Red Mansion Taoist

Chapter 358: The Court Dispute
Li Qiang was not too surprised that she couldn't buy the land.

Most of the land purchased previously was purchased through intelligence obtained through the royal intelligence system, and with the help of threats from local armies, the land was purchased from the landlords and wealthy merchants.

But apart from this group of people, those who own large amounts of land are nobles and officials, and there is almost no way to get these people to sell the land in their hands.

The land held by this group of people is increasing at the fastest rate.

Having power in hand and using it to continuously swallow up land is the norm.

As for the money for purchasing the land, there is no need to worry about that.

Since the establishment of the textile workshop in Yangzhou with a thousand steam looms, a steady stream of cloth has been shipped to foreign countries, and a large amount of silver has continuously flowed into the hands of Datong Money House.

The rate at which their wealth grows is sufficient to meet their demand for purchasing land.

"Then you don't need to buy it anymore!" Li Qiang said with a smile.

Lin Ruhai was a little confused and looked at Li Qiang in doubt.

Li Qiang purchased the land in order to prevent the land from being concentrated in the hands of a few people. With the land in Li Qiang's hands, he could regulate the farmers' rent and reduce their burden.

Especially once a disaster occurs, farmers not only do not have to pay rent, but can instead obtain supplies to ensure their lives and production resources for the coming year from Li Qiang.

The reason why Lin Ruhai was willing to help Li Qiang complete his plan to purchase the land was that he had great confidence in Li Qiang's plan.

"Is there no more money? Or has the emperor changed his mind?" Lin Ruhai asked with a frown.

"Neither, I have more land!" Li Qiang replied with a smile.

"More land, Daqian has more land? Is it Penglai? Even if the population is relocated there, how many people can the environment there support?" Lin Ruhai asked, shaking his head.

"The Tatar tribe has been destroyed, and now all of the Tatar land is in the hands of Datong Money House!" Li Qiang said this, which was absolutely earth-shattering news for Lin Ruhai.

"What? The Tatar tribe was destroyed?" Lin Ruhai stood up excitedly and asked in disbelief.

"The military funds provided by Datong Money House, my private artillery army, and the First Guard of the Beijing Camp have all been sent over. Currently, the Tatar king has fled with his remnants to the Oirat tribe in the far west. The entire Tatar tribe is in the hands of Datong Money House!" Li Qiang confirmed again.

"You mean, the land of the Tatar tribe belongs to Datong Money House?" Lin Ruhai understood the emphasis of Li Qiang's words.

"Of course, the military expenditure is provided by Datong Bank, and the national treasury is not used. All the troops are my private army!" Li Qiang replied as a matter of course.

"I'm afraid it won't be easy to get approved by the cabinet!" Lin Ruhai shook his head.

"I won't give in on this matter. The land there is mine and no one can interfere!" Li Qiang said with a sneer.

He knew what the civil officials were thinking. If they knew that the Tatar tribe was going to be destroyed, the first thing they would do would be to send people to occupy the land. With the help of their network of connections and a little bit of silver, they could occupy large tracts of land.

But he had conquered the Tatar tribe with great difficulty, so the Tatar tribe naturally belonged to him as the emperor.

"Then how many people do you plan to relocate there?" Lin Ruhai asked again.

"It will be enough to relocate hundreds of thousands of people first. I plan to promote steam engine sowing there. In addition to grazing, we will also open up large tracts of concentrated farmland and use steam agricultural machinery for large-scale planting!" Li Qiang expressed his thoughts.

Daqian already has people dedicated to researching this aspect. Steam engines are becoming more and more mature, and the machines that use steam engines are also becoming more and more mature.

The farmlands in Daqian are almost all household-based, with each household occupying a small piece of farmland, and each household's farmland is separated from each other, making it difficult to use steam agricultural machinery for large-scale operations.

But if you want to build large tracts of farmland on the grassland, you don't need to worry about this kind of trouble at all, because there is nothing there and you can build it according to Li Qiang's wishes.

"Can it really be achieved?" Lin Ruhai was shocked by the scene described by Li Qiang.

"It will definitely come true in the future!" Li Qiang nodded heavily.

Now that he is the emperor and has written a complete set of scientific books, he only needs to point out a direction and there will always be someone who can do what he requires.

The next morning, Li Qiang changed into the most solemn crown and robes.

He sat on the dragon throne amid the shouts of "Long live the emperor!" from his ministers. The ministers stood up and saw the crown and robes he was wearing.

The crown and robes are generally only used on important occasions. It is not that court meetings are not important, but that the crown and robes are more suitable for occasions such as sacrifices.

But the ministers also understood that Li Qiang would not wear the wrong clothes, and something must have happened.

