Emperor Liu Yan, who was sympathized with by Zhao Chongyi in his heart, received Zhao Chongyi's recital when the Chinese New Year was approaching.

The emperor was so pleased with Zhao Chongyi that he summoned his ministers to discuss the matter.

The emperor looked at the ministers who were arguing fiercely and had a headache. Some people say that the money used in the northwest for consecutive years already accounts for half of the state treasury's expenditure. This is even more terrible than the war against the barbarians in the northwest back then. I really don't understand how the construction of the Northwest will cost so much money. Come to think of this, this is the Northwest husband and wife who are arbitrary and corrupt in the Northwest.

In this way, some imperial historians said, I heard that the northwest princess and his wife in Tiebiguan are very luxurious, their mansion is said to be more beautiful than the palace, and there are very luxurious glass corridors in the mansion, and very luxurious glass flower rooms, even in winter, you can also wear thin clothes outdoors to enjoy the snow scene and enjoy the beautiful flowers, without being blown into the cold wind.

Some people will say: "Although the Northwest Gong spends a lot of money in the Northwest, the achievements of others are also very significant." Now the Northwest Tiebi Pass has been very prosperous, and there are five more male cities on the grassland. With these five cities, the grassland is firmly controlled. Those grassland tribes used to have those who picked quarrels and provoked troubles, and there were thorn heads, but now, those who were disobedient were exterminated, and the obedient ones were actively raising sheep, cattle, and horses, and trading with the merchants of the Central Plains.

Now the capital can eat delicious beef and mutton from the northwest every day. The cavalry of Da Chu has a steady supply of war horses, and at the same time, because of the increase in demand in the northwest, the goods of Da Chu are exceptionally easy to sell, and there are many more workshops. How many more rich people. Even the people, there are many more people who go to work in the northwest. The flow of population to the northwest naturally reduced the pressure on the Central Plains and increased income. When the people increase their income, they naturally spend more, the economy is more prosperous, and the state has more tax revenue.

In recent years, although the northwest has spent more money, the country's tax revenue has also increased. It's that the sea trade has a lot more profits.

Besides, the Northwest husband and wife are extravagant. Did they go to the northwest to be extravagant? They've always been so extravagant. If you don't believe it, you can go to the county lord's mansion in the capital to have a look, which is more luxurious than the mansion in the northwest. He was originally a recognized rich man in Dachu. People have money, what does it matter to you to spend some of it? People's luxury can only show that people will make money. This is something that can't be envied.

Also present was Chen Wenhui's father, Chen Yuanheng. He is already the Prime Minister of the Cabinet. He didn't care about the matter, he didn't make a statement, and he didn't care about those who spoke ill of his son-in-law and daughter. Because of those people. It is obviously the connections of the Bai family. Chen Yuanheng just sat with his eyebrows lowered. As a meritorious hero, the emperor had already given Chen Yuanheng the privilege of sitting during deliberations.

In addition to his lack of remarks, Liu Jingyuan also did not make remarks, he is now also one of the prime ministers of the cabinet, and he is still very young, so he did not sit, just stood quietly, and did not even exchange glances with Chen Yuanheng.

The emperor was hurt by their quarrel, so he could only let everyone disperse, leaving only Liu Jingyuan here.

Liu Jingyuan looked at the emperor with a slight smile, and the emperor was a little annoyed and said, "You haven't spoken all the time, what kind of jokes do you see?" ”

Liu Jingyuan smiled and said, "Do I need to say anything?" Didn't the emperor have already made a decision? What can those ministers see? The emperor must hurry up to build the northwest no matter how much money it costs. Not to mention 10 million taels of silver, the principal interest of 4 million taels of silver per year, even if it is more, the emperor will survive through gritting his teeth. ”

The Emperor smiled angrily and said, "You know my mind very well. Yes, no matter what the difficulties are, I must settle down as soon as possible. Because my plan is too big, I am afraid that I will not have time to implement everything, and I will already run out of life. Although those stupid ministers call me long live every day. In fact, I know very well that no emperor can live to live to live forever. ”

"Even if it was my father, didn't he live to be sixty years old? I still have a few more years, and I want to pacify the northwest and the south as soon as possible. Only when southern Xinjiang was pacified, did I have my first achievement after becoming emperor. For so many years, my Da Chu has been subject to the four great families and the wealthy families of the world, because of what? Because we are suffering from internal and external troubles in Great Chu, the north is subject to the barbarians, and the south is subject to the southern Xinjiang, and if we don't pacify these two places, we will not be able to deal with the four great families. Now, in the hands of his father, the barbarians have been pacified. As long as I stabilize the northwest and level the southern Xinjiang, we can deal with the four great families. This is something that the emperors of the Great Chu Dynasty dreamed of. ”

"So, you're right, for this, don't say it's spending 10 million taels of silver, even if it costs more, I don't care. Those ministers are short-sighted, just know how to calculate this money? Why didn't they see that after the construction of Chongyi and the two people, the Tiebi Pass has spent the money and grain of the imperial court every year since the establishment of the Great Chu Dynasty, and how much money the emperors of the past dynasties have invested in it. That's how many five million taels of silver? ”

