Chapter 731 The benevolent see benevolence and the wise see wisdom
Xia Gongming left quickly and returned quickly. He walked up to Liu Mingzhi and handed over a document in his hand.
"Your Majesty, please take a look."
Liu Mingzhi placed the tea on the table next to him, reached out to take the document handed over by Xia Gongming, leaned on the pillow and opened the cover of the document in his hand.
"Sir, there's no need to stand, sit down and talk."
"Old minister, I obey, thank you Your Majesty."
Liu Mingzhi twisted his waist slightly, changed to a more comfortable posture, and concentrated on reading the contents of the document.
He silently read the document without any distractions, including the types of military equipment and the specific number of military equipment that were drawn up by the important ministers in the court after consultation.
Liu Mingzhi sometimes frowned slightly, sometimes pursed his lips and pondered, and sometimes fell into thinking.
Xia Gongming and others looked at the constantly changing expressions on Liu Mingzhi's face, and couldn't help but feel nervous.
Why is Your Majesty frowning? Isn't he dissatisfied with the number of troops we have drawn up?
I just don’t know what exactly it is and I’m not satisfied with it.
Are there too many rewards? Or are there too few rewards?
When Song Yu and the others were silently reading the contents of the document, some small waves arose in their hearts.
When Liu Mingzhi had just turned the page of the document in his hand, there was suddenly the sound of hurried footsteps outside the side hall.
Liu Mingzhi continued to read the contents of the document without squinting, while Xia Gongming and other officials subconsciously looked sideways and behind them.
"My son, Liu Chengzhi, comes to see my father."
"Well, sit down."
"Thank you, Father."
"I see you, Your Highness, the Second Prince, who is a thousand years old."
"My lords, please excuse me and take a seat."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
After Liu Chengzhi walked to the chair beside him and sat down, he instinctively turned his eyes to his father, with a flash of doubt in his eyes.
He was a little confused and didn't know why his father suddenly asked him to come to the cabinet to see him.
However, when Liu Chengzhi saw his father looking at the documents in his hand attentively, he had no choice but to suppress his confusion.
Like Xia Gongming, Song Yu and other important officials in the court, they waited quietly and breathlessly.
Time passed quietly, I don’t know how long it has passed.
Liu Mingzhi stood up and left the pillow behind him, and casually closed the documents in his hand.
When Liu Chengzhi and others saw this, they immediately sat up straight and looked at Liu Mingzhi in unison.
Young Master Liu let out a silent sigh, holding the document in his hand and tapping it gently in his palm.
"Mr. Xia."
"The old minister is here."
"The number of weapons requested by the Japanese mission is 30,000 swords of various types, 20,000 pairs of fine armor, 10,000 pairs of ordinary armor, 8,000 bows and crossbows, 3,000 chain crossbows, and a total of 50,000 arrows of all kinds.
And the number of troops that you finally decided upon after discussion was reduced by about half.
Right."
"Your Majesty, that's exactly what it is.
The veteran asked boldly. I wonder if your Majesty thinks the number of troops planned by the ministers is too much? Or too little?"
Liu Mingzhi narrowed his eyes and was silent for a while, then stood up and walked towards the outside of the side hall with his hands behind his back.
"You can follow me out for a walk."
"I obey your orders."
Liu Mingzhi took the lead in removing the cabinet and walked slowly down the steps.
"My lords, sir."
The group of people following Young Master Liu heard Young Master Liu speak and immediately quickened their pace.
"I'm waiting here."
"The number of troops you finally planned is a little too low."
"this!"
Everyone looked at each other and communicated silently with their eyes.
Liu Chengzhi now vaguely guessed why his father came to him, and glanced at the important ministers who were looking at each other.
He didn't ask anything, but pondered thoughtfully.
Lean less.
Xia Gongming gently stroked his gray beard, quickened his pace and followed Young Master Liu.
"Your Majesty, before drawing up the number of troops, I carefully calculated the value of the annual tribute presented by the Japanese mission and the value of the rare night-light pearl."
Liu Mingzhi raised his brows slightly, and after thinking for a moment, he probably understood the meaning of Xia Gongming's words just now.
"What you mean is that the combined value of these military equipment is roughly equivalent to the combined value of the annual tribute presented by the Japanese mission and the rare night pearl?"
"Your Majesty is Holy Ming."
"Which one is higher or lower?"
"Your Majesty, the value of the military equipment we rewarded is slightly inferior to the value of the annual tribute provided by the Japanese mission.
