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Ding Wu frowned and said: "I have read the warehouse files a while ago, and the money and food are still very sufficient, why is it consumed so quickly?"

Ma Hong immediately said: "What the Holy Majesty said is very true. When the Holy Majesty ascended the throne, there was indeed enough money and food in the warehouse." Too many. There are tens of thousands of horses on the front line of Yanshan, and tens of thousands of garrison troops in Wuping Mansion. In addition, although the young and strong gang in Tiangong dismissed tens of thousands, there are still tens of thousands left. The daily consumption is not a small number." After a pause, he said: "Especially those barbarians, they ask for a lot of food, not only the people have to eat, but also their war horses, and the horses eat more than the people. "

Ding Wu's face was even more serious, and Ma Hong said cautiously: "When soldiers eat food, I also asked the Holy One for instructions. The Holy Majesty said that we should try our best to feed the soldiers and not treat them badly. Thinking about it, after the autumn harvest, although there are not many grain fields in Hexi, some grain can still be expropriated. Besides, Anyi is a land of grain production. Once the autumn harvest is over, there will be enough grain, so we can replenish it, but...!" Having said that, he didn't continue talking.

The imperial court has been counting on Anyi's granary to supplement Hexi's consumption, and has high hopes for Anyi, but no one would have imagined that, at the time of harvest, instead of transporting a single piece of grain to Hexi, Anyi took refuge in Chu Huan, regardless of It can be seen that Chu Huan will definitely ask for grain from Yuan Chongshang in the future. The granary that was originally used to support the Qin State has become Chu Huan's rice bowl in a blink of an eye.

Although all the ministers present did not speak, they are not fools after all to be able to achieve such a position. They know well that although Feng Yuanpo has saved a lot of money and food, but now Hexi has to raise 8 or [-] soldiers, and there are The daily consumption of tens of thousands of war horses is an incredible figure, not to mention the fierce battle on the front line of Yanshan Mountain, and the daily logistics supply is even more astronomical.

Although Dingwu is the monarch of Qin, the resources he can use now are only the land of Hexi. Anyi has been reversed, and Xishan has been occupied. Both resources have been seized by Chu Huan, and these resources , but it was the foundation for Dingwu to revive Qin before.

The loss of Anyi and Xishan was not only a huge disaster for Qin State in terms of military strategy, but also a huge disaster for the revival of Qin State. Being strong is already like a flower in a mirror and a moon in water.

The prerequisite for Hexi to expand its huge army is to have sufficient resources. Without logistical supplies, the army cannot sustain itself. Right now, Hexi has [-] regular soldiers and tens of thousands of young men who are being trained. Behind these figures, It needs a huge amount of food and money to support it.

Dingwu knew very well that relying on Hexi alone would not be able to support so many soldiers and horses.

The hall was dead silent, and no one dared to speak. Everyone could see that the most dangerous thing in Hexi today was not necessarily the powerful enemy, but Hexi's own strength, which could not be consumed for a long time.

"Yao Chong, I will allocate 30 taels of silver to you first." After a long silence, Ding Wu finally said: "There is no room for loss in the Hexi Corridor, and I ordered you to lead the army to the Hexi Corridor to defend against the Northwest Army as the commander-in-chief of the army."

Although Yao Chong knew that 30 taels of silver would not be able to fundamentally solve the problem, under the current predicament, Dingwu was able to allocate 30 taels of silver, which was considered very generous.

"I obey the order." Yao Chong clasped his hands.

A wave of extreme fatigue hit Dingwu's heart, and his face looked extremely tired. He raised his hand and said, "You all go down first, I... just be quiet for a while." All the officials retired, but Dingwu He called Ma Hong to stop, "Ma Aiqing, you stay first."

Ma Hongben was about to leave, but when he heard Ding Wu tell him to stay, he was stunned for a moment, but Ding Wu had already signaled Zhao Quan beside him to push him down, obviously in this hall, Ding Wu felt very depressed, and signaled Zhao Quan pushed himself to the back garden.

Ma Hong looked at Lin Yuanfang, saw that Lin Yuanfang was also looking at him, and made a wink, Ma Hong's expression suddenly became serious, but seeing Lin Yuanfang's face was stern, Ma Hong hesitated for a while, but it didn't matter much, and followed him from a distance Behind Dingwu, Lin Yuanfang looked around, and followed Ma Hong, tiptoeing past.

The fallen leaves are withered, and the flowers, plants and trees in the back garden are already in a state of depression and dilapidation.

Pushing the wheelchair, Zhao Quan sent Dingwu to the back garden. Ma Hong approached with light steps, bowed his hands and stood aside, while Zhao Quan stood beside the wheelchair with his saber in one hand.

After a long period of silence, Ding Wu finally said: "How long can we last?"

Ma Hong was taken aback for a moment, but soon understood the meaning of Ding Wu's words, thought for a while, and then carefully replied: "Up to two months...!"

"Two months?"

