Xiao Yan was really jealous when he talked about Gu Helian.
Zuozhou has an advantageous geographical location, and the Gu family's business is spread all over the country. The clothes and crown of that wealthy businessman Gu Helian are enough to support half of the Xiao family's servants, but it's a pity...
He glanced at Tang Ning beside him and remembered the tea he was supposed to serve his aunt later, and couldn't help but feel deeply regretful.
This sheep can only cooperate, not gather.
Xiao Yan said to Cao Dejiang: "A few days ago, Minister Qian came over to show me the silver in the treasury. The silver there was so thin that it would be difficult even to defeat the king of Pingshan. It was even worse at the Ministry of War. The late emperor was in court. In the later period, it was because of Taizu that he emphasized culture and suppressed martial arts, and even more so after Emperor An, and there was also Xi Wei Fang."
"The military generals used by Taizu's line were demoted, and those who were trapped in the capital were trapped in the capital. Most of the generals stationed in various places have never even seen blood. Those who usually receive money, beg for military supplies from the imperial court, and run away are not so bad. Come on, if you really encounter a war, you may not even be able to lift a sword."
Soldiers and horses everywhere are exhausted. If you want to fight a war, you must first reorganize the army, but this cannot be done by just opening your mouth.
There are only a few generals who can be used, but the most important thing is the bravery of the ordinary soldiers below when they return to the battlefield. You can't rely on making a big pie to hang others' lives.
And over at the border, Di Shuangcheng had told him last time that the DPRK had been holding back supplies for the Zhen'an army for a long time, and had repeatedly withheld military supplies that should have been provided.
Previously, when the northwest was relatively stable, Di Shuangcheng could still lead his soldiers to reclaim military fields and farm in their spare time to supplement military supplies, barely enough to keep the Zhen'an army well fed.
But once the war breaks out, the nearly 200,000 people may be able to empty the Wei treasury with just half a month's supply of food and supplies.
There are also soldiers and generals with moon silver, casualty compensation, weapons and horses...
If he didn't ask for more and draw more blood from the aristocratic families, what would he do to fill the emptiness of the treasury, so that Wei could handle the southward movement of Beiling within half a year?
Xiao Yan sighed deeply: "I am very poor, so I can only feel wronged and wronged them. I think Grand Master Liang can understand."
Cao Dejiang: "..."
If you were more sincere, I would believe you.
Tang Ning sat aside with a hidden smile: "With these 800,000 gold, it will be enough to support the reform in the army and the war in the coming year, so that the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Household Affairs can prepare in advance."
"When the grain and tax revenue from the Ministry of Revenue come in next year, plus the large sum of money brought back from the house raids due to the official rectification in the south, I think Uncle Qian's hair can be saved."
Qian Baokun knew Xiao Yan's identity and knew that war was imminent, so he walked around scratching his head and looking anxious every day.
He reorganized the household department and settled the accounts, wishing he could rip off the treasury until even the rats came out naked, but the meager amount of money made him almost bald.
Cao Dejiang couldn't help but laugh when he thought of Qian Baokun's darkening eyes, which had become more and more serious in recent days:
"You can bully honest people, but you are right to give in on that collection of books. Those are the lifeblood of the family. If you really take them by force, Liang Guangyi will fight you to the death."
"Give in?"
Xiao Yan smiled half-heartedly: "I'm not retreating."
Cao Dejiang was stunned for a moment: "Why didn't you retreat? Didn't you only want 30%..."
"I want 30%. That's because after the library of Rongsheng Academy is filled with the Lu family's books, the remaining space is only enough to store 30% of the books of each family. This will probably take up a few vacant rooms in Shengning Residence. , no matter how many there are, there will be nowhere to put them, and it will be difficult to keep them.”
"Even if we want it again, we have to wait until the academy library is expanded. Now let Tangning and the others go to each house to have a look. The library expansion will take several months and a half. By then, not to mention all the books they have. , half of it will definitely be obtained.”
Xiao Yan's words stunned Cao Dejiang, and he didn't know what he was thinking. He almost stood up while leaning on the table, and blurted out: "You shouldn't let them steal..."
"How can the things done by scholars be called stealing?"
Xiao Yan said seriously: "This is called benefiting the world."
"you you you……"
Even with Cao Dejiang's experience, he couldn't help but be shocked.
Tang Ning saw the old man opposite looking at Xiao Yan in astonishment with his mouth wide open. She couldn't help but laugh out loud. She patted Xiao Yan and said, "Brother, why are you teasing Mr. Cao?"
Tang Ning said to Cao Dejiang: "There must be someone guarding the place where the family's books are stored. If I are caught by them for stealing, the reputation of Rongsheng Academy will be completely ruined. Brother, I'm kidding you."
"Brother, what I mean is, didn't Liang Guangyi allow me and my sister Aru to go into various houses and look at the books in their houses? Although we were not allowed to bring anyone else with us, we sisters are studious and want to learn more. If you want to copy some classics for study, I’m sure they won’t hinder you too much, right?”
Cao Dejiang opened his mouth: "But how much can you two copy? They will not let you take away the entire copy..."
"Aru has a photographic memory."
Cao Dejiang: "???"
"The books collected by the Lu family don't care about their meaning, but only the words. The mysterious Aru can pass more than ten books in two hours, and the ordinary books can pass twenty or thirty in one afternoon. Although I am not as good as Aru, I can barely do it. Memorize two or three books, and if you can excerpt the difficult-to-memorize parts, it’s not too difficult to write five books.”
Cao Dejiang: "!!!"
Tang Ning smiled sweetly, her eyebrows curved like crescent moons: "Aru and I just need to transcribe some important points from the collection of books, write down the rest and then go to the academy to dictate it. Dean Shi and Mr. Tong must be very happy. Help us make up the rest.”
"I go there for three to five hours a day and only select useful books. I think when the academy library is expanded, we should be able to make up a lot. Besides, Grand Master Liang didn't say how long we can go."
"The place where the family's books are stored is free for us to come and go. If it doesn't work for half a year, we can take a year. If it doesn't work for a year, we can always evacuate them in three to five years."
What she wants is for Rongsheng Academy to be filled with books, including books that can be used all over the world, to teach students useful things, so that they do not have to be inferior to aristocratic families, and not to have only rare books and authentic books.
What is copied is also a book.
When Cao Dejiang heard the words of the little girl opposite him, he was shocked, then unbelievable, then suddenly realized, and then looked at the man and woman opposite him speechless.
"You are clearly setting a trap for Liang Guangyi."
Fortunately, he just lamented that Xiao Yan loved Wu Ji Wu and was so good to Tang Ning's girl. He even wanted to get a share of the deceased's book collection for her. They were waiting for their love here.
This is simply like opening a rice barn and letting rats in, but you can still eat into a bottomless pit.
Xiao Yan was dissatisfied and said: "What a trick, don't talk nonsense, Grand Master Liang asked for this himself."
"I just want half of his book collection. He has to cry and make a fuss and give it all to me and Tang Ning. If he doesn't agree, he will fall out with me. I am such a thin-skinned person, how can I say no?"
Cao Dejiang: "..."
Shut up!
Thanks!
My ears hurt.
