Drunken Exquisiteness

Before the freezing of the river in the cold winter, the official ships responsible for escorting the thirty-six prefectures of the celestial dynasty arrived in Tiandu one after another. One more month will be the Spring Festival. At this time in previous years, the courts and the public must be a little busy and happy, just because the annual gift is the last major event of the year, now it has reached the Tiandu smoothly. If you are busy for a few days, you can seal it. Receiving the reward, it’s been an auspicious year in comfort.

Qi Shang entered the Zhiyuan Hall with a memorial of the Nian Fu, and the emperor was discussing with Si Weiyun, and Chu Yuanjing, who was now the prince of the left capital, was also by his side. Si Weiyun had just been ordered to rush back to Tiandu from Huzhou and entered the examination department. He has been supervising several major water conservancy projects in Xishu and Jiangzuo, and his estimated accounts are not inaccurate, and he is rigorous and upright, with perseverance, and he is the best candidate to check the deficit. Ye Tianling transferred him back to Tiandu this time, but he planned to reuse it.

Hearing that it was the performance of the Nian Fu, Si Weiyun felt it was very timely. The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Industry have just presented the memorial, a list of the winter needs of the frontier army this year, and the budget of the Zhaoning Temple, plus the awards of officials at all levels at the end of the year and the sixteen prefectures of northern Xinjiang. Nearly ten million dollars are waiting to be used. Now that the annual income has reached the Tiandu, these are not enough to worry about. There is also room for buffering the deficit in the inventory, and it can be discussed in the long term.

While Ye Tianling was talking to Si Weiyun, he accepted the report from Yan Xi: "It's better to take advantage of this year..." At the end of the speech, he suddenly stopped, his eyes stopped at "Nine Hundred "Three hundred thousand".

Qi Shang stood on the lower side with his head down, and after a while of silence, he felt a cold gaze falling in front of him. Even though he had been prepared, his heart was still cold.

Ye Tianling read the report from the beginning again, silently picking the corners of his lips, as if a faint smile appeared. Both Si Weiyun and Chu Yuanjing were former officials of the Ling Palace, and they knew the emperor's temper. Seeing his expressions, he knew something was wrong.

Ye Tianling held the report in his palm, and looked at Qi Shang's third-grade official uniform with a purple robe and jade belt: "Qi Shang, how many years have you been a householder?"

Qi Shang replied cautiously: "The minister was transferred to the household department in 22nd year of Shengwu, and it has been five years since he was appointed as the household minister in 23 years."

"You tell me what was your annual gift last year?"

"Back to the emperor, thirty-six thousand four hundred and twenty thousand."

"The year before last."

"Four thousand and five hundred thousand."

"Then I want to hear your reasons for today's 9.3 million annual gift." Before the imperial case, the emperor casually left the memorial aside and asked indifferently.

Si Weiyun and Chu Yuanjing were taken aback at the same time. No one expected that this year's annual gift was just a fraction of previous years. The annual income has always been the main source of finance for the next year. In this way, the treasury is completely empty. Both of them invariably thought that the people of the King Zhan faction had never come forward except Qi Shang who led the Hubu Shangshu in the collection of the annual taxes. This is the result now.

Facing such a question, Qi Shang had been prepared for a long time, bowed his head and said: "Your Majesty, this year is a little different from previous years. The wars on both sides of the Northwest are beginning to be settled. Your Majesty is sympathetic to the people, and his grace has exempted many states from taxes. Xishu and North Xinjiang is the most important part of my taxation, and I have lost a half since then. Because of the frequent pirates in the East China Sea, the trade has not been smooth this year, and this tax has been reduced a lot."

This is naturally the reason, but even so, the seven states on the left of the Guangjiang River should have at least 15 million tax dollars. It's not that there are no gifts this year, it's because they can't receive them, because they are not from King Cham. Ye Tianling smiled lightly and nodded: "These thoughts are completely moved, do you want to tell me next, if you don't have you to work together for the country, you may not have the 9.3 million?"

