In the days when I was dressed as the king of a subjugated country

Yang Hongjian immediately knelt down and said excitedly: "Your Majesty Huang En is mighty, and on behalf of all the officers and men, thank you Lord Long En!"

Gu Li thought for a while, and there should be nothing else. As for the remnants of the rebel army fleeing, he had an idea in his mind, but he had to discuss it with the courtiers separately, and he couldn't make a decision alone.

Gu Li then asked: "What's the report, dear friends?"

Prime Minister Mu said: "Your Majesty, in the battle against the rebellion outside the city yesterday, the supervisor Xie Lian was brave and resourceful, and captured the leader of the rebel army Zhang Ci'er alive! Arguments should also be rewarded."

Gu Li was refreshed when he heard the words, it turned out that Xie Lian was the one who captured Zhang Ci'er alive yesterday, why didn't Yang Hongjian ask for credit for him?He had a good impression of Xie Lian, and when he was about to speak, Zuo Shijue quickly said, "Your Majesty, it was Xie Lian alone who captured Zhang Ci'er alive, and I don't think there is any need to reward him."

Gu Li hummed, thinking deeply, wondering what Xia Xingcheng had just finished with Yang Shangshu, what were Prime Minister Mu and Zuo Shangshu doing?Does an ordinary court meeting have to be so treacherous?

He remembered that Zuo Shangshu belonged to the "Qingliu" party, and he aimed at Prime Minister Mu, so could Prime Minister Mu belong to Wang Zheng?It shouldn't be, after all, judging from the previous court meetings, Zuo Shijue and others were quite polite to Prime Minister Mu, unlike Xia Xingcheng and others.

Gu Li had just arrived here, and he hadn't figured out the background of these people, so he decided to test it out, and asked, "What do you think, Prime Minister?"

Prime Minister Mu said: "Xie Lian bravely crowned the three armies, everyone has seen it, if there is no reward, who will go through life and death for me in the future?"

Zuo Shijue said: "I don't know how the prime minister thinks to reward him?"

Prime Minister Mu said: "The deputy general of the Baoding General Army died at the hands of the rebels, the position is vacant, why not let Xie Lian fill the position of deputy general, how about it?"

Gu Li hummed, and then acted in deep thought, carefully observing Zuo Shijue's reaction.In fact, with Xie Lian's qualifications, it is not suitable to be a deputy general, but right now, Xie Lian is really capable, so it is not impossible to let him be the deputy general.

Zuo Shijue remained calm, but his tone was firm: "Xie Lian's qualifications are still inexperienced, and I think that the position of commander in chief should not be so hasty."

Prime Minister Mu continued: "Your Majesty doesn't know something. Although Xie Lian is young, she has experienced in the army with his father since she was a child. It can be said that she has rich experience. Serving as a lieutenant general is an excellent opportunity for training."

Gu Li hummed again, then looked at Zuo Shijue again.Zuo Shijue lowered his eyes, thinking, and a person behind him came out and said: "Qizou Your Majesty, I think this matter needs to be cautious. Baoding defends the capital, and the generals need to select experienced veterans. Even if Xie Jiansheng is brave There is a plan, after all, he is young, and there are other opportunities to train him."

Then several people agreed and supported Zuo Shijue, Yang Hongjian also nodded.Xia Xingcheng and others remained silent and watched from the sidelines.

It seems that Prime Minister Mu neither belongs to the "Qingliu" party nor the eunuch party.

The situation is a bit complicated, and Gu Li can't decide.

When all the ministers spoke, Gu Li said: "Since everyone disagrees with awarding and rewarding Jiansheng, this matter will be shelved for now. What does the prime minister think?"

Prime Minister Mu could only say: "But according to the emperor's order."

Gu Li nodded, and asked again: "Does the prime minister have other matters to report?"

Prime Minister Mu said: "Yesterday, General Jiao Liewei accidentally shot and killed King Fu. It was an accident. Jiao Liewei has now been imprisoned in the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice. Please show your majesty."

Thinking of this person, Gu Li asked, "What do you think, Prime Minister?"

Prime Minister Mu murmured, "General Jiao Shen is brave and fearless, but after all, it hurts people's lives. Hong Shangshu, according to the law of my late Chu, how should I deal with it if I accidentally hurt someone?"

This Hong Shangshu is Hong Zhenqiu, Shangshu of the Ministry of Punishment. He said: "Anyone who had no intention of harming others at first, but occasionally causes homicide, shall be punished for the crime of fighting and homicide. , as a capital for burial medicine."

