Lanke Chess Edge
Chapter 223: No Longer a Novice Official

[T/n: note on chapter title]¹

As a household name in the literary circles of Dazhen, Yin Zhaoxian had now reached a point where he needed to pay attention to his image. After he had taken office in Wan Province and gotten to know the post for a while, he realized that he could not causally express certain emotions at will.

Even in front of his wife, Yin Zhaoxian still could not show the depression in his heart too clearly, for fear that his wife would be too worried. However, in front of Ji Yuan now, he had no such concerns. This was a rare opportunity for him to vent his emotions.

“Haah… I apologize for embarrassing myself in front of you, Mr. Ji!”

Yin Zhaoxian seemed a little agitated at this moment. It seemed that he had suffered quite a bit in his official position. Even someone with such a calm, even disposition had been brought to this point. Of course, it might also have been that he had been accumulating too much anger over a long period of time, so he grew quite agitated as he vented.

Ji Yuan held the teacup in his hand, but didn’t drink. He just blew gently onto the tea. The puff of breath also stirred the air in the room, dispersing some of the stagnant Qi and depression in his friend’s body, making him calm down significantly.

“Master Yin, it seems that the wealthy and prosperous region of Wan Province is not as outstanding the other regions might imagine it to be?”

Hearing Mr. Ji finally addressing him as “Master Yin” again, Yin Zhaoxian felt inexplicably better for some reason, and then sighed.

“Ah… Mr. Ji, you aren’t aware that although Wan Province is indeed a prosperous region, some people are rich in gold and jade, while others don’t even have enough to eat. The former are few in number, while the latter are numerous. It is simply sick! Can you imagine, just a small community leader²…”

As Yin Zhaoxian spoke, he stretched out his right hand and pinched the tip of his little finger, almost shaking his hand as he gestured towards Ji Yuan.

“Such a trivial³ official, of absolutely no importance, actually owns over fifty qing⁴ of mulberry fields. How did he get these fields? How could he have acquired so much land while being a community leader his whole life?”

Yin Zhaoxian took a deep breath, picked up the teacup to take a sip, then added.

“What’s even more infuriating is that among these 50 qing of land, there are at least 1,000 mu⁵ of permanent farmland,⁶ which is the lifeblood of the people!”

Ji Yuan frowned. Now that he was thinking about it, the land of Wan Province that he had passed by when he was riding on the clouds did indeed have more mulberry forests and less grain. It seemed that it wasn’t that everyone was growing mulberry trees and raising silkworms in the hopes of getting rich, but rather that the people’s fields had all been annexed?

Perhaps in the beginning, farmers were indeed tempted by the profits of planting mulberry trees and raising silkworms. Then, after suffering various losses due to natural or man-made disasters, the farmers bought back their mulberry fields at a seemingly “fair” price. Now, there were more mulberry trees than fields, and this industry was strictly controlled by the rich and powerful, leaving the common people with nowhere to go.

With this small picture from the events in Lishun Prefecture, the overarching trend the entire Wan Province was that many farmers and common people had very little land that they actually owned. If they wanted to have enough food, most of the time they had no choice but to rely on the people who owned their land, but growing mulberry trees and raising silkworms did not require that many people. Most of the profits the farmers made went to wealthy families. In addition, they had to bear the same taxes by themselves, so their lives were quite difficult.

And, more importantly, the only reward the farmers who helped the wealthy families tend to the silkworms and make silk received was money. If Wan Province did not have enough grain, they would have to buy it from other places. Buying grain allowed for the profit to be exploited by many merchants. Price fluctuations were not determined by the farmers. And who had the final say on the fluctuations in grain prices? They would naturally be affected by natural disasters, but also it was the wealthy merchants and officials from these same wealthy families who had the final say.

What could you do when you didn’t have enough money? Mortgage your land for the coming year!

After listening to Yin Zhaoxian’s analysis, even Ji Yuan, an “immortal” in the eyes of ordinary people, could not help but feel a chill down his spine. Over the years, the land of the farmers in Wan Province, upon which the latter depended for their survival, had been eaten away bit by bit, just like how the silkworms in Wan Province ate away at the mulberry leaves…

Yin Zhaoxian drank some tea from his teacup, then sneered again.

“Everyone in Dazhen says: Bing Province’s grain, Wan Province’s silk — hah, how can the situation of the people of Wan Province be compared with that of Bing Province?”

