Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 832: Borrowing from Peter to Pay Paul
Zhang Luan ate the meal in a very unpleasant mood.

When he left the palace, he had several eunuchs carry his eldest son, who was "inconvenient to move around," out of the palace in a sedan chair and send him home first. He then followed slowly behind, ostensibly to listen attentively to Li Rong's account of the current situation in the Northwest, but in reality, he let it go in one ear and out the other, his mind wandering as he walked.

"...Does the gentleman think it better to issue an imperial edict reprimanding Wang Yue and ordering him to gather his troops and return to the city fortress, or simply to issue a warning and order him to temporarily station his troops in the Hetao region? Or perhaps a milder wording would be used to make him pay attention to his actions?"

Li Rong assumed that Zhang Luan was exceptionally gifted and had already mastered the relevant information, but in reality, Zhang Luan hadn't listened to a word of it.

Seeing that Zhang Luan did not react for a long time, Li Rong tugged at Zhang Luan's sleeve.

Zhang Luan then seemed to snap out of his daze, frowning as he asked, "Is there a difference?"

Li Rong was surprised, thinking to himself, "I've been rambling on and on, and you still can't tell the difference?"

Li Rong quickly said, "His Majesty is very angry about Wang Yue's unauthorized actions, but he doesn't know the specific situation in the Northwest... Now it's up to Mr. Zhang to decide!"

“Oh, didn’t Your Majesty say you wanted to ask my son Yanling’s opinion first? Why did Yanling reply from Datong?” Zhang Luan asked.

No new information has been received.

Li Rong shook his head and said, "The messenger has been gone for six days. The Second Young Master's letter should be on its way to the capital."

Zhang Luan shook his head and said, "Since that's the case, let's wait and see."

"..."

Li Rong instantly understood what it meant to "hold a position but not fulfill one's responsibilities."

Zhang Luan had previously spoken well to the emperor, offering to take the initiative to share the burden of state affairs, but as soon as the audience with the emperor ended, he started to play dead again.
Zhang Luan said, "I didn't say I wouldn't handle it. Aren't I still responsible for the allocation of grain and salt taxes? I should be able to handle this. After all, I still have some connections in the Ministry of Revenue. I can use them."

Li Rong shook his head and smiled bitterly: "You no longer hold a position in the Ministry of Revenue, so how can you still command the people in the Ministry of Revenue? The duties of the Ministry of War are quite different from those of the Ministry of Revenue."

"Right."

Zhang Luan pondered for a moment and said, "But I'm still holding a nominal position in the cabinet, right? I'm still the Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy... How about this, I'll try to visit the Ministry of Revenue. If they don't listen, then we'll see."

Li Rong said, "Please don't rush to the Ministry of Revenue. I want to ask, Wang Yue requested the court to allocate 300,000 shi of grain in Yansui to prepare for the war. I wonder where this batch of grain will be transported from?"

"This one……"

"Furthermore, the military garrisons of Xuanfu, Datong, Yansui, and Gansu have requested the court to allocate 700,000 taels of silver for winter military pay. Where should this expenditure be paid from?"

Li Rong continued to ask.

Zhang Luan frowned and asked, "Do we need a concrete plan now? Shouldn't it be funded by the Ministry of Revenue?"

Li Rong said, "But the current situation is that the Ministry of Revenue's inventory is also very tight... Speaking of which, river management costs a lot."

"That's not right!"

Zhang Luan frowned and asked, "Wasn't the money and grain consumed by the Yellow River diversion project all raised by Minister Li and my son Yanling? Did the imperial court contribute any silver? I don't remember that."

"Hasn't it been released yet?"

Li Rong said with a surprised look, "But the ministers in the court have been emphasizing to His Majesty in the court meetings that changing the course of the Yellow River is a waste of money and is not appropriate. They also said that the current course of the Yellow River can be used for at least another fifty years. They said that if the Yellow River were to change its course rashly, it would cause drastic changes in the climate of the surrounding areas, seriously affecting the irrigation of farmland for the people along the way. The Yellow River and the Huai River will merge in their respective downstream areas, which would cause even larger-scale floods."

"..."

Zhang Luan was speechless for a moment, then asked, "Is this also what His Majesty is worried about?"

Li Rong nodded and said, "That's right."