Hong Zhenqiu hesitated and said, "It's just..."

He was about to say that the person Jiao Liewei killed was a member of the imperial family. The situation was different, so he heard Prime Minister Mu say: "That's right. Jiao Liewei accidentally killed someone by accident. It was not intentional. According to the law, he can atone for his crime."

Zuo Shijue clapped his hands, but didn't say a word.

Gu Li suddenly understood in an instant.

It is false that Prime Minister Mu recommended Xie Lian, but it is true that he saved Jiao Liewei!

Zuo Shijue objected to recommending Xie Lian as the general soldier of Baoding, and his attitude was firm.Although I don't know how Xie Lian, a mere superintendent, offended Zuo Shijue, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, but Zuo Shijue's attitude towards Xie Lian must be clear to Prime Minister Mu. He knew that if he recommended Xie Lian, Zuo Shijue would definitely be punished opposition.

Prime Minister Mu recommended Xie Lian, but it was just a feint. What Prime Minister Mu meant was: Zuo Shangshu, I recommend Xie Lian and you object, okay, I will give you a size.I want to save Jiao Liewei, you should also take a step back and don't mess with the old man.

Prime Minister Mu actually spent so much effort, why, how much did Jiao Liewei bribe him?

Gu Li asked: "It makes sense, what do you love ladies think?"

Sure enough, as Gu Li expected, Zuo Shijue did not object: "Prime Minister Mu is right."

Hong Zhenqiu: "That..."

Gu Li hummed, although he was a little displeased with Prime Minister Mu's bribery, but he was employing people and wanted to keep Jiao Liewei, so he went down the donkey and said, "Then deal with it according to the law."

Hong Zhenqiu: "The lower officials think..."

Gu Li asked: "Is there any other matters to be reported by all the lovers? Hong Shangshu, how is the trial of Wang Zheng's case going?"

Seeing the emperor suddenly asking about Wang Zheng, all the ministers couldn't help whispering and exchanging glances. Gu Li lay on the couch and could see the movements clearly.

Hong Zhenqiu pondered and replied: "Report to Your Majesty, the trial is still in progress."

Gu Li's face darkened, and he looked at Hong Zhenqiu: "Wang Zheng's case will be discussed by the five houses and nine ministers, and I will be given a result within three days. Prime Minister Mu, I will leave this matter to your supervision."

Zuo Shijue and the others lifted their spirits and looked at Prime Minister Mu earnestly.Xia Xingcheng and the others lowered their heads and said nothing.

Gu Li continued to ask: "Are there any reports, dear friends?"

Zhao Sheng, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, was about to speak when Yang Hongjian, Minister of the Ministry of War, spoke first: "Your Majesty, the 30 troops in Liaodong have not been paid for a year. If they are in arrears for a long time, there may be troubles. In addition, Zhang Ci'er's remnant party fled outside, and the follow-up counter-insurgency Matters need to be kept up to date, this supply of food and grass cannot be ambiguous. In addition, there is also the purchase of artillery ordnance from the Fran robot in Haojing..."

Zhao Sheng, Minister of the Household Department, quickly followed up and said, "Your Majesty, this is exactly what I want to say. The 30 troops in Liaodong, ordinary sergeants are paid two taels of silver a month, and a chariot needs 30 taels. A thousand chariots are easy It is 340; the horses are purchased from Monan Mongolia, and it takes 5000 horses. In addition to the supply of materials and grass, it needs 20 taels of silver a year. Bianzhen needs 110 shi of annual grain, 140 million shi of material, 590 million 830 bundles of grass, 22 million taels of payment, and a total of 6000 million taels. The bandit needs to spend a lot of money to suppress the salaries, and the additional training salaries for the training of troops are also a heavy burden, and now there is only [-] taels of silver left in the Taicang treasury, I really don’t know what to do, I am guilty!"

Gu Li felt dizzy when he heard that, and asked, "Why is there only 22 taels of silver in the Taicang treasury? What about last year's annual tribute, local tribute, and tax revenue?"

Zhao Sheng, Minister of the Household Department, said: "The last time the land was measured and the household registration was cleared was five years ago. At that time, there were 62 households in the country, with a population of 430, and 69 fields. There are 850 hectares, but last year the land tax totaled only 970 shi, and based on the land tax collected, 970% of the land in the whole country should be left uncultivated and uncultivated.”

This is the result of the war.

