Sign a Lu Fengxian at the beginning

Chapter 138 Border payment?

Prince Shu's Mansion.

In the study room.

Zhou Zhi sat behind the desk, looking at a small piece of paper in his hand, frowning slightly and remaining silent.

Standing respectfully in front of the desk was the butler of the palace.

This steward of the palace is the eunuch who has been with Zhou Zhi since he was a prince. It can be said that he is the person Zhou Zhi trusts the most.

If Ji Wusheng is Zhou Zhi's trusted advisor, then this steward of the palace is the confidant to whom Zhou Zhi can trust everything.

"Your Highness, Ji Wusheng secretly met with Yuan Ziming late at night. I'm afraid this Ji Wusheng is someone arranged by the Yuan family to stay with the Prince. It's better to just..."

The steward said and made a motion of cutting his throat.

Everyone can understand this meaning.

Zhou Zhi loosened his frown and looked at the housekeeper with a faint smile: "Sande, in some cases killing is the worst way to do it. Don't always think of using this method to solve problems."

"Whether Ji Wusheng is the person arranged by the Yuan family to be with me or not, this question remains to be discussed."

"We have also checked the details of Ji Wusheng and know that he is a disciple of the Yuan family."

"As a disciple of the Yuan family, it is normal to meet the eldest son of the Yuan family."

Zhou Zhi put down the note in his hand.

What was written on the note was exactly the words "Ji Wusheng met Yuan Ziming late at night".

Perhaps, Yuan Ziming and the other three could not have imagined that although they had left the Prince of Shu's Mansion, they had always been under the surveillance of the Prince of Shu's Mansion.

Therefore, Ji Wusheng went to meet Yuan Ziming quietly late at night without hiding it from Zhou Zhi's informants.

"But your lord, Ji Wusheng never told your lord that he was a disciple of the Yuan family."

"Furthermore, Ji Wusheng secretly went to meet Yuan Ziming late at night behind the prince's back. This..."

Before the butler could finish speaking, Zhou Zhi interrupted the butler directly.

"Sande, I know what you mean."

"Keji Wusheng is a person with great talent. If you want to use such a talented person, you can't look at it with a 'black and white' perspective."

"So what if Ji Wusheng is the person arranged by the Yuan family to be with me?"

"As long as Ji Wusheng can serve me and be useful to me, I will dare to use him."

"Besides, who doesn't have a secret of their own?"

Zhou Zhi was not surprised that Ji Wusheng was a disciple of the Yuan family and went to see Yuan Ziming quietly late at night.

As the king of Shu, how could Zhou Zhi not find out the details of the people around him?

Therefore, Zhou Zhi had long known that Ji Wusheng was a disciple of the Yuan family.

If Ji Wusheng didn't tell him, Zhou Zhi should have no idea about it.

In Zhou Zhi's opinion, Ji Wusheng may be a disciple of the Yuan family, or someone arranged by the Yuan family to be around him.

None of this matters.

The important thing is that Ji Wusheng is useful to him and can solve many problems for him, and that is enough.

When the housekeeper heard what Zhou Zhi said, he stopped talking about Ji Wusheng. Instead, he looked at Zhou Zhi with a cautious expression and said, "Your Majesty, these three aristocratic families obviously have bad intentions and want to drag the Prince into trouble."

"Why is the prince still..."

The housekeeper did not continue, but looked at Zhou Zhi with a puzzled expression.

The housekeeper didn't believe that Zhou Zhi couldn't figure out the purpose of Yuan Ziming and the three of them doing this, but Zhou Zhi still didn't refuse directly.

This puzzled the housekeeper.

"Why didn't you reject the three of them?"

Zhou Zhi smiled helplessly.

"I, like them, have no choice."

"If I, the king, and they work together, we will both benefit, and if we separate, we will both die."

"My royal brother even found out about the things in the palace. No one knows what else he found out."

"There is no turning back arrow when you open your bow."

"Everyone underestimated him."

Zhou Zhi sighed quietly.

It is not so much that Yuan Ziming and the other three used their ninety-five positions to hang up Zhou Zhi, but it is better to say that Zhou Zhi himself used the opportunity to hang up Yuan Ziming and his wealthy family.

If Yuan Ziming and the other three were to know, it was not they who plotted against Zhou Zhi, but Zhou Zhi who took the opportunity to hit it off with them.

I don’t know what Yuan Ziming and the others will think.

"Your Majesty, even if your Majesty finds out something, with the Queen Mother here, Your Majesty will not kill the prince."

"But once the prince and the family take this step, there will really be no turning back."

The housekeeper said to Zhou Zhi with a solemn expression.

As Zhou Zhi's personal attendant and confidant, the housekeeper was very aware of what Zhou Zhi was doing.

As for what happened before, with the Empress Dowager present, the man in the palace could look at the Buddha's face even if he couldn't stand the monk's face, so he wouldn't kill him.

But if we take this step again, it will be hard to say.

After Zhou Zhi heard what the steward said, he looked at the steward with a smile: "Sandokuzi, now you are the only one who can say a few true words to me."

