This year's snow seems to be very much, since the 28th of the lunar month, the capital has been full of universities again, and it has not stopped until the 29th. The snow is falling, and the Emperor of the Apocalypse has canceled the early dynasty, but some people still have to work in the palace, that is, the cabinet scholars.

Tomorrow is the New Year, and today is the last meeting of the year, and those who are eligible to participate are the six scholars and the cabinet scholars. As for the yamen such as the squires of the various ministries and the Metropolitan Procuratorate, they are not eligible to participate, because what we are going to discuss today is about the expenses of the imperial court in the current year, and this question has always been a headache for everyone.

The snow was all over the sky, and it was impossible to tell what time it was, and a proud man stopped at the gate of the palace. The servant on one side handed over an umbrella, and everyone walked in with an umbrella. However, there is one exception, his proud son can be carried directly into the palace gate, and he will not get off the sedan chair until Jinshui Bridge.

"This Lord Xu really has His Majesty's trust!" Looking at Xu Guangqi's arrogance, the official Yingzhen of the Criminal Department showed a meaningful expression on his face, and the tone of his speech was also quite strange. In fact, there is nothing for him to do in today's court meeting, but no one who is qualified to participate will not come.

Glancing at Guan Yingzhen, Wu Liangsi, the head of the household, said playfully: "Envious? I don't think that's enviable! ”

Looking Wu Liangsi up and down, a trace of doubt flashed in Guan Yingzhen's eyes, and he said quite strangely: "It's human nature that we are envious, who doesn't want this treatment, everyone thinks so." You're not that kind of hypocrite, how can you say such a thing today? ”

Shaking his head and smiling, he gently patted the snow off his shoulder, Wu Liangsi said in a rather indifferent tone: "Haven't you found it yet?" Today's emperor is young, but his mind is not young, there are many people who can be valued by the emperor, and the courtesy given by those valued by the emperor is also very high. But people like us can't do it, we don't have that ability! ”

As if sensing the sourness in Wu Liangsi's tone, Guan Yingzhen said suspiciously: "Let's hear it, it's rare to hear your high opinions!" ”

"Now the first person in the dynasty is none other than Sun Chengzong, the head of the saints, the power is great, and there are few in the two hundred years of the Ming Dynasty. Lord Sun is not a eunuch, and he can get such trust from the emperor because of Lord Sun's ability. At the beginning of going to Liaodong, he won a great victory, and the battle of Zunhua completely annihilated the invading enemy, reversing the decline of the Ming Dynasty in the border pass in one fell swoop. What is it? This is the ability, who has the ability in the dynasty? This is an irreplaceable person, so the emperor attaches great importance to it. Wu Liangsi looked at the Forbidden City in front of him, with a deep feeling in his tone, and seemed to hide some yearning.

Nodding slowly, Guan Yingzhen also said quite approvingly: "When the emperor reused Lord Sun, there were many objections in the government and the opposition, but now it seems that the emperor's ability to recognize people is very within the reach of people. ”

"Let's talk about this Lord Xu, the biggest difference between him and us is that there is no one to replace him. To tell the truth, if the two of us go down, the court will be able to find someone else to do it. There are many people who can be the secretary of the criminal department and the secretary of the household department, but there is only one person who can make artillery for the emperor. The kind of cannon with a range of eight miles was built by him, and I heard that the shipyard was preparing again, and it was precisely because of this irreplaceability that the emperor was so trustworthy and courteous. Wu Liangsi sighed regretfully, although there was nothing in his tone, but there was a deep admiration in his eyes.

Stretching out his hand and pointing at Wu Liangsi, Guan Yingzhen stomped his feet, and said with a laugh: "The contented Changle, we can achieve today's position, which is something that we couldn't think of back then." If the emperor can prosper the Ming Dynasty, we will also be able to go down in history. When the time comes, if you can get a hard-working, quite capable review, I will regret it in this life! ”

Wu Liangsi also stomped his feet gently, looked at Guan Yingzhen with a smile, and said with emotion on his face: "The ups and downs of the Huan Sea, at this time, you can still keep your heart, it's not easy for the official!" ”

"Let's go! Let's stop flattering each other, it's not good to let others wait in a hurry! Guan Yingzhen glanced at the statue and said with a smile.

When the two of them entered, there were several people standing in the hall, some of them were talking in low voices, and some were closing their eyes to recuperate. Because of the snowflakes outside, although the corridor was turned, the temperature in the main hall was still a little low.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the emperor has decreed that today's court meeting will be held in the warm pavilion!" Wang Chengen walked out slowly, gently shaking the dust in his hand, and said with a slight smile on his face.

Several people followed Wang Chengen to the warm pavilion, two long tables, and behind them was a row of brocade piers. In the middle of the table was a charcoal brazier, which was much warmer than in the main hall. Everyone stood there, their faces expressions, all waiting for the arrival of the Emperor of the Apocalypse.

With the sound of footsteps, the Emperor of the Apocalypse walked out from behind and slowly sat down in his chair.

Behind the Emperor of the Apocalypse were several eunuchs dressed in red, led by Wang An, the eunuch with the palm print of the celebrant eunuch. Then there is the Dongchang Governor, the Celebrant Bingbi Eunuch Wei Dynasty, plus Wang Chengen on the side, who has just been added by the Emperor of the Apocalypse to the palm print eunuch of the Imperial Horse Supervisor.

