The culprit who had caused widespread panic and unease among the civil and military officials of the Great Xia, Chu Chen, was currently in the imperial study, having a private audience with the Empress.
"Chu Chen, you've given a general outline in court. What are your specific plans?" the Empress asked, a hint of worry in her heart that belied her outwardly confident demeanor.
Chu Chen, sensing her concern, smiled. "Your Majesty need not worry. For this reform, I do not intend to force its immediate implementation. Doing so would alienate a large portion of the populace. Therefore, my plan is to create a great show with little substance, to feign one action while pursuing another."
"A great show with little substance? To feign one action while pursuing another?" The Empress was taken aback, somewhat confused. Could reforms be carried out in such a clandestine manner?
"Precisely," Chu Chen nodded. He took out several booklets from his robes and placed them on the imperial desk. He pointed to them and said, "Your Majesty, these are the land deeds submitted by the gentry and powerful clans in exchange for the qualification to establish factories through the Royal Chamber of Commerce."
The Empress frowned slightly, casually flipping through the booklets. "Are these related to the matter at hand?"
"Greatly related. This is where the true reform lies."
"The true reform lies here? How will it be implemented?" The Empress couldn't grasp the key to it. How could these lands from across the country become the pivot of the reform?
Chu Chen patiently explained, "Your Majesty, you know that besides the common folk, only a very small portion of the other classes have not concealed their land and population. Most have engaged in this practice extensively. If my estimations are correct, the military farmlands are likely also scarce. Therefore, the imperial army itself is not entirely trustworthy. The main force for reform will only be the Imperial Guards and the Royal City Guard controlled by Your Majesty, along with the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Six Doors, the four enforcement agencies under my command."
The Empress was stunned. She couldn't help but clench her fists. "The imperial army is also untrustworthy? Have the military farmlands been embezzled?"
"If Your Majesty looks at this, you will understand." Chu Chen produced another booklet and handed it to the Empress. After reading it, her face turned ashen with anger.
Upon finishing the booklet, the Empress slammed the imperial desk in fury. "The corruption within the military is this severe!"
"Your Majesty, the situation in the military is already considered good. This is largely due to Your Majesty's diligent governance and unwavering oversight of the military in the past. Otherwise, the corruption would be more than a hundred times worse than what you see now." Chu Chen smiled and replied.
This was nothing. She hadn't even seen the corruption in the Ming Dynasty's army in his previous life; that was truly magnificent. A unit of a hundred men feeding off the salaries of seventy, with the remaining thirty becoming private soldiers for the centurion – that was the epitome of corruption. Currently, the Great Xia's imperial army was merely taking a ten percent cut in salaries and embezzling minor amounts. Only the military farmlands were severely affected. The situation was practically excellent.
"Given the current state of the military, direct and widespread reform is not advisable. Hence, my words of a great show with little substance. We will first create an unstoppable momentum for reform, but in reality, we will focus on investigating corruption and rectifying the court's atmosphere. Secretly, we will establish armed manors on the lands acquired by these gentry and powerful clans."
"In two to three months, when the manor militias are established, that will be the time for true thunderous reform!" As Chu Chen spoke, he casually pointed at a map hanging on the wall.
Watching Chu Chen's actions and thinking about the locations of the lands in the booklets, the Empress suddenly understood.
She realized, "So that's how it is. Chancellor Chu, you intend to use armed manors to counter the scattered rebel forces in various regions, thereby alleviating the pressure on the imperial court. Large-scale rebellions will be primarily suppressed by the Imperial Guards, with the imperial army providing assistance?"
"Exactly!" Chu Chen nodded and smiled. "The rebel forces thrive on chaos erupting in multiple locations and coalescing into a formidable force. By then, with millions of rebels ravaging various regions, even I, with my immense capabilities, would be powerless to reverse the situation. The establishment of armed manors is precisely to prevent a single spark from igniting a prairie fire, allowing us to suppress or contain them at their source, and for the court to defeat them one by one!"
The Empress's eyes lit up. She praised the concept of armed manors in her heart and even extended her thoughts, realizing that after the reform, these armed manors could become a potential military force for Great Xia. Once war broke out, hundreds of thousands, even millions, of troops could be easily mobilized! During peacetime, they could generate revenue for the court and stabilize local regions, a strategy with multiple benefits.
However, the Empress thought of a problem: these lands belonged to the Royal Chamber of Commerce, which was a joint-stock company. She, as the Empress, was merely the largest shareholder, not the sole owner. This meant that Chu Chen and Princess Xin Yue also had a stake in these lands. Would they be willing to contribute such vast tracts of land for the public good?
Thinking of this, the Empress looked at Chu Chen, about to speak. Unexpectedly, Chu Chen had already anticipated her thoughts. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, before the court session, I had a brief discussion with Princess Xin Yue. Both of us are willing to unconditionally hand over all lands belonging to the Royal Chamber of Commerce to the imperial court."
Chu Chen emphasized the word "imperial court," subtly reminding the Empress.
The Empress smiled and generously said, "You don't need to be so formal, young man. Since you both are willing, I will also unconditionally transfer my own lands to the imperial court. However, their management cannot be entrusted to the Ministry of Revenue. You will handle it in the name of the Royal Chamber of Commerce, and we will proceed with the formal transfer when the time is ripe."
"Your Majesty is wise!" Chu Chen flattered her, cupping his hands in a smile.
The Empress shook her head slightly and smiled, ignoring Chu Chen's flattery. If she were truly wise, she wouldn't be in this situation.
Chu Chen narrowed his eyes and seized the opportunity. "Your Majesty, since the decision for reform has been made, and lands across the nation will be surveyed and taxed progressively, what about Your Majesty's imperial estates?"
"You scoundrel Chu Chen, the reform hasn't even officially begun, and you're already making me the first to set an example!" The Empress was shocked by his audacity. This young man was truly bold, wanting her to lead by example!
"Your Majesty, leading by example will prevent any grounds for criticism. When everyone sees Your Majesty paying taxes, who would dare to object? Those who object deserve to be beheaded by me," Chu Chen said with a chuckle.
The Empress's face showed a hint of pain. If the new law were implemented, the taxes her imperial estates would have to pay would be considerable.
After a moment of hesitation, she sighed. "I can somewhat understand the feelings of those who resist taxation and conceal their land. With this new law, even I feel reluctant to pay taxes. Such a huge sum of income, to just disappear, is truly difficult to part with."
"Very well. Since that is the case, I shall take this first step! I will instruct the Chief Eunuch to cooperate with you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Chu Chen said happily.
Afterward, he discussed the specific matters of the armed manors and the reform with the Empress before departing.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the day you pay taxes will be the day Great Xia truly undergoes a transformation." Outside the imperial city, Chu Chen looked at the deep palace within, a smile filled with profound meaning on his face.
At the same time, hundreds of cavalrymen surged out of Twin Moon City, carrying imperial edicts and decrees, to be disseminated throughout the nation!