Chapter 176 Fundraising
Jiang Yuzhu didn't know how to deal with her mother Chen's tearful attack. After getting the news, she went out for a stroll and did not choose to return to the Jiang Mansion as her first choice.
In her previous life, family affection was weak, and after traveling through the book, she gained too much, so Jiang Yuzhu didn't know how to handle the relationship between mother and daughter.
In the past, she always enjoyed the love of her family with peace of mind.
"Brother, I have thousands of soldiers with me in the convoy, as well as a convoy escorting food and fodder, so you don't have to worry."
We always have to keep some manpower in the capital.
The Jiang family has Jiang Fulu in charge, but they also need Jiang Huaida to assist them.
"If you weren't at home, if daddy got drunk and mom got angry, there wouldn't be anyone to put out the fire."
This trip is risky, and Jiang Yuzhu doesn't want her brother to take the risk.
"Little sister, going to the North is not like you going to Gunma Prefecture. The journey is thousands of miles, and my parents and I can only sit in the mansion and wait for news. It's too passive."
Jiang Huaida knew that he would not be of much use, so he went along just to feel at ease.
Jiang Huaida was extremely stubborn and refused to listen. Jiang Yuzhu decided to ask her mother Chen for help. If her eldest brother went with him, she would have one more person to worry about.
When the brother and sister returned to the Jiang Mansion, Jiang Fulu had already returned.
In the side hall, there was a table full of dishes, including cold and hot dishes, more than twenty in total, all of which were Jiang Yuzhu's favorites.
Jiang Yuzhu sat down, poured wine for her parents, and pointed at the green leaves and asked, "Why are most of them vegetarian?"
Chen's face was calm, and it was not obvious that she had been crying. She stood up and picked up some food for Jiang Yuzhu: "I heard that there is a shortage of food in the north during the winter, and few families grow vegetables in greenhouses. Vegetables are more expensive than meat. Mother is worried that you will eat radishes and cabbages all day long, so I..."
Chen said this, choking up with sobs.
During the Chinese New Year, Jiang Yuzhu went with Xie Zhao to the outskirts of the capital, which was already the limit of what Chen could bear.
If there wasn't someone else in charge of the mansion, Chen would have wanted to follow her daughter to the north.
Jiang Fulu tapped his chopsticks and winked at Chen, and the couple agreed not to show it and worry their daughter.
Once Chen's secret was exposed, Jiang Fulu could no longer hold it in.
Jiang Fulu took a deep breath and looked more serious: "Yuzhu, eat quickly, Dad has a gift for you."
All the cloth, antiques and porcelain in the mansion's warehouse, as well as other large items that took up space and could be exchanged for money, were sold by Jiang Fulu.
Before, the stingy Jiang Fulu had the idea of raising military supplies for the north. These days, after the morning court, he went to the adults to sell his treasures and cashed in a large sum of silver.
"Yuzhu, the emperor originally wanted Daddy to go to the north as a grain officer, but Yuanhe was worried that Daddy would be too busy and took the job."
Jiang Fulu was not an unreasonable person, and he was grateful for that.
If the emperor had not chosen Jiang Yuzhu to accompany him, Jiang Fulu would have been even more grateful. Instead of sacrificing his daughter now, it would be better for him to go into battle himself.
Jiang Huaida patted his chest and said, "My parents cannot leave the capital. I have no fame and do not need to manage a business. I am a free man. I will send you to the north and return just in time for the New Year."
The eldest sister-in-law, Xiao Chen, also agreed, "Yuzhu, let your eldest brother go, so that the whole family can rest assured."
Jiang Yuzhu felt dizzy and confused. She didn't understand her family's logic at all. One person had already been lost, and now they wanted to deliver another one. They didn't understand the principle of not putting all your eggs in one basket.
Jiang Yuzhu was choosing her words carefully, and just as she was thinking of an excuse, Xiao Chen suddenly covered her mouth with a handkerchief, with a forbearing look on her face.
Chen stood up suddenly, took a look at the fish soup that had just been brought in from the kitchen, and asked, "Is it ready?"
