Chapter 238 Undeterred by death, this humble subject requests to fight…
As the sun set, several officials walked together along the spacious palace road.
"Today is truly gratifying!" Shi Lin, the Vice Minister of Rites, walked over and said with a wink, "You all have no idea how cowardly that little country in the southern desert has become! Haha."
During this period, Shilin, in coordination with the Honglu Temple, has made significant progress in negotiations with the envoys from the southern desert.
Shi Lin held out her hands and gestured, her smile almost overwhelming her. "There are this many."
Ning Yuanzhi walked on her left. "One hundred thousand taels of gold?" That's quite a lot. She smiled. It's equivalent to seven hundred thousand taels of silver, enough to cover half of the Ministry of War's expenses next year.
Zhang Ting had studied the tributes paid by Mo Nan over the years and had even calculated the approximate amount in their national treasury, so he understood the situation perfectly well. Given Mo Nan's blatant disrespect for its suzerain state, demanding one-fifth of its treasury's funds wasn't unreasonable, was it?
She was about to ask Shi Lin to take more when she heard him excitedly say, "It's ten 100,000 taels, totaling one million taels of gold, which is equivalent to seven million taels of silver!!" That's half of the money that Dayong collected last year. This tiny country is really rolling in money.
Ning Yuanzhi was deeply impressed. After a moment, he praised her: "Lord Shi, you are quite eloquent. In just a short while, you have earned back half a year's worth of wealth for Dayong!"
Everyone else was overjoyed. "Just wait for your promotion! If His Majesty doesn't reward you, even Heaven will be furious!" Once this money is in hand, the Ministry of Revenue can pay their back wages, the Ministry of Works can repair rivers and dams, and the Ministry of War can provide the soldiers with one or two extra winter coats.
Shi Linchun's face was beaming with pride, his tone barely concealing his arrogance, "My lords, please don't praise me so much. The fact that Mo Nan was able to pay so much silver is entirely due to the unstoppable and fierce army of my Great Yong!"
Only Zhang Ting's face was ashen. Not long ago, he had tested the waters with meager tributes, but today he could easily take away half of the national treasury. Was Mo Nan truly terrified, or was it a deliberate act?
Shi Lin had to go to the palace to meet the emperor, so he hurriedly bid farewell to his colleagues. But after walking for a while, he noticed a tail behind him. He turned around and was astonished. He bowed down and asked, "Lord Zhang, what is this...?"
Zhang Ting stopped beside her. "I'm also going to meet the Emperor. Lord Shi, let's go together."
Shi Lin readily agreed, saying, "Please go ahead." He asked her to go first, while he lagged behind. He couldn't help but speculate: when he mentioned how much silver he had earned for Dayong, Lord Zhang's expression immediately turned sour. Could it be that he was jealous of his unparalleled achievements and wanted to steal credit in front of His Majesty?
Feeling uneasy, she moved a little further away from the people in front of her. There were plenty of high-ranking officials who were jealous of those more capable than themselves; it was best to be cautious.
Who would have thought that the usually virtuous and upright Lord Zhang would do such a thing! You really can't judge a book by its cover.
Zhang Tingwei tilted her head slightly, seemingly noticing something amiss, but said nothing, and her steps remained steady the entire way.
Upon arriving at the Zichen Palace, the palace attendants summoned the two individuals into the hall.
Emperor Chengjing stood under a pine tree, wearing only a thin shirt, and performed a set of boxing techniques, his body covered in sweat.
Shi Lin hurried over, afraid that someone would steal his credit, and quickly finished explaining the matter.
A palace maid wiped away Emperor Chengjing's sweat, and her closed eyes suddenly widened. "How much did you say?"
Shi Lin laughed and laughed, beaming with joy, and said, "Mo Nan will pay tribute to our dynasty with one million taels of gold, equivalent to seven million taels of silver."
Emperor Chengjing laughed heartily and immediately praised Shi Lin, even promising to promote her. He never expected to have such a talented person who knew how to make money by his side!
