The Blood Crown - Chapter 55

Leaving the study, Yan Sikong walked alongside Shen Hexuan in silence for a long time.

It wasn’t until they reached the corridor that Shen Hexuan stopped in his tracks.

Yan Sikong knew he had something to say and stopped, waiting.

Shen Hexuan said in a deep voice, “I know bringing up the sea tax matter might displease Teacher, but now the state’s finances are tight year after year, and we’re in dire straits. How can this situation be a long-term solution? Levying a sea tax may be the only way that won’t harm the foundation of the country.”

Yan Sikong glanced around and bowed to Shen Hexuan, saying quietly, “Brother Shen is also a Jiangnan native, but you are so selfless. I greatly admire you. However, some things can’t be taken for granted. Teacher may not necessarily be biased. Offending the gentry of Jiangnan is almost equivalent to offending half of the court. How much easier is it to cut expenses for the imperial family?”

Shen Hexuan let out a heavy sigh, feeling, “I entered government service with great enthusiasm, but now I find that I am useless.”

“Brother Shen, don’t underestimate yourself. We are both mere officials at the moment, but there will be a time in the future to realize our ambitions. If you want to achieve a great goal, you must first have a solid foundation.” Yan Sikong stared at Shen Hexuan seriously, “Brother Shen has exceptional talents; don’t let them go to waste.”

Yan Sikong genuinely appreciated Shen Hexuan, believing that he was a rare bright spot in the twilight of the court, destined to become a pillar of the nation. Such people were too few, but they were necessary to resist corruption and uphold the right path. If one day he truly disrupted everything, there would still be a need for people like Shen Hexuan to rectify the state and benefit the people. That’s why he advised Shen Hexuan not to offend Yan Zilian lightly and be careful not to be sidelined.

Shen Hexuan, being clever, naturally understood. He pondered for a moment, nodded, and bowed to Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong dragged his tired body back to his residence.

He often felt like a fish that was clearly thirsty but was about to drown. His body was strong, but his consciousness always felt endlessly weary. Hatred was the only force that kept him going.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, Ah Li ran over, making quick gestures.

Yan Sikong’s eyes suddenly lit up: “He’s here?”

Ah Li nodded.

Yan Sikong hurriedly walked to the side room, his footsteps becoming faster.

He pushed the door open, and a warm room greeted him, dispelling the chill that had followed him. It enveloped him.

Feng Ye was sitting by the window, and he turned to look at Yan Sikong, his handsome face breaking into a genuine smile. Yan Sikong’s heart skipped a beat.

Feng Ye stood up, walked quickly to him, and hugged him tightly, saying affectionately, “I missed you so much.” At the same time, he kicked the door shut.

Yan Sikong couldn’t hide the joy in his heart. “You’re back.”

“At the end of the year, military affairs are busy, and I couldn’t get away, so I haven’t seen you for two months.” Feng Ye closed his eyes and buried his face in Yan Sikong’s neck, inhaling his warm and pleasant scent, instantly dispelling the fatigue of returning on a fast horse through wind and snow.

Feng Ye then asked, “Do you miss me?”

Yan Sikong lightly smiled and said, “I do.”

Feng Ye held Yan Sikong’s waist, and leaned in closer, as if he was going to kiss him.

However, Yan Sikong hugged Feng Ye’s waist and buried his face in his chest.

Feng Ye looked puzzled, “Sikong, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just a little tired…” Yan Sikong closed his eyes. He felt that Feng Ye’s chest was the safest place in the world. He whispered, “Are you hungry? I am.”

“No, I’ve been waiting for you,” Feng Ye replied gently, stroking Yan Sikong’s back. “If you’re tired, rest well. I’ll be here with you.”

“Okay.”

The two of them had a meal together, had a little wine, and the room was warm. After the spicy wine went down, they both felt a bit tired.

Yan Sikong listened to Feng Ye talk about the differences between the Jing Shan camp and the Da Tong Prefecture. Even though they had only seen each other for less than half a year, they felt like old friends with endless things to talk about.

Snow disasters in the south, Feng Ye had also heard about them. He said, “People think that Da Tong bears the brunt of the state’s finances, but the annual military expenses in Da Tong can’t be sufficient. It all depends on my father’s efforts. In addition, the soldiers mostly handle weapons during peacetime, so they are mostly self-sufficient in military provisions. Otherwise, how could they sustain it for so many years?”

Yan Sikong nodded and sighed, “I’ve thought about this. Even during the Liaodong campaign, there were occasional delays in military funding.”

Feng Ye said seriously, “To relieve the tight state finances, we need to start with the redundant and useless imperial family, but unfortunately, it’s very difficult.”

“The imperial family has been expanding for hundreds of years and has always been a great threat to the nation. Historically, every dynasty had to pay a heavy price to solve this problem, and the imperial family’s roots run deep. Stirring one strand is like disturbing the entire body, and a misstep could lead to the downfall of the country.”

