Chapter 276: I’ll kill you all [please subscribe and vote monthly]
silence.
The entire Daming Palace Banquet Garden was filled with deathly silence.
Everyone was stunned, everyone was dumbfounded, their faces were blank, and they couldn't believe it.
Even Li Shimin was confused.
Xu Maogong's ability to reach this point depends not only on his military exploits, but also on his extremely smooth character and attitude towards others.
Several times, when Xu Maogong and Li Shimin had dinner together, Li Shimin couldn't help but farted, but Xu Maogong took the initiative to admit that it was him who farted, to give the emperor face.
Such a smooth person actually threw a cup at the Royal Garden Banquet!
He refused to drink the emperor's toast and instead dropped the cup!
Dumbfounded.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Confused.
Everyone was confused.
They just felt as if they had seen the most incredible scene in the world.
Li Shimin also frowned, but did not show displeasure immediately.
As an emperor, when a minister behaves abnormally, the first thing he thinks of is what happened!
Instead of being angry.
Cheng Yaojin, the devil in the world, jumped out immediately and accused: "Commander, what are you doing? His Majesty is toasting you, so you don't want to drink it, and you throw things? Are you an old fool?!"
Cheng Yaojin actually hasn't called Xu Maogong his military advisor for a long time. After all, everyone is no longer reckless.
but.
This time he called out "Military Advisor" specifically, hoping that Li Shimin would take note of his past kindness and not bear any grudge against Xu Maogong!
There are also accusations later, which also serve to wake up Xu Maogong and tell him not to be stupid!
However, this was actually done deliberately by Xu Maogong.
He naturally knew how much courage it took to do this, and if he didn't do this, he might not be able to complete what Su Chen instructed him in a short time!
It is impossible for him to do all the three major things mentioned by Su Chen, then he will not be able to accumulate boundless merit!
Although he cannot do one thing well, if he can do all three things, he can live countless lives and accumulate boundless merit!
It's just that time is urgent, and he must find a way to get in quickly.
Throwing the wine glass at the Royal Garden Wine Shop was just the beginning. Xu Maogong started his performance next!
Xu Maogong ignored Cheng Yaojin's scolding and did not meet Li Shimin's eyes. He was afraid that he would not have the courage to continue speaking.
Instead, he looked at the ministers.
I saw Mr. Xu Maogong patting his heart, looking like he hated iron, and even coughed violently!
Coupled with his already old body, he looks more like a minister of subjugation, persuading the extravagant king!
Xu Maogong said: "Today, the soldiers of Mobei are still suffering from the severe cold. The Spring Festival is approaching, but they may not even be able to drink a sip of hot soup. How can we have the shame to drink and have fun here?!"
With these words, all the officials were confused.
The monks who were enjoying themselves were also confused. They were the protagonists of today's banquet, and they casually read Buddhist scriptures.
The whole atmosphere is very good, as if what is being sung is not Buddhist scriptures, but the prosperous period of the Tang Dynasty.
but.
Xu Maogong's words ruined the artistic conception, as if their monks were no longer witnesses of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, but the singers who were still singing about the flowers in the backyard across the river!
The faces of the monks instantly became ugly, but no one dared to refute Xu Maogong.
Because everything Xu Maogong said is right.
At this time, the Mobei soldiers were still making the final move to attack Goguryeo, and although they had the support of the country behind them, they would not be short of food and clothing, but it was impossible to eat and drink well!
The front line is a Shura field. Being able to eat a mouthful of meat for ten and a half days and a general being able to have a sip of wine are both extravagant hopes.
Ordinary soldiers can only rely on the cotton-padded clothes that Su Chen donated to keep out the cold, and there is no need to think too much about anything else!
However, they were drinking and having fun here.
The faces of all the ministers were ugly, and they felt that they had been severely slapped in the face by Xu Maogong.
Li Shimin also breathed a sigh of relief and thought it was something. It turned out that Xu Maogong, as the former coach, couldn't see that the soldiers were struggling at the front while they were struggling at the back.
He just advised: "The British don't have to worry too much. After I came back, I have sent a lot of resources to the front line, and they will be able to improve the environment soon."
"Your Majesty!!" Xu Maogong raised his voice, immediately silencing Li Shimin.
He continued: "Your Majesty, what we have sent these days is just a drop in the bucket. Now is the last moment to attack Goguryeo. Although we will definitely win, we will also have to pay a heavy price!"
Li Shimin has nothing to say, this is a fact.
but.
It’s a fait accompli, and we must learn to accept it!
This is the consensus of everyone, but I didn't expect Xu Maogong to be unable to accept it. He would talk about unhappy things when he was happy.
Li Shimin felt that Xu Maogong was a bit too upright!
When I felt a little unhappy, I heard a minister who supported Buddhism, Zhang Yu, the Minister of Rites, come forward to refute.
Zhang Shilang said: "The British Lord is so concerned about the frontline soldiers, he must have a plan to deal with it, can you come up with it?!"
Normally, if a Minister of Rites dared to contradict the Duke like this, he would definitely be besieged by many people.
but.
What Xu Maogong did today has devalued many people, so even Cheng Yaojin could only remain silent.
Look at what kind of medicine Xu Maogong is selling in the gourd, and where did the sudden patriotic feeling come from!
