After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

The room was exceptionally quiet, and everyone was silent. Pei Jiaoran smiled, looking at Jia Gonglu with deep meaning. At this moment, a gust of wind blew open the half-closed window, and the biting cold wind poured in. It blew out the fire in the charcoal basin, and the warmth in the room was also swallowed up completely.

The servant guarding the door hurriedly went forward to close the window and re-lit the charcoal basin.

"The Shen Ce Army is still on the way to the expedition. It would be inappropriate to deal with the envoy of the Military Affairs Council at this time. Wouldn't it be disheartening to the soldiers?" Jia Gonglu smiled.

Pei Jiaoran said with a cold look in his aggressive eyes, "But the amount of materials that the Ministry of Revenue has to deliver is not small. It is related to the rations of the soldiers in Jiannan and other vassal states. If we supply them to the military academy, we cannot guarantee that our hands will be clean. If there is a shortage of food and clothing, which causes the war to be delayed, I am afraid you will be to blame."

Pei Jiaoran slowly picked up the teacup. Fortunately, although the tea was cooled by the wind, it was still drinkable. "The mountain is high and the road is long. It is winter, and the waterway is not easy to travel. We can only take the mountain road. If it rains or snows, we will inevitably be delayed on the road."

At this point, Jia Gonglu could hear the meaning of Pei Jiaoran's words. The North and South Military Supply Institute was responsible not only for the Shen Ce Army, but also for the vassal states that sent troops. The Shen Ce Army still had money to exchange and rewards from the emperor, but the vassal states relied on taxes. This time, because the court was really short of money, it had to promise that the vassal states that sent troops this time could take the food and clothing paid for this time when they paid the two taxes next year. The so-called 30% was just a concession on the level.

Before leaving, the assistant general of the Right Shence Army came to the Political Affairs Hall to meet him. Although Wu Lingjia was generous, he also set spending standards for the Shence Army. The supplies taken from the Military Supply Institute this time could last for about three months.

In other words, this seemingly endless war actually has a three-month deadline. Both the Shen Ce Army and the Fanzhen Army must work together to repel the Tunan Coalition within three months. Otherwise, the military supply office and even the Ministry of Revenue behind him may interrupt their supply at any time.

Shaking his head and chuckling, Jia Gonglu said, "What Mr. Pei means is that if the people in the military academy cannot be dealt with, the Shen Ce Army will be defeated in this expedition?"

"Mr. Jia, what's the point of asking such a question?" Pei Jiaoran raised his lips, "If we don't take action now, will the court take action when the vassal soldiers rush into the Military Court and kill the envoy of the Military Court in the future?"

There was a fierce determination in her eyes, as if she would not give up until she achieved her goal.

"Alas, the matter of the Yanzi Treasury has not been resolved yet." Jia Gonglu smiled, "Mr. Su, your Secretariat is really full of talented people. One Li Jing is not enough, and now there is Pei Jiaoran. Will you not stop until the court is turned upside down?"

Seeing Jia Gonglu being accused of disrupting the balance of the court, Pei Jiaoran relaxed his brows and sneered.

"The country is in danger. Even if we should tolerate each other for the sake of the country, we have to see what the matter is. If the court tolerates the scoundrels, wouldn't it chill the hearts of the soldiers at the front? Don't forget, it wasn't long ago that the Jingyuan soldiers mutinied."

"Mr. Pei!"

Jia Gonglu's voice was like a loud bell, and he suddenly opened his eyes, staring at Pei Jiaoran sharply.

He didn't know whether the others knew the reason for the mutiny of the Jingyuan soldiers. But he knew that if it weren't for the generous payment by Pei Xianggong, how could the two be aroused by greed and eventually cause a mutiny. And now she dared to mention it again.

"However, Jiannan has always been of one mind and one heart with the imperial court, and I don't think he will be alienated from the imperial court because of this matter. But it is inevitable that there will be resentment. What do you think, Lord Cen?"

Cen Xi, who was dragged in, opened his eyes and looked at Pei Jiaoran, then looked at Jia Gonglu. Then he said, "Jia Gong, let's deal with it. In this troubled time, we must not tolerate this matter."

