40 When shooting a man, shoot his horse first; when capturing a thief, capture the leader first!

"That's right! Wouldn't it be better to save the money for repairing the post station?"

The person from the Ministry of War who had just spoken was speechless, his face looked ugly, and he couldn't utter a word for a long time.

Xu Huaili stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Master Cao has probably lived in the capital for so long that he doesn't even know how to get around on the official roads!"

"There is a post station every thirty miles, but now in some places in the north, there is only one post station every hundred miles. If there is an urgent military situation and there is no way to change horses, it will delay the military situation. By then, it is possible that the door of your house, Lord Cao, will be demolished!"

"How dare you!" Lord Cao, who was accused of destroying his family, was so angry that his face turned red and he cursed, "What do you mean? Is this how you, Lord Xu, raised your grandson? He has learned to be so arrogant!"

Duke Xu Huasong of Xu State smiled calmly, "It's not necessarily a bad thing for young people to be arrogant. I think what he said makes a lot of sense. Could it be that Lord Cao doesn't know the saying 'Be prepared for danger in times of peace'?"

The people in the Ministry of War naturally felt more confident now that they had someone to back them up. "Lord Cao is old and it's understandable that he has difficulty walking, but how can we forget to be prepared for danger in times of peace?"

Lord Cao was furious, but he held back his scholarly demeanor and refrained from cursing in public.

But the arguments between the people in the cabinet and the Ministry of War were endless.

The hall was in chaos for a moment. Zhang Quanfu glanced at the emperor's expression, frowned, and immediately cleared his throat and shouted, "Silence!"

Suddenly, the quarrel stopped.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony was as quiet as a chicken, and the ministers looked at each other in bewilderment.

After all, His Majesty seemed to have said nothing just now.

Pei Yuning turned the beads on his wrist for a long time before asking calmly, "If you like to debate, you can do it after the court session. Don't worry. Today we will discuss the disaster relief in Zhuzhou. If there are no other objections, we will continue to discuss how to solve the problem of disaster relief money."

This matter was a hot potato and no one took up the issue for a while.

"Your Majesty, I think that the relief money for Zhuzhou should be given, but the military expenses should also be given. It would be better to start the relief donation campaign in the residences of the major officials in the capital, and then lobby the major business groups to raise funds among the merchants. The money raised can be used for the people first, and the funds needed for the river embankment can be raised in other states later."

Wang Shulin is a person who is willing to talk to anyone as long as no money is spent. I suggest that it would be best to drag everyone into the water.

It is said that a friend would rather die than I die!

The people below sneered. The clacking of the beads on Minister Wang's abacus was so loud that it could be heard three miles away.

But I have to say that this is indeed the best way to raise money in a short period of time. Besides, you can't be forced to donate more or less, right?

In order to show selflessness, you have to agree, "Yes, this proposal is feasible."

"You can consider it."

"I second this motion!"

"In that case, who is willing to raise funds?"

Pei Yuning glanced at the group of people who were keeping their heads down and saying nothing, and said, "Minister Xiao."

"I am here!"

"You were the one who proposed this, so you will be the one raising the funds. I will give you ten days to raise 500,000 taels. Do you have any objections?"

Xiao Huanshan felt miserable, but said solemnly, "I obey your order!"

"Xu Huaili!"

"I am here!"

"I appoint you as the General of Zhenbei. You will assist Minister Xiao in raising funds and escort the relief funds to Zhuzhou safely!"

"I obey your command!" Xu Huaili knelt down to express his gratitude.

Xiao Qu was confused. Why did he bring his son back to do such a thankless job?

Xiao Huanjun was also worried about his second brother.

Duke Zhenguo Xu Huasong frowned. What is your majesty planning?

＊

"Your Majesty asked my father to go to each family to raise funds?" Xiao Tingyun was surprised and asked hurriedly.

Xiao Huanshan also sighed, "The emperor's will cannot be violated, right?"

Xiao Qu stroked his beard and pursed his lips, "Your father is unlucky. Who told him to be so talkative? He had to open his mouth. OK! This is exactly what he wants."

Xiao Huanshan felt aggrieved, but he couldn't say it, and he couldn't tell his father that this was a conspiracy of His Majesty!

Ten days! Five hundred thousand taels!

"Dad, please don't add fuel to the fire. My second brother is having a hard time already!"

Xiao Huanjun thought that they were going to strip people of their clothes and pants, especially those old-timers who were so full of food that they only knew how to cry poor in front of His Majesty.

When Xiao Heming heard the news, he hurried to the study. When he saw his sister there, he was no longer shocked.

I am only worried about my father. "I heard about this after I got off duty today. Does my father have any way to solve it?"

Xiao Huanshan's elegant face turned serious. "Your Majesty asked General Xu to assist. This should be a two-pronged approach. But we have to see how many people are willing to accept this."

"It doesn't matter what Your Majesty thinks. What matters is who my father attacks first." Xiao Tingyun suddenly said.

When Xiao Huanshan heard his daughter say this, he became a little curious, "Then, Ah Yun, who do you think I should attack first?"

Xiao Tingyun said, "It is said that when shooting a person, you should shoot the horse first, and when capturing a thief, you should capture the leader first. Naturally, we should drag the person who has a heart of "the highest good is like water" into the water."

Except for Xiao Qu who was a little confused, everyone present understood it immediately.

Especially Xiao Huanshan, who smiled and said, "Ayun, please explain."

"Your Majesty gave the Grand Tutor a piece of calligraphy that he personally bestowed upon him. I heard that the Grand Tutor used this as an excuse to invite all the gentlemen to write poems and essays at the banquet that day. All the gentlemen also highly praised this and used the Grand Tutor's actions as encouragement. After all, the gift from His Majesty is not a simple and ordinary little thing."

"That's right." Xiao Huanshan nodded in agreement.

"The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things without contending. It stays where people hate it, so it is close to the Tao. I think Your Majesty is using this to help my father!"

Xiao Tingyun thought about what happened in the Taifu Mansion before, and combined with what His Majesty said in the Hall of Supreme Harmony today, he felt that it was very meaningful.

Xiao Huanshan smiled but said nothing.

(The second day at the restaurant)

"Have you heard about the incident at Master Zhang's family?" A middle-aged man with a short face and a thin stature was discussing quietly with the fat white man sitting at the same table.

The fat white man said disdainfully, "I've heard about it a long time ago, don't make a fuss."

"Of course I'm not surprised because of this. I heard from my cousin's cousin's brother-in-law's brother-in-law's cousin that during the morning court today, the Left Censor-in-Chief Fang He impeached Master Zhang because of the incident in Master Zhang's family. He said he wanted to punish Master Zhang!"

"Ah!? Is this true?" someone asked in surprise.

The fat white man touched his chin. "This incident really brought disaster upon Master Zhang. Didn't His Majesty give Master Zhang a calligraphy? The whole capital knew about it, and Master Zhang was very happy at the time! And now they are going to impeach Master Zhang after only one day?"

The skinny monkey said mysteriously, "Master Fang said that he is not worthy of the calligraphy bestowed by His Majesty! As a tutor, he can't even set a good example!"

Mr. Fang: ... (Is that what I said??)

The fat white man couldn't believe it, "Lord Fang is really amazing. He dared to scold the Grand Tutor in front of so many ministers?"

"Well... that's not the case..." The skinny monkey smiled awkwardly, then said seriously, "I'm going to impeach the Grand Tutor anyway!"