The scene at the Qi royal treasury was pure chaos.
"Faster! Move it all—every last bit back to the provincial office!"
Zhang Xin stood at the entrance of the treasury, personally directing the operation, his face full of excitement.
The wealth of the Qi Kingdom—built up over more than a century—was staggering. Piles of grain and mountains of coins filled the خزينة, rivaling even the riches seized at Xi'an.
After watching for a while, Zhang Xin grew impatient.
"Why aren't the state troops here yet? Go—urge them to hurry!"
A former Yellow Turban soldier ran off at once.
Zhang Xin glanced around and spotted the palace guards.
"Come on, brothers—lend a hand!"
—
Inside the palace, Liu Cheng listened to the report, his face turning pale.
"What?! He used my token to order the palace guards to help him move the treasury?!"
The eunuch nodded miserably.
Liu Cheng nearly exploded.
"Beast! Absolute beast!"
He clutched his chest, cursing.
"I was just being polite! Who knew he'd actually take everything?!"
Thinking back to the earlier audience, Liu Cheng felt like crying.
When Zhang Xin had said "I want it all," he thought it was a joke.
But then Zhang Xin's expression hardened:
"The livelihood of millions is at stake. Would I joke about such a matter?"
From that moment, everything spiraled.
—
At first, Liu Cheng tried to bargain.
"I can lend one hundred million coins and one hundred thousand shi of grain…"
But Zhang Xin didn't argue.
He turned to the royal tutor.
"Is it not untrustworthy to go back on one's word?"
"…It is."
"Is it not inhumane to treat the people's livelihood as a joke?"
"…It is."
"Then tell me—when the state is in crisis, refusing to help—is that not disloyal?"
That last word hit like a hammer.
Disloyalty, in the reign of Liu Hong, was no small accusation.
Liu Cheng panicked instantly.
"Fine! Take it! Take it all!"
He quickly wrote an order and handed over his token.
—
And so, the looting began.
Former Yellow Turbans, state troops, even palace guards—all worked through the night.
By dawn, the royal treasury was nearly empty.
Liu Cheng didn't sleep at all.
The next morning, he anxiously sent someone to check what remained.
When the eunuch returned:
"There are still about a million coins and a thousand shi of grain left."
Liu Cheng burst into tears.
"At least… I won't starve…"
—
Then came worse news.
"Your Majesty! The governor has slaughtered all the tigers and leopards in the royal gardens!"
"…What?!"
"The governor said they eat too much meat… better to feed the people…"
Liu Cheng's vision went black.
He fainted on the spot.
—
When he finally woke up, he lay there in despair.
"You damned beast…"
At that moment, another eunuch rushed in.
"Your Majesty—the governor requests an audience."
"Tell him to get out!"
Liu Cheng roared.
But the eunuch hesitated.
"He says… he has a memorial and would like Your Majesty to review it."
"…Let him in."
—
Soon, Zhang Xin entered, smiling as always.
He presented the memorial.
"Your Majesty, I am not skilled in writing. I hope you can offer guidance."
Suspicious, Liu Cheng first glanced at the royal tutor, who tactfully excused himself.
Only then did Liu Cheng open the document.
As he read, his expression changed.
Praise.
Line after line of praise.
Not a single accusation—only commendation.
By the end, his hands trembled.
If this reached Liu Hong, not only would he avoid punishment—
He might even be rewarded.
Liu Cheng almost cried again.
That slap had hurt.
But this… was sweet.
—
He immediately stood and pointed at a few lines.
"Perhaps this part could be revised slightly…"
Zhang Xin agreed at once, rewriting it on the spot.
When the royal tutor returned, Liu Cheng had already regained his composure.
"Princes should not interfere in official matters," he declared solemnly, handing the memorial back.
Zhang Xin bowed.
"My mistake."
—
As Zhang Xin prepared to leave, Liu Cheng nodded with forced dignity.
"You have rendered great service. On behalf of the people of Qi, I thank you."
Zhang Xin smiled.
"Your Majesty is too kind."
—
Behind the courtesy and smiles—
Both men understood exactly what had just happened.