Chapter 30: Aunt, Save Me

"What a touching scene of fatherly love and filial piety!" Xu Jingchang remarked, hands behind his back, watching with keen interest as Zhu Neng chased after Zhu Yong. Beside him, Xia Yuanji’s mouth twitched. This was their very first tax collection, and they had already run headlong into the son of the Duke of Cheng.

Who knew how many more powerful aristocrats were waiting in the wings?

He must have lost his mind to suggest such a thing. He thought to himself that his days were numbered, and he could only hope his actions wouldn't bring disaster upon his descendants.

"Administrator Xu, you must come up with a solution quickly. If the Duke of Cheng changes his mind, I’d like to see how you resolve this dilemma. You are going to find yourself trapped between a rock and a hard place!"

Xu Jingchang remained nonchalant. "Even if the sky were falling, it wouldn't stop me from enjoying the show. Look at that—a true tiger cub of a military family, running faster than a rabbit."

Indeed, Zhu Yong was sprinting so hard his heels were practically smoking.

Alas, two legs were no match for four. Zhu Neng gradually closed the distance, first lashing out with his whip to land a heavy strike on his son’s back. The young man stumbled, and Zhu Neng seized the moment, grabbing him by the collar, hoisting him up, and pinning him across the saddle.

"Excellent technique! A true tiger of a general!" Xu Jingchang clapped his hands loudly in applause. The others present looked at each other, utterly helpless.

Zhu Neng wheeled his horse around, dangling his son, and came before Xu Jingchang before leaping down from the saddle.

"Administrator Xu, how should this be handled?"

Xu Jingchang smiled. "It’s nothing. Just pay the tax according to the rules. The new policy has only just been implemented; I have no intention of killing the chicken to scare the monkey. By the way, is this the Young Duke? Could you tell me how you ended up helping transport this silk? Was it purchased by your household?"

Zhu Yong was gasping for air, still trembling with fear, when Zhu Neng raised a massive fist and slammed it into his shoulder. "Speak!"

Zhu Yong could only confess the truth: the buyer of the silk was the son-in-law of Zhu Neng’s steward. He had asked Zhu Yong for help, hoping to use the Young Duke’s name to smooth over any obstacles. Although the Ming court’s commercial taxes were usually just a formality, the local bureaucrats and petty officials were a different story.

"Father, I didn't think much of it. I just thought I’d take a trip, and when I got back, I’d get a hundred bolts of silk to honor you and Mother..."

"Shut your mouth!" Zhu Neng roared. "You call that honoring us? You’re hoping we’ll drop dead so you can inherit the family fortune sooner! I’ll beat you to death!"

As Zhu Neng raised his fist again, Xu Jingchang quickly intervened. "There’s no need for that, Duke of Cheng. For my sake, please don't hit him. The Young Duke hasn't done anything truly wrong. If you ask me, his only mistake was selling his influence too cheaply."

Xu Jingchang turned to Zhu Yong. "Listen to me: with your status, you shouldn't just be escorting goods—even if you just lend your name to something, you should be taking a fifty-percent stake. A mere hundred bolts of silk isn't just an insult to you; it’s an insult to the Duke of Cheng, an insult to your father! How many hereditary dukes are there in the entire Ming Dynasty? You sold yourself far too cheaply."

Zhu Yong was stunned. Was that where he had gone wrong?

Xu Jingchang laughed. "Duke of Cheng, I can see now that your son is simply too pure and kind. He doesn't understand the malice of the world or the ways of business. How about this? Let him join the Office of Transmission as a tax-collecting chiliarch. He can familiarize himself with the work, and later, there will be better positions for him."

Zhu Neng grunted. "You foolish boy, hurry up and thank Administrator Xu."

Zhu Yong was still dazed. Was he a government official now?

"Many thanks, Administrator Xu. Thank you, Administrator Xu."

Xu Jingchang smiled. "Splendid. Judging by the speed you showed earlier, you’ll be an expert at chasing down tax evaders. Work with me, and your future is guaranteed."

Having never been praised like this before, Zhu Yong felt a bit bashful and obediently stood behind Xu Jingchang, acting as his little follower.

Xu Jingchang then turned to Zhu Neng. "Duke of Cheng, Yingtian is a world paved with gold; your household staff must be drooling. But a gentleman loves wealth and acquires it through proper means. Furthermore, everything must be under your control. If you let your family run wild, you won't gain much, but you will be held hostage by your own subordinates. If something goes wrong, the consequences will be endless!"