However, our Dalong has already given the Japanese envoy Sakai He a batch of Dalong specialties in advance."
Liu Mingzhi nodded clearly and looked sideways at Xia Gongming and the others.
"If you add in the special products that I gave to the Japanese envoy Sakai He in advance, which one is higher and which one is lower?"
"Your Majesty, I have reported to your Majesty many days ago that the batch of Dalong specialties we rewarded the Japanese envoys are certainly not too valuable for our Dalong.
However, once it is shipped back to Japan, the price may be doubled several times.
It's just that I have never been to Japan, and I don't know what the situation is like there.
Therefore, these conditions are all prices estimated by Chen et al. based on speculation.
After several discussions, the ministers and others all agreed that the batch of specialties that His Majesty had given to the Japanese envoys in advance should be included.
The value of this batch of troops is still inferior."
"Oh? Why? Are the annual contributions contributed by the Japanese mission worth a lot when converted into silver?"
"Your Majesty, although the value of the annual tribute contributed by the Japanese mission is high, it is not too much.
The value estimated by Lingchen and others is the value of the three-foot night pearl.
The minister and others discussed it over and over again, but in the end they could not come up with a rough price.
So I and others came up with a compromise."
"any solution?"
"I have estimated the value of that luminous pearl to be equal to the annual tribute.
Adding up the two phases, we can get the number of these armaments."
"So that's it, it saves you a lot of trouble."
"I am ashamed to have made His Majesty laugh.
There is no other way, I really don’t know how to price that rare treasure.”
Liu Mingzhi couldn't help but think of the night pearl that shone brightly in the night, blooming with charming fluorescence, and nodded with a slight frown.
"Hey, to be honest, let alone you guys, even I don't know how to price that luminous pearl.
It may be said that it is not worth much money. After all, it is a rare treasure that is rarely seen in the world.
But if you say it is priceless, apart from lighting and appreciation, it has no great use in other aspects.
As the saying goes, benevolence is in the eyes of the benevolent, and wisdom is in the eyes of the wise.
It just depends on who owns it.
If the person who owns it likes it, it will be priceless; otherwise, it will be just a priceless treasure at best."
"Your Majesty, I admire you very much."
Liu Mingzhi listened to the compliments from everyone, waved his hands casually, and continued to walk forward.
"Stop talking about this, let's continue talking about military preparations."
"I obey your orders."
"Your Majesty, it is for these reasons that I have set these numbers of troops.
I can honestly say that I know very well that the number I decided upon after deliberation is a little too low.
However, I am afraid that the reward will be too large.
At that time, Your Majesty will be angrily scolding his ministers for not knowing how valuable firewood and rice are.
Therefore, I have no choice but to draw up a moderate number, and then wait for His Majesty to review it before making the final decision."
Rongwei Hou Cai Jun smiled and came to the side of Liu Dashao, and took over Xia Gongming's words at the right time.
"Your Majesty, I have no choice. After all, a smaller number is more appropriate than a larger number.
Your Majesty clearly knows that I think so because I want to save money for Your Majesty and the imperial court.
I hope your majesty can understand the painstaking efforts of my ministers."
When Liu Mingzhi heard Cai Jun's pretense of joking, he chuckled angrily.
"You old foxes, don't think that I don't know what you have in mind.
Aren’t you all afraid that if the number is set too high, I will feel distressed and blame you?”
Xia Gongming and others all looked embarrassed, and they all laughed angrily.
"Your Majesty is wise, Your Majesty is wise."
Liu Mingzhi casually threw the documents in his hand to Liu Chengzhi next to him, and took out the jade fan from his sleeve to gently fan the cool breeze.
“Some money can be saved, and some money cannot be saved.
As long as the money can be spent wisely, I won't feel sorry for you no matter how much money you have.
Let’s increase the number of troops and equipment.”
When everyone heard what Young Master Liu said, their eyes all fell on Song Yu, the Minister of War.
Song Yu felt the gazes of a group of colleagues, shook his head angrily, and quickly followed Young Master Liu.
"Your Majesty, I wonder how many additional troops are appropriate?"
Liu Mingzhi squinted his eyes and was silent for a moment, then looked sideways at Song Yu.
"Let's add 40% to each."
"Your Majesty, are you sure you want to add 40% each? Do you want to think carefully about it?"
"No need, I have already thought about it clearly, so I will add 40% to each."
"Yes, I understand."
Liu Mingzhi raised the corners of his mouth slightly and stared deeply at the pavilions in front of him.
