Chapter 492: Each ministry and guard asks for money
In charge of the entire Lishan account, Li Yue handled these accounts with ease. He held the abacus in one hand and frowned as he calculated the profit and loss of each volume of accounts.
Xiao Wu and Xu Hui each also have a small abacus in their hands.
For a while, the house was filled with the clicking sound of the abacus.
Zhang Yang took a sip of tea. In the second year of Zhenguan, Li Shimin took out 300 guan of silver coins from the warehouse and used them to purchase iron ore to cast weapons and 300 shi of grain.
These accounts are clearly recorded, but there is no following.
The gains from the subsequent capture of the Turks were not recorded in this file, but were recorded in the file that Tuli Khan sent people to congratulate him in the fourth year of Zhenguan.
This also appears that these accounts are complex and fragmented, resulting in the need to always go back and check the previous files when sorting them out.
I was sorting through each different year. I was looking at the files for the third year of Zhenguan, and suddenly I had to go back and adjust a certain account for the first year of Zhenguan.
Zhang Yang took a sip of tea and asked, "Are they pigs? Can they do this?"
Xiao Wu and Xu Hui were taking a nap, and when they heard the master's scolding, they suddenly became energetic again.
The calculated accounts cannot be placed on the table and can only be spread on the floor.
Seeing that the two little girls were sleepy, Li Yue said warmly: "Go and wash up quickly, go to bed early."
Only then did Xu Hui and Xiao Wu put down their pens.
Li Yue took them to wash up.
Zhang Yang sorted out the accounts on the ground, tied up the copied account books, and handed them to his aunt standing outside the house. "Auntie, please give these account books to Shangguan Yi early in the morning and ask him to help, organize them into books, and then
Come up with a specific item."
Auntie took the two piles of paper and nodded, "Here."
After a busy night, the couple didn't know how to fall asleep. The biological clock always wakes up on time.
Zhang Yang looked at himself in the bronze mirror and said, "Daughter-in-law, do you see it?"
Li Yue also didn't get enough sleep. She adjusted her husband's bun and asked, "What's wrong?"
"My eyes are bloodshot."
"This kind of thing is really torturous. Not only do you have to control the financial power, but your husband also has to visit the imperial treasury."
Zhang Yang nodded feebly.
Aunt Wang has been cleaning the yard early in the morning.
He had slept but seemed not to have slept. Zhang Yang was beating eggs with dull eyes and asked the children to make cakes. He wanted to go crazy and wanted to hang up all the people in the household department and give them a good beating.
If they hadn't made the accounts so piecemeal, the family wouldn't be so busy.
The two little girls also woke up. Xiao Wu was rummaging around the room, "Huh? Where are the raisins?"
When the cake came out of the oven, Xiao Wu felt aggrieved and distressed when he saw the raisins on the cake.
Zhang Yang comforted him: "Ask aunt to buy some more."
These raisins were given to them by Li Yue, and they were reluctant to eat them.
Xiao Wu took a piece of hot cake and ate it silently.
Li Yue advised: "Next time we make the cake and eat it ourselves."
Xiao Wu whispered: "Teacher, can you also make cakes?"
"I'll get better at it."
"whee!"
The gloom on Xiao Wu's face disappeared, and his smile returned in a blink of an eye.
Pour the cake out of the bamboo basket, put it into a food box, and prepare a small wooden knife to cut the cake.
Li Yue took two more meat buns and said, "If husband is hungry, you can take them out to eat."
This kind of meticulous care from my daughter-in-law is always very touching.
Feeling warm in his heart, Zhang Yang walked out of the house carrying the food box.
The sky in the morning was overcast and it was likely to rain today.
As soon as I arrived at Zhuque Gate, I saw Niu Jinda and Cheng Yaojin sitting by the gate, eating a piece of cake.
With doubts in his heart, Zhang Yang still walked towards the Zhuque Gate.
"stop."
