Chapter 28: Empty Treasury
After hearing what Lord Song said, Zhao Fangye glanced at the person kneeling on the ground with some surprise.
Unexpectedly, in such a tense situation, the first person to stand up and speak for him was Shangshu Song, who had no power in the court.
The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense.
Looking at Zhao Fangye standing in the main hall, and seeing Song Zigen kneeling on the ground.
Song Huaixi was extremely anxious and felt uneasy. His eyes were slightly red and he shouted in a trembling voice.
“Daddy…”
The sound was not loud, but loud enough for everyone present to hear.
Hearing the voice, the prince looked at Song Huaixi's pretty face with ill intent.
He walked up to Minister Song and said sarcastically, "Hey! How long has it been since Minister Song married his son to Prince Ning's mansion? And you're already favoring Prince Ning?"
The prince's words undoubtedly classified Song Zigen directly as part of Prince Ning's faction, and the emperor already wanted to take back the military power.
If Song Zigen stood up now, it would only disgust the emperor, and would not help Prince Ning at all, and would only drag himself into trouble.
Song Zigen was an upright and honest official throughout his life and never participated in forming cliques. Therefore, he had no power in the court.
Looking at the emperor on the platform, Song Zigen explained: "I am just discussing the matter at hand and have no other intentions..."
“That’s enough!”
The emperor slapped the dragon throne in obvious anger. His eyes fell on Zhao Fangye, who was standing indifferently in the audience.
"Prince Ning, what the Crown Prince and the ministers said makes sense. Now that the war in the northwest is over, the military power in your hands should be returned to the court."
Zhao Fangye looked at his hypocritical appearance and sneered: "Ha."
"You want me to hand over the military power? Sure. I'm just afraid that no one in the court can take over."
Zhao Fangye's cold eyes slowly swept over the ministers in the court, his face full of contempt. Today the dynasty has become a decaying shell.
The court officials were authoritarian and formed cliques, while the emperor was incompetent and deceived by treacherous people. The prince is dissolute and immoral, and only knows how to abuse his power. The court and its people were perfunctory and ignored the suffering of the people.
They actually wanted to take back the military power without considering their own capabilities. Zhao Fangye was too lazy to watch their hypocritical show any longer.
"What do you mean by that?"
The old ministers of the prince's party immediately attacked him: "How could it be that there are so many talented people in our court, but none of them are as good as you, Prince Ning? Prince Ning, don't be too arrogant because of your military achievements."
Seeing that the situation was not favorable to Zhao Fangye, the ministers of the prime minister's lineage all looked at the prime minister.
If Zhao Fangye really lost his military power, it would be a huge loss for them.
Although the prime minister has more power than the crown prince in the court. But the prince is the crown prince after all, and is favored by the emperor and holds the power of regent. In terms of actual power, Zhao Fangye, as a vassal king, was still subject to many constraints.
"Prime Minister, shouldn't we say a few words for the prince?"
Putting the wine glass on the table, the prime minister said contemptuously: "No need, this is just a small storm, the prince's party can't stir up any waves."
Zhao Fangye ignored him and walked straight to the prince and stood still. "So, the court can provide food and money to accommodate my troops? Then why did the food and money from the court not arrive when the war in the northwest was frequent?"
"I have sent several memorials from the post station to the capital, but there has been no news. My soldiers are willing to die on the front lines. But the court lets them freeze and starve to death. May I ask what your Highness means?"
Zhao Fangye's words made the prince's face change immediately, and he became visibly panicked. The expressions of the ministers gradually became solemn.
When wars broke out frequently in the northwest, the emperor gave full authority to the prince to dispatch military rations. The purpose is to train his leadership ability to coordinate resources from all parties.
However, Prince Ning's words meant that the prince did not send any food or money to the front line of the war in the northwest. The ministers did not dare to think about where such huge expenses went.
The emperor also became suspicious at this moment and held the armrest of the dragon throne tightly: "What's going on, Prince?"
"Father! This is all Prince Ning's excuse. The war in the northwest is intense. How could I withhold food and wages? He must have framed me."
A hint of guilt flashed across Zhao Jingshuo's eyes, but when he thought that Zhao Fangye had no evidence, he immediately calmed down and turned the tables.
Zhao Fangye knew the prince's behavior early on, so it was impossible for him to return to Beijing without making preparations.
