Zhao Ning was looking at the report in his hand attentively.

After reading it, he asked Gao Qiu: "What do you think of this matter?"

Gao Qiu said: "I think this matter is not groundless."

"You mean, the Jin Army really assembled a million troops and came?"

"No, no, that's not what I mean. What I mean is that the remarks in Tokyo City in the past month or two are a bit strange and abnormal. Some people are deliberately spreading rumors among the people."

"oh?"

"I have arrested more than a dozen people in the past half month, and two of them said they were collecting money to do things."

"Get paid to do things?"

"Take other people's money and create rumors."

Zhao Ning suddenly became curious, and he said: "You mean, these are all rumors, and they were deliberately spread by someone?"

"I think so!"

Zhao Ning stood up, walked to the map, and looked at it in trance.

"Who spread it?"

"The work of the Jin people is meticulous." Gao Qiu also emphasized, "It is truly the work of the Jin people."

"What is their purpose in spreading such rumors?"

"Maybe it's to cause panic."

"What good will it do them to cause panic in Tokyo?"

"I haven't thought of this for a while."

Zhao Ning was lost in thought. According to what he, a 21st century person, had seen and heard, if the Jin Kingdom wanted to go to war, it would be useless to create panic in Tokyo.

The current general environment is "unity and unity to resist gold".

Uniting all parties was a situation that Zhao Ning single-handedly created.

The panic created by the Jin people will only make the Song Dynasty more united.

If we must give a nearly reasonable explanation: Are the Jin people trying to muddy the waters? Or is there the latest strategic fraud?

The information that has been revealed so far is very limited. The only thing that has been widely reported is that the northern line is in emergency.

As for whether there are so many Jin troops, no one has given a definite result.

Therefore, there is no sure way for the Jin army to move south.

Zhao Ning was also thinking about what he would do if he were Wanyan Wu begging for money.

Siege Taiyuan?

That is obviously unrealistic. Taiyuan City is impregnable. If Taiyuan soldiers and civilians had not fought to the death this time, Wu Jie might not have been able to regain Taiyuan.

Attack Hebei?

At present, this is the only possibility.

Concentrate your troops to attack Hebei, or divide your troops into two groups and go south.

However, the rumors in Tokyo City are by no means groundless. There must be a strategic purpose behind the Jin Man.

At this time, important information came from outside the palace: "Report! The Jin Kingdom envoy requested entry."

Qin Hui said: "The Jin envoys' request to come to the Song Dynasty at this time is probably related to the battle of Taiyuan. Since the war has begun, why bother to see their envoys again? What you can't get on the battlefield, you won't get at the negotiation table."

"No, I want to see what Jin Kingdom is going to do next and allow him to enter Beijing."

"yes!"

Zhao Ning turned to look at Hu Yin and asked: "How about the newspaper's publication about the Battle of Taiyuan?"

"It has been published everywhere."

"What's the public response?"

"The crowd is excited." Hu Yin replied, "Now in Tokyo, most people are indignant about the atrocities committed by the Jin army in Taiyuan City. There are even people among the people who spontaneously contribute money to transport food to Taiyuan for disaster relief."

Zhao Ning was very satisfied and said: "So, if war comes, people from all over the country will gather to respond?"

"Indeed."

Zhao Ning asked Zongze, who had been transferred back from Daming Mansion: "How are the grain and grass preparations in Hedong and Hebei?"

"The transportation department is in good order, and every military town has food in stock. Once the war starts, there will be no shortage of food within half a year."

At this time, Mei Zhili, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, said: "Your Majesty, currently all military towns in the north are supported by various roads in the north, and Gyeonggi Province has food supplies from the southeast. On the surface, there is no shortage of military food, but once there is a long-term operation on site, the national treasury may be

Urgent."

"How do you say that?" Zhao Ning asked doubtfully, "Last time we calculated that after the implementation of the new agricultural policies of the Northern Seventh Route, we can fully support the northern military towns in terms of food. Why is the national treasury in a hurry?"

"I'm talking about military expenditures, military rewards, and pensions. In addition, Dengzhou's military expenditures have skyrocketed in the past two years, with two million dollars spent in one year."

“How much money does the treasury have now?”

"After last year's salary is approved, there are still 3 million yuan left."

Qin Hui immediately came out and asked: "Twenty million yuan was confiscated last year in Luoyang, where is the money?"

"Hebei and Hedong have been continuing to provide disaster relief. Schools and inns have been set up in various places. Hebei and Jingdong have increased iron ore mining. All of this requires money, as well as buying horses in the southwest and military spending in the north."

"How much is the annual salary of an official now?"

"Twelve million strings."

It is 4 million yuan lower than in the past, which shows that confiscation of homes, beheadings and downsizing of staff are still effective.

Mei Zhili said: "I think we should carefully check the Huaidong, Jiangnan and Zhejiang roads."

As soon as he said this, the scene fell into silence.

Cai Mao came out and said: "Your Majesty, the northern front is in urgent need now. The Jin people may have a large army to suppress them. It may be inappropriate to rush to the south."

"In the fifth year of Jingkang's reign, there was a serious tax problem in Huaidong. This account cannot be settled at all. In addition, the commercial tax on Jiangnan East Road is also in serious trouble. Some large households have not paid taxes." Mei Zhili insisted, "And there is another thing.

It’s a very serious matter. I heard that some people from Jiangnan Road went to Jinghu Road to enclose land.”

"Wantfully enclosing land?"

Mei Zhili said: "Now the imperial court is opening up wasteland on Jinghu Road, and many people are targeting the fertile land there."

"Didn't Tang Ke say that each household opening up land on Jinghu Road cannot exceed fifty acres of land?"

"That's what I said, but someone obviously took the opportunity to exploit the loophole."

Qin Hui said: "This matter is related to the New Deal that will be implemented in Jinghu Road. Without evidence, we cannot make nonsense. Many of the current land reclamation supervisors in Jinghu Road are newly trained and have the support of the New Deal.

Or, if the court rashly spreads such rumors without any evidence and is used by people with intentions, who will be able to bear the responsibility if it hinders the land reclamation of Jinghu Road?"

Mei Zhili stopped talking. Obviously, he had no direct evidence.

"And we can't stir up trouble in the south now. If we start trouble now, if various groups in the south use excuses to cause trouble and suppress taxes and fail to pay them, who can bear the responsibility?"

Mei Zhili said: "Who dares to withhold taxes and refuse to pay them? Mr. Cai, don't talk empty words!"

"If someone takes the opportunity to act and causes irremediable consequences, who will bear the responsibility?"

The scene fell silent.

After a while, Zhao Ning said: "The Ministry of Accounts can check the accounts according to the rules, and then let the Audit Institute step in to check the local finances. If it is true, hand it over to Dali Temple to file a case. There is no need to think so complicated. Check first to see if there is any."

"yes."

"Is Hu Quan back?"

Zhao Ding said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Hu Quan is still on his way back to Beijing."

"Let him come see me after he returns to Beijing."

After everyone came out of Wende Hall, they didn't say much and went back to their respective offices.

In the evening, a middle-aged man dressed luxuriously got off the carriage at the gate of Prince Kang's Mansion.

Not long after, this man walked into Prince Kang's Mansion.

"Common people see you, Your Highness."

"You are here." Zhao Gou was very polite to this person, "Come on, Xiao Wang, let me introduce you. This is Qin Hui, the current ruler and the Minister of Punishment."
Chapter completed!