"However, over the years, I have invested five million taels of silver in the northwest every year, and last year I invested ten million taels of silver, but the effect is also remarkable. The Iron Wall Pass now does not need our court to invest silver. There are more than two million taels of silver left. This is a city that makes more money than a province in the mainland. However, this money cannot be handed over to the imperial court for the time being. This money was not spent anywhere else, but was spent on the construction of the Iron Wall Pass to the three impoverished provinces in the northwest. ”

"As soon as these roads are built, in the future, those three poor provinces will also be able to develop economically in the future. Not to mention making money for the imperial court, at least in the future, there should be no need for the imperial court to allocate funds for relief every year. The people don't starve to death every year. How much do you have to save? ”

"Isn't the money saved? Also, last year and this year, the three cities were built at the same time. So it costs a little more. It's also to hurry up. With such a quick start, maybe it won't take ten years to stabilize the northwest. I could have started the affairs of southern Xinjiang earlier. That's a good thing, I don't understand it yet? ”

"Besides, after the five cities on the grassland are completed, with the planning of Chongyi and his wife, they will definitely be able to make more money, and when the time comes, the imperial court will have five more profitable cities, and all the money invested will come back one day, am I still afraid of investing?"

"I also calculated, although in the past two years, I have to borrow an additional five million, a total of 10 million taels of silver, but, in this way, the progress of the northwest construction is faster, if it is two years ahead of schedule, then I will pay two years less money in the future, isn't it still 10 million taels of silver? Isn't this the same as no white flowers, but it is spent in advance? But what about the time I saved? Of course, I have to pay a huge amount of interest because of this, which doesn't matter, in the future, I can pay it back slowly, as long as the northwest is pacified, can I still exchange this money? ”

Liu Jingyuan laughed and said, "Your Majesty, if you become a businessman, you may make more money than the Xiao Chen family." ”

In private, two people don't talk so much. Therefore, Liu Jingyuan sometimes jokes with Liu Yan.

Liu Yan was obviously very impressed by this sentence, laughed and said, "Hehe, that's." Therefore, I have already decided that this money will come according to the recital of Chongyi. ”

Liu Jing originally knew that this was the result, so it was no surprise.

The emperor thought for a moment and said, "According to the rules of the imperial court, after the three cities are completed, the imperial court will send officials to the northwest to inspect it." This official can be big or small. I thought, is it time to send Chen Yuanheng there? ”

Liu Jingyuan was a little surprised, and then Yixi said: "The emperor is thoughtful. Chongyi and his wife have been away from the capital for so many years, and they have never returned, even Chongyi's married sister has not returned. Chongyi is just that, anyway, his father is not in the capital now, and he is still dealing with those natives in Nanyang. But the county lord of Wenhui, who was originally a delicate girl, left her parents for so many years at once, and gave birth to a son, and she never saw her grandfather and grandmother. I'm afraid I've thought about it for a long time. ”

However, for the sake of the emperor's cause and for the sake of Da Chu, they have not said a word for so many years, which is unbearable. If the emperor can take this opportunity to reunite their family, it will also be the emperor's grace. Come to think of it, if Chongyi and his wife knew, they would definitely be very moved, and they would work more hard for the emperor. ”

The Emperor nodded in satisfaction.

Liu Jingyuan continued: "However, they only saw that after all, it was Weng's son-in-law, and the relationship between father and daughter, if Chen Yuanheng was sent to inspect, I was afraid that there would be some people in the government and the opposition." ”

The emperor thought about it, so he asked, "Then what do you think should be done?" ”

Liu Jingyuan said: "It is better to appoint Chen Yuanheng as the deputy envoy and appoint another chief envoy, so that there will be no hindrance." ”

The emperor nodded and said: "The method you said is good, but Chen Yuanheng is a first-class official, a pillar in the court, and a prime minister of the cabinet, who else can be more senior and official than him, and can overpower him to be this envoy?" ”

Liu Jingyuan said with a smile: "Naturally, there is no one in the court who has a bigger official position than Chen Yuanheng, but it doesn't mean that no one can overpower him." I've got a good candidate here. ”

The emperor asked strangely, "Who?" ”

Liu Jingyuan smiled and said, "Fifth Prince." ”

The emperor suddenly realized and said, "This is a good idea. The fifth brother is already older, his relatives have also become relatives, and his son has also been born, so he has a noble status. My brothers, the eldest brother is abolished and is dying, and the second brother is not very successful. The three are already concubines, and there is only one fifth brother left. The status is noble, it is the identity of the prince, and it is indeed stronger than Chen Yuanheng. The prince is the chief envoy, and Chen Yuanheng, the prime minister, is the deputy envoy, but it is very grand, and those officials in the court are not easy to say. ”

Liu Jingyuan stroked his beard and smiled. (To be continued......)

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