"You have been serving me since I was very young."

"I know that you care about me, but you are the most ruthless emperor."

"You also came from the palace, you should understand this."

"Besides, I am not willing to give in. He is the most mediocre among our princes, and he is also a sick man."

"In the end, I ended up sitting in that position."

"I am very unwilling to do so."

"That position should belong to me."

At the end of the sentence, Zhou Zhi exuded a strong anger and his face was full of unwillingness.

The butler next to him saw Zhou Zhi's state and opened his mouth to say something, but in the end he could only sigh silently.

I don’t know if this is a disaster or a blessing?

…

Luoyang.

Royal Palace.

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen squinted slightly for half an hour.

Being an emperor is not that easy.

Especially now that so many big things have happened recently.

Zhou Chen not only has to deal with mountains and seas of memorials every day.

We also have to deal with the cunning civil and military officials in the court.

If Zhou Chen hadn't practiced the Emperor's Divine Conferment Technique, and his strength increased rapidly, and his body continued to become stronger, he might have been unable to bear it long ago.

Even so, Zhou Chen still feels a little tired every day.

This was despite Du Ruhui helping him share some of the government affairs.

If it weren't for Du Ruhui, an outstanding figure, to share the burden for him, Zhou Chen probably wouldn't even have any free time.

Zhou Chen finally understood how those foolish kings in history came to be.

It's not that they want to be a fool, have their backs touched, and be infamy for thousands of years.

But they cannot be wise kings.

Waking up to hold the power of the world, being drunk and lying on the lap of a beautiful woman, this is the most corrosive thing in people's hearts.

Faced with the exhausting and numerous government affairs, how many people can escape the emperor's extravagance and extravagance?

After Zhou Chen woke up, he was ready to continue handling government affairs.

At this time, Cao Zhengchun walked in quickly.

"Your Majesty, General Lu and Cao Shaoqin have wiped out the forces of the Shenquan Sect that were involved in the death of the Grand Master."

"This is the news from the factory guard."

"Your Majesty, please take a look."

Cao Zhengchun sent two news letters to Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen took the two news letters from Cao Zhengchun's hand, opened them one after another, and glanced at them.

Zhou Chen is not very interested in wiping out these forces in the world.

In Zhou Chen's view, no matter how much Jianghu jumps around, he can't get out of the hands of the imperial court.

Since ancient times, which dynasties and generations of rivers and lakes forces could cause any trouble at the hands of the imperial court?

If these Jianghu people hadn't dared to provoke him from the Zhou Dynasty, Zhou Chen would not have taken action against Jianghu at this time.

Because Zhou Chen hadn't even finished handling the internal affairs of the court, so he didn't have any extra time to pay attention to the forces in the world.

After reading two pieces of news about the annihilation of the powerful forces such as the Divine Fist Sect, Zhou Chen began to think deeply.

Zhou Chen was considering whether to take advantage of this opportunity to completely rectify the Jianghu forces.

Let the forces in the Jianghu understand clearly that wherever the imperial court orders go, even the Jianghu will abide by them.

There are no exceptions.

at this time.

A chamberlain guard came in.

"Your Majesty, Li Shangshu, Minister of War, would like to see you."

After the house guard and factory guard came in, he bowed and reported.

"oh!"

"Let him in."

Zhou Chen raised his eyebrows and put away his thoughts.

I was thinking that the Minister of the Ministry of War had something important to do and came to his Yangxin Hall.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The house guard bowed and stepped back.

After a while, the Minister of the Ministry of War walked into the Yangxin Hall.

"Old minister, I have met your Majesty." After entering the Yangxin Hall, the Minister of War made a gesture of courtesy to Zhou Chen who was sitting on the dragon chair.

"Li Aiqing doesn't need to be polite."

Zhou Chen put down the two news letters in his hands and raised his eyes to look at the Minister of War: "Li Aiqing came to see me in Yangxin Hall. Is there anything important?"

Since the last time the Minister of the Ministry of War took the initiative to come to the Yangxin Hall with the responses from the two border princes, the Minister of the Ministry of War has not taken the initiative to come to the Yangxin Hall again.

Today, the Minister of the Ministry of War took the initiative to come to the Yangxin Hall for an audience.

Zhou Chen estimated that the Minister of War must have something important to ask to see him, the emperor.

"His Majesty."

"Because the national treasury was empty, military pay for this year has not been released at the border."

"The memorials just issued by the Marquis of Zhenbei and the Marquis of Xiliang to urge them to pay their dues have been sent to the old minister."

"Your Majesty, please take a look."

The Minister of War said, taking out two memorials from his sleeves and handing them over.

Memorials for paying tribute to the Marquis of Zhenbei and Xiliang?

Zhou Chen's eyes flickered and he took the two memorials handed over by the Minister of War from Cao Zhengchun's hand.

Opened it and glanced at it.

"hehe."

"Payment?"

After Zhou Chen glanced at the contents of the two memorials, he sneered and threw them on the dragon case.

Previously, the emperor Zhou Chen issued an order to Zhenbeihou and Xilianghou, asking them to send troops south to quell the rebellion in the four northern states.