Hearing the words, Zhang Yang frowned and looked back. The two generals who were still sitting by the door had stood behind him without knowing it.
"Two generals, don't waste your time in the morning."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cheng Yaojin slapped his shoulder with his palm, and he even squeezed it hard.
"Good boy, these tendons are stronger than I used to be." Cheng Yaojin laughed loudly.
Caught between General Niu and Cheng Yaojin, Zhang Yang wondered: "Why are the two generals so enthusiastic?"
Niu Jinda first let out a long sigh.
Cheng Yaojin spoke with a smile on his face, "I heard that your boy was named Du Zhi Lang by His Majesty and was also admitted to the Ministry of Education?"
Zhang Yang looked troubled, "I don't know what General Cheng has to say."
Niu Jinda said in a low voice: "Shilang Zhang doesn't know that the wages of the two guards, Qian Niu and Qian Niu, have not been paid for a long time."
Cheng Yaojin also nodded, "Since the northern expedition to the Turks, the money distributed by the government has been in bits and pieces. Most of the soldiers have complained, but they dare not say it openly. A certain family sees it and feels bitter in their heart."
As he was talking, he walked to the Suzaku Gate, where there was another general.
"Hahaha!" Li Daliang laughed first, "Good boy, I knew you must be extraordinary."
Zhang Yang cupped his hands and said, "I've seen the general."
"When I went to conquer Tibet, I heard that there was a kid in the court who made suggestions. At that time, I knew that your kid would definitely shine on the family's family. These tricks of a certain family are really vicious." As he spoke, Li Daliang raised his belt again.
, grabbed Zhang Yang who was caught in the middle with one hand, "Good boy, can we increase the cost of leading the guards?"
Zhang Yang staggered a little while pulling him, and pointed at the Tai Chi Hall, "The general is about to go to court."
"What court...what court!" Li Daliang leaned closer and whispered: "You don't know something. Our leading army guards are brave and good at fighting in the army, but no matter how good at fighting, the soldiers also need to eat well, right? The recent military situation
The food supply in Zhongying has dropped again and again, and I won’t be able to have enough to eat. What do you mean by that!”
Zhang Yangbei smiled and saw several people walking towards here not far away. The people coming were Yan Liben from the Ministry of Industry and Lu Zhaolin from the Imperial Medical Department.
When he walked into the hall and was surrounded by everyone, Zhang Yang numbly listened to everyone's bitterness.
Lu Zhaolin cupped his hands and said: "At the beginning, there were many conflicts between the lower official and Zhang Shilang. As a doctor, you should treat diseases and save people. However, the expenses of our Imperial Medical Office have dropped again and again. Now we can't even afford medicinal materials."
Yan Liben said, "What is the secret recipe of the compass? I have been studying it for two months and can't figure it out."
Seeing officials walking towards him again, Zhang Yang sighed, and looking at Changsun Wuji's proud expression, he couldn't help but grit his teeth.
The economic situation in North Korea and China is a mess and a mess.
The emperor also had some money in his hands, so he would make up for whatever money was lacking.
Completely disregarding the balance of payments.
"Your Majesty has arrived!"
As the eunuch in the palace shouted loudly, everyone stopped talking.
I was busy until late last night and haven't slept enough yet.
Zhang Yang handed the food box to Eunuch Zhang who was in front of the palace to take care of him, and then stood at his position. His Majesty also arrived at the Tai Chi Palace.
The morning meeting officially began, with various ministries reporting matters.
Zhang Yang took the opportunity to stand up and sleep for a while, but heard some strange words.
Li Shimin said loudly: "It's already June and it's summer. It's so hot in the palace. I wonder if you know any place to escape the heat."
Yan Liben stood up and came out of court, "Your Majesty, the renovation of Jiucheng Palace has been completed."
Li Shimin nodded slightly.
It seems that I am going to Jiucheng Palace in Tiantai Mountain to escape the summer heat.