Qi Shang's vest suddenly became chilly, and when he raised his eyes, he was hitting the emperor's gaze like the vast sea, and his heart sank, and he felt like a foot in the air. The cold gaze in front of him was condescending, as if the slightest thought could not escape those eyes. The various excuses that he had thought before entering the hall came to his lips, but they couldn't say a word. Chu Yuanjing already bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the minister wants to participate in the Department of Household Shangshu and Qi Shang has neglected his duty, deceive the monarch!"

Qi Shang closed his eyes and sighed secretly. Unfortunately, Chu Yuanjing was here today, and the censors censored a hundred officials. The matter was sent to the door to impeach him. He lifted his robes and knelt down: "Chen, listen to me."

"Come on, bullying, how are you going to listen?" Ye Tianling asked casually.

Qi Shang was in a cold sweat, and the crime of deceiving the emperor could be big or small. If he really wants to sit down, he can't be an exaggeration. His throat was tight, and he said with difficulty: "The minister...The minister dare not deceive your majesty, please observe it carefully."

Ye Tianling's gaze fell on the memorial with the yellow silk-covered face. As expected, the first thing that moved was the Nian Fu. It was also clear how deep the power of the Cham Palace had become. He got up before the case, and the hall was extremely quiet for a while. At this time, the attendant in the hall looked at the gap where no one was talking, and came in carefully and said: "Your Majesty, Qing Lu Qian of Hongyou Temple begs to see you, saying that there is something urgent."

Ye Tianling looked up: "Xuan."

Lu Qian carried the scroll and silk book into the house. He didn't expect such a situation. He was quite surprised. He glanced at the Qi Shang who was kneeling there, and said in ceremonies: "Hongyou Temple has just received the Western Regions Books, please read it."

Yan Xi took the paper and read it, and Ye Tianling read the scroll, a faint light flashed across his eyes, and instantly sank into the bottom of the unfathomable abyss, his lips seemed to smile even more. He stepped down slowly: "Good means!"

Qi Shangshen lowered his head, and a black robe suddenly appeared in front of his eyes. The flowing cloud pattern on the silk was clearly visible. Leng Yu was swayed by the hanging ribbon of Qingdai near the ink, and the emperor stopped in front of him: "Look, It's all related to your household department."

A cool breath passed by the emperor's sleeve robe, Qi Shang hurriedly continued with both hands when he threw down the silk book, he didn't need to read it at all, he also knew the content. The celestial dynasty was able to make good relations with the countries of the Western Regions because of the strong financial support of the country. This time, in order to stabilize the northwest and suppress Tubo, it had negotiated with Khotan and other countries, and Xu gave heavy support. Now that the major powers of the Western Regions have entered into the letter of credence and asked the heavenly dynasty to fulfill their promises, this is a big deal, and it has a relationship with diplomatic relations. It is no better than the domestic affairs that can be discussed and postponed, which is already pressing.

Qi Shang almost didn't know what was written in the credential, but remembered what King Zhan had instructed, calmed his mind, resubmitted the credential, and bowed his head: "Your Majesty!"

Ye Tianling stood in front of the case with his hands indifferent, and his voice was indifferent, even somewhat dismissively arrogant: "Take this national book and go back and think about it. If you don't understand anything, you can ask King Zhan, everything about the Western Regions. He handles it personally, and he will definitely tell you how to prepare. If there is no solution after three days, you can go back to the mansion and wait for the crime!"

Qi Shang sweated through his heavy clothes, squatted out of the Zhiyuan Hall in panic, and walked out of the hall, his legs softened, and he almost sat down on the dragon steps. He held the hot national book tightly, took a deep breath, wiped his face in the cold wind, and hurried to Cham Palace.

There was silence inside and outside the Zhiyuan Hall, and Ye Tianling paced slowly before the case. He didn't speak, and no one dared to say anything. At this time, Wu Wei, the provincial supervisor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, entered the house to ask for a meeting, and presented a stack of volumes: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother has ordered the people to present these volumes of the Inner Court Secretary to the emperor."

Ye Tianling took one of the volumes and looked at it for a while, and asked, "What else did the queen say?"

Wu Wei said: "The mother said that if your majesty is free, please move to the inner court department, where the mother waits for the holy driver."

Ye Tianling saw that several volumes were records of silk stocks from the Inner Court Department, but did not know why Qing Chen had sent them. He turned around and said, "Go to the Inner Court Department."

