Chapter 864: Controversy, tradeoff

The reaction of the six ministers was within Xiao Tianyao’s expectations. Although these six people belonged to the emperor, they were timid and afraid of getting into trouble.

It was they who went out of the city with Prime Minister You to welcome him into the city, and they were also the ones who stumbling him and caused trouble secretly. Such kind of people, Xiao Tianyao was very contemptuous. He disregarded the face of the six people, and said disdainfully: “Holding position but not working, it’s useless!”

These six people thought they were the emperor’s people, and caused him trouble because of their position regardless of the overall situation of the country. Although he was angry, he could accept it. After all, the officialdom was like a battlefield, and everyone has their position.

However, these six people have never done anything. They didn’t respond when he stood up against the emperor’s order. His move can be said to be a slap on the emperor’s face. If they were on the emperor’s side, they wouldn’t ignore his actions. They will come out to stop it.

But, what did these six people do?

They don’t want to give up their positions, but they also did nothing to maintain the dignity of their master.

They don’t use their position when they should but do things when they shouldn’t. What’s the use of keeping such a person?

*Plop* The six people were so frightened that they all knelt and shouted trembling: “Wangye, forgive us.”

“Hmph…” Xiao Tianyao snorted coldly, closed his eyes, and ignored them, and he didn’t intend to send someone to help Prime Minister You.

If he can’t handle even such a trivial matter, then Prime Minister You don’t need to gain a foothold in the court, and the You Family doesn’t need to gain a foothold in the country.

The You Family was not just all talk. Their biggest advantage was their deep-rooted and flourishing power.

Xiao Tianyao was not in a hurry, he sat patiently on the main seat and closed his eyes, completely ignoring the six ministers kneeling on the ground. Prince Xiao didn’t say anything, so the six ministers didn’t dare to move. They knelt obediently, without even making a sound.

After a few minutes, there was a burst of footsteps of different weights outside the door. The six ministers who were kneeling on the ground felt uneasy when they heard the sound, and quietly raised their heads to look at Xiao Tianyao. Seeing that Xiao Tianyao didn’t look at them, they turned their heads quietly look.

When they saw Prime Minister You and Prime Minister Lin, under the escort of the forbidden army, walking towards the meeting hall one after the other, they couldn’t tell what it was like in their hearts.

Prince Xiao didn’t need to show up in person, Prime Minister You was enough to bring out the person detained by the emperor’s order. How terrible was Prince Xiao’s power?

“This old minister pays respect to wangye, wangye has been waiting for a long time.” Prime Minister You walked in first, cupped his hands, and bowed to pay greetings.

“What happened?” Xiao Tianyao waved his hand, motioning for Prime Minister You to excuse him.

“Prime Minister Lin is not feeling well. This old minister invited the imperial physician on his initiative and send them back.” Prime Minister You could more or less guess the emperor’s intention to detain Prime Minister Lin’s family, and before Xiao Tianyao could speak, he finished the matter well.

Prime Minister Lin stepped in later than Prime Minister You. At this time, Prime Minister Lin was no longer as elegant and calm as before. He was nearly twenty years younger than Prime Minister You, but standing beside Prime Minister You now, he looked about the same age as him. It can be seen that his life under house arrest during this period was a great blow to him.

“Wangye, this minister pays my respects. May wangye live a thousand years old.” Prime Minister Lin came in and saluted respectfully, without the slightest arrogance like before.

“Mmm.” Xiao Tianyao nodded, and said coldly: “Since you’re here, let’s start.”

Xiao Tianyao never mentioned the matter of making the six ministers get up. Prime Minister You and Prime Minister Lin were both old foxes, so naturally they won’t open their mouths. Under such circumstances, the six ministers also didn’t dare to open their mouths, so they had to continue kneeling.

“Do you have any drafts for the peace talks in the Northern Country?” After gaining prestige, Xiao Tianyao accepted it when he saw it was good, and brought up the business.

Prime Minister You hesitated for a moment and then said: “Before, the emperor verbally said that he would give the North 100,000 stones of grain and 5,000 bolts of cotton cloth. While the North will transfer three silver mines and one gold mine under the royal family’s name to us, and signed a 20-year treaty not to invade our border. The captives will be used as slaves of our country. However, an accident happened before we had time to discuss these with the North.”

“Give the North Country food?” Xiao Tianyao chewed these five words lightly, and said with a cold face: “You also think this method is feasible?” The other party has written the treaty for peace talks, but he still needs to listen to other people’s opinions.

“Answering back wangye, we can’t afford 100,000 stones of grain. After the war with the North, there is not much grain left in the national stockpile.” The Minister of the Household Department said bravely.

It was not that he wants to stand out, but that he was in charge of food, medicine, and money. When the peace talks were finalized, it will be his fault if the country can’t produce food, medicines, and clothing when needed.

“The Northern Country invades our borders because of lack of food. If we don’t give them enough food, I’m afraid they will attack again.” Minister of the Ministry of War said worriedly.

This was a fact, and it was not like it didn’t happen in the past. When their East defeated the North, they will negotiate peace, but they refused to give food, medicine, and clothing. The northern people had no choice but to agree to a peace agreement, but turned around and gathered troops, invaded their country again wantonly, and robbed the eastern people’s property.

The Northern Country was located in a cold and barren place. There were very few places suitable for growing grain and vegetables in the country, and there were not many wild animals in their mountains. The grain produced by them was not enough to feed the people of the country.

In the Northern Country, every year, old people, women, and children starve to death. Many people take risks to survive. So even if there was no national recruitment, tens of thousands of people gather to attack the East, the South, and the West border to rob food.

The land of the Eastern Country was fertile, and the people were rich, which became the priority of the Northern people.

However, although the land in the north was not suitable for planting, there were many iron ores, copper ores, and even gold and silver ores in their territory. It can be said that the emperor exchanged grain and grass for the rights of these mines, which can be said to be an excellent choice.

“We have been at war with the North for decades. No matter whether we win or lose, we have to give them food. The North has also signed an agreement not to invade our border, but it has never been fulfilled.” The minister of the Ministry of Industry hesitated for a moment but still opened his mouth.

“Yes, yes, the Northern people have always been dishonest. They are just a group of white-eyed wolves. It is useless for us to give them more food. We will feed and fatten them up, and then, they will attack us and turn their back on us. It’s not worthwhile to give them food.”

The Ministry of Rites doesn’t have any real power in their hands, but the peace talks were led by them. It should be said that they lead every peace talk with the North. But the agreement was broken again and again, and every time the Northern people broke the peace talk, the emperor would blame them for their incompetence. So the people in the Ministry of Rites held the deepest grudge against the Northern Country.

“If we don’t give food, are we going to continue fighting? The Northern people are about to starve to death. If they mobilize troops again, they will fight us desperately. Our treasury has no food, we can’t support the army to fight again.” The Minister of the Ministry of War was so angry that his beard fired up while roaring at the Minister of Rites.

“Giving food will not solve the problem. The Northern people will have enough food this year. What about next year? What about the year after? Could it be, our country, have to keep raising them?” The Ministry of Rites and the Minister of the Ministry of Households retorted unwillingly.

Xiao Tianyao didn’t say a word and casually tapped his fingers on the table, seemingly not listening. However, he listened to every word of the crowd when they were arguing. Then he said coldly: “What you all say makes sense, but it’s useless to just say these things, have you guys had to come up with a solution?”

What else can this group of people do besides quarreling?

Such people were only loved by his brother.

After all, only when they were incompatible with each other can they play a balance… …

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