Zhang Luan's expression was unfriendly. He said, "No wonder His Majesty looks much more haggard than before... Hmph, what exactly are those civil officials doing? It's true that the local areas contributed some money and grain to the Huai River's diversion, but the Ministry of Revenue didn't allocate a single penny. Moreover, the Yellow River's diversion was repeatedly discussed by officials from the Ministry of Works, and the sooner it was implemented, the better. It was proposed many times during the Chenghua era... So, my Zhang family contributed money and effort, and it's considered a mistake?"

Li Rong said, "Perhaps in the eyes of the court officials, the money spent by the local governments is also the money of the imperial court."

"shit!"

Zhang Luan said angrily, "How much did the local areas contribute? Compared to my Zhang family, it's just a drop in the ocean! Humph, they even stir up trouble over something as simple as the Yellow River changing its course. I can't imagine how much trouble those civil officials will cause on the Northwest issue!"

Li Rong nodded and said, "It's good that you know."

Zhang Luan said, "Originally, I was thinking that I would have to personally raise funds for the Northwest army, but now it seems that the court has to do something after collecting taxes, otherwise the silver will just sit there and wait to rot."
"Who says that I, a mere Vice Minister of War, can't allocate funds and provisions from the Ministry of Revenue? What's the point of keeping the imperial funds and provisions? Isn't the most important purpose to ensure that the Ming army doesn't descend into chaos?"

Li Rong asked, "So, have you figured out how to allocate the funds? There are some procedures... I'm afraid they won't go through! Transferring money and grain from Taicang involves very complicated procedures."

A surge of anger welled up in Zhang Luan's heart, and he shouted, "I'll be transferred then, let's see what they can do to me! At worst, I'll just quit this official position!"

Having served as an official for a long time, Zhang Luan really didn't know what his special talents were.

Because he had not achieved anything in the Ministry of War, Zhang Luan thought that perhaps the only thing he could accomplish was raising military funds to relieve the pressure on his son-in-law and son.

Therefore, he took on the task of procuring grain from Taicang without hesitation.

As for how to pressure Wang Yue into obeying the emperor's orders and carrying out the established battle strategy, he didn't care at all.

……

……

For a period of time afterward, Zhang Luan shuttled between the Ministry of Revenue and Taicang... Then he was shocked to discover that he was completely unable to mobilize those powerful officials in the capital.

When Xu Qiong heard that he had been running around for many days without success, she was also very anxious and wished she could take the lead herself.

That day, Zhang Luan had just come out of the Ministry of Revenue when he saw Xu Qiong's sedan chair stop in front of him. The two were filled with emotion upon seeing each other.

Two men who were once unremarkable, one was just getting by in the Hanlin Academy in Nanjing and the other was a student at the Imperial Academy in Beijing, suddenly both entered the cabinet. However, now, with Xu Pu and Liu Jian pressing down on them, their careers are somewhat unsuccessful, but they envy each other.

"Shi Yong, what brings you here?"

Zhang Luan asked, "Could it be that the Cabinet has sent you here to handle something?"

"no!"

Xu Qiong replied, "I only heard that you were here... so I came to see you... I wonder if your plans have come to fruition?"

"Let's go find a quiet place to talk."

Zhang Luan, with an evasive expression, casually said...

Xu Qiong thought to herself, why do we need to find a secluded place to talk?
Are they up to something shady?

Xu Qiong then did not ride in a sedan chair, but followed Zhang Luan southwards to Dongjiang Rice Lane.

After leaving the street and heading east, Xu Qiong pointed to a place and said, "There's an official residence over there. I'm quite familiar with the person in charge there. It would be most appropriate for us to go in and have a chat!"

Zhang Luan asked, "Who is it?"

Xu Qiong shook her head: "You don't know him."

Zhang Luan was quite embarrassed, thinking to himself that he was indeed not cut out to be an official. His experience and connections in officialdom were still far inferior to those of the famous Xu Gong in front of him.

The two entered the government office.

Xu Qiong exchanged a few words with the steward who came out to greet her, and was then arranged to a private room in the courtyard. Soon, servants brought her tea.

Zhang Luan looked around and asked, "What is the purpose of this government office?"

“Lai Zhan, you don’t have much social interaction in officialdom, so I have to explain this to you in detail… As you know, the important officials of the Six Ministries all have courtyards nearby. Firstly, they are close to the government offices, so they can have a place to rest at noon. Secondly, it is convenient for them to enter the palace to attend court assemblies. Because officials gather here, there are places for specific groups of people to discuss matters.”

