Chapter 17: I Have Two Strategies
Dead silence.
In the Golden Throne Hall, the silence was absolute. Zhao Yi’s suggestion of "confiscating their assets" fell like a thunderbolt from the heavens, shattering the wits of all the civil and military officials present.
Every eye was fixed on Zhao Yi. Their gazes were filled with shock, fear, and anger, but more than anything, they looked at him as if he were a lunatic. This bastard had truly lost his mind! Not only did he want to die, but he also wanted to drag everyone else down with him!
Zhou Xian, the Vice Minister of Revenue, turned pale with rage. He was the first to jump out, pointing at Zhao Yi’s nose and cursing him roundly.
"Zhao Yi! You traitorous scoundrel! How dare you spout such heresy in the imperial court and poison the Emperor’s mind!"
"Your Majesty! Which of the esteemed lords present here is not a loyal minister or a valiant general who has given their all for our Great Zhou? How dare you slander us? What is your crime!"
"I beg Your Majesty to issue a decree to have this villainous wretch dragged out and executed!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, execute this monster!"
"Long live the wisdom of the Emperor!"
In an instant, the crowd was incensed, and the entire court turned into a denunciation meeting against Zhao Yi.
On the dragon throne, Empress Wu Mingkong’s face remained as calm as still water, revealing neither joy nor anger. Yet, inside, she was overjoyed.
Confiscating their assets? Good! Well said! This rascal was becoming more and more to her liking. She had wanted to confiscate their wealth for a long time but could never find a suitable excuse!
She suppressed the wild joy in her heart, her phoenix eyes turning cold as she slammed her hand against the armrest of the throne.
"Insolent!"
Her majestic voice instantly silenced the clamor. The Empress scanned the crowd below coldly, finally letting her gaze rest on Zhao Yi, her tone filled with rebuke.
"Zhao Yi, you are remarkably bold!"
"My court is filled with the pillars of the nation. How can I allow you to spout such nonsense and make baseless accusations here?"
"I suspect that the bloodlust of the Northern Frontier has clouded your mind and ruined your wits!"
Hearing this, the heavy stone that had been hanging in the hearts of the officials finally fell. They immediately knelt in a chorus of praise.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
"Your Majesty’s discernment is brilliant!"
Their faces were filled with the relief of those who had narrowly escaped death.
...
After the court was dismissed, Zhao Yi was practically flayed by the glares of his peers as he walked out of the Golden Throne Hall. His father, Zhao Zhao, stayed eight yards away from him, acting as if he didn't recognize his own son.
As he reached the palace gate, that familiar figure appeared once again. Eunuch Gui wore a polite smile and bowed slightly toward him.
"Lord Zhao, please stay."
"Her Majesty has issued a decree summoning Zhao Yi, Vice Director of the Ministry of War, to the Imperial Study for an audience."
...
Imperial Study.
The scent of sandalwood lingered, and the atmosphere was serene. Empress Wu Mingkong was still wearing her loose black casual robes, leaning against a daybed with a book in her hand.
However, the neckline of her robe today seemed just a fraction lower than yesterday. The breathtaking, milky-white expanse rose and fell with her rhythmic breathing, dizzying to behold.
She had plenty to show today. Plenty indeed.
"You’ve come?"
The Empress set down her book, lifted her eyelids, and skipped the pleasantries, getting straight to the point.
"Tell me. How should we go about this confiscation?"
Zhao Yi, having prepared himself, pushed aside his wandering thoughts and put on a serious expression.
"Your Majesty, confiscating assets is an art. It requires legitimacy."
"To act directly would be nothing but banditry, and it would incite resistance from everyone. We must make them beg to hand their money over to us."
He pondered for a moment and held up two fingers.
"I have two strategies. The first is called 'Sting Operation.' The second is called 'Competitive Incentives.'"
The Empress’s phoenix eyes lit up with deep interest.
"Tell me more."
Zhao Yi cleared his throat, feeling that his moment to shine had arrived.
"The first strategy, the 'Sting Operation.' Your Majesty can issue a decree opening up several highly profitable industries previously monopolized by the court, such as salt and iron, claiming that you wish to... well, share the profits with the people."
"However, to obtain operating rights, one must first pay a massive 'security deposit.'"
"Those corrupt officials, whose homes are filled with rotting piles of silver, will undoubtedly swarm in like sharks smelling blood."
"Once they have poured vast sums of money into it, we simply find a pretext—say, poor management, hoarding, or market manipulation—and revoke their operating rights. The security deposit, naturally, will be confiscated by the state."
"As for the second strategy, it is even simpler."
A devilish smile curled at the corners of Zhao Yi’s mouth.
"Your Majesty can establish an 'Anti-Corruption Commission' and announce to the world that anyone who reports a corrupt official will, upon verification, be rewarded with thirty percent of that official’s assets!"
"Think about it, Your Majesty—thirty percent!"
"Under heavy rewards, there will surely be brave men! When that time comes, never mind their colleagues; even their own sons might sell them out for the money!"
"This is called inciting the masses to fight the masses. Let them tear each other apart, and we shall sit back and reap the rewards as the fisherman!"
As the last word fell, the Empress’s stunning face shifted from astonishment to wild ecstasy.
She slammed her hand down on the daybed.
"Excellent!"
"A brilliant strategy!"
The force of the blow caused her to tremble slightly. Zhao Yi’s gaze uncontrollably flickered three times.
*Damn!*
*I must have seen things. My eyes must be playing tricks on me.*
The Empress was far too excited to notice Zhao Yi’s wandering eyes. She sat upright, leaning forward slightly, her phoenix eyes shining with an astonishing intensity as she stared at Zhao Yi, looking exactly like an eager student hungry for knowledge.
"Quickly!"
"Tell me in detail, how exactly should this 'Sting Operation' be executed?"
Watching her thirst for knowledge, Zhao Yi felt a surge of secret satisfaction. He straightened his posture, cleared his throat, and began to explain in detail.
"Your Majesty, the first step is to build momentum..."