Without fighting, where would the national prestige of Qin be? Where would the dignity of the emperor be?
Moreover, even if they don't go to war with Xihu, they can't solve the problem of insufficient food. The soldiers and horses brought by Feng Yao have surrendered to Da Qin. Unless Da Qin doesn't want these people, Da Qin must provide food and grass to feed them.
What they have to consider now is not whether to attack Xihu, but to immediately raise food to ensure the food and grass needed by the military.
Qin Jiyan glanced at the ministers kneeling below with majestic eyes. Qin Jiyan did not ask them to get up, nor did he lose his temper at them. He said in a calm tone: "The top priority is to raise enough food and grass. All the gentlemen, tell me what is good.
way?"
He didn't lose his temper, didn't hold anyone accountable, and didn't dismiss any official. Qin Ji spoke in a calm tone, as if he was talking about ordinary government affairs, but...
None of the ministers kneeling below dared to relax. In their opinion, Qin Jiyan's lack of temper was more terrifying than losing his temper.
Extending one's head is a sword, and shrinking one's head is also a sword. If such a big thing happened, it would be impossible for the emperor not to punish them. They were even prepared to be dismissed from their posts or lose their lives, but in the end...
They waited for a long time, but did not wait for the emperor to deal with them. Instead, they asked how to solve this matter.
Although the matter has to be handled well, and they will definitely be able to get rid of their faults, the emperor also needs to give them a sure word, to make them understand what will happen to them if the matter is handled well, and what will happen if it is not handled well?
The emperor didn't say anything and just hung like this. They couldn't feel at ease at all!
Especially the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, he was like an ant on a hot pot at the moment. He wanted to ask Qin Jiyan to deal with him. Even if he was executed, it would be better than hanging him like this.
Death is not terrible if you can be beheaded without giving a nod. The process of waiting for the verdict is more terrible than death...
Shangshu of Hubu wanted to ask for punishment directly, but when he looked up... Seeing Qin Jiyan's deep and emotionless eyes, Shangshu of Hubu didn't have the courage to speak. He could only suppress the uneasiness in his heart, try to stay awake, and answer Qin Jiyan.
The problem of silence.
The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the taxation of money and grain in the world. He knows the situation of the Qin Dynasty very well. When Qin Jiyan asked, he gave his suggestion: "Collect grain from the grain merchants!"
The imperial court is short of food and the granaries are out of food, but it does not mean that the Qin Dynasty has no food. Those grain merchants must have grain in their hands. The best way to raise grain is to return the grain in the hands of the grain merchants to the treasury and transfer it to the imperial court.
Make unified arrangements.
However, his proposal was rejected by Feng Chief Assistant as soon as he made it, "No, we must not requisition grain from grain merchants. The flooding of Jiangnan has made the people uneasy. If we go to requisition grain now, both the government and the public will be shocked."
Zhihong, our Qin Dynasty has no food, Xihu, and Northern Qi will also know that we have no food. Once the news leaks out, the food negotiators will definitely raise the price of food, and the people will definitely rob food. By then, we may have civil strife, and Northern Qi
Xihu will not miss this opportunity."
"What Feng Shoufu said is right. Your Majesty, we are collecting grain at this time. Although we have raised food and grass, it will cause civil strife and the gain will not be worth the loss." As soon as Feng Shoufu's words came out, most officials agreed.
The fact that the court is short of food and grass must never be known to the people. Not only must the people not know about it, but we must also work hard to create a scene where the court has sufficient food and grass.
Just like what the Minister of the Ministry of Finance did, it was clear that there was insufficient food, but no matter who came to ask for food and grass, he would give it generously and readily, without showing any timidity, making it impossible for people to think about the lack of food and grass.
When the Minister of the Ministry of Finance heard this, he was agitated, calmed down instantly, and kowtowed to apologize, "Your Majesty, I... I am ignorant, please forgive me for my sin."
"Continue to discuss, what I want is a solution, not an apology." Qin Jiyan still didn't say anything about punishment, as if he had no intention of punishing anyone. This made all the ministers confused, not knowing whether to be happy or worried.
However, no matter what they thought in their hearts, the emperor said that they needed a way, and they had to think of a way no matter how hard they tried.
It's just that this method is not that easy to think of. All the ministers knelt on the ground for half an hour and discussed for half an hour, but they could not come up with a good solution.
Qin Jiyan saw that all these people were exhausted, and was afraid that these people would fall ill and no one would help him, so he kindly asked everyone to get up.
However, Qin Jiyan did not let them leave the palace. Instead, he asked the eunuchs to take them to the cabinet, and then entertained them with food and drinks, and let them continue to think about how they could leave the palace when they came up with a solution.
That's right, Qin Jiyan is putting them under semi-house arrest!
When these people heard Qin Jiyan's words, they were all surprised and happy: The emperor said that he could leave the palace if he figured out a way. Does that mean that as long as this matter is solved, they will be fine?
Especially the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, it was as if he had been given a shot of blood in an instant. His previous fatigue was gone, his eyes were so bright that he was spinning back and forth, and he kept chanting: "Food, food..."
When everyone saw him like this, they all shook their heads and said that he was possessed by a demon. Unfortunately, they could understand it after thinking about it. Regarding the matter of food and grass, the Minister of Hubu has the greatest responsibility. If this matter is not resolved well, the Minister of Hubu will definitely be unlucky.
Think about it, think about it, and come up with a way to get rid of the merit!
A group of ministers, headed by Feng Shoufu, gathered in the cabinet to continuously discuss possible solutions...
After Qin Jiyan sent all the ministers away, he was about to get up and go find Gu Qiancheng when he saw the eunuch coming to report and Feng Sijin asked to see him.
"Xuan." Qin Jiyan knew that there must be something important for Feng Sijin to enter the palace at this time.
As expected, Feng Sijin came in and said: "Your Majesty, I have found clues about today's matter in Taiyuan. Please take a look at it."
Feng Sijin happily picked up the book in his hand, and the eunuch quickly came forward to get it and carefully presented it to Qin Jiyan.
"Get up." Qin Jiyan did not embarrass Feng Sijin and asked Feng Sijin to get up before reading the book.
Feng Sijin stood up to thank him, his expression was natural, unlike others who couldn't let go in front of the emperor at all, which made the eunuchs on the side secretly envious.
He follows the emperor every day, but he cannot be generous in front of the emperor. Sure enough, people are different.
Feng Sijin's book was not long, but the details were clearly stated. Qin Jiyan's face became increasingly ugly as he read it...
"Pah..." After Qin Jiyan finished reading, he slapped the paper on the table and said angrily: "How brave!"
"Plop..." The eunuch beside Qin Jiyan was startled and knelt down straight, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Your Majesty, please calm down."
Ordinary people cannot bear the anger of the emperor. Even if the anger is not directed at themselves, they will automatically kneel down when they see the emperor being angry. Just like the eunuch next to Qin Jiyan, but...
Feng Sijin did not kneel down, he still stood there with a calm expression, without any trace of nervousness or uneasiness.
"You are brave." Qin Jiyan glanced at Feng Sijin with cold eyes. The look was full of majesty, as if countless heavy mountains were pressing down on him. Feng Sijin's face was pale and his brows were furrowed, as if he couldn't bear it...