Little Chen's eyes widened and she was speechless. She quickly ran out of the door with her maid. After a long while, she came back to rinse her mouth with a nervous look on her face.
Her period was not always accurate, and she was not sure whether she was pregnant or not. Since giving birth to Jinbao, there had been no movement in Xiao Chen's stomach. Fortunately, her mother-in-law was her aunt and never urged her to have children.
"Quick, bring the doctor in!"
Jiang Yuzhu was more excited than anyone else. She finally found a reason to keep her elder brother Jiang Huaida.
After struggling for half an hour, the doctor came and checked his pulse and confirmed: "It has been two months. Be careful not to overwork recently."
Jiang Yuzhu took the opportunity to say, "It is said that the first three months of pregnancy are dangerous. Big brother, you must stay with Big sister-in-law."
Jiang Huaida looked at his mother Chen, who thought it made a lot of sense and decided to be flexible: "Why don't you take your brother's place and send you to the north..."
Jiang Yuzhu: “…”
The Jiang family members took turns, but there was no way to change the pattern.
After much persuasion, Jiang Yuzhu successfully convinced her family. Before leaving the Jiang Mansion, Jiang Fulu gave her a huge silver note. The amount was so large that Jiang Yuzhu was dumbfounded.
"Dad, my daughter doesn't lack money."
Two hundred thousand taels was not something that the Jiang family could easily come up with. They had to sell all their belongings to come up with this huge sum, which was a huge loss.
Jiang Fulu stroked his beard and said kindly, "Yuzhu, this money is not for you, but for the military supplies of the soldiers in the north."
There are 300,000 troops in the north, and 200,000 taels were divided equally. Each soldier received less than one tael, which was enough to make a set of cotton-padded clothes for the winter.
"The princess is in the north, and your second brother is also here. Good generals also need good soldiers. How can we go to war if the military supplies cannot keep up?"
The Jiang family's hometown is in the northwest. In the early years, foreign tribes from the northwest also invaded the town. Jiang Fulu had witnessed the foreign tribes burning, killing and looting with his own eyes.
Even after becoming an official, he never forgot that scene.
The original intention of the imperial examination was to benefit the people, but Jiang Fulu had long been lost in the gold, silver and jewelry, and was only interested in getting promoted and making a fortune.
The war in the north aroused his passion again. Jiang Fulu cashed in the benefits he had gained over the years and only wanted to use them on his soldiers.
For a moment, Jiang Yuzhu thought her father was very tall.
"Dad, I came back from downtown and saw that your name was not on the fundraising list."
Dad Jiang Fulu did great things quietly and didn't seem to want to leave a name, which was inconsistent with the high profile of the Jiang family.
"Yuzhu, Dad has something to tell you."
Jiang Fulu called Jiang Yuzhu to the study and said without beating around the bush, "Your Majesty hasn't received any news from the North for a month. Why?"
The North waited for a long time to get a response, and was finally forced to resort to war.
Jiang Yuzhu had already thought about this question and answered it fluently: "It is likely that someone obstructed us along the way."
The soldiers in the north are short of food and clothing, and the emperor cannot get any news. The longer the delay, the more disadvantageous it will be for the war.
Some people are interfering just for their own selfish desires.
If they are not the Xuan family, then it proves that there are more complex and secretive forces behind them.
Jiang Yuzhu's eyelids jumped as she thought of the man in black who threatened Wei Jing.
"So in this case, if word gets out that Dad paid 200,000 taels out of his own pocket, wouldn't that make him a thorn in the eyes of that group of people?"
Not to mention those who obstructed him behind the scenes, even the emperor could not tolerate him.
He knew very well that Jiang Fulu's money came from illegal sources.
The money must be given, but it must be faked on the surface.
The silver notes of Wantong Money House can be exchanged for silver in every city in Da Qi, and can be used to directly purchase food, grass, medicine and other items.
It is inferior for Jiang Fulu to take credit for himself. If the emperor learns about it through other channels, he will only appreciate him even more!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