Shi Lin said, "It is entirely thanks to Your Majesty's imperial power that Mo Nan was so frightened that he didn't dare to utter a single word!"
Having thoroughly enjoyed the flattery, Emperor Chengjing was immersed in her grand dream of becoming the ruler of the world. Only after laughing did she notice Zhang Ting standing silently to the side.
"What brings you here, Minister Zhang?"
Shi Lin was secretly pleased. He had already claimed credit, so even if Minister Zhang was a high-ranking and powerful official, could he really take away her credit in front of His Majesty?
Coming here today is nothing more than trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead.
Zhang Ting lowered his eyes and said calmly, "This is precisely why I have come."
"Oh?" A palace attendant draped an outer robe over Emperor Chengjing's shoulders and served him carefully.
The spring chill lingered, and a gust of wind swept through, stirring up a rustling sound in the pines. Beneath the verdant pine needles, a woman in a crimson official robe stood calmly, the pheasant insignia on her chest gleaming in the afterglow of the setting sun.
The wind passed silently, and all that could be heard was her saying, "I have estimated the financial strength of the Southern Desert. One million taels of gold is nearly half of its national treasury. Such arrogance followed by obsequiousness, so easily handing over such a huge amount of gold and silver, I'm afraid... it harbors malicious intentions."
Emperor Chengjing's smile froze, instantly turning gloomy. If what Zhang Ting said was true, then Mo Nan did indeed have ulterior motives.
But she couldn't understand, "How do you know the other party's financial strength?" The nation's finances have always been a highly confidential and strictly managed area. Take this dynasty for example, the number of people who can truly know how much money is in the national treasury can be counted on one hand.
Not to mention that Zhang Ting is thousands of miles away from the southern desert, how could he possibly know the strength of the other country?
Shi Lin stepped aside, inwardly scoffing at Zhang Ting's boastful talk. If there really was someone in the world who could know the strength of another country without firing a single shot or engaging in any scheming or infiltration, then such a person... was he kidding! How could such a person exist? If such a person did exist, he would be a god with divine eyes.
Zhang Ting recounted her estimation process to the two of them, word by word, as if she knew it by heart.
Emperor Chengjing initially seemed enlightened, then frowned, and finally sighed deeply. Although she didn't understand, Zhang Ting's eloquent manner convinced her. Looking at her, she suddenly thought: Heaven must have blessed the Great Yong Dynasty by bestowing upon her such insightful and far-sighted talent.
Shi Lin understood. Shock was not enough to describe her feelings. Her eyes almost popped out. This was so damn awesome, like a god with divine eyes!
Zhang Ting bowed deeply, "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you order the secret deployment of troops in Zhangzhou Prefecture, so that we may be prepared for any eventuality." Zhangzhou Prefecture is adjacent to Mobei, separated only by a mountain.
"As you say, my dear minister, I will give the order immediately." Emperor Chengjing helped her up. "With you in my Great Yong, it is truly a great fortune for all generations!" If it weren't for Zhang Ting's reminder, they would probably still be immersed in the sweetness set up by Mo Nan, singing and dancing without knowing that their death was imminent.
Shi Lin wholeheartedly agreed, feeling so embarrassed that he wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground. He had just ridiculously thought that Minister Zhang was jealous of his achievements. How could a genius as extraordinary as her possibly care about his meager contributions?
Zhang Ting stood up following the force of her hand, and with great tact, showered Emperor Chengjing with compliments.
The effect of praise varies depending on the person. Imagine, which one would satisfy your deepest vanity more: the most talented and wise genius in the world praising you, or an ordinary subject praising you?
In any case, Emperor Chengjing was overjoyed and refused to let him leave until dinner time. He insisted on having dinner with him before sending Zhang Ting out of the palace.
When they arrived at the mansion and got off the carriage, it was already brightly lit.
