In November of the second year of Wuping, the first snow fell slowly between the world.

Jinyang in early winter is covered with a thin layer of white snow, and prosperity seems to be locked in the quiet pure white. The warm sun behind the snow falls from the gaps between the halls, and pounces on Tai Chi Hall with warmth. The soft sunlight passes through several tall plum trees in the back hall, jumps down from the branches, and then plunges into the water of the pond that has not yet been completely frozen, causing a golden ripples.

The weather was already a little cold, so Gao Wei summoned several important ministers in Tai Chi Hall as usual to listen to the work report.

"...Report to Your Majesty, according to statistics from the Ministry of Revenue, the tax collected by our dynasty this year is 1.5% more than last year, and the income has increased sharply. The total amount of commercial tax on the trade income is 20% of the agricultural tax, and the income is also quite expensive... It's a happy congratulation, it's a happy congratulation!"

Not only did the taxes collected rise sharply, but the emperor cleared the Buddhist temple and collected much more money and grain than taxes. When the Buddhist temple fell, the court ate the belly of the court. The gold and silver were counted for more than a month.

The waist is no longer sore, the legs are no longer hurt, and the wind is walking. Now he is very generous and will never take a picture to count every copper plate. A few days ago, Fenzhou, Luoyang, and Huainan came to ask for money to build military camps. The big men in the court gave it very happily, and even had a large budget to purchase military horses. The emperor even summoned his ministers to discuss to increase the salaries of officials and the welfare of the soldiers. The old men of the Ministry of Revenue were so happy that they smiled. The court and the country clearly realized that it was great to have money!

"Our dynasty only opened trade between the north and the south, and the income was so considerable. If it was opened at all...?" Some ministers were thinking about these things. After they whispered to discuss, someone shook his head and said, "No, no, it is possible to open Huainan border trade and Youying border trade. Our dynasty took risks. In order to win over the Southern Dynasty, we opened the South City and sold the war horses to them. In order to win over the Khitan, the Xi people opened the North City again. Merchants allowed to exchange freely on the border of Daqi with certificates. If someone used the name of trade to spy on the military situation of our dynasty... we took a lot of risks. According to my husband's opinion, the city here would never be opened..."

"Hey, trade belongs to trade, national affairs belongs to national affairs, one code belongs to one code, how can we generalize it? ... Besides, you have seen the benefits of opening up trade. In just a few moments, our economy was revitalized. The country controlled the circulation of currency, not only expelled bad money, but also eliminated illegal merchants. Not only did the people become rich, but the income of the court also increased greatly. The national strength of our country began to steadily recover. This is a good thing that benefits the country and the people. I can't understand why you don't support it?"

"...After all, this is a matter between countries. When great powers interact, there must be room for everything. Even if the Khitan and Xi people have actually become vassals of our Great Qi, and even if the Southern Dynasties and our dynasties have already married, these are nothing... If one day conflict breaks out, there will be a fight and a fight. The greater the border is open, the more risks we will bear. And you are clamoring to open up in full. I ask you, if the war is really together, can you afford this responsibility?"

"...Yes, yes, Khitan, the Xi people were barbarians, they didn't know etiquette and did not understand loyalty and righteousness. The pressure from Daqi was put on them was great, so they would rely on Daqi. One day, if they faced the pressure from the Turks, they might immediately turn to the Turks.

...If you are not my race, your heart will be different. How can you believe them? Even if you are a little more trustworthy, you cannot act like this... diplomatic relations have always been like this. Leave three points of room first and tear apart in the future. Both sides will not be too embarrassed, so as not to be caught off guard in the future!"

"Why are the leaders of the eight Khitan tribes, but they are all General An Yuan, the fourth-rank of the guerrilla general, and each sent a proton to Yecheng as a charity, which is enough to show their intentions. At least they will choose, they will definitely not choose to stand on the side of the Turks, right?"

"Hmph, it's simply a pedantic scholar's opinion!"

"you……!!"

"Okay, please stop arguing. In a few days, the chiefs of Khitan, Xi, and Mohe led to Jinyang to meet the emperor. Let me see their reactions again. Can't we understand their attitude? Now quarrels here are just speculations... Just guessing is not possible..."

Gao Wei held a thick stack of memorials and looked carefully one by one. Several ministers in the distance were quarreling and noisy, and he only regarded it as if he had not heard it. The ministers were willing to think about national affairs, rather than playing with civil and military affairs. This was something Gao Wei absolutely was willing to see.

As for the quarrel... as long as they don't fight in front of Gao Wei, they will make any arguments.

After a while, he finally finished reading it, closed the memorial, placed it on the table, nodded and smiled:

"It's very good. This year, our tax revenue has increased sharply. In the past few years, natural disasters and wars have hurt us. Now we have to make up for it... It's not easy, and all the good guys are in trouble."

"I dare not... I really can't afford it. This is because His Majesty has good leadership and is wise and wise, so that he can lead the court to achieve such political achievements. I dare not take credit for his reputation..."

Zu Yi immediately showed such a loyal and flattering face, like a lackey under the emperor's knees, which made other ministers roll their eyes secretly. This old bastard, we also want to slap the dragon's fart! But Zu Yi, the old bastard, said this, and they couldn't say it even more flattering. It was too shameless. Why did he always attack so quickly?

