The Jagged Cavalry of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 697 Chapter 696 The treasury is empty again
"Get up and talk!" Zhang Yanlang said.

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Yan Pu stood up slowly from the ground, kept his head down, not daring to look directly at him, and the hall was full of Chao Wen Wu, which made him even more nervous.

"Zhang Lu relied on five buckets of rice, pretending to be gods and ghosts, and has ruled Hanzhong for many years. He has never had any contact with the court. Why did he suddenly send you here this time?" .

Yan Pu panicked and said: "Your Highness, I have clearly found out that my lord did not rule Hanzhong separately, but because of the chaos in Guanzhong and the impassable roads. It was not intentional that he did not want to communicate with the imperial court. Moreover, Xichuan Liu Zhang has always had an arrogance. If my lord hadn't recruited troops in Hanzhong, he would have Guarding the pass, I am afraid that Liu Zhang will lead his army out of Hanzhong and enter Chang'an early in the morning. My lord not only did not separatize Hanzhong, but defended a piece of land for the imperial court, the imperial court should reward him."

As soon as the words fell, the many ministers present all looked sneering after listening.It is an indisputable fact that Zhang Lu separatized Hanzhong, blocked major traffic routes, and cut off contact with the imperial court. How did it become so great when it came to Yan Pu's mouth.

Yang Biao, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, was the Taiwei of the imperial court in the past, and he even experienced the turmoil in Guanzhong, and finally followed Emperor Xian all the way back to this place. He knows everything about Zhang Lu in Hanzhong very well.After listening to Yan Pu's words, he was so angry that he didn't want to vent his anger, and he didn't care about the face of any important court officials, so he stood up, pointed at Yan Pu and cursed loudly: "Nonsense! It is an indisputable fact that Lu separated Hanzhong. When I was a captain in Chang'an, I sent people to Hanzhong, but Zhang Lu kicked him out. He refused to accept the appointment of the imperial court. Is this what a courtier should do? Moreover, Zhang Lu even called him "King of Han Ning". He and Liu Zhang attacked each other out of personal grievances. How did it get into your mouth? On the contrary, Zhang Lu has become upright? You are such a glib and gossip person, you dare to speak boldly in front of the regent, and you are not afraid that the wind will flash your tongue..."

Yang Biao was really out of breath. When the court was in crisis, Zhang Lu, the prefect of Hanzhong, was the closest to Chang’an City. He once sent people to Hanzhong to ask for help, hoping that Zhang Lu would send troops to rescue him. The people he sent out were beaten severely, blocked the roads, cut off contact with the court, and often pretended to be King Hanning, as if they were traitors.

Yang Biao was still criticizing Yan Pu endlessly, and Yan Pu's face also felt that there was no glory. After being scolded so hard by Yang Biao, there was no room for him to stand on, and he wished to find a crack in the ground to get in again. not coming out.

The officials at the side saw it, and they were all happy. They never expected that Yang Biao, who has always been good-tempered and very rested, would also scold and fight.Moreover, Yang Biao's swearing is also very characteristic. Most of them are citing scriptures, and there is not a single dirty word in the swearing. He is worthy of being a master of Confucianism.At the same time, everyone was able to experience how powerful Yang Biao is. If they want to offend him in the future, they still need to weigh themselves, whether they can bear Yang Biao's scolding.

"Okay, okay, Yang Shangshu, enough is enough!" Zhang Yan saw that Yan Pu had been scolded by Yang Biao so badly that he had nowhere to hide. He opened his mouth and blocked the way.

The anger accumulated in Yang Biao's heart was perfectly released today. Although the release was not thorough enough, the regent Zhang Yan had already spoken, so he didn't dare to say anything more. He obediently closed his mouth and retreated to his original position. He was sitting on the seat, but his chest was still heaving and rising, and the range was relatively large. It could be seen that Yang Biao was too excited.

At this time, Zhang Yan asked again: "I'll ask you again, what did Zhang Lu send you here for?"

Yan Pu lost all confidence at this time, and felt even more uneasy, and said slowly: "My lord sent me here to surrender to the regent..."

"You are still not honest, are you? Well then! Back then, your lord dared to expel the court envoys and cut off contact with the court. This king can do the same. If you don't tell the truth again, get out immediately and go back and tell your lord , take a good bath, and when my army arrives, he will be ready to kill him!"

Yan Pu knelt down on the ground with a "plop", quickly kowtowed to Zhang Yan and said, "I said, I said, Regent, I will say it all."

"Say!"

"Zhang Lu sent me here to take this opportunity to let the regent send troops to Hanzhong to help him attack Yizhou and deal with Zhang Fei!"

"Who are you talking about? Zhang Fei? Zhang Fei is in Yizhou?" Zhang Yan asked intentionally.

Yan Pu nodded heavily, and then told the whole story.

After the ministers heard this, they all felt incredible. They never expected that Zhang Fei, who was wanted by the whole country and had become a bereaved dog, actually ran to Yizhou, and also captured Yizhou in a short period of time, becoming the lord of Yizhou , This is really incredible.

There was an uproar in the hall, and all the ministers began to discuss. At this time, Yang Biao, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, said loudly: "Your Highness, Zhang Fei fled to Yizhou as a traitor and became the lord of Yizhou. Regardless of how he occupied Yizhou If he is allowed to gain a firm foothold in Yizhou, the risk of Yizhou may allow him to settle in a corner, which will be extremely detrimental to the unification of our great Han country. Moreover, Guanzhong, Jingzhou, and Jiaozhou must be on guard everywhere, and they will be even more hostile to us in the future. The big man poses a huge threat. I believe that we should immediately take corresponding measures, dispatch troops, and kill Zhang Fei in the cradle when Zhang Fei's foothold in Yizhou is not stable, so as to ensure that my big man's foundation will last forever!"

