Eight hundred and seventieth eight chapters His Majesty is diligent and virtuous
The emperor felt a little embarrassed.
I have told Liu Zhenghui countless times before to increase the annual quota for his private treasury.
But this stubborn old guy is even more stubborn than that guy Wei Zheng when it comes to money matters.
The emperor actually felt a little withdrawn.
"Your Majesty, have you summoned your ministers to come here today, but something happened?" The emperor did not speak, and Liu Zhenghui had no time to waste here.
If the emperor was talking about money, then he would directly reject the emperor.
Don't waste your breath.
The emperor was stunned for a moment, and then slowly said: "A few days ago, I heard that the Ministry of Revenue was counting the treasury revenue for this year. Now that it has been so long, I wonder if it has been calculated?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, this year's treasury revenue has been calculated and I planned to submit it to Your Majesty for approval tomorrow."
"This year's treasury revenue has increased significantly compared to last year, with 11.53 million yuan, which is the highest treasury revenue since the founding of the Tang Dynasty."
"Among them, the salt industry pays the largest amount of tax, amounting to 3.7 million yuan. The rest of the tax, such as grain tax and merchant tax, have also increased significantly compared with last year."
"It's just that Your Majesty, the treasury has more revenue, and the expenditures in the coming year will increase accordingly."
"Paving roads and bridges, digging canals and embankments, stabilizing prices, and taking safety precautions all cost money, so ten million guan is still not enough." Liu Zhenghui explained this year's situation to the emperor.
I also mentioned something special, no matter how much money you make, it will still not be enough for the coming year.
It was to tell the emperor not to ask for money.
The emperor was a little unhappy. Before he said this, Liu Zheng would be crying about his poverty?
What, ten million yuan is not enough, can I lend you some more money to make an advance?
The emperor was secretly annoyed, but he would not say it out loud.
Otherwise, Liu Zhenghui would definitely ask him to borrow money.
"Well, this year's treasury revenue has reached tens of millions, which can be regarded as a great event for everyone to celebrate."
"My dear, do you know that last year during the Chinese New Year, I couldn't even get out the New Year's money from my private treasury. As an emperor, I really..."
"Your Majesty is diligent, thrifty and virtuous, and the people of the world will definitely be grateful for your Majesty's kindness." The emperor was about to cry for poverty when he was interrupted by Liu Zhenghui.
The emperor choked and couldn't breathe.
When you have no money, it’s okay to be frugal, but don’t you have money now?
Ten million guan, what will happen if Liu Zhenghui gives me an extra 100,000 guan?
As an emperor, he couldn't even get out the new year's money. Lao Li Tou felt that he was very ashamed.
Since you, Liu Zheng, would say this, then you can’t blame me.
The emperor was heartbroken and decisively accepted Zhao Chen's idea.
Before, he was thinking that if Liu Zheng would give him some money, he would ask Zhao Chen to ask for less.
Now...
"Ai Qing is right. If I am more diligent and frugal, the people will live and work in peace and contentment." To Liu Zhenghui's surprise, the emperor actually agreed with his statement.
Although the emperor agreed in the past, he was also reluctant.
Today is a bit strange.
"By the way, how much military expenditure is the Ministry of War planning to allocate next year?" The emperor suddenly asked about this matter.
Liu Zhenghui didn't think much about it, raised his hand and said: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of War is in charge of the military towns and border troops in the Tang Dynasty. It spends a lot every year. Last year, due to insufficient military pay, the soldiers complained a lot."
"In a few years, we are going to allocate three million guan and five million shi of food and grass to strengthen our army of the Tang Dynasty."
"In addition, the Ministry of War said that one million guns are needed for the research of new weapons."
"I heard that the bed crossbows of the Ministry of War are very powerful, so I was wondering if I should discuss this matter with His Majesty."
"There is no need to discuss the matter of weapons research at the Ministry of War. I have appointed Zhao Chen as the weapons supervisor of the Ministry of War."
