Chapter Seventy-Three: Asking for silver, discussing resistance (4)
"What I agree with is Shilang Ye's method." Niu Yuan raised the memorial high and waved it in front of everyone. "He believes that there is no good plan at present. Only by actively rectifying the armaments can we defend the enemy from outside the country."
.And the first priority in armament is firearms. Guns and cannons are far more powerful than bows and arrows. If the new soldiers can get all of them, not only will they be able to solve the urgent need, but Xuanhua's recovery will be just around the corner!"
"This..." Liu Mian had never thought that he could do this. He was so depressed that his face turned red and he didn't know what to say.
"Since Ye Qing has plans for the country, I think it is necessary to discuss it," the prince said, "Niu Fengxiang, please bring it over."
"Yes." Niu Yuan bent down and slowly presented the memorial.
The prince read it carefully, nodded deeply, and then ordered the eunuch to pass it on to Liu Zhennian for reading.
"Ye Yongjia has already calculated it in Suidi," Niu Yuan said again, "the military expenditure allocated to the new army should be more than 5,000 taels, and the needs are not small, so I came to the Ministry of Household Affairs to ask for money. If His Highness thinks there is no problem,
, I will sign it now and submit it to His Majesty for approval."
The prince glanced at Liu Zhennian uncertainly. The latter did not raise his head, but then said: "Don't be impatient, Prime Minister. You need to ask about the situation in the Ministry of Revenue first. Mr. Liu, just say it."
"Prime Minister Liu," Liu Mian bowed to him first, "To be honest with you, this money must be an overspend. If approved, the pressure on our household department will suddenly increase this year. As for how to coordinate, it is up to you, sir.
It’s up to you.”
"Can the Ministry of Industry share the burden?" the prince asked.
The Minister of the Ministry of Industry quickly replied: "As long as it is beneficial to the country, there is absolutely no reason to be stingy. But as far as our ministry is concerned, we can't save much. What's more... we are afraid of the emperor's need for the money that has been saved."
The prince sighed helplessly, and then turned to look at Liu Mian: "Then can you ask the Ministry of War to write a list of special allocations, and it will not be counted in the expenditure?"
Liu Zhennian also turned to look at him.
Liu Mian rolled his eyes and said quickly: "It's okay for me to approve the order. I just don't know if the opinions of the Ministry of War are consistent."
Seeing that he had passed the responsibility, Jie Wenwu did not shy away. He stood up straight and said: "I have never written such a list, and I don't understand the rule!"
"What's so hard to understand about this," Niu Yuan sneered, "Isn't it just using an emergency as an excuse to say that money is urgently needed for something, and then ask the Ministry of Accounts to make additional expenditures outside the budget, so it is called a special case."
After hearing this, Jie Wenwu was even more unconvinced: "That must be a last resort. If we can obviously exempt this funding, why make any special case? How can we implement the method of living within our means! If you open your mouth everywhere, the credibility of the court will be compromised.
Where is it!"
"Okay, let me ask you, have you seen these two memorials?" Niu Yuan seemed to be testing him.
"I..." Jie Wenwu suspected that he was deceitful, but he still answered truthfully, "I saw it."
"That's right, Lord Cai who came to deliver the memorial submitted it to the Ministry of War in advance. Since the Ministry of War had opinions, why didn't they express their position in the first place?" Niu Yuan's eyes sharpened and he glared at Jie Wenwu.
Jie Wenwu's face suddenly turned pale: "The memorial...is handed to you from Zhongshu Province!"
"If this is the case, why would the Ministry of War dare to dismantle it without permission?"
"But..." Jie Wenwu felt that he had gradually forced him into a desperate situation. At this time, no matter how he explained it, it would be pale and feeble.
"No need to say it!" Niu Yuan interrupted forcefully, "It's better not to communicate things privately, but to put it in front of the civil and military officials of the court. Who do you want to prevent from coming to power?"
This remark was directed at Jie Wenwu, who was so frightened by this huge crime that he trembled uncontrollably, and the entire hall fell into silence.
"Feng Xiang," Yan Wen said calmly from the side, "Master Jie is probably doubtful, so he hesitated. If he really wanted to deal with you, he would have withheld these two memorials. I will listen to you today.
I'm afraid the words have suddenly come to my mind. If you ask him again, wouldn't it be better if he agrees now? The right way is to let bygones be bygones."
"Yes, yes! I was indeed persuaded by Prime Minister Feng." Jie Wenwu hurried to pick up the conversation.
Although Niu Yuan felt a little unhappy in his heart, he reluctantly obtained the consent of the Ministry of War and achieved his goal.
"Do you have any other opinions?" he asked, looking around.
"Serve the Prime Minister!" Chen Tongpao, the Minister of Civil Affairs, suddenly shouted and walked out of the crowd angrily, "Does the Ministry of Civil Affairs have a say in this matter?"
"Where is your commander?"
"Mr. Niu doesn't need to go to a low-level official. The low-level official is just giving advice." Chen Tongpao said, neither humble nor arrogant.
Niu Yuan smiled: "How can you, a minister, represent the official department? Get down!"
Tongpao Chen gritted his teeth and immediately returned to the train. His colleagues did not expect that he could be defeated so quickly and secretly laughed at his reckless behavior. However, Gao Jizhi nodded slowly to him and cast a look of relief.
Niu Yuan did not pay attention to these details. Seeing that there was no objection in the court, he bowed to the prince with pride: "All the ministers have acquiesced, but I hope His Highness will make a decision!"
The prince Weiwei responded a few words, then stamped it with the royal seal, and handed it to the ministers around him one by one. Liu Zhennian signed his name neatly, while Yan Wen smiled softly, picked up his pen and wrote carefully before letting go.
‘Huh, Yan Wen must be afraid that I will achieve such a great feat, and he feels unhappy, so he hides it with a smile...’ Niu Yuan thought disdainfully.
"Okay, let's break up the meeting!"
Several eunuchs shouted in unison with high-pitched voices, and all the ministers dispersed. Only Liu and Yan accompanied the prince from the back door to the inner garden to present the memorial to the emperor.
The emperor was having a meal in the harem, and then he collected the memorial without even reading it. He ordered Manager Shen to return it to the palace, and he would approve it after he had finished his meal.
Liu Zhennian thought that he could ask for an explanation immediately and implement the reform as soon as possible, but unexpectedly he didn't listen to a word and returned in anger. As he and Yan Wen were walking on the road, he suddenly sighed: "You said
, Feng Xiang went smoothly this time, and there was no obstacle at all. But I always have hidden worries in my heart."
"Why is the Prime Minister worried?"
"I don't know," Liu Zhennian shook his head, "Maybe it's because I'm used to hard times, and once things get a little smoother, I feel very flustered."
"I may be able to explain it to Prime Minister," Yan Wen said with a smile.
"Come on participating in politics!"
"In the dispute at the Shicai Palace, Fengxiang was indeed the winner, but Chen Tongpao disrupted the situation, which shows that there are still variables in the future, and the outcome is far from determined."
"Well, I also find it strange..." Liu Zhennian stroked his beard and thought, "Why is Tongpao Chen, such a steady person, suddenly becoming so impatient?"
"Don't be impatient and listen to my analysis," Yan Wen said, "Tongpao Chen's move has two benefits. The first one is to inform Jie Wenwu in this way when he has no relatives.
The intention is to help; it implies that Jie Wenwu went to the official department and conspired with him."
"What about the second one?"
Yan Wen looked at no one around him, coughed, and spoke calmly.