When he arrived at the Inner Court Division, Ye Tianling repatriated everyone and walked inside alone.

Here is the silk storehouse of the Inner Court Division. Walking into the hall, there are hanging silks and satin everywhere. Look at the patterns, Baizhou's new satin, Meizhou's tribute silk, Huazhou's cloud silk... everything is available, all of which are ingenious and magnificent.

The afternoon sun faded through the long windows on the hanging silk brocade like clouds and mist, bright and gorgeous and ethereal intertwined and wandering, sprinkling floating bright light. The hall was so quiet that even my own footsteps were silent, and the silk and brocade of the hallway went deep into the hall, unable to see the end.

Ye Tianling walked a few steps, then suddenly stopped, with a small smile behind him, and someone encircled him from behind. Lan Gang lightly raised, and the familiar watery fragrance of Qing Chen floated to his side, and he pulled her out with his backhand: "You want to hide and seek with me?"

Qing Chen looked at him sideways, "It seems that the fourth brother is not in high spirits and is not in the mood to play with me."

Ye Tianling said: "Really average."

Qing Chen said: "Is it the credential of the Western Regions?"

Ye Tianling stretched out her hand and stroked the strand of hair hanging down the side of her face: "How do you know?"

Qing Chen said: "I went to the Zhiyuan Hall to look for you just now, and I heard that you were discussing with them, so I didn't go in. It must be the national book that bothered you, right?"

Ye Tianling's eyes were deep, and she looked at her quietly for a while: "It's not national affairs that bother me."

Qing Chen's eyes were slightly stagnant, and then he smiled relaxedly: "If it's housework, then it's easy to say anything."

Ye Tianling said lightly: "Really?"

Qing Chen put his arms around his waist and looked up at him for a moment: "Yes."

The cold luster in Ye Tianling's eyes flashed: "But if family affairs become national affairs, it may not be."

Qing Chen held his hand, "What if it is resolved?"

Ye Tianling said: "Do you know what is written in that book of the country?"

Qing Chen said: "I don't know how the credential was written, but I know how he negotiated with the countries of the Western Regions. Brother Si, look at the silk from the inner court, the silk from various tributes over the years, plus You have prepared millions of horses for rewarding concubines in the Sixth Palace."

Ye Tianling said, "So what?"

Qing Chen smiled: "You have rewarded me, are you reluctant?"

From the first day I saw her, Ye Tianling was always helpless with her smile like this, her thin lips pressed slightly, "I don't have a concubine in the six palaces to reward, if you want, why not yours? Also came to ask me specifically?"

Qing Chen raised his eyebrows lightly: "It's just because this matters to the treasury, brother, silk is also silver!"

Ye Tianling thought for a while, and probably understood what she meant: "You mean to send the silk stored in the inner court to the Western Regions to replace the property demanded by the countries?"

Who knows Qing Chen shook his head: "If this is the case, a piece of silk is only the price of a piece of silk. Even ordinary silk in my celestial dynasty is more expensive than gold once it comes out of Congling, let alone the top grade in the palace. The Western Regions are all occupied, what's the point?" She pulled up a crimson ruyi makeup and golden auspicious cloud silk brocade to Ye Tianling, "Look, these silks in the inner court are rare outside. Fine crafted satin, whichever one is worth giving out.” Ye Tianling listened with interest, her brows curled, revealing his usual mischievous appearance, “I want to turn these silks up a few times. Times the profit, but you want the fourth brother to be a villain."

Ye Tianling said: "Let's talk about it."

Qing Chen pulled up the brocade in his hand, looked at the beautiful patterns in the light, and said two words: "Zhei."

Ye Tianling paused and laughed: "In addition to the recovery of the deficit, the world officials really want to scold me for being merciless and merciless!" Even though he said that, his expression was nonchalant. As soon as Qing Chen let go, the warm brocade slipped into his hands: "Then there is an easier way."

"Oh?" Ye Tian Ling raised his eyebrows.

Qing Chen raised her hand in front of him, her sleeves dropped lightly, and the string of amethyst beads on her wrist, the crystal stones lined her snow-colored skin, and it was clear and bright in the sun. Ye Tianling narrowed her eyes slightly, holding the beads and pressing down her hand: "No need."

