Yang He leaned back in his chair and said, "I can't come up with fifty thousand taels of silver. I'm afraid County Magistrate Chen has the wrong person when he comes to see me."
All expenditures in the army were borne by the local government. Even if he was the governor of Henan, he could not afford 50,000 taels of silver.
"Even the superintendent can't get fifty thousand taels of silver, and the subordinate officials have no place to get the fifty thousand taels of silver." County Magistrate Chen looked bitter.
However, Yang He didn't believe a word of it.
Although he is a high-ranking governor, when it comes to money and food, he is not as rich as the county magistrate in a place like County Magistrate Chen.
Seeing that Yang He didn't answer, County Magistrate Chen had no choice but to say: "Superintendent, you are the governor, or else come forward and meet with several big families in the city."
What he said was very straightforward, that is, let Yang He raise money from the big families in the city.
"I have already offended the grain merchants in the city because of the food price issue. However, as the local magistrate, Prefect Lin naturally has a better relationship with the big local households." Yang He said expressionlessly.
After hearing this, County Magistrate Chen frowned and said, "Linfutai has never supported using money in exchange for the withdrawal of the rebels outside the city, so Linfutai will definitely not ask for money from the big families in the city. "
"Then there's nothing we can do. I can't get so much money." The hope in Yang He's heart was extinguished again.
Apart from the treasury, there are only a handful of people in Kaifeng who can come up with fifty thousand taels of silver at once.
County Magistrate Chen saw that Yang He was shrinking and said hurriedly: "There is another person who can come up with this money, and it is very easy for him."
"Who can easily get so much money!" Yang He frowned.
A family with fifty thousand taels of silver at home can be regarded as one of the richest families within a hundred miles.
"Prince Zhou's Mansion." County Magistrate Chen spat out a few words.
Hearing this, Yang He's eyes lit up.
He almost forgot about this vassal. No matter how rich the family in Kaifeng City was, they couldn't compare to Prince Zhou's family.
Fifty thousand taels of silver was a large sum of money to the treasury, but to Prince Zhou's palace, it was not much different, if not a drop in the bucket.
Magistrate Chen saw that Yang He was moved and continued: "As long as the governor is willing to come forward, I believe that getting 50,000 taels of silver from Prince Zhou's Mansion is not a big problem. Moreover, this money is not what the governor wants for himself, but for himself." For the people of Kaifeng Fucheng."
"There is some truth in what he said, but with so much money, Prince Zhou's Mansion may not be willing to pay for it." Yang He was not very optimistic about County Magistrate Chen's idea of attacking Prince Zhou's Mansion.
The sects and vassals in various places are similar. Not to mention that they are not much stronger than the iron rooster. Even if the Fu clan in the Zhou Palace is stronger, they may not be willing to spend 50,000 taels of silver.
Prince Zhou's Mansion may not be short of these 50,000 taels of silver, but these 50,000 taels of silver are still a large amount of money.
County Magistrate Chen also wanted Yang He to come forward to contact the Zhou Palace. Naturally, he didn't want to see him shrink back now, so he said: "A few days ago, Lin Futai did not agree to provide money in exchange for the withdrawal of the rebels outside the city. For this reason, Cui Chang Shi publicly stated that the Zhou Palace would no longer provide money and food to support Lin Futai in defending the city."
Although he didn't say it directly, he was telling Yang He that Chang Shi, who represented the Zhou Palace, supported using money to exchange for the safety of Kaifeng City.
"If you say that, there is no chance at all." Yang He twisted the beard on his chin with his hand.
Magistrate Chen took the opportunity and said quickly: "The lower official thinks so too, but the lower official has a humble position. It would be great if the supervisor can come forward."
Yang He was speechless when he heard this.
If he still can't see the little thoughts of the Kaifeng Prefecture magistrate, his service as an official all these years will be in vain.
But Gui could see clearly, but he knew that he had no choice. Resolving the siege of Kaifeng Fucheng was the only chance to change the court's view of him.
"I'll ask the servant next to you to go with you and invite the long history of the prince's palace to me." Yang He decided to meet the long history of the prince's palace.
The reason why the royal palace chief Shi was summoned was because it was difficult for him, a foreign minister, to go directly to the vassal king.
When County Magistrate Chen saw that Yang He had agreed to come forward, he was delighted and immediately said, "I will obey the superintendent's arrangement."
"It's not advisable to delay for too long at this time. Let's go now. Yang Fu, you accompany County Magistrate Chen." Yang He told the servant on the side.
Although he didn't know the situation in the court, he knew that there was not much time left for him.
County Magistrate Chen was also worried that the rebels would spread the documents he signed, and also wanted to collect the money and send it to the rebels as soon as possible.
So he didn't dare to waste time, took Yang He's servants and rushed to Prince Zhou's Mansion.
As a superior being, the vassal king also had an office where he lived. The crown prince also had a special palace, a temple for worship, a family temple to worship the previous Zhou kings, and a palace where the princess and other concubines lived. The former princess and The palace where all the concubines lived, including the main hall where the feudal king handled official business.
The entire feudal prince's palace is like a small palace. Except that the overall layout is smaller than that of the imperial palace and there are fewer temples with many uses, the rest is not much different from the imperial palace.
"Cui Changshi is busy with official duties, so County Magistrate Chen should please come back!"
County Magistrate Chen and Yang He's servants were blocked outside without even entering the first palace gate of Prince Zhou's Mansion.
"Excuse me, I'd like to inform you that Governor Yang has something important to see Cui Changshi." County Magistrate Chen took out a piece of silver and stuffed it into the sleeve of the man in front of him.
The other party hesitated for a moment and said: "That's all, I'll just tell you now. If it still doesn't work, please don't blame me."
"Just say that Governor Yang has a way to resolve the siege of Fengfu City. If Cui Changshi still doesn't want to see me, I will never blame you." County Magistrate Chen said.
"Okay then, I'll make another trip, little one."
After saying that, the man turned around and entered the palace gate.
The sun moved a little bit, but the person who went in to report never came back. Magistrate Chen pinned his hopes on Prince Zhou's Mansion and did not dare to leave, patiently waiting for the people inside to come out.
An hour passed, but there was still no movement inside.
County Magistrate Chen felt that his legs were a little stiff when he stood. He thought about just leaving several times, but when he thought of the document with his signature in the hands of the rebels, he had no choice but to endure it.
Almost half an hour later, Cui Changshi, wearing a fifth-grade robe, slowly walked out of the palace gate.
"I have kept Magistrate Chen waiting for a long time. I wanted to come out early, but His Highness suddenly summoned me for something, which delayed me a little longer. I would like to ask Magistrate Chen not to blame me." Cui Changshi said to Magistrate Chen casually. Hand over.
County Magistrate Chen knew that the other party did it on purpose, but he could not complain. Instead, he politely responded with clasped fists and said: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. Your Highness's matters are important. It doesn't matter if I wait a little longer."
"I know that County Magistrate Chen is not a stingy person, so let's go!" Cui Changshi raised his hand, and a bearer next to him came over carrying a sedan.
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