Volume 5 Chapter 7 Annual Revenue
Emperor Zhao, who had made a deal with Zhang Jun by way of installment repayment, did not stop his pace of inspecting the troops. Two days later, when the follow-up personnel and ceremonial guards arrived, he and Zhang Jun continued to travel eastward. Not only did they go to Binzhou to inspect the retreating Zhang Zongyan's troops, but they also continued to travel eastward and arrived at Denglai in the middle of the twelfth lunar month to inspect the Imperial Camp Navy.
Here, Emperor Zhao comforted Li Bao and promised him a position of co-commander-in-chief on the spot, which was a raise in the rank of both the Imperial Navy and this man. At the same time, he asked Li Bao to take the initiative to send two ships to accompany the fleet organized by Zhang Jun to sea, which also meant that he was familiar with the sea route.
At the same time, the meeting between Yue Fei and Tian Shizhong in Qingzhou and Zibo seemed a little quiet.
Of course, during this period, the court privately urged Emperor Zhao to return to the palace, and the troops in the imperial camps from all over the country expressed their greetings and loyalty due to various rumors, including Yue Fei's opinion on his leadership of the right army of the imperial camp... they never stopped.
It is worth mentioning that Yue Fei was not trying to avoid suspicion when taking charge of the Right Army of the Imperial Camp. Instead, he implicitly stated in the secret letter that as a Hebei native, he could take charge of the Front Army of the Imperial Camp, which was reorganized from the former Tokyo Liaison Office, and even the Eight Character Army, but if he controlled the Right Army of the Imperial Camp, which was based on the Western Army, he might not be able to accept it.
This is just like what Zhang Jun did that night when he asked for an explanation for Master Tian, he came to get a guarantee.
To be honest, this behavior was a bit inappropriate. Any emperor would have been thinking something in his heart, but Zhao Jiu knew that Yue Fei did this for a reason... Specifically, in Yue Pengju's opinion, he would accept or do anything that would help the Northern Expedition, regardless of whether it would bring him trouble.
To put it bluntly, this is called sacrificing one's life for the country.
However, even if Zhao Jiu understood Yue Fei's thinking, it was difficult for him to give Yue Fei an explanation at this time. Because helping to eliminate Zhang Jun, the soul of the Imperial Camp Right Army, so that Yue Fei could control was already a certain limit. If he gave another explanation, he could only give it in name. Once he gave it in name, it would probably expose the fact that Zhang Jun was dismissed from his military power.
This is going too far and it's not good for anyone.
At that time, not only would Zhang Jun's power be wiped out, but Yue Fei would definitely not have an easy time either - a general controlled nearly half of the military power in the imperial camp, especially since Yue Fei was a close friend of Zhang Rong, the commander-in-chief of the navy, and they were stationed in Jingdong, which was simply unbelievable.
In this situation, the first person to jump out and oppose is probably Zhang Jun, the prime minister who has always been the most convinced and supportive of Yue Fei. And according to Zhang Deyuan's temper, he will probably directly embarrass Yue Fei, and then things will become out of control.
After all, this matter has nothing to do with personal relationships, likes and dislikes, right and wrong, but more about the system and considerations for emergency situations. Even further, Zhao Jiu's actions were indeed somewhat dangerous in the eyes of everyone except him.
As for Zhao Jiu himself, although he was extremely relieved, he could not tell anyone about it.
Putting aside this thought, Zhao Jiu had come to Dengzhou, met Li Bao, and watched the fleet go out to sea. However, it was already the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, and this place was a full 1,200 miles away from Tokyo. He really couldn't delay any longer. So, the official, who had something on his mind, led a small number of cavalrymen, and took Zhang Jun, Wang Yan, Liu Yan, Yu Yunwen and other close officials who could run long distances, to return to the Jishui River first, and then galloped west along the river, all the way to Tokyo.
It took ten full days to travel one thousand two hundred miles. It was not the fastest, but it could definitely be considered a great journey of a thousand miles.
One important reason for being in such a hurry was that Emperor Zhao had missed many things this winter... Although he had signed the national debt as soon as he returned to Beijing, the sale of the national debt was only done by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Imperial Guard and the Ministry of Revenue; the final of the Cuju League was finally held as usual, but they had to invite the two empresses to sit in the box, and then Prime Minister Lu came out to present the awards; other things were similar... and if it continued like this, there was no telling what kind of chaos would break out in the capital.
