Chapter 330: A Thorny Problem

Zhao Kuangyin's anger just now hadn't gone down, and when he saw Zhao Guangyi's appearance, his head hurt again.

"You have not been in court or entering the palace for most of the month, and you have been singing and feasting in the house every day. As the dignified King of Jin, my own brother. How can you indulge in wine all day long? I also expect you to help pacify the world and govern the country, how can you deserve such decadence? The tone was reproachful.

Zhao Guangyi has not been completely sober these days, and today is also Prime Minister Zhao Pu who went to save face.

was already a hangover and had a headache, and at this moment he was reprimanded for no reason, knowing that it was the imperial brother who took his anger at Zhao Ting out on himself, and the fire in his heart rose.

"The royal brother has four brothers to help, why do you need to use the courtiers." Said in an unkind tone.

Zhao Kuangyin said: "What do you mean? Both royal brothers are equally important in my heart.

"Equally important? Which is more important, the royal brother understands in his heart. ”

"Are you still angry that I didn't give you a marriage?"

"Don't dare!"

"Don't dare? Then why don't you enter the palace and not go to court? ”

"Not well!" He screamed with a stiff neck.

Seeing that he looked very angry, he wanted to reprimand, but he thought of Zhao Pu's presence.

After all, it was in front of the courtiers, and he had already had a lot of trouble with Ting'er just now, and now he is messing with the third brother, and it will damage the royal face.

So I had to endure it, and asked softly: "Seeing that you are not energetic and your face has lost a lot of weight, can you take the tonic sent by me?" ”

Zhao Guangyi thought that the tonic sent by the imperial brother during this period were all rare medicinal materials paid tribute by various countries, and his attitude softened slightly, "Thank you for the reward from the imperial brother, the younger brother is fine!" ”

"Hmm!" Zhao Kuangyin nodded, "I summoned you here today to discuss the matter of sending troops to the Northern Han Dynasty. I'd like to start by telling you what you think. ”

Zhao Guangyi suddenly perked up when he heard this, and said eagerly: "For example, most of them are already in the Great Song Dynasty today, and only the Northern Han Dynasty is missing." As long as the royal brother gives an imperial order, the younger brother is willing to lead the troops! ”

Leading the Northern Expedition can obtain military power and increase prestige, so it is natural to actively strive for it.

Zhao Kuangyin smiled slightly, looked at Zhao Pu, and asked, "What does Zhao Aiqing think?" ”

"Your Majesty, the Northern Han Dynasty has been harassing the border people of the Great Song Dynasty and has repeatedly violated the border. Liu Jiyuan is very ambitious, and it will be difficult for the two countries to coexist. It's just that the north is bitterly cold, the terrain is complicated, and it looks like the winter is about to pass, so you can't rush to send troops, and you need to prepare carefully. ”

"What Aiqing said is very true! The Great Song Dynasty has been marching south in the past few years, and although it has unified the southern countries, it has cost the people a lot of money. On the contrary, although the Northern Han Dynasty experienced a turbulent situation and the change of the throne, Liu Jun and Liu Jiyuan were both talented people in governing the country, and there had been no foreign war for many years, and the loss of national strength was not large. ”

"Brother Huang, don't forget the Liao Kingdom." Zhao Guangyi said, "The Northern Han and the Liao State have been in alliance with each other for many years, and once the Northern Expedition occurs, the Liao State will definitely send troops to help the Northern Han." ”

"That's why I've come to you to consult, hoping that you can supervise the preparation of military supplies and grass."

"Aren't these organized by the Ministry of Households?" Zhao Guangyi asked.

"Since the establishment of the Great Song Dynasty, the treasury has been empty, and the Northern Expedition needs to consume a lot of money. But most of the fields and grain are hoarded in the hands of the wealthy families, but it is these people who owe the most taxes. Both of you have great prestige among the courtiers, and I would like you to come forward and negotiate with them about recovering these taxes. ”

Zhao Pu lowered his head with a difficult face.

Now although you are the prime minister, because you are from the Han family, it is not easy to stand on your feet, and you have been trying to integrate into the ranks of the wealthy families, how can you offend people.

