Since ancient times, mobilizing troops has been a waste of military pay.
The 300,000 soldiers and horses under the control of the Protectorate had always required the emperor to take extra precautions. Therefore, the food, grass and military supplies were never sufficient, and they basically tightened their belts to raise the troops.
Since the emperor has been ill for a long time and the prince has become more powerful, the military salary of the Protectorate is not as tight as before. But the national treasury has no money, so it is only slightly better off.
Recently, the 300,000 soldiers and horses of the Duke Protector's Mansion have only been provided with military pay for three months.
But when marching outside, it is natural to use food, grass and military supplies. Because he left quietly, Zhou Che not only took away the food for one hundred thousand soldiers and horses, but also took away a month's spare military supplies.
Now that Zhou Shen is leaving, he is just like Zhou Che, taking away not only supplies for one hundred thousand soldiers and horses, but also a month's worth of spare military supplies.
In this way, the army will have enough food.
The problem of food and fodder for the remaining 100,000 soldiers and horses has become a big problem.
Therefore, after Zhou Shen left, Zhou Wei ordered the people sent by the old protector to return with a message.
The old protector slapped his thigh, didn't he? Two hundred thousand troops and horses leaving Beijing is no small matter, and the marching process is a big problem. How can we just say to mobilize troops lightly?
Now that the soldiers are gone, those who left don’t have to worry. They can always last for a month, but what about the remaining soldiers and horses?
He had a headache. If this matter did not alarm His Majesty and the civil and military officials of the court, the issue of food and grass would not be brought to light.
He could only tell his men, "First collect the money from the eldest house in the mansion, and secretly go to the outside of the capital to collect grain. Don't make any noise, be secretive, and wait for as long as you can."
The men should have set off with their men that night.
The old Protector had no choice but to send someone to the East Palace again to send a message to the prince.
Yan Huisheng had expected that the issue of military pay was now the biggest problem facing the Liang treasury. Earlier, the eldest prince was convicted of crimes, and a large number of officials from the eldest prince's faction were dismissed. All the officials involved in the case of the precious concubine and the eldest prince were nine out of ten.
, all had their homes confiscated and were exiled. Because of this major case, the treasury confiscated a lot of property and was a little richer.
Feng Chang, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, finally stopped frowning and breathed a sigh of relief, but it was just a breath. After all, the national treasury was too short and the gains from confiscating the family were just a drop in the bucket. It was just a drop in the bucket.
Something is better than nothing.
Feng Chang still had to find ways to enrich the treasury, get money for the treasury, and reduce expenditures.
That night, Feng Chang was calculating the account books of the household department. He was shocked when he heard that the prince was coming. He looked at the sky and saw that it was so dark outside that he could not see his fingers. It was already late at night, but the prince was visiting.
,this……
He intuitively felt that it was not a good thing for Yan Huisheng to come to him late at night, but he did not dare to turn the person away or let him in.
He could only rush out.
Seeing Yan Huisheng, he quickly handed over his hand and said, "Your Highness, if there is something important, you can just send someone to inform the ministers. Why do you come in person late at night?"
"It's something important." Yan Hui replied to him.
When he came out of the Duke Protector's Mansion, he went straight to Feng Mansion and did not return to the East Palace at all. He knew what the army needed most urgently. Since this matter was being done secretly, he had to let Feng Chang handle it first.
He is convenient.
Fortunately, although Feng Chang did not seek refuge in the Eastern Palace, he was not a confused official who simply followed the law and was impartial and uncompromising. Otherwise, he would not have been able to achieve the position of Minister of the Ministry of Revenue.
After hearing this, Feng Chang could only carefully invite Yan Huisheng to his study.
Yan Hui said directly: "I want one hundred thousand troops and one month's military pay. Send it to Zhou Wei as soon as possible."
Feng Chang was startled, "Your Highness, why do you suddenly need military pay? The Zhou family army in charge of the Protector's Palace has enough food and grass, enough for three months."
"Now it's not enough. I want to mobilize troops." Yan Huihui stared at him and said slowly: "I hope that General Xi Ping's Mansion in Beibei has the intention to rebel. I have already received the news that he is planning to launch troops. I'm afraid Zhang Ping will attack Nanping first."
The Zhou family army has secretly dispatched 200,000 soldiers and horses to Northern Hebei and Nanping. You know, once the troops are mobilized, the 200,000 soldiers and horses must bring enough food and grass for the march. Now 300,000 soldiers and horses
All the reserves were taken away by 200,000 soldiers and horses. Now the remaining 100,000 soldiers and horses can only be used for three days."
Feng Chang suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, "Your Highness, is this news true?"
"Of course it is true that Gu will not make fun of Daliang's power, nor will he play with soldiers and horses easily." Yan Huisheng stood with his hands behind his hands, "Mr. Feng, you should know that Gu will not act without rules. Now in private
There is no way to find you. After all, this matter needs to be kept secret to prevent Zhang Ping’s informants in Beijing from getting the news and passing it back to Northern Hebei. Everything must be done secretly and without publicity."
Feng Chang was not stupid. After hearing this, he understood that Zhang Ping was the father-in-law of the second prince Yan Lin. The eldest prince had lost and was completely out of business. But there was still a second prince. The prince had not moved yet and was still in the position of the second prince.
Wait. Once this matter is publicized, the second prince will definitely be unable to sit still. I really don’t know what he will do.
He asked tentatively: "Where is Your Majesty..."
"Father, I haven't reported it yet." Yan Hui shook his head, "Master Zhang should understand why I didn't report it to Father."
Feng Chang understands very well that for so many years, Zhang Ping has been supported by his majesty, and his momentum has even surpassed that of the Protector's Palace. There must be Zhang Ping's informants around your majesty. Once this matter is obtained
If your Majesty goes there to tell you, I'm sure it will be leaked immediately.
Well, if you ask him, the prince has been tolerant enough in these years, and now he is also very considerate.
However, having such a prince in Daliang gives people hope.
He said: "Your Highness, there has been some income in the national treasury recently, but I am not able to turn all the income into food and grass and send it to the army for a while."
Yan replied: "You don't need to worry about this. You just need to give those inputs to Gu. Guhui will secretly send people to buy beams and military supplies."
Feng Chang breathed a sigh of relief, it would be easy without him having to buy food. He immediately thought that the old Protector of the Kingdom dared to listen to His Majesty the Crown Prince's troop deployment without His Majesty's permission. Why did he not dare to take money from the treasury alone? Anyway,
, this throne will most likely fall on the crown prince. Apart from Yan Huisheng who can sit in that position, he really can't think of anyone else who can sit in that position.
No one can match this ability, this mind, and this courage to make prompt decisions.
So, he took a deep breath and gritted his teeth and agreed, "Since His Highness said so, I will give those to you."
He immediately took out the key to the treasury and said, "Your Highness, are you going to take your people with me? Are you going to move out quietly tonight?"
Yan Huisheng said exactly what he meant, sooner rather than later, and nodded, "That's exactly what Gu means."
