected to some severe punishment. Yet, he was only put through three insignificant months of imprisonment in the end.
“Brother, did you hear of the jinyuan note policy?”
Within the tent, Consort Taizhen suddenly asked. Regarding the verdict on Wang Chong, it seemed like the jinyuan note policy had played a crucial role.
“Hehe, little sister, you’ve asked the right person. Those senile bunch in the royal court are thinking that the Sage Emperor is just making up an excuse to get Wang Chong off the hook, but I can tell you that that isn’t the case. Everyone has underestimated the use of this jinyuan note!”
“If this policy were to be passed, it would contribute greatly to the development of Great Tang. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was conferred a nobility or given a ministerial position for this.”
Yang Zhao explained with a slight smugness hanging on his face.
Even though he was a coarse person who often spent his time in gambling dens, he possessed an innate talent and intuition when it came to money matters.
At a time when even the majority of court officials were unable to see through the value of Wang Chong’s ‘jinyuan notes’, Yang Zhao could sense the value of the policy as soon as he heard of it.
“Isn’t big brother being a little too exaggerated? Is that jinyuan note really that incredible?”
Consort Taizhen was surprised. She was only asking about the matter casually, and never did she expect her big brother to have such a high evaluation of it.
“Hehe, little sister, you’ve grown up in comfort so it’s natural for you to be unaware of the details. Do you know how much gold does Great Tang mine in a year?”
Yang Zhao chuckled. Without waiting for Consort Taizhen’s reply, he revealed the answer.
“Two hundred thousand taels! It sounds like quite a sizeable sum, right? However, I can tell you that a year ago, three hundred thousand taels was harvested, and the year before that, it was five hundred thousand taels.”
“Gold is a limited resource, and the quantity harvested is gradually diminishing every year. It might still be two hundred thousand taels this year, but in the next, it could be a hundred thousand, and in the year after the next, eighty thousand or even just seventy thousand. For an empire as vast as Great Tang to harvest only several ten thousand taels each year, do you know what this represents?”
“The empire will find itself short on money!”
“How is this possible?”
Consort Taizhen exclaimed in shock. Only then did she finally understand the severity of the matter. It would be a huge problem if the empire were to find itself lacking money in circulation.
“Hehe, little sister, there’s nothing much to be surprised about. Such a matter has occurred in the previous dynasties as well, just that the severity of the matter differs. Given the prosperity and scale of the current dynasty, I find it a peculiarity that it could persevere up until now without any major problems occurring.”
Yang Zhao smiled. He had not been idle since entering the palace. Using the name of Consort Taizhen, he had gathered a massive amount of information regarding Great Tang, diligently trying to learn as much as he could. ——And of course, most of what he learned was regarding money.
“The annual expenditure of the royal court is immense. The palace’s internal expenditure, the development of new land, the upkeep for the military, the salary of the officials… All of these add up to a massive sum. Even if one possesses a mountain of gold and silver, it’ll be impossible to keep up with this massive expenditure. The bulk of the royal court’s income comes from taxation, and without a huge amount of gold and silver flowing through the population, the sum earned from taxation will be limited.”
“However, the jinyuan note changes everything.”
At this point, Yang Zhao smiled gleefully.
“With the jinyuan note, the royal court will be able to craft and issue as much money as it requires, thus reducing its dependency on gold and silver. That will be, in the truest sense, a mountain of gold and silver, a supply of currency that will never dry out! That Wang Chong is indeed a genius!”
The compliment that Yang Zhao offered Wang Chong came from the depths of his heart!
That is what a true genius is!
Yang Zhao couldn’t understand the memorial and the Wootz steel sword, so he couldn’t say anything much on those matters. However, just on the jinyuan note itself, he was confident that the other party was a man of great talent!
He had no idea how Wang Chong could come up with such a revolutionary idea. Compared to Wang Chong, all of the finance ministers from the inception of time, be it Guan Zi or Tao Zhu Gong, were all far too lacking.
Yang Zhao rarely conceded to others, especially on a matter regarding ‘money’. But this time, he felt true respect for the other party.
In the tent, Consort Taizhen fell into deep contemplation.
…
“Cheers!”
In the Wang Family Residence, Big Uncle Wang Gen, Big Aunt Wang Ru Shuang, Uncle Li Lin, Mother Madam Wang, little sister, Cousin Wang Zhu Yan and Wang Liang, were all gathered together. Wine cups toasted with one another, and everyone’s faces were flushed in delight and excitement.
