Chapter 1370 - 1297: Zhang Shi
Not only Zhao Hu, but many officials also felt stirred in their hearts.
Money, who doesn’t want more?
This era isn’t one where officials are ashamed to talk about money; they openly express their love for wealth and would discuss directly with their superiors if their salary feels insufficient.
For instance, Ji Yuan and Ming Yu expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "Now that refugees are being gathered and the court is extensively redeeming people from bondage, our land enfeoffed for official duty has no farmers, and we officials are too busy to farm it ourselves, thus it lies uncultivated, and we must pay a lot of taxes annually."
At the time, Zhao Hanzhang was not yet emperor, Ji Yuan merely said: "This is why the policy of redeeming people from bondage has always been delayed. Whether officials or common folks, they should not be subject to policies that go against human nature. If the General wishes to emancipate slaves, she must provide officials with enough salary so they can afford to use fewer or no servants."
Zhao Hanzhang took this to heart and had decided to implement some reforms once she fully assumed power.
In short, officials have limited yearly income because their enfeoffed lands are either uncultivated or sparsely cultivated.
Furthermore, with the treasury empty at the time, Zhao Hanzhang delayed their salaries for two months, only recently providing them retroactively, hence many officials know the importance of money.
Gentlemen love wealth acquired through just means; receiving a bonus from the emperor is such a means. While they can’t personally go to the Western Regions, they can send relatives and friends to invest on their behalf.
However...
"Your Majesty, the journey to the Western Regions is difficult, not only crossing the Great Desert but there are kingdom tributes yet to submit, and potential encounters with bandits; relying solely on the people’s strength may lead to difficulties reaching the Kang Country."
Otherwise, why would she offer ten gold coins for one pound of cotton seeds?
It’s precisely due to difficulties that she offers great rewards, for under heavy rewards, there are bound to be brave men. She wants to acquire as many cotton seeds as quickly as possible.
Of course, she cannot let her citizens die in vain.
Zhao Hanzhang smiled warmly at Zhang Shi, asking, "Zhang Aiqing, do you have routes and maps to the Western Regions, and matters to be cautious about along the way?"
It turned out Zhang Shi did know; his eyes brightened and he sat up straight, asking, "Your Majesty intends to personally dispatch an envoy to the Western Regions?"
Zhao Hanzhang’s eyes sparkled and she nodded, "That is my intention."
Zhang Shi immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to serve; please send me to the Western Regions. I can bring back seeds as well as Buddhist Law."
She doesn’t currently need Buddhist Law; she only needs various seeds.
Zhang Shi is a believer in Buddhism; before his father suffered a stroke and fell unconscious, he traveled outside, chasing Buddhist Law.
After his father’s stroke, he was found and brought back to Xiliang, and temporarily filled his father’s role in managing Xiliang.
However, Zhang Gui’s trusted ministers recognized him but found it difficult to fully comply with him.
For instance, when Zhang Shi wants to do something, Xiliang officials recognize him as a successor but think his ideas are unreliable, hence there is much questioning and obstruction.
This was also one of the reasons for the previous coup and military rebellion in Xiliang—Zhang Gui fell ill suddenly, his two sons failed to convince the masses, and also, Xiliang is... very superstitious.
Although nowadays superstitions are prevalent everywhere, Xiliang seems extremely superstitious. Rebel Zhang Yue believed he could replace Zhang Gui due to a prophecy and thus revolted, taking advantage of Zhang Gui’s stroke to nearly overturn the regime;
Many years later, Zhang Shi, now Lord of Xiliang, also died due to superstitious activity; even he himself continually engaged in various superstitious practices.
Regarding Zhang Gui, Zhao Hanzhang still respects him, and with her beloved general Beigong Chun being a student of his, she earnestly advises, "Zhang Aiqing, everything in this world should be taken in moderation. Though Buddhist Law is good, one must remain clear-headed, not too far, not too close, this way one can see clearly."
Zhang Shi wholeheartedly agrees, with a face full of sincerity, "I am currently too far, not yet enlightened by Buddha. If I can go to the Western Regions to find the source of Buddhist Law, I would have no regrets even if I die."
With such ambition, Zhao Hanzhang still admires it, thus she says, "Alright, I shall appoint you as envoy to the Western Regions."
But for such a significant matter, Zhang Shi alone is naturally not enough.
Zhao Hanzhang glanced through the officials, planning to deliberate again in a few days. Since Zhang Shi has long intended to go to the Western Regions for scriptures, he must have done some research.
She decided to directly let him consult with the Court of State Ceremonial, and subsequent information should be published in several major newspapers, ideally printing maps for sale in bookstores.
Tuoba Yilu saw Zhao Hanzhang so enamored with that white flower, almost forgetting about the issue concerning their father and son duo, unsure whether to feel happy or sad.
Finally, when Yuan Li temporarily left, Tuoba Yilu seized Tuoba Liuxiu’s hand, whispering, "Liuxiu, do you know Zhao Hanzhang has intentions of replacing our country?"
Tuoba Liuxiu tried to shake off his hand; Tuoba Yilu held tightly, softly saying, "Whatever family troubles we have, if she seizes Dai Country amidst it, we shall both be guilty to our people."
Tuoba Liuxiu sneered coldly, "Aunt is more righteous than you. She says, cutting off people’s sacrifices is a great evil under heaven; whether Xiongnu or Han, in her eyes, they are all her subjects."
"The Xiongnu Kingdom once invaded the Central Plains, yet now does she not treat the remaining Xiongnu well?" Tuoba Liuxiu said, "She harbors no intention to kill me, nor to destroy you; rather, it is you who have never ceased to want to kill me."
He forcefully withdrew his hand from Tuoba Yilu’s grasp, coldly shifted his seat slightly away, "She is your sworn sister, also my aunt, considered family."
Tuoba Yilu was infuriated.
However, more infuriating events swiftly followed—the next day at the grand court assembly, Zhao Hanzhang first elevated her mother Mrs. Wang as Empress Dowager, her husband Fu Tinghan as Imperial Consort, then praised Xiliang, Cheng Country, and Dai Country at length, with Tuoba Yilu and Tuoba Liuxiu taking up much space, finally establishing Dai’s Princely Heir as King of Dai, while Tuoba Yilu was to remain in the capital as a companion to the emperor, teaching martial arts and horsemanship.
Standing among the officials, Tuoba Yilu’s hands and feet were cold, thinking there was still room for change, as today the Empress Dowager is established, tomorrow the Imperial Consort, the day after the merits and rewards are discussed; once these matters are handled, even if he hasn’t strategized well, he would have wrestled for a few days; thus, there might be less discomfort.
Yet here it was just one night; he hadn’t fully struggled, feeling extremely unwilling in his heart.
The officials had no objections to the newly appointed King of Dai, and Tuoba Yilu, who might have objections, dared not express them after the conversation at Deyang Palace.
Seeing Tuoba Liuxiu already stepped out, he could only proceed and kneel with his rebellious son to receive orders.
Both Empress Dowager and Imperial Consort have formal ceremonies, though slightly less grand than the enthronement ritual.
The national treasury was empty, all funded from private reserves, and as a result of these two ceremonies, Zhao Hanzhang’s personal vault was emptied.
At night, Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan took up pens, making circles and marks on a pile of lists, "Second Son is inclined towards martial arts, I’d like to confer the title King Qin upon him."