"Since you want a reward, let's give them a good reward all at once.
The rewarded troops are too few, and there is no point in making small fuss.
Only with sufficient military equipment can we have sufficient strength.
And once you gain strength, you will have confidence."
"Huh? I am confused."
"Old minister is also confused."
"I am confused."
"It's nothing, I just remembered some interesting things, you don't need to take it to heart."
"I understand."
"Before the sun goes down, the final documents must be sent to Honglu Temple and handed over to the hands of the Japanese envoy Sakai He.
By the way, tell those who go to deliver documents to pay attention to their whereabouts and not to let envoys from other countries see them."
"I obey your orders."
"Your Majesty, why not just ask Mr. Wang to take the documents back to Honglu Temple.
After he returned, he would find a pretext and ask the Japanese envoy Sakai He to rush over to him and then hand over the documents to him."
"Okay, then let Wang Aiqing take it back."
"Yes, I obey my orders."
"King Wuyi."
"I'm here."
"I have something to ask you to handle."
"Yes, please give your Majesty's orders."
"When the document awarding military equipment is handed over to the Japanese envoy Sakai He, you immediately instruct the Ouchi guards to spread the news at Honglu Temple.
The content of the message was that the Japanese envoy had contacted the blacksmith shops in various cities and towns in the city many days ago, and customized a large number of sophisticated weapons from those blacksmith shops.
You tell the soldiers that they must find a way to spread this news to the envoys of the envoys from other countries."
"I obey."
"Your Majesty, I have something that I don't understand. I would like to ask your Majesty to clarify my confusion."
"What's wrong with Mr. Cai?"
"Your Majesty, you just told your ministers to keep secret the military equipment awarded to the Japanese envoy. Why did you order King Wuyi to act like this?
We can clearly deliver the weapons and equipment to the Japanese mission quietly.
If this happens, won't everyone know about the trouble?"
Liu Mingzhi paused, turned around, and glanced at the people around him with a playful expression.
"I just want to make it known to everyone."
"Ah? Your Majesty, isn't this inconsistent?"
"I second my opinion and please ask Your Majesty to clarify my doubts."
"My lords, there is no need for me to tell you again about the deployment of troops by Goguryeo to support the Japanese royal family, right?"
"No, no, no, no, I heard it from the mouths of the envoys from the two countries on the day when the envoys from the two countries came to the palace for an audience."
"The same goes for ministers."
"Well, it can be said that because of Goguryeo's sending troops to support the Japanese royal family, the relationship between the Sakai family mission and the Japanese mission is extremely inconsistent."
Wang Hezheng, the chief minister of Honglu Temple, gave a muffled laugh and shook his head helplessly.
"What's the difference? It's so simple. If it weren't for the rules of Honglu Temple, I estimate that they would have been at war with each other long ago.
Although there was no big fight between the envoys of the two countries during these days, the small conflicts and frictions never subsided for a day.
The old minister and Mr. Lu would scold them at first.
Later I saw that although there was constant friction, they were somewhat measured, so I just let it go."
"Then you guys are telling me, what will Kim Tae-eun, the envoy of the Goguryeo mission, do once he learns that the Japanese secretly purchased a large amount of sophisticated military equipment?"
"Of course I feel panic. After all, there is a hostile relationship between them."
"Just panic and that's all? What happens next?"
"Then he must also...oh...I understand."
"His old minister also understands."
Anyone who can stand here is not a fool. After thinking about it for a moment, they will understand the profound meaning of Liu Dashao's words.
Liu Mingzhi saw the suddenly enlightened looks on the faces of the old foxes. He raised his hand and patted the shoulders of He Zheng, the minister of Honglu Temple, and Song Yu, the minister of the Ministry of War. He turned around and walked forward with a smile.
"Song Aiqing, Wang Aiqing, whether the national treasury can be richer and whether you can have meat depends entirely on your eloquence."
Song Yu and the others looked at each other and hurriedly chased after Liu Mingzhi, who had already walked more than ten steps away.
"Your Majesty, are you so sure that the Goguryeo mission will definitely approach the imperial court to purchase military equipment?"
"They may not necessarily do it, but the Japanese royal family will definitely do it.
Unless the Japanese royal family wanted to lose their country, country, country, glory and wealth.
Do you think the Japanese royal family wants to lose its territory?"
"Your Majesty is wise, Your Majesty is wise."
"Your Majesty, what is the appropriate amount to sell?"
"The five percent of the troops I have awarded to the Japanese envoy is enough."