Several ministers gathered together to drink away their sorrows, and their words were full of complaints.
"It's all Zhang Dongyang and Xiao Chen's fault. One forced us to pay, and the other came up with bad ideas. Neither of them are good people!"
"Well, what's the point of talking about this now?"
"The time given by His Majesty is tight, and everyone is rushing to sell things. Once these things are too much, they will lose their value. The people in the pawnshop took advantage of the situation and depreciated the value greatly."
"Let me ask you, who can make thirty thousand taels simply by selling things?"
Others sighed one after another.
Some things are meant to be fake, but they are no longer worth it.
"That's all, even if it's really heavy bleeding, it's just this one time at most."
"If he can repel Da Qi, then the money spent will be worth it. At least we can still stand firmly in the court."
"If Xiao Chen loses, don't blame us for being rude. Even if he dies, we have to support him!"
Xiao Chen sneezed several times in succession, and he didn't know who was talking ill of him behind his back.
Chu Yanwu also asked Chen Jin to buy some jewelry to show off.
Seeing the money Chen Jin had brought back, Chu Yanwu's expression changed greatly: "You bastard, you dare to take my money for yourself?"
Chen Jin knelt down in fear: "Your Majesty, this slave has been wronged!"
"My slave is eager to make money for you, so how can I dare to covet your money?"
Chu Yanwu was not a fool. He snorted coldly: "You think I don't know the value of the things I gave you, but now they have been damaged by more than half!"
The reason for greed for money is also to centralize power.
How could a person like him, who was very calculating, fail to pay attention?
Chen Jin had no choice but to respond truthfully: "I don't know what's going on below, because in recent days, civil and military officials have been selling off their treasures one after another, causing the original value of things to depreciate rapidly."
"If your Majesty does not believe it, Jing Ke will send people to investigate outside the palace."
Chu Yanwu knew that he would not lie to him with such superficial things, but he was still unhappy in his heart.
"Those businessmen actually dare to enrich the party when the country is in trouble. They are really desperate for their lives."
Chen Jin secretly scorned in his heart: Instead of enriching the country, you would rather squeeze the poor people and increase taxes. Don't you deserve retribution?
He could only think about these words in his heart, how could he dare to actually say them out loud?
He turned around and said with sincerity and fear: "Your Majesty, although the value of things has depreciated this time, there is also good news."
"Because of His Majesty's wise decision, the entire court sold its treasures to replenish military supplies. The news spread and the people praised it."
Chu Yanwu was actually dismissive.
After all, he values his own interests more than the people's.
He took a deep breath and said, "That's all. If there's not enough left, let's continue to squeeze some more from those officials."
After trying to calm down, he asked: "What is Xiao Chen's situation now? Has he made any other moves recently?"
"Since your Majesty handed over one hundred thousand troops, General Xiao has been training troops and forming formations all the time, probably to prepare for the war."
"If nothing else happens, we will set off after we collect the money."
Chu Yanwu knocked on the table: "Then let those ministers sell faster and collect the money quickly!"
"Now Daqi troops are entering the country steadily. If this continues, half of my country will be taken away by them!"
Now I know, what were you doing earlier?
Chen Jin could only express compliments on the surface, but now Chu Yanwu, even a eunuch, looked down upon him.
"Go and summon Xiao Chen to enter the palace. I have something to discuss with him."
In the blink of an eye, Xiao Chen entered the palace.
"I am here to see you, Your Majesty."
Chu Yanwu changed his gloomy look and said with a smile: "Ai Qing, please get up quickly."
"You are now a member of the Great Chu, and all civil and military officials and even the people of the world have high hopes for you."
"Now even I have to rely on you, how can I accept your worship?"
This statement sounds a bit strange.
Xiao Chen smiled slightly: "Then thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
"I wonder if His Majesty called Wei Chen here because he has collected the money?"
"Wei Chen has probably calculated an account. One hundred thousand troops plus the losses of General Zhao's retreat, it must be in the millions at least."
Chu Yanwu's heart felt as if he had been hit hard.
Millions is not a small amount, and he spit it out so easily.
If he hadn't gone to support him as the coach this time, Chu Yanwu would have doubted whether this guy was trying to enrich the country?
He could only force a smile and say: "All the ministers have been trying their best to raise more than 400,000 yuan."
"I believe that in some time, we will be able to achieve the expected goal. Don't be anxious, my dear."
"As for calling you here today, I have other things to do."
Xiao Chen was quite curious: "What do you have your Majesty to give you?"
"Actually, it's not to tell you to do anything. You are going to a funeral and fighting. You should take a good rest. I was just wondering if you have any other needs."
It turned out that he was asked to come here to curry favor.
That's right, after all, the battle is ahead. Chu Yanwu is calm on the surface but anxious in his heart.
And because of the previous estrangement from Xiao Chen, he was worried that Xiao Chen would slack off with an army of 100,000 people.
Maintaining the superficial friendship is not only for the sake of the overall situation, but also to get closer to Xiao Chen and follow him to win more people's prestige.
He thought again and again, and then said: "I have long heard that you love money, beauty."
"General Xiao came here all the way from Jiangdong. I was really touched by my benevolent act of distributing money to help the poor people."
"I always feel that I have treated you unfairly and unfairly. Now that the national treasury is in short supply, I am afraid I won't be able to spare any extra money. Why don't I reward you with beauty?"
Xiao Chen's eyes lit up: "Your Majesty is so considerate, which makes me feel flattered."
Chu Yanwu felt a burst of contempt in his heart. Why should he be surprised by a eunuch?
However, seeing Xiao Chen's interest, he was still very happy and hurriedly asked, "Do you have a favorite candidate?"
"Is your Majesty planning to reward the humble minister with a few maids?"
Xiao Chen shook his head: "Then forget it."
Chu Yanwu's face changed slightly, where could he not see Xiao Chen's hint?
Why don't you just say it plainly: I don't want an ordinary woman, I want someone with status, status, and respectability!
"Is it possible that I still want to reward him with the princess?"
Chu Yanwu felt a little annoyed.
At this time, Chen Jin whispered in his ear and offered advice: "Your Majesty, General Xiao's current status is indeed not worthy of an ordinary woman."
"Of course, how can a eunuch be involved with the princess?"
"Anyway, before you accepted a large number of people in the harem, why not let him choose from the harem."
"Not only can you show your kindness, but those women are not lowly people."
After all, after entering the harem, she becomes the emperor's woman!
