In the Manlu Hall, several prime ministers from the imperial court, as well as six ministers, were all present.
At this time, Emperor Hongde had already grown a beard, and the beard was not short. He touched the beard on his lips with his hand, and then looked at the people present calmly. After everyone read the documents, His Majesty the Emperor chuckled softly and said, "Everyone has seen it."
"Taiyuan is one of the important cities in the north. Shen Qing has made it very clear in this report. After controlling Taiyuan, he will soon be able to slowly regain the entire Shanxi. By then, he will control the Hu Qi in the east and the Tatars in the north. ."
"I have made great progress in the Northern Expedition."
The emperor took a deep breath. Due to the excitement, some flushing could be seen on his face. He looked at everyone and said slowly: "From now on, I don't want to hear any more opposition to the Northern Expedition."
"Someone will say something about money and food again."
Emperor Hong De, who had always had a good temper, also said in a cold voice: "Immediately ransack the house and use it as military rations. I want to see if he is really a breeze with his sleeves!"
Although Emperor Hong De had good methods and never hesitated to be cruel when it was time to deal with them, he was not very violent in his dealings with others, but rather very gentle.
This time, it was almost the first time that he said such harsh words without any concealment in front of these important ministers.
Everyone lowered their heads and did not dare to look at Emperor Hongde.
After a while, Prime Minister Chen Jing stood up, knelt in front of the emperor, lowered his head and said: "Old minister, I congratulate your majesty on the restoration of Taiyuan!"
"I congratulate Your Majesty on the restoration of Taiyuan!"
In the Manna Hall, everyone was kneeling on the ground.
The emperor waved his hand, shook his head and said, "I didn't ask you to come over and kowtow. You all sit down to discuss matters."
After everyone sat down, the emperor showed a smile on his face and said: "According to Shen Qing's report, the troops on the front line are sufficient for generals, so the imperial court will not send reinforcements northward for the time being, but will send them to Taiyuan and The entire Shanxi Province can start looking for officials, and when the time is right, let them take up their posts immediately."
The Minister of Civil Affairs stood up and bowed his head in response to the order.
The emperor thought for a while and continued: "This time, General Xue Wei and Xue have made great contributions. What I mean is to confer him the title of second-grade general who governs the country."
"As for titles and the like, there is no rush for the moment. After the Northern Expedition is completed, we will summon the generals of the Huai'an Army to the court to reward them."
Having said this, the emperor looked at everyone and continued: "Qing Shen also contributed a lot. What I mean is..."
"What do you think of the addition of the crown prince's Taibao?"
Everyone present looked at each other, and no one answered.
At this time, someone in the audience stood up. He bowed his head and saluted: "Your Majesty, I think this is not allowed."
Emperor Hong De coughed and glanced at this man, a little surprised.
It was not Shen Yi's old enemy Cui Yu, but Zhao Zhi and Zhao Changping, the Prime Minister of Zhongshu and the Minister of Household Affairs.
His Majesty the Emperor smiled and asked, "Why not?"
Zhao Xianggong lowered his head and said: "Your Majesty, although the Northern Expedition has achieved a small victory, it is not over after all. The final outcome is not yet known."
"I know that Your Majesty is happy, but since ancient times, rewards and punishments have been given before the victory or defeat is decided. If something goes wrong in the Northern Expedition in the future, the honor and disgrace of Yu Shen Yi will be a small matter, but the damage to His Majesty's reputation will be a big deal."
"I ask your majesty to wait until Shen Zhongcheng returns home in triumph before proceeding with any rewards or punishments."
The emperor looked at Zhao Changping with a half-smile, and said, "You are an elder, but you don't speak to him anymore."
Xianggong Zhao looked calm: "It is precisely because I am the elder Shen Yi that I have to dissuade His Majesty with words at this time."
"If no one dares to say this, it will be a misfortune for the court and Your Majesty."
At this time, Zhao Changping must stand up and speak.
Because at this time, giving Shen Yi an official position would only sound better in name, without any actual benefits. Instead, it would push him to an inappropriate position.
The crown prince's Taibao has already been promoted from the first rank.
Now that I have added the crown prince and the Taibao, what will I do when I win and return to the court in the future?
Confess the county king?
Since the founding of the Kingdom of Chen, there has never been a king with a different surname. Even the few founding heroes were just Dukes.
Cui Yu and others were silent at this time, and they probably didn't have any good intentions.
As the speaker of Ganquan Academy and Shen Yi's elder, Zhao Changping naturally hopes that Shen Yi can climb as fast as possible, but at this time, Shen Yi has already climbed fast enough.
