area51novel Chapter 630 When did I ever say I would give them money?
Chapter 630 When did I ever say I would give them money?
Ni Yuanlu secretly raised her eyes, trying to peek at the emperor's expression, but saw that Zhu Cilang was still sitting there calmly, his fingers rhythmically tapping the cover of the account book, without the slightest surprise on his face, not even raising an eyebrow.
This composure only made Ni Yuanlu more uneasy.
Finally, Zhu Cilang spoke, his voice still steady:
"Over 130 million taels... Hmm, that's more than I expected. It seems that my uncles and brothers have indeed managed their fiefdoms well over the years."
It's unclear whether this was a compliment or sarcasm.
Ni Yuanlu, however, paid no attention to the emperor's tone and said urgently:
"Your Majesty! Although this amount is enormous, it is a hot potato for the court, and more of a disaster than a blessing!"
He was quite agitated and didn't care about anything else.
"Last year's national treasury surplus, after deducting the funds that must be reserved, left only a little over ten million taels available for actual disbursement. This spring, Zhili and Henan are repairing river dikes, Shanxi and Shaanxi are providing drought relief, the south is preparing for flood control, and there are expenses for local officials' salaries, border garrison pay, and rewards for the Beijing garrison... Money is needed everywhere, and the Ministry of Revenue is already stretched thin. This 130 million taels... let alone disbursing it to the princes in cash, it is absolutely impossible to even allocate the full amount from the treasury! If payment is forced, the national treasury will immediately dry up, leaving the nation's taxes hanging in the balance, inevitably leading to financial collapse, market depression, and widespread shock!"
He stepped forward and said, almost pleadingly:
"His Majesty once issued a clear edict, allowing the various vassal states to exchange their 'contribution' of their estates for overseas fiefdoms, with the court providing corresponding support. This was proclaimed to the world. However... however, if the court cannot deliver on this 'support,' what will become of His Majesty's golden words? What will become of the court's prestige? The vassal states will surely harbor resentment, and how will the people of the world view the court? How will they view His Majesty?"
"Your Majesty, I...I am the Minister of Revenue, in charge of the nation's finances. Faced with this dilemma, I am truly...truly at a loss, my heart is burning with anguish! I humbly beg Your Majesty...to make the decisive decision and show me a way out!"
By the end, his voice had choked with emotion.
He could almost see the terrible scene of the princes causing trouble, the court losing credibility, and the treasury collapsing because they could not keep their promises.
Zhu Cilang listened quietly to Ni Yuanlu's almost desperate statement, his face remaining expressionless.
He even chuckled softly, a smile carrying an indescribable meaning, as if everything Ni Yuanlu said was already within his expectations, or even... insignificant.
“Ni Qing.”
Zhu Cilang finally stopped tapping the account book, leaned back in his large rosewood armchair, and looked at Ni Yuanlu with leisure:
"You've said all this simply because you're worried that the imperial court won't be able to come up with 130 million taels of silver, thus failing to fulfill its promise to the vassal kings and losing the trust of the people. Isn't that right?"
"Yes...that is exactly what I meant."
Ni Yuanlu nodded, but a strange feeling arose in her heart due to the emperor's overly calm attitude.
"Then let me ask you."
Zhu Cilang leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming:
"When did I say I would give them 130 million taels of silver?"
"what?"
Ni Yuanlu was completely stunned, her mouth slightly open, unable to react for a moment.
Not in cash? Then what will they give?
His Majesty clearly said he would "provide appropriate support"! What else could this support be but something else?
Zhu Cilang stopped looking at him, got up from his seat, and slowly walked to the huge world map screen on one side of the warm pavilion.
His gaze swept across the areas marked on the map—the coasts of Peru and Mexico in South America; the vast plains of central North America; the Spice Islands of Southeast Asia; and even the distant Cape of Good Hope in South Africa… These were all overseas fiefdoms that the princes desired or had already been initially “assigned”.
"Ni Qing, come and see."
Zhu Cilang did not turn around, but his voice echoed clearly in the warm pavilion.
"The King of Chu wanted to go here, which is said to have mountains of gold and silver, but also has fierce native tribes, and is guarded by the Western barbarians from Spain and Portugal; the King of Zhou and the King of Shu favored this place, which has fertile land for thousands of miles, but is also desolate, with wild animals and miasma; the King of Lu and the King of Dai chose this place, which faces the maritime powers of Europe..."
The place they were heading to was a land beyond the reach of civilization, a wild and untamed realm. There, they would find the spears and poisoned arrows of the natives, the cannons and warships of the Western barbarians, unknown diseases, and a harsh environment.
He turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning, and shot towards Ni Yuanlu, who was still somewhat bewildered:
"Tell me, what do they need most right now? Is it the silver piled up in the ship's hold, which they can neither eat nor drink, and which might sink at sea in a storm?"
