As the head of the household department, Li Hong was responsible for the financial operation of the entire Great Qin court.

Originally, the court was rich, Li Hong was still very happy, and he got more than four million taels of silver in his hand, and Li Hong had never managed so much money since he became the secretary of the household.

But what is the situation now?

Needless to say, the military department wants to give people one million taels of silver, and Shang Yang's mouth is 1.7 million taels, but fortunately, His Majesty is wise and only gave 700,000 taels, but here Yu Wenkai opened his mouth and it was one million taels of silver, looking at what Yu Wenkai meant, one million is still a preferential price, and after a while, his four million taels of silver are less than half, how can he play happily.

Without waiting for Wang Mang to speak, Li Hong was reluctant first.

Regarding the welfare of his yamen, Yu Wenkai's mind was not stupid, and he said directly: "One million is less than that, and when it is built, there are still various situations that occur, and it is estimated that it will cost a budget of hundreds of thousands of taels." ”

"Yuwenkai, do you think that the imperial court is rich? You are too lion to open your mouth, right?" Li Hong said in a loud voice: "You open your mouth and ask for more than a million taels of silver, do you think that if you spend money like you, can the imperial court still operate?"

"Li Hong, this is what Your Majesty meant. Yu Wenkai retorted, the implication is that this is not what I mean, this is what Your Majesty means, if you are not convinced, you can ask Your Majesty to pull me, don't fight with me here.

Li Hong was a man at the time, how could he have the courage to talk to the emperor, wasn't that looking for a draw?

Wang Mang smiled and looked at Li Hong and Yu Wenkai arguing, he didn't need a harmonious atmosphere in the court, what he needed was for the ministers to quarrel there, so as to highlight his role, otherwise in the court, no work was proposed, and there was no opposition, so how could he, the emperor, be in charge alone.

Shang Yang said at this time: "Lord Yuwen, I don't know how much convenience this straight road will bring to the imperial court after it is repaired?"

Shang Yang is worthy of being a popular figure in the court recently, this sentence is to the point, if this straight road can really bring huge benefits, then the court smashed the pot and sold iron and repaired it, but if it is just a good-looking goods, then I'm really sorry, the court is waiting to spend more places, but there is no spare money to throw on the straight.

Of course, Yuwen Kai also knew what Shang Yang meant, and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, if you don't say anything else, let's just say that from Chang'an to Hangu Pass, how long will it take for us to walk on the normal route?"

Wang Yongji said directly: "I have the most say in this matter, from Chang'an to Hanguguan, it will take about five days to start with a light car, and if it is a heavy car, it will take seven days." ”

"That's right, five days for light cars, seven days for heavy cars, this is the fastest speed at the moment, and this does not take into account the different lanes and tracks in various places and the weather, in fact, most of the time, this time will be at least three days to be added. Yu Wenkai pointed to the straight road on the map and said: "But if the straight road from Chang'an to Hanguguan is repaired, I can tell you that from Chang'an to Hanguguan will arrive in three days by light car, and in four days by heavy car, if the weather is good, this time can be accelerated by at least half a day." ”

"Huh?"

"Really?"

"It only takes two and a half days to get from Chang'an to Hangu Pass, isn't it a joke?"

"If it's true, then it's really too fast, I went to Hanguguan last year on behalf of the imperial court, starting from Chang'an, all the way to Hanguguan, it took eight days, but I was tired to death on the way, if I can get there in two and a half days, then ...... It's also incredible. “

"You spent eight days in the labor army last year, I went to the labor army the year before last, the weather was not good, it rained all the way, and I walked for almost half a month to get to the place, that is really ...... After I returned to Chang'an anyway, I had a serious illness and was bedridden for nearly a month. “

"If you can really get to Hangu Pass in two and a half days, then I think it's worth the money. “

"You know a fart, what is the concept of two and a half days? It means that once there is something in Hangu Pass, the army of the imperial court can arrive at Hangu Pass in two days, what kind of speed is this, and then fight with those bastards in South Korea in the future, we have to beat them up!"

Wang Yongji interrupted the voices of the ministers in a rough voice, brightened the carriage and horses, and raised his hand and said: "Your Majesty, Weichen raised his hands in favor of building a straight road, this straight road is not known to Weichen, but this straight road is definitely incomparable to our military operations in Daqin." ”

After Wang Yongji finished speaking, he glared at Li Hong and said: "Li Hong, why are you so petty, just a million taels of silver, and your household is not without it now." ”

Li Hongqi's beard was cocked, and he said: "What is a million taels of silver, Wang Yongji, if you have money, don't ask the court for military expenses, find a way to raise one million taels of silver yourself, I don't know who was worried about tens of thousands of taels of silver a few days ago and couldn't sleep!"

"I ......" Wang Yongji was furious, is there such a revelation?

Hum!

Wang Mang snorted coldly, Wang Yongji and Li Hong hurriedly stopped, kowtowed to Wang Mang and pleaded guilty, Wang Mang waved his hand and said: "The role of the straight road is indeed very great, it seems to cost a lot, but it will play a very important role in all aspects of Daqin in the future, in this way, the Ministry of Household allocated 800,000 taels of silver to the Ministry of Industry in advance for the construction of the straight road, in addition, I authorized the Ministry of Industry to raise another 800,000 taels of silver to the places along the straight road, a total of 1.6 million taels of silver, and it should be enough to repair these three roads." ”

"Huh?" Yu Wenkai looked stunned and said: "Your Majesty, the minister is looking for a place to ask for silver, and the place may not be given." ”

"It's okay not to give money, but they won't use it after the straight road is repaired. Wang Mang smiled and said, "Don't worry, other people don't dare to say it, but those businessmen will definitely pay very enthusiastically, they know the role of this straight road better than anyone else." ”

It turns out that the idea is hitting the heads of those merchants again?

Yu Wenkai pondered, pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, there is something for your Majesty to agree. ”

Say. Wang Mang said.

"Your Majesty authorized the Ministry of Industry to raise 800,000 taels of silver from the localities, but Your Majesty knew that the Ministry of Industry was a group of foremen, and there was really no talent in the use of this money. Yu Wenkai revealed his shortcomings, and then said: "So the minister wants to ask His Majesty to ask the Ministry of Household to assist the Ministry of Industry to do this, after all, they are familiar with the way." ”

"Li Hong, what do you think?" Wang Mang looked at Li Hong.

Li Hong thought for a while, nodded and said, "The ministers all listen to Your Majesty." ”

"In this way, a few people from the household department will accompany the Ministry of Industry to do this. Wang Mang said, looked at Haifeng again and said, "In addition, Haifeng, you all procuratorates have also sent a few imperial historians to follow." ”

After Wang Mang finished speaking, the ministers were shocked, no one thought that the emperor would let Haifeng get involved in this matter, what kind of person is Haifeng, it is a copper pea that cannot be steamed or fried, with him, no one really wants to take advantage of it.

If you want to put it aside, the ministers have to take this matter back, but now that Wang Mang is in power, none of the ministers dare to talk nonsense, and they all stare at Haifeng with warning eyes, hoping that Haifeng will push the matter himself.

But Haifeng really lived up to expectations, and he didn't see the warning eyes of the ministers, and kowtowed: "The ministers obey the order, and they will live up to Your Majesty's trust and do things beautifully."

Ay!

The ministers sighed in their hearts, and the straight man in his heart really would rather bend.