The Revolt of the Three Feudatories: All-in at the start in Beijing

Chapter 225 Liu Mu: There's a limit to how much money you should ask for!

Liu Mu was also overjoyed. In those days, the southwest was a land of barrenness and poor transportation. Even if it was firmly under control, it would be difficult to generate much economic benefit. Instead, a lot of grain and silver would have to be subsidized each year.

Guangzhou, however, is entirely different. Its handicraft labor is cheap, workshops are everywhere, and its convenient port guarding the South China Sea means that once the maritime trade routes are opened, it will soon become far more prosperous than other places in the southeast, becoming the most important financial center of the imperial court.

Upon returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Liu Mu didn't even sit on the dragon throne. Instead, he eagerly picked up the military report jointly sent by Zhao Liangdong and the other two and began to read it carefully.

As the military report described how Zhao Liangdong had steadily advanced and secured Guangzhou, and how his navy had surrounded Shang Zhixin at sea, cutting off his retreat and capturing the traitor in one fell swoop, Liu Mu grew increasingly satisfied. He couldn't help but slam his hand on the table, repeatedly praising, "Excellent! Zhao Liangdong truly possesses the talent of a commander. It is no wonder I entrusted him with such an important task. He should be properly rewarded!"

After praising the war, his gaze fell on the amount of silver obtained from the confiscation of property. He saw that there were more than ten million taels of silver in cash alone, and the total assets were approaching fifty million taels.

Liu Mu no longer cared about imperial etiquette. He simply spread his hands, lay down on the bluestone slab of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and laughed heartily, feeling the joy of finally having enough money to use.

"With so much silver, how should I spend it? Should I hold ports in one hand and cannons in the other, and then march on Tsarist Russia's homeland?"

He shaved his head and muttered to himself, even singing a classic song from later generations, while his mind raced over matters such as expanding the navy, repairing military equipment, pacifying the people, and supporting maritime trade.

But this elation didn't last long. Hurried footsteps came from outside the hall. Eunuch Zhao Fengnian, with his head down, rushed in and bowed to report.

"Your Majesty, the five ministers of the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Justice are all waiting outside the palace to request an audience with Your Majesty."

Upon hearing that all five ministers had come to his door, Liu Mu's smile vanished instantly, his good mood vanished, and his face fell.

Anyone with a brain knows these guys aren't here to congratulate the Guangzhou victory; they're all debt collectors crying poverty and begging for money, each eyeing the huge sum of money looted from Guangzhou, just waiting to ask for a share.

These people would come to the door in turn whenever the national treasury had a little income, either saying that the ministry was short of money or that the people's livelihood and government affairs urgently needed funds.

If he refused, they would use phrases like "The whole world belongs to Your Majesty, and all wealth is for the use of the people. Why should Your Majesty be stingy with these filthy things?" to advise him. Liu Mu was so tired of hearing this that he almost got calluses. Now that they were all coming to his door, how could anything good be coming of it?

Liu Mu knew perfectly well that in this era of one dynasty ruling the country, the emperor had to clearly distinguish between public and private matters. Why did the previous emperor, Chongzhen, end up hanging himself on Coal Hill?

Ultimately, the problem stemmed from an empty national treasury, with the internal treasury being completely depleted, unable even to pay military salaries. Officials outwardly complied but inwardly defied the government, ultimately leading to the downfall of the empire.

Only when the emperor's own treasury is full can he speak with confidence, stand tall, and control his officials and maintain order in the country.

Even if these ministers are well-intentioned, we must nip this in the bud and prevent them from overstepping their bounds.

Suppressing his impatience, Liu Mu slowly rose from the ground, straightened his dragon robe, and said calmly, "Summon them."

As the imperial decree was issued, the five ministers filed in, bowing respectfully in turn, displaying impeccable manners.

Leading the group was Li Guangdi, the Minister of Revenue, followed closely by Xie Bo'an, the Minister of Personnel.

Minister of Rites Chen Jingting, Minister of Justice Xu Qianxue, and finally Minister of Works Ouyang Jing.

Liu Mu sat back on the dragon throne, looking calmly at the five people below, and went straight to the point: "You must all know about the great victory in Guangzhou. What brings you here together today?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Guangdi, the Minister of Revenue, stepped forward first, his brows furrowed and his face full of worry. He bowed to Liu Mu and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, the national treasury has been empty for a long time. Due to Your Majesty's benevolent rule, the taxes from various prefectures and counties have not been paid in full. The Ministry of Revenue's treasury is already empty. If no more money comes in, I'm afraid it will be difficult to pay the salaries of local officials. I beg Your Majesty to have mercy on our difficulties and allocate money to relieve our burden."

No sooner had Li Guangdi finished speaking than Ouyang Jing, the Minister of Works, stepped forward and echoed with a bitter expression: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Works currently does not even have the funds to purchase stone materials or recruit laborers. We are truly at a loss."

Minister of Personnel Xie Bo'an didn't say much, but winked at Liu Mu, meaning that if they wanted money, the Ministry of Personnel would also want some, and would give them some, however little.

Minister of Rites Chen Jingting stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, the imperial examinations have already begun this year, but the Ministry of Rites' treasury is already empty and there is no more money available. We hope Your Majesty will grant us funds."

Even Xu Qianxue, the Minister of Justice who was usually taciturn, stepped forward to add: "Your Majesty, prisoners exiled to the frontiers have long suffered from food shortages, which is entirely due to the local governments' losses. We earnestly request Your Majesty to allocate some funds to maintain the operation of the Ministry of Justice."

Sitting on the dragon throne, Liu Mu listened to the report and then slumped his shoulders helplessly. Whether it was relaxing taxes, having the Ministry of Works repair roads, or exiling prisoners, it was all decided by him, the emperor.

Sitting on the dragon throne, Liu Mu listened to the report and then slumped his shoulders helplessly. Whether it was relaxing taxes, having the Ministry of Works repair roads, or exiling prisoners, it was all decided by him, the emperor.

Even if they're short of money, we can't refuse to give them any!

Otherwise, who would be able to get things done?

After a long silence, Liu Mu slowly spoke: "I understand what you mean. You're all eyeing the silver confiscated from Guangzhou, aren't you?"

Upon hearing this, the five ministers each handed over a report detailing the expenses for all matters.

After reading the report, Liu Mu could no longer contain his anger. He slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Let me ask you, Zhao Liangdong's military report clearly states that in the battle of Guangzhou, a full ten million taels of silver were confiscated from the Shang family. This was the blood and sweat of the soldiers on the front lines. The compensation for their families hasn't even been decided yet, and you're all here crying poverty, asking for money and funding. After all this calculation, in the end, I'm only left with five hundred thousand taels of that ten million taels?"

"What will my soldiers eat? Will they just drink the northwest wind?"

"I tell you, why did the Chongzhen Emperor of the previous dynasty lose his country? It was because the national treasury was empty, the imperial treasury was empty, he had no money, no one listened to him, and no one helped him when he was in trouble! I will never repeat his mistakes!"

"This empire belongs to me, and money must be divided into public and private. The national treasury is the national treasury, and the internal treasury is the internal treasury. You think you can take all of this money? Absolutely not! Go back and think carefully about how much each department should take, and report according to needs. Don't make such exorbitant demands."

"Dismissed, all of you. I need some peace and quiet!"

After being reprimanded like this, the ministers knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly before leaving the hall. Li Guangdi was sweating profusely, because he was the one who had spearheaded and orchestrated this whole affair.

Watching the group leave, Liu Mu let out a sigh of relief.

"Announce Pan Feng!"