Therefore, no matter how much the official was persuaded, he did not miss the next day, which was the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, to attend the Imperial Academy to discuss government affairs.
After all, the importance of this matter cannot be compared with other things.
I must add one more thing here. After several years of inheritance, the Imperial Academy’s political affairs consultation has now become very ritualistic and has specific procedures.
Generally speaking, it starts in the morning. First, the ministers below the prime minister hold their manuscripts and tell the "students" about the achievements of their departments under the leadership of Emperor Zhao in the current year. It feels like a job report. Then there will be a short break at noon, which is convenient for many people to communicate privately. In the afternoon, the ministers will be asked questions. Although it is still an open-ended question and answer session, generally within half a month before, the official newspaper will warm up the relevant core issues and give a general guide. Emperor Zhao himself will also play a role of threading the needle at this time, so that the relevant departments can come out to answer the relevant questions.
Back to the present, this time, it could be that everyone knew that Emperor Zhao was tired from the journey, or it could be that the fact that the emperor had been away for nearly two months out of anger caused the political atmosphere in the capital to be a little bad, or it could be that the emperor was sitting upright but was frowning and thinking, as if he was in a bad mood... So this time, not many people talked nonsense and provoke Emperor Zhao.
But little did he know that while no one questioned Emperor Zhao in person, he had been questioning himself... Or rather, ever since Ma Kuo turned and left that day, he had been asking himself a serious question these days - how can he conserve his energy to meet the needs of the Northern Expedition?
Theoretically, the country's finances will gradually improve. In seven or eight years, the country will recover to 80% of the level of its former heyday. By then, it will be able to support 300,000 elite troops while meeting other daily expenses, and then accumulate large amounts of precious metals and food in preparation for the Northern Expedition.
This is exactly what many conservative ministers expected, and it is also the plan that Zhao Jiu had rejected long ago... Instead of choosing this, it is better to choose to go to Yangzhou from the beginning, which is safer!
Why did you stay in Huaishang that day? It was because you couldn't bear to abandon the Central Plains!
Why are you so anxious today? It's because you can't bear to abandon the two rivers!
Some things cannot be solved by simply taking out an abacus and calculating what is the most reasonable way to do them... The national spirit and the driving force of national integration are all things that need to be considered.
But if he didn't wait that long, how could he save enough food, horse feed, cloth, and precious metals for the Northern Expedition for 300,000 people while maintaining the army? Could he just rely on reducing the expenses of the harem?
You must know that at this point in time, we can no longer save money on civil servants' salaries and other expenses. Doing so will instead limit the country's recovery, which will be detrimental to long-term plans and is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst.
And this is another dead end.
Perhaps it was because of this that Zhao Jiu, after learning about Zhang Jun's business, chose to try to get involved regardless of the risks and public opinion.
This official is so hungry that he has no choice but to eat.
Not to mention how Emperor Zhao was so worried about the Northern Expedition that he did not return to the capital for most of the winter, and after returning to the capital he also revealed his worries in the political discussions at the Imperial Academy. It can be said that the fact that the emperor finally returned to the capital did ease the political atmosphere in the entire capital a little.
On the second day, the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, after a hastily dealt with the government affairs of the Imperial College, the college became lively instead... because this day was the beginning of the New Year holiday, and according to the practice of the past few years, students who lived close to home in the Imperial College usually had to wait until this day to return home, while students who lived far away from home usually had to prepare for various matters related to staying in the capital to celebrate the New Year.
Of course, under the current special system of the three-house method plus the palace examination, which is held once a year, the value of Taixue students is self-evident. Therefore, in the past few days, not only will the palace summon some outstanding Taixue students, but many dignitaries, such as the Wu family, the Lu family, and important officials including the current prime minister, will also specifically ask their children to invite some good Taixue students to their homes to celebrate the New Year. Even the lowest-ranking ones who stay in the Taixue will have wealthy merchants, nobles, and temples and monasteries come to sponsor meat, vegetables, rice and noodles.
There is no need to learn from Fan Zhongyan who carved porridge while reading.
"That seems to be the son of Prime Minister Zhao?"
In a window-side restaurant box on the north bank of the Cai River, Chao Gongwu, a direct official who had just had a bowl of ginger soup to ward off the cold, blurted out while staring out the window at the other side of the river without even putting the bowl down.
