A letter of battle report was sent to the court. When the Di tribe invaded, General Yan led his troops to fight to the death and withstood the attacks again and again to win.
The emperor was overjoyed and immediately ordered people to prepare wine and food, and invited several ministers to drink with him.
I only read half of the booklet and put it on the table, turning a blind eye to the number of casualties and various difficulties behind it.
Maybe it's not that I don't know, but that I know it and deliberately didn't see it.
In Emperor Xuan's view, several city gates in Yaoshan would go to war with foreign tribes every New Year, but they would easily win the battles every year. In the emperor's eyes, the lethality of those outside the region was no more than this.
Emperor Xuan has never been to a frontier or experienced a single blow of sand. The annual victory reports made him think that winning a battle was a very simple matter.
It's like this every year, I'm used to it, and I have no idea how terrifying that bloody battlefield is.
Each report at the back of the book is the number of casualties, but no matter how many lives there are, they are just a number in the eyes of Emperor Xuan. These people write a number to him, and then they sell them miserably and ask for money.
The annual military expenditure is a huge amount, so large that even as an emperor, it would feel painful to look at it.
Emperor Xuan felt that he had given enough military expenses and could not give more. These people were just greedy. If he let go, they would dare to ask for more in the future and push for more.
At the end of every year, there is a discussion about military expenditures. In Emperor Xuan's opinion, this was a normal thing and he did not take it seriously. He was not even willing to read the military report.
When the old Marquis of Xiguan arrived, Emperor Xuan and several courtiers were drinking vigorously. As soon as they heard that the Marquis of Xiguan was coming, the atmosphere suddenly became colder.
The border was in turmoil, and it was not difficult to guess the purpose of Lao Xiguan Hou's visit. He must have come to ask for money from his family.
Everyone looked to their superiors, waiting for Emperor Xuan's decision.
Emperor Xuan pondered for a moment and waved his hand: "Tell the Marquis of Xiguan that the battle report from Yaoshan has arrived. I have made my own decision. The world is freezing, so let him go back."
"The slave obeys the order."
The eunuch bowed and went out to deliver the message, while the banquet continued in the palace.
After a while, the eunuch came back again: "Your Majesty, the old Marquis is kneeling at the door, insisting on seeing the saint in person. He is also holding a set of tattered armor and broken weapons in his hand."
Emperor Xuan frowned, obviously annoyed.
The courtier next to him said flatteringly: "This Marquis is also stubborn. It's rare for the Emperor to be happy. He insists on making trouble."
Emperor Xuan was obviously more upset after being told that. He drank wine and raised his hand: "Let him come in."
He wanted to see what the Marquis of Xiguan wanted to do.
Old Xiguanhou's leg was seriously injured on the battlefield. Although he could still walk, he was left with a disability and walked with a limp.
In the winter, the wound ached, which was especially uncomfortable. Every step was extremely difficult, but he still insisted on coming to the palace and walked in carrying his things step by step.
His hair is gray and his face is weathered, but his iron bones are still strong and unyielding. He is proud and proud. He has been a soldier for half his life, and his sharpness has not diminished.
Kneel down slowly: "Old minister, I bow to the emperor."
Emperor Xuan waved his hand: "Get up."
The old Marquis knelt straight and did not get up immediately: "Your Majesty, I have something to report."
He put the things in his hands in front of him: "Your Majesty, please see, these are the armors, cotton-padded clothes and weapons sent by the Ministry of War this year. The armor is of poor quality and can be penetrated with a knife. The inside of the cotton-padded clothes is not cotton, but reed wadding, chaff, and debris.
It cannot withstand the cold at all, and the weapons are so shoddily made that they can be broken at will."
"Such equipment is equivalent to sending the flesh and blood of our soldiers to the enemy's sword. Please make the decision for our soldiers."
After the old Marquis finished speaking sadly, he grabbed the ground with his head, which was shocking.