Xu Qiong patiently explained, "This place is nominally an official residence, but it's actually a gathering place for a certain circle of people! If you came at a normal time, you might meet some talented people who could be of use to you." Zhang Luan asked, "Then why didn't we see anyone else when we came in?"

Xu Qiong said, "They haven't even finished their shifts yet! After they finish their shifts, shouldn't officials find a place to have some tea and catch up on the situation in the capital? You're just too lazy and don't pay any attention to these things at all."

"hehe."

Zhang Luan shook his head and smiled bitterly.

Xu Qiong then pointed to the tea on the table and said, "Please make yourself at home. I just moved my courtyard to a nearby place a few days ago. You are welcome to visit me when you have time."

Zhang Luan nodded, but in his heart he was thinking, "The treatment is indeed different after becoming a Grand Secretary. You even have a new mansion now."

To be honest, all the houses I, as the father-in-law of the emperor, received were gifts from others; I didn't buy any of them myself. I don't know what Xu Qiong's situation is.

……

……

After drinking tea, Xu Qiong began to inquire about the troubles Zhang Luan was currently facing.

Zhang Luan said: "I used to think I was very capable. As long as I put my heart into it, I could raise funds for the Northwest Army at any time... I easily completed the salt tax reform, and transporting goods to various places was effortless. I even had my own methods for river management, so I thought I was omnipotent."

"But when Li Zisheng and my son Yanling were not in the capital, I realized... that I was nothing at all!"

“Lai Zhan, how can you belittle yourself?” Xu Qiong said. “Your status, position, and close relationship with His Majesty are unmatched by others.”

Zhang Luan smiled bitterly and said, "So, everything I've achieved is thanks to my status as the Emperor's father-in-law?"

Xu Qiong became very anxious upon hearing this.

I rose to power because of you, Zhang Laizhan, which means that on important matters, I have to listen to you.

But you've fallen into a state of self-doubt. So, what stance should I take to handle this situation?

How can you, the pillar of strength, throw yourself into disarray?

Xu Qiong said, "I will try to raise money and supplies for you through my connections."

Zhang Luan asked curiously, "But I heard that Liu Jian is the one in the cabinet who handles most of the Ministry of Revenue affairs. They are intentionally blocking my contact with the Ministry of Revenue, or they want to see me fail in this matter! Aren't you afraid they will boycott you for coming out to help me like this..."

"Ugh!"

Xu Qiong sighed, "Perhaps it's because I've been staying in the South Pavilion for so long that I'm not well-liked by my colleagues in the Hanlin Academy. Even after I entered the Pavilion, no one gives me a friendly look."

Zhang Luan nodded, as if he understood something.

The issue is no longer whether Xu Qiong dares to help him; it's that Xu Qiong will not be welcomed by Xu Pu and others regardless of whether she helps or not.

Zhang Luan always had a high opinion of himself, but the officials in the Hanlin Academy system never treated him as "one of their own." The few who had some relationship with him, such as Xie Qian, would not risk offending their original colleagues in the Hanlin Academy just to maintain a good relationship with him.

Xu Qiong was indeed a member of the Hanlin Academy, but because he had spent too long in Nanjing, he had almost no contact with the officials of the Hanlin Academy in the capital. In addition, it was Zhang Luan who recommended him to join the cabinet, which led to Xu Qiong being marginalized.

Xu Qiong said, "The Ministry of Revenue has already prepared the budget for the allocation of funds and grain in the nine border regions this winter. As far as I know, they intend to reduce expenditures... The general idea is that His Majesty has already paid out the military pay owed from previous years, and the soldiers are well-off. It doesn't matter if the court delays payment for another two years."

Zhang Luan frowned deeply and said, "The court paid the back wages owed to the Nine Garrisons not only with the revenue from my salt tax reform, but also with the money and grain raised by Yanling and me, which saved the court a lot of money! Now they want to delay payment again? Isn't that the same as temporarily withholding the money and grain that were originally intended for the Northwest? Are they going to wait until they've been in arrears for a few years and then make me raise the money from other places?"

"Perhaps... that's part of the meaning."

Xu Qiong said cautiously.

Zhang Luan was speechless for a moment.

It seems like I'm patching up the holes over there, while the civil officials are digging holes for me in the court?

No wonder you treated me coldly when I asked you for funds not for river management, but simply to raise military pay for the soldiers of the Nine Garrisons and to raise money and grain for the Northwest war preparations.

