big song poppi

Chapter 374 0370 [Fighting in front of the palace! 】

Although Gao Chi is a noble and a descendant of the Gao family, he is still a military officer.

In the Song Dynasty, military officers were as noble as pigs and dogs. As the prime minister at the top of the civil service pyramid, he was killed as long as he was killed. The Gao family didn't even dare to fart.

But the same cannot be said for civil servants. Even if they are just a seventh-grade official, they must be treated with caution.

Two days ago, he ordered Nie Shan to torture Ding Zhou and others, but a group of courtiers immediately attacked him.

Memorials piled up like snowflakes in Zhao Huan's hall.

If Zhao Huan hadn't needed him to defend the city, Li Gang would have been demoted or dismissed under public outrage.

Therefore, Li Gang and Sun Fu had no way to deal with those grain merchants.

Who can do business in Tokyo without some background?

Maybe behind the scenes is a certain husband, a certain prince, a certain country's duke...

If he dares to raise a butcher's knife against a grain merchant, he will be demoted tomorrow.

Besides, rabbits bite people when they are anxious.

The grain merchants were really pushed into a panic. They didn't have the courage to rebel, but they still had the courage to secretly open the door and let the Korean thieves into the city.

Returning to the imperial city, Li Gang went straight to Yanfu Palace.

"What's the matter with Li Qing?"

During this period, Zhao Hengqing lost a lot of weight, and his eyes were as bloodshot as Li Gang's.

I got angry due to anxiety and worry, and a big blister appeared at the corner of my mouth. Not to mention drinking water and eating, I had to pay attention even when opening my mouth to speak. Otherwise, if the blister was involved, it would be a heartbreaking pain.

As an emperor, he should be really aggrieved.

After ascending the throne, it can be said that he never enjoyed a good day. He was always on tenterhooks and worried.

Li Gang said: "Your Majesty, the commander of Dongcheng Camp colluded with foreign thieves and embezzled military supplies, causing the soldiers of Dongcheng Camp to mutiny."

"what?"

Zhao Huan was startled. The result was that the corner of his mouth was involved, and his expression was distorted by the pain.

Holding back the pain, he asked carefully: "How are you now?"

Li Gang replied: "I ordered Gao Chi to be killed, which temporarily calmed the anger of the soldiers. However, if there is no food, there is no guarantee that the soldiers will not mutiny again."

Zhao Huan was about to cry but said without tears: "But now the treasury is empty. When the Supreme Emperor went south to hunt, he emptied all the money. I...I have no choice."

To say that Song Huizong was really ruthless.

After making up his mind to retire in the south, he quietly transferred his gold and silver to the south in advance.

After Zhao Huan ascended the throne, he went to inspect the internal funds and was immediately dumbfounded.

Apart from hundreds of thousands of copper coins and thousands of pieces of silk, there was nothing else.

Hundreds of thousands may sound like a lot, but there are three thousand concubines in the harem, plus a group of eunuchs and maids, food and clothing, which one is free of money?

Moreover, as an emperor, when he rewards ministers, he cannot fail to express it, right?

"..."

Li Gang was also speechless for a while.

What the Supreme Emperor did was indeed unethical, but others had generously given up the throne. As a minister, it was hard for him to say anything.

Wang Fu's family property was confiscated and was handled by Geng Nanzhong.

Floating wealth, antique calligraphy and paintings, mansions, fields, shops... a total of one million yuan.

Yes, just one million coins, not a penny more.

No matter how unhappy Zhao Huan was, he could only hold his nose and admit it. Who said he had no one to use?

Geng Nanzhong has been with him for so many years. As the only confidant in the court, he must be given some sweetness.

The money went into the treasury and was gone in an instant.

Because the treasury was previously empty, it had already owed officials and subordinates in Beijing several months of salary and welfare subsidies. Now that they have money, it is natural to pay salaries first.

Taking a deep breath, Li Gang muttered: "I plan to ask all the ministers in the court to raise donations to tide over the difficulties for the time being."

"This is a good idea."