As a result, the two Marquis of Zhenbei and Marquis of Xiliang prioritized the defense of the border and blocked the wishes of the emperor Zhou Chen on the grounds that aliens were invading the border.

Now you are still thinking about demanding payment from the court?

Zhou Chen tapped the dragon case with his fingers, his eyes deep and silent.

The Minister of War below saw Zhou Chen sneered, and threw aside the memorials urging the Marquis of Zhenbei and the Marquis of Xiliang to pay, and his heart pounded.

In the past, the Minister of the Ministry of War would not have made a special trip to the Yangxin Hall to receive such a memorial.

However, after the last incident in which the Marquis of Zhenbei and the Marquis of Xiliang tried to prevaricate the imperial edict, the Minister of War knew that the man on the Dragon Throne might have thoughts about those two Marquises.

Therefore, the Minister of the Ministry of War had no choice but to enter the palace immediately after receiving the payment memorial from the Marquis of Zhenbei and the Marquis of Xiliang, and come to Yangxin Hall to ask for instructions.

After a moment of silence, Zhou Chen raised his head and looked at the Secretary of the Ministry of War; "We will wait for a few days to wait for a few days to discuss the payment memorial."

Now, the treasury of the Ministry of Revenue is full, and Zhou Chen's inner treasury is also full.

The property of so many officials was confiscated and exterminated, whether they were officials in the inner court of Luoyang, wealthy families from the four northern states, or the Boling Cui family, one of the seven aristocratic families in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

A lot of money was seized.

It can be said that the emperor Zhou Chen is not short of money now.

But even if Zhou Chen was not short of money, he would not use his money to support a group of border generals who would listen to propaganda but not listen to instructions.

Zhou Chen had to consider how to deal with the Marquis of Zhenbei and the Marquis of Xiliang at the border gate, who were disobedient to the announcement.

Now the rebellion in the four northern states has been put down, and the Boling Cui family has been wiped out.

Originally, Zhou Chen's next thought was to clean up the court first and move on to the border.

But now that the payment memorial from the border gate has been sent, Zhou Chen doesn't want to feed these ignorant white-eyed wolves for no reason.

After hearing Zhou Chen's words, the Minister of War hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, military pay has been a major matter that cannot be ignored in all dynasties."

"If there is no military pay, the border army will have big problems."

"When the time comes, if the army is in chaos, we will be in trouble."

The Minister of War was afraid that Zhou Chen, the young and energetic emperor, would cut off military pay at the border because the Marquis of Zhenbei and the Marquis of Xiliang had not obeyed orders before.

Therefore, the Minister of War had to carefully remind Zhou Chen.

If the military pay at the border is cut off, the army at the border will be in chaos.

Foreign races from outside the customs will definitely take advantage of the opportunity and come in.

If that's the case, it's not just a matter of chaos at the border, but also alien races taking advantage of the situation.

When that time comes, there will really be a big problem.

Zhou Chen naturally heard the meaning of the Minister of War. Zhou Chen looked at the Minister of War calmly and said, "I understand what Li Aiqing means."

"I know it well."

"The border customs has been short of pay for such a long time, but there hasn't been any problem. It's just a few days."

Zhou Chen looked at the Minister of War and said calmly.

Upon hearing this, the Minister of War immediately bowed and said, "I am worrying too much. Since your Majesty has already thought about it, I will say no more."

"I will take my leave now."

What should be reported has been reported, and what should be reminded has been reminded.

Now that His Majesty Zhou Chen has made a decision in his mind, the Minister of War will not say anything more.

Anyway, this decision-making power is no longer in the hands of him, the Minister of War, but in the hands of His Majesty on the Dragon Throne.

Zhou Chen waved his hand.

Then, the Minister of the Ministry of War withdrew from the Yangxin Hall.

After the Minister of War left, Zhou Chen pondered for a moment, took a look at the two news letters about wiping out the power of the Shen Fist Sect, and shook his head.

Originally, Zhou Chen was still considering whether to take advantage of the opportunity to rectify the world.

But now it seems that it is impossible.

Regulating the rivers and lakes is not something that can be completed in a day or two, and it even takes longer than putting down the rebellion in the four northern states.

Zhou Chen doesn't spend much time in the world now.

Compared with matters in the Jianghu, border affairs and matters in the court are the most important.

However, just because there is no time to rectify the rivers and lakes at the moment does not mean that the court cannot express its voice to the rivers and lakes.

Thinking of this, Zhou Chen glanced at Cao Zhengchun next to him and said, "Cao Zhengchun, although the forces of the Shenquan Sect related to the death of the Grand Master have been wiped out."

"However, other forces in the world must also let them know that the power of the imperial court cannot be violated."

"No one in the world of the Great Zhou Dynasty can be above the orders of the imperial court."

"I don't need to teach you how to do it!"

Zhou Chen looked at Cao Zhengchun.

Cao Zhengchun immediately understood and bowed, "Your Majesty, don't worry, I understand."

"Old slave, I'm going to send a message to Cao Shaoqin and the others."

…

(End of chapter)