They whispered to each other, but no one knew what was going on.

Lin Ruhai, the only one who knew what was happening, was like an old monk in meditation, paying no attention to external things.

"Before the court meeting begins, I have news to announce!" Li Qiang said lightly.

His words surprised the ministers present. Even if there was something important at the court meeting, they had to wait until after the daily report.

"The Tatar tribe was captured by Datong Money House, the Tatar king has abandoned the Tatar tribe and fled, the Tatar tribe has been destroyed!" Li Qiang announced in a deep voice.

The whole court was silent at first, and then there was a loud bang, and the ministers no longer cared about the order in the court. They all rushed to speak, making the scene so chaotic that nothing could be heard clearly.

"Silence!" Jin Dong said loudly at this time.

The ministers then remembered that they were still in the court. They dropped their voices and looked at Grand Secretary Tian.

If they had to nominate someone to come forward and ask Li Qiang, then Academician Tian would be the most suitable person.

"This old minister would like to ask Your Majesty, has the Tatar tribe been destroyed?" Grand Secretary Tian stepped out of the line and asked with a bow.

His problem was that he did not trust Emperor Li Qiang, but on such an important matter, he had not received any intelligence from any channel, so how could he believe Li Qiang's words?

"The Tatar royal city has been occupied. The entire Tatar tribe, except for the area near the Tatar Sacred Mountain, is in the hands of Datong Money House!" Li Qiang replied affirmatively.

"Your Majesty, do you mean that the Tatar tribe was conquered by Datong Money House? Then how does Datong Money House plan to deal with this land?" asked Grand Secretary Tian.

All the ministers were aware of Li Qiang's tactics.

Isn’t this the case with Penglai? It is said that it was conquered by Datong Money House. In the end, Penglai was first operated by Datong Money House for a period of time and then handed over to Daqian.

This time, the Tatar tribe has an extremely vast territory, which is not comparable to the tiny Penglai. The interests involved are so huge that it is impossible for Datong Bank to take them all.

"The Tatar tribe will be divided into several large ranches, and several new large farms will be built, all of which will be owned by Datong Money House. As for the rest, how to build government offices and divide the Tatar part into several prefectures will require a charter from the cabinet!" Li Qiang replied indifferently.

"Shouldn't the land be returned to the Ministry of Revenue?" University Scholar Tian insisted.

"Then according to what Tanakatang said, the huge amount of military expenditure spent by Datong Money House was in vain?" Li Qiang asked back.

"Your Majesty, the Datong Bank belongs to you. You are the emperor of Daqian, and all the land in the world belongs to you. Why do you want to fight with the people for land?" Grand Secretary Tian said bluntly.

"No land in the world belongs to me. Even the land I conquered with my own money and private army is being snatched away by you!" Li Qiang said coldly. Tian Daxueshi's face changed, and he lowered his head and dared not speak again.

Throughout the court, the ministers who had wanted to speak before now lowered their heads and dared not look Li Qiang in the eye.

Li Qiang shook his head. In fact, he could now mobilize the souls of all the officials here and bind their loyalty through the "Mirror of Wind and Moon".

Because in the previous battle with Fairy Jinghuan, he killed a large number of flower masters, so the number of his flower master souls exceeded one thousand.

But he did not do so. The actions of officials in the court allowed him to see the shadow of the landlords and wealthy merchants of Daqian.

Although Tian Daxueshi said that the Tatar lands would be taken over by the Ministry of Revenue, maybe Tian Daxueshi was acting out of public interest, but if the Tatar lands were really taken over by the Ministry of Revenue, then what would follow would be a feast for the greedy.

Capable people from all sides will tear off a piece of Tatar land.

Including the civil servants in the court, their greed for land is ingrained in their bones and cannot be changed.

"I will chop off the claws of anyone who dares to lay a hand on this land I have conquered!" Li Qiang continued.

A terrifying murderous intent enveloped the entire hall. The civil officials felt their legs trembling, and even some of the military officers began to shake.

Only those military officers who had experienced the battlefield for a long time dared to face this murderous intent, but they also showed horror on their faces.

Li Qiang quickly withdrew his murderous intention. He didn't want to kill all the officials. He just wanted to give them a warning.

It was not until then that the civil officials remembered that Emperor Li Qiang did not rely on the Daqian army, but only relied on his own private army to destroy the Tatar country.

But they wanted to gain the benefit of destroying the country from such an emperor.

"Lin Zhongtang, you are responsible for formulating the regional division of the Tatar tribe and planning the dispatch of officials!" Li Qiang instructed Lin Ruhai.

"I obey your order!" Lin Ruhai bowed and responded.

"Let's continue the meeting!" Li Qiang continued.

