Chapter 138: Wanting both, what a nice thought
"How could this happen! The grain transport convoy was so close to the Imperial Capital, yet it was still robbed by bandits!"
"These bandits are so arrogant that they even dare to rob the imperial army's food supplies. This is clearly a slap in the face of the imperial court!"
"Your Majesty, please give the order to suppress the bandits immediately!"
The ministers who supported the Regent were shocked and angry, and they all made suggestions.
Prime Minister Su exchanged glances with the Crown Prince and said loudly:
"Let's not talk about whether the food and fodder were stolen by bandits. The Prince Regent has issued a military order, but now he hasn't brought the food and fodder back on time. Shouldn't the Prince give an explanation to His Majesty and the entire court?"
As soon as he said this, all the court officials fell silent for a moment.
Then, a minister who supported the crown prince echoed:
"Indeed, the most important thing now is that the Regent failed to complete the military order!"
"The Regent deserves an explanation!"
"Your Majesty, please handle this impartially!"
The ministers who supported the Regent were not happy and said angrily:
"This incident was clearly caused by banditry, how can the Regent be blamed entirely?"
"To have bandits so rampant over a hundred miles from the Imperial Capital is a clear sign of dereliction of duty on the part of the Capital Military Commission. The Regent should not be held responsible for this!"
The prince's faction immediately responded:
"In the beginning, we opposed going to Jingguo to transfer grain because the journey was long and involved many variables, making it impossible to accomplish! It was only after the Regent insisted that he could do it and even issued a military order that Your Majesty agreed. How can you now ignore that military order just because of the bandit problem?"
"That's right! Since the Regent promised to return with food and supplies on time, he should have calculated the dangers along the way and taken precautions in advance!"
"If you didn't do it, you didn't do it. Using banditry as an excuse, does that mean you can avoid responsibility?"
The emperor was annoyed by the noise and slammed the table:
"That's enough! Cough, cough, cough..."
He coughed anxiously and angrily, which frightened everyone. Then they stopped arguing and asked His Majesty to take care of his health.
The emperor coughed several times before recovering and looked at Xiao Zirui wearily:
"What does the prince think about this?"
Xiao Zirui had not participated in the debate until he was called out, then he stood up and sighed:
"Although I initially disapproved of your uncle's plan to go to Kingdom Jing to requisition grain, he insisted on signing a military warrant. I have always hoped your uncle would succeed. After all, this matter concerns whether the Northwest Army can defend the border!"
"But I didn't expect that the Emperor's uncle would still miss out on important military matters due to his stubbornness!"
"I believe that since we have a military order in place, we should follow it. Otherwise, how can we, as a royal family, break our promise and justify ourselves to the world?"
Prime Minister Su immediately stood up in support:
"I second the motion! Your Majesty, please issue an immediate order requiring the Regent to surrender his military command and be confined to his residence for six months!"
"We second the motion!" Several other important officials stood up and said in unison.
"I think it's inappropriate!"
Minister of War Qi Shiliang objected loudly: "The Ministry of Revenue should have been responsible for rationing the Northwest Army. The Prince Regent took on this responsibility out of concern for the country and the people. How can he be the sole bearer of all responsibility if something goes wrong?"
"What's more, the barbarians on the northwest border are ready to make a move. The Regent is the War God of Daliang. If his military token is confiscated and he is confined to his house for such a small matter, what if the enemy country invades the border?"
The Minister of Revenue gritted his teeth, but knowing he was in the wrong, he could only shrink his neck and act like a quail.
Xiao Zirui snorted coldly:
"Without food and fodder, what's the point of being called a God of War?! If we continue like this, the 100,000-strong army in the northwest will have no choice but to retreat before the barbarians attack us! By then, over 30 cities in the northwest will all be at the mercy of the barbarians!"
"Minister Qi, if it really comes to this, can you take responsibility?"
The Minister of War choked and stopped talking.
But the generals who supported the regent were not happy and immediately stood up:
"The prince is so aggressive, do you have any food?"
"What's the point of saying so much when there's no food or fodder? The Regent has a long history of military exploits, all won through hard-fought battles!"
"I'm a rough man, but I think anyone who wants to hold the prince accountable should first solve the food problem! Otherwise, why do you do nothing and instead blame those who do things?"
Xiao Zirui smiled preparedly:
"You all have a point! I was just about to say that!"