What's more, Zhumen's wine and meat stink, there are frozen bones on the road, and the more rich and powerful the family is, the more stingy and selfish they are. The emperor has issued several orders, but no one is willing to take the lead in paying taxes, and one by one they are crying poor.

If it is really forcibly expropriated, it will be an offending business, and it will be thankless. If you can't do it well, you will be punished by the emperor, and if you do it well, you will become an object of isolation in the court.

Zhao Pu was already sleek, where did he dare to take the lead in offending these people, even if the emperor was favored by the emperor at that time, he was afraid that he would be in danger in this high position.

So I didn't dare to pick up the stubble at all.

Zhao Guangyi also immediately fell silent, just now he was arrogant and thinking about grabbing military power and taking military merits, but at this moment, he shrank up when he heard that it was something that offended people.

What's more, he is connected with those dignitaries, dignitaries, and wealthy families, and they are all one with each other. Usually he tried his best to collect money, and the emperor rewarded countless fields and properties many times, coupled with his military exploits and inherited the property of the old Zhao family, the noble status of the King of Jin has long been the power of the government and the opposition, and the wealth is rivaled by the country.

To say that the biggest family in the DPRK today is him, Zhao Guangyi himself.

If you want to take the lead in recovering taxes, you have to cut your flesh and bleed first.

It's just that the money will be paid, but in this way, it will offend the wealthy dignitaries in the court. His ambition is not something that a prince can satisfy, if he is offended, who will support him in snatching the throne in the future?

So suddenly there was no arrogance and excitement just now.

Zhao Kuangyin saw that they didn't speak, of course he knew that this was a hot potato.

But if they were role models for the courtiers, if they didn't come forward, how could those wealthy dignitaries obediently take out the silver.

What's more, I also hope that my third brother can take the lead in handing over the taxes owed, if the king of Jin pays the others, there is no reason not to pay.

He hoped that Zhao Guangyi would bring it up himself.

But seeing that he lowered his head silently and didn't mean this, Zhao Kuangyin was extremely disappointed.

Zhao Guangyi can pretend to be stupid, but Zhao Pu is a courtier after all, and the emperor has spoken, and he can't keep talking.

After waiting for a while, he only stubbornly said: "Your Majesty, although the minister is now the prime minister, he is only from a Han family, and those wealthy dignitaries never take Weichen in their eyes. If this matter is led by the minister, I am afraid that it will be difficult to complete. What's more, Weichen has no military power in his hands, and others will not be afraid at all. ”

"Then Aiqing thinks who can do it?"

"I think it...... His Royal Highness the King of Wei can serve as one. ”

"Why?"

"His Royal Highness the King of Wei has always been vigorous and resolute, does not talk about personal feelings, and rarely makes friends with powerful people in the capital, so there is not too much favor and nepotism. What's more, the prestige is extremely high, especially in the army, as long as the military generals in the army are called, they must correspond. If the generals paid their taxes in full, Wenchen naturally could no longer shirk it. What's more, His Royal Highness holds the power of the army, and whoever dares to disobey the order will dare to offend. ”

Although what he said made sense, Zhao Kuangyin was silent.

Knowing that this fourth brother never cared about money, the court's rewards were often given to his subordinates and the relatives of those soldiers who died in battle. On weekdays, he rarely interacted with the nobles and civil and military officials of the wealthy families in the capital, and only some of the generals who followed him all the year round had some contacts.

If he intervenes to handle this matter, according to his ability, he will naturally be disregarded.

The military power is in hand, and the powerful dignitaries are afraid of him and dare not hand it over. It's just that in this way, it is bound to offend all the dignitaries and dignitaries of the Manchu Dynasty, and they are almost enemies of the courtiers in the entire court.

If no one supports it in the future, then the position of the prince will not be stable.

This is the result that Zhao Kuangyin does not want to see.

He thought that if Zhao Guangyi could take the lead, it would be much gentler, and although the nobles of the wealthy clan would complain, it would not cause a stiff and would not damage the relationship between Ting'er and the courtiers.

"What does the third brother think?"

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