"It should be."
The good friend who was sitting at the same table, and the object of the welcoming banquet - Yu Yunwen, looked through the window for a moment and immediately nodded in agreement. His eyesight and physique have always been recognized as excellent, and it was precisely because of this that he was able to return early with the emperor this time.
The elderly Ren Baozhong and the frail Fan Zongyin and Lu Benzhong were still riding on their horses on their way back to Tokyo to celebrate the New Year.
"The son of the Prime Minister also comes to a place like this to eat mutton?" Chao Gongwu couldn't help but sigh.
"What is this?"
The elder brother who had been drinking soup with his head down, Hu Quan who was in charge of the official report, looked up and faced each other calmly. "Not only the prime minister's son, it is said that Zhao Xianggong also often comes to Caihe to drink mutton soup, and the emperor has also ordered takeout here for this purpose... Zhao Xianggong is recognized as the most virtuous person in the court. He does not build private property and does not make private friends. In addition, his family fled from Hedong, and even his ancestors did not have an acre of land. He lived only on salary and rewards. It is normal for him to come here for a simple meal."
"Not only that?" Yu Yunwen also laughed. "Even Young Master Zhao hasn't found a wife yet, it's said that it's because of his father..."
"What do you mean?" Chao Gongwu asked curiously. "The son of the prime minister is worried about marriage?"
"What can I say? It's because Mr. Zhao is the Prime Minister, so Mr. Zhao can't easily take the writing test to participate in the joint examination and the palace examination, so as not to arouse suspicion. And since he doesn't take the writing test, it will be difficult for him to graduate from the Imperial Academy. If he doesn't graduate from the Imperial Academy and has no fame, it will be difficult for him to get married..." Hu Quan on the opposite side explained casually.
“That’s true…” Chao Gongwu was speechless for a moment.
"However, even so, he is still the eldest son of the Prime Minister. If you don't believe me, go and ask these students below, would they rather follow Master Zhao to the south of Caihe River to drink mutton soup and eat sheepskin, or would they rather follow Uncle Wu to the father-in-law's house to drink Lanqiao Fengyue?" Hu Quan continued to ask with a smile.
The answer was self-evident, but Chao Gongwu only nodded when he heard it, and his words were still cautious: "Now is the time for a wise king and a virtuous minister."
These words caused everyone present to nod their heads, but Hu Bianxiu, who was sitting opposite him, shook his head and said nothing.
By the way, Hu Quan shook his head not because he had any opinion about Zhao Ding. Although they had different political views, the gap between their levels was too big to the point where they could compete with each other. Besides, Zhao Ding's talents and virtues were recognized as good, and no one in the court was dissatisfied... The reason why he shook his head was just because he felt that everyone has different aspirations and things have changed.
The seven or eight classmates present here today are no longer the Tai students they were three or four years ago.
At that time, we were roommates, classmates, and scholars of the same imperial examination. Even though we had different positions and thoughts, it did not prevent us from being friends. But now, after only three years of being assigned to different posts, our political status, political positions, and various mentalities have become completely different.
Among them, the most obvious one is Chao Gongwu. This person has ability, better knowledge, and is famous for his encyclopedia and strong memory. He is undoubtedly a more outstanding one among his peers, and his career is also very serious. However, he has gradually become estranged from the others in terms of political stance.
The reason is, it’s just that different times have changed.
Three years ago, Chao Gongwu's family moved from their hometown in Jeju to Shuzhong to avoid the war. At that time, the whole army naturally supported the imperial court's use of troops to recover lost territory and stabilize the situation. But after Yaoshan, the situation stabilized, and the Chao family moved back to their ancestral land. Naturally, the clan lost their support for the imperial court's use of troops. Not only that, the elders of Chao Gongwu's family also gradually complained about the imperial court's policy because the abandoned fields of their family were used as military settlements by the front army of the imperial camp, and they were not even allowed to redeem them.
All these things affected him directly or indirectly, so much so that after the Baima Shaoxing Rebellion, the relatively young Chao Gongwu directly expressed his dissatisfaction in letters to several good friends, which then attracted some criticism... His current cautious attitude, on the one hand, is because he has gradually begun to study hard, and on the other hand, it is because he has realized that Emperor Zhao’s determination cannot be violated, the court’s policies are irreversible, and the political atmosphere among his classmates has already been formed, so he has no choice but to hide and retreat.
