Chapter 924: The Fifth Year of Yuanhuang (Part 4) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Shen Tang savored it carefully.
“Tian Shu Guard, Tian Xuan Guard, Tian Ji Guard, Tian Quan Guard, Yu Heng Guard, Kai Yang Guard, Yao Guang Guard… These names sound quite nice.” She then raised her hand and took out a list, which listed all the generals under her command, followed by their respective strengths, military achievements, prestige, and martial luck… Shen Tang then made a simple data chart out of this data, which looked clear and concise.
She stared at the list in deep thought for a long time.
Chu Yao remained quietly seated to one side, waiting.
Shen Tang put down the list: "For now, let Chu Jie be the Grand General of Tian Shu Guard, Gong Shuwu the Grand General of Tian Xuan Guard, Wei Shou the Grand General of Tian Ji Guard, Bai Su the Grand General of Tian Quan Guard, Zhao Feng the Grand General of Yu Heng Guard, Yun Ce and Xianyu Jian the Grand General of Kai Yang Guard, and Xun Ding the Grand General of Yao Guang Guard. Each Grand General will have two deputies; let them recommend them themselves..."
These were all decisions she made after careful consideration.
Yun Ce and Xianyu Jian both had very shallow foundations; they were military generals who came from the bottom and did not have their own private troops.
If their sect affiliation were disregarded, the two could easily be groomed as trusted confidants. However, due to the ambiguous relationship between their sect and the Gods' Guild, Shen Tang, out of caution, could not allow them to each command a guard. Yet, she couldn't let this issue disregard their contributions, especially Xianyu Jian—who had followed her for among the top three most years among all the generals, and she couldn't treat him unfairly. After much deliberation, she decided to place the two brothers in one guard, where no one would object to who was in charge and who was deputy.
Bai Su is currently the strongest and most experienced female martial artist besides myself, and should rightfully occupy a guard position.
If it weren't for the lack of capable female officers in the women's battalion, at least two of the seven guards would need to be reserved for female generals. However, Shen Tang wasn't in a hurry; she planned to place Lu Ji and others in other guards, making their future promotions legitimate. Ah well, let's take it one step at a time.
Chu Yao asked, "Where is Xu Wenshi?"
In terms of seniority, Xu Wenshi is also quite experienced.
Shen Tang waved her hand: "He's still too young."
Of course, that's just an excuse.
Xu Quan was young, but among the military generals, he wasn't the youngest, and he had joined the army relatively recently. He was also Xu Jie's cousin—his personal attributes weren't particularly strong, but his overall soft skills were considerable. It was somewhat surprising that he didn't earn the rank of Grand General.
But Shen Tang also had his own considerations.
For the same reason, Xu Jie was close to Qin Li and his associates, and their interests were more intertwined than those of other court officials. Shen Tang trusted Qin Li and also believed that Xu Jie had kept his promise to her for so many years, protecting the River Governor so well, and that his character was trustworthy; both were rational people. But Shen Tang didn't trust the people surrounding them; these were all destabilizing factors.
Does Xu Jie's good character mean that everyone in the Xu family is of good character?
Even as the head of the Xu family, Xu Jie couldn't control every member of the clan to be of one mind with him, much less keep them all absolutely calm and rational. Rather than testing them with benefits, it was better to further hone their skills. In Shen Tang's plan, Xu Quan was at most the second-in-command of the Seven Guards. At his current age, he had only reached that position thanks to early investments.
Or enter the palace.
She planned to establish four more military commands in addition to the seven guards.
It would be perfect to use the names of the Four Divine Beasts.
Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise.
Shen Tang said, "Let's polish it a bit more..."
Chu Yao also realized the key point and sighed, "Everything is arranged according to the lord's plan. Wen Shi is at the most impetuous and passionate age, and it is inevitable that he will be a bit impetuous. It is good to temper him and make him more composed. As for what will happen in the future, it all depends on his own ability."
After saying that, neither of them mentioned the matter again.
Shen Tang's army didn't have as many military officers as his civil officials, making their composition more homogeneous and easier to arrange. It didn't take long to settle everyone in. However, this list still needed to be discussed with others to see where it might be lacking and to ensure it was perfect.
After Chu Yao withdrew, his personal guards brought over a late-night snack.
"Zhizong, have you decided where to go?"
She lowered her head and tasted a mouthful of hot porridge.
The porridge was thick and the rice grains were translucent.
The kitchen's culinary skills are getting better and better every day.
Shen Tang has been busy handling various matters these past few days, with Lu Ji and Yang Ying taking turns assisting her. They have all obtained firsthand intelligence and naturally know about her plan for the Seven Guards and Four Divisions. As Shen Tang's personal guard, Lu Ji may not have a high profile, but he is a trusted confidant.
With no elders above him, no children below him, and no blood relatives among them, certain sensitive positions naturally had to be entrusted to his trusted guards. Lu Ji was certainly aware of this. As an enlightened ruler, Shen Tang was also willing to respect the wishes of his subordinates.
Lu Jidao: "The Governor's Office."
But he hesitated to speak.
Shen Tang slurped up two mouthfuls of porridge: "Just say it, don't hold it in."
