Chapter 539 This Sheep Cannot Be Pulled Away
Xiao Yan was truly jealous when he talked about Gu Helian.
Zuozhou has a great geographical location, and the Gu family's business is spread across many countries. The clothes and crown of that wealthy man Gu Helian are enough to support half of the servants of the Xiao Mansion. It's a pity...
He glanced at Tang Ning beside him, and thought of the tea he should serve to his aunt later, and couldn't help feeling deeply regretful.
This sheep can only cooperate, not be pulled.
Xiao Yan said to Cao Dejiang, "A few days ago, Minister Qian came to show me the treasury's silver reserves. They're so low, I'm afraid they can barely even afford to defeat the King of Pingshan. The Ministry of War is even worse. In the late reign of the previous emperor, due to the influence of Taizu, the emphasis was placed on civil officials over military officials. This became even more pronounced during the reign of Emperor An, and there's also Xi Weifang."
"Taizu's useful generals were demoted, trapped in the capital, and most of the generals stationed in various places have probably never seen blood. They are relatively quick to collect silver and ask the court for military supplies on weekdays, but if a war really broke out, I'm afraid they wouldn't even be able to lift a sword."
The soldiers and horses in various places are exhausted. If they want to fight, they have to reorganize the army first, but this cannot be done just by talking.
Military generals are one part of the army, but the most important thing is that the ordinary soldiers are loyal and brave in front of the battlefield. You can't just keep them fighting for their lives by making promises.
As for the border, Di Shuangcheng had told him last time that the court had been holding back the Zhen'an Army's food and fodder for a long time, and had repeatedly withheld the military supplies that should have been given.
When the northwest was relatively stable before, Di Shuangcheng could lead his soldiers to reclaim military land, and cultivate it in their spare time to supplement military supplies, which could barely keep the Zhen'an Army well fed and well-watered.
But once the war breaks out, the baggage and food supplies of nearly 200,000 people for half a month alone would be enough to empty the treasury of the Wei Dynasty.
There are also monthly salaries for soldiers and generals, compensation for casualties, weapons and horses...
If he doesn't ask for more and suck more blood from the aristocratic families, how can he fill the empty treasury and make Wei capable of dealing with Beiling's southward advance within half a year?
Xiao Yan sighed deeply: "I'm extremely poor, so I can only let them down. I'm sure Master Liang can understand."
Cao Dejiang: “…”
If you speak sincerely, I will believe you.
Tang Ning sat aside with a hidden smile: "With these 800,000 gold, it is enough to support the reform of the army and the war next year, so that the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue can prepare in advance."
"When the Ministry of Revenue collects grain and taxes next year, coupled with the large sums of money seized from the government raids in the South, I think Uncle Qian's hair will be saved."
Ever since Qian Baokun learned of Xiao Yan's identity and realized that war was imminent, he had been scratching his head and wandering around anxiously with a worried look on his face.
He reorganized the Ministry of Revenue and settled the accounts, wishing he could rob the treasury until even the rats got out naked. However, the tiny amount of money he received made him almost go bald with anxiety.
Cao Dejiang couldn't help laughing when he thought of Qian Baokun's increasingly dark circles under his eyes.
"You guys can bully an honest man, but you're right to give in on the collection of books. Those are the lifeblood of the family. If you really forcefully take them, Liang Guangyi will fight you to the death."
"Give in?"
Xiao Yan smiled, "I didn't retreat."
Cao Dejiang was stunned: "Why didn't you withdraw? Didn't you only want 30%..."
"I want 30%. That's because after the Rongsheng Academy's library is filled with the Lu family's collection, there's only enough space left to store 30% of each family's collection. Even then, they'll probably have to occupy a few empty rooms in Shengning Residence. If there are more, there'll be nowhere to put them, and it'll be difficult to keep them safe."
"Even if we need more, we have to wait until the academy's library is expanded. Now let Tang Ning and the others go to each of the libraries to have a look. The library expansion will take several months to half a year. By then, we will definitely be able to get half of the books from the several families, if not all of them."
Xiao Yan's words stunned Cao Dejiang. He didn't know what he was thinking. He almost stood up by holding on to the table and blurted out, "You wouldn't let them steal..."
"How can it be called stealing if it's something a scholar does?"
Xiao Yan said seriously, "This is called benefiting the world."
“You, you, you…”
Even with Cao Dejiang's experience, he couldn't help but look shocked.
Tang Ning saw the old man across from her staring at Xiao Yan with his mouth wide open in surprise, and couldn't help but burst out laughing. She patted Xiao Yan and said, "Brother, why are you teasing Cao Gong?"
Tang Ning said to Cao Dejiang, "A place where aristocratic families store their books must be guarded. If I were caught stealing, the reputation of Rongsheng Academy would be completely ruined. I'm just teasing you, brother."
"Brother, what you mean is, didn't Liang Guangyi allow my sister, A'ru, and me to visit the various mansions and freely view their collections of books? Although we weren't allowed to bring anyone else with us, we sisters are studious and want to delve deeper into knowledge. We wanted to copy some classics for study. I'm sure they wouldn't put too much of a hindrance, right?"
Cao Dejiang opened his mouth and said, "But how much can you two copy? If you copy the whole book, they will definitely not let you take it away..."
"Aru has a photographic memory."
Cao Dejiang: “???”
"The Lu family's collection of books is not about understanding the meaning, but only memorizing the text. A'ru can read over ten profound books in two hours, and twenty to thirty ordinary books in a midday. Although I'm not as good as A'ru, I can still memorize two or three books. If I can extract the difficult parts, I think five books shouldn't be difficult."
Cao Dejiang: “!!!”
Tang Ning smiled sweetly, her eyes curved like crescent moons. "Aru and I only need to transcribe the important parts of the collection, and write down the rest before we dictate it to the academy. I'm sure Dean Shi and Mr. Tong will be happy to help us complete the rest."
"We'll go there for three to five hours a day, picking out only the useful books. I think by the time the academy's library is expanded, we should be able to replenish a lot of them. Besides, Grand Tutor Liang didn't say how long we can be gone."
"We can come and go as we please from the aristocratic family's collection of books. If half a year doesn't work, we can take a year. If a year doesn't work, we can take three to five years. We'll eventually clear them out."
What she wanted was for Rongsheng Academy to be filled with books, covering all the useful books in the world, and teaching students useful things so that they would not be inferior to the aristocratic families. She also did not want rare and unique books or authentic books.
What is copied is also a book.
Cao Dejiang listened to the words of the little girl opposite him and was shocked, then he felt unbelievable, then suddenly realized, and then he looked at the man and woman opposite him and was speechless.
"You are clearly setting a trap for Liang Guangyi."
He was just sighing that Xiao Yan loved Tang Ning's sister so much that he was also so good to her that he even asked for a place for her to go to the wealthy family to view their collection of books. It turned out that they were waiting here.
This is like opening a rice warehouse and letting a mouse in, and the mouse will still end up eating out of a bottomless pit.
Xiao Yan said dissatisfiedly, "What do you mean by a trap? Don't talk nonsense. This was something Grand Tutor Liang asked for himself."
"I just wanted half of his book collection, but he cried and made a fuss, insisting on giving it all to Tang Ning and me. He even got angry with me when I refused. I'm such a thin-skinned person, how could I refuse?"
Cao Dejiang: “…”
Shut up!
Thanks!
My ears hurt.
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