Then he turned to the Emperor and said:
"Father, do you still remember when I proposed raising funds to purchase grain from the wealthy merchants in the two Jiangnan states?"
"Later, because the Regent King issued a military decree, the original plan to raise 200,000 dan of grain to purchase grain was reduced to 50,000 dan to prepare for emergencies."
The emperor nodded.
All the court officials present were aware of this matter. After all, the national treasury was empty and there was no money to buy military rations. As a result, at the emperor's call, even the harem donated silver to buy food, and everyone contributed more or less.
Xiao Zirui glanced at the expressionless Regent and Yun Qingqing who had been silent beside him, and raised his lips in secret satisfaction.
"Father, please forgive me. I was worried that the Regent wouldn't be able to complete the task of transferring grain, so I took the initiative and changed the purchase of 50,000 dan of grain to 200,000 dan!"
The emperor was shocked:
"Really? If there really is 200,000 dan of grain, you've done a great deed this time!"
Xiao Zirui smiled and said:
"The grain has been delivered to the outside of the palace. Father, please come and inspect it at any time!"
"It's just..." He changed the subject, "Originally, the money raised was enough to buy 50,000 dan of grain, and there was still some left to fill the national treasury, but it's not enough to buy these 200,000 dan. I borrowed a lot of silver, but it's still not enough. I still have 100,000 taels of credit..."
The emperor waved his hand:
"Military rations for the Northwest are urgently needed. You did the right thing! The money you advanced and the outstanding balance will be recorded in the Ministry of Revenue's account!"
Many ministers secretly exchanged glances and sighed in their hearts, wondering where the Ministry of Revenue would get the money. They were afraid that it would call on all officials to donate again.
But when it comes to the military situation in the northwest, they dare not raise any objections.
Xiao Zirui said again:
"Father, have you forgotten that the Princess Regent promised that as long as I buy the grain back, she will pay for it!"
When the ministers heard about this, they immediately praised the Regent Princess for her great benevolence and righteousness and her devotion to the country, and placed her on a high pedestal, fearing that she would go back on her word.
After all, someone paid the money, so they don’t have to donate any more money.
The emperor suddenly remembered after this reminder:
"It is true, Princess Regent. Do you still hold true to what you said that day?"
Before Yun Qingqing could speak, Xiao Zirui rushed to say:
"I believe that as the Princess Regent, she will not go back on her word, right? Otherwise, if the world knew about it, wouldn't the royal family be ridiculed?"
Yun Qingqing glanced at him:
"Your Highness, there's no need to provoke me. I'll definitely do what I said."
Xiao Zirui suppressed the gleam in his eyes and felt proud in his heart.
He just rushed to say those words just to make Yun Qingqing admit the debt in public first, so that she wouldn't use it as a bargaining chip to exonerate the Regent!
He gave Prime Minister Su a wink, and Prime Minister Su immediately brought up the matter of filing a military petition again.
"Princess, your majesty is righteous, but a military petition is not a letter from a son. I believe that your majesty will not use money to threaten the emperor and not hold the regent accountable for dereliction of duty, right?"
Yun Qingqing sneered. This meant that they wanted her to pay money and seize the power of the regent at the same time. What a beautiful calculation!
Seeing the two groups quarreling again, the emperor frowned and said coldly:
"That's enough! Shut up, everyone!"
Only then did everyone calm down.
The emperor looked at Xiao Changheng and sighed:
"My dear brother, I know that your journey has been difficult, but after all, you have signed a military order, and I cannot go back on my word in front of all the civil and military officials..."
"Your Majesty, wait a minute!" Yun Qingqing interrupted him. "The military order issued by the prince states that today is the deadline. In other words, as long as today hasn't passed, it won't be considered overdue!"
The Emperor paused, nodded, and said:
"That's exactly what's happening."
Xiao Zirui snorted coldly:
"What's the point of delaying it until tomorrow? Can he actually conjure food out of thin air?"
Yun Qingqing looked at him steadily and suddenly smiled:
"Then please don't bother with that, Your Highness. I have another matter to confirm."
She turned to the emperor and said:
"Your Majesty, this year's floods in the two rivers have resulted in almost no grain harvest. Even the largest merchants cannot store much grain."
"The prince said he bought 200,000 dan of grain from a wealthy merchant. I just can't believe it!"
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