However, in the eyes of Hu Quan, who had noticed the change in Chao Gongwu early on, this was not a problem.
You know, even the 'Three Ministers of the Imperial College in Jingkang', Zhao Ding, Zhang Jun and Hu Yin, who had a life-and-death friendship, had already parted ways long ago and had different political views. How could it be possible that this group of Imperial College classmates in the third year of Jianyan were always as close as a family?
Not to mention Chao Gongwu, who went against the overall situation and fell behind, even though he and Yu Yunwen were so close now, they might become rivals in the future.
Hu Quan was mentally prepared for this.
“说起赵相公和赵公子，我倒是想起一个笑话。”说话间，另一个同年适时开口。“众所周知，东西二府虽然大事和谐，可小事上却多有抵触，虽然称不上党争，却也有分野之嫌，而私下议论，素来不知道该如何称呼两党……若说赵党、张党，自是冒犯了国姓；若说东党、西党，又随着官家大举调度内外，有些情形上的相悖……不过前几日，太学中忽然有了一个新说法，我是觉得极为妥当的。”
"What do you mean?" Except for Xiao Yu, the third place winner who was the son of Zhang Jun's former official, everyone else looked curious.
"They used the wood party and the water party!"
"How did this come about?" Even Hu Quan was surprised for a moment.
Yu Yunwen was the first to realize it, but he didn't laugh.
"Nothing special. Prime Minister Zhao has several children, all named after famous rivers in Hedong. Young Master Zhao is named Zhao Fen, and the eldest lady of the Zhao family is named Zhao Mi." The classmate answered without hesitation. "And Prime Minister Zhang had a son a few days ago, named Zhang Zai. Now everyone knows that Prime Minister Zhang is from a famous family in Shu, and the next generation of his family will have the character for wood as the root..."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter, and even Yu Yunwen couldn't help but smile secretly.
However, amid the laughter, the last person finally arrived, and it turned out to be the real target person of this gathering - Mei Li, a direct servant, who was attending such a gathering of peers in the capital for the first time.
"My fellow students, I am so ashamed!" Mei Sheren entered the box and bowed his hands repeatedly to apologize. "I was planning to come here early after leaving office, but when I was about to leave, the emperor suddenly summoned me and asked me many questions in front of the harem pavilion. I just left the palace and changed my clothes and hurried over here."
Since it was the government's summons, everyone naturally had nothing to say. They just quickly asked Mei Sheren to sit down, and then asked the waiters to serve the food. A prostitute came in on her own initiative, and was given some money by the crowd and asked to leave... They were real political rising stars who could enter the core circle. How could they not know the government's mentality? Why would they offend the government for such a thing?
When the banquet started, everyone was polite at first and talked about some gossip about the Imperial College and the palace examinations in the past. But after three rounds of drinks, as officials in Beijing, all of whom were the so-called promising class, they couldn't help but exchange political information.
In fact, this is the fundamental reason for such gatherings.
"General Zhang came to the capital with the emperor and personally went to the West Palace to meet with Prime Minister Zhang Shu. He said that he actually knew about Zhang Zongyan's affairs, but he didn't expect that the guy would be so bold and send out so many troops!" Yu Yunwen said casually, saying a piece of information that could not be hidden from anyone, which was considered an appetizer.
Everyone showed no hesitation, except Chao Gongwu, who was slightly stunned when he heard it, but ultimately said nothing.
"So, Zhang Zongyan's life is saved?" someone asked curiously.
"Of course!" Xiao Yu Tanhua answered frankly. "After the report was submitted to the Western Prefecture, the emperor directly issued an order to demote him to a captain and to serve in the army..."
"This must have been agreed upon face to face between the emperor and General Zhang." Hu Quan also drew the conclusion.
"Will the Grand Secretary of Justice be happy?" Everyone nodded, and another person interrupted curiously. "He has been in Beijing for ten days. He arrested the Grand Justice and the concubine's uncle in court, and quickly sentenced Yang Zheng to death. He also sent a letter to Guanxi, questioning the generals in Guanxi, forcing dozens of generals under Wu Jiedu to write a letter to defend themselves and ask the court to deal with them. He was in the limelight for a while, and he won face for the court officials... Is he going to let Zhang Taiwei off this time?"
