The Cannon Fodder and Villain’s Happy Ending
chapter-358

Chapter 358

At the beginning of this year, because of the disaster in Huizhou, some stragglers went north to take refuge in Jinzhou. Jinzhou was already infested with bandits and those bandits absorbed part of the stragglers, causing them to grow in number, forming a considerable force in the local and occupy the mountain, ruling it like a king.

Because the emperor issued a decree to investigate the Xu family, the local officials of Jinzhou immediately reported what happened to the Xu’s.

To speak, the three members of the Xu family encountered bandits near Daqingshan in Jinzhou. Not only were their belongings taken away, but everyone was killed, leaving no survivors.

On the same day, the emperor issued a decree to suppress bandits in the morning court, which immediately drew another wave of opposition.

“Your Majesty, I don’t think it’s right.”

“The banditry in Minzhou has not yet been quelled, and the treasury is empty, we are financially overwhelmed.”

“Lord Li is right. This year due to the floods in Huizhou, not only did the tax revenue decreases, but the imperial court had to allocate money for disaster relief…”

The ministers stood out one by one, their expressions impassioned and their voices resounding.

Previously, when the emperor issued a decree to pacify Minzhou, he did not inform the court in advance so many ministers didn’t really have the chance to voice out their opinion, but now that they were on the topic, they all felt that the emperor was too anxious, otherwise, he wouldn’t have allowed sending troops knowing the treasury was empty.

The emperor of course knows that the treasury had no money, since the day he ascended the throne, the treasury of Daqi has not been abundant.

Although the late emperor was not considered a wise man, he was diligent and dedicated, it’s just that in his later years, he became fatuous and extravagant. At that time, was against Daqi and disasters continued, but the late emperor turned a blind eye and emptied the national treasury, only to build palaces and gardens for his enjoyment.

Ten years ago, when the emperor ascended the throne, what was left to him was a Daqi full of holes.

And over the years, this cave has been unevenly filled.

Therefore, when Gu Zezhi proposed to pacify Minzhou, even though he knew that the national treasury was tight, the emperor still agreed.

Once Minzhou was pacified, in the long run, maritime trade could be developed which could bring a lot of money for the treasury; more recently, over the years, the pirates in Minzhou have robbed a lot of wealth from the sea, and the imperial court could nationalize this wealth as a matter of course, and use it to fill the gaps in the national treasury and soon solve Daqi’s urgent needs.

Standing at the front of the queue, Lord Chengen watched the scene calmly while his lips curled up and his expression relax, as if this had nothing to do with him.

With a slight wink from him, a few opposing ministers became more eager, and the more they said the more serious they became.

“Your Majesty, the war between Daqi and Northern Yan has finally ended peacefully, but these years, the Northern Border had countless deaths and injuries, and a hundred ruins that need to be rebuilt. And yet, Chenjun lead troops to pacify Minzhou, I am afraid will lose many of our troops this time, and the consumption of military supplies will be difficult to estimate.”

“Pacifying Jinzhou now is tantamount to tearing down the east wall to mend the west wall…”

Hearing these ministers’ frightening words that scare people, the emperor just sneered and interrupted, “Can my Daqi even kill all the bandits or rather eliminate them?”

The emperor looked down at the ministers below from his high chair, taking their different expressions in his eyes.

Naturally, he didn’t propose to put down the chaos in Jinzhou on impulse.

Most of the taxes in the previous season were used for town disasters, and part of the money in the treasury was allocated to Pingmin Prefecture this time, while the tax this summer has yet to be collected, so indeed, it was difficult to fight another bandit with limited soldiers, not to mention the food and other provisions.

The emperor’s gaze became deeper, flashing with complicated glints as he remembered what Gu Zezhi said before he left. “Your majesty, the national treasury is empty, and things will get difficult, as there are many places where money is needed, and if things get really urgent might as well get something without paying anything.”

The emperor turned the jade ring on his thumb and suddenly said. “What all the ministers said are not without reason.”

The ministers were stunned, most of them did not expect the emperor to change his mind so easily.

While the corner of Lord Chengen’s lips curled up even higher.

A minister was about to stand up and praise the emperor with a few words for his wisdom when he heard the emperor sigh and said, “I originally intended the second prince to lead the troops…ai.”

The smile on Lord Chengen’s lips instantly froze and his pupils slightly shrank.

The emperor seemed to be talking to himself, but his voice was loud enough for the ministers in the hall to hear, and immediately a subtle change occurred in the atmosphere.

Especially Lord Chengen, his emotions were surging while thinking, this was a great opportunity for the second prince.

Unable to hold back anymore, he immediately stood up from the queue and bowed to the emperor in front of him, “Your Majesty, the second prince is brave and courageous, which he got from his father, he will be able to live up to the emperor’s order and put an end to the chaos in Jinzhou.”

As soon as he said this, the ministers who had just opposed the suppression of bandits looked at each other with a hint of embarrassment on their faces.

The emperor faintly said, “But the treasury has no money.”

Lord Chengen: “……”

The second prince displeased the emperor because of the previous peace talks with Northern Yan.

However, since the emperor wanted to let the second prince suppress the bandits in Jinzhou, it showed that the emperor still attached great importance to this son. So, if the second prince pacifies and completed this task in Jinzhou, not only could he redeem himself, but also gain military power, and even win the praise of the ministers and the support of the common people.

The corner of the emperor’s mouth slightly curled as he continued, “Let’s put this matter to rest for now.”

Lord Chengen quickly made a decision, and said to the emperor righteously, “Your Majesty, the people of Jinzhou are suffering from banditry, putting the people into dire straits, so suppressing these bandits will surely help your people. As your subject, I should contribute to society, this minister is willing to collect this sum of money to suppress the bandits for the sake of the common people.” What he meant was that there was no need to use the money from the treasury, as he would pay for the second prince’s expedition with his own money.

***