The morning court.
"Minister of Rites Ouyang Ji, worn out by his diligence and suffering from illness, has passed away unexpectedly. A matter of great regret!" Xiao Qing declared with feigned sorrow.
The civil and military officials, observing Liang Xiao's equally "grieved" expression, felt a chill.
Ouyang Ping, kneeling below, tearfully stated, "My father dedicated his life to the nation and its people, and died with honor..."
Dugu Qun, He Wanli, and the others looked on in astonishment.
Ouyang Ping dared not publicly impeach Liang Xiao, whose actions had apparently angered his father to death!
However, He Wanli was the first to grasp the situation.
According to eyewitness accounts, Liang Xiao had not intentionally provoked Ouyang Ji to death. It was merely a normal business transaction.
Xiao Qing vaguely remarked, "Minister Ouyang toiled for his family his entire life. It was indeed not easy!"
"Your subject humbly requests Your Majesty to bestow a posthumous title upon my father!" Ouyang Ping pleaded.
Xiao Qing, finally composing himself, stated, "One who relies on power and acts recklessly is called 'Chou' (丑). If a posthumous title must be given, I can only grant Minister Ouyang the title of 'Chou'!"
'Chou' – a truly execrable posthumous title!
A hush fell over the officials.
Ouyang Ji, relying on his power in life, had acted with near impunity, even daring to challenge two emperors. This posthumous title was fitting!
Now that Ouyang Ji had died of anger, and the Ouyang family had lost favor, their past transgressions appeared all the more glaring.
Even if Ouyang Ji had not openly violated the laws of Da Gan, his habitual arrogance and increasingly assertive behavior had finally paved the way for Xiao Qing to settle accounts regarding his posthumous reputation.
" This is absolutely unacceptable!" Ouyang Ping cried out in shock and anger.
Xiao Qing turned to the Gu father and son: "Honored Ministers Gu, you are in charge of rites and laws. Please inform Minister Ouyang, is this permissible?"
Gu Hong and Gu Shaoyan immediately stepped forward, responding, "Replying to Your Majesty, it is in accordance with rites and laws!"
Ouyang Ping was left speechless.
He had only recently been appointed Vice Minister of Rites. Naturally, he did not possess the same depth of knowledge as the Gu father and son.
"'Miao' (缪) signifies a discrepancy between name and reality; to harm others and obscure the worthy; to obscure benevolence and harm the good. I believe the posthumous title should be 'Miao Chou'. Minister Ouyang, choose one." Xiao Qing said solemnly.
The officials below gasped.
Even Liang Xiao was momentarily stunned.
'Miao Chou'… wasn't that similar to the posthumous title of Qin Hui?
However, considering Ouyang Ji, like Dugu Qun, was a member of the surrender faction, lacked true substance, formed factions, slandered the virtuous, and had few merits, such a title was not unjust!
Ouyang Ping pleaded repeatedly, and finally had to accept "Chou".
"I hope all my ministers will serve the nation and its people, lest they be posthumously granted the title of 'Miao Chou'!" Xiao Qing declared earnestly.
The officials responded in unison: "Your subjects will dedicate our loyalty and wisdom to repay the nation's grace!"
Xiao Qing finally appeared satisfied. "As for the vacant position of Minister of Rites..."
Ouyang Ping, suppressing his grief, hastily said, "Your subject requests to inherit his father's mantle!"
Xiao Qing looked disappointed. "Minister Ouyang, I did not force you to observe three years of mourning for your father, which is already a great exception. If a son is promoted upon his father's death, how am I to explain this to the people!"
Ouyang Ping was rendered speechless.
He Wanli interjected, "Your Majesty! Grand Tutor and I are at leisure and are willing to lead in his stead!"
He was currently the Grand Tutor, and Dugu Qun was the Grand Tutor; both had been marginalized and desperately desired official positions.
Xiao Qing waved his hand. "You two are advanced in years and it is time for you to enjoy your retirement. I already have a suitable candidate. He Jingyun, Prefect of Jinling, has governed Jinling for many years with remarkable achievements, promoting rites and music, which is evident for all to see! He shall come to the capital to temporarily assume the post of Minister of Rites. Three years later, if He Jingyun proves incapable, Vice Minister of Rites Ouyang Ping may then take over!"
Ouyang Ping's hands, hidden within his sleeves, clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white, his fingernails digging into his palms, drawing a little blood.