Servants led the way with lanterns, while Zhang Ting walked silently in the dim light, his eyelids lowered, making his expression unreadable.
His Majesty dispatched General Tang to Zhangzhou Prefecture to secretly deploy troops in preparation for any unforeseen events.
Logically, the monarch should be happy that she readily accepted his advice, but when Zhang Ting thought of the war, of Zhangzhou Prefecture, and of those faces, some dark and some sallow, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
She lowered her head slightly, hoping that she was just overthinking things.
Three months later, on the way to send tribute from Mobei, the enemy suddenly drew their swords and killed the officials from the Ministry of Rites who were traveling with them. A large number of enemy troops came out in full force and attacked with their swords.
Tang Qiufeng, who secretly stationed troops on the border, led his troops to drive the enemy back three hundred miles, defending the country, but he sacrificed himself for his country.
The rebels in the southern desert have not given up their ambitions and will soon make a comeback. The Great Yong Dynasty has just undergone a change of government, and the people's hearts are not yet settled, with the whole country in turmoil.
Especially in Zhangzhou Prefecture, which was at the center of the battlefield, relatives, friends and fellow villagers died tragically, and the people still had a sharp sword hanging over their heads, living in constant fear and anxiety.
At the grand court assembly, Emperor Chengjing, his face contorted with grief, solemnly declared: "General Tang has sacrificed his life for the country. From this day forward, he shall be posthumously granted the title of First-Rank General Who Conquers the Barbarians and shall be given a grand and dignified burial."
"Is there any general who has volunteered to lead the expedition, drive out the Tartars, and protect the land?"
After he finished speaking, the crowd fell silent for a long while.
The enemy's troops were well-trained and their cavalry charged, causing our infantry to collapse instantly. The casualties in the battle between Mo Nan and Dayong were: 5,000 against 50,000. Mo Nan lost 3,000, while Dayong was left with only 10,000, and lost a key general in the very first engagement.
They paid a far heavier price in this battle than when they fought against the capital.
The new dynasty's land survey and reform of the bureaucracy recovered a considerable amount of money and grain, which might be enough to support them in this war. However, an army with inadequate military preparedness would be like throwing an egg against a rock when facing a fierce and powerful army.
Who can lead Dayong to victory?
"Your humble servant requests to fight! My elder sister sacrificed herself for the country, and I am by no means a coward!" Tang Qiuyue wiped away her tears and said with red eyes.
"Your humble servant requests permission to fight! My family has a long history of heroes and martyrs, and I am willing to give my life to serve my country and defend our borders!"
"Your subject requests to fight! I swear to drive out the Tartars and wipe out the enemy!"
The officials looked at the military officers with regret. "Our dynasty is full of fearless men, but the army in the southern desert is well-equipped and well-manned. Even if our dynasty has a million soldiers, it will be difficult to withstand the enemy's attack."
Emperor Chengjing's gaze swept over the generals, but he could not make up his mind for a long time.
At this moment, someone who caught everyone off guard spoke up: "Your subject requests permission to go; let me go."
Everyone looked at her in disbelief. How could Lord Zhang possibly volunteer for battle? She held a very high position in the court, just one step away from becoming the prime minister.
This battle against the enemy is a foregone conclusion; she will not return until she is wrapped in a horse's hide. She desires fame, to be renowned throughout the land; she desires wealth, a fiefdom of ten thousand households; she desires power, to rise to the rank of Minister. Why wade into these muddy waters?
Zhang Ting, who was the center of attention, remained calm, as if she was completely unaware of the price she would have to pay.
"Your Majesty's mind is made up. Please grant me your decree!"
Emperor Chengjing opened his mouth. This was one of her most trusted ministers. He wanted to say that Zhang Ting could not die, but when he looked around and saw the gazes of the ministers fixed on him, a sense of surprise mixed with a glimmer of hope broke through his heart.
Yes, among all the officials, who could split the mountains and rivers and seize a sliver of hope? It was none other than her.
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