Chapter 135: Punishment
The campfire melted the surrounding snow, making it quite muddy.
Xiao Yi spread some dry grass and sat down. Seeing a dark, sticky thing on the stone where Guo Wei was sitting, he picked it up. It was a piece of cow dung, which he casually tossed into the campfire.
He then took out a piece of Hu Bing from his embrace, so hard it could block a blade, and placed it by the fire to roast.
Seeing an old farmer looking longingly, he broke off half and handed it over.
“It tastes like meat, and it’s salty too. I haven’t tasted salt for over a month.”
“The grain tax takes half a life, but the salt tax takes the whole life.”
Guo Wei became interested and said, “Elder brother, tell me about it.”
“Guess, how much is our salt?”
“Half a dou of grain per jin of salt?”
“Three dou! A full three dou of grain for just one jin of salt!”
Xiao Yi saw that the three fingers extended by the old farmer who was speaking were trembling non-stop. Due to his excitement, cloudy tears welled up in his numb eyes.
Guo Wei asked, “Why is it so expensive? The salt I eat in Ye Du isn’t this price.”
Xiao Yi happened to know about this. This matter was recorded in Li Ye’s ledger as one of the clever ways Wang Zhang and Su Fengji made money.
He didn’t rush to speak. Seeing that the old farmers couldn’t explain it, he finally opened his mouth.
“Uncle, it’s like this: the Imperial Court has been continuously increasing the salt tax. For every shi of salt, first a thousand cash in main tax is paid, plus one dou of salt as an attached tax, and then there’s transit tax, salt allocation, and salt tax. You might not have these over there, uncle.”
“Explain.”
“Transit tax is levied every time salt passes through a prefecture, county, or pass. Transporting it to the military might evade it, but for what is sold to the common people, it’s added at every step. Salt allocation means that regardless of whether the common people need it, official salt is forcibly distributed to households…”
“We haven’t received any allocation!”
“Exactly, we’ve never gotten any!”
“You haven’t received any,” Xiao Yi explained. “Salt allocation doesn’t mean they actually want to distribute salt to you; it means they collect the money for buying salt from you first, understand?”
“Ah? Then where’s the salt?”
“You have to buy the salt separately. This means you pay twice: once for the forced allocation, and once voluntarily. Each time salt is transported, another salt tax is collected, which is the salt tax.”
“This is damned!”
Guo Wei turned his head and asked Xiao Yi in a low voice, “The salt we eat isn’t this expensive.”
“Uncle, the salt we eat is not official salt.”
“How dare you eat illicit salt?”
The old farmers were very confused, their eyes widening with doubt.
They couldn’t figure out the salt tax, but they were terrified of the severe punishment for illicit salt.
“If illicit salt is discovered, even if it’s just a tiny amount, it’s still the crime of illicit salt. There’s no distinction between first-time offenders or accidental offenders; they are heavily punished, and five jin results in decapitation.”
“Nonsense, Old Zhang Shuan only brought back two jin, and his head was cut off…”
Listening to this, Xiao Yi looked over. The firelight flickered, casting Guo Wei’s face in an inconstant light.
In fact, these harsh policies were not from Liu Chengyou. The ones who squeezed the people and unceremoniously beheaded those who dared to carry illicit salt for a taste of salt were Guo Wei’s allies, Shi Hongzhao, Yang Bin, and Wang Zhang.
A large portion of the wealth extorted did indeed flow into Guo Wei’s army, supporting the war in Hebei.
Guo Wei’s Tianxiong Army, and Shi Hongzhao’s former troops who supported Guo Wei, were all nourished by this people’s blood and sweat.
To establish the new, one must break not the enemy’s old, but one’s own old.
What would Guo Wei do?
After a long while, Xiao Yi watched Guo Wei’s brows furrow and his eyes shift between worry and determination.
The old farmers gradually dispersed.
The campfire was no longer as vigorous as before.
“Guo Shouwen, go get a few jars of wine.”
“Yes.”
