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Chapter 390: The Prodigal Prince
Jiang Yuanming twisted his body uncomfortably: "My lords, look at what I am doing. If you say there is no money, there is no money. I am in charge of the Household Department on behalf of Your Majesty and manage the world's food and grass. If there is money, how can I not take it out? The money from the treasury is treated as if it were the official's money, and it's just a matter of pettiness."
Everyone looked at the emperor again.
Li Zheng frowned: "Let's first discuss the date when the Turks are most likely to send troops, and the rest will be discussed."
Song Yu frowned: "Your Majesty, I think that the day when the Duolu Department sends troops should be around the Lantern Festival. After all, we attach great importance to the Lantern Festival, and it is most easy to be careless when preparing for the Lantern Festival."
Wei Yong also tapped the table lightly: "Your Majesty, I think what Song Shangshu said is right. After the Lantern Festival, the days of the court and Xiu Mu will end, and officials from all parties will be busy with their affairs. It is most appropriate to enter the palace around the Lantern Festival."
"Then make the reservation until the tenth day of the lunar month. The journey from Duolu and Northern Xinjiang to Northern Xinjiang is about three days at least. It would be most suitable around the tenth day of the lunar month."
"I second the proposal."
"General Six Guards, it seems that you can only spend this Lantern Festival in Northern Xinjiang. How long can you last if you each report the food and grass in Northern Xinjiang?"
"About ten days."
"I will be here for about ten days, too."
"About twenty days."
The times reported by the generals of the Sixth Guards were all within ten days, and Li Zheng frowned again after hearing this.
Jiang Yuanming, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, slapped the table and glared at the general of Liuwei: "Impossible, Yingzhou's grain and grass can last at least three months, Fuzhou's grain and grass can last four months at least, and Ganzhou is the farthest distance to transport grain and grass for consumption Shangdae can last at least two and a half months. Jeju is rich in products. If the food and grass are short for five months, I will twist off the head and give it to you as a chamber pot."
Although the emperor was in charge of the whole country, he was really not as clear about these things as Jiang Yuanming. After hearing Jiang Yuanming's words, he immediately looked at General Liu Wei.
Sure enough, the Six Guards Generals all laughed awkwardly.
Li Zheng slammed the table angrily: "Okay, now that the war is about to begin, you guys are still thinking of getting more benefits for your soldiers. After doing this for a long time, I am easy to bully, right?"
"Your Majesty, aren't you afraid that the Turks will besiege you and not attack? In this case, a large amount of food and grass will be consumed every day in military emergencies."
"So is I, minister."
"So is I, minister."
"So is I, minister."
"Shut up, everyone, take a look, take a good look." Li Zheng grabbed the sleeves of his dragon robe, which had a few holes in it: "It's true that I haven't been willing to change my dragon robe for more than a year. You guys It's a good thing, I can't even get out ten thousand taels of silver from my internal treasury, but you are still hiding it. Are you here to share my worries or are you angry with me?"
Li Zheng wanted to go out and grab the ministers' clothes and talk carefully, but just as he was about to get up and sit down again, he felt uneasy without the box at his feet.
"I am guilty."
"I don't want to hear this. Let's talk about how to deal with the Turkic affairs first."
Jiang Yuanming stood up directly: "Your Majesty, I suggest that you prepare the army. Since the food and grass for the Six Guards are sufficient, I don't need to worry. I suggest that you rush to Northern Xinjiang before the tenth day of the lunar month."
Well, Jiang Yuanming is also an old fox. He has been playing rogue for so long just because he wanted to know how much food and grass there was before Liuwei. He is indeed worthy of being the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. If you don’t talk about money, I am a loyal minister. When it comes to money, you say I am a rebellious minister. The minister also admitted it.
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."
"Xuan."
"Father, my sons and ministers have come to see my father before they arrive."
"Get flat."
"Thank you, Father, Father. Marquis Guannei sent a letter saying that the dividend of 7 million from coal has been handed over to Father. Father, you..."
Prince Li Baiyu nodded and entered the palace and knelt on the ground directly. He had no idea that there were so many ministers in the imperial study room, and the eunuch did not tell him that his father was summoning the civil and military ministers.