Zhao Huan's eyes lit up.

After the monarch and his ministers discussed the details again, Li Gang left.

After returning home from work, Mrs. Zhang complained: "There is not much food at home. Today I went to the market for a walk and found that all the rice shops were closed. As the prime minister, I should be in charge of the food." Shang. If this continues, the family will have to suffer from northwest wind."

"Eat sparingly."

Li Gang sighed, and then asked: "How much money do you have left at home?"

Zhang replied: "More than thirty thousand strings."

"Give it all to me."

Li Gang ordered.

Mrs. Zhang was surprised and said, "Why do you want so much money?"

Li Gang waved his hand: "Don't worry about it, just give it to me."

"Oh."

Mrs. Zhang responded, got up and went to get the money.

Passing over a wad of green coins, Zhang said: "These green coins total more than 23,000 guan, and the remaining copper coins are in the warehouse."

After taking the green money, Li Gang looked complicated.

Now that the Korean thieves are attacking the capital, the wealthy businessmen and officials in the city are still using the paper money printed and issued by the Korean thieves. How ridiculous.

Suppressing his thoughts, he asked: "Can the green money in the city be used now?"

Mrs. Zhang nodded and said: "Yes, it works better than before. Some shops now only accept green money and gold and silver."

After just a brief thought, Li Gang understood the reason.

Green money is light and easy to hide and carry.

Once the city is defeated, you only need to carry a thick wad of green money, mount a horse and run away.

In comparison, copper coins were so heavy that an entire oxcart only amounted to just over a thousand coins.

The most important thing is that even if Han Zhen captures Tokyo City, these green coins can continue to be used.

The next day.

Early in the morning, Li Gang hired seven or eight oxcarts and rushed to the palace with his family's copper coins.

Not only him, but also Sun Fu.

This scene immediately attracted many colleagues to watch.

Bai Shizhong sarcastically said: "It's common to pull money from the palace to your home, but this is the first time I've seen you pull money from your home to the palace." "All my colleagues, please learn from this. This is what I call the Great Song Dynasty." A good minister and a good example!"

Cai You's strange behavior made all Cai's party laugh.

Li Gang glanced at them coldly and walked into the hall.

After all the ministers entered the hall, Zhao Huan arrived not long after.

Sitting on a dragon chair in a high palace, he received congratulations from hundreds of officials.

When the head official of the palace sang: "If you have something to do, leave early to play, but if you don't have anything to do, roll up the curtain and leave the court."

Li Gang strode out of the queue and said loudly: "My lord, I have a plan to report!"

Zhao Huan knew this and asked, "What's the matter with Li Qing?"

Li Gang said solemnly: "Now the national treasury is empty, the official warehouse is short of food, and the four battalions of soldiers are fighting bravely, but there is no food to eat. As a minister of the Song Dynasty, I eat the emperor's salary. I should share the worries of the emperor. I am willing to dedicate all my family assets, a total of Thirty-eight thousand guan to buy grain."

hiss!

As soon as these words came out, the expressions of all the courtiers in the main hall couldn't help but change.

You Li Gang, you want to be a flatterer to please the officials, but you want to drag us into the water.

Sun Fu came out and said: "I am also willing to donate 50,000 yuan of family wealth, which is a little bit modest."

Zhao Huan responded: "Li Qing and Sun Qing are really great ministers."

This sentence is equivalent to putting a group of courtiers on the fire.

Bai Shizhong hesitated for a moment, and was about to open his mouth to express his loyalty, but was stopped by Cai You's sinister look.

For a moment, the hall fell into an eerie silence.

Not only Li Bangyan and others were indifferent, but Wu Min, He Li and other so-called "Qingliu" were also indifferent.

Even Geng Nanzhong, His Majesty's confidant, made no move.

Seeing this, Zhao Huan felt a chill in his heart.

Li Gang did not expect this scene. He thought that with himself and Sun Fu as examples, these ministers could only donate generously no matter how reluctant they were.

Who would have thought that this would be the case.

