With that, the travel-worn Fan Xiuwen set off toward the capital.
The scholar in plain clothes was so furious that his face flushed red. He shouted at Fan Xiuwen’s retreating figure, “Bah! You claim you’re going to the palace to pay your respects to the Emperor and Grand Princess Fuxi? I say you’re going to the execution block! I took you for a scholar, but clearly you can’t even recognize a single character!”
The young servant traveling with Fan Xiuwen heard this and stopped in his tracks. He turned around and walked back to the scholar in plain clothes.
“I see you’re a scholar too. Then do you know who my master is?”
The scholar had not expected Fan Xiuwen’s servant to return. Afraid of being beaten, he shrank back and stammered, “I—I have no idea! Look at the state you’re in, covered in dust from head to toe. Who knows who you are?”
“My master is Fan Xiuwen, the third-ranked palace graduate! His Majesty just appointed him a fourth-rank Right Vice Censor! How dare a lowly nobody like you say that my master can’t even recognize a single character? What a joke!”
The scholar in plain clothes suddenly widened his eyes. His face turned deathly pale as he stared blankly at Fan Xiuwen’s departing back.
He seemed unable to believe his own eyes.
“He… he’s Fan Xiuwen, the youngest third-ranked palace graduate in all of Great Zhou…”
The servant no longer paid him any attention and hurried to catch up with his master.
The book slipped from the scholar’s hands. For some reason, he could no longer stand and collapsed onto the ground.
A nearby street vendor was equally stunned. “The third-ranked palace graduate Fan Xiuwen? He’s actually so young. I’ve heard people talking about him lately. They say he’s a truly good official.”
The scholar in plain clothes continued staring at the figure that had vanished into the crowd. “He’s more than just a good official. He’s the role model of every scholar in the realm, and the scholar I admire most. And I—I actually slandered him just now. I’m unworthy of being called a scholar…”
The street vendor sighed with feeling. “He’s really that impressive? Then when I get home, I’ll certainly tell my son, who’s studying. Though he’s only just started at the school, he must know who Fan Xiuwen is.”
“You should get up too. He’s already gone. Lord Fan is broad-minded and certainly won’t take what you said to heart. Come on, get up. Don’t block the front of my stall—it’s bad for business.”
Urged on by the vendor, the scholar in plain clothes struggled to his feet and left with his book, utterly dejected.
What many officials of Great Zhou had not expected was that simply lifting the restrictions on merchants would cause the national treasury to swell so considerably.
With more merchants traveling far and wide, the taxes collected increased as well. In just three months, the results were already remarkable.
For the past several days, the Minister of Revenue had been leading numerous officials from the Ministry of Revenue in checking the merchant-tax records. They verified them three times before he excitedly presented the ledgers to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty! Princess Fuxi was right! With more people entering commerce, the tax revenue is now more than double what it was in previous years! This measure truly can enrich the national treasury!”
Dantai Ji stared at the ledger in his hands, his eyes shining.
The treasury had actually gained money through those merchants!
With money in the treasury, he could expand the army, repair roads, and dredge rivers.
Unfortunately, it was still far from enough.
The Minister of Revenue continued, “That’s not all! After earning money, many merchants have begun distributing porridge and grain to the poor. Some have even taken the initiative to raise funds for road construction! It appears that this measure has truly eased the urgent crisis caused by our empty treasury.”
“Excellent!” Dantai Ji was overjoyed. He wanted to reward Second Master Cui, Cui Huaihao, but for a moment, he truly could not think of what to give him.
An official post? The Cui family’s second son had no interest in serving as an official.
Money? He probably had no shortage of that either.
Dantai Ji asked the Minister of Revenue, “Cui Huaihao has rendered great service this time. What does my esteemed minister think would be an appropriate reward?”
The Minister of Revenue replied, “Your Majesty is the sovereign of all under Heaven. Whatever reward you bestow is a gracious favor to the Cui family. The Cui family’s second son will certainly be overwhelmed with gratitude.”
Dantai Ji felt that the minister’s words were nothing but empty nonsense.
“Yaoyao knows!” A voice suddenly came from behind the screen.
The corner of Dantai Ji’s mouth twitched. Hadn’t he told this little rascal to hide?
The Minister of Revenue was startled as well.
Princess Fuxi!
Princess Fuxi was clever, certainly, but she was also playful and knew little of proper etiquette. She was always wandering around the imperial court, and His Majesty never stopped her.
The veteran ministers had petitioned numerous times for Princess Fuxi to remain properly in the inner palace, but to no avail.
Over time, they had somehow come to feel that Princess Fuxi’s casual appearances in the imperial court were perfectly normal.
How strange. If someone had told him five years ago that Great Zhou would have a princess who could freely come and go in the imperial court, he would have thought it utterly absurd and submitted memorials impeaching her day after day.
And yet, here they were…
The Minister of Revenue shook his head helplessly and bowed to the Princess Fuxi, who bounced out from behind the screen.
Seeing that the minister did not object, Dantai Ji breathed a sigh of relief. He lowered his head and looked at his little daughter’s flushed face.
“What scheme have you come up with this time, you little rascal?”
Rongyao lifted her chin and smiled at her father. With unusual seriousness, she said, “A few days ago, Yaoyao read a book among the common people about the government salt trade. I also sent people to investigate the populace, and only then discovered that many of our Great Zhou subjects still have no salt to buy.”
Dantai Ji frowned and glanced at the Minister of Revenue. “Is this true?”
The minister hurriedly replied, “The Princess is correct. Many common people cannot afford salt. For one thing, its price is high; for another, transportation is difficult. In some places, salt is so scarce that it is nearly impossible to obtain.”
Yaoyao said, “I heard that without salt, people are more likely to fall ill. Salt can neutralize poison, improve eyesight, and keep the body healthy. What are those who cannot get enough salt supposed to do?”
Dantai Ji’s eyes darkened as he thought of something. He tapped his daughter lightly on the head.
“Weren’t you trying to ask for a reward for the Cui family’s second son? Why have you suddenly brought up salt administration?”
“Salt is exactly what Yaoyao wants as his reward! A few days ago, Yaoyao read many books. After finishing them, Yaoyao finally understood why so many people cannot afford salt, and why it is so expensive. First, salt production cannot keep up with demand. Second, Great Zhou is vast, and the roads are treacherous, making transportation extremely difficult.”
The Minister of Revenue was stunned for a moment before saying, “Everything the Princess has said is crucial.”
Dantai Ji looked at his daughter seriously. “Could it be that you have a way to solve this?”
Rongyao spoke in her clear, ringing voice. “Since we know there’s a problem, we simply need to solve it. Produce more salt and find more people to transport it. Isn’t that enough?”
The Minister of Revenue was the highest-ranking official responsible for the salt administration. He hurriedly said, “Increasing production would be possible if we put in more effort and recruited more salt workers. But as for transportation, our dynasty mostly relies on conscripted labor. We simply don’t have enough laborers for the task.”
“Then let the people produce the salt!” Yaoyao said. “The people can make it, and the imperial court can purchase it all at a fixed price. As for transportation, we can recruit merchants. In exchange for silver, we can grant them salt licenses authorizing them to transport salt and bring it to the people in every part of Great Zhou!”
The Minister of Revenue cried out in alarm. “Princess, that would sever the very foundation of Great Zhou! How can we give the profits to the people and the merchants? Salt revenue accounts for one-tenth of our annual treasury income. Without the profits from salt, how could we possibly manage?”