"Grand Minister of Justice (Ma Shen)," Hu Quan raised his glass and drank it all, sneering before Yu Yunwen could. "Grand Minister of Justice seems to be doing well these days, but how is he doing in private? Everyone in the capital thinks that he drove the emperor away as soon as he entered the capital... He drove the emperor away with the minister, which caused tension in the court and resentment inside and outside the court... In the past two months, the emperor was away, and Grand Minister of Justice was the most difficult in the capital. All his postures were just to hold on! If he keeps making trouble, he will really make enemies inside and outside the court, and even Lu Xianggong and Li Xianggong in the southeast will write to question him!"
"Brother Hu, what you said is correct." Someone responded. "This time, the local governor and the minister were swapped. Everyone thought that Minister Liu (Liu Hongdao) was on the same side as the Grand Secretary. However, in the middle of this month, Minister Liu personally dispatched the imperial camp to cross the river and attack a military camp on the other side. It is clear that he is not on the same side as the Grand Secretary... It can be seen that the Grand Secretary seems to be invincible, but it is just a false pretense and is not popular in the court."
"In fact, these are just minor matters. Even if the Grand Secretary of Justice continues to be so powerful, what will happen? He will never be able to survive the overall situation under the control of the emperor. The key to our work is to be concerned about the emperor's urgent needs and focus on major policies and strategies. This is the right way." Hu Quan suddenly changed the subject. "Since the emperor met with Ma Jiedu in Heyin, the future major policies and strategies have already been revealed. It is to concentrate on accumulating money, food, soldiers and horses to cross the river to the north! In the next few years, everything will have to give way to these things."
"Brother Hu is right," another person responded. "After the court newspaper reported that Ma Zongguan came to see the emperor, our Ministry of Revenue began to check the accounts and inventory... but after all the calculations, it was still difficult for a good cook to cook without rice."
"That's true." Yu Yunwen also frowned and sighed. No one in the room knew the emperor's thoughts better than him. "I remember that Minister Lin said something in the Imperial College yesterday. This year's annual revenue, plus the three million national debt plate, and the initial income from the Qingmiao loan and Jiaozi business in the second half of this year, is only 38 million strings (one string is equivalent to one string of money or one tael of silver, and the actual value is about 770 coins at this time)... If 38 million strings are used to support the army, to support 300,000 imperial camp troops, then nothing can be done."
Besides, the people around him naturally knew that Yu Yunwen was traveling with the emperor this time, so when the number of 300,000 imperial soldiers was mentioned, they already believed it in their hearts. They knew that this was a kind of bottom line set by the emperor and Ma Kuo after discussion. But even so, they could not help but be shocked when they heard this number.
"The government is too generous to the Imperial Guard!" Chao Gongwu couldn't help but be shocked. "According to what Cai Gong, the Three Officials Envoy, wrote to Emperor Renzong, the annual cost of one imperial guard was no more than 50 strings of cash. Now, the cost of supporting one regular soldier in the Imperial Guard is about 80 to 90 strings of cash, or even nearly 100 strings of cash... If we use this example to support 300,000 soldiers, then we won't have to do anything, right?!"
"The imperial army of Emperor Renzong cannot destroy Xixia." Hu Quan had already made up his mind, so he simply responded coldly. "If we want to conquer the two rivers in the north, we need 300,000 regular soldiers with a salary of 100 liang per year!"
"But if that's the case, we'll have to wait a few more years before we can march north!" Chao Gongwu was finally no longer cautious after being confronted, or perhaps because he had drunk a little bit of wine. "Brother Hu, the annual income is here. We have to support 300,000 imperial troops, and we have to prepare money and food for military supplies and rewards. Without 50 million annual income, it will not work!"
"In a few years, we'll have an annual income of 50 million?" someone interrupted, frowning.
"Of course there are." Chao Gongwu blurted out. "During the heyday of this dynasty, the annual income was nearly 100 million (guan, shi, bundles, liang, and pieces, not the total guanwen). Excluding the grain worth one shi and half a guan, and the fodder that almost no one buys for official needs, there was still 60 million in direct financial income. Among the 60 million in financial income, in addition to the guanwen of copper coins and the liang of silver, there were nearly 10 million pieces of silk... Although the value of silk has always fluctuated, it has always been priced at two guanqian per piece! Considering that the main production areas of silk are in the south and have not been through war, as long as this dynasty recuperates, it is entirely possible to achieve an annual income of more than 30 million guan, plus 8 or 9 million pieces of silk! That is a total annual income of 50 million guan!"
