Chapter 177 A Secret Plan
"Yuzhu, people are evil, Daddy has to think more about it."
Jiang Fulu carefully reminded Jiang Yuzhu not to show off her wealth, because money can tempt people, and conflicts of interest will always breed greed.
These two hundred thousand taels of silver will be used as emergency aid at critical moments.
"The fewer people who know that you have this sum of money, the better. Even the maidservants around you don't need to be informed."
As Jiang Fulu spoke, he took out a teapot from the table, shook it like a magic trick, and the silver bill disappeared out of thin air in his hand.
Jiang Yuzhu blinked, thinking that her father Jiang Fulu had hidden the banknotes in his sleeves, and searched for them in vain.
Jiang Fulu showed a shrewd smile, very proud: "So, you can't find it?"
Since a teapot was used as a gimmick, the banknotes must be hidden in the teapot.
The teapot looks ordinary, but it actually has a lot of secrets.
There are two layers of design at the bottom, and the bottom of the teapot is completely separated from the top.
The top is for making tea, and the bottom can be used as a narrow storage space, which is more than enough for storing silver bills.
Jiang Yuzhu solemnly accepted the salute and said, "Dad, I thank you on behalf of the soldiers of the North."
Spending two hundred thousand taels was not just like cutting off one's flesh, it was like cutting off one's heart and liver. Jiang Yuzhu was so distressed that she thought about more after feeling sorry for the money.
The northern city is impregnable. If it is captured by the barbarians, will she still sit in the capital and enjoy herself?
Princess Yutan is not only her good sister but also her second sister-in-law. The Mo family and the Xie family of the Protector of the Nation General are also related by marriage. It is not a loss to use this money on the soldiers.
Every man has a share of responsibility for the rise and fall of his country. After all, the money comes from the government. If Daddy donates all the donations, he can also wash away the stigma of corruption.
Jiang Fulu is really not as noble as his daughter Jiang Yuzhu said. He felt so heartbroken when he took out his old capital that he was twitching and was ready to make a comeback at any time.
The money you lost can always be earned back by digging another hole.
Resisting the urge to sigh, Jiang Fulu warned: "This journey will not be peaceful. Since someone wants to obstruct the transportation of military supplies, they will definitely create all kinds of trouble. Yuzhu, you are a woman, you don't need to get involved. If you think the situation is not right, run away quickly."
When Jiang Fulu learned that Xie Zhao had gone to the North in his place and had taken Jiang Yuzhu with him, he stamped his feet and beat his chest. He really didn't want to accept this favor!
"Dad, our Jiang family hasn't had any happy events in the past few years. My eldest sister-in-law is pregnant, so our family should take good care of her."
Jiang Yuzhu tried to divert her parents' attention and pushed her eldest sister-in-law, Xiao Chen, out to resist, with significant results.
After returning to Xie's house, Jiang Yuzhu went straight to the study to meet Xie Zhao.
In front of the door, Jiang Yuzhu slowed down, stopped in front of the door and peeked through the gap.
Under the bright candlelight, Xie Zhao was wearing an official uniform, holding a booklet in his hand. He sometimes frowned, sometimes relaxed, with a subtle sharpness in his expression, as if everything was under control.
Jiang Yuzhu found various angles to peek at Xie Zhao, and secretly commented: Lord Xie is more seductive in official uniform than when he is naked!
She had a gentle yet aloof temperament, which was in stark contrast to the man who had coaxed her into sex with sweet words.
Jiang Yuzhu stayed for half a minute. Xie Zhao stared at the booklet, his mind already flying out the door.
He didn't have to wait too long before there was a knock on the door.
Jiang Yuzhu sat on the other side of the desk as usual. The couple sat opposite each other and drank tea, secretly observing each other and waiting for the other to speak first to find a topic.
Xie Zhao remained calm and composed, while Jiang Yuzhu remained silent.
After waiting for a quarter of an hour, Jiang Yuzhu finally gave in. She took the initiative, stood up and said, "My husband, how about you try the tea I brewed?"
The lowest quality tea foam from several tea houses was brewed in the Xuanji teapot given by Jiang Fulu.
The value of tea lies not in the leaves but in the teapot, which is more valuable than a teapot inlaid with gold.
Jiang Yuzhu poured tea for Xie Zhao, who was surprised for a moment, then gently skimmed off the foam on the tea leaves and praised the bitter taste: "It doesn't matter whether the tea is sweet or bitter. What is precious is the Madam's thoughts, which are worth a thousand gold!"
What is more precious than the love is the word "husband". Xie Zhao felt warmed when she heard it.
Jiang Yuzhu echoed, "Yuanhe, this is true, it is indeed worth a thousand gold."
The couple looked at each other affectionately, each with their own thoughts.
As for the wedding night, the two of them tacitly ignored it.
After waiting for a long time, Xie Zhao finally put down his teacup and talked about business: "Madam, we will set off in a few days."
The deadline for fundraising in the capital has not yet arrived, and the government is mobilizing the people and merchants to contribute, but with little success.
For many years, the capital city was in a state of decadence and luxury, and the rich lived a comfortable and carefree life without any fear of war.
Through fundraising, small amounts of donations accumulated over time, and the people who contributed the most were actually ordinary people.
Jiang Yuzhu felt unwilling to not take advantage of corrupt officials when she thought about how she had contributed to the Jiang family.
"There is no news from the north yet. The soldiers must be having a hard time. It is autumn now and there is still some produce on the mountain tops. If it snows in a month or so, there will be a shortage of food, and we will have to tighten our belts to make ends meet."
Jiang Yuzhu suggested that the caravan transporting food and other supplies should set off first. On the battlefield, a delay of one day might be the key to success or failure.
"Madam, someone secretly obstructed the fundraising, so I pretended not to know and followed their wishes."
The journey is long, so Xie Zhao must make sure everything is ready before leaving.
Someone was delaying, so Xie Zhao took advantage of the situation.
"As for the food and other supplies, Madam, don't worry. The caravan has already set off."
Xie Zhao used his men to disperse all the food, fodder and cotton, and then gathered them together in the hub city in the north, thus greatly reducing the losses during transportation.
If a group of people encounter bandits along the way, the remaining hundred or so caravans will be safe and sound, and our side will only suffer a small loss, which we can fully bear.
Be it mountain bandits or people who want to rob your food supplies secretly, how can you use your full strength when facing a scattered team?
Xie Zhao had calculated this and had already made the decision.
Jiang Yuzhu was not easy to fool. No matter how much Xie Zhao boasted about his plan, Jiang Yuzhu firmly grasped the core and did not waver: "The enemy is in the dark, and you and I are in the light. To put it nicely, it is to spread the risk, but to put it simply and directly, it is a target."
Being a target for display, if you borrow arrows from others by boat, you might end up getting pierced by thousands of arrows!
Jiang Yuzhu thought that the hard job was originally for her father Jiang Fulu, so she calmed down and asked, "What were the soldiers and escort team originally supposed to transport?"
One thing in public and another in secret?
"Transport the rocks to Lingcheng."
There is a custom in Lingcheng to build houses with stones, and most of the stones are purchased from mountains around the capital.
After Xie Zhao dispersed the food and grass, he did not intend to let the people sent by the court sit idle. He could make a small profit by using them to transport rocks.
"In order to avoid large-scale losses, it is safest to distribute food and fodder to several cities near the northern region. Why do we have to start shipping from the capital?"
Jiang Yuzhu saw that the booklet said the loss would be at least 10% to 20%, so she decided it would be better to take the silver with her, as she would not have to worry about not being able to buy things with the money.
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