"Reporting to the Holy Majesty, according to the current consumption, after two months, the household department will have no food to allocate." Ma Hongdao: "Now that Yao Chong is leading 3 people to the Hexi Corridor, the transportation consumption along the way will only increase. It won't last for two months." With a wry smile, "I'm fine, if Anyi can deliver the grain and grass in time to replenish the grain depot in Hexi, then the current situation will not happen...!"

Dingwu said indifferently: "I don't want to listen to the difficulties that have become reality. I just want to know, if my soldiers withstood the Liaodong offensive for two months in Yanshan, will they collapse due to the lack of logistics?"

Ma Hong lowered his head, feeling uncomfortable all over, but he dared not speak.

"Why don't you talk?" Ding Wu looked at Ma Hong coldly.

Ma Hong knew that since he was being targeted by Dingwu, and as the Minister of the Household Department, he was in charge of money and food matters, he could not escape if he wanted to, so he could only bite the bullet and said: "My lord, my minister... I thought that our money and food Nervous, the Liaodong Army may not be rich. They have a large number of soldiers and horses, and their strength is only higher than ours, and their consumption is much greater than ours...!"

"Oh?" Ding Wu frowned: "You mean, we have to expect the Liaodong people to retreat without fighting because of insufficient logistics supplies, and they must withdraw within two months?"

It was cold in late autumn, and Ma Hong felt a bone-chilling chill all over his body at this time.

"Even if the Liaodong Army really withdraws, what about Chu Huan's side?" Ding Wu sighed, "Chu Huan has a little rest and has plenty of money and food. Can we also expect him to return to the customs due to lack of logistics?"

Cold sweat was already breaking out on Ma Hong's forehead. Fortunately, Ding Wu sighed softly: "I don't want you to come up with a plan to retreat. You are the secretary of the household department and are good at matters of money and food. I only hope that you can find a way to raise money." More money and food."

Ma Hong hesitated for a moment, and finally said cautiously: "Your Majesty, I...the minister has indeed thought of many ways, but...Feng Yuanpo's taxation in Hexi is not light at all. He has repeatedly imposed taxes. If... ...If the court continues to raise taxes, the minister is worried...!"

"worry about what?"

Ma Hong could only bite the bullet and said: "The minister is worried that it will stir up a civil uprising."

"I didn't ask you to go to the common people to ask for taxes." Dingwu said indifferently: "I want you to go to the gentry in Hexi to ask for money and food."

Ma Hong raised his head and looked at Ding Wu, Ding Wu sneered and said: "After I ascended the throne, I treated them leniently and kindly, and did not punish them. Now is the time of national calamity, and they should share my worries."

Ma Hong instantly understood the meaning of Ding Wu, and asked, "The Holy One wants to collect money and food from the Hexi gentry?"

"I know that the gentry in Hexi has been collaborating with Feng Yuanpo all the time. After the opening of the Hexi Trading Field, the gentry in Hexi have benefited a lot from it." Dingwu said slowly: "The noble families in Hexi, under the protection of Feng Yuanpo, Having accumulated a lot of wealth, I think they should do something for the country."

Ma Hong hesitated, but did not answer immediately.

"You can go to them and say that the imperial court borrowed money and food from them." Ding Wu looked at Ma Hong, "If anyone is unwilling to share our troubles with you, you can list their names and hand them over to in my hand."

Ma Hong thought for a while, but stopped talking.

Ding Wu saw it naturally and asked, "What do you want to say?"

"Chen.....Chen has nothing to say, I will do it according to the order." Ma Hong said hastily.

But Ding Wu said: "Ma Aiqing, you are an important minister by my side. I trust and rely on you very much. If you have any worries, just say so."

Ma Hong hesitated for a moment, then took a step forward, and said in a low voice: "Chen... I dare not speak nonsense, but... I still remember that when the southeast Tianmen Dao rebelled, money and food were scarce, the court once... ...!"

Ding Wudao: "I remember that at that time, Hu Bufan was still in charge of the Household Department. The Household Department asked the court to borrow money to buy grain, and this caused a catastrophe in the southeast. Because of this, the gentry in the southeast betrayed the court and turned against the Tianmen Dao."

Ma Hong raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, and said, "The Holy One is wise, that's exactly what happened, so I... I'm worried about being in Hexi...!"

"Are you worried that if you borrow food from the Hexi gentry, the old scene will repeat itself. The Hexi gentry will also betray the court and cause turmoil like the southeast gentry?" Ding Wu asked, staring at Ma Hong.

Ma Hong was nervous, lowered his head, and said: "Chen... I'm just worried about this."

"It's reasonable for you to think so." Ding Wu said calmly: "It's just that the situation today is very different from that of the past. I know that you are not a god, and you can't change money and food. I asked you to raise money and food, but You can't reach out to the common people, so it's hard for you. It's just that there is no money, how can the soldiers on the front line fight? Now, they can only ask those people for money and food. Without money and food, a strong enemy enters the country, and it is difficult to resist. They want money and food, even if they are dissatisfied with the rebellion, it is much easier to deal with them than Chu Huan and the people of Liaodong." He clenched his hands into fists, and said in a cold voice, "If anyone does not want to share the suffering with the empire, I will let him go first." He destroys!"

Ma Hong only felt the chill all over his body, and couldn't help shivering.