This is where the contradiction lies.
Song Shiming was obviously an honest person. He was very careful about his reputation and would not tolerate outsiders saying anything bad about him, but he was still making money everywhere.
There are thirteen states in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and at least half of the governors are his people. These local officials are all corrupt. With his connivance and even instruction, there are countless cases of collusion between officials and businessmen and competing with the people for profits.
He raised the status of scholars, and in just a few years they went from being the disgrace of scholars to being the leader of them.
The means to win people's hearts is interests. By forming a huge civil service group, he also became the ultimate beneficiary, gaining not only status and fame, but also huge wealth.
But now it seems that these riches are nowhere to be found.
Shen Chong paused, picked up the teacup with an opening at the rim, and said calmly, "Since last autumn, all parts of the Great Zhou have been levying heavy taxes and levies. The imperial court has resorted to all means to raise military funds for the next year's attack on the Northern Wei. Countless refugees have died of starvation and freezing as a result..."
"However, there is a new Taoist temple on the eastern mountain outside Beijing."
It seems to be irrelevant to the question, but in fact the answer has been given.
This is exactly what Song Chi thought.
The Han family made money for Song Shiwen, and Song Shiwen made money for Emperor Yuan Jing. He was Emperor Yuan Jing's white glove.
"The imperial court has a national treasury, and the palace has a treasury. You only know that the national treasury is empty, but who can tell whether the treasury is empty?"
This was said more directly, meaning that if it was someone else, Shen Chong would never dare to say these words in front of Song Chi.
The national treasury belongs to the court, and the imperial treasury belongs to the emperor.
Song Chi asked, "Your Majesty, have you devoted yourself to practicing Taoism?"
"It hasn't been spread outside, but who in the court doesn't know about it?"
Shen Chong leaned closer to Song Chi and subconsciously looked outside. "Your Majesty hasn't attended court for nearly a month. It snowed so heavily during the New Year, and construction on East Mountain hasn't stopped. It's said that the day the Taoist temple is completed will be the day the Great Zhou attacks."
This is absolutely ridiculous.
He had also heard about the emperor's practice of Taoism. Everyone in the court knew about it, but no one dared to speak out.
They even wish it were so.
The emperor practiced Taoism and ignored state affairs, so the prime minister Song Shiwen was able to control the government and the civil servants were able to become powerful.
Song Shiwen wrote an ode to filial piety to help Emperor Yuan Jing secure his throne, and also collected money for his Taoist practice. Who could shake his status?
Even Song Chi speculated.
The real purpose of Emperor Yuan Jing in launching this war was not to retaliate against the Northern Wei, but to make money in a legitimate way.
Taking advantage of the war to levy heavy taxes and levies, how many people will actually go to the battlefield?
The Great Zhou is over!
Song Chi had a blank expression on his face, but instead he became more determined about the path he wanted to take.
Not to mention that he is just a commoner now, even if he is the prime minister, it is difficult to save the country. It is better to destroy before building.
Song Chi was apprehensive and asked again, "I went to the Ministry of War to look for you. I heard that you went to the local area to recruit soldiers. Could it be that the mission has been completed now?"
He knew that after Shen Chong came to Beijing, Liang Qingwu arranged for him to be the head of the Ministry of War's Chariot and Imperial Household Department, a sixth-rank official position. His main job was to handle paperwork at the post stations and check the loss of post horses. It wasn't a good job, but it was enough to make a living.
Civil officials become powerful, while impoverished nobles are worse than dogs.
Shen Chong is pretty good.
Some time ago, he was sent out to supervise local conscription.
Shen Chong shook his head and said, "My mission is not yet completed. I have been suspended."
"Suspended? Why?"
Shen Chong said directly: "I cannot do such a thing as forcibly conscripting men. The masters in the court have no idea of the suffering of the people, and they are still reckless in launching a war. If this war is lost or delayed for a few days, it will be a disaster for the Great Zhou. I am not exaggerating!"
With a solemn expression, he stood up and went to the inner room, took out a feng shui map from the cabinet and placed it on the table.
"This is a feng shui map I have kept privately. It's not very detailed, but you can still tell the general direction."
Song Chi was quite surprised and became interested. This was the first time he had seen the complete distribution of countries on the mainland.
The Great Zhou was in the center, and its surrounding areas were Northern Wei, Nanyue, Western Xia, and Eastern Chu.
The Great Zhou had the largest territory, the largest population, and the strongest national power. During its peak period, the four surrounding countries were all vassal states that had to pay tribute every year. However, as time went by, no one knew when this started.
These four countries began to stop paying tribute. The imperial court had urged them several times, but it was of no avail. It was not until the year before last that the Northern Wei invaded the Great Zhou.
Therefore, Emperor Yuan Jing started the war.
This is the source.
"The four surrounding countries are already restless."
Shen Chong's face was stern. "As we speak, these four countries may have already united to plan how to divide the Great Zhou. They tried to test the Northern Wei when they invaded two years ago, but Marquis Wu'an defeated them with lightning speed, which actually created a deterrent effect."
"So this war shouldn't have been fought in the first place. The most important thing to do now is defense!"
As expected of a descendant of Wu Hou, although Shen Chong has never been on the battlefield, he has a strong sense of situation judgment and war.
"You come to see how His Majesty plans to fight this battle?"
Shen Chong pointed at the map and said, "In order to defeat the Northern Wei, Your Majesty intends to mobilize the Zhendong Army, commanded by King Xiang and stationed on the border between the Great Zhou and Eastern Chu, to the north. At the same time, he will mobilize the garrison stationed on the Western Xia border to the east, and then fill the vacancies with local garrisons..."
The Great Zhou had four armies stationed on the border.
They are the Beifu Army, Zhendong Army, Pingxi Army and Annan Army.
"The four major border armies are the pillars of the four kingdoms, but they have gradually weakened in recent years. Only the Eastern Guarding Army led by King Xiang is in better shape. The other three armies have outdated weapons, insufficient military funds, and gradually reduced manpower. They are no longer able to deter the four kingdoms!"
Shen Chong said in a low voice: "The reason for this situation is that the civil officials are in power, emphasizing culture over military power!"
"As the saying goes, a single move can affect the entire body. The imperial court is gathering a large force to attack Northern Wei, and at this time the other three kingdoms are simultaneously attacking Great Zhou. What should we do?"
Song Chi said, "Then it will become a house with leaks everywhere, and it can't be repaired."
"If that happens, the Great Zhou will surely perish!"
Shen Chong said in a deep voice, "So this war must not be fought. If we fight, the Great Zhou will be finished. Tomorrow I will report to His Majesty and advise a ceasefire!"
Song Chi looked slightly stunned.
"You are a nobody, so your advice is useless."
"A real man has his ways and his ways. Even if your voice is insignificant, you should still make it heard. I've already been fired. The worst that can happen is that I'll be imprisoned. What's the big deal?"
Song Chi didn't expect Shen Chong to say such a thing.
In his impression, Shen Chong has always been an old-fashioned aristocrat, but now he respects him.
Not everyone in the Great Zhou is confused, and not everyone is pretending to be drunk.
Even if you know it is useless, you still dare to speak out, even at the risk of your life!
Shen Chong spoke again, "I am a humble person with little influence, but you are not. You are the Wenqu of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the champion of the Holy Palace, and now you are even more famous. You are a role model for many students, and you have won the favor of His Majesty in the Imperial Examination. If you have any advice, you will be listened to!"
"That's right."
He then asked, "What kind of essay did you write in the imperial examination that earned you the top prize?"
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