When Wang Chong’s verdi
ct was passed, the happiest of them all were the Wang Clan members.
Even though the Wang Clan had been growing distant internally, and there were numerous shady dealings beneath the surface, for this crisis, they had gathered together and worked as one. Thus, when they heard this news, they celebrated as one as well.
None of them had realized it yet, but under the threat of Wang Chong’s execution, the entire Wang Clan had unknowingly gathered as a whole once more.
Even the usually strict big uncle was a bundle of smiles today. He even took the initiative to pour a few cups of pomegranate juice that came all the way from the Western Regions for little sister.
Such a sight was unthinkable in the past.
“Thank you, everyone. Thank you! …”
Using tea as a substitute for wine, Madam Wang lifted her cup and thanked everyone with reddened eyes. She could barely hold back her tears as she spoke. The worry she had been put through in the past few days had nearly shattered her heart.
“Sister-in-law, don’t cry. Everything is over, it’s alright now.”
Big Aunt Wang Ru Shuang hurriedly consoled her.
Madam Wang nodded and hurriedly wiped away her tears. On the other hand, the witty Wang Family little sister lifted her cup of pomegranate juice up high and declared:
“Come! Let’s toast to Third Brother’s swift release!”
Her words had piqued a wave of laughter amidst the group. All of them stood up.
“Come, cheers!”
…
The ‘imperial prison’ was completely isolated from the world. Oblivious to the various happenings outside, Wang Chong cultivated quietly.
“Lad, who are you?”
Just as Wang Chong was in the midst of his cultivation, Wang Chong suddenly heard a bright voice.
At the same moment, a familiar mechanical voice suddenly echoed in Wang Chong’s head.
【Divergence of Destiny: Mysterious Prisoner】
【Mission Reward: 100 Destiny Energy!】
Weng!
That voice caught Wang Chong by surprise.
“Who is it?”
Wang Chong abruptly opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings. However, it seemed that nobody other than him had heard the voice.
A few other prisoners even shot bizarre glances at Wang Chong.
“Hmph, I’m talking to you. How did you get in here?”
The same voice echoed once again, but this time, it sounded slightly displeased. Its tone was extremely arrogant.
Wang Chong was taken aback.
He never thought that he would meet with this kind of situation in the imperial prison.
“Only those who have sinned would be locked in the imperial prison. I wrote a memorial that offended the Sage Emperor, that’s why I’m locked in here. May I know who elder is, and why you are locked in here?”
Wang Chong asked.
The other party’s voice had sounded right within his head. Without a doubt, this was an extremely formidable spirit secret art.
Those who were locked in the imperial prison were all sinners so the other party must have committed some kind of crime as well.
“Imperial prison? Hahaha, you actually think you’re in the imperial prison?”
Unexpectedly, the other party started laughing, as though mocking his naivety.
Guan Zi, also known as Guan Zhong, is a Chancellor of State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period (BC720 – 645)
Some of his feats:
-Introducing state monopolies to salt and iron
-Uniform tax code
-Starting the first government sponsored brothel.
Tao Zhu Gong, also known as Fan Li, (BC536 – 448) is rich businessman during the Spring and Autumn Period. He’s also the Chancellor of State of Qi, but during in an era after Guan Zi.
Chapter 175: Gift From the Mysterious Prisoner!
“This isn’t the imperial prison?!”
Wang Chong was surprised. He had been in here for so long, but it was the first time he had heard someone say that this was not the imperial prison.
“Hehe, to think that someone would say that a palace of the previous Great Sui would be the imperial prison, what an irony! However, it isn’t entirely wrong for you to think of it as the imperial prison either. There are nine floors to the imperial prison, and you are at the tenth floor. In a way, this can be considered as an extension of the imperial prison!”
The mysterious voice sneered coldly.
“Palace of the Great Sui?”
Wang Chong’s heart skipped a beat. He abruptly lifted his head and surveyed his surroundings with a look of disbelief. He had been here for so long, but he never realized that this was a palace of the Great Sui!
Dynasties rose and fell, it was a cycle of natural change. The era before the rise of the Great Tang was the Sui dynasty. As if to symbolize that, the Great Tang royal palace was built on the ruins of the previous Great Sui royal palace. Wang Chong was well aware about this.
