"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue's original budget is for an army of 200,000. The war will begin immediately and will be over within three months. The imperial court is gritting its teeth and food can support it."
"But I didn't expect it to be a protracted war. More than half a month has passed and the war has not even officially started."
"The consumption of hundreds of thousands of mouths during these days is too great. The court can support it, but it can't save any food, right?"
Hearing this, Qin Yun was silent.
Guo Ziyun will not tell lies. This old man is loyal and capable. Since he has put forward such opinions, it means that the Ministry of Revenue is really in trouble.
After all, Daxia's money and food are not just for Xiliang.
All state capitals and territories have expenses.
Zhao Heng, Minister of War, stood up.
He suggested: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Household Affairs have communicated. In this situation, there are only two options."
"How about using lightning speed to destroy Wang Min and regain Xiliang?"
"Well, retreat!"
"Wait until after the spring harvest, when the food is more abundant, and then hunt again."
Qin Yun was excited: "It will take more than three months?!"
"When we have enough food, Xiliang will be relieved. Why will we fight then?"
Zhao Heng was silent.
Although the civil and military ministers did not speak, they were obviously more inclined to withdraw troops.
Otherwise, I will not take a stand.
Qin Yun was very unhappy and said angrily: "Since there is not enough food, then we need to transfer it from the state capitals!"
"Yangzhou, Yunzhou, and Jiangnan are rich places. Send me a group of them."
Guo Ziyun looked troubled.
"Your Majesty, I have already thought of a way, but people in various states say that the food that can be transferred is limited. It is estimated that the total amount of food can only support an army of 200,000 for half a month."
"We will consume several days of food on the way here, let alone attack Xiliang. When the imperial army is short of food, all previous efforts will be wasted and the troops will be forced to withdraw!"
Qin Yun looks ugly and has insufficient food, so he must not be able to fight.
Even if it is possible to defeat the enemy in a short period of time, it will not work because there is not enough food, which is a taboo for military strategists.
When Zhuge Liang went out to Qishan six times, he basically lost due to lack of food.
wrong!
He reacted and stood up suddenly, his eyes sharp.
"What are the officials in various states doing? Is it corruption?"
He roared angrily: "There isn't a lot of grain in places like Yangzhou? How many big granaries are there?"
"Do you think I'm a fool?"
"Just because food is limited, you want to fool me?"
Everyone was shocked and explained one after another.
"Your Majesty, there are many granaries, but not all of them are full."
"Take Yangzhou as an example. It is indeed rich, but most of the tenants are farmed by the gentry and nobles. The tenants take 10% of the grain per acre of land, and the grain tax levied by the court will not exceed 20% at most."
"Every major granary is in a state of dissatisfaction."
"Leave the spare food, and the rest is indeed like this."
"This is also the first year since the system was changed, and the benefits will definitely have to wait until after the spring harvest."
Qin Yun glanced at Guo Ziyun.
He looked bitter and nodded, indicating that this was indeed the case.
"Son of a bitch!"
He smashed the table hard and asked, "Where did the remaining 70% of the food go?"
Hearing this, the ministers quickly fell silent.
His face changed slightly, as if he had touched some taboo, and he didn't dare to talk nonsense anymore.
Only Gu Chuntang, a prime minister with a clear mind, dared to say so.
"Your Majesty, the remaining 70% of the small portion is in the hands of squires and wealthy families, while the larger portion is in the hands of aristocratic families and nobles."
Qin Yun sneered!
Damn it, the imperial court gets between 10% and 20%, and the aristocratic families get nearly 70%. Who is the official and who is the system?
"Why did they take so much?"
"Robbery?"
Hearing this, the expressions of the officials suddenly changed!
Some of them dare not say anything, and some of them are officials who have come from aristocratic families. How can they say something bad about themselves?
What frightened them the most was that His Majesty was dissatisfied!
A third-grade official stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, this has been the case since ancient times."
"This rule has not changed since the late Emperor was on the throne, including after you succeeded to the throne."
Qin Yun looked at him with a smile on his face and said, "So, the family members are above the imperial court?"
"Or should I apologize for my words and deeds just now?"
The third-rank minister was frightened and immediately knelt down.
"Your Majesty, I have absolutely no intention of doing this!"
"It's just that at the beginning of the Great Xia Dynasty, all the major families helped Gaozu, almost to the point of selling iron, and the land was a reward given by Gaozu to each family, and it was a personal property."
"It's inappropriate to talk about this now, is it..."
He didn't dare to finish the sentence, but everyone knew what it meant.
Immediately afterwards, several ministers expressed their stance.
"Your Majesty, this is customary and not corruption or hegemony. Please be aware of it."
"Yes, I am a member of the Li family of Longyou, but I think I am innocent!"
"What a mistake I made. For the sake of the well-being of the people, the major lords even took the initiative to give up their land to tenants, and only took part of what they deserved..."
"..."
Seeing ministers stand up one after another, although Qin Yun was unhappy, he retorted unreasonably.
Because what they said is absolutely true!
Gu Chuntang, a noble man from a humble family and holding a high position, could only remain silent when he heard these words.
These privileges were indeed given by successive emperors, and have long been engraved in the very bones of this country.
In other words, something unpleasant to say.
After all the waves have been swept away, a hundred years later, the Great Xia Dynasty may not be here, but the nobles and nobles are still there!
Qin Yun pinched his eyebrows feebly and compromised: "In that case, let's buy it and use the money from the treasury to buy it."
"Contact all the major aristocratic families and tell them that I want food!"
His eyes turned cold and he said in a serious tone: "Ask them to be noble and sell me some food!!"
That last sentence, he bit hard to death.
After saying that, he waved his sleeves and left, his face as cold as the icy moon.
Seeing his expression and hearing those heart-wrenching words, the eyes of all the ministers jumped.
Especially those ministers who came from powerful families, their faces were pale.
Your Majesty, you are angry!
After a stick of incense.
Royal study room.
Bang bang bang!!
Qin Yun threw the teacup on the floor, making the palace maids and eunuchs inside and outside tremble and crawl in fear.
Cabinet ministers and trusted generals are all here.
All of them were as silent as a cicada, daring not to speak.
Especially those who are related to the rich and powerful, they dare not speak.
"I want to regain Xiliang, but I don't have enough food for a war, so I have to buy it from aristocratic families. Do you think it's ironic, dear friends?"
Everyone looked stern and did not dare to answer.
a long time.
Guo Ziyun then sighed and said: "But Your Majesty, it has always been like this. The aristocratic families control too many things in Daxia, far beyond what food and money can describe."
"The strength of Daxia must be pointed at them."
"In my opinion, it's better to..."
He hesitated to speak.
Qin Yun frowned: "Why not?"
"Why don't your Majesty hold a banquet, or make some noble women your concubines, and reconcile with them? I believe they will be willing to provide food to support your Majesty's attack on Xiliang."
Hearing this, Qin Yun froze.
No words were spoken for a long time.
But there is an unyielding killing intent in his eyes!