Kong Shangxian's words triggered Yang Mu and Wei Zhongquan's deep thinking.

"So, what does this Zheng Guojun want?" Wei Zhongquan questioned.

"Perhaps, we are going to talk about the second prince of Zheng Guo." Kong Shangxian sighed and said: "The three countries of Zheng, Cang, and Shen have been at peace for a hundred years, and each king has guarded his own territory, and there are few large-scale soldiers, but since the second prince gained power, it has been completely different, he first tried to apply for the country, causing Zheng Kang to attack Cangguo anxiously, so the minister believes that this matter is related to Zheng Han, the second prince of Zheng Guo. ”

Wei Zhongquan questioned: "He? Isn't he in the same boat as Zheng Kangshi, how can the two conspire? Besides, a subordinate is just a defeated general, the last time His Majesty drove in person, he was beaten all over the ground looking for teeth, how can he be so capable as you say? ”

"No, no, no, the general misunderstood." Kong Shangxian shook his head and said: "Zheng Han's talent does not lie in the battlefield, but in the means of power and strategy...... I once heard that he dared to discuss politics with domestic officials at the age of eight, and was resourceful, if it were not for the shallow foundation of the matrilineal family, coupled with his advocacy of attack, and was hated by the nobles who were content with the status quo in the country, I am afraid that he would have become a prince long ago. ”

"In this way, this Zheng Han is still a talent." Yang Mu listened, nodded, and said, "Let's assume that this is his handiwork, so what is his purpose?" Do you want to hold back our army and let it capture Shen smoothly, or do you want to lay a trap for my Cangguo army to drill? ”

"This ...... In the minister's view, the two are not in conflict. Kong Shangxian bowed and said: "Your Majesty, think about it, Zheng Han is not a mediocre talent, after this defeat, he has recognized the situation, Shen Guo has been disabled, and he is no longer able to resist the army. If the Cangguo army is stuck on the front line, he can take the opportunity to destroy the main force of our army, so as to move his army south, if the two armies are holding each other, he can withdraw and attack Shenguo, this is a two-way strategy, no matter what, it is a winning side. ”

"What do you mean...... Will he set a trap? ”

"Yes, and this trap will definitely jump to my Cangguo, Zheng Guojunchen knows that we are implementing law changes and expanding the army, money and food are tight, and we urgently need to solve external threats, the pie is too big, even if we know that we have a tooth, we will still take a bite."

Yang Mu nodded, Kong Shangxian was reasonable, even if he knew that it was a trap, he still couldn't help such a great opportunity.

Just like Wu Sangui led the Qing soldiers into the customs, the country has been opened, how can there be any reason not to enter?

I have to say that this is a clever plan, even if Zheng Guo is not good, he can use it to contain the Cangguo army, and then attack Shen Guo without any scruples and be invincible.

But is that really going to be the case?

The three of them glanced at each other, they seemed to have a plan, war between the two countries was inevitable, this letter was a signal, even if Cangguo retreated, I believe that Zheng Guo would still make a move soon.

It's just that it is impossible to start a war with Zheng Guo immediately, the autumn harvest has just ended, and the four major legions are only halfway through the drill, and the logistics and materials need time to prepare, at least a month.

At that moment, Yang Mu issued an order to ask Wang Ying of the Ministry of Rites to send someone to communicate with Zheng Kang to delay time as much as possible, and at the same time send an envoy to Shen State, so that the monarchs and ministers of Shen State could always prepare for the Northern Expedition.

"Your Majesty, Weichen still has something to do." Kong Shangxian said.

"Does it matter?" Yang Mu asked, it's not too early this day, I have to go to Yuling Palace for dinner tonight, chat with the queen, talk about life ideals, cultivate offspring and the like, there is no hurry, he doesn't want to delay time.

"Your Majesty, recently, Weichen has discovered some anomalies, such as when building channels and reclaiming farmland in various places, he applied to the local government for money, but he was repeatedly refused."

"Refusal? You are the minister of the canonization of the decree, which county order dares not cooperate? Yang Muzhi frowned, since the Tian family and the Zhang family were beheaded by the whole family, the remaining four major gates have bowed their heads, and those small families are even more trembling, at this time, there are still people who dare to resist and disobey?

"Your Majesty Mingjian, at first Weichen also thought that the counties were violating the orders of the yang and yin, but later after some investigation, I learned that the local governments were not unwilling to pay, but they really had no money."

Don't have money?

Yang Mu wondered, every year the imperial court will issue a sum of money to the local government for daily expenses and administrative expenses, considering the implementation of the law, a month ago the household department also allocated 100,000 taels to the local government offices, why is there no money suddenly?

It is understandable that the government of a place has no money, it may be deliberately embarrassing, but there are a total of eight cities in the country, all like this?

"Your Majesty, Weichen suspects that it is for the vacant official positions in the six ministries."

"Vacant official positions...... Do you mean that those local officials used the money allocated by the imperial court to bribe high-ranking officials of the imperial court to seek vacant positions? Yang Mu heard what he meant.

"Yes, Weichen also thinks so, and originally wanted to investigate it himself, but the matter is too big, and even the criminal department is involved, so I have to give up, I'm afraid ...... Even if His Majesty orders a thorough investigation, nothing will come of it. ”

Yang Mu was silent, if it was really embezzlement of public funds and bribery, then the Criminal Department would definitely be involved, and officials from other ministries would also be somewhat involved, and it would be impossible to find out what was really there.

At the juncture of the imminent war with Zheng Guo, the officialdom is unstable, which will bring a lot of problems, even if the soldiers on the front line work hard, once there is a problem with logistics, it will be an avalanche.

"What do you think should be done to solve this matter?" Yang Mu asked.

"Wechen...... There is no way, the gate valve forces collude with each other, even if something is found, for the sake of social stability, it is impossible to dig deeper, the country ...... After all, it is for scholars to govern, and it is impossible to leave it to some illiterate croppers to handle all kinds of government affairs. ”

Yang Mu also nodded, thinking deeply, and then suddenly thought of something, and asked, "What if there are more readers?" What should I do? ”

"More readers...... Your Majesty, where did you come from? Kong Shangxian was stunned for a moment, and said: "If it is a scholar of the gate valve power, it will not change the atmosphere of the court, but if there is a scholar from a civilian background, then you can let go of your hands and feet to do it...... Your Majesty, isn't it talking about teaching civilians to read and write? ”

Yang Mu nodded: "Yes, I said when I first met you that only a steady stream of living water will put an end to the monopoly of the gate valve." What a country needs is talents, not a group of blood-sucking gates, and I must thoroughly investigate this case this time and completely eradicate this cancer! ”