Rather than going fast, he hopes that Shen Yi's path will be more steady.
At this moment, if Shen Yi himself were in the court, he would definitely express his gratitude to Xianggong Zhao after he left the court.
Emperor Hong De thought for a while, nodded and said: "What Xiang Zhao said makes sense, so let's put this matter aside for the time being."
"As for the reward for General Xue..."
The emperor thought for a moment and said, "I won't grant you the title for the time being. I'll just reward you with some money."
After saying this, he looked at everyone and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty."
"I am looking for you all to come here today. Discussing the regulations of the Northern Expedition is only a small matter, but integrating your thoughts is a big deal."
"Now that the Northern Expedition has reached its most critical moment, I, too, must do my best to cooperate with the Northern Expedition. I hope that our monarchs and ministers can work together as one, and that the entire imperial court can also work together as one."
"From today on, if I find out that there is someone with bad intentions who intends to hinder the imperial court's Northern Expedition, or someone who has other bad intentions."
The emperor's face darkened.
"When the time comes, don't blame me for being unkind."
The emperor's words were actually not addressed to the prime ministers and the six ministers present.
Because when they reach the level of these big guys, no matter what they do, they will never end up personally.
The emperor's words were meant to warn their "disciples and grandchildren" through them not to cause trouble at this time.
If someone causes trouble, the emperor will use thunderous measures.
Everyone bowed their heads: "I obey my orders."
The emperor then smiled and said, "Okay, all your ministers, please go and get busy."
"Prime Minister Zhao will stay for a while."
Soon, everyone got up and left the Manlu Hall, only Zhao Changping stayed.
After everyone left, Emperor Hong De looked at Zhao Changping and said with a smile: "Mr. Zhao, how much more food can be squeezed out of the treasury?"
Zhao Changping lowered his head slightly and said with a wry smile: "Your Majesty, if we continue to spend money, I'm afraid we will have to increase taxes."
"Go and borrow it."
Emperor Hong De thought for a while and said: "In the name of the treasury, we borrow money from the officials and merchants in Jiankang."
The emperor counted on his fingers and continued: "Borrow ten million taels of silver and pay it back within three years, with a profit of two cents per year."
Zhao Changping's eyes widened and he was stunned.
The emperor touched the beard on his chin and murmured: "This is the method Shen Qi told me in the early years."
He looked at Zhao Changping and said with a smile: "In the past, it may not have been so easy to borrow, but now that the imperial court's Northern Expedition is going smoothly, it is estimated that it will be much easier to borrow this money."
Zhao Changping hesitated for a while and was about to speak when he heard the emperor say calmly: "I will share half of the interest on this money with the treasury."
Zhao Changping then took a deep breath, lowered his head and said, "Old minister, I obey."
The emperor walked up to him, patted his shoulder, and said with a smile: "Ganquan Academy has really given me too many surprises in the past few years."
"Don't hide anything from Prime Minister Zhao."
The emperor smiled heartily.
"Now, I have begun to think about when to go to Fengchan Taishan."
…………
After the city of Taiyuan was broken, Xue Wei took a brief rest and left only 5,000 people to guard Taiyuan. He personally led more than 20,000 people to leave Taiyuan, then divided his troops into two groups and rushed to the battlefield of Guangping Prefecture. The other road seemed to go directly towards Yandu.
This frightened the main force of the Qi army on the front line. The Qi army, which was fighting the Huai'an army on the left and right, was so frightened that it retreated for more than a hundred miles, broke away from the battlefield, and prepared to prepare for a sneak attack from the side.
Even part of the army is preparing to return to Yandu to defend the capital.
Just when the Qi army was waiting in full formation, Xue Wei, who had led his troops a hundred or two hundred miles away from Taiyuan, seemed to have just come out to take a turn and returned directly to Taiyuan.
When Xue Wei returned to Taiyuan City, the basic order in Taiyuan City had been basically restored under Shen Xu's running. Shen Xu welcomed Xue Wei in at the city gate. While welcoming Xue Wei, he said with a smile: "The general's move is really brilliant, it can make the whole army turn around."
"Where am I clever?"
Xue Da shook his head and said with a smile: "Originally, I was ready to fight for my life with the Qi people. Suddenly I received a letter from Lord Marquis, and I became smarter."
"correct…"
He looked at Shen Xu and said, "The Marquis told me to prepare more food in Taiyuan. I'm not very good at this. Young Master Eighth..."
"food…"
Shen Xu blinked, with a bright smile on his face.
"How much does it cost, General?"
Xue Wei touched his chin: "How many Eighth Young Master are there?"