Chapter 650: Breaking the Key to the Cycle

"If we tax, we die slowly; if we don't, we're finished instantly! We can only keep taxing more and more; there's no way to stop. Brother Wang's wish for light taxes and corvée, while a noble vision, is..." He shook his head.

Hearing this, everyone agreed it was a deadlock. The treasury was empty, leading to taxes. When the people were exploited beyond endurance, they revolted. Suppressing these revolts cost money, which in turn necessitated even higher taxes. These harsh taxes then provoked more rebellions... an endless, vicious cycle.

He Lingchuan turned to Gao Jilin. "Brother Gao, what's your perspective?"

"I believe we first need to identify the root cause of these troubles," Gao Jilin said slowly. "The nation has faced continuous disasters because its vital energy is scarce and cannot nourish all regions, indicating inherent weakness. We must first diagnose the core issue: Is it the monarch's obstinacy and ambition? Is it due to corrupt officials holding sway? Or is it a consequence of misgovernance and tyranny? Only by understanding the ailment can we apply the correct remedy." The students nodded in agreement. "Brother Gao is right," they remarked, "we need to feel the pulse to diagnose the illness."

"Stop with this useless chatter!" a voice suddenly boomed from the side, overriding the others. "Tell me, how long has this monarch been in power?" He Lingchuan observed the speaker: a stout man in his early twenties, with a somewhat long face and a slightly red nose. "For quite a few years. May I ask your name?"

"My name is Du!" The man pressed on directly. "Did the nation's accumulated poverty and weakness only emerge under his rule?"

"No," He Lingchuan replied, shaking his head. "The previous monarch was elderly and addled, arrogant and self-serving, and made many foolish decisions." Naturally, he had no kind words for Yuan's former ruler.

"And after the new monarch took the throne, there was no improvement whatsoever?"

"Virtually none," He Lingchuan stated. "The new monarch did attempt new policies, but they failed." The man slapped the table with a *smack*. "Then the root cause is obvious, isn't it? It lies with the monarch!" Gao Jilin had yet to speak, but Jiang Tao interjected, annoyed. "Du Shan, a nation's weakness stems from multiple causes and effects. How can you pin it all solely on the monarch?"

"Your 'causes and effects' are mere symptoms; the ultimate root of the problem is the monarch!" Du Shan retorted bluntly. "He who wishes to wear the crown must bear its weight. If he cannot reform the old, embrace the new, wisely appoint capable people, punish evildoers, or benefit the nation and its populace, then whose fault is that, truly?" Liu Zewu joined the questioning. "So, by your reckoning, what's the solution?"

Noticing more and more attention directed his way, Du Shan smiled. "There's a best strategy and a less favorable one. Which would you prefer to hear?" He Lingchuan opted, "Let's hear the less favorable one first." Du Shan promptly shook his wine flask. "Ah, it's empty!" He Lingchuan chuckled, then raised a hand to summon a server. "A jar of five-year-aged Qinxiangchun for Brother Du!"

Xiangmanlou's wines were graded, with its self-brewed Qinxiangchun being the finest and most renowned. It was rumored to be made from spring snow gathered from branches and unopened plum blossoms, resulting in a refreshing and smooth taste. Naturally, its price was significantly higher than the second or third-grade varieties. Prices in Beijia were already steep, and here, with several layers of additional charges, a single jar of five-year-aged Qinxiangchun cost five taels of silver.

Du Shan paused in surprise, then gave a thumbs-up. "Generous, indeed! And you are?"

"My name is He." Jiang Tao mumbled under his breath, "Brother He is being foolish; this fellow won't offer any good schemes." They were government-sponsored students, not lacking funds, but they wouldn't waste five taels of valuable wine on a stranger just to hear a "less favorable" strategy.

He Lingchuan quietly said, "It's fine." He wasn't one to frivolously spend money either. When the wine arrived, Du Shan cracked open the mud seal, first taking a deep whiff of the aroma from the jar's mouth, then pouring himself a cup.

