Chapter 804 Don’t Talk About Money, It Hurts Feelings
Su Xuanming looked very haggard, his eyes were bloodshot, and there was a biting chill in them.
War is never a matter of one person. Even if the Yunzhou soldiers can fight ten people at once, they can only guard this section of the city wall.
Li Jin dragged his tired body to thank Su Xuanming again.
"No need to thank me. I did this not for you, but for my mother."
Li Jin curled the corner of his mouth and punched his left chest three times with his fist. Everything was said without words.
The weather is getting hotter.
Especially by the river, the fishy-smelling water no longer brings any coolness, but instead makes people sick.
The number of soldiers responsible for patrolling the city increased from three rounds a day to six rounds a day.
Because more and more rebel troops wanted to merge into Kyoto through the Bian River, they had captured at least four waves of people.
The rebel leader Fang La used gold, silver, treasures and beauties to boost morale, and the imperial guards guarding the city were also waiting for the emperor to be generous.
Unfortunately, even after the war has reached this point, the government of the Great Zhou is still unwilling to give a penny.
At the court, Master Tong was no longer as wise as before, and he wanted to spit on the emperor's head: "Your Majesty, it's time! You should promise great benefits now to encourage the soldiers!"
For people with sentimental values, you can talk to them about moral ideals and loyalty to the emperor and the country.
For those struggling to survive, morality and character are not as important as a piece of cake.
The Emperor of the Great Zhou looked at the Minister of Revenue.
The Minister of Revenue was very moved but refused. Even if he was beaten to death, there was not enough money in the treasury. If he wanted to boost morale, he could use the government's private treasury.
He cried and shed tears: "Last year, there were disasters one after another. The Changping Warehouse was almost emptied, and we had to fight several tough battles. Doesn't it cost money to march the army? Doesn't it cost money to provide pensions to the fallen soldiers? You all just know how to ask me for money. Where can I find money?"
Last year was a very difficult year for the Minister of Revenue. The treasury seemed to have a big hole in it, with money being taken out but no money coming in.
Spending money so quickly makes the Minister of Revenue want to hang himself with a rope.
The remaining money in the national treasury was saved by the Minister of Revenue like a miser.
If this money were touched, the finances of the Great Zhou would not be able to function normally.
What? After surviving this wave of siege, will we not be able to live? Will the government officials be paid their salaries? Will the soldiers who have made contributions in defending the city be rewarded? Will the rebellions in various places be appeased?
What he said made so much sense that all the civil and military officials turned their eyes to the emperor sitting on the throne.
The government did spend a lot of money, but the previous emperors had saved up so much private money that any money they took out would be enough to fill the hole this time.
To everyone's disappointment, the emperor did not react at all, as if everyone was not talking about how to save Kyoto or how to save his life.
He firmly believed that someone would come to save him, Li Aotian, Xie Lantian, or even Gu Nanxi.
Even though the civil and military officials were furious, they were helpless as they and the young emperor were in the same boat.
The rebel army will not spare their lives if they are such fat sheep.
The imperial guards did not receive the huge benefits they had imagined, but only a few words of praise, and their morale dropped to a visibly low level.
Su Xuanming encouraged them, "We are fighting for ourselves. Our parents, relatives, children and sisters are in the city. Once the city is breached, their situation can be imagined. We are fighting to protect Kyoto and our families."
The captain with a goatee who was closest to Su Xuanming curled his lips and said weakly.
"Why do I feel so bad when I hear what you say? Those nobles usually eat delicacies from land and sea, but I don't get any. When Kyoto is surrounded, it becomes my responsibility to protect Kyoto."
He leaned against the city wall, looked up at the stars in the sky, and said in confusion: "What does it have to do with us ordinary people? Even if the rebel army came in, wouldn't the nobles be the first to suffer?"
Everyone knows that the rich and powerful are rich. If we don't plunder them first, would we have to plunder the poor people who can't even afford to eat a little oil?
Su Xuanming was stuck. How should he explain to him what it meant to sacrifice one's life for the country and regard death as returning home?
Su Xuanming looked at the fire outside the city through the gap on the top of the city wall, and suddenly felt that there was no need to explain.
Those besieging the city were rebel troops, but they were also the people of the Great Zhou.
For the defenders on the city wall, they had neither national hatred nor family feuds, nor a large amount of money. If the rebels had not been so brutal, they would not have had the will to fight.
The Yunzhou guard beside him patted Su Xuanming on the shoulder and whispered, "Don't persuade them anymore. It's useless. They are a team without faith, unlike us."
When fighting the Tartars, people in Yunzhou had a blood feud with them and wanted to exchange one for one.
Later, Duke Yun decided to go south, because he was holding back some anger. The Emperor of the Great Zhou refused to give Yunzhou a chance to survive, so they had no choice but to fight.
As for now, the people of Yunzhou are clamoring to move south because they all believe that Duke Yun is the wise and benevolent ruler of the world.
They want to let the glory of Duke Yun spread everywhere the sun and the moon shine!
In the words of Yunzhou Weekly, this is a kind of great love, a kind of belief!
Su Xuanming had a vague premonition in his heart that the morale of the two sides was declining, and if the reinforcements did not arrive in time, Kyoto City would most likely be broken.
…
The quiet and lonely dark clouds hanging over the city of Kyoto grew thicker and thicker.
Many people were in a panic and wanted to escape from the city.
Even though the government was controlling grain prices, they continued to rise day by day, and had already risen to three hundred coins per dou.
Their already meagre savings were stretched to the limit with such high food prices.
If they don't flee now, they will starve to death before the rebel army breaks into the city.
But they had difficulty even buying rice, so where would they get the money to bribe the soldiers on the city wall?
The latest quota for leaving the city has increased to 20 strings of cash! We are only responsible for hanging you off the city wall, not for your life or death after leaving the city.
The housing prices in Kyoto City have been falling again and again. Yesterday, the price was still 1,500 kan, but today it has dropped to 800 kan.
Munir and his subordinates were also hesitant. Should they run away now?
Munir looked at the sparsely populated Arab-style street and was hesitant to make up his mind.
As the war became more intense, rumors in Kyoto City increased. The Imperial City Bureau no longer had the energy to deal with them.
Su Xuanming welcomed an unexpected group of people.
"Jiusi? Why are you here?"
Jiusi is an old man in the Yongchang Marquis Mansion. All his family members are servants in the Yongchang Marquis Mansion. He is also Lumei's husband.
Jiusi lowered his head, seemingly not knowing how to start. Finally, it was his father who took the initiative to say, "Master, we want to leave the city."
Su Xuanming was stunned. Seeing that Jiusi didn't say anything, he understood what he meant: "Okay, when do you want to leave?"
"The sooner the better."
"OK."
Neither party mentioned the money. It was impossible for Su Xuanming to ask for their money.
Before leaving, Jiusi hesitated and said, "I want to take care of a few more children."
Su Xuan understood clearly: "Is it a relative's child? OK."
Jiusi's voice was so low that it could not be heard: "No. It's my child."
Su Xuanming paused. Aunt Lumei once had a child, but the child died of smallpox.
Jiusi, where did this child come from?
Second update before five o'clock.
I went to a wedding and the bride was crying.
Every time I attend a wedding, the bride and her parents cry, and the groom's family laughs from ear to ear.
well.
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