Encouraged, Lu continued, "Entering the Commandery can protect the safety of the Lord, but I know that martial arts improvement still requires actual combat. I hope to be able to take turns serving in various Commandery offices regularly."
Shen Tang thought it was some unspeakable secret.
He said, “Martial arts are the nation’s most important asset, and we must be prepared for danger even in times of peace. If they are not constantly honed but left in the armory, they will rust by the time they are needed. I approve your idea of rotating duty. Not only should the generals take turns, but the military command posts in various regions should also hold regular combat exercises to maintain peak combat strength at all times… They must be able to kill with a single blow whenever they are deployed!”
Border troops can still fight and maintain their status.
Those from the mainland won't work; they'll just become lazy over time.
Shen Tang didn't know how long this balance could last. All she could do was maximize her strength, accumulate more resources, and face the future challenges head-on. She did this, and so did her troops, until they were invincible!
Lu Ji listened to Shen Tang's murmur.
This is indeed a good way to maintain combat strength.
This broke the relatively closed environment of various military prefectures, allowing them to see the strength of other military prefectures and forcing them to get involved.
only--
Lu Ji braced himself and asked, "Is the national treasury sufficient?"
Shen Tang: "..."
Over the years, it's been Shen Tang's private treasury that's been impoverished, while the national treasury has remained in a good state. At least for many years, Wu Hui has never complained about being short of money. If I remember correctly, Wu Hui asked the same question not long ago—well, was he actually complaining about being poor?
Is it a subtle way of telling oneself that the national treasury cannot withstand further depletion?
Shen Tang pursed her lips: "Go and summon the Minister of Revenue."
When Xun Zhen, the Minister of Revenue, heard the order, he didn't react at first. But when he remembered his current status, a strange sense of foreboding rose in his chest. He quickly tidied himself up and went to Chen Tang's tent to greet him: "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Since the Minister of Revenue has already accepted the offer, it's reasonable for him to change his tune.
Shen Tang pushed a scroll of bamboo slips in front of Xun Zhen.
He said, "Take a look."
His mysterious tone piqued Xun Zhen's curiosity.
As Xun Zhen picked it up and opened it, she heard Shen Tang's slightly probing words: "Hanzhang, take a look, how many things can we accomplish with our current resources? Based on the bare minimum budget..."
Xun Zhen only glanced at it briefly.
With a snap, the book was closed.
With a serious expression, he said, "No, I don't have the money."
Shen Tang: "...The national treasury still has money."
No sooner had Xun Zhen taken office as Minister of Revenue than Chu Yao delivered all the accounts he had previously managed. His bookkeeping method, improved during the reign of the River Governor, was crystal clear, showcasing Chu Yao's exceptional stewardship skills to Xun Zhen. Every single account was meticulously calculated. Even so, Xun Zhen still had to stay up all night to re-check and reconcile the accounts.
The Ministry of Revenue was not yet fully established.
He had no deputies or subordinates, so he had to roll up his sleeves and get to work himself.
The only saving grace was that he was a scholar with a literary mind, which greatly improved his efficiency; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to finish his work even after ten or fifteen days. When Shen Tang sent someone to find him, he had just finished taking inventory and was preparing to work on the budget—officials' salaries all came from the national treasury, and this money needed to be set aside; the construction of the capital required a large sum of money, and the compensation for soldiers who had died in the war over the past year also needed to be paid, which would be another large expense. In addition, he also needed to set aside a sum of money for disaster relief in various places next year…
Oh, and there are also military expenditures for defending the northern deserts.
Making money, taking every last penny.
He spends money like dirt.
Xun Zhen took several deep breaths and tried to explain to Shen Tang: "In the past, the national treasury would naturally be sufficient, and there would even be a considerable surplus every year. However, things are different now. There are more people waiting for their salaries under our lord's command, more troops to support, more cities and passes to repair, and more local government offices to recruit and rebuild... Therefore, the national treasury is not enough!"
Too many babies, not enough milk!
Not to mention the items listed on the letter.
Which one isn't a money-burning job?
The local militia are self-sufficient, yet they still need to allocate extra military pay. Using this manpower also requires compensation… Xun Zhen certainly knew the benefits of doing this, but these benefits cost money! Not to mention the subsequent military exercises alongside various local military commands to maintain combat strength. Even the two smallest military commands involved two to three thousand people in a war. The venue, supplies, losses, manpower, medical care… all of these cost money. Putting aside other considerations, exercises need some incentive to be worth the effort, right?
Even the prize money costs money!
Xun Zhen thought back to when Chu Yao was in charge of the accounts, the accounts were in good condition, but when it was his turn to take charge, the national treasury was in deficit every day...
Who could stand this?
Shen Tang forced a smile and said, "Can't we think of a solution?"
Xun Zhen understood Shen Tang's temperament. His so-called "think of a way" was, in essence, "I don't care, you have to get it done for me." Unlike Chu Yao, he wasn't one to be easily swayed. He said, "My lord, how much can this body of mine fetch?"
The implication is that there's no other way.