Ni Yuanlu subconsciously shook her head:
"Of course not. They need... they need a force that can provide them with a place to live and expand their territory."
"That's right!"
Zhu Cilang clapped his hands, his voice rising a few decibels, carrying an air of all-knowing confidence.
"It is power! It is the armed force that can protect them, fight for them, help them gain a foothold, and expand their territory!"
He walked back to his desk, but did not sit down. Instead, he stood there, pointing his finger in the air as if listing examples:
"What they want is a well-trained, battle-hardened, elite army capable of forming ranks and fighting! They want everything from swords and spears to bows and crossbows to sophisticated firearms and cannons! They want sturdy ships and powerful cannons that can sail thousands of miles, carry cargo and people, and fight! They want armor, provisions, medicine, craftsmen... and even civil officials who know how to build cities, cultivate land, and govern!"
These are the things they truly need and that are most tangible when they cross oceans to seek their fortunes in unfamiliar lands!
As Ni Yuanlu listened, his eyes gradually brightened; he seemed to have grasped the edge of the emperor's train of thought:
"Does Your Majesty mean... that the court will not give money, but instead use these... goods and manpower to 'compensate' the vassal kings' 'contributions'?"
"That's exactly what I meant!"
Zhu Cilang was resolute.
"How much silver is a Ming Dynasty soldier in his prime, skilled in using firearms and experienced in battle, including his full set of equipment and years of training? How much silver is a large warship equipped with more than twenty cannons and capable of sailing the ocean? How much is a single red-coated cannon capable of destroying cities and capturing fortresses worth? The imperial court can put price tags on all of these!"
A shrewd glint flashed in his eyes:
"Don't the princes have 130 million taels of 'contribution points'? Fine, use these 'contribution points' to 'purchase' the army, weapons, ships, and supplies provided by the court! They can ask for as many soldiers, ships, and cannons as they need, and the court will deduct the price from their quotas accordingly."
In this way, they obtained the military strength necessary for survival and territorial expansion, the court fulfilled its promise of 'support,' and they didn't have to spend a single tael of silver. Ni Qing, what do you think of this method?
It was as if a huge boulder in Ni Yuanlu's heart had been moved away in an instant!
He was so excited that his beard trembled slightly.
"Your Majesty is wise! This...this is a brilliant plan of substitution and grafting! In this way, the court's credibility can be preserved, and the vassal kings can also gain real benefits. It's a win-win situation!"
However, after the initial excitement, his cautious nature as the head of the Ministry of Revenue gave rise to a lingering doubt.
He carefully considered his words and said:
"Your Majesty's plan is indeed brilliant. However... the court will also need to spend a lot of money to build weapons and warships and maintain the army. The salaries of craftsmen, the purchase of materials, the military pay and provisions... all of these are expenditures of real money. Even if we use the 'conversion' method and no longer pay cash to the vassal kings, this part of the cost will ultimately fall on the court."
While the land and shops offered by the vassal kings were valued at 130 million, they were difficult to liquidate quickly, and the imperial court... seemed to lack that much money.
Zhu Cilang smiled and said:
"It's alright. I will allocate 30 million taels of silver from the imperial treasury to handle this matter. Those fields and shops can be sold off gradually. In the end, the court will make a profit!"
Upon hearing this, Ni Yuanlu felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders and felt much more relaxed.
Just then, he suddenly remembered another matter that had been weighing on his mind. After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke: "Your Majesty, there is another matter... Military expenditures have been enormous in recent years. Although there have been no major battles in Liaodong, Xuanda, and the Nine Border Garrisons, the daily garrisoning, training, equipment upgrades, rewards, and pensions have cost a fortune. Although the combat power of the Beijing Garrison has greatly increased after Your Majesty's reorganization, its pay and equipment are also far superior to what they used to be. Last year, the total military expenditures exceeded half of the annual revenue. This year's budget is truly difficult for the Ministry of Revenue to support."
"Perhaps...we should consider reducing the number of elderly and infirm personnel, or postpone some non-urgent military procurements, such as the large grant requested by the Firearms Research Institute, to ease financial burdens? Now that the matter of the vassal kings has been resolved, perhaps some funds and provisions can be allocated..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Cilang's smile vanished.
He raised his hand, stopping Ni Yuanlu from speaking.
The warm pavilion fell silent.
Zhu Cilang's gaze fell upon the window, where the majestic walls of the Forbidden City stood and the faint outline of the Western Hills stretched into the distance.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority:
"Regarding the military expenditure... I understand."
He paused, his gaze returning to Ni Yuanlu's face, his tone leaving no room for negotiation:
"Allow me... to consider this further. You may leave now."
"Sir, obey the order."
Ni Yuanlu was slightly surprised. The emperor seemed to be more cautious about the issue of military expenditures than about dealing with the assets of the vassal kings, and even somewhat secretive about it.
But he dared not ask any more questions, and could only bow and accept the order, slowly leaving the West Warm Pavilion.
