This means that Zhao Junchen did not tell the truth, and Zhu Heyu still does not know Zhu Hejian's true identity. Zhu Heyu is currently just determined to compete with Zhu Hejian for Zhengshuo and try his best to stabilize his reserve position.

This also means that when Zhao Junchen cooperates with Zhu Heyu, he still hides his selfishness and will not do his best.

In this way, Zhu Hejian felt at ease.

But on the surface, Zhu Hejian was also full of sincerity and emotion. He nodded vigorously and said, "That's good! You will always be my third brother, and my opinion of you will never change!"

Then, the two brothers, who seemed to be inseparable, held each other's hands tightly. The scene was quite touching.

*

No more talk about the various disturbances that occurred in the East Palace that night.

However, he said that at 15:00 the next day, as Emperor Deqing arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the day's court meeting officially began.

During this court meeting, two highly anticipated things will happen.

The first thing was that Prince Zhu Heyu was officially appointed as an imperial envoy by Emperor Deqing, responsible for investigating the irregularities in government and discipline among the vassals in various places.

The impact of this incident is far-reaching and the implications are vast, no less than the Hetao War on the front line. Naturally, it has attracted the attention of hundreds of officials.

Prince Zhu Heyu has also prepared his luggage. After accepting the official appointment, he will leave the capital immediately after the court meeting is over. First, he will go to Luoyang to be responsible for investigating the most popular and biggest problem in recent years.

King Fu is already the leader among the feudal lords!

However, when Prince Zhu Heyu was entrusted with important responsibilities by Emperor Deqing in the past, a large number of Qingliu people would always stand up to praise his virtues and wave flags to cheer him up. But this time after Zhu Heyu was appointed as an imperial envoy by Emperor Deqing, the entire Taihe

The hall was deserted, and no one spoke for a while. Most of the Qingliu people had expressionless faces, and the officials from various factions also looked like they had nothing to do with themselves.

Under normal circumstances, maybe someone would stand up and say a few words, but a thorough investigation of the feudal king's affairs is too sensitive, and all factions are unwilling to get involved too deeply, and they are catching up with Qingliu and Prince Zhu Heyu.

When a relationship breaks down, it naturally becomes cold.

Under the indifference of the officials, Zhu Heyu also had no expression on his face. He just accepted the imperial edict in a deep voice and stated that he would thoroughly investigate the chaos in government and discipline among the vassals everywhere.

Seeing this situation, Emperor Deqing looked at Prince Zhu Heyu with a hint of pity in his eyes.

In Emperor Deqing's heart, this was the last time he entrusted Zhu Heyu with an important task. He knew that Zhu Heyu would most likely fail in this matter - with Zhu Heyu's character, the investigation would inevitably end in

The implication was so wide that it attracted a lot of backlash from the vassal kings from all over the country - that's why he handed this matter over to Zhu Heyu, so that he could justifiably depose Zhu Heyu, and by the way, he could also give the vassal kings from all over the country a beating.

But in an instant, Emperor Deqing had restrained his feelings of pity, and his expression did not change at all, as if he didn't feel anything wrong with the silence at this time.

As for the second major event during the day-to-day meeting, it was the preparation of military supplies for the Hetao War.

The state treasury has long been out of grain, and it is powerless to support the frontline war. In the end, when Zhao Junchen temporarily took charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs a few days ago, he proposed the highly controversial "Three Grain Raising Strategies", namely "Three Strategies for Raising Grain in Shaanxi and Gansu"

The autumn tax collection will be handed over directly to Huamachiying", "the quota of grain donations for the Imperial College will be expanded" and "the treasury salary will be converted into silver"!

Although these three grain requisition strategies can prepare a large amount of grain in a short period of time, they also touch the interests of all parties in the government and the public. Officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs did not dare to agree, and then there was "Zhao Junchen fainted in anger."

The drama of "Hubu Yamen".

In the end, Emperor Deqing saw no other options and forced the Hubu Yamen to adopt Zhao Junchen's "Three Strategies for Raising Food", which also made the Hubu Yamen bear the hatred of both the government and the opposition.

By today's morning meeting, the three strategies for raising food should have achieved initial results, and the first batch of food should have been shipped to the front line.

After Emperor Deqing appointed Prince Zhu Heyu as the imperial envoy, he quickly shifted his attention to the two ministers of the Ministry of Revenue - Hong Zhengshuo and Ma Sen.

"Hong Aiqing, Ma Aiqing... How is the grain collection matter at the Ministry of Revenue going? How much grain can be collected and transported to the front line?" Emperor Deqing's tone when asking was very polite, but there was an air of no doubt.