Then I heard Xu Maogong kneel down and say: "Your Majesty, I have thought about it and prepared several strategies. It is indeed possible to help the front line. I would like to ask your Majesty to take a look."
He took out the prepared memorial and handed it over, leaving Li Shimin speechless.
Although Li Shimin was diligent and caring for the people, he also had a temper when he was relaxing and working.
But as an emperor, he cannot sit idly by when his ministers ask questions about the life and death of his people.
I can only bite the bullet and read it, and after reading it, I still use the same old tricks. They are indeed useful, but they are very difficult to implement.
The first is to increase equipment, the second is to provide support to the family members, and then is to buy wine and meat for the frontline soldiers, and buy out the details of the Goguryeo city.
No matter which one it is, it is a very good strategy.
but.
No matter which one it is, it requires a lot of money.
Needless to say, equipment, Datang has no money now, so it can only exchange time for money. Supporting family members and buying wine and meat can greatly improve morale and promote the victory process!
However, these all cost money.
There is no shortage of food in the Tang Dynasty now, especially since the fairy rice came out a few years ago, it can already feed the soldiers.
However, just being full is not enough.
And if these grains become abundant, the price will also decrease, which will not increase much revenue for Datang in a short period of time.
Moreover, in order to encourage ordinary people to plant fairy rice and fill the Tang Dynasty's grain storage, Li Shimin also exempted many places from grain taxes.
After two years of fighting, Datang's treasury has long been running out of money. Now it has to spend money in various aspects. It is absolutely impossible for Datang to give money to Goguryeo!
For this reason, Li Shimin and other high-level officials could only acquiesce in sacrificing human lives to gain victory!
Li Shimin sighed and said: "My lord, these are all good strategies and good ways to govern the country. However, they all require a lot of money, and now the national treasury..."
At this point, he really couldn't go on.
But looking at the fine wine and delicacies on the table in front of him, he really couldn't eat or drink any more.
Li Shimin and the officials did not understand that Xu Maogong was angry because they had no money to fight but had money to eat.
unexpectedly.
Xu Maogong said: "Your Majesty, I came here this time not to lose my temper, nor to stop Your Majesty and your ministers from drinking and having fun. I just want to take this opportunity to announce something!"
"I definitely don't ask His Majesty a problem without solving it!"
When he said this, his face became serious.
Everyone was staring at him, wanting to see what Xu Maogong wanted to do.
I heard Xu Maogong say solemnly, "I have decided to donate one-third of my family property to the soldiers of Mobei."
hiss!
Everyone gasped, their eyes were shocked and unbelievable.
Even Cheng Yaojin, Qin Qiong and others who had a good relationship with Xu Maogong were all confused.
They were familiar with Xu Maogong, and they understood that Xu Maogong was afraid of poverty since childhood, he was tactful, and he was also very protective of money!
Not to mention donating one-third of the family wealth, Su Chen had been forced to donate twice before, and other ministers and princes had donated thousands of taels of silver.
Xu Maogong only donated one hundred taels on the grounds that his family was poor, and he became the laughing stock of Chang'an for a while.
However, Xu Maogong didn't take it seriously.
Such a stingy miser actually wants to donate one-third of his family wealth?!
Li Shimin was stunned and said: "British Lord, please don't talk nonsense. If you donate one-third of your family wealth, how much should it be..."
He wanted to remind Xu Maogong that if he said to donate one-third so righteously, then he would only give out a few hundred taels of silver, which would be embarrassing.
Cheng Yaojin also wanted to persuade.
However, Xu Maogong said directly: "Your Majesty, I have millions of dollars in wealth. If you give out one-third, it will be worth at least one million taels of silver!"
hiss!
Li Shimin was stunned.
Cheng Yaojin was even more dumbfounded.
Everyone was shocked.
Does Xu Maogong have millions in silver?!
Absolutely!
The wealth of Duke Xu Maogong, who served as the Duke of the state for two dynasties and had nothing to gain but nothing to gain, is absolutely incalculable.
The ministers and Li Shimin were not shocked by Xu Maogong's wealth, but they were shocked that Xu Maogong was willing to reveal his entire net worth and donate one third!
Incredible.
Li Shimin said: "British Lord, are you serious about this?"
Xu Maogong took out another stack of documents and said: "Your Majesty, this is part of the veteran's family property. The remaining veterans will sort it out when they get back and present it to Your Majesty!"
Li Shimin was stunned and said: "Why are you like this?!"
In fact, Xu Maogong was very reluctant to part with him, but he still said righteously: "Your Majesty, I am dedicated to serving the public, the country and the people!"
Li Shimin was completely stunned. He stood up quickly and stepped forward seriously to help Xu Maogong up and sit next to him.
"Mr. British, I misunderstood you before, please accept my respect!"
He bowed to Xu Maogong.
Xu Maogong stood up quickly to return the gift, but he didn't dare to show off.
The faces of all the ministers were very wonderful, and the faces of the eminent monks who were talking eloquently were also ugly.
They drank and had fun, and Xu Maogong donated his family property.
Make judgments about high and low.
Xu Maogong swept them all to death!
However.
This is not over yet.
Before Li Shimin said his thanks, Xu Maogong took out the memorial again.
"Your Majesty, there are floods in the south of the Yangtze River and famine in the south. I can't eat or drink!"