The First Tyrant of Daxia

Chapter 395 Your Majesty, I am dissatisfied!

Guo Ziyun stood up and frowned.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue originally budgeted for an army of 200,000 men, to start the war immediately and end it within three months. The court gritted its teeth and the food supply can sustain it."

"But I didn't expect it to be a protracted war. More than half a month has passed, and the war hasn't even officially started."

"These days, the consumption of hundreds of thousands of mouths is too great. The court can support it, but we can't leave no food at all, right?"

Hearing this, Qin Yun remained silent.

Guo Ziyun would not lie. This old man is loyal and capable. Since he has put forward such suggestions, it means that the Ministry of Revenue is really in trouble.

After all, Daxia’s money and grain are not just for Xiliang.

Every state and every territory has expenses.

Minister of War Zhao Heng stepped forward.

He proposed: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue have discussed the situation. There are only two options in this situation."

"Either we destroy Wang Min at lightning speed and retake Xiliang."

"Or, retreat!"

"Wait until the spring harvest, when there will be more food, and then we can harvest again."

Qin Yun was excited: "It will take more than three months?!"

"When we have enough food, Xiliang will recover. Why would we fight then?"

Zhao Heng was silent.

Although the civil and military ministers did not speak, they were obviously more inclined to withdraw the troops.

Otherwise, I would not have remained silent.

Qin Yun was very unhappy and said unhappily: "Since there is not enough food, then we can draw it from the various prefectures!"

"Yangzhou, Yunzhou, and Jiangnan are all rich places. Send a group of them to me."

Guo Ziyun looked embarrassed.

"Your Majesty, I have thought of a solution, but people from various states said that the food that can be transferred is limited, and it is estimated that the total amount is only enough to support an army of 200,000 for half a month."

"It will take several days of food to go there, not to mention the attack on Xiliang. If the imperial army runs out of food, all our efforts will be wasted and we will be forced to withdraw!"

Qin Yun's face looked grim. Without enough food, they definitely couldn't fight.

Even if we are sure to conquer it in a short time, it will not work because there is not enough food, which is a big taboo in military strategy.

When Zhuge Liang went to Qishan six times, he basically failed due to lack of food.

wrong!

He reacted, stood up suddenly, and looked fierce.

"What are the officials in the state capitals doing? Are they corrupt?"

He roared: "There isn't much grain stored in places like Yangzhou? Where are the big granaries?"

"Do you think I'm a fool?"

"You want to fool me with just a sentence saying that food is limited?"

Everyone was shocked and started to explain.

"Your Majesty, there are many granaries, but not all of them are full."

"Take Yangzhou for example. It is indeed rich, but most of the tenants are gentry and aristocrats who farm the land. Tenants take 10% of the grain for each acre of land, and the grain tax collected by the imperial court will not exceed 20% at most."

“All the major granaries are in a state of dissatisfaction.”

"Leave some food for later use, and this is exactly what's left."

"This is the first year since the system was changed, and the benefits will definitely have to wait until after the spring harvest."

Qin Yun glanced at Guo Ziyun.

He looked bitter and nodded to indicate that it was true.

"Son of a bitch!"

He slammed the table hard and asked, "Where did the remaining 70% of the food go?"

Upon hearing this, the ministers quickly quieted down.

His face changed slightly, as if he had touched upon some taboo, and he dared not speak nonsense anymore.

Only Gu Chuntang, the incorruptible prime minister, dared to say it.

"Your Majesty, the remaining 70% is in the hands of the gentry and wealthy families, while the majority is in the hands of the aristocratic families and the noble families."

Qin Yun sneered!

Damn it, the imperial court takes 10% to 20% and the aristocratic families take nearly 70%. Who is the government and who is the system?

“Why do they take so much?”

"Robbery?"

Upon hearing this, the faces of the ministers suddenly changed!

Some of them dare not speak out, while others are officials from aristocratic families. How could they say bad things about themselves?

What frightened them most was that His Majesty was not satisfied!

A third-rank official stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, it has always been like this since ancient times."

"This rule has not changed since the last emperor came to power, including after you took over the throne."

Qin Yun looked at him, smiling: "So, the aristocratic families are above the imperial court?"

"Or should I apologize for what I said and did just now?"

The third-rank minister was frightened and knelt down immediately.

"Your Majesty, this old minister has absolutely no such intention!"

"It's just that when the Great Xia Dynasty was founded, the major aristocratic families helped Emperor Gaozu with all their might, almost to the point of selling everything they had. The land was a reward given by Emperor Gaozu to the major aristocratic families, and it was his personal property."

"It's not appropriate to talk about this now, is it..."

He didn't dare to finish his words, but everyone knew what he meant.

Immediately afterwards, several ministers expressed their opinions.

"Your Majesty, this is customary practice, not corruption or hegemony. Please understand."

"Yes, I am from the Longyou Li family, but I know I am innocent!"

"What have we done wrong? For the sake of the people's well-being, the major families even voluntarily gave up their land to the tenants, and only took a portion of what they deserved..."

"..."

Seeing ministers standing up one after another, Qin Yun was unhappy but he made no unreasonable rebuttal.

Because what they say is indeed the truth!

Gu Chuntang and other noblemen from poor families, who held high positions, could only remain silent when they heard these words.

These privileges were indeed granted by emperors of successive dynasties and have long been ingrained into the nature of this country.

To put it bluntly.

After the waves have washed away and a hundred years later, the Great Xia Dynasty may no longer exist, but the aristocratic families are still there!

Qin Yun pinched his brows helplessly and compromised: "If that's the case, then buy it. Use the money from the national treasury to buy it."

"Contact all the aristocratic families and tell them that I want food!"

His eyes turned cold, and he said in a serious tone: "Please ask them to show some mercy and sell me some food!!"

He emphasized the last sentence very strongly.

After saying this, he turned away, his face as cold as the freezing winter.

Seeing his expression and hearing those heart-piercing words, all the ministers' eyelids jumped.

Especially those ministers who came from powerful families, their faces turned pale.

Your Majesty, I am angry!

After a stick of incense.

Royal study room.

clap clap clap! !

Qin Yun smashed the teacups all over the floor, causing the palace maids and eunuchs inside and outside the palace to tremble and prostrate themselves in fear.

Cabinet ministers and trusted generals are all here.

Everyone was silent, not daring to speak.

Especially those who are relatives of the aristocratic families dare not speak.

"I want to recover Xiliang, but the grain is not enough for a war, and I have to buy it from the aristocratic families. Do you think it's ironic?"

Everyone looked stern and didn't dare to respond.

a long time.

Guo Ziyun sighed and said, "But Your Majesty, it has always been like this. The aristocratic families control too many things in Daxia, which are far more than food and money can describe."

"The strength of Daxia still depends on them."

"In my opinion, it is better to..."

He hesitated.

Qin Yun frowned: "Not as good as what?"

"Why don't you hold a banquet, or take a woman from aristocratic family as your concubine to make peace with them? I believe they will be willing to provide food and support your majesty in attacking Xiliang."

Hearing this, Qin Yun froze.

He didn't speak for a long time.

But there was an unyielding murderous intent in his eyes!