"Pang Hao, you've funded these dozen or so rebel armies. If Zhang Xianzhong's troops attack, you're in charge of pacifying them," Jiang Tian shouted at Pang Hao's retreating figure.
"Your Majesty, I'm afraid things are not that simple," Chen Ping'an continued.
“These rebels have ulterior motives. As far as I know, Zhang Xianzhong has long harbored rebellious intentions.”
The Empress glanced at the civil and military officials.
Second Grand Secretary Zhou Chaoxian: "Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness, but Zhang Xianzhong has 300,000 rebel troops under his command. This guy is not like Li Zicheng and his men."
Zhang Xianzhong always concealed his true strength.
Especially after Zhang Xianzhong led his troops into Bachu, his territory and power expanded many times over.
"Zhang Xianzhong had the ambition to conquer the whole country."
Qian Renxue looked at General Dong Dahai of Pingyuan, and then at General Zhou Jian of Dingyuan.
"Generals, what do you suggest we do?"
Dong Dahai sighed: "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, even a clever cook cannot make a meal without rice. Even if I, Dong Dahai, have all the skills, I am powerless in the face of hundreds of thousands of enemy soldiers."
"Your Majesty's army in the capital suffered heavy casualties in this rebellion, with fewer than five thousand men left to defend the capital."
Zhou Jian: "Your Majesty, I agree with General Dong. There are fewer than 5,000 soldiers guarding the capital. If we were to fight Zhang Xianzhong's forces, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock."
Chen Ping'an: "Your Majesty, the most important thing right now is to use Pang Daren. The rebels that Pang Daren supports are completely obedient to him."
"Whether it's Zhang Xianzhong or the other dozen or so rebel armies, they probably wouldn't dare disobey Pang Da's orders."
These people are passing the buck, and none of them dare to step forward and take responsibility.
Empress Qian Renxue had long since lost faith in these civil and military officials. No matter how eloquently they spoke, none of them could be of any use in formal occasions.
"Court adjourned," Qian Renxue waved her hand at the crowd, signaling them to leave quickly. "I am not feeling well today, so today's court session is over."
Jiang Tian immediately understood Qian Renxue's meaning.
"Your Majesty, leave this matter to me, but I lack military funds." After Jiang Tian finished speaking, he glanced at everyone.
"Gentlemen, Zhang Xianzhong has 300,000 troops, and this time he will surely send out all of them."
Since you say Zhang Xianzhong has amassed hundreds of thousands of troops, the imperial court is in imminent danger.
“If the court is in trouble, I don’t think you can escape unscathed. As the saying goes, when the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact.”
Qian Renxue had no idea what Jiang Tian was planning to do.
"Lord Jiang, how much money do you need for this battle?"
Jiang Tian held up two fingers.
He had already whispered to Pang Hao.
He asked Pang Hao to give him fifty million taels of silver.
Jiang Tian had absolutely no interest in the money.
He has food to eat and drink to drink.
Everything in the system can be redeemed.
And he also has so many beautiful women by his side.
Those cold, white silver coins were nothing more than pieces of metal to him.
But with money, Jiang Tian was able to do more.
"How much is this?" asked Zhou Chaoxian, the Second Grand Secretary.
"Fifty million taels of silver," Jiang Tian said loudly.
Empress Qian Renxue: "Lord Zhou, you are a member of the cabinet, and all the money in the Ministry of Revenue passes through your hands. Lord Jiang, you should be able to fulfill this request, right?"
Zhou Chaoxian quickly shook his head: "Your Majesty, as you know, the national treasury is empty. In recent years, we have opened the granaries to relieve disaster victims, but the national treasury has not yielded a single grain."
"In the past few years, we have been fighting against 18 rebel armies continuously, and the army has not received a single penny of military pay for half a year."
"The imperial court can't even come up with 500,000 taels of silver, let alone 50 million taels."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Tian smiled slightly and said, "Gentlemen, if the imperial court can't come up with the money, you can."
"Now that the rebels are about to reach the city, if you don't give me money to help me resist them, are you waiting for the rebels to rush into your homes, slaughter your entire family, and then take your money?"
None of these guys believed the rebels would wipe out their entire families.
Everyone believed that Pang Hao alone could stabilize the rebel army.
Besides, Zhang Xianzhong was nothing more than a bandit.
Even if Zhang Xianzhong really marched into Beijing and they surrendered, would Zhang Xianzhong continue to make things difficult for them?
Zhou Chaoxian sighed deeply: "Lord Jiang, to be honest, last year the court was short of military pay, so I took out a large amount of silver from my family."
“Our family has long been living beyond our means. If it weren’t for the savings left by our parents, we would have been starving long ago.”
Zhou Chaoxian held up one finger: "But for the greater good of the court, for the sake of the country, and even more so for His Majesty, I'm willing to sell everything I own to contribute money."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Tian gave Zhou Chaoxian a thumbs up and quickly walked up to him.
Zhou Chaoxian's meaning was simple: just take out one hundred taels of silver as a token gesture.
Before Zhou Chaoxian could speak, Jiang Tian beckoned to him with his finger, and Zhou Chaoxian quickly leaned closer: "Sir, is there anything you want to say?"
Zhou Chaoxian's voice wasn't loud; only he and Jiang Tian could hear it.
Jiang Tian immediately stood up straight and raised his head: "Minister of Revenue, Vice Grand Secretary Zhou is indeed a man of great principle and a model for all civil and military officials."
Lord Zhou has already said that he is willing to donate one million taels of silver.
Everyone was surprised upon hearing this.
They knew Zhou Chaoxian was a corrupt official, but they also knew that he was an absolute miser.
As a result, this miser then surprisingly said he would donate 1 million taels of silver.
“Sir, you misheard me. When did I say I would donate one million taels of silver?” Zhou Chaoxian raised a finger again. “I said I would donate one hundred taels of silver. You should know that one hundred taels of silver is half a year’s living expenses for our family.”
"If we donate this one hundred taels of silver, my whole family will have to live frugally for half a year."
Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.
"Since Lord Zhou has set an example, we cannot fail to follow his lead."
"I am not very talented, but I, Old Wu, am willing to donate 80 taels of silver." Chen Jingming, the Minister of Works, held up two fingers and gestured the number eight.
“As the General of Dingyuan, I cannot be as stingy as you two gentlemen at this time of crisis for the court. I am willing to donate 130 taels of silver.” Zhou Jian raised his fingers, first gesturing the number one, then the number three.
"You guys are outrageous, all of you are so stingy."
You have so much money from the imperial court.
"The imperial court is in dire need of funds, yet you are all so stingy." Dong Dahai curled his lip. "I'm willing to offer two hundred taels of silver."
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