Blade of Wind

The next day's court meeting discussed the funding for Weihe River management.

Although the flood has been initially controlled, the rainy season is not over yet. If the embankments and dams are not strengthened, it is unknown where it will be flooded next time.

The people affected by the disaster also need to be resettled, and then it is the season of planting, and there is also a spring festival... In short, money is needed everywhere.

Even if the inventory of Fangguo treasury is ten times larger than it is now, it is far from abundant.

I still slanted in the jade seat to watch their discussion as usual.

Some people say that taxes should be raised, but they are immediately refuted by saying that less than half of the states can maintain production and living, and if taxes are raised, the people may not be able to afford it.

Some people also said that they can borrow money from other countries. The person who said this even glanced at me quietly, obviously taking my relationship with Shang Long into account.

Before I could speak, someone retorted that relying on other countries is not a long-term solution at all, whether people are willing to borrow or not, repeatedly relying on other countries for assistance is fundamentally detrimental to the national system.

I smiled and asked the Heavenly Official: "Now how much is the daily expenditure required to maintain the inner palace of the Falcon Palace?"

He couldn't answer for a moment, he was stunned for a moment and asked, "What does the lord mean?"

"What I mean is, Taifu and I can't use such a big place. Except for Changle Hall and Renzhong Hall, everything that can be sold is sold in other places, and everything that needs to be sealed is sealed. We also don't need so many people. Waiting, everyone who is free will go out of the palace to participate in the post-disaster reconstruction work."

The Heavenly Official was startled again, and then said: "My lord, I'm afraid this is inappropriate..."

I leaned on the jade seat and asked lazily, "What's wrong?"

"The Falcon Palace is the symbol of Fang Kingdom's royal power and the heart of Fang Kingdom. If the items in the palace are sold and the harem is abandoned, it will really damage the dignity of the country..."

I laughed out loud, and said: "To be honest, if you borrow money from King Yan based on your personal friendship, don't say that you will feel that Fangguo's dignity is damaged, and I myself will feel inferior. But the Falcon Palace is our own. What's the shame in exchanging money for urgent needs? Besides, the flesh and limbs are going to be rotten, so why do you want to keep this face? Don't talk about the items in the inner palace..." I paused, stretched out my hand to brush The jade seat inlaid with gold and jade under the body, "Even if this jade seat is removed, there is nothing wrong with it?"

The head of heaven didn't refute any more, just knelt down and shouted: "Please think twice, my lord."

Unexpectedly, many people followed him and shouted, "Please think twice, Lord."

Yuexi didn't speak, but raised her eyes and looked at me quietly.

"Money is something that cannot be created out of thin air. To solve economic problems, it is nothing more than increasing income and reducing expenditure. I am not very smart, and I can't think of any way to increase income for a while, but it might as well start from me to reduce expenditure." I ignored them. , and continued: "Heaven officials asked someone to do the statistics and check, estimate how much money you can have and how much you can save after the sales and layoffs, first make a list for me to see."

The Heavenly Official responded helplessly.

Afterwards, I told Yuexi to continue discussing ways to open source, and I left the meeting first.

Ah Ao was listening to their discussion there, and didn't come back to have lunch with me until noon.

I asked casually, "Has there been any results from their discussions?"

A Ao shook his head, "Not only is there nothing to do, but there are still people complaining, saying that to increase income and reduce expenditure, it is better to simply invite a group of businessmen to come to the hall to make calculations."

I burst out laughing and said, "Good idea."

Ah Ao said: "What's the matter, he is full of contempt."

"Do they look down on merchants?" I frowned. "There doesn't seem to be a particular emphasis on agriculture and business here?"

I remember that there seemed to be several kings who were born in the families of merchants, and I have never heard that some people usually think that merchants are low.

"Probably not to look down on. But businessmen really can't be officials."

Ah Ao's answer made me think of Xiu Huang.Although he didn't want to be an official himself, but from Mo Yekong's tone before, it seemed that he couldn't be an official without a recommendation.

Ah Ao took a piece of meat and put it in my bowl, with a bit of displeasure in his tone: "I'm eating, why are you in a daze."

"Oh." I responded quickly, but after glancing at his chopsticks, I was stunned for a second, and asked, "Aren't you afraid of eating meat?"

After talking about it, I feel a little stupid, who would be afraid of eating meat?Quickly changed his mouth again: "Aren't you only vegetarian?"

"It's nothing." Ao said, "It's not that you can't touch it at all. It's like seeing blood makes you uncomfortable, and the smell is too strong and you'll get dizzy, but you won't die if you get covered in blood."

"What do you mean being bloodied by me?" I protested, "as if I deliberately abused you."

He squinted at me, "Don't you?"

... Well, that kind of thing did happen, it seems... more than once.

I bowed my head with a guilty conscience and went to eat.

Ah Ao asked again: "Speaking of which, why did you think of closing the palace today to reduce expenses?"

"Actually, I've been thinking about it for a few days. When I was looking for a place to hide and drink with Shang Long, I had this idea in my mind." I said, "The Falcon Palace is so big, it's not considered servants, and now it's only the two of us. So many palaces are empty. But it’s too wasteful to have someone take care of them. It’s better to seal them up first, and then repair them if necessary when there is money left in the future.”

I sighed, and said: "There is no way, who made us poor now? There is no way to make money, so I have to tighten my belt first to save money. A little bit is a little bit. Besides, I am like this, civil and military officials You guys, you should say something more or less."

Ah Ao smiled and said, "Actually, I think we can be more frugal."

I frowned and said, "How can I be more frugal? You can't let the king of a country sleep on the street, right? Even if I don't mind, they can't agree."

"For example, we don't have to cook our meals separately." Ao paused, glanced at me, and then said, "I think the Hall of Renzhong can also be sealed together."

"Nonsense." I immediately objected, "We can eat together, but where do you live if the Hall of Renzhong seals you?"

A Ao stretched out his hand and pointed out, and said, "Isn't your wing room empty?"

"That's where the ladies live."

"After the layoffs, there won't be so many female officers. There will always be room for me."

I put down my chopsticks and stared at him with a stern face, "Sealing the palace and the like are just expedient measures when the finances are tight, so don't take the opportunity to mess around."

Ah Ao also put down his chopsticks, looked at me quietly for a while, and then slowly said: "Yes, I have selfish intentions to get closer to you. But in your eyes, I really don't know how serious I am. person?"

Seeing him like this, I didn't know what to say, so I just sighed lightly and continued to eat.

A Ao still looked at me, and said softly: "I know that I did some childish things to make you unhappy, but you are too sensitive to reject me thousands of miles away no matter what. .”

... What kind of talk is this?

My adult sibling brother said to me "I want to live with you", should I still welcome him with open arms?

Ao continued: "It's not like we haven't lived together before. The house over there is much smaller than Changle Hall."

I sighed again, and said sullenly, "...that's different."

A Ao said: "What's the difference?"

"Back then you were just my brother!"

Ah Ao's lavender eyes fixed on me, and said word by word: "I liked you then!"

As soon as I put the bowl away, I stood up, but couldn't say a word.

Ao didn't speak any more, just looked at me quietly.

The eyes are gentle and firm, but they are like two blazing flames, as if they want to see people.

In the end, I could only push the stool away and run away under such gazes.