Xu Qiong said, "The imperial court has been living on tight money for many years. It was only this year that the funds were somewhat more readily available. However, due to the overdue payment of military salaries and officials' wages, the expenditure was too large, which has led to a serious decline in the reserves of money and grain in the imperial granary."

"Whether it's lowered or not, I don't care."

Zhang Luan said angrily, "Not a single penny of what belongs to the Northwest can be missing. There haven't been any major disaster reports this year, only a few places have been affected, but none of them have been crippling. With the autumn harvest over, money and grain will soon be transported to the capital. Allocating them at this time can save on transportation and storage costs."

"it's useless."

Xu Qiong shook her head and said, "They won't give you or me face."

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "If that's the case, what is your purpose in coming to me? Is it just to complain?"

Xu Qiong looked around before leaning closer and asking, "Lai Zhan, let me ask you, how was the money and grain for the construction of the river in the south raised? It is said that it was allocated all at once after the autumn harvest, and the total amount of money and grain paid was a huge sum of four or five million taels of silver."

Zhang Luan said, “Are you suspecting that I used all the money for the Yellow River diversion project? I have a detailed list... The money and grain donated by Li Zi Province were worth no less than 500,000 taels, I raised 100,000 taels in the early stage, and the local area contributed 200,000 taels of silver... The rest was raised by Yanling, which is about 700,000 to 800,000 taels of silver.”

Xu Qiong frowned and said, "So that means that, including manpower, the cost of river management exceeds two million taels of silver?"

Zhang Luan shook his head and said, "This is the most ideal situation! Let me put it this way, because the Yellow River basin will face a major flood next spring, the money and grain currently being mobilized are to accelerate the river repair process, so that when the Yellow River floods next year, there can be two river channels, one old and one new, to divert the flow... In this way, the river embankment of the new river channel may not need to be built too high at once."

Xu Qiong said, "Can't we transfer some back? It can be repaired in two years! The Northwest is currently only short of money and grain worth four or five hundred thousand taels of silver."

"This……"

Zhang Luan frowned and said, "You want me to rob Peter to pay Paul?"

Xu Qiong sighed, "I know that it's not easy to get the money and grain that have been allocated back in a short time. But right now, the court is indeed... very short of money."

Zhang Luan said, "I'm already trying to think of a solution... In addition, I've written to my son Yanling for advice, and I expect to receive a reply in the next couple of days."

Xu Qiong frowned and said, "Neither of us can raise the money to help His Majesty solve his troubles. How can we expect Yanling to help? He may have some ability, but money can't just appear out of thin air."

"Can't you conjure it up?"

Zhang Luan smiled wryly, "But I have a feeling that Yanling can really conjure up money! Otherwise, where did the previous river management funds come from? So far, apart from the local governments contributing some funds for river management, the imperial court hasn't allocated a single penny. This is a major event concerning the Yellow River's course change!"

Xu Qiong thought for a moment and asked, "Can Yanling transfer 500,000 taels of military pay?"

Zhang Luan said, "We should at least ask. Actually, His Majesty has already spoken to me. Although the palace's weaving business hasn't earned much silver recently, through Xishan mining taxes and other means, we should be able to raise about 150,000 taels of silver before winter. We'll transfer them to the Northwest! We can also solve the problem of uniforms for the soldiers in the Northwest."

Xu Qiong asked curiously, "Didn't we already send a large batch of fabric to the Northwest last year?"

"Oh, so there are new ones again this year?"

Zhang Luan laughed and said, "The palace produces cloth every year. Cloth can often be used as money. If necessary, military households can exchange it for money."

Xu Qiong sighed, "In the past, the Imperial Household Department always drew money and grain from the Ministry of Revenue, but now it is giving back to the court. This is truly... quite different from before."

Zhang Luan said, "I'm thinking of using connections to find someone I know... or to find someone in Li Zisheng's city in the capital to raise another 50,000 taels. As for the remaining 300,000 taels, let Yanling handle it himself!"

Xu Qiong exclaimed in shock, "This is to raise funds for the Northwest military. Aren't you planning to transfer it from the Ministry of Revenue?"

"If they won't give it to me, what can I do?"

Zhang Luan said with frustration, "It's true what they say, people forget you when you're gone. When I was in the Ministry of Revenue, they all gave me some face, and I could handle things easily wherever I went."

"Now... everyone treats me like a plague! It's like everyone knows I'm here to ask for money, and they all try to shirk responsibility! I have backbone, so I'll just raise the money myself. If I really can't, then let His Majesty and Yanling worry about it!"

(End of this chapter)