Zhang Yang cheered up and took a step forward, "May I ask Your Majesty, how many troops and horses are needed to escort you to Jiucheng Palace?"
Li Shimin did not speak.
Changsun Wuji said: "In the past, we escorted thirty thousand soldiers and horses."
Li Shimin smiled and looked at Zhang Yang's expression, "There will be fewer soldiers and horses this time. Ten thousand soldiers and horses will be enough to escort. Zhang Shilang will also go with him."
There was silence in the palace for a long time. Seeing that he did not thank me, he did not return to the court.
"Your Majesty, in the sixth year of Zhenguan, your Majesty went to Tiantai Mountain and spent nearly one thousand guan. Among them, he spent another 3,000 guan on food for carriages, horses, and repairs to the Renshou Palace. This time, there are already 4,000 guan."
There was a brief silence in the hall.
The mood to escape the summer heat was extinguished by Zhang Yang's basin of cold water.
"Your Majesty can go to Lishan to escape the summer heat. The first road is very close. The Second Supreme Emperor is also in Lishan, and Lishan doesn't need food."
Zhang Yang's words echoed in the hall.
Li Shimin nodded secretly, "Let's not talk about summer vacation for now. How are Shuofang's troops and horses prepared?"
Hou Junji stood up and came out of the courtroom, "Your Majesty, yesterday Shuofang's commander-in-chief Li Ji sent a military report. More than 30,000 troops and horses have been trained and ready to go at any time."
Li Shimin nodded loudly, "Okay!"
"Your Majesty!" Zhang Yang stood up and asked, "How many troops and horses are needed to conquer Mobei?"
Hou Junji saluted and nodded, "We already have 30,000 soldiers. With another 20,000 soldiers to make up for the baggage, we can attack Xue Yantuo directly."
"May I ask how many soldiers, horses, and food are needed?"
As soon as the words passed through his mind, Hou Junji replied: "One hundred stones is enough."
After the words fell, he saw the other party smiling. Hou Junji was puzzled and said: "Why are you laughing?"
Zhang Yang said seriously: "I'm sorry, I couldn't hold it back for a while after hearing such a ridiculous estimate. First of all, when General Li Jing went to conquer the Turks in the north, he used nearly a thousand stones of food and grass. This was based on the premise of fighting to support the war, and this time he went to conquer Xue Yantuo
The journey is far away. Firstly, we don’t know where the enemy is when we enter Mobei. Secondly, we have to travel a long distance. How can we use a hundred stones of food and grass, and add 20,000 troops and horses?"
"Even if one person eats two meals a day, based on the food intake of an adult man, the food required for two months is one dou. According to the market price, ten dou and one stone are needed. I dare to ask Hou Shangshu how much food is needed for fifty thousand soldiers and horses for two months."
There was another murmur of discussion in the hall.
Hou Junji couldn't get off stage for a while.
Li Shimin had a stern look on his face, "So according to what you said, when is the right time to send troops? How much food and grass can Shangshu Province prepare for this expedition?"
Hou Junji bowed slightly and returned to the courtroom.
Zhang Yang cupped his hands and said: "I saw the current surplus in the court yesterday. If I want to prepare food and grass, I have to wait until the summer harvest in August at the earliest. Now I want to go to Mobei. I can only say that I have no money and no food."
Li Shimin asked again: "What if we go to Renshou Palace to escape the summer heat in August?"
Zhang Yang said in a deep voice: "No money."
"When can Taiye Pool be built?"
"No money."
Seeing that Li Shimin was about to get angry, Zhang Yang said again: "The construction of the Hexi Corridor has not yet been completed. Tens of thousands of strings are needed before and after. Your Majesty, don't think about building Taiye Lake."
Tens of thousands of strings...
Everyone in the hall couldn't help but take a breath of cold air.
We are all powerful people, so when we heard about tens of thousands of dollars, we felt a toothache.
Li Shimin suddenly stood up, and the officials saluted again.
