From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 480

On the ninth day of the eleventh month, Datong welcomed the first snow of the year, accompanied by strong winds, freezing cold, and making it difficult to move.

It seemed that the world did not want Zhou Yuan to go north.

But the plan was set, and there was no room for maneuver.

A total of 120 carriages set out from Datong Town and headed towards Xuanfu.

In the heavy snow, Zhou Yuan did not enter the carriage to rest, but sat on the horse's back and led the way.

Li Yu'an rode a horse and walked side by side with him.

As the wind and snow hit her face, she shouted, "There's a stove and hot tea in the carriage, why do you have to suffer like this?"

Zhou Yuan said, "I'm not that cold with the protection of the Pure Yang Wuji Gong. There are so many difficulties and obstacles along the way. I must lead by example to inspire everyone's fighting spirit and keep going."

"Sister Saint, do you want to rest in the carriage for a while?"

Li Yu'an smiled and said, "You have the Pure Yang Wuji Gong to protect you, so I don't have the Taoism to protect me? To be honest, even if I'm naked in this icy and snowy place, this Saint is not afraid of the cold."

Zhou Yuan said, "Really? Then you take off your clothes. Let's try it. "

Li Yu'an narrowed her eyes and said, "Of course I dare, but do you dare to allow me?"

"Don't dare..."

Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said, "You are the mother of my future child. I dare not let you do this."

Li Yu'an looked at the vast expanse of white in front of her, but couldn't help laughing and said loudly, "When I was a child in the palace, my mother carried me out to play on snowy days. I like snow very much and have been riding horses since I was a child. Now I think about it, it seems like yesterday."

"It's a pity that my mother is gone, my father is gone, and I am the only one left in the Li family."

The wind was too strong, and her voice was a little faint.

Zhou Yuan shouted, "Sister Virgin, stop being sentimental. One generation replaces another. There will always be a time for replacement. I am not following Master's way of forgetting emotions, but I believe that people should always look forward."

"Be optimistic. We are heading north in the snow and wind. We are going to the coldest place in the world in the freezing cold. All this will not be in vain."

"As the saying goes, those who work hard will be rewarded. One day, the glaciers will melt and spring will come."

Li Yu'an said, "I can't argue with you, so I listen to you."

The two looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the Golden Palace in the Shenjing Palace was quite heavy.

Yang Guozhong's tone was very calm, but there was also an inexplicable depression.

"Wu Dingzhong and Pang Lixing are marching very fast and have already reached Tianjin. They will rest for a day before heading to Shanhaiguan to join Qiu Huan's army."

"Adding the 40,000 troops originally stationed at Shanhaiguan, there will be 200,000 troops stationed there."

No one will be happy with this number. 200,000 sounds like a lot, but it almost drains all the forces that the northern part of the Great Jin can mobilize. If they lose again, what will happen to the capital?

At that time, they can only move the capital.

But the capital is a city with a population of one million, countless industries, countless treasures and gold and silver. Who would be willing to move the capital?

The key is that if the national prestige is lost, the Great Jin court will soon lose its ruling power over the people below, and by then, the governors of various places will probably become warlords.

The Great Jin will also be at the time of collapse.

"Wu Dingzhong and Pang Lixing sent a letter asking for 4 million taels of silver in military expenses to provide relief to soldiers, replenish supplies, and stabilize the morale of the army."

When saying this, Yang Guozhong's face became extremely ugly.

Prince Fu sat high up, his face almost distorted, and shouted: "We just raised 1.2 million taels for them the day before yesterday, and they still need military expenses? Where can I find them for them!"

He looked at Liu Jing and shouted: "Lord Liu, as the Minister of Revenue, don't you have any solution?"

Liu Jing said with a sullen face: "Your Highness, the Ministry of Revenue is a place to manage silver, not a place to produce silver. The treasury is empty, and I am also a good cook without rice. "

Prince Fu said: "Everyone, think of a way. Shanhaiguan cannot be lost! If Shanhaiguan is lost, the capital will not be saved."

"By then, even if the garrisons in various places come to defend the king, they will need funds!"

The ministers looked at each other and sighed. If there was really a way, it would not have been dragged to this point.

When Prince Fu saw this scene, he felt angry and couldn't breathe for a while. Since Nurhaci came with the whole country, he almost didn't sleep well.

The south is defeated, the north is defeated, and money needs to be distributed everywhere. If this continues, the country will be destroyed.