Zhao Huan laughed angrily: "Okay, okay, you are indeed my good minister!"

Li Bangyan rolled his eyes and bowed: "Your Majesty, I also want to do my part, but my family is in trouble. After the court, I will sell my belongings and be loyal to the country!"

"The same is true for me."

Cai You and others immediately took over the conversation and said that they would go to the seller to collect money after the court.

"Retreat!"

Zhao Huan flicked his sleeves and left angrily.

After the court was over, Cai You said sarcastically: "Li Fang is really good at making money. He made thirty-eight thousand guan at one time. Unfortunately, I had to sell the goods!"

Li Gang pointed at his nose and cursed: "Cai You, you and others usually feed the common people and plunder the people's fat and oil. Now that the imperial court is in dire straits and it's a critical moment, you don't even think about serving the country. How are you different from animals?"

"It's nonsense, it's just ridiculous."

Cai You was too lazy to talk to him, so he turned around and left.

Li Gang became angry and grabbed his official robe, trying to argue with him.

"Let me go!"

Cai You struggled immediately.

The two people didn't like each other, so they got into a fight during the dispute.

Although Cai You is younger, Li Gang is strong and strong, and his skills are extremely dark.

Li Bangyan watched the excitement without taking it too seriously, and would comment from time to time: "Oh, Prime Minister Li's punch is so brave!"

"Brother Cai, use the monkey to steal the peach and dig him out!"

"The traitor shall die!"

Suddenly, a loud shout sounded.

But he saw Fu Sun rushing towards him, jumping up and kicking him.

Li Bangyan didn't react hastily and was kicked to the ground.

Even though he spends his days drinking and drinking, he is in good health because of his passion for Cuju.

After getting up, he knocked Sun Fu to the ground with three punches and two kicks.

Li Bangyan was displeased and took advantage of the opportunity to sit on Fu Sun and hit him with another old punch. He shouted at the same time: "How dare you sneak attack on me, do you accept it?"

For a moment, the entire hall was in chaos, and all the officials were dumbfounded.

Four high-ranking officials beat each other in public, is this okay?

After a brief period of confusion, a group of officials immediately stepped forward to start a fight.

"Don't do anything, it's an insult to politeness, it's an insult to politeness!"

"You are the prime minister and assistant, how can you act like a gangster in the market and take action whenever you disagree?"

"How unbecoming it is for important officials of the DPRK to fight each other in court!"

It took a lot of effort to pull the four people away.

Cai You's official hat was knocked off, and his nose was bleeding. He pointed at Li Gang and cursed: "Old man, let me wait for you!"

With a harsh word, Cai You left the hall angrily.

Li Gang wasn't much better either. The corner of his mouth was cut and there was a slap mark on his cheek.

Only Li Bangyan was very proud, with his hands on his hips and said: "I once led an army to fight against the Qingzhou bandits. Isn't it a wasted reputation? Sun Shangshu should go back and practice more."

Wu Min lifted Fu Sun up from the ground and sighed: "Brother Sun, you have gone too far in this matter."

"You actually think so?"

Li Gang glared at Wu Min and said seriously: "Now that the country is facing a crisis, as a minister, how can you not want to serve the country?"

Wu Min explained earnestly: "I can get tens of thousands of guan by scraping together, but I can't set a precedent. Once this is done, in the future, whenever the country has money, your majesty will ask for donations from his ministers." , do you want to donate or not?”

"If a wealthy businessman donates hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, should he still be rewarded with an official position?"

These words left Li Gang speechless.

Yes, it was the first time for courtiers to collect donations. If His Majesty builds a palace in the future, the first thing that comes to his mind is to raise donations.

Once or twice is enough. If the number of times increases, no amount of family wealth will be enough to donate.

When the ministers have no money to donate and the wealthy businessmen have money to donate, will your Majesty let the wealthy businessmen serve as officials?

Seeing his devastated look, Wu Min patted his shoulder and comforted him: "I know that your intentions are good, but this matter is still not considered."

(End of this chapter)