Qing Chenfeng squinted her eyes and looked at him: "Strong."

Ye Tianling smiled: "Relying on the ancestors and ancestors to protect the country, it is not a skill. This is nothing. Since they want to empty the treasury, they should fill it up by themselves. Those who have vacated three treasuries are more than enough. . I didn’t have a suitable excuse to lose money, so they sent it to the door, which is very good."

Qing Chen said: "It turns out that you have already planned. If you knew that I would not bother to think about it, then would you still do this wicked person?"

The corners of Ye Tianling's lips smiled deeper: "As long as it is necessary to check the deficit, it is inevitable to be unkind and ruthless, then it is not bad. Let's talk about it, what about after the discount?"

Qing Chen said: "Commercial. Although the content of the state contract between King Zhan and the Western Regions is well known, no one really understands it. On the surface, he promised the great benefits of the Western Regions, but in fact he has already given the Heavenly Dynasty a detailed account. The plan. From the details to the wording of the National Deed, the focus is only on two words, trade."

Ye Tianling said, "I have always had business travels with the countries of the Western Regions. Why is there talk of trade at this time?"

Qing Chen said: "Fourth brother, you have also neglected. In the seventeenth year of Shengwu, due to the deterioration of relations with the Western Regions, our court issued a strict ban on business. This ban is still there. It is only more than ten years that the situation has changed. The Western Regions have become more frequent and frequent, which has almost been forgotten. Now at the Xifeng border, this ban has actually become a kind of transaction between Guanque and merchants. Those merchants can travel westward as long as they offer enough gold and silver. , And among the goods they sell, the most restricted is silk. Our heavenly silk workshops are official workshops, most of them are only for the inner court, and the people are not easy to obtain, so they are extremely precious, and the Western countries all hope Before his mission to the Western Regions, King Zhan had reinstated the ban on trade in Weizhou, Liangzhou, Ningzhou and other places, thus increasing the bargaining chip for negotiations with the Western Regions. I think this is the smooth return of his trip. The important reason for this. And I don’t know if you have noticed the fourth brother. What he promised in the state deeds with the Western Regions is that the Heavenly Dynasty will'let' the countries get a lot of money, not that the Heavenly Dynasty will'give' the countries heavily. Focus."

Ye Tianling weighed the heavy cold silk in his hand, and recalled carefully: "When you said that, I remembered that there was indeed such a ban back then. How did you know this?"

Qing Chen gently scratched the fine patterns on the silk with his fingertips: "I saw a copy of this ban in Yanbo Songshuangzhai. The pros and cons of this ban have been studied in detail by King Zhan long ago. Ever."

Ye Tianling's eyebrows twitched, and Qing Chen calmly met his gaze: "He originally did a great deed for the heavenly dynasty, but when he returned from the Western Regions as an envoy, the sky is changing, so the key to this matter He has no chance, nor can he tell anyone."

"Well," Ye Tianling nodded, "I remember someone filed for impeachment, saying that he ran out of the treasury and bought a stable and empty name."

Qing Chen nodded. If it hadn't been for this kind of impeachment, she would not have gone to look at the national deed that Ye Tianzhan brought back. She knew that he was not that kind of person, and she found out the clues after careful investigation. But at that time, he didn't expect that this discovery would be used today, and he would face off against him personally. Suddenly, a sense of melancholy surged in her heart, and a pair of eyes dropped gently. Suddenly Ye Tianling let go of the silk satin and stretched out his hand to pat her cheek: "I see, let's not talk about it. Let's see what kind of silk satin you like. Let's pick one."

Qing Chen raised his eyes, but did not move his footsteps: "Four brother, you promised me, is it still worth it now?"

Ye Tianling seemed to be able to read every emotion in her eyes. After a moment of silence, he said lightly: "If it's just a family matter, it's okay to turn the sky, but there is only one thing, you can't leave the country."

Qing Chen said: "You know he won't."

Ye Tianling said: "I hope so, I can wait for him, I just hope he doesn't disappoint."

Qing Chen smiled and relaxed.