Before Emperor Xuan could speak, Yan Hui, Minister of War, who was at the table, spoke first: "It's impossible. The supplies sent this year are the same as in previous years. I have randomly checked the foundry more than once. Everything is made according to the process. Even if there are slight differences, there are no differences."
It can’t be this bad.”
Yan Hui and the old Marquis are not from the same family, but he is rigorous in his official duties and does things in a flawless manner. He will not deliberately target anyone, nor will he let others wish for him.
"If the old Marquis doesn't believe it, I can accompany you to the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Industry and let you do random inspections."
The old Marquis was not excited by Yan Hui's denial, and said in a deep voice: "I have no intention of questioning Lord Shangshu, and I am willing to believe that there is no problem with the materials sent by the Ministry of War. However, it is a thousand miles away from the capital of God to Mount Yao. Is there any way to stop it?
No one knows there is a problem, but the reality is that the goods received at the border are indeed of inferior quality. Now thousands of soldiers have died tragically for no reason because of these goods. I implore the emperor to find out the truth and not let the soldiers die in vain."
Having said this, Yan Hui could not refute and could only look at Emperor Xuan.
Emperor Xuan pondered, the old Marquis couldn't be talking nonsense, that is, there was something true.
Yan Hui spoke calmly and calmly, and it didn't look like he was lying.
Maybe as the old Marquis said, it's a thousand miles from the capital of God to Mount Yao, and maybe something happened in the middle.
Could it be that there are still people who dare to subvert one's strengths and weaknesses?
But if you steal the armor, what do you do with the weapons?
A word suddenly popped into Emperor Xuan's mind, rebellion!!
"Check! Yan Hui, if this matter is true, you are guilty of unfavorable supervision. I will leave this matter to you and be sure to find out the truth."
Yan Hui narrowed his eyes and stood up: "I obey!"
Sure enough, only pricking the sore spot can alert people. The emperor did not care about the life and death of the border soldiers, nor what they wore or ate, but he did care about his own country and throne.
Emperor Xuan left the old marquis to have a meal. The old marquis shook his head and said, "I thank you for your kindness, but my body is not up to par. I have to go back and lie down. I can only let down the emperor."
When Emperor Xuan heard this, he didn't want to force him to stay, so he sent the old marquis out in a sedan chair and rewarded him with a lot of medicinal materials.
Seeing that Emperor Xuan treated his old ministers so kindly, everyone praised him. Emperor Xuan naturally took advantage of him, but he was not so disgusted with the old Marquis of Xiguan.
It's just that if the cheating was true, Emperor Xuan's face became cold, and he wrote a secret edict and had it sent away.
Maybe Yan Hui is innocent, but he cannot trust him completely. This matter must get an exact truth.
Emperor Xuan was willing to find out the truth, but he was still pressed by the matter of replenishing supplies and military pay, and he never felt in a hurry.
"Sir Yan" Zhang Tong, the left minister of the Ministry of Revenue, caught up with Yan Hui: "Sir Yan, do you have any clue about what the Marquis of Xiguan said?"
Yan Hui found it funny: "If I knew about this, how could such a situation still happen?"
Zhang Tong said angrily: "I am not aggrieved for Mr. Yan. Who doesn't know that Mr. Yan is upright, upright and strict. Today, this bucket of dirty water is poured over. It is really bullying. Fortunately, the Holy One trusts you, otherwise it would be unthinkable."
Zhang Tong flattered horses, formed factions, and fought with Wang Xuan, the right servant, for more than a day or two.
Yan Hui knew his intention as soon as he opened his mouth and wanted to win over him to help with the subsequent replacement of the Minister of Household Affairs.
He sneered indifferently and said, "Thank you very much, Mr. Zhang, for your thoughtfulness. I'm going to be busy, so I'll take my leave."
Watching Yan Hui leave, Zhang Tong immediately changed his face, full of disdain and disdain: "Bah! What the hell do you think you can still be arrogant for a few more days?"