Just that, he did not expect to see an intact Great Sui palace beneath the royal palace.
“Elder, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but if this isn’t the imperial prison, then why would these people be locked here as well? Even if I can’t make out whether this is the imperial prison or not, surely they would be able to sense something?”
Wang Chong asked doubtfully.
“Hahaha, them? You mean the prisoners who had been brought here just a few days ago? Do you think that these prisoners can tell where they are? If the guards claim that this is imperial prison, then to them, this would be the imperial prison.”
“I was still curious as to why so many people were brought here all of the sudden. Now, I finally understand. It’s all because of you! These prisoners were sent here because of you!”
“AH!”
The other party’s reply left Wang Chong stunned. All along, Wang Chong had thought that these prisoners had been locked here from the very start.
However, after listening to the other party’s words, he realized that these prisoners had been shifted here just awhile ago. This information left Wang Chong dumbstruck.
Although it sounded absurd, Wang Chong did not think that the opposite party had any reason to lie to him.
“How can that be?”
Lifting his head, Wang Chong muttered silently. The underlying truth of the entire incident surfaced in his mind, but it was so inconceivable that he found it hard to accept.
If what the other party said was true, it meant that these prisoners were all brought in here in a rush to form this temporary prison.
On top of that, he didn’t expect the Stone of Destiny to regard the meeting with this mysterious man so highly.
Thinking back, when he reversed the destiny of his clan previously and obtained the title of Destiny Struggler, he was only awarded 50 Destiny Energy.
Yet, as soon this person’s voice rang, the Stone of Destiny was immediately triggered, and a notice regarding the mission reward of 100 Destiny Energy appeared in his head.
Wang Chong could not imagine what kind of person could hold such weight.
“Let me ask you a question. How long have you known him?”
Wang Chong immediately turned around and asked a prisoner while pointing to another.
“Him? I’m not too sure, I don’t really know him! I was only brought here ten days ago… Wait, it should be a month. Or was it three months? How long has it been? How long…”
Initially, the prisoner was still able to answer coherently, but eventually, his words became more and more muddled up.
Upon seeing his state, Wang Chong hurriedly stopped him. On the other hand, the other prisoners seemed to be used to such a sight.
The concept of day and time did not apply to the imperial prison, making it nearly impossible for one to determine the flow of time in here. After staying here for too long, it was easy for one to lose one’s sanity.
It might be difficult for one to determine it wit
h a single glance, but with the right impetus, their insanity streak would immediately trigger. Even Wang Chong could only keep track of time by counting the number of water droplets falling to the ground.
“It seems like he’s right.”
Wang Chong thought. Even though the other party’s reply was slightly erratic, it was clear that they had only been shifted here awhile ago.
However, due to the long duration of incarceration in the imperial prison, they were already numb to the concepts of time and location.
“Elder, you said that there are nine floors to the imperial prison and I’m locked in the tenth. In that case, may I know which floor is elder in?”
Wang Chong tried asking.
This person was simply too bizarre and mysterious.
“Me? Hahaha! If you’re on the tenth floor, then I’m on the twentieth. The one locked at the bottommost of the Great Sui palace is me.”
The person was laughing, but from his laughter, Wang Chong could sense deep sorrow and indignance.
“Then, may I know why is elder being locked here?”
Wang Chong asked.
The laughter came to an abrupt stop. In an instant, the entire underground world fell silent. For a very long time, Wang Chong waited, but a reply did not come. It was as though everything that had just happened was just a hallucination on Wang Chong’s part.
“Elder?”
Frowning, Wang Chong asked once more.
“Young man, don’t ask too much. Sometimes, knowing too much isn’t a good thing. Aren’t you going to go out soon? I’ll answer your question the next time you return here.”
“However, I don’t like taking advantage of others, especially those younger than me. So, I’ll give you this as compensation for talking with me!”
Then, before Wang Chong could react, he felt the ground beneath him tremble. A huge surge of strength flew through the ground, charging straight into Wang Chong’s body.
Wang Chong’s ‘Little Yinyang Art’ had just met with a bottleneck; there was an acupoint that he had been unable to open up despite repeated attempts. However, under the impact of this energy, it was immediately knocked open.
The immense force didn’t stop there.. Boom boom boom, it consecutively opened up the various pathways required for the ‘Little Yinyang Art’, and only after circulating around Wang Chong’s body once did it finally disappear without a trace.
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