"The less favorable strategy," Du Shan began, taking a sip of wine, "is to find pretexts to condemn and confiscate the assets of the corrupt officials rampant in court. The wealth seized would replenish the national treasury, solving the money shortage in the short term. The common people have been bled dry; it just so happens that the nation's parasites have fattened themselves over these many years. If not now, when should they be dealt with?"

He Lingchuan's eyes flickered. "That sounds promising, but why is it rarely implemented by nations?" Even Yuan, in its current dire state, hadn't moved against its own officials.

"Entrenched interests make them hesitant, unable to act," Du Shan chuckled. "Actually, why say no one uses it? Xuluo, a vassal state of Beijia, did. When the third Demon King ascended, he didn't pardon the deficits of officials at various levels. Instead, he ordered investigations into funds and provisions across all regions, setting a deadline for them to cover any shortfalls, or face severe penalties. Within a few years, the national treasury was replenished. He didn't confiscate homes, but the principle was the same."

Jiang Tao scratched his head. "Your point isn't entirely wrong, but..." He was speaking unconventionally, not adhering to standard principles of statecraft.

Du Shan didn't even glance at him. "This is just 'wine politics,' idle chatter over a few drinks. What method can't be suggested?" (*Wine politics* refers to discussing state affairs while drinking.) It was just a bit of gossip, wasn't it? He Lingchuan interjected at that moment, "If the monarch could achieve that, he would have done so years ago. Would he wait until now? Attempting such a crackdown impulsively would likely cause upheaval in both court and country, making matters even worse." The students present were all aware that even an emperor couldn't simply do as he pleased. Courage and capability are qualities some are born with, while others never acquire them throughout their lives.

"That's precisely the point!" Du Shan declared, laughing and slapping the table again. "Which is why I also have a *best* strategy!" He Lingchuan had already grasped his meaning somewhat but still invited him, "Please tell us."

"Since the root cause lies with the monarch, why not simply replace him?" Du Shan narrowed his eyes. "The highest position belongs to the capable. Whoever can quell rebellion and bring peace to the populace will naturally secure the throne." The others burst into laughter. "Du Shan's 'poisonous' schemes are just as we expected!" they exclaimed.

"The first blow of reform, a backhanded move to dispose of the ruler! Hahahaha!" He Lingchuan immediately recognized that Du Shan was someone who favored unorthodox and extreme approaches, apparently notorious for it within the academy. If Sun Hongye were present, these two would likely find a kindred spirit in each other, becoming fast friends. Du Shan remained unperturbed by the general laughter. "For a ruler, indecisiveness is a grave taboo. As the saying goes, 'a soft heart leads to an unstable throne.' Why should one individual's shortcomings burden the entire populace? Moreover, this monarch has failed for years to strengthen the nation or benefit its people. This clearly indicates he's unfit for his role, and someone else ought to take his place."

"You laugh and dismiss it as fantasy, but in truth, history is replete with such instances," he chuckled. "I ask you, what holds more importance: the nation's well-being, or the ruler himself?"

He Lingchuan's gaze dropped slightly, his thoughts turning to Yuan's Grand Marshal, Nian Zanli, and even "Saint Master" Hong Xiangqian. Indeed, weren't their actions precisely what Du Shan was describing?

Gao Jilin, who had been deep in thought, suddenly spoke. "Yuan is internally weak, plagued by secession and uprisings, forcing the royal court to dispatch troops to suppress them. Warfare, however, is the most costly endeavor. Without funds, the army cannot be sustained, which then compels the central government to impose even more taxes on the populace. This escalating tax burden leads to widespread destitution and depopulation, leaving the people with no choice but to rebel... This vicious cycle, coupled with the erosion of national strength, is likely one of the primary causes of Yuan's decline."