Chao Gongwu was knowledgeable and had a good memory. He was now compiling history and had access to a huge amount of information. No one questioned what he said, so everyone seemed to be thinking about it for a while.
However, I must say one more thing here... The Song Dynasty was a strange country with an extremely centralized finance. Its annual income was not converted into silver, or copper coins of about 770 wen per string or one string, and the total value of a certain string was not calculated. Instead, it was calculated by measuring the grain (shi), hay (bundles), copper coins (guan), Jiaozi (strings), silk (pi), and silver (liang) received, and finally the total annual income of more than 100 million shi, bundles, guan, string, pipe, and liang was obtained.
As we all know, grain was the most basic thing in the feudal era. It was used to directly supply the army, officials, the capital, and also for disaster relief. It was impossible to really discount it. Hay was only for military needs. Therefore, we must first put aside these physical objects to get the real annual income of the Song Dynasty, which was mainly composed of money and silk.
After all, these were the only recognized hard currencies. One piece of silk was worth two strings of coins, which was almost common knowledge. From officials to soldiers, to ordinary people, everyone recognized that these silks were effective general equivalents, just like copper coins and silver.
And this is exactly what Chao Gongwu meant - at present, almost all silk producing areas are actually under the control of the Song Dynasty. The direct losses caused by the two rivers are actually very low. The theoretical financial ceiling of the Song Dynasty is still very high. Therefore, as long as the Song Dynasty is given time to gradually close the bloody effects caused by the war, it can actually recover to a very outstanding financial position.
but……
"How long will it take to restore the annual revenue to 50 million guan?" Hu Quan frowned.
"I've calculated it. Based on the current recovery rate, it will only take seven or eight years." Chao Gongwu blurted out.
Everyone's expression changed immediately.
Hu Quan even sneered on the spot: "If the people of Lianghe could wait another seven or eight years, why would the government drive those people out of Baima?"
Chao Gongwu wanted to say something but finally kept silent, and the others had no intention of discussing it any further... This was a question like whether to make a bigger cake first or divide the cake first. Because of the interests involved, there were bound to be different opinions.
Besides, as Hu Quan said, Emperor Zhao had already set the tone with his own efforts.
"Actually." Yu Yunwen saw the awkward situation, especially because he had a very good personal relationship with Chao Gongwu, and finally couldn't help but make a little effort to relieve the siege. "It is not necessary to raise 300,000 soldiers. We can expand the imperial camp to 240,000 or 250,000, and then contact the Mongols, Khitans, and Koreans, recruit a group of Tanguts, and add the Hebei Volunteer Army. The number is still enough."
"But if so." Seeing that it was his friend who spoke, Chao Gongwu finally couldn't help but say, "The number of people in the Northern Expedition will be even greater. How much food and money will be needed for military supplies, rewards, and pensions? Have you ever calculated it?"
"The emperor's intention is there, so he has already calculated it." The colleague who worked in the Ministry of Revenue laughed. "Three hundred thousand people, even if there are rivers to facilitate transportation, it will require a corresponding number of civilians. Add in friendly troops and the like, and it is estimated that it will take 600,000 to 700,000 people. For 700,000 people, excluding the autumn harvest of that year, we need to prepare 6 million shi of grain. If there are more war horses, it will cost more, and we need to prepare 2 million bundles of hay... The rest of the salt, vinegar, alum, dried meat and other sundries... Let's give a rough number. We must first reserve 10 million shi of grain! The additional money and silk rewards, plus the military expenses, will be simpler, just like the normal annual expenses of the imperial camp army! In other words, 10 million shi of grain and 20 to 30 million in money! The country needs such reserves to ensure that there is enough for the Northern Expedition! Of course, if it is tight, for a period of half a year, and considering that there is a high probability that there will be an autumn harvest in the middle, it can be reduced to 5 million shi of grain and 15 million strings of money, which is always worth a try!"
