Young Master Liu sat on the dragon chair without saying a word, but it made Fujino Ninghe and Sakai He instantly feel like they were being targeted by hungry wolves.
The two of them shuddered uncontrollably and took a few peeks at the situation in the palace, but found nothing wrong.
After feeling it carefully, there didn't seem to be anything wrong.
The two of them murmured that it might just be their own misunderstanding, so they didn't take it to heart anymore and secretly looked at Mr. Liu who was sitting on the dragon chair.
This time when they come to worship Dalong, both of them have a heavy responsibility on their shoulders.
Whether or not the important tasks entrusted by the family master and His Majesty the Emperor can be completed rests entirely with the young Dragon Emperor on the Dragon Platform high above.
As long as he opens his mouth and agrees to reward his side with a large number of weapons and equipment, his side can completely end the chaotic situation of confrontation between the north and the south in the mainland.
Liu Mingzhi took his mind away from his own little calculation and stood up happily.
"Dear envoys, I have read your requests in your credentials and understand them all.
These things are not trivial at all, but they are nothing more than trivial matters at large.
However, it is related to the relationship between me and the kings. I still need to discuss these matters in detail with all the ministers before I can give you an answer.
In five days, I will let Wang Aiqing from Honglu Temple give you satisfactory results.
During this period of time, you can settle down and settle down in the wing of Honglu Temple. If you feel bored, go to the streets to experience the customs and customs of Dalong Capital.
Buy some of my Dalong specialties and take them back to your king to share with your family.
I think they will be very moved."
"The ministers obey the decree and thank His Majesty Emperor Dalong."
Liu Mingzhi smiled warmly, waved his hand to the Imperial Guard standing aside, and motioned for him to send these envoys back to Honglu Temple.
"In compliance with the order, I retire."
After a group of envoys left, Liu Mingzhi walked towards the foot of the Dragon Tower at a fast pace.
"The memorials of the ministers and ministers are still handed over to the cabinet for disposal. The three ministers of the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Husbandry and the Ministry of Industry are left behind, as is the minister of Honglu Temple.
The rest of the ministers should go to the cabinet to handle their own affairs."
"I obey the order, I will retire."
"Willow Pine!"
"Master?"
"Find a place that won't attract anyone's attention. Bring Sakai He, the envoy of the Japanese Sakai family, to the palace. Be sure not to attract the attention of Fujino Neiwa, the other Japanese envoy."
"Yes, please excuse me."
"Four dear friends, it's stuffy and oppressive in the palace. Let's go to the Imperial Garden for a walk. I haven't been to the palace for a while. I think now is the time to enjoy the scenery in the Imperial Garden."
"In compliance with your order, Your Majesty, please!"
Liu Mingzhi walked towards the dragon platform, picked up two credentials and walked towards the back hall first.
When Song Yu and the four of them saw this, they walked around the imperial pillars and followed them.
In the wind-viewing pavilion in the imperial garden, Liu Mingzhi looked at the surrounding scenery and nodded with satisfaction.
It seems that although she does not live in the palace, Xiao Chengzi did not slack off and led the palace maids and eunuchs to take care of the imperial garden in an orderly manner.
"Your Majesty, drink tea!"
"Tea for four adults!"
"Um!"
"Thank you, father-in-law!"
"Little Chengzi, you go and walk around first, and try not to let others get close to the Wind Viewing Pavilion!"
"Yes, let's resign!"
Liu Mingzhi threw a handful of fish food into the lake. He turned around and glanced at Jiang Yuanming: "Old Jiang, has the second batch of food for the Western Expedition Army set off?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, we have already set off for five days. We promise to deliver the first batch of food and grass to the hands of the army officers when it is almost consumed."
"Don't worry about your work, just set off!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"The Ministry of War, today is June 16th.
The Western Expeditionary Army set out on March 28th. Considering the speed of all the cavalry, it was almost time to rush to the Gumo Kingdom in the Western Regions to join forces with Zhang Mo and others.
Have you received any letters from the general marshals of the left and right armies recently? Where are they now?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Ministry of War received a letter from the Golden Eagle two days ago. Now the Western Expedition Army has entered the Western Regions. It will be stationed in Gumo Kingdom in five days or ten days.
Although the Western Expedition army was all cavalry, the weather was getting hotter and hotter now, and the speed of both the horses and the soldiers were restricted.
Now that he is about to go to Gumo Country to join forces at this time, he is already the best among the best.
The generals of both armies also wanted to rush to Gumo Country as quickly as possible, but they couldn't rush on the road at the risk of dehydration or heatstroke just to get there as quickly as possible.
Both commanders hope that His Majesty will be considerate.
The document is waiting in the cabinet to be approved and submitted to the Palace of Ten Kings for approval. How about I bring it to His Majesty for review now?"
"No!"
Liu Mingzhi looked up at the hot weather and sighed quietly.