Du Shan slammed the table. "Do you hear that? Do you hear that? *This* is Yuan's immediate problem! Go on, you continue." Gao Jilin smiled and resumed. "The Yuan army is short on manpower and supplies, but fundamentally, it's a lack of money. With sufficient funds, manpower, horses, and provisions can all be procured. The Yuan monarch's urgent task, therefore, is to swiftly secure a substantial amount of external wealth. This would ensure that the impoverished have livelihoods and won't revolt, and the state, having military funds, wouldn't need to levy excessive taxes, thus breaking that vicious cycle we discussed. If this approach is sustained, allowing the populace and national strength a period of recovery, Yuan can gradually return to stability and prosperity."

He added, "There are numerous reasons for Yuan's decline; I'm merely focusing on one. Not long ago, Yuan fought the Battle of Hanshui against General Nian, the Governor of Xunzhou. The Yuan army had initially suffered repeated defeats, forced to retreat to the strategic natural defenses of Hanshui. I heard that eventually, both the Yuan royal court and local authorities managed to funnel funds and supplies to the front lines. As a result, the Yuan army suddenly fought General Nian to a stalemate." He cited the Battle of Hanshui to support his argument.

The others chimed in, "That makes sense, but how would they procure such a sum?"

"If the nation is at its wit's end, it means every conceivable method has been tried. Where else could the money come from?"

"Borrow it, steal it, or seize it," Du Shan bared his teeth. "Otherwise, the nation will collapse, and the monarch will face execution. Don't the two strategies I just proposed—the 'best' and 'less favorable'—perfectly complement Brother Gao's points? Confiscate the wealth of corrupt officials and national parasites, and the people will cheer. The royal court gains both reputation and funds, accumulating public goodwill and practical benefits, and will have money for war. Conversely, if this monarch cannot secure the necessary funds, he deserves to fall, and someone with the resolve to obtain that money should take his place."

Zheng Zewu shook his head. "It's not that simple. Royal court relationships are often incredibly intricate..." Du Shan's eyes widened. "Just because it's complicated, you don't act? Those who achieve great things endure what others cannot, and accomplish what others deem impossible. When the nation faces imminent collapse, a monarch who still hesitates is committing a grave error!"

Jiang Tao scratched his head. "Executing only a few national parasites probably wouldn't yield enough money, would it?"

"Well, then they can still resort to stealing, robbing, or borrowing; they can't be constrained by conventional methods," Du Shan said with a smile. "Is this a time for modesty?"

Surprisingly, no one else refuted his point. Instead, they extended his line of reasoning, engaging in a buzzing discussion. Some of the suggestions struck He Lingchuan as astonishing – no, rather, quite insightful. He had been so preoccupied with his own duties recently that he rarely had time to ponder such grand matters of state. These individuals, it seemed, certainly had substance. Only when the general discussion began to wane did he ask Du Shan, "In your view, Brother Du, should a nation's system be based on the worship of deities or the reverence of a monarch?"

Du Shan picked up a piece of dried fish to chew. Without a moment's thought, he stated, "We are human, and the fate of humanity should naturally be in human hands. Are we to allow the gods to hold dominion over our lives and deaths?" He Lingchuan smiled.

At that moment, Gao Jilin suddenly turned to He Lingchuan. "There are a few individuals over there who have been watching you intently, Brother He. I fear they might have ill intentions. Should we report them to the authorities?" The security near the Grand Academy was excellent, and the local officials always responded to calls.

Following his gaze, everyone indeed saw a table of three or four burly men seated by the door. They had ordered only a pot of tea and were drinking while glaring in their direction, their gazes appearing hostile.

"Oh, no, no need," He Lingchuan said, waving his hands dismissively. "Thank you for your concern, but they are here for my protection, not petty criminals." These were the Loyal Guards stationed at Pianxiang Villa, who were accompanying him today in plain clothes, though they certainly looked like ruffians.

All the students were momentarily stunned.