Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

Chapter 165 Ministers of the Imperial Treasury

The proposal to appoint Su Xiaoxiao as "Inner Treasury Assistant" unsurprisingly caused a minor stir during the regular court session the following day.

Inside the hall, high-ranking civil and military officials stood in rows on either side. On the left, led by Chen Wei, stood a group of military generals including Dian Xiong, Zhang Heng, and Pang De; on the right were Jia Wen, Zhao Tiezhu, and newly promoted civil officials in charge of various departments. The atmosphere was solemn, yet a subtle, unusual restlessness was palpable due to the matters to be discussed.

Chen Xing sat upright, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd, and slowly began to speak: "Today, there is an important personnel appointment that I need to discuss with you all." He paused, then continued directly, "I intend to establish a new position, 'Chief of the Inner Palace,' to oversee all royal finances, government-run businesses, currency and minting, material reserves, and internal auditing matters related to finance within Starfire Fortress and the future Duchy. This position will be independent of the Civil Administration Office, the Military Council Office, and the Censorate Office, and will be directly responsible to me."

Upon hearing this, a low murmur of discussion immediately arose within the hall. The establishment of a new government office specifically in charge of finance and commerce, with such heavy responsibilities that it directly challenged the financial and grain functions of the Civil Affairs Bureau and some of the auditing powers of the Supervisory Bureau, was undoubtedly a major adjustment to the existing power structure.

Zhao Tiezhu frowned slightly, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "My lord, finance and commerce have always been managed by the Minzhi Prefecture through its subordinate granary, finance, and market departments. Although there have been occasional oversights, the system is already in place. Establishing a separate 'Inner Treasury Director' would likely lead to overlapping responsibilities, and... who should be entrusted with this important task? It must be understood that matters of money and grain concern the foundation of the nation, and only someone with both virtue and talent, extensive experience, and the trust of the people can be appointed."

Zhao Tiezhu's words were tactful, but his meaning was clear: the financial power is dispersed in the existing system, and suddenly concentrating it in a newly established, independent position may not only cause chaos, but more importantly, who can win people's hearts?

Chen Xing smiled slightly and turned his gaze to the side of the hall: "I have already decided on this person. It is Su Xiaoxiao, the recently returned master of Jiangdong, Su Dajia."

"Su Xiaoxiao?"

"That's the one who was rescued from Zhou Tong's birthday banquet..."

"A woman? Or...that kind of background?"

The murmurs inside the hall suddenly intensified, a mix of astonishment, doubt, and confusion in the eyes of the attendants. Even military officers like Chen Wei and Dian Xiong showed surprise. Dian Xiong scratched his head. Although he had been ordered to rescue the woman and found her quite composed, he hadn't expected his lord to put her in charge of the treasury. Could this... possibly be acceptable?

Jia Wen remained expressionless, but his narrow eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were observing everyone's reactions.

Zhao Tiezhu was even more astonished, and then hurriedly said, "My lord! This is absolutely unacceptable! Although Su Dajia may be talented, finance is a vital national asset. How can it be entrusted to a... a foreign woman? Moreover, her background... may not be convincing to the public and may easily attract criticism, which would damage the reputation of the country and my lord!" His words were much more direct, pointing out the core objections: gender, background, and qualifications.

Chen Xing was not angry. Instead, he asked, "Minister Zhao, you are in charge of the Civil Affairs Bureau, and the affairs are numerous and complex. Did you discover the grain loss case in Hexi last year and the murky accounts of the supplies received in Xiliang in time? And how long will it take to thoroughly clarify them and establish a system to prevent recurrence?"

Zhao Tiezhu looked embarrassed and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty and have failed your trust. Clarifying the old accounts and establishing new systems is not something that can be accomplished overnight. It involves a wide range of issues and faces great resistance. I am doing my best to handle it, but..." He was indeed overwhelmed by these long-standing problems and felt that he was not capable enough.

"Su Xiaoxiao has been in the manor for five days, without ever stepping out of the side hall. Yet, relying solely on a pile of chaotic old accounts, she has clarified twelve major loopholes and doubts, pointed out the root causes of four major institutional problems, and presented an outline of 'Ten Financial Strategies,' each point hitting the nail on the head and demonstrating remarkable foresight." Chen Xing's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable force. "Minister Zhao, tell me, is such talent sufficient? Is such efficiency enough to solve this urgent problem?"

Zhao Tiezhu opened his mouth, unable to refute. Chen Xing had already had a summary of Su Xiaoxiao's work over the past five days copied and sent to him and Jia Wen. The accuracy and depth of the problems she discovered, and the clarity and novelty of her proposed ideas, truly made this veteran minister in charge of internal affairs feel ashamed and impressed. What he objected to was not her talent, but rather her "status."

"My lord," another civil official stepped forward, an old minister in charge of rites, "the ancestral laws and regulations, the order of yin and yang. Women interfering in politics is probably not a good omen. Moreover, for someone of humble origins to suddenly rise to a high position and control finances, I fear the scholars of the world will laugh at him and discourage talented people from serving him!" This was an opposition from the perspective of rites and public opinion.