"Now the world is about to be stabilized, only the southwest has not yet been pacified, and our army has just returned in triumph. Why not take advantage of this time to lead the victorious army and point the sword to the southwest. As long as Yizhou is pacified, the world will return to the embrace of the big man. The unification of the whole country is what the people want!" said Tian Feng, the left servant of the Ministry of War.

Then, the rest of the people also suggested sending troops to crusade against Zhang Fei and pacify the southwest.

Zhang Yan glanced at Chen Qun, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, but saw that Chen Qun was frowning and worried, so he asked: "Chen Shangshu thinks it is feasible to send troops to attack Zhang Fei at this time?"

Chen Qun said: "To the Regent, it is said that soldiers are precious and fast. At this time, the victorious army is pointing its sword to the southwest. It is very appropriate to destroy Zhang Fei's rebel when he is not stable. It stands to reason that the humble minister should agree. It is. But..."

"Don't hesitate, just say what you have!" Seeing that Chen Qun was hesitating and haggling, Zhang Yan asked.

Chen Qun said "Hey" and continued: "As the Minister of the Household Department, I am in charge of the Household Department. When His Highness raised troops to attack Sun Quan, he spent a huge amount of money and food. After the siege of the city, all that was left was devastation. The post-war recovery in various places was slow. Taxes were either reduced or exempted. The treasury was already unable to make ends meet. Army rations?"

After Zhang Yan heard this, he took a deep breath and asked hastily, "Why is the treasury empty again? What about the money from the sale of houses, land, and titles before this king?"

Chen Qun said: "Those have been spent a long time ago, and in order to build the new capital, it cost a huge sum of money. In addition, funds have to be allocated to various places for post-war recovery, as well as the military salary and ration support for the Southern Expedition. Now it is already three dollars. Taxes after the year."

Zhang Yan was surprised, and suddenly, like a deflated balloon, he sat down on the seat, limp like a puddle of mud.War really depends on national power, and this southern expedition, although Sun Quan was eliminated, did not gain any benefits. Today's Jiangnan is not as developed and rich as the south after the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Today's Jiangnan is more The undeveloped wasteland has less than a quarter of the population in the north.

Without money, it is difficult to move an inch, and the story of a penny beating up a hero has once again reappeared in Zhang Yan.

There have been several times when the national treasury was empty before, but each time Zhang Yan could think of a good way to raise funds, but this time, he really had no choice but to use all the tricks he could think of. Well, now Jiang Lang is exhausted, and I can't think of a single idea.

"Although the national treasury is empty, Zhang Fei has to get rid of it. If you miss this opportunity, it will be even more difficult if you want to wipe it out in the future." Jushou, the right servant of the Ministry of War, said, "I am willing to donate all my family property. Raise military pay for the country, support the crusade against Yizhou, and pacify the world!"

Tian Feng, the left servant of the Ministry of War, also echoed: "I am also willing to donate all my family property as military salary for the use of the army!"

Hearing Tian Feng and Jushou's words suddenly, Zhang Yan felt a little moved, because he knew very well what Tian Feng and Jushou were, and Tian Feng and Jushou were forced by him to become the left and right servants of the Ministry of War Yes, and the two of them have always been clean and honest, even their residence in Pengcheng was rewarded by Zhang Yan, even if they donated all their property, how much money would they have?
However, the generosity of Tian Feng and Ju Shou brought an opportunity. Zhang Yan seemed to see a little hope that he could raise donations among the officials!
Yes, it's fundraising!

Therefore, Zhang Yandao: "I have accepted the wishes of the two adults, but you only have so little property in Pengcheng. After you donate all of it, where will you and your family live? Even if you don't think about yourself, you have to think about it Family members, think about it. If you really want to donate money, do what you can, and don’t be too impulsive. However, the two adults gave me an idea. I want to organize a donation in the city. The annual salary of the ministers It’s quite a lot, and if everyone can cut down on food and clothing and reduce expenditure a little, after the donations, maybe they can still make up for the army’s salary for this Western Expedition.”

As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, everyone's faces were filled with embarrassment, and there were only a very small number of people who openly expressed their willingness to donate property, and what these people donated was only a drop in the bucket.

Seeing this, Zhang Yan was quite disappointed.And Yan Pu, who was standing in the hall, was also worried. He didn't know until now that the Han court under Zhang Yan's rule had already been strong from the outside, and couldn't even pay for the Western Expedition, and had to rely on ministers to collect donations. Overrated The Regent.

There was no sound in the hall, and Zhang Yan was even more frowning. He glanced at Yan Pu standing in the hall, and said, "You can see it too, it's not that this king doesn't help you, it's because the treasury is empty, and this king can't afford any money." Money is here to help you. I have an army, but I don’t have military pay and rations. If your lord is willing to help me with some military pay and rations, maybe I can send a team to Yizhou to help you eliminate Zhang Fei. But now Well... well, you should go back and tell your master the actual situation here!"

Yan Pu nodded, bowed to Zhang Yan, and then said, "Resignation!"

After Yan Pu left, Zhang Yan was about to leave, but Chen Qun, Minister of the Household Department, suddenly said, "Your Highness, please stay!"

Zhang Yan turned his head and asked, "What else?"

Chen Qun said: "Please forgive me, Your Highness. I lied in front of Yan Pu just now. In fact, the treasury is very full. Your Highness can gather an army to launch a western expedition at any time!"

Zhang Yan and all the ministers looked at Chen Qun in surprise, Zhang Yan asked: "You... what do you mean?"

(End of this chapter)