“Now, with the nation’s strength waning, the emperor’s power is dwindling, and I’m afraid he doesn’t have the ability to address the imperial family’s problem. But if it’s not resolved, it will deteriorate day by day.” Feng Ye shook his head, “One day, it’s likely to rot to the core.”

Yan Sikong spoke in a deep voice, “You’re right. If we can remove the malignant tumor of the imperial family, there is a chance for Dashing to rejuvenate.”

“But what did Yan Zilian say to you?”

Yan Sikong sighed, “I brought it up voluntarily, but Teacher is willing but powerless.”

“Hmm, it seems like this is an impossible task. Cutting the imperial family’s salaries, those imperial relatives and nobles won’t take it lying down.”

“I’ve thought about something much bigger than cutting salaries, but I dare not mention it to the Teacher.”

“Oh?” Feng Ye waited for Yan Sikong to continue.

Taking a deep breath, Yan Sikong said, “I think we should reduce the power of the regional lords.”

Feng Ye’s expression changed slightly, and it took him a while to say, “Sikong, you really dare to think big.”

Reducing the power of the regional lords meant diminishing their influence, military strength, and financial power. This could significantly bolster the state treasury and address the issue of bloated local administrations, which was difficult to reform. This could fundamentally eliminate the risk of regional lords rebelling.

Historically, reducing the power of the regional lords was something that every emperor wanted to do but could hardly accomplish. Most emperors either dared not do it or, when they did, faced severe repercussions. For instance, Emperor Jing of Han faced the Rebellion of the Seven States due to reducing regional powers, while Emperor Dezong of Tang faced the An Lushan Rebellion for similar reasons. There were countless examples of the dangers involved, and only a few succeeded in this endeavor. However, if successful, the benefits were enormous.

Yan Sikong not only contemplated this but was willing to take action. When he decided to secretly promote the reduction of regional powers, he had already considered the potential consequences. If it succeeded, the nation would prosper, and it would be a great accomplishment benefiting all the people. If it failed, it had a significant chance of forcing Prince Liang into rebellion. If Prince Liang rebelled, Gao Zhong would have only two choices: join the rebellion and face execution or resist Prince Liang, likely leading to his death. If Prince Liang successfully usurped the throne, it would be even better. Prince Liang was greedy but not foolish, and he had suffered from Xie Zhongren’s oppression in the past. If he became the emperor, he could execute Xie Zhongren.

This strategy aimed to achieve multiple goals with one move and could potentially extend Yan Sikong’s influence for ten more years.

Yan Sikong smiled and said, “I entered the government with the hope of making significant contributions to the country and its people. Besides, I can only speak of these drunken words with you.”

Feng Ye pinched Yan Sikong’s cheek and said, “You, sometimes I really don’t know what’s going on in your head.” He squinted his eyes and continued, “No, I probably… have never been able to see through you.”

Yan Sikong replied, “If I were that easy to figure out, you might not want to look at me anymore.”

“You’re right.” Feng Ye gazed at Yan Sikong in fascination. “The less I can figure you out, the more I want to. And the more I look, the more I can’t take my eyes off you.”

Yan Sikong’s heart felt a slight twinge. He said softly, “There are some people who are best left not fully understood.”

“That person definitely isn’t you. I want to know everything about you.” Feng Ye leaned in and gently kissed Yan Sikong’s lips.

Outside, the freezing cold prevailed, but inside, warmth filled the room.

Due to the cold weather, Feng Ye had brought Feng Hun back to the mansion. When Yan Sikong saw it, he noticed that its fur was twice as thick as in summer, making it look even more robust and massive. Most people would be scared upon seeing it, but Yan Sikong was no longer afraid, and after not seeing it for several months, he even missed it a bit.

He rubbed Feng Hun’s cheeks vigorously and said, “Hun, with this fur, you look just like a bear.”

“If only you’d seen a real bear,” Feng Ye said as he caressed Feng Hun’s head. “Bears are much larger.”

“When you encountered a bear, it must have been extremely dangerous, right?”

Feng Ye nodded and said, “Yes, if it weren’t for Hun’s risking its life to distract it…” He suddenly leaned in close to Yan Sikong’s ear and said teasingly, “Then you probably wouldn’t see your husband.”

Yan Sikong scolded with a smile, “You’re just making things up.”

Feng Ye laughed heartily.

That evening, they welcomed the first snow of winter. The snow fell gently and soon formed a thick layer. The two of them sat on the warm couch, drinking wine, admiring the snow, chatting, and watching as the heavy snow covered the branches of the locust trees. Feng Hun excitedly chased its own tail in the snow. This tranquility brought a deep sense of satisfaction that was difficult to put into words.

*I’ve change Ally to Ah Li*