Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/297

RV 292 (AN LU-SHAN) listened, amazed at their sagacity. And so it came about that before long, trusted representatives of the Premier were stealthily raiding those establishments where previous research had disclosed the presence of counterfeit currency. These raiding parties seldom provoked opposition, for they were feared to a point that verged on terror. No one knew that they never prosecuted the culprits. Content were they merely to confiscate the coin.

Large amounts were thus collected. Later Kuo-chung arranged to pay all bills of the Palace with the currency, including the salaries of envoys and members of the Imperial troops. But the men of An Lu-shan were paid with legal tender, after a paymaster had been deprived of his clothes in the cold of winter. When he reached the nearest house it took him hours to thaw out before a fire.

This was a setback to Kuo-chung, but he let it pass. He knew that if he tried the scheme again, An Lu-shan might go directly to the Emperor with his complaints. Even the position of Prime Minister was not so high that he could not fall from it.

Nevertheless, within a year he was fabulously rich. Then suddenly the bubble burst. Yang Kuei-fei heard what was happening. In fury she summoned Kuo-chung to her apartments. But her voice was disarmingly gentle as she spoke.

"I have heard that you have made a fortune through judicious manipulation of counterfeit coin."

Kuo-chung found ease at once. She wasn't angry, RV 292 (292)