Hearing Cen Xi speak up, Su Jinghui hurriedly said, "That's right. If there's something wrong with the account of Yanziku, there might be something wrong with the North and South Military Courts. They enriched themselves, which made Your Majesty suffer. We are the ones who eat the salary of Your Majesty, so we should share His Majesty's worries."

Pei Jiaoran glanced at Su Jinghui and laughed secretly. Although Su Jinghui was called the prime minister, no one could match him in two things. No one could speak high-sounding words as well as he could, and no one could flatter his superiors as well as he could.

"What news did Prime Minister Pei get from the Military Academy?" asked Jia Gonglu.

"The income and expenditure of the Yanzi Treasury are inconsistent. As for the Military Affairs Office, it's actually not a big deal." Pei Jiaoran sighed, "It's just that the Southwest Military Affairs Office is managed by Zhang Ju's adopted son. He actually dared to set up a private treasury in the Military Affairs Office. The money allocated by the court to the soldiers was tossed around by them and all went into their pockets. As a result, the court is the one that suffers the most."

"Who doesn't have a hard time these days? Every family has their own troubles. Even Your Majesty has his troubles." Jia Gonglu smiled meaningfully, "Prince Pei, don't you have any troubles?"

"As the transport commissioner of Jianghuai Salt and Iron, I am naturally worried about the profits from the salt and iron industry, and whether it can support the court's expenditures next year." Pei Jiaoran's eyes flickered slightly, "We can't always use the budget of next year in advance. If we do this, the treasury will be empty every year, and there will still be countless exorbitant taxes imposed on the people. Your Majesty's worries will only get worse."

"Everyone agrees. It is me who is wrong." Jia Gonglu smiled helplessly. "Well, Mr. Pei, you and Li Jingming should submit the memorial together as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, Mr. Jia. I will report everything to the emperor." Pei Jiaoran said.

When I came out of the government hall, there were scattered snowflakes outside, which turned into heavy snow in an instant.

Pei Jiaoran and Cen Xi walked side by side.

Suddenly, a purple-robed eunuch led a group of blue-robed eunuchs coming from afar, leaving a series of footprints on the snow.

"He is only temporarily acting as the Supervisor of Eunuchs now. His Majesty feels sorry for him because his rank is not high enough and he has only been in the palace for a few years. He is afraid that he cannot control the old eunuchs under him. So he is allowed to borrow his rank." Cen Xi said with emotion.

As soon as he finished speaking, the purple-robed eunuch stopped in front of the two men, and the others followed suit.

"Mr. Cen, Mr. Pei." Yuan Zhengze bowed respectfully.

Although Yuan Zhengze in front of him was respectful in his actions, his eyes were quite contemptuous.

"Where did this huge pendant come from?" Cen Xi asked with a smile.

"It's cold. Your Majesty asked someone to find two thousand fox fur coats from the inner storehouse and asked me to deliver them to the Crown Prince and King Wu." Yuan Zhengze tilted his head and pointed at the eunuchs in blue behind him, "Take these new servants to see the world. I still have to report to Your Majesty, so I'll go ahead."

After saying this, Yuan Zhengze led a group of eunuchs forward.

Pei Jiaoran caught a glimpse of Yuan Zhengze walking by him, and suddenly smiled, "Yuan Juyan is living a carefree life."

Hearing this, Yuan Zhengze stumbled and nearly fell. Fortunately, the eunuch beside him held him up and kept calling Ju Yan, asking if he was okay.

"Being with the emperor is like being with a tiger. There is no way to be willful." Yuan Zhengze smiled humbly, "I don't know anything else. I only know that there is only one sky above my head, and that is Your Majesty. It's snowing heavily, so be careful with your steps, Mr. Pei."

"Of course. I hope Yuan Jue will not live up to the honor of borrowing this item." Pei Jiaoran bowed to Cen Xi and said, "It's snowing heavily and the road is muddy. Mr. Cen, please go slowly. I will go back to the Ministry of Central Secretariat first. Bye."