Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 406 Dali Temple (Special thanks to the book friend Zhijian Lanmingyue for his 2 monthly tickets!)

On June 15, the 31st year of Kaixi, there was an early morning court session.

The Prime Minister and Minister of War Zhang Qixian came out and said:
“Your Majesty, since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of War has sent a regiment of Longxiang troops to garrison the newly acquired territory of Ghazni, and the remaining Longxiang troops available for dispatch have almost been used up.

Now, the two major armies of the Longxiang Army of our Great Zhou have surrounded Bukhara, the capital of the Samanid Empire, and they are about to capture it. It will only take this year to occupy the entire territory of the Samanid Empire. I am afraid that the garrison troops will not be enough by then.

Only Your Majesty can see clearly. "

Chai Zongxun pondered.

The war between the Great Zhou and the Star Sect's world coalition has been going on for five years since the twenty-seventh year of Kaixi.

After conquering Bukhara and destroying the Samanid Dynasty, the most powerful among the Star Religion countries, the victory of the Great Zhou Empire was almost certain.

In subsequent battles, I believe that the advantages of the Great Zhou army will become more and more obvious, and the pace of conquering cities and seizing territories will also accelerate.

In the future, how to consolidate the rule of these newly conquered Star Christian territories in Central and West Asia will become an increasingly important political issue.

Chai Zongxun roughly estimated that the number of troops stationed in these places was about four corps.

Chai Zongxun said:

"Minister Wang, how is the growth momentum of our Great Zhou's treasury tax revenue this year?"

Minister of Revenue Wang Dan came out and said:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the national treasury's tax revenue from the first five months of this year has reached 410 million taels.

Among them, domestic tax revenue increased by about 10% compared with last year, while maritime trade tax revenue increased by 60%. It is believed that with the rapid growth of trade volume on routes to India and the Arab world by private maritime traders, the annual treasury tax revenue this year will exceed 900 million taels of silver.

If there is no other sudden increase in expenditure, the treasury surplus this year will be more than 1 million taels."

Chai Zongxun nodded slightly and said:

"Now, the victory of our Great Zhou's war against the coalition forces of the Star Sect is almost certain!

Taxes at home and abroad were increasing substantially. Since the nation's military strength was insufficient, an imperial decree was issued to recruit 550,000 young men aged 16 to 18 across the nation to form the 21st to 25th Corps of the Longxiang Army.

The number of the Imperial Guards is a little insufficient now, so we will select 100,000 elite soldiers from these 550,000 soldiers to join the Imperial Guards."

After the imperial edict was issued, young people of appropriate age from prefectures and cities across the country signed up enthusiastically, especially from economically underdeveloped areas that had been incorporated into the Great Zhou territory in the past decade, as Longxiong soldiers received a monthly salary of up to five taels and received generous pensions and support silver if they died in battle or were disabled, which meant that the soldiers' families had no worries.

In just two months, 450,000 soldiers had been recruited. In October of the 31st year of Kaixi, they rushed to Bianliang from all over the country and began strict training in the Longxiang military camp.

In mid-June of the 31st year of Kaixi, the temperature in Bianjing gradually became hot. Chai Zongxun saw that there was no trouble in the country and the government was in good order, so he decided to lead the imperial family on a tour to escape the summer heat. He first went to Luoyang in Song State for an inspection, and then went north to the cool climate in Liugufan and Hexi Corridor.

At lunch on June 18th, Chai Zongxun announced his decision to go on tour. Empress Dowager Fu, Empress Fu, the Fifth Empress, and other concubines were all very happy to hear it.

Fu Zhenzhen smiled and said:
"Your Majesty, we have not seen the grandson since the birth of the King of Song. This tour is a good opportunity to visit Tai'er."

The fifth Chaolu said:
"Your Majesty, Yu'er has begged me before: next time I go on an outing, he wants to go with me.

I wonder if His Majesty will allow Yuer to go on this trip to the northwest."

It turned out that since the last time Chai Zongxun led the imperial family on a trip and left Crown Prince Chai Jiyu as regent, the Angkor warships attacked the Zhou merchant ships. Chai Jiyu chose to handle the matter cautiously and ordered private merchant ships not to go to the South China Sea for the time being.

