On the morning of the second day, after the morning session, I was in the Imperial Study Room.
Liu Lang sat behind the dragon case, looked at Sui Fengmao and asked: "Sui Aiqing, it's rare to see you come to see me after the court meeting. Could it be that there is something important in the Ministry of Household Affairs?"
After saying that, Liu Lang said to Pei Yang, "Give me a seat."
Pei Yang obeyed the order and immediately moved a soft stool, placed it next to Sui Fengmao, and said respectfully: "Sui Shangshu, please sit down."
But Sui Fengmao has a mysophobia. When he goes out, he won't sit down as long as he can. Even if he wants to sit down, he has to wipe it clean with a handkerchief repeatedly. Moreover, after returning home, he must change his shoes and clothes, and then he will continue to sit down.
Go wash your face, wash your hands, etc. In short, you have to clean until you feel at ease.
However, this was the emperor's study room, and Sui Fengmao didn't dare to take out his handkerchief to wipe the stool, but the emperor gave him a seat and he didn't dare not sit down, so Sui Fengmao could only endure the discomfort and sit on the stool with a little bit of his butt.
Sui Fengmao said: "Your Majesty, last time you said that you would increase expenditures in the North, strengthen the defense of key areas at various checkpoints, and raise more well-bred foals, but..."
"But?" Liu Lang couldn't help but frown slightly when he heard this.
Sui Fengmao wondered: "Back to the Emperor, the Ministry of Finance is currently short of money. I'm afraid it won't be possible to allocate funds to the north in a short time."
"Strapped?" Liu Lang asked hurriedly: "But didn't you say that two days ago? Didn't you say it should be enough?"
Sui Fengmao said: "Your Majesty, I haven't calculated the accounts in detail two days ago, but after careful calculation, I found that after taking into account the annual agricultural and mulberry expenditures, disaster relief funds from various places, the newly built palaces, and the court officials and soldiers
Their salaries and wages, and all the expenses incurred during the previous enthronement ceremony..."
"...Okay, okay, I know all this, Aiqing, just tell me the result..."
Liu Lang didn't want to listen anymore and interrupted Sui Fengmao.
Sui Fengmao sighed softly and said with a troubled expression: "Anyway, Your Majesty, judging from the current amount of silver in the treasury, it may be difficult to allocate enough silver to Beidi in a short period of time..."
Liu Lang felt bad when he heard this. He couldn't help but stand up and strode out from behind the dragon case.
When Sui Fengmao saw the emperor standing up, he quickly stood up and faced the emperor respectfully with his head lowered.
"Sui Aiqing, when I said I would allocate money to Beidi, why didn't you tell me about this earlier?" Liu Lang was very annoyed.
Sui Fengmao handed over his hands and admitted his mistake: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty. It was my dereliction of duty!"
"Sui Aiqing, you can just say that you are derelict in your duty, but have you ever thought about me? I have already made a wish with several generals in the north, saying that I will allocate a sum of money to them as soon as possible so that they...
...It's good now, but you suddenly said...that the money is not enough! How do you want me to explain to them?"
Liu Lang had a sad look on his face, and he suddenly felt as big as his head.
Sui Fengmao did not dare to speak out, but he still secretly observed the emperor's expression.
After being quiet for a while, Liu Lang suddenly asked: "Sui Aiqing, tell me how much silver can be transferred to the north now?"
Sui Fengmao was very hesitant and embarrassed. He shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, no... not much..."
"How much is not much? I want to hear the specific amount, tell me!" Liu Lang was obviously angry.
Sui Fengmao then said: "When I return to the emperor, I have about...about 80,000 taels of silver..."
"What?" Liu Lang shouted in surprise: "Just a little bit?"
Sui Fengmao said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, you really can only spare so much, and I managed to squeeze out these 80,000 taels of silver in every possible way. It's not too much to say that I am tightening my belt, Your Majesty!"
"call......."
Liu Lang couldn't bear it anymore. He closed his eyes, took a long breath, and tried to control his emotions.
