Chapter 34: Is the System Glitching?

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[The Emperor has acted as a wise monarch, causing the Great Zhou’s national fortune to increase by 500 points. Current balance: 6,550 points.]

[Friendly Reminder: Based on the current rise in national fortune, 0.5 points of Misfortune Value have been generated. Current Misfortune Value: 5.6. Once the Misfortune Value is full, the Emperor will suffer the Nine-Day Lightning Tribulation!]

Li Chen was stunned. He had only asked a single question; could national fortune really rise just like that? However, upon recalling Yan Song’s performance, Li Chen immediately dismissed his doubts, concluding that the growth of national fortune must have nothing to do with him.

"Your Majesty is a sage ruler. You must surely understand the principle that change brings progress, while stagnation invites doom! If you grant this humble subject the opportunity, I will certainly support you in implementing reforms!"

Hearing the word "reform," Li Chen felt a jolt. Could he have misjudged the man? Was this person just a namesake who happened to be sycophantic, but actually possessed genuine talent? Feeling insecure, Li Chen pressed for confirmation.

"Oh? Reform? Why don't you share your thoughts?"

Hearing this, Yan Song bowed slightly and continued.

"The world today is an era of intense competition. Looking across the four seas, while there are few who can rival the Great Zhou, there are many who covet or harbor hostility toward us. Therefore, to ensure the stability of the Great Zhou, we must initiate change from within."

"The influence of the Great Zhou's royal clan is far too great. If anyone threatens imperial power, it becomes a grave problem. Furthermore, even if they harbor no ill intent, should any of your decrees conflict with their interests, they will inevitably become an obstacle. Thus, reform must involve curbing the power of the feudal lords—at the very least, reclaiming their authority and wealth!"

Though sycophantic, Yan Song was indeed a man of talent. At this moment, he was inwardly thrilled, believing he had grasped the Emperor’s line of thinking and strategy, which gave him the confidence to speak so boldly. In particular, after saying this, he did not forget to secretly observe Li Chen’s reaction.

And Li Chen? He was truly excited. After all, the historical experience from his previous life told him that curbing the power of feudal lords was a high-stakes game: played well, it weakened the state; played poorly, it led to a change of dynasty. Had he not seen the Rebellion of the Seven States in the Han Dynasty or the Jingnan Campaign in the Ming Dynasty? Li Chen was convinced that given the current influence of the royal clan within the Great Zhou, if he truly attempted to curb their power, the only outcome would be failure.

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Yet, he had no idea that his various actions, as suspected by people like Yue Yao and Yan Song, were already having a silent impact, shaking the foundations of the royal clan. Looking at Yan Song again, Li Chen found him increasingly agreeable.

He asked with a smile, "It is rare for you to have such insight. However, toppling the feudal lords requires careful planning. Why not tell me, what other ideas do you have regarding internal affairs?"

Yan Song straightened his expression and said, "Beyond the feudal lords, the imperial court is currently plagued by problems of bloated officialdom and excessive expenditures. But the reasons behind these are deep-seated; they are not issues that can be shaken by minor reforms. Only by wielding thunderous methods to push for fundamental institutional changes can we eliminate the evils and promote prosperity!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chen’s eyes widened. Looking at Yan Song, he felt the man was a treasure sent by the heavens to help him ruin the national fortune. Curbing the lords and implementing radical reforms—these were the fastest ways to incite internal strife or even trigger a change of the throne. Throughout history, how many capable people had lost their homes, lives, or even their nations due to radical reforms? This man was ambitious but lacked true ability; combined with the Great Zhou’s existing system and its unique circumstances, wasn't the idea of successfully reforming just a joke?

At this thought, Li Chen wasted no more words and declared his intent.

"Minister Yan, you are indeed a capable official. I have decided to give you the chance to prove yourself. Once you leave the palace, go see Chancellor Ouyang. From now on, you shall join the inner circle to help me root out corruption and revitalize the Great Zhou!"

"You have my full support to act boldly. If any issues arise, I shall bear the burden for you. Rest assured!"

Although he did not explicitly state the position, the intent was clear. Yan Song’s eyes welled with tears, and he nearly kowtowed again to offer his gratitude.

...

Elsewhere, at the Chancellor’s mansion, Ouyang Yu, seeing the uncertainty among the officials, took the lead in the conversation once more.

"Gentlemen, I believe that with His Majesty’s grand strategy and talent, he is surely not so blind as to fail to see that this Yan Song is an empty vessel."

"Look here, these are the accounts brought by Minister Bai. The national power of our Great Zhou is flourishing, and this is all due to His Majesty’s wise decisions!"

"I will not hide it from you: if someone had told me a month ago that the national treasury could turn a deficit into a surplus, I would never have believed it. But with the current situation laid out before us, on what grounds could I doubt His Majesty?"

Once Ouyang Yu said this, those who already supported Li Chen, such as Ge Siwang and Bai Lian, immediately chimed in.

"Indeed, His Majesty is a rare and wise monarch. Even if we, as his subjects, cannot keep up with his train of thought, we must ensure we do not cause him trouble!"

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"I also believe we should not doubt His Majesty’s abilities. Besides, that Yan Song was recommended by a foreign power; I am sure His Majesty will remain cautious."

Hearing this, Zhang Cong, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up again.

"My lords, I have just reviewed the account books. Silk is currently sold out, and places of entertainment like taverns are becoming increasingly prosperous. This has even led to a rise in land and housing prices, allowing the Great Zhou to reap a handsome profit."

"But to my knowledge, many people do not actually understand His Majesty’s intent. Some are merely gambling, and the basis for their gamble—aside from His Majesty’s words and actions—is the fact that Shen Wanyi has arrived in Luodu and purchased a significant amount of land and silk."

"However, do not forget, gentlemen: merchants are driven by profit. They can come today and leave tomorrow. For the sake of money, they might even betray the Great Zhou. Furthermore, he is not a subject of the Great Zhou; who is to say if he doesn't have ulterior motives?"

This bucket of cold water left many displeased, but upon reflection, what he said was not entirely unreasonable. In this era, information was delayed, so even if Li Chen intervened personally, his influence was limited. But for merchants, it was different. Once a prestigious merchant entered the market, even if it were a gamble, it would induce others to follow suit, as was the case with Shen Wanyi.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace.

[The Emperor has acted as a wise monarch, causing the Great Zhou’s national fortune to increase by 500 points. Current balance: 7,550 points.]

[Friendly Reminder: Based on the current rise in national fortune, 0.5 points of Misfortune Value have been generated. Current Misfortune Value: 6.6. Once the Misfortune Value is full, the Emperor will suffer the Nine-Day Lightning Tribulation!]

Listening to the notification—he could no longer remember how many times it had popped up—Li Chen felt as if he were on the verge of a breakdown. He even began to suspect that the system might be bugged! Previously, he had put in so much effort only to lose five thousand points of national fortune. Yet now, the national fortune was rising out of thin air, and in such a short time, it had surged by another fifteen hundred. This was simply too absurd. The problem was that he had only just discovered the reason.

"Are you saying that the data in the account books submitted by Minister Bai this time is actually because Shen Wanyi has come to Luodu?"

Holding the intelligence gathered by his subordinates, Li Chen’s expression turned even gloomier. And across from him, the kneeling spy dealt him yet another critical blow.