Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 9 : Promotion

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Since the end of the year, many of the pedestrians on the streets of Qudu wore “nao’e” made of black gold paper. As Zhengdan Festival approached, the common folks strove to prepare pastries and cooked meat at home. The palace had started procuring the ingredients for the ‘Banquet of Ten Thousand Officials’ half a month in advance. Everyone from the Court of Imperial Entertainments was busy running all over, yet the eunuchs still got to line their pockets. 

Xiao Chiye flipped through the book and said, “When those officials on the outside enter the Capital, it is inevitable for them to have to pay ‘ice respect’ to the officials in the Capital. But Pan Rugui is so impressive that he drew up such a well-organized list: only when they shell out the money according to his list will they be left in peace.”

“And these are only just the ‘small changes’ at the beginning of the year.” Lu Guangbai brushed aside the foam in his tea. “Let me give you an account. The money the little eunuch under Pan Rugui receives in a year far exceeds the two-year salary of a Battalion Commander Guard at the frontier. Dazhou uses the military troops every year, and each time the Ministry of Revenue asks us to deploy the troops, they have to plead with us and coax us to do so. But after the battle is over, we become the bastards who demand our payments.” 

“It’s the ones with the money who are the masters.” Xiao Chiye smiled and said.

“When we came to the Emperor’s rescue before the new year, our Libei troops braved the snow to march forward. The men and horses are tired, and the repairs for the Armored Cavalry’s equipment need to be completed before the start of Spring. We have owed the workshop money for too many days. Everything requires money.”

Zhao Hui carefully made the calculations in his mind and said, “Before we entered Qudu, the Libei troops engaged in farming duties converted the annual grain harvest into money. Every day, we have to count every cent and make every cent count. Our Hereditary Prince’s Consort does not even dare to purchase expensive attire for the Residence during the new year and other festivals. The money a palace eunuch like Pan Rugui has collected has already exceeded Duanzhou’s total tax amount. The Investigating Censors exert their influence when assigned to local governments. But so what? In Qudu, they don’t even dare to let out a fart!” 

“What to do, we are poor.” Lu Guangbai lamented, “Every year, we have to worry about money. Jiming made a trip to the Capital this time, so the Ministry of Revenue did not dare to delay it on his account and had long submitted the request to the Grand Secretariat. Pan Rugui has also behaved himself and endorsed his approval. The funds should be handed over before he leaves the Capital.” 

“We have Eldest Brother.” Xiao Chiye set aside the book and looked towards Lu Guangbai. “But what are you going to do?”

“His Majesty wouldn’t see me.” Lu Guangbai said, “The Lu Clan is unpopular in Qudu. The Eight Great Clans have always regarded us as savages from the desert, and the Hua Clan wouldn’t even look us right in the eyes. But even if you tell me to show my ‘respects’ to Pan Rugui, I don’t have the money to. We are so poor at home we could barely put food on the table. Other places could cultivate lands for their troops to farm, and that is at least an emergency measure to meet needs. But our Bianjun Commandery has just yellow sand for miles around. Even if we want to farm, we don’t have the fields. This time, we dispatched the troops out on a swift expedition, and all the food for the men and horses during the journey were paid for with Commander-in-Chief Qi’s personal savings. To put it bluntly, it was all thanks to Commander-in-Chief Qi’s understanding and sympathy. Otherwise, my troops would have never made it past Tianfei Watchtower. But how much money would Commander-in-Chief Qi have? She’s using the remnants of her own dowry that the Old Imperial Consort has left for her! Her own private troops are almost on the verge of selling their own pants! The Ministry of Revenue keeps playing Taiji with me every day. Dereliction of duty, huh? They keep pushing my account aside and refuse to allocate the funds to me, figuring that a country bumpkin like me could do nothing about them.”