FENG YU JIU TIAN CHAPTER 10 PART 2  

　　Just thinking about the soiled handkerchief still in the Regent King’s possession ticked a bomb inside Feng Ming.

　　The Prince grunted, and proudly defended his own pride out of stubbornness.

　　“Rong w.a.n.g, I am afraid to tell you that your claim is wrong. It is true that I, as the Prince have not personally dealt with tax systems and financial policy making, however I am crystal clear on the matters relating to them.”

　　On the side of the room, an astounded noise escaped Xi Rei’s tax minister, Hei’s mouth. 

　　“Oh?” He was delighted to hear the Prince’s decree and showed his eagerness.

　　“Then if His Royal Highness would kindly enlighten us with his great knowledge.” He beckoned humbly.

　　The audience urged the Prince, displaying that enthusiasm as they waited to be gifted with another great speech of wisdom.

　　Feng Ming almost bit off his own troublesome tongue. He chewed on his lip in hesitation, as he actually thought about his words before he spoke.

　　“Mmm...umm…”

　　He sank deeper into his own trap.

　　The Prince then whipped his eyes and pinned them fiercely onto the Regent King before answering the wishes of General Chu.

　　“Firstly, tell me the tax policy that you are proposing and I’ll reply with my resolutions.”

　　Rong Tian wasn’t letting his prey go so easily.

　　“Considering, His Highness is clear on the matter, why do you request a reiteration?” A sinister smile was forming on the King’s thin lips, as he found pleasure pressing Feng Ming’s b.u.t.tons.

　　Feng Ming failed to conceal his distaste as it was clearly stamped on his face, and his complexion darkened.

　　With the last remark, the Prince nearly shot out his seat to grab the King by the collar, wanting to challenge the man’s obnoxious and superior att.i.tude. 

　　However, the little rationality that lived in Feng Ming stopped his impulse. As much as he wanted to pummel that smug handsome face, he was well aware that in the end he would be suffer the King’s wrath.

　　Keeping their arguments exclusively to words was the safer option.

　　As a result he put his man-beating thoughts aside, and gave the man a sneer before standing up with an air of feigned elegance. He glanced over his subjects quickly before composing himself to calmly address them.

　　“There is a saying in the Art of War which goes. “One must know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.” Even though I am well versed in Tax systems and finances, such a big issue needs to be carefully a.n.a.lyzed and cannot be treated carelessly. It is only natural that I am first explained the details of Xi Rei’s tax revenue system, before I can deliberate and guide you.”

　　The flow of such clever words coming from the Prince’s mouth stunned everyone in the room, even the Rong w.a.n.g who sat to his side was left speechless.

　　Feng Ming was bemused by the surprised faces in front of him, he managed to blow them out of the water, just like he had the day before, so he didn’t find it strange, instead he thought to himself, what his next move should be.

　　He had just opened his mouth at the slip of his tongue gave the bunch of military buffs a free lecture entailing essences of Sun Zi’s ‘Art of War’ theories mixed with modern day terminologies for politics, it would have been more strange if those words didn’t leave these “ancients” dumbfounded.

　　Sure enough, after a gracious silence, everyone’s brains recovered and their eyes were s.h.i.+ning strangely with newfound wors.h.i.+p towards their bright Prince, almost as if they were beginning to idolize him.

　　General Tong then bowed to the ground, and exclaimed.

　　“Your Highness’s talent and the extent of your great wisdom are unfathomable. Before your arrival, we were discussing military tactics against our enemies and the organization of our own troops. This saying “One must know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.” is commendable. It is praise worthy and deserves to be credited to your Highness’s sharp mind. We would never have thought that this “Art of War‘s” theory could also be applicable to the tax system, this is magnificent, pure genius!”

　　Feng Ming knew flattering him with “wisdom” on such matters concerning the tax system and the “Art of War” was irrelevant, so he quickly turned the conversation back to the important topic. He turned to face tax minister Hei and said, “Stop with the nonsense. As for the pending issue, you better explain Xi Rei’s current tax system from the beginning.”

　　Tax minister Hei replied dutifully with respect to the Prince’s wishes.

　　“Yes, Your Highness.”

　　He cleared his throat and began detailing a thorough explanation of Xi Rei’s enforced tax system.

　　How was Feng Ming meant to keep his interest in this topic, there were countless terminologies he did not comprehend, and they were being used repeatedly.

　　A frowned edged onto his face as he listened, it only took a few sentences before he started to yawn, and his thought trained back to the handkerchief in Rong w.a.n.g’s clutches.

　　He had merely boosted to put a lid over Rong w.a.n.g’s troublesome mouth but in all honesty he was disinterested in what the minister had to say. But he didn’t interrupt his subject’s long winded explanation about the taxes.

　　The words simply pa.s.sed in one ear and out the other. Boredom was clear on the Prince’s face as the man continued to drone on.

　　As Feng Ming was dropping into a drowsy stupor, a sudden warm object startled him.

　　What ever it was, dipped into his backside under his clothing and made the boy shudder violently to the intrusion, snapping his brain out of hibernation. 

　　That thing belonged to the Regent King, who had somehow managed to sneak closer to the Prince without him noticing. Without a word the King’s large hand stealthily dove into the covers of Feng Ming’s lower robes and started to fondle his lower regions.

　　Due to their superior standing in the court, they were separated from the rest, and all their subjects were a decent distance away. For Feng Ming’s sake, a st.u.r.dy grand table helped to obscure the actions of the wandering hand.

　　No one seemed to have noticed.

　　With so many people before him, if they were exposed it would be complete humiliation taking back everything that Feng Ming had built over the two days.

　　Anxiety swept over Feng Ming but he didn’t dare to make a sound.

　　Rong w.a.n.g unfortunately didn’t have the word “restraint” in his vocabulary and showed no signs of ceasing his action, taking Feng Ming’s silence as no signs of protest, which compelled him to unbridle his behavior.

　　The King’s invasion moved onto something more interesting, as his fondling attack travelled further south within Feng Ming’s breeches, where it took liberty to seize a certain soft organ.

　　“AH!” yelped Feng Ming who practically jumped in his seat.

　　Everyone’s eyes immediately darted to the Prince as the sudden a.s.sertion place a halt to the official’s monologue. 

　　“Does His Highness wish to comment on the matter?”

　　Rong Tian’s mischievous had promptly darted out of sight the moment Feng Ming shouted out.

　　Feng Ming let out a sigh of relief, surveying the eyes that were on him he calmly asked in response.

　　“Tax minister Hei, you said the country’s tax income is solely based on the n.o.bles and the slaves, and the tax charges are based on n.o.blemen rankings. It couldn’t be possible that apart from the n.o.bles and the slaves that there are no other people from other cla.s.ses? Don’t these others have to pay taxes?”

　　“For this question, please let this humble official explain to your Highness.”

　　Rong w.a.n.g offered, answering his questions with a degree of respect.

　　“Prince, the people are divided by the land they own, according to location and how many slaves live within their vicinities. The landowners can claim their power over the settlers however, they are also held responsible for covering the taxes for these slaves”

　　Feng Ming gave the man a quick study, eventually restraining himself from retaliating for the trouble the King caused and nodded his head.

　　“I understand now, this country is socially dependant on slavery, all the land of this country is probably cla.s.sified as the property of the country or to be more correct the n.o.bility. Everything within a n.o.ble’s territory inclusive of humans is considered to be in their possession.”

　　“That’s correct.”

　　“In that case…” 

　　An ingenious idea struck Feng Ming he couldn’t even hold back his glee at the next question he was going to cast.