Hong Zhengshuo hurriedly came out of the queue and replied: "Your Majesty, after two days of overnight calculations, the Ministry of Revenue believes that this year's autumn tax and grain collection from Shaanxi and Gansu should have been about 1.1 million shi, but due to natural disasters

Due to the war, there were bad harvests and losses in various places. His Majesty also pardoned money and grain from many places. The actual harvest was only less than 400,000 shi. The Ministry of Household Affairs has issued an official document asking the officials in Shaanxi and Gansu to collect autumn grain and send it directly to Huama.

Chiying, there is no need to enter the treasury again! However, the distance between Shaanxi and Gansu is far away, and it takes time to deliver official documents. It will be a month after the autumn grains from various places are delivered to Huamachiying, and I am afraid that the water from far away cannot quench the thirst of the near."

Emperor Deqing nodded and said: "This is also a time of helplessness, but after the imperial court regains the Hetao, there will still be matters such as city construction, farming, and troop garrisoning. This batch of food and grass can be sent there as an emergency."

"Your Majesty is wise!" After a quick compliment, Hong Zhengshuo added: "In addition, the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial College also issued an official document, stating that the Imperial College will have 200 'donation prison' places this year, and business gentry from all over the country only need to donate food.

Five hundred shi can arrange for a disciple to study in the Imperial College. There has been no response from places outside the capital, but eleven business gentry in the capital have expressed their willingness to donate food. A total of 5,500 shi of food has been raised. In the next two years,

It can be collected into the national treasury and sent to the front line within days."

After hearing these words, Emperor Deqing frowned and felt that the amount of donated food was too small.

But there is nothing that can be done about it. The imperial court has opened up quotas for "prison donation" to the public for several consecutive years, but the quota has never been as large as this year.

Therefore, there are very few business gentry among the people who have the ability and need to "donate prison". The capital city is especially overstretched. It is enough to receive so much food donation in just two days.

This is very good. The remaining quota for "donating prisons" can only be expected from business gentry from various places outside the capital.

Seeing that Emperor Deqing was a little unhappy, Hong Zhengshuo quickly added: "However, after calculation by the Ministry of Household Affairs, if all the stipends of the feudal princes and officials for the next three months were converted into stipend silver, there would be an excess of 650,000 yuan.

The remaining grain will be transported to the front line soon..."

After hearing Hong Zhengshuo's words, everyone in the Hall of Supreme Harmony looked unhappy.

Over the years, private food prices have been getting higher and higher. After converting salary rice into salary silver, officials can often only buy half of the amount of food. This method of raising food has caused losses to all officials. Naturally,

No one was happy, but the court encountered insurmountable difficulties. This was the only way to quickly raise food, but no one dared to object loudly.

On the other side, Emperor Deqing was both happy and distressed after hearing the amount of grain.

This batch of grain amounts to 650,000 dan, which can naturally relieve the urgent needs of the frontline war. However, after the interests of the officials were damaged, Emperor Deqing also needed to find a way to appease him.

The most important thing is that after this conversion of stipends to silver, the Ministry of Household Affairs must come up with the same value of silver as stipends and distribute them to the lord and officials. According to the market price, this is 1.95 million taels of silver.

!

But before this year's autumn taxes are collected into the national treasury, the Ministry of Revenue is also short of money. This money needs to be temporarily borrowed from Emperor Deqing's private funds. Emperor Deqing is naturally a little worried and distressed, fearing that the national treasury will default on him.

of borrowing money.

"The public account is public and the private account is private. There has always been a clear distinction between the imperial treasury and my private money. This time I loaned the private money to the Ministry of Accounts, and the interest must also be calculated... Well, this matter is not suitable here.

It’s time to bring it up. I’ll have to discuss it with the officials from the Ministry of Revenue after the morning meeting…”

While thinking deeply, Emperor Deqing's expression was full of solemnity, and he nodded and said: "This batch of grain is as high as 650,000 dan, which is enough for the frontline war. The Hubu Yamen must seize the time and transport it to the frontline as soon as possible.

, it must not affect the imperial court’s battle to regain Hetao!”

"I obey the decree! Your Majesty, please rest assured that the first batch of food will be transported to the front line before noon today!"

Under the cold gazes of the officials, Hong Zhengshuo wiped the cold sweat on his forehead with his sleeves and quickly accepted the order.

After the two important events came to an end, the atmosphere in the Hall of Supreme Harmony became slightly more relaxed.

But at this moment, another Minister of Household Affairs, Ma Sen, suddenly came out and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I have something important to report!"

"Say it."

"Your Majesty, the water transportation is not smooth, and the Ministry of Revenue's grain and silver reserves are in a hurry! Now that the Ministry of Revenue has sent all the grain and banknotes to the front line, the remaining food and grain may not last until next month!"

Following Ma Sen's report, all officials were immediately asked to change the book, and Emperor Deqing felt that his scalp was going to explode!

…

…
Chapter completed!