Thinking of this, he gritted his teeth and said, "If it doesn't work, increase taxes! Increase taxes in all provinces across the country and collect 10 million taels of silver. I don't believe that with this money, we can't stop the Eastern Tartars."

Liu Jing's face changed drastically and he said immediately, "Your Highness, this is absolutely impossible. The Jin Dynasty has been in chaos for two years.The disaster has just passed, and the people's lives have not improved. It has only been a year since the two Jiangs returned to peace. Adding more taxes will push the people to a dead end! "

"Once this order is issued, I am afraid that there will be rebel armies everywhere, and every province will have a Zhang Bailong!"

"By then, with internal and external troubles, my Great Jin will really not be able to hold on."

Fu Wang couldn't help but yelled: "This won't work, that won't work, what can I do? Can I still conjure up silver!"

"As the Minister of Revenue, you should think of a way for me, otherwise I will hold you accountable!"

Many ministers looked at each other, but just sighed softly.

Liu Jing felt aggrieved, smiled coldly, and said: "Your Highness, the Regent, I do have a way."

"When the country is peaceful and the merchants are making money, when the country is in danger, those merchants should also stand up to support the court. ”

“When Zhou Yuan went to the Central Plains, he relied on the help of Shanxi merchants, who provided more than 2 million shi of grain.”

“Now that Shanxi merchants are gone and Chaozhou merchants are being plundered by the Portuguese, we can ask Zhejiang merchants for money.”

King Fu’s eyes lit up and he couldn’t help but say, “What a good idea! Go on!”

Liu Jing said, “Zhejiang merchants sell private salt and make huge profits. The wealth of the major families is more than one million. The eight major families, each family pays 500,000 taels of silver, which is 4 million.”

King Fu stood up excitedly and said anxiously, “Yes, these merchants usually make huge profits, and it’s time to reimburse the court!”

“The cabinet immediately issued an order, ordering the eight major Zhejiang merchant families to collect 4 million taels of silver within five days and quickly transport it to the capital. The sooner the better, otherwise I will punish them.”

Yang Guozhong said, “Your Majesty, merchants make profits, but they pay taxes! The profits after paying taxes belong to their respective properties. If the court forcibly takes them, it may cause a backlash from the noble families! "

King Fu sneered: "Backlash? Ha! The court is in a desperate situation, why would they rebound? Issue an order immediately!"

The heavy morning court finally ended at noon.

All officials who walked out of the Golden Palace felt a bone-chilling chill.

Today's wind and snow are too strong.

Categories such as Deng Bochi, Xu Shigong, Zeng Cheng and Wang Lun came to the cabinet and saw Yang Guozhong who was in deep thought.

The five cabinet ministers looked at each other and couldn't help but sigh and shook their heads.

Yang Guozhong said: "Get ready, please ask His Majesty to return to Beijing."

Deng Bochi said coldly: "As the regent, King Fu is too irresponsible. Today he forced Liu Jing, and he will force us another day. ”

Xu Shigong said: "Liu Jing almost got into trouble today. If he hadn't come up with the Zhejiang Merchants method, with Prince Fu's recent temper, he would probably have killed someone."

Zeng Cheng slapped the table and said loudly: "It's not that there haven't been difficult times before. Last year, Zhang Bailong in the Central Plains became powerful, Cheng Ping and Han Tuo in Liangjiang rebelled, and the court was about to collapse. Her Majesty took on the responsibility alone, never blamed the court officials, and finally solved the problem."

"Prince Fu doesn't have the bearing of a king, let alone the responsibility of a sage monarch. He doesn't deserve to sit on the throne."

"I agree with the decision of Lord Yang. It's time to welcome back Her Majesty the Queen."

Yang Guozhong sighed: "It's not my decision. As early as the day before yesterday, the nobles and the royal family had found me and asked our cabinet to abolish the regent and bring back the sage monarch. "

Xu Shigong looked up, his face full of surprise, then he shook his head and said, "It's time to do this. The royal family can't sit still. They are afraid that the Chen family will collapse, and they are also afraid that their only family property will be plundered by Prince Fu."

Deng Bochi said, "Once the money of Zhejiang merchants is taken, the noble families in the world can't sit still. Who knows if the next knife will be cut on their necks?"

"Prince Fu has been deserted by his relatives and friends. This farce of the regent should end."

"If it doesn't end, the Great Jin will really perish!"

Yang Guozhong sighed faintly, "Then it's settled. During this time, I will organize and prepare to welcome His Majesty back to Beijing."