Melting snow is the coldest time of the year, a bit colder than snow.
The door of Xuanhui Hall was closed, and the hall was separated by curtains. The ministers were discussing matters outside, and Li Zhaonian forced himself to be more attentive.
"The money for spring plowing has been collected and allocated. If we get through it, when the autumn harvest comes, the national treasury will be full."
"No way." Jiang Lianzhi said lightly: "Taxes were collected in the 21st year of Tongxu, and the late emperor passed away last year. However, the excessive grain taxes and commercial taxes cannot be left alone. If you want the treasury to be full, I’m afraid I can’t.”
Now that Jiang Yuanqing has passed away, there is no one who can suppress Liu Cheng, the second assistant in the cabinet.
Liu Cheng said slowly: "Regardless of whether the national treasury is full or not, there is more than one thorny issue at the moment. Each ministry has been unable to pay salaries for two months."
Liu Cheng looked at Jiang Lianzhi, but Jiang Lianzhi didn't answer and pretended not to hear.
Wen Hongyuan coughed, "And the Ministry of War..."
"Are you here to discuss matters today or are you here specifically to ask for money?" Jiang Lianzhi interrupted, "The accounts of the Ministry of Accounts are placed there. Sirs, you can take a look. If you feel that I can't do a good job as the chief, you can change them at will. I, Jiang Ji, will recognize whoever comes to sit in this position."
Everyone was silent for a moment.
In the past, the Ministry of Accounts was a job that everyone wanted, but now everyone is in the hands of anyone. All ministries are debt collectors. They go to the Ministry of Accounts every day to ask for money, but the national treasury is empty and how can they allocate it.
When Jiang Lianzhi saw that everyone was silent again when he mentioned this issue, he couldn't help but sneer in his heart and said: "Now in the first year of Yongning, everything is waiting for improvement. Sirs, you should discuss the affairs of each ministry. The Ministry of Household Affairs will naturally cooperate if they can." .”
It's all empty talk. Nothing can be done without money. The Jiang family is not the Lu family of Luozhou. It is impossible for the Jiang family to pay for it out of their own pockets.
Li Zhaonian couldn't help but smile when he heard his reign name behind the curtain.
There will never be another two years of Yongning. Not to mention that he won't be able to survive that time. Even with Xie Tingzhou's current overwhelming power, the court will not be able to survive that time.
Several ministers didn't speak, so Li Jifeng changed the topic.
"I heard that all the tribes of Xijue surrendered to Xie Yun."
Liu Cheng said hurriedly: "After the death of Bo Da, the hearts of the Western Jue people were scattered. The various tribes of the Western Jue people wanted to surrender. Xie Tingzhou left them alone for a while. It is said that the opening of trade routes has been roughly finalized. At present, only a 'grain and horse trade' has been established. .”
"Exchanging grain for horses." Jiang Lianzhi said: "Xi Jue exchanged war horses for grain. Xie Tingzhou used this to contain Xi Jue from building up cavalry again."
Some things sound simple, but if you look into the source, you can see how terrifying Xie Tingzhou is. The city is so deep that even if Xi Jue knew Xie Tingzhou's intentions, he would not be able to refuse.
The palace maids and eunuchs were cleaning the dripping ice hangings under the eaves to prevent them from falling and hitting people when the ice melted.
An eunuch ran over holding something.
The eunuch in charge at the door scolded, "Your Majesty and His Royal Highness are discussing matters with the ministers inside, how can you behave in such a panic?"
The eunuch quickly knelt down and said loudly: "Your Majesty, there is urgent news."
Li Jifeng shook his sleeves and said, "Send it up."
The eunuch submitted an urgent report. After reading it, Li Jifeng showed no expression on his face and passed it to several others for circulation.
Everyone looked worried after reading this.
"So quickly, Xie Tingzhou has arrived at King Wei's territory."
"The two adjacent state capitals next to King Wei's fiefdom have surrendered to Xie Tingzhou. If King Wei is added to the list, then Xie Tingzhou has already captured Jiuzhou."
Thirty percent of the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty fell into the hands of Xie Tingzhou, and now Xie Tingzhou was in unstoppable strength. It would not take long before he could reach Shengjing.
This is a sharp blade hanging over everyone's heads, and it will be cut down at any time.
They seemed to have smelled the breath of national subjugation from the crackling sound of melting ice.
……
"Your Majesty, Prince Wei has sent a message."
Xie Tingzhou covered Shen Yu with a quilt. Shen Yu opened her eyes vaguely, "Something's wrong."
