"came back!"
As usual, when faced with Liu Chengyou's return after farewell, Queen Mother Li still looked like a gentle and virtuous mother, with kind eyes, and helped Liu Chengyou up. After looking around him, he led him to sit down and repeated: "Just come back!"
When Liu Chengyou described Xiao Kui, he didn't touch it, but his concern was palpable.
"My dear mother, I miss you." Liu Chengyou smiled, cupped his hands and said, "My son must spend more time with me."
"Don't I know you? I'm afraid it's rare for me to have free time. If you have this intention, it will be good!" Li said very wisely: "But when you return to Beijing, I am relieved. I am an old woman in the harem. The state affairs are in turmoil, and guarding Kaifeng and the court for you is really exhausting both physically and mentally, and I am unbearably tired!"
Queen Mother Li looked relieved. Seeing this, Liu Chengyou quickly said: "Thank you for your hard work, mother!"
Paying attention to Mrs. Li's expression, Liu Chengyou changed his mind and asked in a solemn voice: "Does anyone dare to be disrespectful to my mother?"
"The princes of the court do not dare to be rude to me. It's just that I am a woman with short sight and limited knowledge. It is inconvenient after all to go between the front court and the harem and show my face. The city of Tokyo is still handed over to you!" Seeing a hint of coldness in Liu Chengyou's expression, Li immediately explained warmly.
His mother's virtuousness actually made Liu Chengyou feel a little guilty, out of some suspicion on his part. Many thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant, and when they came to my lips, they turned into an emotional word: "Mom, thank you for your hard work!".
In fact, since Liu Chengyou ascended the throne, the communication between mother and son has unconsciously become formal and empty, high-sounding, and less affectionate. At this time, hearing the warmth in Liu Chengyou's tone, Li couldn't help but reveal a smile of relief on her face.
"It's getting cold, remember to put on more clothes."
"yes!"
"Where's Brother Meng?"
"Bring the prince up and show it to the officials." Li ordered the maid in attendance, and then said to Liu Chengyou: "In the hundred days, when you are not here, I summoned relatives to hold a simple blessing banquet. Brother Meng Very strong..."
Liu Chengyou nodded, took the child out, and wanted to reach out to hug it. He was stopped by Mr. Li and washed his hands and clothes.
The baby, who is more than three months old, is very light. Anyway, Liu Chengyou can't tell how strong it is. However, looking at the child's appearance, he seems to be in a healthy state.
After shaking a few times in his arms, Liu Chengyou said casually without thinking: "You can't speak yet."
"How could it be so fast!" Li Shi smiled and gave him an angry look.
"Officials, ministers want to see you!" During the chat, the chamberlain hurriedly came to report.
Liu Chengyou couldn't help but show a little hesitation in his expression. Seeing this, Mrs. Li stepped forward to take over Brother Liu. The child who was moving and struggling in Liu Chengyou's arms immediately stopped.
Li said: "Go! There must be important things to do when the officials are here to meet you. When you return from the expedition, you must also have many important things to know."
"Son, please leave first!" Liu Chengyou clasped his fists and took two steps back.
Before leaving, he said to Da Fu and Gao who were waiting in the palace: "Please take good care of the Queen Mother for me!"
"Yes!" The two women responded politely.
In fact, there was no need for Liu Chengyou to explain, both the queen and the noble concubine would do this. Da Fu habitually fulfilled his filial piety for Liu Chengyou, and Gao Huaijin followed suit. Regarding the attitude of the two women, Li was basically unbiased and always gave warnings to help Liu Chengyou stabilize the harem so that he would be less disturbed.
...
He hurried back to the Chui Gong Hall, braced himself up, and quickly cleared up his mood. After sitting down to accept the worship of the ministers, Liu Chengyou looked around and said to the ten ministers and ministers: "I owe this time to you for my personal expedition. I will be responsible for the affairs of the country, handling the affairs of the country, and calming the people's hearts so that I will have no worries. I am here to thank you all!"
It is said that after the annihilation of Li Shouzhen, the emperor's arrogance became increasingly arrogant and he acted quite independently. Therefore, at this time, Liu Chengyou's posture made all the officials present unavoidably surprised.
The emperor has bowed down to the ceremony and is giving face like this. How can the courtiers respond humbly and respectfully?
After saying some words to create an atmosphere of harmony between the monarch and his ministers, Liu Chengyou asked directly: "I have come to see you, if you have any questions, please tell me directly."
The first one to come out was Wang Zhang. The Duke's face was full of hard work and exhaustion. Among the prime ministers in Tokyo, Wang Zhang had the hardest time in suppressing the rebellion. The collection and dispatch of grain machinery is a laborious task, and the finance and taxation affairs of the three departments are even more complicated. Later, there are matters of autumn harvest and tax collection...
It’s not an exaggeration to say that you are overwhelmed with things to do and have many things to deal with every day. Liu Chengyou noticed that the white hair on Wang Zhang's head was obviously increasing. Sometimes, you can make a judgment by observing an official's behavior, his age, and the color of his hair.
Wang Zhang's ability, style, and political methods may be open to question, but he is still very serious about his work, dares to bear infamy, and has always struggled to maintain the country's financial revenue and expenditure.
First, he coughed a few times. Wang Zhang stood up and apologized: "I have violated my decency. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Seeing this, Liu Chengyou raised his sleeves and said calmly: "It's okay, Wang Qing, just sit down and answer!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Liu Chengyou did not hesitate to be the most tolerant to his ministers who really did things.
"Your Majesty, during the Western Expedition to suppress the rebellion, a total of more than 95,400 shi of food, flour, meat, etc., and more than 16,800 yuan were consumed in Tokyo. The Gyeonggi prefectures spent a total of more than 50,000 yuan in food. Stone, more than 40 million in money. Arms, supplies, what was used before the army, what was consumed by the soldiers, what was spent on the young men, subsequent rewards and rebates, and what was paid in the river, the details of which are all written down in this volume. Your Majesty, please read it. !" Wang Zhang took out a memorial and presented it to Liu Chengyou.
Obviously, Wang Zhang led the Third Division in summarizing this matter, and he was ahead of him.
Picking up the memorial that was submitted to the case, Liu Chengyou glanced at it briefly. His mind was filled with the few data mentioned by Wang Zhang, and he muttered: "There are so many!"
"The country consumes a lot of money for military supplies..."
"Since then, the imperial court has become poor again!" Liu Chengyou said with a headache.
Of course, the Han court was never rich. He knew that fighting cost money, so he was mentally prepared. But when I heard the specific data, I still couldn't help but feel sad. The mobilization of hundreds of thousands of people and the expedition of nearly a thousand miles caused a huge loss of food. Fortunately, a mouthful of blood was recovered in Hezhong Mansion.
Most of the money spent was on the construction of weapons and heavy siege equipment. This was despite the fact that the court was trying its best to squeeze out labor and material costs.
In other words, the time to counter the rebellion is short enough. If it is delayed for a few more months, the cost will be even more difficult to measure. Not to mention the changes in the current situation and the threats from hostile countries, there may also be chaos in the Han Dynasty. At that point, military supplies were insufficient, and basically all we had to do was exploit the farmers.
"I will take some time later and read it carefully!" Liu Chengyou put down the booklet, took a deep breath and looked up at Wang Zhang: "How much money and food are left in Tokyo? Is it enough?"