Gao Wei was in a very good mood today, and he took it calmly for Zu Yi's flattery. He tapped the index finger and middle finger on the table a few times. Zu Yi immediately realized that the emperor had something to say again, so he immediately looked like he was ready.

"I plan to open a military camp in Jinyang and encircle all the fields in the suburbs of Jinyang. What do you think?"

"Outside the city?" The ministers looked at each other. After a long time, a minister said in a difficult voice: "Your Majesty, Emperor Shenwu Gao specially opened up the fields in Jinyang to plant Changhe and feed thousands of horses to suppress the enemy... If this is evenly used as a military camp, it is OK, but it may not necessarily get the support of everyone. After all, this is the rule set by Emperor Shenwu, and this is the ancestral system..."

"It's okay," Gao Wei waved his hand, his eyes full of smiles, "Emperor Gao opened up this field for military purposes. I stationed troops here for military purposes. There is no conflict between the two. This time, the clearance of Buddhism not only seized a large amount of stolen goods, but also obtained a large amount of land and people... I plan to connect Bingzhou and Jinyang... the fields obtained by the court were opened up and trained the government army! What do you think?"

Zu Qi asked quickly: "Is it the same as Jizhou and Huainan?"

In Jizhou, Huainan, Youzhou and other states, the emperor also imitated the system of Zhou Kingdom next door and improved it, becoming a brand new system of government soldiers. These government soldiers had no relationship with the nobles, and they all fell steadily into the emperor's mouth. In Fenzhou and Luoyang, the emperor was gradually promoting this system, which means that the two military systems of the Great Qi coexisted, one was the mercenary system of Northern Qi, and the other was this kind of government soldiers.

From the perspective of long-term planning, it is clear which of these two military systems is better or worse. Once the military system becomes stronger, the mercenary system will inevitably suffer a serious impact. Most importantly, the power of the Xun Sect will definitely be affected!

Is the emperor going to attack the nobles? Now is not a good time.

Zu Qi hesitated and said, "Do you dare to ask your Majesty if you want to intervene in Jinyang Liufang? I'm sorry, now is not a good time. Jinyang Liufang has tens of thousands of troops, and the entire Jinzhou Road has about 200,000 soldiers. If Your Majesty rashly reorganizes it, it may cause chaos..."

Gao Wei looked at Zu Yi with satisfaction. This old man had a loss of personal morality, and it was reasonable in the big festival. "Zu Qing thought too much. I just drew a piece of land in Jinyang, that's all... Besides, I don't know the situation of the Jinyang army. The military discipline is absent, and it's useless to keep this land. It's better to let me make arrangements separately than to be taken secretly, right? Okay, let's do it."

Gao Wei hesitated for a moment, and said for a while: "I received several bullets today, impeaching the governor of the Western Expedition, Hu Luguang, to take human life and supervising the construction of the Fenzhou military camp, and killed and injured many soldiers and people. What do you think?"

Zu Yi said without thinking: "Hulu Mingyue is irritable and upright, and she is extremely strict in her control. She manages the troops and supervises the public, but only relies on her power and punishment. When building the city, he often whips the people because his progress cannot meet his requirements. It is really cruel and tyrannical..." Gao Wei glanced over with a cold look. Zu Yi immediately stopped and turned a corner, "However, what Hulu Mingyue does is indeed for the sake of the country. I won't say that he has made many extraordinary achievements... Just guarding the border for the country, killing and injuring a few people is a trivial matter..."

Gao Wei frowned and said, "What is a small thing? It is related to human life. Is that a small thing? He beat my people to death!"

"—Yes, yes, yes, I'm wrong," Zu Yi was sweating profusely, and he said, "Why don't he let him go to Beijing for trial immediately? Let him explain the matter of his neglect of human life..."

"What are you kidding? He is gone, Lanling King is in Hedong, what should I do if the military affairs of Fenzhou are in the middle of the war? What should I do if the Zhou Kingdom suddenly starts the war?"

“…………”

Zu Qi understood clearly. The emperor was dissatisfied with his clever tricks in front of him and deliberately messed with him. No matter what he said, the emperor could pick out bones from the egg. He simply bent his waist, lowered his head, and stopped talking.

Gao Wei snorted from his nose and said, "This is a few lives. You can't just forget it. I will punish Huluguang Guang copper for 300 kilograms, stop the salary for another half a year, and then order someone to pass an edict to criticize him and order him to pay attention to his position. This will be almost done. Injuring someone's life. Although I am angry, he is a chief official after all, and the general in charge of military affairs... It's fine if you take it lightly, there is no next time!"

"Also, the queen is pregnant. I originally planned to reward Hulu's whole family well. Now that this is the case, then forget it. The merits and demerits are offset, so that's it."

The snowflakes were still floating outside the hall, and the atmosphere inside the hall was surprisingly strange. The ministers were silent for a while. When they realized that they had retreated into the back hall. The emperor had a queen! The emperor had a queen! This is a major event in the state. Compared with this matter, what we discussed today is not worthy of even adding a big head! The ministers' calm hearts fell to the ground for a long time!

The emperor has no heirs, not only the royal relatives are anxious, but the ministers are even more anxious. What is the use of an emperor without heirs? It is better to have his own heir to make the upper and lower levels feel at ease. God is pitiful. The emperor has been ascending the throne for six or seven years, and finally has a seedling!

Zu Yi opened his mouth and woke up in the noisy environment around him. Now he regretted that he just wanted to hit the wall with his head...
Chapter completed!