Before he even got up, he excitedly reported the good news Zhu Run said, seven million taels. No matter how much he got business dividends in his own name, he would have to be rewarded with hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.
But Li Baiyu didn't realize that he was happy too early.
Li Zheng's face turned red and white as he looked at Li Baiyu who had just stood up, roaring in his heart, "You are a traitor, you are a traitor."
A group of ministers stared at the emperor sitting on the dragon throne with big eyes and small eyes. They just heard something, seven million taels in dividends.
Only then did the ministers realize that the rumor that the Marquis of Guannai and the Prince were cooperating in the coal business were actually true. They originally thought it was just hearsay, meant to frame the Prince to compete for profits with the people.
I didn't expect it to be true. These ministers didn't know how much money the Marquis of Guannei made. However, they had long heard that the gold and silver of the Marquis of Guannei's family was brought into the palace by several carriages. They never expected that the prince was behind the cooperation in name. The person turned out to be His Majesty the Emperor.
Everyone looked at the emperor who was blushing strangely. What did he say just now? The inner treasury can't even come up with ten thousand taels of silver. Well, you really can't come up with ten thousand taels of silver. Together, you can come up with it. The price is seven hundred and ten thousand taels.
Jiang Yuanming stared at the emperor and swallowed his saliva. Seven million taels of silver, the tax revenue of ten state capitals was only this amount.
Unable to control his steps, Jiang Yuanming gradually walked towards the emperor's dragon case. The layout of the imperial study room was clear at a glance. There was no place to place seven million taels of silver except under the dragon case that was covered by silk.
When Li Zheng realized Jiang Yuanming's intention, it was already too late. Just as he was about to speak to stop Jiang Yuanming, he lifted the tablecloth, and what came into view was the sandalwood box that was firmly stepped on by the emperor.
Looking at the high-legged sandalwood box, all the ministers couldn't help but swallow their saliva. Although the box was small, it contained seven million taels of silver notes.
"Bold Jiang Yuanming, what do you want to do?"
Li Zheng blushed and looked at Jiang Yuanming angrily.
Jiang Yuanming, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, wiped the saliva from the corner of his mouth with his official robe and looked at the emperor blankly: "Your Majesty, confiscate it! The treasury is short of money."
Li Zheng angrily pushed down the tablecloth: "This is my internal treasury money, why should it be confiscated from the national treasury?"
"But the world belongs to your Majesty!"
"I...I..." Li Zheng was speechless. What you said makes perfect sense. This world belongs to me.
General Liuwei also stood up one after another. Zhang Kuang was startled for a moment, stood up to dry his hair, and then sat down angrily: "Your Majesty, the weapons and armor of the Suzhou soldiers are seriously worn and need to be replaced."
"Your Majesty, the swords of Jeju soldiers are almost worn out."
"His Majesty."
Li Zheng slapped the table: "How long has it been since the new equipment was replaced? Are you chewing the broken ones with your mouth?"
The Fifth Guards General said nothing and looked at Zhang Kuang gently, his meaning was self-evident.
"It's okay to confiscate two million taels. As the king of my country, I must change into some decent dragon robes. The queen and all the concubines haven't worn new clothes in half a year."
Jiang Yuanming still stared at the emperor closely, not caring about facing Sheng Yan's unruly rules.
Li Zheng sighed: "Leave me one million taels of silver for the head office. Since I took the throne, my internal treasury has not exceeded one million taels of silver."
Jiang Yuanming suddenly knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, you are holy."
"Go, go, go, all go. On the tenth day of the lunar month, the troops in Northern Xinjiang must be prepared to fight the Turks. Those who lose the city can just dig a hole in Northern Xinjiang."
"I obey the order."
"Everyone, please step back." Li Zheng's tone was impatient.
"I'll take my leave."
After all the ministers retired, Li Zheng looked ferocious. He wanted to smash everything on the dragon case, but he couldn't bear to part with it. It was all money.
"The foolish king is well-dressed and well-fed, playing music every night. I really want to be a foolish king. Six million taels are confiscated like this. What does the empty treasury have to do with me? It's my money."
Seeing his father gnashing his teeth, Crown Prince Li Baiyu shrank his head, as if he was in trouble.
Li Zheng finally spotted the prince and trembled with his fingers: "Prodigal son, you prodigal son, get out of here." 166.net