"It's okay." Xie Tingzhou patted the quilt, watched her close her eyes, stood up and put down the bed curtain.
The change of seasons is prone to illness. Two days ago, Shen Yu and Changliu went horse racing on a whim, which made her back wet.
She didn't take it to heart at the time. She was still active and active in the snow on the battlefield, but she never thought that she would be sick this time. She was still coughing after taking medicine for two days.
Xie Tingzhou walked around the screen and took the post from Xifeng.
As soon as Xie Tingzhou entered the country, King Wei sent a message saying that he would hold a banquet for him, but he did not express his attitude. He must have Xiao Jiujiu in mind and wanted to take this opportunity to negotiate terms with Xie Tingzhou.
"Your Majesty, are you going?"
Xie Tingzhou raised his index finger, glanced at the inner room, and walked out.
Xi Feng understood and followed Xie Tingzhou into the next room.
"Has King Wei mobilized his troops?"
"No." Xifeng said, "King Wei's fiefdom has 12,000 troops, but at most it's only 15,000. He doesn't dare to move."
"Go." Xie Tingzhou said, "You can arrange it. You don't need to bring too many people. I want to see how much appetite this King Wei has."
Xie Tingzhou took a few steps and called Chang Liu.
Changliu came over from the corridor and stood at the door with his hands behind his back and his head bowed, "Your Majesty."
It was Changliu who mentioned the horse race first, which caused the princess to catch a cold. Although the prince didn't say anything, he didn't have a good look on him these days.
Xie Tingzhou said: "I'm going out for a while. You can guard the princess so that no one else disturbs her. If she doesn't wake up at Youshi, wake her up to drink medicine and prepare a plate of candied dates."
Changliu nodded hurriedly, "I understand, I will definitely take good care of the princess."
"If there is an emergency, ask the guards to report it."
Changliu said vigorously, "Yes!"
Xie Tingzhou glanced at him and said, "My voice is not bad. I can make it louder. The princess doesn't have to wait until you wake up."
Changliu pursed his lips and shook his head.
King Wei wanted to negotiate terms with Xie Tingzhou, but there was also the possibility that he would take the opportunity to capture Xie Tingzhou and negotiate terms with the court.
Xie Tingzhou led a small number of people. The twenty guards were all masters. With a large army pressing down on the territory, it was expected that King Wei would not dare to move.
In the hall, silk and bamboo are playing together, and the music is melodious.
King Wei was over sixty years old and had not yet passed the throne to his son. Once power was in his hands, it was difficult to let it go.
"I would like to offer you a drink, Your Majesty." King Wei held up the cup.
Xie Tingzhou raised his hand to block the maid who was pouring the wine. Xi Feng asked her to step aside and knelt down beside him to pour tea for Xie Tingzhou.
"Tea instead of wine." Xie Tingzhou picked up the cup, "Thank you, King Wei, for hosting the banquet."
King Wei drank it all in one gulp, while Xie Tingzhou only took a sip and looked into the hall.
The dancer is dressed in tulle and dances to the sound of silk and bamboo, not forgetting to cast a glance at Xie Tingzhou as she spins.
Xie Tingzhou was thinking about Shen Yu and his eyes were not focused on where he was, but in King Wei's eyes, he couldn't look away.
Having said the polite words, we still need to get to the point.
King Wei said: "I have a daughter who is good at the piano. I have heard that the prince is quite accomplished in the piano art. I wonder when the prince will have time to give me some advice."
Xie Tingzhou's eyes narrowed slightly, and he had roughly guessed King Wei's plan.
Xie Tingzhou said: "King Wei doesn't know something. Among all the instruments, chess, calligraphy and painting, I am the worst at playing the instrument."
King Wei didn't care, and said first: "Qin, chess, calligraphy and painting are not important. Your Majesty wants to conquer the world. This is the time to recruit people. Although our military strength in Weizhou cannot compete with Your Majesty, we can still do our best." "
"Your Highness will not give it away for free." Xie Tingzhou smiled lazily, "We might as well talk about the conditions first."
King Wei waved his hand, "The conditions cannot be negotiated. I want to give the prince a gift."
"What gift?"
"I have a daughter who has not yet left the palace, and she is always very dear to the princess."
Xie Tingzhou put the cup in his hand to his lips, but did not drink. He asked with a smile: "King Wei wants to give his beloved daughter to me."
King Wei smiled and said: "I want to give the prince a marriage. As for the dowry, it is my Weizhou and Weizhou's 20,000 troops. What does the prince think?"