Zhu Neng’s eyes widened, his breathing heavy. He swung his fist and declared angrily, "I understand! I’m going home right now to discipline my household. Anyone who acts behind my back will be flogged, and if they do it again, they’re out of my estate!"

Xu Jingchang gave him a thumbs up. "The Duke of Cheng governs his household with discipline—that is the true spirit of a hereditary noble family."

Zhu Neng nodded firmly, mounted his horse, and hurried home.

Watching this, Xia Yuanji was speechless. *Xu Jingchang, have some shame! Not only did you slice flesh off the man, but you kidnapped his son and conned him into purging his own household. You’re eating the fish three ways!*

*You can’t just go around cheating people like this. You’re only doing it because you know Zhu Neng is an honest man. Anyone else would have turned on you long ago.*

However, Xia Yuanji couldn't voice his complaints and could only order his men to count the taxes.

Out of 1,500 bolts of high-quality silk, a thirty-percent tax meant 450 bolts were due. Clearly, they couldn't pay that much in cash, so Xia Yuanji had the silk seized directly.

Xu Jingchang said to Zhu Yong, "Look, they only gave you a hundred bolts, but we’re collecting 450. Since there’s such a difference, wouldn't you say they are truly despicable?"

Zhu Yong gritted his teeth. "Indeed. Even I can tell the difference. Those beasts are truly evil; they’d even cheat a child. They deserve to be drowned in a cesspit."

Xu Jingchang’s mouth twitched. "Now, Chiliarch Zhu, let’s maintain civilized conduct. Don't go around cursing people; it’s not becoming of a good boy."

"I know, don't worry. I’m not talking about human beings!"

Xu Jingchang frowned slightly. The boy was a good lad, but he still needed proper guidance.

Xia Yuanji couldn't be bothered with Xu Jingchang; his heart was set on the tax collection. It turned out that a great deal of fine goods had been entering the capital recently: premium silk, exquisite porcelain from Jingdezhen, rosewood furniture from Fujian, fine tea from Zhejiang, and grain from Jiangxi and Huguang. By sunset, they had collected the equivalent of 35,000 taels of silver.

At this rate, could they collect millions in a year?

Of course, the math didn't quite work that way. The high figures were due to the new nobility rushing to renovate their mansions and flaunt their status.

Their homes were generally new and lacked the deep-rooted heritage of families like the Xus, the true old guard of Yingtian. After all, a single locust tree at the Prince of Zhongshan’s mansion was said to have been planted in the Song Dynasty, outliving several dynasties. *That* was what one called heritage.

Yet, Xu Jingchang and Xia Yuanji were unaware that their actions had already ignited the fury of the entire court. Civil and military officials alike were enraged.

A group of five or six men gathered around Jian Yi, weeping and complaining, "Minister, you must uphold justice for us! How could Minister Xia act so recklessly alongside Administrator Xu Jingchang? Is there no law left?"

Jian Yi frowned. "Is it not a bit excessive for you to attack two high-ranking officials the moment you arrive?"

"It is not excessive at all! Minister, everyone knows the salaries of our Ming officials are low. Emperor Taizu permitted us to bring local goods to the capital to sell for our living expenses without paying taxes. Yet today at the Jubao Gate, Minister Xia and Administrator Xu collected entry taxes. They have forgotten the ancestral teachings! If you do not seek justice for us, we shall have no choice but to appeal directly to His Majesty."

An official from the Imperial Academy added, "Our lives are already frugal; to be squeezed like this is truly heartbreaking!"

Almost simultaneously, the nobility was up in arms as well.

*Tax reform? Resolving dilemmas?*

*It’s all nonsense!*

*We haven't seen any benefits, but we’ve already paid a hefty tax. That Xu fellow and that Xia fellow are nothing but frauds.*

Even those who weren't in the business of trade were furious. Their luxury goods had suddenly become thirty percent more expensive. They were being treated like leeks to be harvested.

"We must settle this! We must make that Xu fellow pay!"

Clearly, in the art of offending people, Xu Jingchang had outpaced everyone, with no equal in the past and likely none in the future.

"Aunt, your nephew begs you—you must speak to His Majesty and ensure he stays firm in his resolve. Otherwise, I fear your nephew’s life will not be spared."

Empress Xu glanced at him. "Seeing how you stir up such storms, I thought you didn't know the meaning of fear."

"My courage was given to me by you, Aunt. Besides, I am doing this for the sake of the Ming Empire," Xu Jingchang said with a laugh.

Empress Xu nodded. "As long as your intentions are pure, no one in the Ming Dynasty can harm you. That is my promise!"