I have a mall space system, raise the baby first and then fight

After the banquet, the ministers withdrew.

On the surface, the king and his subjects are of one mind and live in harmony, but secretly they each have their own ulterior motives and are frightened.

Royal study room!

Gu Nancheng stood in front of the emperor and told him the details of the border war and the actual situation of the border soldiers.

"Your Majesty, the above are the details of this battle. Most of them were sent back to Kyoto in the battle report, but the hardships involved are hard to describe. Now, I, an old minister, would like to meet Your Majesty and only ask for a reward for the soldiers on the border to have enough food and clothing!!"

The emperor nodded, but a look of embarrassment appeared on his face. "Nancheng, I understand what you said. The Daying Dynasty has suffered from famine for three consecutive years, and countless people have starved to death. There have also been years of war and chaos, and the treasury is empty! The Zhenbei Army guarded the border and worked hard, and they should be rewarded. But I have nothing to reward now!!"

The emperor's eyes showed a trace of sadness as he looked at the memorial in front of him. "Look, there are floods in the south, and no crops have been harvested. There is a severe drought in the north, and no rice can be imported. Refugees from the border areas are pouring into the capital. I, the royal family, am also cutting back on food and clothing. It's not that the court doesn't want to distribute food and fodder, but we really can't afford it!!"

Gu Nancheng frowned unwillingly, "Your Majesty!! Our soldiers have been protecting our country and now they don't even have winter clothes!! The court must think of a solution!!"

Along the way, Gu Nancheng observed that everyone in Kyoto was rich, and all the refugees who came to escape were blocked outside the city. No one was allowed in. Only porridge was occasionally distributed.

The cost of food and clothing in the palace can be seen from the maids' clothes, all of them are dressed in brocade and satin, with fair and rosy complexion. It is not as hard as the emperor said.

He had lived through hard times, but the Zhenbei Palace was the one that really lived frugally, eating only porridge and cabbage every day, and hadn't bought new clothes for the women in the palace for several years.

So, with just one glance, he knew what life was like in the palace.

The pearls and gold threads embroidered on Princess Chaoyang's dress were obviously of great value, not to mention the accessories around her waist and the hairpins on her head!

Even the officials in Kyoto were well-fed and well-fed, with their mouths full of oil! They didn’t care about the lives of the people outside the city.

Gu Nancheng felt sad, "Your Majesty, they are all the iron-willed and good men of our Great Ying Dynasty!!"

The emperor waved his hand, "No need to say more, I understand what you mean. Tomorrow I will summon all officials to raise money and food to send to the front line. But how much we can raise depends on luck!!"

Gu Nancheng sighed. Now, this was all he could do.

"Nancheng, the border has been stabilized. You can leave 10 troops to garrison. I want to transfer the rest of the troops to the southern border. General Gao Li, who is stationed in the southern border, has sent letters to the court for help many times. The Chile tribe in the south has repeatedly harassed us and intends to invade our southern border. You can leave 10 troops in the Northern Guard Army, and the rest will be sent to the southern border and incorporated into the Southern Conquest Army!"

Gu Nancheng narrowed his eyes slightly. Was he impatient to take away his military power? Not even food, fodder, or winter clothes were given, and even no rewards for winning the battle, chilling the soldiers' hearts.

Now they can't wait to reduce his military power.

He sneered, "Your Majesty! The soldiers of my Zhenbei Army are all born and raised in my northern border. They are used to the living and eating habits. When they come to the south, I am afraid that everyone will not be able to adapt to the climate. The warriors who are good at fighting will become sick cats. Moreover, my Zhenbei Army is different from other armies in terms of military discipline. I am afraid they can't get used to it. If Gao Li can't handle it, I can lead the Zhenbei Army to replace him, and I will definitely make the Chile people dare not invade! ”

Gu Nancheng's words were powerful and resounding, and he also made it clear that he would not hand over the military power.