"Shilang Zhang, Prime Minister, and Duke Zhao came to Ganlu Hall to discuss matters and withdraw from the court!"
The emperor no longer thought about the morning court and left quickly.
Zhang Yang looked at Eunuch Wang with a smile, "Eunuch Wang, please send this food box to the Li Zheng Palace and give it to His Highness Prince Jin."
The prince nodded in agreement, "Hurry up to the Ganlu Hall, and leave these little things to the old slave."
"It's time to work."
"You're welcome."
Zhang Yang gathered his thoughts, followed in the footsteps of Changsun Wuji and Fang Xiang, and walked behind them.
At this moment, Li Shimin was eating in the Ganlu Hall. He was eating salted duck eggs from Lishan Mountain and a bowl of millet rice.
Seeing someone coming, Li Shimin said: "Sit down."
"Here."
The three of them sat down in response. When His Majesty finished eating, he wiped his mouth and took another sip of tea. "How are the arrangements for the imperial examination officials?"
Fang Xuanling took out a booklet and said, "Your Majesty, this is a list arranged by officials at all levels. All the people to be recruited for this imperial examination are on the booklet and arrangements have been made."
Changsun Wuji glanced at Zhang Yang and whispered, "There is a young man named Pei Xingjian who wrote a very good policy on the governance of the Protectorate of the Western Regions."
"I have been assigned to the Foreign Affairs Academy by the Ministry of Personnel." With suspicion in his heart, Changsun Wuji loosened his clothes, "I just don't know what the relationship between the Foreign Affairs Academy and the Ministry of Personnel is. I asked Zhongshu to find out later that such a talented scholar
Remarkable people were sent to the Foreign Affairs Academy."
Zhang Yang took the tea brought by the eunuch and said, "There is something in Zhao Guogong's words, does it mean that our Foreign Affairs Commission and the Ministry of Civil Affairs have colluded?"
"I'm just confused."
Fang Xuanling took a sip of tea and said, "Since he can write a book on policies for the Western Regions, it is reasonable for him to be favored by the Foreign Affairs Academy. Yang Shidao, the Minister of Li and the Ministry of Human Resources, knew that this person had a strategy for governing the Western Regions, so it was appropriate to send him to the Foreign Affairs Academy.
of."
"Why is it that before the strategy reaches Zhongshu Province, people have already been sent out by the Ministry of Personnel?"
Zhang Yang smiled and said: "Because this strategy was first seen by Yang Shidao, the Minister of Civil Affairs, and submitted by Xu Jingzong, so it was arranged in advance."
Changsun Wuji said with a straight face, "There are rules and arrangements in the court. I hope that Minister Zhang will take more care of his subordinates in the future."
"Hey, this is what Duke Zhao Guo taught you." Zhang Yang nodded, maintaining the humility of a junior.
It is obvious that the poaching failed and was intercepted by the Foreign Affairs Academy. Your eldest son, Sun Wuji, is still too petty.
His impression of Changsun Wuji was a little lower in his heart, and Zhang Yang drank tea calmly.
Seeing the fights among his ministers, Li Shi's heart was still unsatisfied.
Zhang Yang continued: "I just entered the Shangshu Province yesterday as a governor. This morning, various ministries in charge of the Shangshu Province asked for money. I hope that your majesty can give me the key to the storehouse, check the surplus of the money in the court, and distribute it appropriately."
.”
Li Shimin nodded, "I will give you the keys to the money warehouse and the grain warehouse."
"I have one more request. From now on, all money distributed in the court must go through the Ministry of Secretariat."
Zhang Yang is indeed a good hand at making money, able to turn a dilapidated village into a prosperous place that is coveted by all counties.
It was precisely because of his ability that Changsun Wuji recommended him to the Shangshu Province. Many positions in the court were vacant, such as Fang Xuanling, Cen Wenwen, Wei Zheng, and Changsun Wuji, who all held multiple positions.
.
Li Shimin put down the tea bowl in his hand, "I can promise you, but I want to see your results."