Chapter 477: Chapter 478: Like a Hooligan

He Gaofei felt a pang of bitterness. ’These old aristocratic families like ours have long since seen our glory days fade. We’re just struggling to survive on our last ounce of integrity.’

"Mr. Gu, any idea when the grain will be delivered?"

He was also worried. During this lean season before the new harvest, would the surrounding grain shops even have so much in stock?

"I have already told them to be as quick as possible," Gu Wenheng said. Of course, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to send his own men out searching. Instead, he had sought out the grain merchants of Lu City and had them figure out how to procure it.

In this region, these locals were far more familiar with things than outsiders like them.

...

「In the Imperial Court」

Hua Shunming’s expression grew heavier and heavier as he read through the pile of memorials sent from the border.

"I trust my dear ministers are already aware. Several neighboring countries have launched successive provocations. Tell me your thoughts."

...

A silence fell over the court. Hua Shunming understood this was their silent protest.

"Minister Chen, you speak."

Chen Zishu replied, "Reporting to the Holy Emperor, this old one is merely an official in charge of the Ministry of Rites. Matters of war should fall under the purview of the Ministry of War."

"Oh? Cao Aiqing, you speak then."

The court officials: "..."

Cao Xiangqian said, "Holy Emperor, this subject believes we should retreat no longer. Since they dare to extend their claws, we should chop them off.

This subject requests a command! I am willing to lead our soldiers to the battlefield."

Xiao Liwei and the other military generals also requested to be sent to battle one after another.

Hua Shunming nodded. "Now these are the true, red-blooded men of our Rong Dynasty."

The civil servants, who were just deemed not red-blooded: "..."

"Minister Zhou, I command you to tally all military necessities within one day. Minister Mao, your Ministry of Industry will inventory all weaponry within one day."

Hearing this, how could the assembled officials not understand? The young Emperor wanted to start a war.

Everyone grew anxious at once, and they all started talking over each other, expressing what they believed to be the correct point of view.

But no matter how much they said, in the end, the young Emperor simply threw out a single sentence: "I can always ennoble some princesses and have each of your households provide a dowry to send them off in a marriage alliance."

The moment he said it, it sounded rather shameless.

But no one dared to make a sound. If this increasingly tyrannical Emperor suddenly issued a Holy Decree, they would truly lose both their people and their money. What a deadly trap!

Hua Shunming’s lips curled into a cold sneer. "Don’t you all love to spout endless grand principles at the drop of a hat? As I see it, there’s no need for you to agonize over this here. How about you take your daughters and their dowries and serve as the envoys for the marriage procession yourselves?

I imagine my dear ministers would love such a distinct honor."

The civil servants: "..." ’To hell with this distinct honor! Whoever wants it can have it.’

’Besides, you’re an emperor, not some street thug. Is it really right to use this to threaten us every single time?’

Hua Shunming couldn’t care less what these people thought. Ever since he discovered that the way to deal with these civil servants was to be even more shameless than they were, it was as if he had found a new path, and he gleefully trod it every day.

His confidence in making this decision also stemmed from the windfall he’d received before the new year. And now, with his National Treasury full to the brim, he naturally had the courage to talk about launching a counterattack.

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For so many years, ever since the Rong Dynasty was founded, these small neighboring countries had been causing trouble every so often. He had been holding back his anger for many years, and now he could finally take this opportunity to settle the score with each of them.

"Present your memorials if you have matters to report, or court is dismissed if there are none." Le San’s sharp voice finally brought everyone back to their senses.

"Holy Emperor, this matter is improper! Fighting several countries at the same time is disadvantageous for us. We pray the Holy Emperor reconsiders!"

"We pray the Holy Emperor reconsiders."

"I have ’reconsidered’ like this many times. But you tell me, what have I gotten for it?

All it has earned me is them becoming more and more audacious each time.

The high positions and generous stipends you enjoy here were forged from the fresh blood of countless lives.

Yet, the moment trouble arises, the moment they shout a few times from across the border, you take my silver to appease them. What use do I have for you?"

This was an unprecedented accusation. The officials in the court all dropped to their knees in unison, shouting, "We wouldn’t dare!"

"’We wouldn’t dare.’ I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that. I’m sick of it.

My mind is made up. If you want to persuade me, you’d better have a reason that can actually persuade me."

The officials: "..."

Cao Xiangqian waited until the Emperor had left the main hall before getting up and rubbing his old back. ’Going back and forth with these turtle-bastards every day is more exhausting than the battlefield.’

’I wonder if the Holy Emperor will allow me to go to the border this time. While my old bones are still up to it, I really want to go to war one more time.’

"Niu Taifu, you are the Holy Emperor’s respected former teacher. We must ask you to go to the palace and speak with the Holy Emperor about the various difficulties involved.

This isn’t something that can be resolved by acting on impulse. We must all think about the long-term consequences."

Niu Hai’an replied, "We are all subjects of the Holy Emperor. If Mr. Chen had something to say, he should have said it directly just now. I certainly don’t think I have that much influence."

Minister Zhou came over as well. "Lord Niu, right now, everyone is truly counting on you.

Our National Treasury has only just become plentiful after so much difficulty. The moment a war starts, it becomes a bottomless pit. The treasury silver we have now can’t sustain it for that long."

Cao Xiangqian let out a snort of laughter. "What Mr. Zhou says is truly interesting. From the founding of the dynasty to the present day, how many times has the National Treasury directly allocated Silver Taels to the garrison commanders at the border?

Even if your Ministry of Revenue is generous and disburses the funds on time, after passing through layer after layer of hands, the amount that reaches the soldiers at the border is minuscule."

Zhou Shicong’s and many other officials’ expressions changed. Although what Cao Xiangqian said was a bit of an exaggeration, it was also the closest thing to the truth.

Niu Hai’an had previously felt that the current Holy Emperor was being a bit reckless. How could he bring the tactics of street thugs into the imperial court?

’Now it seems the real thugs are standing right here.’

Cao Xiangqian shook his head, clicking his tongue. "The great rats have not yet been cleansed."

The civil servants: "..." ’So infuriating! Minister Cao is targeting us at every turn today, yet we don’t know how to refute him.’

’Barely a few Silver Taels have flowed into our pockets, yet we have to bear such a heavy blame.’

Xiao Liwei smacked his lips and said to Guard General Liu Chang, who was beside him, "I actually think the Holy Emperor’s previous proposal was quite good. Have the various lords prepare dowries and send their own princesses off to be married. I imagine that could guarantee several years of peace at the border.

Then, after a number of years, when the well-bred young ladies from each household have grown up, they can be sent to take their place."

’Anyway, as soon as the daughters of us military generals enter the harem, the Empress says the girls spend all day playing with swords and knives, that their bodies have lost all softness, and that they’re not suited to be royalty. After giving them a single meal in the palace, she sends them right back.’

The civil servants: "..."

Liu Chang added, "An excellent idea. To be able to guarantee several years of Ping’an without losing a single soldier is well worth it."

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