As soon as the documents urging food and wages on the battlefield ahead arrived in the capital, Liu Che approved it to the Grand Secretary's Farmer and asked him to handle it as soon as possible. Sang Hongyang dared not refuse to do it or did not dare to do it slowly.

But what about money? Where is the money? If you don’t be a good person, you don’t know how expensive it is. A few years after the Grand Secretary’s farmer made it, Sang Hongyang had a deep understanding of this.

After years of war, the national treasury was so poor that it was only money left. What should I say? It was that there was little food and more money, and the grain was divided to the front line, and a large amount of Wuzhu coins were not dared to leak out too much.

Sang Hongyang always knows the principles of inflation and deflation, but he only knows it, but he doesn't mean it from specific principles or experience.

The ancients still recorded some records of money and markets, and Sang Hongyang was known in the book.

He almost turned down all social engagements and reunion with his family, spent all day in the Grand Secretary's Agricultural Bureau, and worked with Shaofu Temple to settle the transactions. Once he took the time, he had to go to Weiqu to check the situation of the canal transportation.

After only a few months, he lost weight and looked haggard.

On this day, Cao Zheng in the office presented him with the final accounts, and Sang Hongyang couldn't believe his eyes.

"Is this true? Is it that serious?" Sang Hongyang asked with doubt.

"Sir, the subordinates dare not forge it. They have repeatedly checked it with their colleagues, so there will be no mistakes."

"Oh, this...hey, then you go down first." Sang Hongyang once again focused his eyes on the numbers in front of him.

Look, what kind of amazing numbers are this! Since the war with the Huns, the imperial court has dispatched an average of about 100,000 troops every year, and this year it has been twice in a row.

The gold used to reward soldiers alone is more than 200,000 yuan, and the pension is no less than 100,000 yuan. As for the cost of military and armor transportation used for the front line, it is even more impossible to calculate it carefully.

Although the imperial treasury had Wuzhu coins, it could not be used cheaply, and it was difficult to provide support for the war.

Sang Hongyang was immediately shocked and sweated coldly. He put away the bamboo slips and felt that the Prime Minister should understand the situation.

However, before meeting Gongsun Hong, he felt that he might have to communicate with Ji An first.

He knows Ji An better. He doesn't have the kind of personality of being too polite and pretending to be evil.

Sang Hongyang did not dare to delay at this time, so he should solve this item early. He hid the account in his sleeve and went directly to the right Neishi Mansion.

Ji An was also worried at this time. Liu Che asked him to reward the heroes who lived in the capital, but when he went to Shaofu Temple to withdraw money, he was only able to receive 30%.

"It's really bad. Every time the war ahead goes further, the emperor will reward a lot of titles. If this continues, how can it be? How can it end?"

While serving tea for Sang Hongyang, Ji An sighed, "I guess life is not easy for adults in this world now, right?"

Sang Hongyang took the hot tea, smiled embarrassedly, and moistened his throat, "Do you know that the general sent documents from the border to urge food and pay, but... he didn't even look at it, the treasury was already stretched."

He didn't drink tea anymore. He put down the teacup. He took out the bamboo slip from his sleeve and handed it to Ji An: "This is the result of the investigation just now in the bureau. I was at a loss, so I came to ask the adults for advice."

"Sir, are you looking for me? Alas! It's not that you won't deal with it, but that you're going to ask for money from the adult!"

Ji An said, sighed, and showed Zheng Shin's list of rewards.

The two browsed each other's documents, but now they didn't know what to say.

After a while, Ji An broke the silence: "The most important thing at the moment is to let Your Majesty understand the current financial situation of the country and not be so squandered."

"Yes! I think so, so I want to report this situation to the Prime Minister's Mansion."

"Is it useful to Gongsun Hong? That old slip-on all the time to pick His Majesty and say happily."

"But the Prime Minister always needs to know!"

"It doesn't matter. After all, since the imperial court implemented the system of China and foreign dynasties, all military and national affairs have been decided by China and North Korea. Therefore, you can just go to the holy listening directly, which is very convenient, and don't talk to him, so the old man can't say anything."

"Sir, what would happen if the emperor knew about this?"

"Don't worry about these things for now. You and I are both ministers of the court. It is the responsibility of the ministers to report the situation to the emperor. You can rest assured. I know the emperor's character. He not only likes to report good news, but also always pays attention to those who report bad news."

Ji An is like this. Although he is much older than Sang Hongyang in terms of age, he will inevitably rely on his seniority, but his decisiveness in dealing with things has won the respect of Sang Hongyang.

"Okay! You and I will go to see the Emperor tomorrow."

...

Early in the morning, the two of them went to see Liu Che, but Liu Che's questioning made them feel a little embarrassed.

A faint bitter smile flashed across Ji An's face, and the emperor's voice asking about food and wages sounded in his ears again.

Sang Hongyang did not respond directly to Liu Che's question, which made Liu Che very unhappy: "Sang Hongyang, as a senior farmer, don't you understand that the border war is in urgent need of food and grass? The general's documents have been in Jing for many days, but you have been delayed again and again. Are you not afraid that I will punish you for misleading the military opportunity?"

Sang Hongyang listened,

Very uneasy,

I became more and more nervous, and my words were stuttering: "The emperor... the gentle minister..."

When Ji An saw the situation, he hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over for Zheng and said, "I went to the Grand Priest Office yesterday to implement the reward fees for the soldiers who have meritoriously received in Kyoto. Just as I saw that Lord Zheng's office was busy, the Lord and Shaofu Temple settled the treasury accumulation together. I was quite helpless. Lord Zheng really had a hidden secret to report to the emperor."

As soon as Ji An said this, Liu Che exclaimed and guessed half of it in his heart.

The fewer people know about things like the court treasury, the better. He then drove away all the ministers, Huangmen and guards who were discussing the war, and only announced Gongsun Hong, Zhang Tang, Sang Hongyang and Ji An to the Xuanshi Hall to discuss the matter.

However, Zheng was not at all nervous in the court at that time because of the change of the environment. Instead, it became even worse because of Liu Che's questioning. In the blink of an eye, he was sweating profusely.

"Sang Hongyang! How did you manage it? It made the treasury so empty?"

Liu Che threw the accounts presented by Sang Hongyang on the desk, and his voice suddenly increased.

"Since I ascended the throne, I have repeatedly warned me to be frugal and now I am not able to make ends meet. Tell me what happened? During the Jianyuan period, the treasury was full, and the people were rich, and the country was rich. Have you never heard of it?"

Liu Che became more and more excited as he spoke, and he reiterated the names of some important officials at that time.
Chapter completed!