The Great Task of Procuring Grain

Even after hearing Luo Yangxing's explanation, Fan Fucui and Huang Daozhou still found it unreal. They had not been in the Imperial Prison for very long, so how had the world outside been turned upside down?

Had His Majesty and Governor Lu truly devised all these stratagems together?

"His Majesty knows nothing of military affairs. Governor Lu must have devised the plans, and His Majesty cooperated with him!" Huang Daozhou nodded firmly after saying this.

Fan Fucui did not see it that way. His Majesty had always been headstrong. After Yang Sichang entered the Grand Secretariat, he had become even more intent on negotiating peace. At the beginning of the year, he had sent someone to sound out Huang Taiji, but the opposition had been too fierce, and the matter had come to nothing.

Why, then, had he suddenly changed his mind and listened to Lu Xiangsheng this time?

It was decidedly strange!

Besides, from what Luo Yangxing had said, both outright and between the lines, Yang Sichang had been kept in the dark as well!

So perhaps this had been His Majesty's own idea.

Fan Fucui shook his head at the thought. No, His Majesty doesn't have the brains for this!

But if it was neither His Majesty nor Governor Lu, could there possibly be a third person?

Unable to reach a conclusion, the two exchanged a glance and had the same thought. Aren't they letting us out now? We can ask once we're outside!

After leaving the Imperial Prison, neither went home or even changed his clothes. One headed toward the Hanlin Academy, while the other went straight into the palace, bound for the Wenyuan Pavilion.

The Wenyuan Pavilion housed the Ming Dynasty's Grand Secretariat, where grand secretaries like them conducted their business.

For Fan Fucui, the quickest way to learn about the current situation was to return to the Wenyuan Pavilion.

Young eunuchs came and went through the Wenyuan Pavilion, delivering documents. It was usually quite lively, but today it was quiet.

As Fan Fucui walked through the hall doors, he wondered whether everyone was absent, until he spotted several grand secretaries sitting with their heads bowed, sighing incessantly.

"What's wrong?" Fan Fucui asked.

If what Luo Yangxing had said was true, was that not good news?

Why did they all look so troubled? Had the situation changed again?

"You're back?" Xue Guoguan was briefly surprised to see Fan Fucui, then recalled everything the emperor had done.

Of course. The play is over, so it's time to release them.

Fan Fucui sat down beside Xue Guoguan. "Yes, I've been released. I hear Governor Lu is in Jinan?"

"What's that smell on you?" Xue Guoguan waved a hand in front of his nose, then looked at Fan Fucui in realization. "You haven't been home? After all those days in the Imperial Prison, don't you want to go back and wash?"

"That can wait." Fan Fucui had grown accustomed to the smell and saw nothing wrong with it now. He pressed on, "What exactly happened?"

Chief Grand Secretary Liu Yuliang wore a complicated expression. He raised his teacup and blew on it, but instead of drinking, he gave a long sigh. "We're grand secretaries, yet His Majesty didn't inform a single one of us about something this important. Tell me, what are we to make of that?"

Fan Fucui gave an inward sneer. He had wondered what the problem was, only to discover that they were sitting here sighing because His Majesty had not trusted them!

"Wenruo, hasn't His Majesty always listened to you? Why did he keep even you in the dark this time?" Liu Yuliang held his teacup in one hand and skimmed the foam with its lid in the other, his tone dripping with mockery.

Wenruo was Yang Sichang's courtesy name. In private conversation, they all addressed one another by their courtesy names.

Liu Yuliang was the chief grand secretary, but one who enjoyed no favor.

Ever since Yang Sichang entered the Grand Secretariat and his Ten-Sided Net demonstrated its remarkable effectiveness against the Rebel Bandits, the emperor had placed increasing trust in him.

His Majesty had also approved his earlier proposal that "to repel threats without, one must first pacify the realm within," but too many at court had opposed it, so it had never been implemented.

Liu Yuliang had a premonition that, given time, His Majesty would surely give Yang Sichang the chief grand secretary's position.

Yang Sichang's frustration soured his tone. "What's the point of talking about that now? What matters is carrying out our duties properly!"

"What task has His Majesty assigned?" Fan Fucui quickly asked.

Yang Sichang looked up at him. Fan Fucui had always sung a contrary tune.

When he advocated peace negotiations, Fan Fucui advocated war.

When he advocated offering amnesty to the Rebel Bandits, Fan Fucui insisted on wiping them out.

Still, differences in political views were one thing. As a person, Fan Fucui was considerably more forthright than some, and would not engage in underhanded dealings behind people's backs.

"His Majesty has ordered me to procure grain!" Yang Sichang said.

They had surrounded Jinan and cut off its grain supplies, but with so many men in the Ming army, they too needed provisions and pay.

Fan Fucui's excitement slowly subsided. This was indeed a serious problem.

"If you ask me, we should impose another military levy. Things aren't as they were before. Back then, we truly didn't know whether we could win, but now it's different. We've surrounded the enemy, and morale is soaring. If we collect a levy now, the common people will surely contribute eagerly!" Liu Yuliang said.

Fan Fucui could not help rolling his eyes at him. It was the soldiers whose morale was soaring. What did that have to do with the common people? All they cared about was staying alive. Pluck any more wool off their backs, and those who did not die would rebel.

Xue Guoguan disagreed as well. He shook his head. "We can't impose anything more on the common people. How about asking everyone to donate silver again?"

Outwardly, he presented himself as a pauper. Ever since the hundred thousand taels of silver had vanished from his home, he had checked his other silver caches every day. Thankfully, they were all still there!

Even if he had to pay, at worst he could give a hundred taels. And he would at least have offered His Majesty an idea!

The moment Xue Guoguan said this, everyone present except Fan Fucui glared at him. This would offend far more than one or two people. Handled badly, it could cause a major disaster.

If he dared propose it, a single mouthful of spit from everyone at court would be enough to drown him!

"No, no..." Yang Sichang shook his head and sighed deeply. This matter... was difficult indeed!

Sitting in his chair, Fan Fucui quietly picked up the teacup beside him, his thoughts turning ceaselessly.

He kept feeling that His Majesty had become an entirely different person after waking from that fainting spell.

His temper was still just as explosive, and he still threw people into the Imperial Prison at the slightest provocation, but he had become more decisive in his actions. In dealing with affairs outside the palace, he no longer simply echoed whatever others said.

He was no longer so easily swayed, and he showed greater concern for the common people.

Fan Fucui pondered intently. His Majesty clearly doesn't favor peace, yet he has tasked Yang Sichang, who does, with procuring grain and military funds. Is he giving his former favorite a chance to earn merit and rise another step within the Wenyuan Pavilion?

Or... is his intention the opposite...?

Fan Fucui took a sip of tea and glanced at Yang Sichang over his cup. Seeing his furrowed brow and miserable expression, he could not help feeling a little more rueful.

He had never imagined that Yang Sichang would have a day of such anguish. And what troubled him was probably not merely how to procure grain, but how to regain His Majesty's trust!

"Oh dear, I'm itching terribly all over. I'd best go home first, take a bath, and change my clothes. Gentlemen, I'll take my leave!" With that thought, Fan Fucui set down his teacup and rose to say goodbye.

He now knew the broad outline of events, and he had no ideas for procuring grain either. He might as well go home, wash, and sleep, then attend morning court tomorrow to see this wise and mighty emperor of his!