"Ministers see the emperor, long live my emperor, long live long live!" Everyone picked up their clothes and knelt on the ground, bowing to the Emperor of the Apocalypse.

On his own dragon chair, the Emperor of the Apocalypse looked at the ministers below with a smile, stretched out his hand to help him in the air, and said loudly: "Everyone, Aiqing, be flat!" When everyone stood up, the Emperor of the Apocalypse said, "Sit down!" I don't know how long it will take, so don't get tired! ”

"Emperor Xie!" Several people saluted again, and all of them sat down on the brocade pier behind the table, with the cabinet scholars and the six scholars on one side, and the eunuchs of the celebrant on the other.

Although the Emperor of the Apocalypse has killed many ministers, the ministers all know in their hearts that as long as you don't go too far, the Emperor of the Apocalypse still treats the ministers very highly. Like today, the emperor cherishes the ministers and lets them sit, but in fact, they should all stand.

Glancing at Chen Lin who was standing on the side, the Emperor of the Apocalypse commanded in a flat voice: "Let people prepare tea and snacks, prepare some for me and all Aiqing, and eat some when you are hungry." Tomorrow is the New Year, I can't starve you Aiqing! ”

When everything was ready, everyone's faces became serious, and the Emperor of the Apocalypse said to Chen Lin: "Leave you alone here, let everyone else go out!" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Chen Lin suddenly looked happy, and after driving out all the eunuchs and palace maids, he stood respectfully by the side of the Emperor of the Apocalypse.

"Liu Aiqing, you will preside over this court meeting!" Looking at Liu Yijing, the Emperor of the Apocalypse said in a deep voice.

After being slightly stunned, Liu Yijing said respectfully: "Yes, Emperor!" Seeing that the Emperor of the Apocalypse signaled himself to start, Liu Yijing spoke: "First of all, let's talk about the expenses handed over by the various ministries, which cost a total of 9.4 million taels of treasury silver this year, and the planned overexpenditure at the beginning of the year is a full 6 million taels. This year's annual income of the imperial court is only 4.4 million taels, and compared with the revenue, the deficit of the national treasury this year is more than 5 million taels. If it weren't for the five million taels allocated by the emperor's inner treasury, the imperial court might not be able to open the pot! ”

The expression on the face of the Emperor of the Apocalypse, in fact, the Emperor of the Apocalypse has no interest in today's court discussion, no matter how it is counted, it is a deficit year. The annual income of the imperial court is only 4.4 million taels, and if it is not solved here, it is useless to talk about it.

"The ministries will talk about their own expenses and see where exactly they are overspending!" Seeing that the Emperor of the Apocalypse did not speak, Liu Yijing breathed a sigh of relief and said in a deep voice.

"Then let's start with the military department! At the beginning of the year, the budget of the Ministry of War was 2 million taels, of which 1.2 million taels were needed for ordnance in various places, and the remaining 800,000 taels were military salaries for various localities. At the beginning of this item, the military department did not overspend, and a total of two million taels were spent. However, this year, the border pass won several battles, and several rewards cost 600,000 taels of silver. Part of the inner treasury was out, and part of the military department was also out, about 400,000 taels, and this cost was the excess part! Xiong Can picked up his own recital and said indifferently.

The Emperor of the Apocalypse sighed in his heart, this is the benefit of the Wei system, if the national recruitment system is made, I am afraid that these years of income will not be enough to pay for military salaries. It seems that before there is enough money, this conscription system will not be promoted!

Glancing at Xiong Can, everyone didn't speak, the cost of the military department was extraordinary, and now they were just waiting for the Emperor of the Apocalypse to nod.

"The military department is doing a good job, Xiong Aiqing has worked hard!" Glancing at Xiong Can appreciatively, the Emperor of the Apocalypse said in a deep voice.

"Emperor Xie praises!" Xiong Can's face was very indifferent, obviously he had a bottom in his heart.

Everyone once again looked at the seats of the ministers, and this time it was Zhou Jiamo, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, who stood up, and Sun Shenxing, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and Ying Zhen, the secretary of the Criminal Department, on the side, these two were the most calm. There is nothing to do with them, although the wedding of the Emperor of the Apocalypse and other things cost a lot, but they are all the accounts of the inner treasury, and no one dares to check this.

"At the beginning of the year, the budget of the Ministry of Officials was 1 million taels of silver, and by the end of the year, a total of 3.2 million taels had been spent, and a total of 2.2 million taels had been overspent. All this money is used to make up for the arrears of officials at all levels, and the specific details of the officials are available for checking! Zhou Jiamo also had a calm face, after the Liaodong incident, the Emperor of the Apocalypse issued an order to make up for the arrears of all officials. At the same time, rewards were given to honest officials, which was decreed.

Nodding approvingly, the Emperor of the Apocalypse said with a smile: "This money has been spent on the right way, and the cabinet of the Ministry of Officials can also draw up votes, and the celebrant will approve it!" It is not easy for officials to serve the imperial court, and it is not appropriate for the imperial court to owe officials a good fortune, and this money should be spent! ”

"The Emperor Shengming!" Several people respectfully bowed to the Emperor of the Apocalypse, although they did not lack the money, but there was a shortage. Besides, lack is one thing, and giving or not giving is another! To be continued. )