"The bed crossbow you mentioned would be of no use at all if it weren't for Zhao Chen's help. Five hundred thousand guan is just a waste for me."
"It's good enough that I don't deal with them, but you dare to ask for money?" The emperor interrupted Liu Zhenghui.
The emperor just couldn't find an excuse, but the Ministry of War still dared to ask for money to research weapons.
Isn’t this just hitting yourself on the edge?
"Did Duke Zhao help with the crossbows in the Ministry of War?" Liu Zhenghui was stunned for a moment.
Zhao Chen knows it very well.
If it weren't for Zhao Chen's many ideas, the treasury would not have had so much revenue this year.
Just one locust plague can kill people in several states.
How can it happen that the revenue of the state treasury in one year exceeds the sum of the previous five years?
"Yes, today I went to Chang'an Academy, and I saw that the Academy had produced the Eight Ox Crossbow."
"The Eight Bull Crossbow can shoot three arrows at a time, and it can penetrate gold and stone within two hundred feet."
"How can those mediocre people in the Ministry of War make such a sharp weapon?"
"Tell the Ministry of War that I will not agree to any expenses incurred by the Ministry of War to research weapons." The emperor said calmly.
Liu Zhenghui didn't quite understand what happened.
But he heard clearly that the emperor said that the eight-oxen crossbow made by Zhao Chen could penetrate gold through stone within two hundred feet.
Such power?
Are you afraid that you are not bragging?
"Your Majesty, although I also feel that Duke Zhao is very capable, it is impossible for this eight-oxen crossbow to penetrate gold through stone within two hundred feet!" Liu Zhenghui said, with doubt in his eyes.
He only received the news about the bed crossbow produced by the Ministry of War today.
That kind of power has already made Liu Zhenghui feel incredible.
Why did the emperor still say that Zhao Chen made the more terrifying Eight Ox Crossbow?
this……
"What's impossible? Tomorrow I will bring all the officials there to witness the power of the Eight Bull Crossbow."
"By the way, Zhao Chen made the Eight Ox Crossbow, so if you want to get that technology, the Ministry of Revenue may need to pay a sum of money."
"As for how much, we'll see when the time comes. You have to be prepared!" After talking for so long, the emperor finally revealed his true purpose.
It was obvious that Liu Zhenghui did not doubt the emperor's intentions.
Zhao Chen's reputation for being greedy for money has long been known. It is perfectly normal for Zhao Chen to ask them to give him money.
"Then I have made an agreement with Your Majesty first. If the eight-oxen crossbow does not satisfy all the officials, I will not blame you if it offends Duke Zhao." Liu Zhenghui said to the emperor.
He also knew that the emperor's favor and trust in Zhao Chen was hopeless.
That's why I greeted the emperor in advance.
As for whether the Eight Ox Crossbow was really as powerful as the emperor said, Liu Zhenghui didn't believe it.
…
As soon as we arrived, snowflakes began to fall in the gloomy sky.
Soon, the pavilions and pavilions of Chang'an City were covered with silver, and young green pines stood on both sides of the streets.
"It's snowing, why are you still going out?" Li Ruoshuang brought Zhao Chen an oil-paper umbrella and complained a few words.
When Zhao Chen came back from outside the city, he rummaged around in the backyard for a long time.
It's snowing heavily now, and Zhao Chen is preparing to go out in the snow again.
"It's getting cold, and I just saw frostbite on my aunt's hands, so I gave her this hand warmer." Zhao Chen raised the copper hand warmer in his hand and said with a smile.
Hand warmers were also called Yubaozi, but they didn’t exist in this era.
The people of the Tang Dynasty could only rely on their own physical fitness to survive the winter.
Large families burn firewood for heating.
But you can't keep it warm at all times.
Zhao Chen made the hand warmer when he was bored, but over time he forgot about it.
Today I saw Empress Changsun's frostbitten hands outside the city, and then I remembered.?