The emperor was slightly angry, "Are you unwilling to obey the imperial edict and give up your power? These soldiers are soldiers from the whole world, soldiers from the Great Ying Dynasty, not soldiers from you, the King of Zhenbei. Are you planning a rebellion?"

Gu Nancheng was not panicked at all, and said firmly, "Your Majesty, I have been by your side since the reign of the previous emperor, and have helped the Great Ying Dynasty to establish its empire. Now that the empire has been established, I have retired from the court and guarded the border for decades. I have returned to the capital today, but my master is suspicious of me? No reward for merit, no demerit for fault. Have you really thought it through, Your Majesty?"

The chief eunuch next to him looked at him in shock. How dare Gu Nancheng rebuke the emperor in person? Is he planning a rebellion?

He pinched his throat and shouted, "How dare you! Thunder and rain are all grace from the emperor. How dare you question the emperor? It's disrespectful!"

Gu Nancheng showed no sign of backing down, and the emperor waved his hand.

"Forget it. I was wrong after all. I know how much the Zhenbei Army should be rewarded. When the autumn harvest comes next year and the national treasury is full, I will definitely compensate the Zhenbei Army."

The eunuch stepped back and said nothing more.

Changing the subject, "I have heard that the Crown Prince of Zhenbei, Gu Dingbei, is a hero who is good at fighting and has both literary and military skills. I have not seen him for many years, and he must be more calm now. I have a beloved daughter, Chaoyang, who is a little arrogant, but overall well-educated, well-mannered, intelligent and lovely. She and General Dingbei are a perfect match. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

Gu Nancheng was stunned. After failing to seize the military power, he resorted to the beauty trap? But Gu Dingbei had just found his wife and children who were stranded outside. How could he marry the princess again?

"Your Majesty, you may not know that Bei'er was injured and lost his memory, and was rescued by a village woman. The two have long been married and have three sons and one daughter. Not long ago, she was taken back to the palace. The court has been informed, and my eldest daughter-in-law has also received the seal of the Crown Prince's Consort. I'm afraid she is not lucky enough to marry the Princess."

The emperor waved his hand. He had known all this for a long time and he was reluctant to let his little daughter suffer any grievances. However, Princess Chaoyang had been deeply in love with Gu Dingbei since childhood. Later, Gu Dingbei retreated to the border with Gu Nancheng and never entered the capital again.

But Princess Chaoyang could not forget him.

"It doesn't matter! I, Chaoyang, can marry into the family and be on equal footing with that Shen, and both can be the Crown Prince's consorts. Although she came into the family earlier, I, Princess Chaoyang, cannot be inferior to her. I will just be a co-wife!"

Gu Nancheng was thinking, if he couldn't seize power, he would try to arrange a marriage. You're so smart.

Although Shen was not from a noble family, he had heard from the soldiers that when the army was short of food and fodder, it was Shen who brought food and fodder to the border and saved the 20 Zhenbei Army troops there.

She was grateful to Yu Zhenbeijun. She was affectionate to Yu Gudingbei. How could his Gu family let down such a daughter-in-law?

But the emperor's grace is great, and since he has just refused the emperor's face once, refusing again might anger the emperor.

"Your Majesty, Shen is just a village woman after all. I'm afraid this would be unfair to the princess. Please think twice!"

The emperor was somewhat displeased and repeatedly retorted, "Do you really think that the whole world belongs to you, Gu's family?"

"Chaoyang is attracted to General Dingbei and does not feel wronged. I think the two of them are a match made in heaven and will live in harmony after marriage. Today, I will grant them marriage! When the King of Zhenbei returns to the border, Chaoyang will go back with you in a beautiful doll and marry Gu Dingbei."

Gu Nancheng felt bitter. Although he had not met Shen Lianxin much, he had heard that Shen Lianxin was not a soft-hearted person. After returning, Gu Dingbei's life would be difficult.

"My lord, thank you Lord for your kindness!!"