Guo Wei turned his head and looked, saying, “Let’s talk about your mess first. It’s easier to deal with you.”
“Your subordinate admits guilt.”
“What crimes have you committed?”
Xiao Yi asked, “Your subordinate has also earned a small merit. Can I mention that first?”
“Speak.”
“When I killed Li Ye, I found a key on him. I thought it might be for a hidden stash of money, so I didn’t turn it in. Today, I found his hiding place. Inside, there was armor, weapons, gold, and copper coins.”
“This is not merit, it is selfish desire, it is a transgression.”
“Your subordinate knows he was wrong.”
“How did you find it?”
“Li Hongxin sent a maid to help inquire.”
“Why did he help you?”
“Because I have a secret with him. I helped him cremate the Empress Dowager and secretly sent her ashes back to Mingli Village. He said he neither wanted to miss your enthronement, nor fail to fulfill his sister’s dying wish.”
“In this matter, Li Hongxin can be excused,” Guo Wei said. “But you did not perform your duties diligently.”
Xiao Yi thought for a moment, unfastened the talismans from his waist, and placed them on the ground one by one.
“My Lord, not only did I not perform my duties diligently, but I also stole what I was guarding. Please punish me.”
“Once you’ve explained clearly, I will not show leniency in meting out punishment.”
“Yes.”
Xiao Yi prepared himself to be slapped, planning to fall further this time.
Rather than hiding it and being punished severely if discovered, it was better to confess everything at once.
“I had an affair with the Empress Dowager.”
“Who?”
“The Empress Dowager.”
“Not the An family? Is it Li Sanniang?”
“Yes, Li Sanniang.”
Guo Wei, who had been calm, suddenly turned his head, his eyes finally showing shock and surprise.
Xiao Yi held his breath, his abdomen taut.
However, Guo Wei only said one sentence, which almost made him break out in a cold sweat.
“Your taste is similar to Gaozu’s.”
Xiao Yi had thought of countless possibilities, but at this moment, he was stunned.
How should he answer?
Should he drop the talismans in his hand on the ground?
“My Lord, my sins are grave. I showed leniency to the Empress Dowager, and afterwards, I did not guard her strictly, giving her the opportunity to commit suicide.”
“Then shall I execute you?”
Xiao Yi gasped for air, and no longer spoke vaguely to Guo Wei, but said honestly, “Please dismiss all my official positions, my Lord. I only request to retain the title of Commander of the Tianxiong Army, and be given a chance to atone for my crimes.”
“Granted.”
“Yes.”
He was truly stripped of his official positions.
Guo Wei pondered for a moment and then said, “Since the official positions Li Sanniang bestowed upon you are also waived. Hand over the thirty qing of suburban estate she awarded you as well.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have any complaints?”
“Your subordinate made a mistake, and deserves it.”
Although he said this, Xiao Yi was actually somewhat surprised.
He had originally calculated that the matter of debauchery within the harem could not be announced. To outsiders, his mistake was merely negligence in his duties. If Guo Wei was willing to let him off, it wouldn’t be difficult.
But Guo Wei seemed unwilling to let him go, and truly punished him. Afterwards, his expression was calm, and he said nothing, lost in his own thoughts.
Clearly, Guo Wei genuinely had no interest in dwelling on his trivial matters.
If he thought about it from Guo Wei’s perspective, he had fallen for a woman he shouldn’t have. But among his many subordinates, could he manage them all? The Empress Dowager was dead, was that more serious than Liu Chengyou’s death?
Yes, if punishment was deserved, then punish, and show no leniency. After the punishment, why would someone about to become emperor bother with him?
Anger also consumes emotions. Why should he make Guo Wei angry?
His favor was gradually being depleted. If he had no further value, he might gradually fade from the core circle in the future.
The key lay in his value.
Understanding this, Xiao Yi became calm and no longer worried.
He had value.
Before long, Guo Shouwen returned with a jar of wine.
Guo Wei was displeased and berated, “Only this little? Go get more, get a large jar.”
“Yes.”
