Summary of the previous chapter: Ma Xiaoquan definitely believed in Wang Zhu Youjian's ulterior motives, but he did not expose it. After all, this is history and Ma Xiaoquan cannot change it...
At the gate of Qianqing Palace, several imperial guards guarded the gate of Qianqing Palace with tired eyes and drooped heads.
Ma Xiaoquan looked at it from a distance and felt a chill in his heart.
Everyone in the imperial palace is so spiritless. If the Jurchen tribe one day attacks the imperial city, it is estimated that the city gate will be smashed open soon.
"Hey" Ma Xiaoquan shook his head helplessly, "family world, family world, Zhu Yuanzhang worked hard to conquer such a big world. In this generation, it will become the swan song of the Ming Dynasty. It's a pity, it's sad..." ..
Ma Xiaoquan's sigh caused some of the imperial guards at the door to tremble. They looked intently at Ma Xiaoquan, and their pretended aura suddenly weakened.
"Haha, it's the deacon," one of them said respectfully in a low voice.
Ma Xiaoquan sighed secretly in his heart, but nodded kindly on his face, stepped forward, patted the man on the shoulder, and asked, "Is the emperor going to court inside?"
"Reply to the deacon, yes, do you want to go in?"
Ma Xiaoquan hummed.
"Okay, I'll let you know."
Ma Xiaoquan stopped the other party: "No, no, my brothers must not have had any rest last night, right? Well, did you go to change cups again?"
Ma Xiaoquan deliberately kept a serious face, but the imperial guards were so frightened that they dared not say anything.
As a Jin Yiwei, Ma Xiaoquan can kill anyone in the palace except the emperor first. Although the imperial guard is decent in front of others, in front of the Jin Yiwei, especially in front of a second-grade Jin Yiwei deacon like Ma Xiaoquan, he is like a little ant. There is no difference.
"Deacon... Mr. Deacon, please forgive us. We just drank a little too much yesterday. Really, we will never miss anything. We must be on duty and we must be on guard." ....."
Ma Xiaoquan rolled his eyes and looked at it, and said: "You, the one who just yawned one after another, are you telling me that you are on duty?"
"Sir...Sir, my dear deacon, I beg you, please hold me high. As long as you have any instructions, if you can do it, I will definitely do it for you."
Ma Xiaoquan smiled slightly: "Really?"
Several imperial guards looked at each other, and then nodded seriously to Ma Xiaoquan.
"Okay." Ma Xiaoquan reached out and took out two 100-tael silver notes from his sleeve pocket and threw them to one of them.
"Of these two hundred taels, one hundred taels belong to your brothers. The other one hundred taels, buy me some of the wild landscapes that are more popular in Beijing recently. By the way, don't say I want it, otherwise I won't You’re welcome, do you understand?”
Ma Xiaoquan's strategy of giving a sweet date a slap in the face was very effective. These imperial guards were all dawdling, and their monthly salary was not enough for them to spend. Although the one hundred taels of silver Ma Xiaoquan gave them was not much, it was enough. They had several good drinks.
Besides, all the guards in the palace know that the deacon is generous and generous. As long as he doesn't offend and helps the deacon with things, even the cook will get benefits.
"Don't worry, sir, we will definitely complete the mission. Sir, where can I give you that water...?"
Ma Xiaoquan chuckled: "I will send someone to get it. Remember, it needs to be hidden. Well, if you do well, you will be rewarded. If you don't do well..." Ma Xiaoquan stretched out his hand and made a knife on his neck. He gestured with Che and whispered, "Do you understand?"
"You guys understand"
"Well, good, okay, I'm going in." Ma Xiaoquan regained his smile, patted the shoulders of several imperial guards, and walked into the Qianqing Palace.
In the main hall of Qianqing Palace, the officials were discussing the war situation in Ningyuan with Emperor Zhu Youxiao of Tianqi. Ma Xiaoquan quietly walked into the officials, and no one paid too much attention.
Emperor Tianqi sat on the throne with a deep expression, overlooking the ministers in the audience. Ma Xiaoquan could tell from his expression that Emperor Tianqi was very unhappy.
Ye Xianggao took a step forward and said respectfully: "To your Majesty, I think we should send more manpower to Ningyuan."
Another official came forward and said: "Your Majesty, it is better to send more men than to give more food and pay to Ningyuan's soldiers. The war in Ningyuan is tight right now. Even if we send more men and march quickly, it will take ten and a half months. Time waits for no one. Instead of doing this , it is better to work hard to transport food and wages, which is the best strategy."
An old minister who had a good relationship with Ye Xianggao stood up and said disdainfully: "Transporting food and salary? So how much food and salary does Ningyuan cost my Ming Dynasty every year? How many times this year alone? Do they think my Ming Dynasty's treasury is a bottomless pit?" "
A young official came out and said dissatisfied: "Sending troops? Doesn't sending troops also increase military pay in the end?"
...
"Okay, shut up!" Emperor Tianqi suddenly interrupted the ministers, "I want you to come over to discuss countermeasures, not to fight with each other. Minister of the Ministry of War, come out and tell me what Ningyuan wants to do. How much is enough?"
An old minister came out and said solemnly: "I...I haven't made a detailed budget yet..."
"What?" Zhu Youxiao was angry, stood up, pointed at the old minister and cursed, "You old guy, you are taking the court's money and not doing anything practical. A military budget, as the Minister of the Ministry of War, you actually told me that you didn't do it. Detailed budget? Come here, drag him out and behead him!"
After the emperor gave the order, the imperial guards immediately came in to take someone away.
Ye Xianggao and others took a look and quickly admonished Zhu Youxiao, saying that the overall situation was the most important thing. Killing an important minister of the country at this time would probably lead to even more chaos...
In fact, Zhu Youxiao did not want to kill the Minister of War, but he was so angry that he just lost his head. Ye Xianggao and others tried to persuade him, but he immediately borrowed the donkey from the slope and left it alone.
More than half an hour passed, and a group of so-called ministers of the Ming Dynasty refused to say anything.
Zhu Youxiao stood up unhappily and prepared to leave the court. It was rare that nothing was discussed during the last court meeting. Instead of doing this, he might as well continue studying carpentry.
Just when Zhu Youxiao left the throne and was about to leave, a voice suddenly came from the audience.
"Your Majesty, I have an idea!"
Zhu Youxiao turned his head to look, and his eyes suddenly lit up.
Although Ma Xiaoquan stood among the ministers, because he stood at the end and lowered his head, Zhu Youxiao did not pay attention to him before.
At this moment, Ma Xiaoquan had walked to the stage with his head held high, with a majestic air and a smile on his face. Somehow, Zhu Youxiao felt that there was hope coming towards him.
Zhu Youxiao nodded, sat back on the throne, pointed at Ma Xiaoquan, and said: "It turns out to be Ma Aiqing. Well, if you have any ideas, just tell me."