Meanwhile, that same night, lamps blazed throughout the main hall of the Kou residence.
No banquet had been laid out in the hall, nor any wine or dishes served. Only four small square tables stood to either side.
A single cup of plain tea rested on each table, with more than a dozen leading Upright Officials seated among them.
Scarlet robes and blue gowns, each man bearing himself differently.
Kou Yuan sat upright in the seat of honor, dressed in everyday clothes, his expression kindly, without a trace of official hauteur.
Unfortunately, wherever his eyes turned, none of the private designs harbored by those present escaped his scrutiny.
After the tea had been replenished twice, someone finally spoke.
The speaker was Qi Zhao, Right Vice Minister of Ministry of Revenue.
He was Kou Yuan's most capable follower, and a man renowned among the Upright Officials for speaking plainly.
(The Left Vice Minister of Ministry of Revenue was Zou Mo, of the Shen Faction.)
He first set down his teacup, then glanced at Kou Yuan.
Kou Yuan gave a slight nod. Only then did Qi Zhao clear his throat and begin:
"Grand Secretary Kou, I imagine everyone has heard the sum involved in that silver from Suzhou.
Three million two hundred thousand taels, equivalent to four million five hundred thousand strings of cash.
Heh, calling this silver a windfall dropped from heaven would be no exaggeration.
But how to use it, where to use it, and whether to use it at all are matters of the utmost importance."
Qi Zhao had barely finished when someone beside him immediately added:
"Vice Minister Qi is absolutely right."
"The State Treasury is empty now, reporting shortfalls year after year.
If this silver could enter the Ministry of Revenue, it would relieve the court's