According to the thoughts of the officials in the Capital, the first place to become chaotic due to taxation issues would be the two Prefectures near Central State in Jianghuai.

However, the first to become chaotic was Zhili.

Zhili is under the Emperor’s feet, adjacent to the Capital, and both the Emperor and officials believed that the people of Zhili were affluent enough to pay double taxes. At most, it was a matter of selling a few acres of land, nothing major.

But neither the Emperor nor the officials knew that the land in Zhili had long been seized by the royal family, nobles, and high-ranking officials. The people didn’t own much land, and the additional Kangrong tax of one tael per person made matters worse.

Moreover, this was only the summer tax. October would bring the autumn tax, and the impoverished families in Zhili were desperate. Many over forty-five-year-olds, finding no buyer after attempting to sell themselves, ended up committing suicide to reduce their families’ tax burden.

In just one village in Zhili, over thirty people ended their lives this way, almost all of the village elders died just to save their families from their share of the taxes.

The remaining young women who could sell themselves did so, reducing the tax burden slightly while bringing some silver to their families. Although the price of silver had dropped to one tael, younger girls fetched only five hundred cents, but as long as someone bought them, they could survive.

The Emperor and officials in the Capital were shocked upon hearing the news.

Apart from being shocked, the Emperor was more angry, he overturned tables and immediately decreed the punishment of the several officials in Zhili, even summoning the cabinet ministers for a nocturnal reprimand, blaming them for their ineffectiveness that brought such heaven-defying affairs under the Emperor’s feet!

Elder Shangguan and others were very worried. Initially, when you suggested collecting double taxes, we advised against it, warning it would lead to major incidents. You wouldn’t listen. Now that people died, do you just blame us?

The other four cabinet ministers immediately pleaded guilty to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. It is due to our inefficiency, please punish us!"

With a bang, Emperor Jingyuan smashed his cup, pointing at them and scolding: "Again with such hackneyed platitudes, whenever trouble arises, all you do is plead guilty and ask me to calm down. Can’t you say anything useful?!"

Indeed, we did say, but you wouldn’t listen.

Elder Shangguan sighed, saying to Emperor Jingyuan: "Your Majesty, the mass suicide of elders in the village to save their families from taxes is only a minor issue now. What needs precaution most are the people in the military camps. Those soldiers all have families. If their families can’t afford the taxes, rebellion is highly likely."

This was Emperor Jingyuan’s greatest fear, and upon hearing this his face turned dark. However, considering the Duke Wei’s faction had been eradicated and other military commanders posed no threat, he wasn’t overly concerned.

Still, he didn’t want a military uprising, so he said: "I will personally issue an Imperial decree, exempting families of soldiers from half of their taxes."

While saying this, Emperor Jingyuan felt the sting, as the Great Chu was a dynasty founded on horseback, with numerous soldiers constantly at odds with the Da Rong. Exempting families of soldiers from half the taxes was no small sum.

Elder Shangguan frowned again and said: "Your Majesty, shortly the army will be dispatched against the Da Rong. At this moment, strategizing is crucial. Consider exempting families of soldiers from taxes entirely. Thus, soldiers will be deeply grateful for the Emperor’s grace and surely fight valiantly against the Rong people."

Emperor Jingyuan refused: "Marching and warring depend on silver as support. The Great Chu has many soldiers; if we exempt soldiers’ families from taxes entirely, where would the silver for war come from? Will you ministers provide it, or will the noble families?"

After saying this, he sneered twice, his harsh gaze fixing on the five cabinet ministers inside the hall.

Among the five cabinet ministers, four of them changed their expressions. These four all came from noble families and hadn’t fully opposed the taxation because they feared if Emperor Jingyuan couldn’t gather silver, he’d target the noble families.

During Emperor Jingwu’s time, half of the noble families were executed and expropriated, leaving few left. They couldn’t let all noble families fall under the hands of Emperor Jingwu’s three generations.

Emperor Jingyuan saw their silence and sneered: "I know you ministers labor hard, but regarding the tax matter, I have been lenient. Northwest, Northeast, and Central State haven’t had taxes increased. The taxing lands are all affluent regions. If taxes can’t be gathered, I will have doubts whether affluent lands of Great Chu harbor scheming rats?"

The most affluent place in Great Chu is none other than Jiangnan. Ever since the former dynasty’s turmoil, many noble families migrated there to escape war, establishing a considerable estate, making it not an exaggeration to call noble families local tyrants in Jiangnan.

The scheming rats Emperor Jingyuan referred to hindering tax collection in affluent lands are exactly the noble families entrenched in Jiangnan.

Elder Shangguan’s cold sweat poured down, and together with the cabinet ministers, he knelt down, saying: "Your Majesty is benevolent, loved by ministers and people alike. Tax collection is intended to strike back at the Da Rong, avenging and vindicating the people of Great Chu. Naturally, the people are willing to support generously."

Emperor Jingyuan laughed: "If that’s the case, ministers, proceed with the tasks. Keep a close watch on local military camps, avoid further troubles, or else..."

Don’t blame him for emulating the Imperial Grandfather by executing noble families for wealth!

"Your subject obeys the decree." Elder Shangguan and others hurriedly retreated, wiping cold sweat once out of Mingwei Palace.

Emperor Jingyuan is truly ruthless; Emperor Jingwu’s execution of noble families was to prevent court dominance, whereas Emperor Jingyuan’s execution was purely to fill the coffers.

Besides executing noble families, Emperor Jingyuan also loved to execute founding nobles, nearly wiping out those holding substantial military authority. Those who were obedient still needed to send their daughters and granddaughters into the harem to show loyalty.

Inside the cabinet ministers’ hearts: It has only been three generations since founding; resorting to such brutal means, it might end soon.

Qi Yi was waiting outside Mingwei Palace and only returned inside after the cabinet ministers left.

Inside Mingwei Palace, eunuchs and palace maids quietly cleaned up the mess; in no time, it was tidied. Qi Yi bowed to Emperor Jingyuan and returned to his desk to continue drafting the imperial decrees for Emperor Jingyuan.

Upon seeing him, Emperor Jingyuan frowned and asked with a tone of anger: "Do you have nothing to say to me?"

In the past, upon seeing such matters, wouldn’t you advise me to remain calm and not act impulsively?

Now silent?

Or do you think I’m beyond help?!

Upon hearing this, Qi Yi did not lift his head, remaining bowed and obediently turning towards Emperor Jingyuan, saying: "Your humble subject dares not."

Bang, the freshly tidied table by the eunuchs was overturned again, and Emperor Jingyuan, in a fit of rage, pointed at Qi Yi saying: "Don’t dare? Aren’t you the self-proclaimed good minister, who during the Imperial Examination declared boldly to become a prime minister assisting the King? Now you follow those old foxes’ tricks, uttering perfunctory insincere words to me!"

Qi Yi: "Your Majesty, not one insincere word has your humble subject ever spoken to Your Majesty."

"Not one insincere word?" Emperor Jingyuan laughed: "Look at your perfunctory, lifeless demeanor; where is the spirited and ambitious appearance when you vowed to assist me in establishing a dynasty to last a hundred generations?!"