"Zhang Shuai, what Nangong Shuai said in his letter is right, let the soldiers go out to fight against the thieves, instead of letting them die.
This kind of forced march in excessive weather will kill people. The lives of every soldier in the Western Expedition cannot be treated as a child's play!
After the document has been approved by the Ten Kings Palace, it can be placed directly in the palace. There is no need to reply to the document.
If I don't receive a reply for a long time, they will understand what I mean."
"Yes, Your Majesty, Holy Ming!"
"I am asking you to stay this time. In addition to asking about the situation of the soldiers in the Western Expedition, there is another matter that needs to be discussed with you.
You should first take a look at the credentials of the two Japanese envoys on the stone table."
"I obey your orders."
The two of them shared a certificate of credence, looked at the content on it carefully, and then exchanged it in turns. In the span of two cups of tea, Song Yu and the four of them had read all the contents of the two certificates of credence.
Young Master Liu picked up the fish food residue and patted it on his hand, then took a sip of the herbal tea: "What do you want to say?"
Song Yu took another letter of credence from Wang Hezheng and put it back together: "Your Majesty, the Japanese people really dare to open their mouths like a lion!
Sakai Ga's side hopes to reward twenty thousand swords and various weapons, fifteen thousand pairs of armor, three thousand bows and crossbows, and thirty thousand arrows...
Fujino Ningkata went even further, with 30,000 swords of various types, 10,000 pairs of armor, 2,000 crossbows, 20,000 arrows, 100 crossbows, and even 50 cannons.
Why don't they die? They're not afraid of dying.
It seems that when Hou Haining stationed troops in Nagasaki of Japan as a cargo transfer station, the cannons used for defense and the power of the artillery in the hands of the garrison were seen by the king or spies of Japan.
Otherwise, how would he know that our Dalong Dynasty would have a combat weapon like artillery!
Even if we want to reward them, it is absolutely impossible to reward them with so many troops. It is possible to reduce them by 90%.
Ordinary military equipment is fine, but artillery must not be circulated into the hands of overseas barbarians."
Liu Mingzhi frowned slightly: "Uncle, why should I reward them? Even if it is reduced to only 10%, it is still a lot of expenses."
Song Yu looked at Liu Mingzhi's suddenly serious look, and his heart skipped a beat, not knowing which sentence he said was wrong.
"Old minister is confused, but according to custom, after the vassal country made them pay a large amount of tribute, in order to express His Majesty's kindness to them, our court will return part of the reward according to their request.
The veteran didn’t say anything that went against the rules!”
"I don't mean anything else, uncle, don't be nervous.
The rules you mentioned were the rules in the past. Now that I have ascended the throne and proclaimed myself emperor, these rules must be changed in the future.
What do they want? I will reward them for a few nice compliments. How can there be such a good thing in the world?
It’s okay to reciprocate gifts. We are a country of etiquette and we must pay attention to the rules of reciprocity.
But it must be what I give them in return, not what they want in return.
A country of etiquette naturally pays attention to courtesy and reciprocity, but a country of etiquette also has the rule that guests should do as they please."
"Yes, yes, I understand!"
"Old Jiang, how much silver does it cost to build all kinds of weapons, armor, and crossbows?"
"Reporting to your Majesty, based on the current accounts of various expenditures of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Industry, I have calculated it several times.
All kinds of weapons and equipment are evenly divided. A standard horizontal sword costs about 2,400 francs, a pair of standard armors costs 3,100 francs, a horse spear costs 3,000 francs, and a standard crossbow...
...
The general-level weapons and armors were turned out several times.
However, most of the weapons that generals have handy are made by skilled craftsmen themselves. The standard weapons of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Industry are generally for spare use.
This was after coal was used to make steel. In the past, more money was consumed in order to forge hundreds of steel!
However, nowadays, plate armor is widely poured, and the consumption of battle armor can save at least about a thousand gold.
The old minister guesses that now that the entire army is in armor, apart from me, the Great Dragon, there will never be another court in the world that is so powerful!"
Liu Mingzhi made a rough estimate in his mind and slapped the court pillar hard.
"Damn it, you just opened your mouth and asked me for military equipment worth more than 100,000 taels of silver.
Fujino Ning and Ning Ning were even closer to the reward of 250,000 taels of silver.
Do you really think that this young master is a fool who has too much money?"
Even if it is reduced by 90% and the reward is only 10%, it is still tens of thousands of taels of silver.
Wang Hezheng looked at Young Master Liu with questioning eyes: "I wonder how your Majesty plans to reply to the requests from the two Japanese envoys? What do you plan to use to replace the request for military equipment?"
"Find some good-looking ones that we won't need and that are worthless and give them as rewards, as much as you can!"
"I understand, so why should I refuse them in a subtle way about military preparation?"
"Don't worry, we can't give you rewards, but we can sell them!"