"Well then." Chao Gongwu concluded. "If seven or eight years is too long, then two or three years is better. In two or three years, with 240,000 to 500,000 soldiers in the imperial army, you loyal officials who are planning to fight the Northern Expedition, tell me, how can you save up another 5 million dan of grain and 15 million guan of floating wealth? Can it just fall from the sky?"
Everyone in the private room fell silent. This was the biggest concern of the emperor, and it was also the dilemma for the important ministers... Whoever could solve this problem would definitely be made a marquis and a prime minister by Emperor Zhao.
"Look at what Brother Chao said." Mei Li saw that the atmosphere was not good and quickly interrupted. "If we, who have only been in office for three years, can work together to help the government solve this problem, everyone at this table will have a seat in the secret cabinet in the future, and the leader will have a seat as prime minister... We are just taking advantage of the return of the top scholar before the New Year to have a casual chat!"
"That's right." Hu Quan also felt that it was a bit too much, so he stood up and raised his glass to smile. "In any case, the current situation is a million times better than during the Jingkang period, so why worry too much? Let's drink to celebrate the New Year! Long live the official!"
Everyone stood up and held the cup.
As he finished the drink, another person laughed: "What a pity! Our Imperial Army is not as barbaric as the Jurchens. Otherwise, if we plundered Xixia for a while, we could have made a fortune of five or six million according to the food stored by the Xixia people!"
Everyone laughed, but then they remembered the losses in Jing Kang, and their smiles turned into bitter ones. As a result, Hu Quan, Yu Yunwen, Chao Gongwu, and others could only sigh under the wine, and the atmosphere could not return to the casual one at the beginning... Of course, Mei Sheren, who came for the first time, did not tell him that Emperor Zhao had asked him about the maritime trade data.
In the afternoon, the sky darkened again and it was about to snow. Zhao Ding's eldest son said goodbye to his classmates on the south bank of the Cai River. Hu Quan and others also dispersed on the north bank of the Cai River.
After all, we are all just ordinary people. We have to hold an umbrella when it rains and go home early when it snows to prepare for the New Year.
At the same time, Emperor Zhao, who did not have to prepare for the New Year festival, sat in the palace for a long time, thinking. Finally, he got up and left the stone pavilion, but went to Concubine Wu.
When the two met, Concubine Wu was overjoyed and hurriedly came to greet them, holding her already asleep son. However, unexpectedly, after Emperor Zhao took the eldest son, he sat down on the couch and smiled again:
"My dear, we haven't updated "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" for many days, right?"
Concubine Wu's expression froze, but after looking at her son in the emperor's arms, she immediately smiled and said, "Your Majesty is right. It has been many days since I last updated the book... Do you want to update it today?"
"Today's update." Zhao Jiu still smiled.
After hearing this, Concubine Wu still forced a smile, but Feng Yi and the other two officials beside her immediately turned around and told people to prepare writing brushes and ink.
After the pen and ink were delivered, Zhao Jiu hugged his son and sighed, "However, today's update is not "Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons". This book will not be updated in the future. After all, it is a folk story with a long history. It may be compiled into a masterpiece by a famous writer hundreds of years later... Thank you for your hard work, my beloved concubine. Let's start a new book from today. If I don't write it, no one will write it in the future."
Concubine Wu, who had spread out the papers and sat down at the table, was stunned for a moment, then returned to normal. Anyway, she was just a ghostwriter for any book. The fact that the following chapters of "Miscellaneous Records of Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons" were missing was Wu Chengen's fault. What did it have to do with Concubine Wu?
With this thought, Concubine Wu put down the paperweight, took the pen and ink from Feng Erguan, and asked with a smile: "Please give me the title of the new book."
"Water Margin!" Zhao Jiu blurted out, looking at his eldest son breathing evenly in his arms. "It's about the 108 demon stars from heaven who came down to earth and were forced to become bandits during the reign of Emperor Taishang Daojun. However, they were called upon by the righteousness of the country during the Jingkang Period and were recruited to fight against the Jin Dynasty as my vanguard. Then, after the world was stabilized in the tenth year of Jianyan, they went out to sea to explore for the Song Dynasty and encountered all kinds of strange geographical things."
Even though she had already been through a lot of practice, Concubine Wu, who had already picked up the pen, was still stunned on the spot.
Zhao Jiu laughed when he saw this: "I am also forced to do this... I have to try everything... Start writing!"