The prince should also give an explanation to the souls of the soldiers who died on the battlefield in the northwest.
He took out from his sleeve a list of names of officials the Crown Prince had secretly colluded with in recent years, as well as a list of the expenses of the Northwestern soldiers that he had paid for over the years.
In recent years, all the soldiers in the northwest have been supported by Zhao Fangye. The Wang family not only has a prime minister in the court who controls the political power, but also the youngest son of the Wang family is a wealthy businessman who controls a quarter of the country's economy.
The reason why Zhao Fangye was able to recover the Northwest was inseparable from the support of these two people.
"Your Majesty, please take a good look at what good things your good prince has done." Zhao Fangye threw the list into the arms of the eunuch in charge: "Prince, you withheld food and wages back then. It seems that there is not much money and grain left in the treasury now, right?"
"You!" Zhao Jingshuo didn't expect that he had this trick up his sleeve. His mocking expression just now immediately turned into panic.
In the past few years as regent, he had embezzled the money in the national treasury and used it to win over court officials and live a life of luxury.
He lived an extravagant life and had already pocketed all the military pay in the Northwest. How could we afford to send even a single cent to the front line?
Without caring about his face, he immediately stepped forward and snatched the list from the eunuch's hand: "Father! Don't listen to his slander. This is all forged by him!"
The emperor was furious at this moment, and his disbelieving eyes were filled with disappointment and anger. The son he had always trusted actually did such a thing. There was a sense of majesty in his eyes, as if two cold rays were flashing.
He said coldly: "Bring it here!"
The eunuch in charge quickly presented the item to the emperor, who took it and took a look. All of them are court officials trusted by the emperor. Another look at the military expenditure over the years shows that it is indeed a considerable amount.
The emperor covered his chest with his shaking hands and shouted, "Minister of Finance! Get out! How much money is left in the treasury now? Tell me!"
The Minister of Finance came running in from behind, pissing and crying, and crawled on the ground, trembling all over: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty. It's all the Crown Prince's fault! It was the Crown Prince who threatened me... Your Majesty, please spare my life!"
The emperor's face darkened completely, and he threw everything on the table to the ground.
The emperor was furious and all his ministers were shocked.
"explain!"
The Minister of Finance had a deathly pale face and stammered, "The national treasury... the national treasury is empty. The income is not enough to cover the expenditure! Your Majesty..."
The emperor seemed to have all his strength drained away, and he sat dejectedly on the throne. Concubine Xiao's face turned pale and she tried to step forward to plead for mercy, but was pushed to the ground by the emperor.
"Look at your good son! What he has done!"
Kneeling on the ground, Concubine Xiao's delicate and beautiful face was pale. How could it turn out like this when everything was planned?
Zhao Fangye watched the farce in front of him coldly, with an indifferent expression and was too lazy to waste words with them.
"I would like to return the military power, but can Your Majesty afford it?"
After saying that, he turned around and walked out of the hall with Song Huaixi.
Song Huaixi looked back at Song Zigen who was kneeling on the ground, grabbing his sleeve in panic: "My father..."
"Don't worry." Zhao Fangye touched his hair: "Your father will be fine."
Seeing that the matter was completely exposed, the prince kowtowed repeatedly in front of the emperor. The cries for mercy reached Huai Xi's ears.
"Father, I was confused for a moment, please spare my life..."
"What are you doing in there?" Song Huaixi asked curiously while being embraced by Zhao Fangye.
Zhao Fangye sneered, "It's a play called fatherly love and filial piety."
Even if he exposed the prince's crimes in public today, the emperor would not punish him severely. It’s ironic just thinking about it. As long as Concubine Xiao whispered something in his ear, everything would be written off immediately.
This has been the case since childhood.
Song Huaixi didn't understand the meaning and blinked in confusion. There is no acting in it.
Holding his hand, she walked out: "Did you eat enough in the palace?"
"I'm full!" Song Huaixi touched his stomach and felt very satisfied: "The food in the palace is so delicious!"
Seeing his satisfied look, Zhao Fangye's eyes were no longer filled with coldness. Instead, he pretended to be doting. He was completely different from the one who was confronting him in the main hall.
She said in a gentle voice, "If you like, why don't you ask the palace chef to come to the palace and cook for you?"
"OK!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