Sui Fengmao observed Liu Lang's appearance, and then said carefully: "Your Majesty, how about we transfer these 80,000 taels of silver first? Although it is a little less, we have kept our promise and have not done anything to you."
The general broke his promise..."
Liu Lang turned around and stared at Sui Fengmao, and asked angrily: "Shang Shu Sui, do you think I am a child playing house? It is only 80,000 taels of silver, who do you want me to give it to? There are so many people,
There are so many places, how do you want me to divide them up? You are great, you know how to settle accounts, come on, come and help me divide a share? Ah!"
Sui Fengmao felt the emperor's anger and immediately lowered his head and did not dare to speak out.
Pei Yang on the side immediately advised: "Your Majesty, calm down and don't get angry."
"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Liu Lang said loudly.
Afterwards, Liu Lang, who got angry, began to walk back and forth in the imperial study room, his brows always furrowed.
"I don't care, you promised me that you must find a way to get money for me, otherwise I will never be done with you!" Liu Lang was so angry that his chest continued to rise and fall after he finished speaking.
Sui Fengmao immediately looked panicked and began to think of ways...
After a while, Sui Fengmao suddenly said: "Your Majesty, I have thought of a way, but it's a bit... a bit too... too..."
"What is that? Don't hesitate, tell me if you have any ideas!" Liu Lang stopped and asked.
Sui Fengmao lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, my nephew, Marquis Zhongyong, do you still remember him?"
"Are you talking about Xiao Zhongyonghou? I remember, what happened to him?"
Liu Lang nodded, wondering why Sui Fengmao suddenly mentioned this person.
Sui Fengmao whispered: "Your Majesty, I thought that I could ask Marquis Zhongyong to donate some money..."
Liu Lang was stunned for a moment, and then said: "Shang Shu, what do you mean by this? Do you want me to lose face and ask for money from Marquis Zhongyong?"
Sui Fengmao hurriedly waved his hands and said: "No, no, Your Majesty, please wait until I finish what I have to say..."
"Speak quickly!" Liu Lang suppressed his temper and said patiently.
Sui Fengmao immediately said: "Your Majesty, Marquis Zhongyong came to visit me two days ago. During the chat, he mentioned that he wanted to marry his first wife. However, he had no way of marrying this first wife, so his whole mood was...
It's very bad. You don't know that he has been sighing and glum since the beginning of this topic. No matter how hard I try to persuade him, I can't persuade him..."
"Wait a minute..." Liu Lang suddenly interrupted and asked: "Isn't Marquis Zhongyong married yet? Why did I hear that he seemed to have just taken a concubine not long ago?"
Sui Fengmao hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty, you have remembered wrongly. Although Marquis Zhongyong has taken several concubines, the position of the principal wife has always been vacant. I asked about it and he said it was reserved for one person. This
I will never marry anyone but her!"
"Oh, this is strange!" Liu Lang shook his head and asked in surprise: "Which woman can make Marquis Zhongyong so persistent?"
Sui Fengmao immediately said: "Back to the emperor, it is Lord Jimo's second lady, Jimo Qiao."
"Jimo Qiao?" Liu Lang was shocked, his eyes widened, as if he had discovered a new world.
Sui Fengmao nodded slowly and said with great emotion: "Speaking of which, Marquis Zhongyong and Miss Qiao were also childhood sweethearts and childhood sweethearts. Moreover, Master Jimo and Lao Zhongyong Marquis also mentioned that they hope to get married in the future. Unfortunately, later
Due to some strange combination of circumstances, Lord Jimo never agreed to this marriage..."
Liu Lang got the impression and immediately said: "Listening to what you said, I remembered that it seems that the old Zhongyong Marquis had an unpleasant quarrel with Jimoshu because of this incident, right? I remember that many people in the court were
You know... I didn't expect that Xiao Zhongyonghou was still an infatuated person. Several years had passed and he was still thinking about Jimo Qiao. He even reserved the position of his wife...
..”
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