Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 39 Accompanying the king is like accompanying a tiger

A total of 800 million taels of silver, which is three times more than the annual salary of the Ming Navy in previous years!

But it was precisely this point that Qi Jingtong saw the importance His Majesty attached to the Daming Navy.

Above the court, there are hundreds of cultural relics and officials, some are happy and some are crying, and there are different opinions.

The good news is that if such a Ming navy is built by Qi Jingtong, they will be more confident in dealing with foreign enemies in the future, especially for the southeast coast, it is an important weapon for the country.

The one who cried was none other than Liu Jian, the chief assistant of the cabinet. This was a waste of money.

After all, the Ming Dynasty has gone through more than 100 years, and with such a small amount of property accumulated, there will be food in the future.

Now, just one sentence from His Majesty has been spent, just like water that has been poured out, never to return.

At the moment they heard Zhu Houzhao's announcement, Liu Jian, the chief assistant of the cabinet, and the Minister of the Household Department almost fell to the ground.

"Li Aiqing."

"Chen is here!"

Li Suide strode out from the court.

"How about the firearm I ordered you to make?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have sent more skilled craftsmen to step up research, but this new type of artillery container is not easy to make, and I am afraid it will take some time."

Although Li Suide's voice was low, all civil and military officials from the court, the court, and the Manchu court could hear him clearly, and they were immediately full of strong curiosity about his words.

Could this cannonball still be deformed?

Could it be that the Ministry of Industry wants to innovate again?
You know, the Ministry of Industry of the Ming Dynasty gathers skilled craftsmen from all over the world here. If this little thing can't be done well, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry will be incompetent.

"It's been so long that it hasn't been made yet. Let me see if you, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, have managed it?"

Li Suide was so frightened that he hurriedly kowtowed and said, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will definitely make this container well. It should be designed according to the size of the ammunition, and it should be no problem!"

Zhu Houzhao nodded slightly, and said loudly: "Failure is not terrible, what is terrible is the depression after failure. Although the court has insufficient money, I will give you as much as you spend on these things."

Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Liu Jian, Chief Assistant of the Cabinet, and Liang Chu, Secretary of the Household Department, wandered on the Qingshi Square.

They have been lingering here for a long time, and they even know that Zhu Houzhao is in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but they dare not enter for a long time.

In today's court, what the emperor said, they have fully understood His Majesty's thoughts.

But the real problem is that the national treasury is really empty, only a few thousand taels of silver. If something big happens, this amount of money is not enough for a country to spend, and it will be stretched.

When Liu Jian and Liang Chu were worried, the eunuch next to Zhu Houzhao slowly came over and said respectfully: "Master Liu Ge, Lord Shangshu, Your Majesty said that since you two are here, let's go in!"

When Liu Jian and Liang Chu heard this, their expressions changed slightly in shock, and they cupped their hands and said, "Your Majesty already knows that we are coming?"

"Yes?"

"Then there will be Mr. Lao!"

"Please!"

Under the guidance of the close eunuch, Liu Jian and Liang Chu came to the Yangxin Hall. "

The minister waits to meet His Majesty! "

Zhu Houzhao sat on the dragon chair, waved his hands and said, "Pingshen!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"The two of you must have come here because of the emptiness of the treasury?"

When Liu Jian and Liang Chu heard this, their expressions softened slightly, they looked at each other, cupped their hands and said, "Your Majesty, I am here for this very reason."

Liu Jian continued: "Your Majesty, there is not much silver left in the treasury."

"There is only such a little family property left, if it is all used to build ships and artillery, then Daming will have no money!"

Zhu Houzhao seemed to have expected that Liu Jian would say this, so he said with a smile on his face: "Mr. Liu Ge doesn't have to worry about this matter. I believe that the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs will have a way to come up with money."

Hearing this, Liang Chu's face changed slightly in shock, and he immediately cried out in pain.

He cursed secretly in his heart: "Your grandma, let me see how much my bones are worth? I sold my whole body, and I still can't make up the fraction you said."

"Your Majesty, I really can't do anything, but I would rather sell this whole body of flesh to make money for Daming."

Of course Zhu Houzhao could understand the meaning of the words of the Minister of Hubu, but what he didn't expect was that the words of the Minister of Hubu were also thorny.

At this time, Liang Chu opened his mouth and said helplessly: "Your Majesty, although I am the Minister of the Household Department, I can't change so much money?"

"If I can be allowed to sell this body of flesh, I would agree."

Liu Jian was also extremely smart, seeing that Liang Chu had said everything to this point, he hurriedly stepped forward and echoed, "Yes, Your Majesty, even the ministers don't have the ability to turn stones into gold!"

Zhu Hou looked at the two people who were complaining, and pretended to be angry and said, "What? Are you all going to rebel?"

"Absolutely not, I absolutely dare not have such a heart, but I am really helpless!"

Liu Jian and Liang Chu hurried forward to argue.

"What helplessness? I just watched you do something, and you just pushed back and forth like this. On weekdays, you all claim to be the ministers of the court, the pillars of the court, but I want to use you at a critical moment, but you are all one by one."

"At this time, everyone said no, why did you go early?"

"What use do I need you for?"

"If you can't change the money, you go and find a way for me. If you can't think of a way, then you have to work hard!"

"Otherwise, what's the use of the imperial court feeding you for nothing for so many years?"

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Zhu Houzhao reprimanded and cursed, making the two ministers who came to scold him feel ashamed.

If any problems you encounter on weekdays are left to His Majesty, what do you want these ministers to do?
After about a stick of incense, Liu Jian and Liang Chu walked out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation with dejected expressions.

"Old Liu Ge, what should I do?"

Liang Chu said with a bitter look on his face and helplessness.

"Here, there is nothing I can do? Sigh!"

Liu Jian looked up helplessly, sighed, shook his head and said, "What else can I do? Your Majesty left this problem to me and you, even if you can't think of a way, you have to think about it!"

"If it really doesn't work, it's the only way for you and I to sell off our property and still be able to come up with some money."

Come on, Liu Jian ignored Liang Chu and walked straight to the gate of the Forbidden City.

This question was thrown to the two of them by the emperor.

If they do a good job, they will achieve the fame of a generation of emperors. If they don't do it well, they will confiscate their homes and be dismissed from office, and at worst, they will be wiped out!
Right now, Liu Jian doesn't have the heart to care about other people.

The residence of the chief minister of the cabinet.

When Liu Jian returned home, he didn't pay attention to anyone, even his wife called him many times, but he didn't agree.

He walked into his room with all his heart, and then locked the door behind him.

When Mrs. Shoufu saw this scene, her complexion suddenly became ugly.

"Master, what's the matter?"

"Did something happen in the court?"

Liu Jian didn't say anything, and Madam didn't dare to ask.

A shoufu who is at the pinnacle of power can be embarrassed like this, who knows what happened?
Even Mrs. Shoufu's mood became inexplicably tense.
　Ask for collection.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)