Chapter 67 The Emperor's House Has No Food Surplus
"Back to Your Majesty, there is news from the Ministry of War that Jieli's army is coming towards our border. According to Your Majesty's previous strategy of clearing the country and keeping out the enemy, we have made arrangements, but the problem of food and grass is imminent. So, no matter what,
, we must prioritize ensuring the smooth flow of logistics supplies at the border."
Du Ruhui stood up and suggested in a deep voice.
"I invite your Majesty to immediately issue an order to summon the people to work day and night to transport grain and grass to the border."
"I second the proposal..."
"I second the proposal..."
…
Everyone looked serious.
Heavy snow has blocked roads, and the cost of transporting grain and grass has skyrocketed. This is undoubtedly adding insult to injury for the Tang Dynasty's national treasury, which is almost bankrupt.
"I estimate that this deployment of food and grass will require the recruitment of at least 30,000 civilians and 7,800 vehicles..."
As Tang Jian spit out numbers one after another, the faces of several big bosses in the imperial study became more and more embarrassing, and at the same time they also recognized the strategy of strengthening the walls and clearing the country.
This is just a passive defense. If we really want to mobilize the army and send troops to Mobei, won't it drain the national treasury?
Looking at a group of anxious humerus ministers, Li Shimin's mood suddenly improved inexplicably. He waved his hand and said calmly.
"My dear friends, don't worry. I have a new tool for transportation in the snow. I estimate that this time to transport grain and grass, I don't need to recruit civilians. It is enough to directly dispatch three thousand forbidden troops..."
"With three thousand imperial troops and no civilians, is your Majesty joking?"
Everyone was stunned and almost suspected that His Majesty was joking.
Wei Zheng, in particular, couldn't help but voice his doubts.
Seeing the head of the stick popping out again, Li Shimin's eyes suddenly flashed with an undetectable joy.
I used to be speechless by you every day, but today it’s my turn to be angry!
"Wei Aiqing? Do you think I'm joking?"
"Your Majesty, is it because I don't look like I'm joking? That's why I'm even more worried. Military and state affairs are not trivial. How can your Majesty trust your words..."
Wei Zheng pouted his goatee and stared at Li Shimin without hesitation.
Although His Majesty has been acting more and more wise recently, but it is precisely because of this that I have to stand up and alert His Majesty at all times, lest he use his teacher's heart for himself and become arrogant and arrogant.
"Xuancheng? Is it okay to make assumptions about whether things exist without seeing them with your own eyes and hearing them with your ears?"
Suddenly remembering what Wang Zi'an said when he was drinking last time? Li Shimin subconsciously took it out and quarreled with it.
Wei Zheng:......
This statement? I can’t refute it!
Seeing that Wei Zheng was frustrated? Li Shimin couldn't help but be in a good mood. This was the first time in so many years that he had the upper hand in an argument on such an occasion.
Don’t tell me? This little feeling is pretty good!
No wonder this old boy is so keen on arguing with himself.
Victory in the first battle? Li Shimin clapped his hands proudly.
"Who's coming? Send me my baby!"
The waiter stood up in response? After a while, a strange-shaped shelf came in.
Li Shimin walked over in person and kicked the sled with his feet.
"This thing is called a sled. It can move like flying in the snow. I have tried it privately with the guards. It can carry hundreds of kilograms of weight, and the things used to pull it are just a few local dogs or a few mountain deer.
That’s all!”
What!
How magical is this thing?
"Your Majesty, I would like to take the liberty of asking if this sleigh minister can give it a try himself."
Although Wei Zheng believed it in his heart, his cautious character still made him want to verify it with his own eyes.
Looking at the eager eyes of several ministers in the imperial study, Li Shimin raised the corners of his mouth and waved his hand.
"Why not-"
Naturally, there would be no snow inside the palace. The group immediately walked out of the imperial city with their guards, braving the cold wind, and stopped in an empty area below the imperial city.
The guard next to him tied a few native dogs to the sled skillfully, and then jumped on with ease.
"Wait a minute, let me come!"
Li Shimin suddenly wanted to experience this novel gadget for himself. He waved away the guard who was about to test drive it, then took the reins and jumped on it.
"Your Majesty, can you please come up and try -"
Fang Xuanling couldn't help but shout.
"Why not? Come, come, come, everyone, come up and experience it..."
Whooping, a group of people crowded onto the sled.
"Stand firm and hold the frame——"
Li Shimin flicked his small whip, and several wild dogs ran away.
Powerful!
It works!
The speed is as fast as that of a galloping horse. The key is that not only can this thing walk freely on the snow, it is not as good as using large livestock such as oxen and horses. How much cost can be saved in one trip?
When they thought that this tool alone could help the court save so much manpower and material resources, several people couldn't help but feel very happy.
When the sled came to a stop, Wei Zheng did not bother to tidy up his beard and hair that were messed up by the cold wind, and saluted Li Shimin with an excited expression.
"Your Majesty, this thing can be of great use! I wonder when the Ministry of Industry developed such a thing? I believe that your Majesty should give a generous reward to the person who developed this thing to show his achievements..."
I would like to give you a reward, but they don’t like it!
Li Shimin smiled bitterly in his heart and could only rub his hands, which were stiff from the cold, and spoke vaguely.
"I have already awarded a reward - by the way, the price of dogs has increased near Chang'an recently. I am under a lot of pressure. Do you still have dogs at home? Send some to me..."
Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Changsun Wuji, Wei Zheng, Tang Jian:...
Just one ride in your dog carriage!
Your Majesty, you have changed!
A group of people complained crazily in their hearts, but they had to smile bitterly and accept it.
Come on, I don’t know if I will be called a dog official in the future if I go back and raise a domestic dog like this...
Although the emergence of sleds has greatly reduced the pressure on transporting grain and grass north, the key problem still remains: food is still in short supply.
"Tang Aiqing, where is the food and grass in the Jianghuai area?"
Looking at Tang Jian, whose temples were obviously turning white, Li Shimin couldn't help but soften his tone. In the past two years, if he hadn't been in charge of it, tearing down the east and making up the west, the Tang Dynasty's treasury would have been unable to sustain itself. It's hard for a clever woman.
It was really difficult for him to cook without rice.
"Back to Your Majesty, we arrived at the border of Bianzhou, but the river is still frozen, and the ships transporting grain have been impassable. Wei Chen has informed the local officials that the grain and grass must be transported as soon as possible..."
Tang Jian frowned, his face full of anxiety.
There is nothing that can be done. Once the grain transportation is transferred from canal to road transportation, the proportion of manpower and material resources used will be greatly increased during the journey. If 10% of the grain is transported, not even 30% to 40% will be left.
"It's a pity that there hasn't been heavy snow in Henan Road yet——"
Wei Zheng's words made everyone look at each other and smile bitterly.
A few days ago, everyone was afraid of heavy snowfall on Henan Road, and worried that once the river froze, they would have to take the overland route. Who knew that the situation was now reversed, and in the blink of an eye, they were worried because there was no heavy snowfall.
ps: With the help of all the readers, the three levels of PK in this book were successfully passed. This is also the best result achieved by the author so far. Now we need to approve the jersey again, starting tomorrow, we will start the second round of PK
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