No one would have any objection to Zhao Ji on this matter. Moreover, the reason why Zhao Ji chose to bring this matter directly to the table in the court was because Zhao Ji wanted to resolve this matter in the quickest way.

Then you naturally need to be straightforward.

The court officials nodded one after another: "We have no objection!"

Soon, all states and counties received the imperial edict from the capital, which detailed the matter of the nursery rhyme.

The officials of these states and counties also began to post this nursery rhyme on the city walls, telling the people that the people were traitors and rebels, in an attempt to incite the people. If any of the people were fooled, they should discipline their children as soon as possible.

If it is discovered again after three days, the person will be directly treated as a treasonous person.

Treason is a serious crime, and even ordinary people know that the crime is punishable by beheading.

So in just less than seven days, Zhao Ji had dealt with the entire nursery rhyme issue.

The prime minister and the third prince, who had been secretly observing the public opinion, were furious. According to their original plan, the spread of these nursery rhymes would naturally arouse the people who were dissatisfied with the court.

At that time, it would be natural to guide these people to join the army and become part of the prime minister and the third prince's army.

But now, seeing the effect of the nursery rhyme, Zhao Ji reacted quickly and put out the fire, which had just been burning for a short time, with a basin of cold water.

"I heard from the capital that the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice was beheaded."

The Third Prince sat opposite the Prime Minister in silence and spoke. The Prime Minister drank the coarse tea with huge leaves and said nothing.

Both of them were silent for a long time.

Finally, the Prime Minister sighed and took the initiative to say, "This is really a pity. The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice was a chess piece we planted relatively early. He was probably too impatient, so he was easily caught!"

The Third Prince gritted his teeth and said, "What should we do next? Should we continue? How should we continue?"

The Prime Minister lowered his head and thought for a moment: "There is another way. If this subtle way doesn't work, we need to use some tough measures."

"As far as I know, although the royal family of Southern Xinjiang has been defeated, there is still a small number of royal family members who have taken a small army to hide in the mountains."

"We can recruit these people into our army, and then give them some benefits after the matter is accomplished. Given their current situation, one city will be enough."

After the Prime Minister said this, the Third Prince looked at him in disbelief.

After all, the third prince has been receiving orthodox royal education for so many years, and royal education has always emphasized that one should not collaborate with the enemy or sell out the country.

Now, the Prime Minister's idea is treason in the eyes of the Third Prince.

The prime minister knew what the third prince was thinking at a glance, and said directly: "The current situation is urgent and special, and everything is a temporary measure. If you don't want to cede the city to these southern border royal families in the future, it's fine. Then find an opportunity to drive these people away."

After hearing what the Prime Minister said, although the Third Prince was not very satisfied, he still breathed a sigh of relief to some extent.

Although the Third Prince had colluded with people from Southern Xinjiang in the capital before, he was simply using the people from Southern Xinjiang as pawns.

A purely mutually beneficial relationship.

If the relationship is cooperative, the Third Prince will be reluctant to cede the city.

"Now there is a problem, which is also our top priority!"

The Prime Minister said with a frown.

The third prince knew what was going on without the prime minister’s explanation.

It's money.

Maintaining an army costs money, and escaping also costs money, not to mention winning over military generals in the west and the south.

It’s all money.

If a war breaks out again in the future and we face the army in the capital, food and clothes also cost money.

Money is essential for everything; without money you can’t take a single step.

But even if the prime minister has strong financial resources, that is only the power of a prime minister's office.

For Zhao Ji, it was easy to use the national treasury, which contained taxes from all over the country. The prime minister also knew the huge number.

If there is such a clash in financial resources, how can a small Prime Minister's Mansion compete with so many counties across the country?

So at this time, even with the Third Prince's previous cleverness, the money he got was far from enough.

Both of them were troubled by this matter, but there was no progress.

The Prime Minister thought for a long time, and said to the Third Prince sullenly: "Now the collection of money still needs your help, Prince."

"What can I do?"

The Prime Minister looked at the Third Prince deeply and said, "The Third Prince is now of young age and can get married."

"When we were in the capital, the late emperor was always ill and probably had no time to take care of you. Now it seems like a blessing in disguise. Although the dowries of the daughters of the aristocratic families are generous, they are limited after all. Marrying them will only bring power, which is far from solving the urgent problem now!"

"But if she is the daughter of a merchant, it's different. Merchants are always rich, and each merchant has a constant flow of business. It's a purse that will never run dry."

After the prime minister said this, the third prince knew what the prime minister was trying to do.

The merchant's daughter...

Merchants have always been the lowest class in the Celestial Empire. Yet, the Third Prince, a dignified heir to the throne, is now going to marry this lowly merchant.

No matter how unwilling the Third Prince was, he thought of the pressing situation and felt that this was the only way he could do.

But I can't help feeling a little sad.

Seeing the Third Prince like this, the Prime Minister sighed and patiently advised: "The Prince is of noble status, so there is no need to give up the position of principal wife to the daughter of a merchant. It is also okay to take a few more concubines!"

After hearing what the Prime Minister said, the Third Prince felt a little comforted, but he still felt resentful that he had fallen to this point.

However, a few days later, the third prince had reached cooperation with several merchants, none of which were particularly upright.

Most of them have dishonest hands, but they are extremely eager to have an official in their family.

The prime minister did not tell these merchants the true identity of the third prince at the beginning, but disguised the third prince as a high-ranking official from the capital.

The Third Prince already has this kind of bearing, and he is also eloquent, knowledgeable, and has other benefits that he can spread.

These merchants naturally took the bait.

Everyone understood what the Third Prince meant.

Not long after, these merchants organized a flower show on their own and invited the third prince to enjoy the flowers.