Ji Yuan couldn’t help but nod. He had stayed in Bing Province for quite some time. Although he had been cultivating on Yun Mountain for most of that period, he had heard the abundance of laughter from the busy farmers during the rice harvesting season in Bing Province.

“So, Master Yin, are you taking action there?”

Yin Zhaoxian shook his head.

“If I could strike at everyone I see, why would I feel so depressed? In the past two years since I came to Wan Province, I first carefully observed the people’s sentiments and did not show any indications of favor to either side. As I got to know Lishun Prefecture and Wan Province more and more, I also increasingly understood that this was a matter where pulling one hair could move the whole body.⁷ Though it may seem like just a hair to me, I cannot act so easily!”

Although Ji Yuan didn’t understand the constraints of officialdom, his friend’s words were enough to show that Master Yin had a thorough understanding of his position, and was by no means a fool in this web. JI Yuan put aside some of his concerns.

“Master Yin, you hold the position of prefect, and you have connections in the imperial court. Why are you so wary?”

As Ji Yuan spoke, he picked up the teapot and refilled his friend’s teacup, just like those afternoons where they chatted with each other in Ju’an Pavilion.

Yin Zhaoxian had calmed down now. Just like Ji Yuan, he did not have any reservations, so he simply picked up his teacup and drank it.

“Although the imperial court’s inspectors have visited Wan Province and reported that it has been fine over the years, this alone is not enough. I am afraid that there are also deep-rooted interests at play in the imperial court. Lishun Prefecture and the entire Wan Province are of great concern to many people!”

Yin Zhaoxian’s speech at this moment was completely like that of a veteran official who had been in his position for a long time, rather than that of a rookie official who had just been promoted from his top scholar position a few years ago.

Although Ji Yuan felt bad for the people of Wan Province, after this simple conversation, he was no longer too worried about his friend, so he jokingly asked a question — though there was no teasing tone in his voice.

“And then Master Yin was sent to Wan Province. Wouldn’t those interested groups regard you as a thorn in their side?”

“I’m not enough to be a thorn in their side, but a certain wariness is inevitable. Particularly when I first took office, I was on guard day and night. Haha, thinking back on it now, it was ridiculous!”

Yin Zhaoxian changed the subject at this point.

“However, even though I had come here to observe people’s sentiments carefully, I did not make any unnecessary movements. I appeared to be minding my own business, which made them relax. Now, the officials of Lishun Prefecture and even Wan Province all think that the scholar who won all three top places in the imperial examinations is just very talented, and was sent to Wan Province to gild his reputation; sooner or later, he will be promoted to the capital. They don’t want anything to happen during my tenure, so it has all been stable!”

“It’s ironic: after that, more and more people came to me to give gifts, and their positions have risen higher and higher, from small households to wealthy families.”

“Oh? Are they all valuable gifts?”

Ji Yuan reached out and touched the teapot, making the tea return to the right temperature. He refilled a cup for himself and another for his friend.

“They’re all very valuable — or, rather, most of it is money! White silver, and shining gold. After all, everyone is optimistic about this Yin Zhaoxian’s future promotion. Who knows, I might become their new backer in the court in the future.”

Yin Zhaoxian smilked, and then said something to Ji Yuan in a joking manner.

“I will not refuse anyone who comes. I accept them all!”

When Ji Yuan heard these words, although he didn’t show it on his face, inside he was stunned. However, he realized something immediately: he still had confidence in his friend’s character. This confidence came both from his understanding of Master Yin, and also from the pure and righteous condensed aura surrounding Master Yin’s body at this moment.

“Why, does Master Yin plan to use courtesy first, and then force to settle accounts at the right time?”⁸

“My parents raised me honorably,⁹ and Ji Yuan understands me well! Every time, every gift, every bribe, I remember it all clearly!”

It was a rare occasion for Yin Zhaoxian to act mysterious in front of his good friend.

“If we were to identify who among the entire Dazhen court, government, and public hates corruption the most — aside from me, Yin Zhaoxian, it would have to be the current emperor.”

Ji Yuan looked at Yin Zhaoxian, shook his head, and sighed.

“As far as I knows, the old emperor is obsessed with that auspicious omen and is now preparing for a Water and Land Assembly,¹⁰ calling for all the ‘distinguished talents’¹¹ from all walks of life in Dazhen to convene. It’s hard to say how much of his attention he will afford to Wan Province.”