With everything in ruins and mouths churning for food, there's nothing to generate income to replenish the national treasury until next autumn's harvest. Xun Zhen is confident about this—his lord values agriculture, dedicating a large portion of the nation's resources to it, ensuring a bountiful harvest across the land. If the agricultural output of Kang State can maintain the level of Longwu, the taxes collected next autumn will be substantial, and the national treasury will be full.
now?
Absolutely impossible!
Shen Tang was stumped by Xun Zhen's question.
Her face darkened: "You really can't move it?"
Xun Zhen simply counted on his fingers and explained everything to her—officials' salaries varied according to their rank. Because Shen Tang preferred to use welfare to replace part of the salary, the actual expenditure was not as much as in other countries, but the national treasury was still under great pressure. The soldiers' pensions could not be cut, the capital construction costs could not be cut, and the disaster relief funds for preventing unforeseen events could not be cut...
And that doesn't even include small expenses.
The construction costs of colleges in various regions, the expenses of the teachers in each college, the doctors and medicines in local clinics...
Xun Zhen took out the general ledger from his bosom.
As Shen Tang listened to Xun Zhen's string of numbers and then looked at the account books, his face contorted in frustration: "Cutting costs is out of the question, but we can find ways to increase revenue... We can try to squeeze more money out of Shiwu, and the border trade is about to begin in Beimo. We can make a killing on salt and tea, and we can also make money by selling grain seeds... Sigh, no matter how you look at it, money just doesn't last..."
Money, how can it last forever?
Shen Tang realized for the first time that the national treasury was also running out of money.
Especially now that Xun Zhen, who is in charge of the accounts, is so stingy, she has really shot herself in the foot. After thinking for a while, someone came to her mind: "Send someone to summon the Prefect of He Yin."
We still need to talk to Xu Jie about making money.
Xun Zhen agreed. No matter how much money Xu Jie made, it would ultimately go into the Ministry of Revenue's coffers, and the Ministry would decide how the money was spent. The more money Xu Jie brought in, the less pressure the Ministry of Revenue would face.
After Xun Zhen left, Shen Tang was completely wide awake.
She raised her hand and conjured two streams of literary energy.
"You guys keep going, I'm going out for some fresh air..."
It's not well-ventilated; she probably won't be able to sleep tonight.
Lu Ji followed her about three steps away.
Having served as Shen Tang's personal guard for so long, this was the first time she had ever seen her lord so troubled by money—you know, even when Minister Xun caused her lord to incur huge debts, he was never this depressed, and he would just console himself and get over it.
Lu Ji saw this and was very anxious.
The two strolled one after the other to a corner of the main camp.
Just as Shen Tang was about to stretch and go back to sleep, her sharp eyes noticed something. Lu Ji was a beat slower to notice and followed her gaze. A tall figure stood in the darkness, his right hand raised in front of his chest in a hand seal, and his mouth seemed to be moving.
The other party used a spell, so Lu Ji couldn't hear what he said, but could see the other party's attire—that familiar snow-white fox fur cloak, which only one person in the entire camp possessed, was Qin Li.
A hint of worry flashed in Lu Ji's eyes. At this hour, apart from the lord taking a stroll, everyone else was either sleeping in their tents or working overtime. It was strange that Qin Li was here, let alone that he was using incantations to communicate with a blurry black figure.
Lu Ji turned his gaze to his lord, who was still standing there.
The lord neither spoke nor left.
They simply stood there, waiting for Qin Li to finish his business.
After a while—
Lu Ji finally heard Qin Li whisper: "Go."
Something was wriggling in the darkness.
With the sharp eyesight of a martial artist, Lu Ji saw a dark shadow dart out. She stared in astonishment—it really was a shadow, a shadow that skimmed the ground! It vanished in the blink of an eye…
The literary minds of scholars are indeed more creative than those of martial arts warriors.
Qin Li also discovered Shen Tang and the other person.
However, there was no panic or guilt in his eyes as if he had been caught doing something wrong.
He stepped forward with a composed gait: "Greetings, my lord."
Lu Jimu felt a strange heaviness in the air.
But that was just her illusion.
The lord asked with a hint of curiosity, "Contact a friend?"
Qin Li's expression became somewhat complicated as he asked, "Isn't Your Majesty curious about what I was doing just now?"
Shen Tang said, "Isn't that what I'm asking?"
Emotional stability can prevent many unnecessary misunderstandings.
She didn't want to hurt Qin Li's feelings by hastily questioning him without understanding the full story. Since she was so sincere, Qin Li naturally wouldn't be ungrateful and continue to hide things: "I asked a friend to help me with something; after all, a gentleman's word is his bond..."
Shen Tang sensed a chill in his voice.
"What is it? Is it convenient to talk about it?"
Qin Li said, "It has some connection with Lord Wu."
Shen Tang guessed what it was about—it was related to Wu Xian and also to the principle of "keeping one's word"—and specifically contacted a friend for this reason. Before this, Qin Li hadn't revealed anything about it to him: "Could this matter cause a rift between the two countries?"
Qin Li smiled faintly, pulling his fox cloak tighter around his neck: "No."
|ω`)
To avoid writer's block, I added some more content.
(End of this chapter)
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