Chapter 87 (1/2)

Luojing.

In the huge school yard, with the shouting orders of the officers, thousands of strong men are practicing with sweat and rain. Beside them, there are military law officers riding back and forth on their horses, and there are guys who dare to cheat and cheat. Once found out, they will be dragged out and whipped.

It was a rare fine day. The warm winter sun hung in the sky, and the bright sunlight slanted down, which gave the emperor's gold armor a bright glow.

On the high platform, the emperor stood by the railing, and looked at the end of the horizon with a faint golden light in the deep, but there was no joy or anger on his handsome face.

After his arrival, after these days of adaptation and integration, his inhumane breath has gradually faded away, and he has regained his grace and atmosphere, without anger and self-respect.

”The Emperor...”

The chief steward came over, and after saluting, he cautiously told him, ”it's almost noon. Is the lunch going back to the palace, or is it sent over?”

The emperor turned his head and looked at him, and said faintly, ”then send it here.”

The chief steward promised to go down and get ready.

”Yu Qing's family, come and talk with me.”

After a while, the emperor said again.

Next to a third grade minister immediately leaned over and bowed: ”what's your Majesty's command?”

The minister's name was Yu Xiang, and he used to be an unimportant official. When Zhang Minzhong was in charge of the government, these imperial historians were just decorations, and their sense of existence was almost nonexistent.

However, after the emperor came to power, he promoted many people, including Yu Xiang. It turns out that he has some talent, not just a fool.

”Although Zhang Minzhong is not a thing, he has made a mess of my country.”

The emperor's tone was flat: ”but he also knew that it was a good thing to set up the 300000 new army. I just want to play in the imperial palace. This is far from enough. What do you say? ”

Yu Xiang glanced at the emperor's face and said, ”since the troops are not enough, we can only continue to expand and form a new army. However, there is not much money in the Hubu department. This year, the taxes collected by all parts of the country are equivalent to less than 4 million taels of Silver...”

The imperial court can control less and less territory, especially after the loss of the rich Jiangnan region, coupled with bureaucratic corruption at all levels, interception, embezzlement, to enrich their own pockets, naturally receiving less and less money from the Treasury.

”How much money is left in Hubu? If I decide to expand the army by 500000, how much money will it cost? ” The emperor asked directly.

”I would like to inform your majesty that there are still 40 million taels of silver in the Hubu department. If the new army is to be expanded again, the total cost of training will be about 30 million taels. With at least half a year's training time, they will be able to meet the needs of the expedition.” Yu Xiang carefully tunnel.

Originally, the imperial court had a great deal of business, such as weapons and armor, bows and arrows, military uniforms, barracks and other materials. Over the years, there were some reserves in stock, which could be taken out directly when needed. However, in recent years, the imperial court has been constantly using troops, and the inventory of these materials has been exhausted, so we can only prepare new ones from the beginning.

On the whole, if we want to make the 800000 new army be able to go to the battlefield, the average cost of each soldier is about 56 Liang silver, which is a very reasonable expenditure. Of course, it is OK to lower the standard, but it is difficult to guarantee the combat effectiveness of the army.

The emperor was silent for a while and asked, ”how much money has been copied from Zhang Minzhong's home?”

”My highness, the officials of the Ministry of finance have counted out that all the property is worth more than 21 million taels of silver, which has been filled into the house of the interior.” Yu xiangdao.

The house of the interior was the emperor's private Treasury, which was of course separate from the Treasury of the household department. It was impossible for Yu Xiang to take out the emperor's private purse even if he was given ten courage.

”In this case, I'd like to allocate the money from the house of internal affairs first. But if we go on with this trend, we can support that by the end of next year, the court will have no money to use.” The emperor frowned.

There will be a war after the Chinese New Year. How many places can be pacified in a year's time? The emperor has no idea. If the war is protracted, it is hard to say whether the palace can hold on.

Of course, from his current position, whether the court will be finished or not has little influence on him. The key is to find and seize the traces of the outliers as soon as possible and erase them, so as to prevent the loss of the origin.

It is very likely that the outliers are in the south. However, if the imperial court wants to use military forces in the south, it must first try to clear away these princes in the north, as well as the Hu tribe who plundered by the fire.

It's a pity that my strength is limited now. Otherwise, if I go alone and kill all the senior officials of the state of Chu, I should be able to force that strange number to appear, and the problem will probably be solved.

”Well, I'll give you a list later. You copy all the official's families. I believe it's not a problem to collect tens of thousands of liang of silver.” The emperor said coldly.

Yuxiang's scalp was numb, which should be awe inspiring. I wonder how many ministers have been killed. But for the sake of Qi's country, the emperor will not be soft hearted.

”In fact, there are many gold and silver treasures buried in Imperial Mausoleums of all dynasties. If the silver is not enough in the end, you can dig them out for help.” The emperor said to himself.Yu Xiang's eyes were black, almost did not faint. That was the first emperor of the Qi Dynasty. As a descendant of later generations, you even didn't let go of your ancestral grave in order to make money. Do you know what you are talking about? Is there any emperor like you?

As long as the news spread, the whole country would have to fry the pot, and the emperor would be drowned just by spitting.

He quietly saluted and left, forgetting the last words of the emperor.