Before Gu Li crossed over, the defense line in northern Hou Chu was frequently harassed by the nomadic Jianzhou Jurchens. To support the border guards, the imperial court could only send Liao pay, let alone Zhang Ci'er's uprising, and the imperial court wanted to wipe out his troops. Therefore, we can only send extra salaries and training salaries, which is not a small expense.

Gu Li is not surprised that the national treasury is so empty.

Gu Li is also worried about money, but now besides the agricultural tax, there are various exorbitant and miscellaneous taxes among the people. If the tax is increased, it will force the people to a dead end.According to his understanding, the Little Ice Age has only just begun, and there will be several famines, plagues, smallpox and droughts in the next few years. If it is not handled properly, the people will definitely rebel and revolt.

But where will the money come from?

Unlike modern taxation, which is mostly composed of service industries and industries, the ancient government had a single income. Before the Han Dynasty, it was mostly agricultural tax. From the Han Dynasty, it was mainly agricultural tax. Until the Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties, the categories of state monopoly continued to increase. In addition to salt and iron, there were also tea, wine, alum, spices, etc. The governments of all dynasties tried their best to search for them. In the Yuan Dynasty, even bamboo was monopolized.These state monopoly operations have indeed provided the government with huge wealth, but once a war is fought, it will only take a few decades to squander the accumulation of generations.

Later Chu was similar to the Ming Dynasty, only salt and iron monopoly was opened, and the agricultural tax accounted for three-quarters of the treasury revenue. At this time, it was not impossible to open a monopoly, but Gu Li really didn't want to compete with the people for profit.However, without this income, the agricultural tax is no longer enough to fill the national treasury, how can soldiers be raised?

Gu Li thought for a while, and asked the eunuch Cao Hualin beside him: "Who is looking after the inner court treasure house?"

The Taicang government treasury is the treasury of the imperial court, and the inner court treasure house is the private treasury of the royal family.Gu Li planned to take the emperor's private money first to meet the emergency.

The eunuch Cao Hualin next to him replied: "Before now, the prince has been in charge."

Gu Li groaned silently, and all the courtiers were eagerly watching when they heard him mention the inner court treasure house.Gu Li thought and said: "The banditry has just been eliminated, and it is a good time to start spring farming. I want to exempt the three-year land tax and persuade farmers to teach mulberry. What do you think?"

Zhao Sheng, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, was taken aback, showing hesitation, and replied: "Your Majesty cares for the common people, and it is the blessing of the people of Chu after me. It's just that the soldiers of the Jianlu Army are raising horses and horses, and they frequently cause trouble. I don't know where the nine military towns in the north are. Here, Your Majesty..."

Gu Li nodded and agreed, "I know about this."

After the court, Gu Li couldn't wait to ask someone to lead the way to the inner court treasury.He wants to see his private money.

Gu Li was still very weak, but when he thought of seeing the royal treasury and how many treasures that were lost in later generations, he was excited. He grabbed Cao Cunlin's hand and got on the chariot, urging him to the inner court treasury.

In the imperial palace, there are internal transport warehouses, five warehouses with characters A, B, C, D, E, Guangying, Guanghui, and Guangji three warehouses, the secretary's key warehouse, the stolen goods and fines warehouse, and the stolen and fined warehouses, a total of twelve government treasuries.The most important of which is the inner carrier warehouse.

The Inner Transport Depot is just to the south of the Zhongshufang. It takes half an hour to walk north from the Donghua Gate.

When they arrived at the internal transport warehouse, they did not see the eunuch in charge of the warehouse, but only saw a lock on the door of the warehouse.Gu Li and Cao Hualin looked at each other, feeling bad.Cao Hualin ordered people to search, and in a short while, two people were found from the north dining room behind the inner carrier warehouse, one eunuch and one court lady, both of them were disheveled, kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy.

Gu Li didn't expect that the imperial palace would be in such a mess, and there would be palace maids and eunuchs cheating in the broad daylight.Cao Hualin immediately scolded them severely, and ordered them to arrest these two people and send them to the Supervisor of Rituals.Gu Li waved his hand weakly: "Don't rush to punish, whoever is in charge of the key will open the storage."

Cao Hualin then ordered the disheveled eunuch to open the door with a key.The eunuch was dumbstruck, shrinking his neck like a quail, not daring to move.Cao Hualin winked at a servant next to him, and the servant stepped forward, found the key in the eunuch's arms, stepped forward, and opened the door.

Then he paused.

Gu Li had a bad intuition, so he quickly got off the chariot, and Cao Hualin helped him to the front of the Kumen.

Then he was completely chilled by the empty treasure house.

Gu Li's eyes darkened.