Although Chai Zongxun did not express his dissatisfaction with the prince after returning to Beijing, "too much talk will only lead to trouble, it is better to keep to the middle." The fewer opportunities for the regent to handle state affairs, the fewer opportunities to make mistakes and displease his father. Therefore, after discussion, the mother and son decided to travel with Chai Zongxun in the future.

Chai Zongxun understood in a moment and said:
"Yu'er is going to accompany me on the tour. It will enhance the relationship among the imperial family, which is also a good thing. I will arrange the affairs of state."

A few days later, Chai Zongxun summoned all the cabinet members and the chief eunuch Tang Qi, and after explaining everything to them, he planned to lead all members of the imperial family on a tour from Bian Jing on June 26, the 31st year of Kaixi.

On the afternoon of the day before departure, when Chai Zongxun was reading memorials from the "Local Worthies Bureau" in various places in the Yangxin Palace, the Minister of Rites Kou Zhun asked for a meeting.

After the greetings and a few words of small talk, Kou Zhun said:

"Your Majesty is about to go on a tour with the imperial family, and you are in high spirits. I happened to learn of something that concerns your Majesty's reputation, but I don't know whether I should report it to your Majesty."

Kou Zhun was a few years younger than Chai Zongxun. He was an upright and noble man, and was diligent in his work. Since he returned to Beijing from his diplomatic mission to the Eastern Roman Empire, he had always been favored by Chai Zongxun.

Chai Zongxun laughed and scolded:

"Lord Kou, since you have said that this is a matter concerning my reputation, why are you still being so hesitant?
Report to me in detail immediately!"

Kou Zhun said:
"Yes.

Your Majesty, I recently heard that at the beginning of this year, the Dali Temple tried two cases of corruption involving local officials.

One incident was when Zuji was the governor of Jinzhou, he illegally accepted bribes, accepted money from local big businessmen, and attacked and persecuted businessmen and workshop owners who did not bribe, accumulating wealth of tens of thousands.

After the Dali Temple tried the case, it sentenced Zuji to be beheaded in public and his property to be confiscated in accordance with the "Da Zhou Criminal Code". His family members who participated in taking bribes with him were sentenced to exile to the Northern Ming Dynasty.

Another case was that of Wang Huai, the governor of Qizhou. His crime was similar to that of Zuji, and the amount of property he received was no less than that of Zuji.

However, after the trial at the Dali Temple, Wang Huai was sentenced to 20 strokes of the cane and demoted. The 20 strokes of the cane were carried out at Wang Huai's home by his family. Not long after Wang Huai was demoted, he was reinstated this year.

Having said this, Kou Zhun stopped talking.

Chai Zongxun was furious and said:
"Such an unfair judgment will make people who know about this think that my court is a corrupt court that appoints people based on personal connections and has a dark judicial system!

No wonder Lord Kou said, "It concerns my reputation!"
Who is this Wang Huai?
What is the relationship between him and Dali Temple Minister Wang Mian? "

Kou Zhun said:
"Your Majesty is wise! This Dali Temple Minister Wang Mian is Wang Huai's biological brother."

Chai Zongxun slammed the table in anger and said:
"Immediately summon Wang Mian to come with the files of these two people!"

Tang Qi, the chief eunuch standing behind Chai Zongxun, was about to leave the hall to make arrangements, but Chai Zongxun stopped him and said:

"Call the Minister of Personnel Li Hang as well!"

After Tang Qi agreed, he quickly walked out of the hall to make arrangements, and dozens of Wudesi soldiers strode away.

In a moment, Li Hang and Wang Mian were brought to the Hall of Mental Cultivation from the Cabinet and the Dali Temple in the front yard of the imperial palace respectively.

After greeting, Chai Zongxun said coldly:

"Show me the files of Zuji and Wang Huai."

Wang Mian hurriedly presented the two people's files he brought with him, and Tang Qi walked down the jade steps to take them back.

After reading carefully, Chai Zongxun found that although the wording and tone of the two men's files were very different, the crimes they committed were largely similar. Wang Huai embezzled more silver, and his persecution of law-abiding merchants was even worse.

(End of this chapter)