The first to present his report was Yang Yi, Commissioner of the Three Departments. Holding his court tablet, he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the fiscal administration, salt and iron, and revenue divisions of the Three Departments have completed their calculations of last year's receipts and expenditures in coin and grain throughout the realm. The court received a total of forty-eight million six hundred and twenty thousand strings of cash and shi of grain, and spent forty-two million seven hundred thousand. The entire surplus has been remitted to the Left Treasury. The treasury is now full, and military pay and provisions are secure."
Emperor Chen tapped the armrest of his dragon throne with his fingertips, producing a rhythmic knocking.
"Good."
He answered mildly, "Yet excessive expenses remain. You must all budget carefully and not allow the state's resources to be squandered."
Yang Yi bowed and withdrew.
Next, Minister of Revenue Liao Zhennan stepped forward, his voice ringing clear. "Your Majesty, last year's encouragement of farming and sericulture added three hundred thousand registered households and five thousand qing of cultivated land. Repairs to the waterworks of eastern Hu Prefecture have been completed. The polder fields yielded a rich harvest, grain transport flowed freely, and the granaries are full."
Vice Minister of Works Du Chongwei stepped forward to add, "Your Majesty, dredging of the Grand Canal is complete, and the embankments along its course have been reinforced, facilitating grain transport while preventing floods. In addition, the Divine Arm Bows newly manufactured by the Armaments Bureau have been distributed to the frontier troops. These fine weapons will strengthen the nation's prestige."
At this, an almost imperceptible smile touched Emperor Chen's lips. "When waterworks flourish, granaries fill; when weapons are sharp, the frontiers are secure."
His tone was earnest, carrying a rare measure of