Guo Wei still sat by the campfire, gulping down wine. He said, “It was as Yu Niang predicted. Fifteen years ago, Yu Niang prophesied, ‘Li Sanniang hates Lord Liu.’ I had actually forgotten this. In those years, at every banquet, Gaozu would invite Li Sanniang out and laugh loudly, boasting, ‘My greatest pride in life is snatching the most beautiful woman in Bingzhou.’ What is snatched is ultimately lost; what can be held onto is one’s own.”
Xiao Yi understood that Guo Wei’s mind was now entirely occupied with how to be a good emperor, and he looked down on Liu Zhiyuan somewhat.
He then tried to steer the conversation in a direction Guo Wei found interesting, saying, “In my opinion, my Lord, you far surpass Gaozu.”
“Flattery is useless. The real test has not yet begun.”
“Your subordinate truly believes so.”
“Once I establish my dynasty, my territory will be smaller than Gaozu’s.”
“Gaozu merely rose with the times and ended the chaotic era, but it is from my Lord that a new beginning will arise.”
“Why?”
Xiao Yi paused.
He truly believed this. The history textbooks didn’t even mention Liu Zhiyuan. But the problem was how to articulate it. He had come to argue, not to prepare for this.
“Because… Gaozu was muddled and confused, while my Lord intends to reform and has the ambition to change the world.”
Guo Wei turned his head, his eyes narrowing, and asked, “Who said I intend to reform?”
Xiao Yi said, “Your subordinate guessed.”
A deep scrutiny appeared in Guo Wei’s eyes.
After a long while, just as Xiao Yi was unsure of his intentions, he turned his head and continued drinking.
“Did you lay hands on Li Sanniang? Did you lay hands on the An family?”
“No,” Xiao Yi said. “But I was indeed very close to the An family. She begged me to help her get out of Tai Ping Palace.”
“You are not a person without resolve. Was it the means of the most beautiful woman in Bingzhou that you couldn’t resist?”
“My Lord, you see clearly.”
Xiao Yi secretly thought, it seemed he had passed the test.
He then lowered his head and said softly, “Zhang Wan, the Palace Lady-in-Waiting beside Li Sanniang… May I bring her out of the palace?”
“Cough cough cough.”
Guo Wei choked on his wine and finally became angry. He turned his head and asked, “Are you planning to marry this Miss Zhang?”
“No, she is willing to be my concubine.”
“You beastly whelp! I call you unpromising, and you actually live up to it.”
“Your subordinate knows he is wrong.”
“Tell me, where is your mistake?”
“My resolve was too weak, I couldn’t resist female beauty, and I neglected my duties.”
“You idiot. You refused to be my son-in-law, yet you play such games. When you seek women, it’s like your flashy martial arts – not solid.”
“My Lord’s teachings are correct,” Xiao Yi said honestly. “I… am not a man who knows how to manage a household. I fear I would hurt Wu Niang.”
If he had agreed to become Guo Wei’s son-in-law back then, today would have been a disaster.
Not to mention Guo Xin observing mourning for three years, he would have had to observe mourning for three years himself. If he had touched another woman, how many heads would he have to lose?
It all depended on whether Guo Wei could understand. He had to say, although Guo Wei was deeply devoted to Chai Shouyu, he also had secondary consorts.
“Then, regarding the matter of the Palace Lady-in-Waiting, has my Lord agreed?”
“Fine. I thought you were like me, a steady man, but it turns out you’re a philanderer. Take your concubine and get out of here.”
“Yes. My Lord, drink a little less, or go inside to drink. The wind is strong outside.”
“You fool, many people are cawing back there. Can I still drink? Go, don’t bother me.”
“Yes.”
Xiao Yi felt that Guo Wei intended to use him greatly. He waited for a while, but there was no change regarding his official positions.
He had no choice but to pick up the token for Commander of the Tianxiong Army and take his leave.
Looking back, Guo Wei sat there, drinking gulp after gulp, but his thoughts were far more inscrutable than before.
