In this chapter, we learn that the emperor has put a jailer in charge of wang, who has been in prison for stealing gunpowder. The vice minister, who is also the minister of personnel, tries to persuade the emperor to release wang. He tells the vice minister that wang's request for a three-year tax break has been rejected. He also says that the imperial court has not established rules for investigating local money and income. He says that it is better to not allow officials from wealthy regions to serve in their own regions. He wants to see a poisonous cicada that has been brought to the palace.