Xiao Qing's intention was clear: due to his father Ouyang Ji's death, he had no chance of promotion for three years!
The Ouyang family, once at the height of their power just three years ago, now seemed inferior even to the Gu family!
Wang Canghai and the others remained impassive, showing no sympathy.
Besides "serves him right," they could find no more fitting words to describe the Ouyang family.
Including the value of the land, Liang Xiao had accumulated over forty million taels of silver from the Ouyang family. This news had spread like wildfire throughout the capital within a day.
That was forty million taels, not forty thousand!
A common family of five, economizing for a year, would spend only a few or a dozen taels!
While the common people envied Liang Xiao, they were also shocked and indignant at the Ouyang family's hidden wealth, which was almost unbelievable!
Where did this wealth come from?
Even if their old bookshop had sold books for a hundred years, it would have been impossible!
The source of the wealth was thus implicitly understood…
With Xiao Qing's approval, the personnel appointments were finalized. He Jingyun, Prefect of Jinling, was promoted to Minister of Rites. Liu Fan, Chief Clerk of the Chancellery, was promoted to Prefect of Jinling for his meritorious service in assisting with land reclamation!
Wang Canghai, along with the newly appointed Minister of Revenue Gu Hong, stepped forward again: "Regarding the repurchase of land nationwide, Your Majesty, a significant amount of funds is still lacking!"
Xiao Qing understood and sighed, "I am prepared for this matter. Lord Liang intends to donate a portion of his book sales proceeds, accumulating to twenty million taels of silver."
Everyone looked at Liang Xiao in surprise.
Liang Xiao seized the opportunity. "I originally intended to sell books at a price of around 150 wen, but the Ouyang family showed interest in competing. I have profited greatly, yet the people have been made to wait for affordable books. I should give back to the people as an apology!"
This was something he and Xiao Qing had discussed. However, Xiao Qing was unwilling to accept his money directly, merely using this twenty million tael donation as a guise for increased treasury revenue.
His own assets now far exceeded fifty million taels. As long as he did not openly squander them, outsiders would not detect any peculiarities.
Liang Xiao could use this money to generate more wealth, or keep it as reserve funds for future emergencies!
The civil and military officials praised in unison: "Grand Marshal, for the nation and its people, we are in awe!!"
Twenty million taels was enough to shock the entire nation!
The annual revenue of Da Gan, even with the improvement in the salt administration, was less than seventy million taels of silver. Most of this was used to pay salaries, and any surplus was fortunate.
Ouyang Ping fainted on the spot from anger and was carried away.
Dugu Qun pouted, looking dejected.
In comparison, the few million taels his Dugu family was forced to "donate" seemed insignificant!
The key point was that in the future, a trend of "donating to show loyalty" might truly emerge, and who would dare to be disloyal…
Xiao Qing continued, "Marquis Dingguo, Gongsun Ye, has also pledged to donate twenty million taels of silver."
The moment his words fell, half the officials dropped their ivory tablets in shock.
"Truly worthy of the Dingguo Marquis's estate, which has generations of loyalty to the sovereign and service to the nation, worthy of mountains of gold and silver!" The officials, recovering their senses, praised in unison.
Only Liang Xiao, Xiao Qing, Wang Canghai, and Ning Xuejun knew that Gongsun Ye's donation was originally also a pretense. However, this "king of stinginess" from Jiangnan, after receiving Xiao Qing's request, insisted on a genuine donation!
Xiao Qing sighed emotionally, "With such immense sums, how can I remain silent? The nation will not forget your donations. When the national treasury is abundant in the future, they shall be repaid. I intend to promote Minister Gongsun to General of Chariots and Cavalry. Do the assembled ministers deem this appropriate?"
"Your Majesty is wise! The prosperity of the nation is within reach!" the officials responded in unison.
This was one of the largest donations since the founding of the dynasty. Moreover, Gongsun Ye was already a General of Guards, making a direct promotion to Grand General entirely permissible.
The Dingguo Marquis's estate had previously produced two Grand Generals.
Xiao Qing declared proudly, "Therefore, I intend to select 120 million mu of land from the registered 200 million mu under the 'Conquest of Fields' order, from landlords and wealthy gentry, and reclaim it!"
The officials were greatly alarmed: "Your Majesty, even with an increase of forty million taels of silver in the national treasury, we cannot acquire so much land!"