The palace doors closed gently.
Inside the warm pavilion, only Zhu Cilang remained, along with the quietly burning ice chest and the endless chirping of cicadas outside the window.
After Zhu Cilang returned to his desk, he did not immediately deal with government affairs.
He leaned back, closed his eyes, and continued to tap lightly on the armrest with his fingers.
Ni Yuanlu was worried about military spending; how could he not know that?
In fact, he was even more aware of the current state of the army and its potential crises than Ni Yuanlu.
But disarmament? Suspending military buildup? No, that's not what he wants.
He was brewing a bolder, more permanent plan that would not only solve the pressure of military spending but also address another, more troublesome problem—the arrogant and unruly soldiers who had just achieved great feats in the north but were now becoming increasingly powerful and difficult to control.
Two days later, Zhu Cilang was reviewing memorials.
"Your Majesty."
Ma Bao's voice broke the silence, tinged with a hint of caution.
"Minister of War Li Banghua is requesting an audience outside the palace, saying he has urgent matters to report."
Zhu Cilang slowly raised his eyelids, and the corners of his mouth curved upwards almost imperceptibly.
"Xuan."
He spoke calmly, his voice ringing out clearly in the spacious, warm room.
Soon, footsteps reached the outside of the hall.
Minister of War Li Banghua appeared at the door and almost rushed in.
Unlike Ni Yuanlu's previous anxiety and solemnity stemming from financial pressure, Li Banghua's face now showed undisguised resentment, worry, and even an uncontrollable rage.
He was nearly seventy years old, tall, with a square face, and his long, white beard seemed to tremble slightly with emotion.
Upon reaching the imperial desk, before he could even catch his breath, he bowed deeply, his voice booming and clear, resonant as metal and stone, and blurted out:
"Your Majesty! Your subject, Li Banghua, has a matter of utmost urgency that I must report to Your Majesty immediately!"
Zhu Cilang looked at this old minister, known for his integrity, strictness, and rigorous military discipline, and a gentle, almost reassuring smile appeared on his face. He pointed to the embroidered stool that had been prepared beforehand:
"Li Qing, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down and let's talk. Ma Bao, serve Li Qing some tea."
"Your Majesty! I cannot remain seated!"
Li Banghua did not sit down. Instead, he straightened his back and stared straight at Zhu Cilang with bloodshot eyes, which were filled with pain and urgency from years of staying up late and reading military newspapers.
"Your Majesty, as the Minister of War, in charge of all military affairs in the realm, what I have seen and heard recently is truly shocking and infuriating! If I do not report this soon, I fear... I fear I will fail Your Majesty's trust and the late Emperor's high expectations!"
Zhu Cilang's smile faded slightly, but he did not become angry. He simply said calmly:
"Why do you say that, Minister Li? Sit down and speak slowly. The sky won't fall down."
Ma Bao had already presented a cup of tea to Li Banghua.
Li Banghua glanced at the teacup, and finally took it, but did not drink from it. Instead, he placed it heavily on the small rosewood table next to him, making a dull thud.
He lifted his robe and sat halfway on the embroidered stool, his body still taut and straight, like an old general about to go into battle.
"His Majesty!"
Li Banghua took a deep breath, as if to release the pent-up emotions that had been building up in his chest for a long time, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
"Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, the world has been at peace. This is both Your Majesty's great blessing and the result of the soldiers' valiant efforts. However, fortune can also bring misfortune! Since the great victories in Liaodong and Korea, and especially last year's complete annihilation of Jianzhou, eradicating this great threat, the arrogance and domineering spirit within the army has spread like wildfire!"
He paused, his eyes filled with even deeper pain:
"Not to mention the border troops far away in Xuanda and Jiliao, even in the capital garrison right under the emperor's nose, there are many generals, captains, and even veterans who have made meritorious contributions who are arrogant and disregard discipline! I am not exaggerating!"
He began to list them one by one, his voice growing louder and more urgent:
"Firstly, they demand excessive rewards! The imperial court has already bestowed extremely generous rewards upon them, but these people are still not satisfied. They frequently use the pretext of 'meritorious service in bloody battles' or 'injured brothers' to demand extra money, grain, land, and residences from officials and local authorities! If the local authorities are even slightly slow to respond, they gather crowds to make a fuss, and some even storm government offices!"
"Secondly, they seize farmland and bully the local people! Many generals, especially some newly promoted nobles and officers, rely on their military achievements to either force people to buy their land at low prices or directly seize the people's fertile fields, forests, and ponds! Even worse, some of them allow their servants and retainers to commit crimes in their garrisons, engaging in forced buying and selling, and even beating people to death! Local officials are afraid of their military background and often dare not investigate further, which has led to widespread public resentment!"
"Thirdly, and this is what worries me most—disregard for the law and outward compliance while inward disobeying!"
As Li Banghua spoke, his face flushed even more. (End of Chapter)