Before Chen Xing could speak, Jia Wen, who had been silent all along, suddenly chuckled and stepped forward, saying, "Lord Li, you are mistaken. What are ancestral laws? Since our founding, Xinghuo Fortress has followed new laws established by our lord and you all through hardship and in accordance with the times! The Star Laws state, 'Only the talented are promoted, and the law does not favor the noble,' but does it explicitly state the difference between men and women, or restrictions based on birth?"

His tone turned cold, and his gaze swept over the ministers whose faces showed disapproval: "Lady Murong led the cavalry, charging into battle. Did she ever let her being a woman or of nomadic origins hinder matters of state? General Dian Xiong was once a commoner, but is now a high-ranking general. Has his background diminished his loyalty and courage? I, Jia, am unworthy, and I once served the enemy. I am grateful to our lord for entrusting me with the important task of oversight. Has my past actions tainted my martial spirit?"

The three questions were impactful and resounding. Mentioning Murong Mingyue, Dian Xiong, and himself, he cited them as living examples, directly shattering the so-called constraints of "origin" and "gender."

Jia Wen continued, "As for the ridicule of scholars throughout the land? Truly insightful people should be judged by their ability to govern the country, ensure its stability, and strengthen its military, rather than by their rigid and outdated views! If someone feels humiliated and refuses to serve simply because a truly talented woman is employed, such narrow-minded and out-of-touch individuals are better off not coming! What Xinghuo Fortress needs are people who can get things done, are willing to get things done, and can accomplish things, not pedantic scholars who only talk about etiquette and cling to outdated ideas!"

His words were extremely harsh and blunt, and the hall fell silent for a moment. Jia Wen was known as a "poisonous strategist," and after taking charge of the Censorate, he became even more ruthless, causing many officials to be wary of him.

Chen Xing spoke at the opportune moment, his voice steady and powerful: "What Wenhe said is exactly what I meant. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures and the use of extraordinary people. I have personally tested Su Xiaoxiao's talent, and she is indeed a prodigy in managing finances and securing the country, far surpassing ordinary mediocre individuals. Her 'Ten Strategies for Financial Management' is the foundation for a wealthy and powerful nation. To abandon such a great talent due to prejudices about birth and gender would be tantamount to self-destruction and utterly foolish."

He stood up, his imposing gaze sweeping across the room: "The establishment of the Inner Treasury Director is imperative. My decision to appoint Su Xiaoxiao is final! This is not an empty title, but one with real power! She will oversee the Imperial Treasury, all government-run workshops, caravans, the salt and iron monopolies, the mint, and the 'Ever-Normal Granary' system currently under construction. She has the authority to formulate relevant laws and regulations, to audit the accounts of all government offices involved in the allocation of money, grain, and supplies, and to report directly to me! Her rank is equivalent to that of the Nine Ministers, and she will not bow before any official!"

This series of grants of real power sent a chill down everyone's spine. This power was immense! It was practically another financial center independent of the existing system! But the decisiveness in Chen Xing's words made them understand that there was no turning back.

"Of course," Chen Xing said, his tone softening slightly. "Although the Inner Palace is independent, it still needs to work in coordination with the Civil Affairs Bureau, the Military Council, and the Censorate. Minister Zhao, the land tax, corvée labor compensation, and local granaries originally under the Civil Affairs Bureau will still be under your jurisdiction, but you will need to coordinate with the Inner Palace's general ledger. The specific division of powers and responsibilities will be led by Wenhe later, and you and Su Xiaoxiao will draft a detailed set of regulations for my approval."

Seeing that the situation was settled and that his lord was so determined, and that the government had not completely stripped the Minzhi Prefecture of its financial functions but had instead separated the core and most professional business operations and financial management, Zhao Tiezhu felt somewhat relieved and could only bow and accept the order: "Your subject obeys the decree."

Chen Xing's gaze swept over the crowd again: "Su Xiaoxiao, now serving as the Inner Palace Commander, is my subject and a key minister of Xinghuo Fortress! I hope you will all prioritize national affairs, judge people by their talent and virtue, cooperate sincerely, and work together for a great cause! Anyone who outwardly complies but inwardly defies, neglects public duty for personal reasons, or even secretly slanders and defames..." His tone turned cold, "Don't blame me for not showing any mercy and punishing you for disrupting military and political affairs and sowing discord between the ruler and his subjects!"

The last sentence was chillingly menacing. The ministers in the hall felt a chill run down their spines and replied in unison, "We obey! We will work together to assist our lord!"

After the court meeting ended, the news spread like wildfire. Inside Xinghuo Fortress, from officials to soldiers and civilians, everyone was talking about this suddenly appointed "Minister of the Inner Treasury" with astonishing power—a young woman from Jiangnan who had once been a courtesan.

In the temporary courtyard where she was temporarily housed, Su Xiaoxiao had already received her official appointment edict and seal. Holding the heavy bronze seal of the "Inner Palace Order," her heart surged with emotion, and her eyes welled up with tears. She knew how weighty this trust was, and she also knew how many thorns and challenges lay ahead.

She showed no fear, but instead felt an unprecedented surge of pride and fighting spirit. Her lord had defied all opposition and placed her in such a high position; how could she possibly fail him? The extravagance and humiliation of Jiangdong were now a thing of the past. From this day forward, she, Su Xiaoxiao, would use her abacus and pen in this majestic northern city to carve out a new world for her wise lord who appreciated her, and to prove her true worth!