The court meeting resumed its normal course, but the atmosphere of this meeting was very tense.

After Academician Tian returned to the queue, his face looked very heavy.

The fact that Li Qiang issued orders directly to Lin Ruhai meant that he, as the cabinet minister, had fallen out of favor.

If we rely on the ranking of the cabinet, Grand Secretary Tian would be the first. If Emperor Li Qiang has something to instruct the cabinet, he should propose it to Grand Secretary Tian.

Li Qiang deliberately skipped Grand Secretary Tian, ​​which showed her distrust of Grand Secretary Tian.

If it were the emperors of the past, even if the emperor did not trust him, it would have little to do with the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet. The Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet could restrain the emperor to a certain extent.

It is also difficult for the emperor to control a cabinet minister, because there is a huge interest group behind the cabinet minister.

But Li Qiang is different. With Li Qiang's control over Daqian's army and the wealth in his hands, even if he fired all the cabinet officials, it would not have any huge impact on Daqian.

The most they could do was to replace a group of officials from top to bottom. Anyway, with a strong army and enough money, Daqian would not be in chaos.

The court meeting ended hastily and the ministers left one after another.

Lin Ruhai hesitated for a moment, but still walked towards the Daming Palace.

In the main hall of the Daming Palace, Li Qiang met with Lin Ruhai.

"Are you here to plead for Tanaka-do?" Li Qiang asked with a smile.

"Lord Tian is loyal and dedicated to his work. He has always been a model official!" Lin Ruhai said with a bow.

"Tanakatang is not young anymore. Give him a message and let him return to his hometown and retire with dignity!" Li Qiang said, shaking his head.

Although Academician Tian is very capable, his influence among officials is too great, and Li Qiang does not want such an official.

Besides, Lin Ruhai has grown up now and can completely replace Scholar Tian.

Li Qiang had been waiting for this day for a long time. Since she sent Lin Ruhai into the cabinet, it was for him to take over the control of the cabinet from Tian Daxueshi.

"Can't you think about it again?" Lin Ruhai advised.

"One should be loyal to the emperor while eating his salary. Tian Zhongtang also considers the interests of other officials in this matter. The court can no longer tolerate him!" Although Li Qiang spoke softly, her tone was very serious.

The denial of "I should be loyal to my emperor and eat his salary" was only said in private. If it were said publicly, Grand Secretary Tian would probably have no choice but to die to atone for his sin.

"Oh!" Seeing that he couldn't persuade him, Lin Ruhai could only sigh helplessly.

"The cabinet is busy with affairs, and the Tatar tribe needs to send officials in as soon as possible. Also, have the Ministry of War send 200,000 troops to the Tatar tribe, including 100,000 troops to surround the Tatar Sacred Mountain!" Li Qiang ordered again.

"There are gods in the Tatar Sacred Mountain!" Lin Ruhai reminded.

"A group of gods who live on their believers. Now all their believers have been driven away by me. What do they count for? I will go there myself when the time comes!" Li Qiang said disdainfully.

The Venerable of the Tatar Sacred Mountain and the Daqian Immortal are two different kinds of immortals. Although the Daqian Immortal also enters the world, he will not come into contact with the government.

The venerable of the sacred mountain of Tatar, for the sake of faith, cultivated religion and used religion to control government affairs in order to achieve his own goals.

Li Qiang didn't have any good way to deal with the Daqian Immortal, but he did have a way to deal with the Tatar Venerable.

Lin Ruhai accepted the task and left. Li Qiang was also thinking about the cabinet. After the absence of Grand Secretary Tian, ​​the new cabinet Grand Secretary must be cautious.

Li Qiang stretched out his hand and a small divine beast with a red body appeared in the void.

Since the skill of 'Summoning Divine Beast' cannot put away the divine beast, the divine beast has always been following him.

He would even follow him to court. It was understandable for the emperor to keep a pet, but bringing him to court was a bit too much.

So Li Qiang used a little trick, always leaving the divine beast not far away and using the "group invisibility technique" to make it invisible.

Before meeting Lin Ruhai, Li Qiang did the same thing and made the divine beast invisible.

"Maybe after some time, I'll fight together with you!" Li Qiang murmured as he gently stroked the beast's head.

Facing the Venerable of the Tatar Sacred Mountain will be another major battle after his battle with Fairy Jinghuan.

But he did not feel much pressure. He had dealt with the Tatar Venerable before. The Fifth Venerable was killed by him. Although there was suspicion of a sneak attack that time, the fact that the sneak attack was successful showed that the Venerable was not scary.

Think about Fairy Jinghuan, who is impossible to launch a sneak attack on. She is the most terrifying opponent.

(End of this chapter)