Apart from a frown, Yin Zhaoxian didn’t show any special expression. He would not say that his friend’s tone was disrespectful, exactly.

Ji Yuan smiled and continued to speak leisurely.

“He is key to the fate of Dazhen, respected by thousands. He can prolong his life, but if he wishes to seek immortality, he must give up his position. It is impossible for him to do both.”

Yin Zhaoxian did not dwell on this issue.

“His Majesty might no longer be young and strong, but he will not remain indifferent to the affairs of Wan Province. Moreover, the ambitions Prince Jin is also involved in this matter. Half a year ago, I had secretly reported to my findings to His Majesty through His Royal Highness Prince Jin. I didn’t say much, just informing him of the bribes the gift givers gave me. I’m sure Mr. Ji can guess how much the total was.”

Seeing Master Yin’s expression, Ji Yuan figured that he might as well guess a high number, so he spoke.

“Fifty thousand taels of silver?”

Yin Zhaoxian shook his head.

“No, no!”

“One hundred thousand taels?”

Seeing that Master Yin was still shaking his head, Ji Yuan immediately continued.

“Fifty thousand taels of gold?”

“Mr. Ji, guess again. Some of the metals I obtained shone yellow, while others shone white;¹² even more were rare or antiques.”

Ji Yuan grinned. He calculated a divination with his right hand hidden in his sleeve, and then spoke with a hint of surprise.

“It was actually 210,000 taels of gold!?”¹³

Yin Zhao was taken aback by the precise data, and then nodded in answer.

“Yes, after a few years, if you include all the treasures and artifacts, it should be worth about two million taels of silver. Haha, it’s almost equal to the annual tax that Wan Province pays the national treasury every half year!”

“I am the prefect of Lishun Prefecture. Although I do indeed have some favorable prospects, I have received a disproportionate amount of benefits during my two-year term. How much money was taken from the people and from the imperial court? How could the emperor not be furious?”

Yin Zhaoxian sneered when he spoke these words.

“I wrote it all in the secret letter I sent through Prince Jin. After receiving my secret report, His Majesty smashed his favorite set of teacups in the Imperial Study!”

He had become foolishly complacent in his old age. Although many emperors in past dynasties had been similar, Emperor Yuan De did not think he would be one of them. Now that he found himself being deceived by those serving under him, one could only imagine the anger in his heart.

Hearing this, Ji Yuan knew that his friend already had a plan in mind. He felt half relieved and half emotional.

‘Master Yin is no longer a novice official!’

1. The word “Novice” is 稚子 (zhìzǐ) lit. “young child,” meant to signify innocence, naïveté, and inexperience
2. 里 (lǐ): ancient administrative unit of 25 families (also: neighborhood/borough), 正 (zhèng): main/principal/etc.
3. 芝麻绿豆 (zhīmalǜdòu) Lit. “sesame mungbean” but together makes the word “trivial,” in the sense of “as tiny and stupid as beans” which I find hilarious
4. 1 qing = 0.066667 km², so 50 qing = 3.3333 km², about the size of Central Park in NYC, over 2.5 times the size of Monaco.
5. 2/3 km² or 0.26 miles²
6. Permanent farmland is land used for crops that don’t need to be replanted every year (orchards, vineyards, plantations). Contrasted with arable land, which is for annually harvested crops.
7. i.e. changing one thing can have drastic effects.
8. 2 idioms here: 先礼后兵 (xiānlǐhòubīng): Lit. “peaceful measures before using force,” or “diplomacy before violence.” 秋后算账 (qiūhòusuànzhàng): Lit. “to settle accounts after autumn,” meaning “to settle the score at an opportune time” — autumn was harvest season, so people who worked on credit or on promises of payment in the planting and growing seasons would have to settle their accounts, either paying wages or collecting debts.
9. Lit. “I am the student of my parents”
10. 水陆 (shuǐlù): water and land/delicacies or rarities from land and sea, 法会 (fǎhuì): religious assembly (Buddhist)
11. 名士 (míngshì): (old) a person of literary talent/a celebrity/a distinguished literary person having no official post, 高人 (gāorén): a very talented person
12. i.e. gold and silver
13. Approx $550 million USD but calculations might be off — definitely no less. Holy guacamole