The moon was bright and the stars were sparse, and the stars were like chess pieces. The candlelight in the palace hall was dimly swaying, as if it might be extinguished at any time.
"I don't know what His Majesty means by asking us to come to court at this time."
One of the ministers sighed, with a slight look of impatience on his face.
After all, in the middle of winter, who would want to leave their bed and come here to go to court!
Not to mention, the palace hall is so spacious, but they don't even know how to light a stove, and they didn't bring a quilt before coming.
Some older ministers were already shivering in their clothes.
"Rebels are becoming increasingly rampant. Although Huang Taiji is dead, his ninth son Fulin also has ambitions. His Majesty must also be embarrassed by this matter."
One of the ministers sighed and said.
"Hmph, even the mere rebels can't be dealt with. I will definitely go to court and make these generals infamy for eternity!"
A middle-aged minister snorted coldly.
After hearing this person's words, others distanced themselves from each other.
"Master Wei, these words are biased. The military pay is scarce, and we are unable to make a comeback!"
A man who looked somewhat majestic sighed.
"The military pay is scarce. Don't make excuses for your incompetence. Zu Dashou, you left your post without permission. Today, I will definitely take part in your investigation and make you infamy for thousands of years!"
The middle-aged official pointed at the general's nose and cursed.
"you!"
Zu Dashou's eyes suddenly burst into flames. Not only him, but all the generals in the court also glared at these civil servants.
If it wasn't for the sake of image, I would have punched and kicked him long ago!
Let these people who only know how to have sex in the court all day long accept the cruelty of reality!
However, when I think about it, if I beat these talkers, it will really be the end of me.
It is almost certain that he will be infamous for eternity!
After all, the pen tips of these civil servants are more ruthless than killing people!
Of course, the military attachés present were also uncomfortable with the war on the front line.
I dare you to ask any general who has not fantasized about saving a building from falling and becoming famous throughout history.
But what about the result?
Reality and imagination are always somewhat different.
Let's not talk about the opponent's tactics. It seems that he can predict the enemy's opportunities every time and anticipate the military defenses deployed by himself and others in advance. Let's just say it's ordinary.
Military pay was scarce, and sometimes soldiers even had to eat bran to ensure they were not hungry.
Things like fighting rely on physical work.
To put it bluntly, in a fight between meat-eating and vegetarian people, the meat-eating person will definitely win.
Why?
People who eat meat are more powerful and stronger!
Eating bran every day will reduce your fighting ability.
Some soldiers usually go to the homes of ordinary people in villages to find some food. Those people will first ask you whether you are from Daming or Dashun?
The soldiers did not dare to say that they were from the Ming Dynasty, they only dared to say that they were from the Dashun.
Because only in this way will the people be given a bite to eat.
Although I am not ashamed of Li Zicheng, the Dashun army is really what the people want at this moment!
When I came back this time, I actually wanted to ask the imperial court for military pay.
If there is no more military pay, then the hundreds of thousands of troops ahead may disperse without encountering the enemy.
"Your Majesty is here!"
The next moment, the eunuch Wang Zhixin's voice came, and all the ministers present immediately straightened their clothes and made serious expressions.
Although many things can be done openly and secretly, at least on the surface, you still have to respect the emperor.
"Your Majesty, the generals such as the old minister Yuanzu Dashou have neglected their duties. The war ahead is tense. At this moment, they have openly returned to the court. I beg your Majesty to punish them!"
Wei Zaode said impassionedly, with a loyal and patriotic expression on his face.
Chongzhen turned to look at the generals led by Zu Dashou.
Zu Dashou suddenly panicked.
I don't know why, but I always feel that Chongzhen today gives me a majestic feeling, as if if I say the wrong thing next, I will die without a burial place.
"Your Majesty clearly knows that the war ahead is tense, but the soldiers are hungry, and some of the clothes they wear are cotton-padded clothes made of catkins. If things continue like this, I am afraid they will be defeated before the war begins. I beg your Majesty to sow food funds!"
Zu Dashou argued loudly.
"Oh, you——"
"okay!"
Chongzhen's words made Wei Zaode, who was about to continue taunting, immediately shut his mouth and just looked at Chongzhen with an upright face.
What is most important to a literati?
The most important thing is character. Even if you do some small tricks behind the scenes, at least you have to show off on the surface.
"I, the reason why I called you here today is for food and salary matters."
Having said this, Chongzhen looked at the ministers below.
The ministers below were looking at each other with their eyes, nose and heart, as if they wanted to find a crack in the wall and crawl in.
Although I don't know what Chongzhen is going to do, there have been rumors about it a few days ago.
but--
The richest person in the world is probably His Majesty the Emperor, but at this moment the Emperor still wants to ask for money from himself and others?
It doesn’t cost you money, it costs your life!
"Master Zhang?"
Chongzhen looked at an old man who was moving backwards and asked.
"Ahem, Your Majesty, I sold my property the day before yesterday and got a total of thirty taels of silver. Now that the war is tightening on the front, I will donate all my property to Your Majesty."
The official named Zhang took a step forward and said with a grimace.
As I walked around, the patches on my official uniform were very eye-catching.
"Oh, Mr. Zhang is loyal and patriotic. You haven't changed these clothes for a while, right?"
Chongzhen said with a smile.
If it were before, I might have been deceived by this guy, but since I read the history of the Ming Dynasty, if I believed it now, it would really be a shame.
"Ahem, as long as the clothes can keep you warm, if you can have a penny left to contribute to the Ming Dynasty, then I can leave you without any clothes!"
The official spoke sternly.
All the officials around rolled their eyes.
This old guy is really——
It's really shameless!
Damn it, you bought an old house a few days ago and then sold it with a sad face. Now you are pretending to be poor?
Is there anyone more shameless than this old guy in the world?
But I have to say that this old guy's method must be very effective.
Wait a minute, do you want to follow up?
Some officials are already considering the possibility.
"Okay, I agree. Mr. Zhang, please take off your clothes."
Chongzhen looked at the official named Zhang and said with a sneer on his face.
"What?"
Not only the official named Zhang, but also other officials seemed to have heard wrongly and looked at Chongzhen in confusion.
The next moment, the official surnamed Zhang's face instantly turned red.
"A scholar cannot be killed but cannot be humiliated. How could your Majesty insult this old minister like this? If you don't give me an explanation, I will... crash to death in the Golden Palace today!"
The old man pointed at the Panlong Pillar of Jinluan Palace and shouted