Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

Tao Zongwang arrived very quickly, and Jiang Jing and Li Ying also came hurriedly with him.

During the Northern Expedition against the Jin Dynasty, the two of them collected food and military supplies. Now that the war was over, they had to pay out money to reward the meritorious soldiers. Now, under the king's order, they also had to take out money to build the city.

"Your Majesty, we are out of money!" Li Ying cried out in pain, repeating the same old tune: "We have not had much time to establish our country, and there are holes everywhere. Even if we have the market, it is just enough to get by. Now we really have no money."

A trace of embarrassment flashed across the faces of several people in the room. They had just been talking loudly about how to govern Liaodong, but they never expected that they would be tripped to the ground by their own family members just as they were about to take a step.

"There must be some." Lu Bu looked at Li Ying. "We have captured Wanyan tribe and Huanglongfu. We have brought back dozens of carts of goods. How can you say there is no money?"

Putian Diao had a blank expression on his face: "Your Majesty, I don't know. Not to mention that various places have asked for money to build riverbanks and roads, there are many meritorious soldiers in the army this time, so most of the money brought back has been spent. Next, we still need to replenish the missing soldiers in various armies, especially the cavalry, and we need to buy horses. All of these require money."

Jiang Jing sighed, "Your Majesty, building a city requires a lot of money. Not to mention the conscription of corvée labor and the mobilization of craftsmen, the stone and wood alone are a considerable expense. We really can't afford it now. Why don't we wait for two years and when we have more money, I will be the first to support the expansion in the north. After all, the tax revenue can be much higher."

Lu Bu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that he couldn't squeeze out a word. After a long while, he sighed with boredom: "Okay, but building a city is also related to how we plan our strategy in Liaodong. You two must leave enough money and food for me."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty." Li Yingshu breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest, saying, "As soon as you recover, I will dig out the money with my bare hands."

Jiang Jing also nodded: "Based on the current tax revenue from the market and the various military states, there will be a surplus by the time the winter comes next year." After thinking for a while, he added: "As long as there is no natural disaster."

Lü Bu had no choice but to nod stiffly: "Okay, I won't ask for too much, but now I need to build more schools to educate the various Jurchen tribes. Can you squeeze out the money?"

Li Ying looked at Jiang Jing, and the fortune teller thought for a moment and said, "If we don't build a school on a whim, we can still get the money."

"Not too much." Shi Gugong took over the conversation: "As long as there is money to hire a professor, the school... I thought the king only needed to issue a royal decree, and those tribes could provide it themselves."

"That's right." Jiang Jing nodded affirmatively, "But there are not many knowledgeable professors. How can we hire them?"

Shi Gugong glanced at Li Zhu and smiled: "You don't need to be a learned person. You just need to enlighten people and impart knowledge. Anyone who can read and write can do it."

"I have another way."

Li Zhu stroked his beard and said, "Those soldiers in the army who have lost their limbs can also learn from me how to teach others. This way, they can support themselves and show that the king has not forgotten those who have contributed."

Lu Bu's eyes lit up: "That's great. I was just worried about how to arrange for those disabled soldiers."

A tall figure stood up from behind the table, took two steps, and waved his wide sleeves: "You go and arrange this matter now, and select more meticulous people to participate."

"Yes!"

Li Zu, Shi Gugong and Li Yu bowed and walked out.

This was a new round of planning by the State of Qi at the end of summer. During this period, the tasks of recruiting soldiers, establishing the Zhechou Xiaowei Mansion, and teaching disabled soldiers how to study were carried out in an orderly manner.

Also busy were the recently surrendered Wanyan Loushi and Wanyan Zonghan. When they first arrived at a place, they always had to observe the situation, but the latter still had his son at Wanyan Zongbing's place. So he went to ask for things with a sullen face, prepared to be harassed. But when he arrived near Wanyan Zongbing's house, he saw his son and a few boys following a half-grown girl, walking through the streets in a domineering manner, licking a candy man in their hands.

"Golden marbles!"

The man who shouted was ready to welcome them. Seeing that none of the young men and women paid any attention to him, and his son even pointing at something in the distance, he immediately became upset and walked over quickly to block the crowd: "Golden Bullet, why are you here? Why don't you know what I'm saying? I know you're going crazy with anxiety." The group stopped, and the leader was Qiu Qiongying. She looked up at the bald man with two pigtails and frowned: "Who are you?!"

"father!"

A voice filled with joy drowned out her words.

Qiongying turned around in surprise. Ruan Liang, Niu Tong, Huyan brothers and sisters and other children who were beside her also looked at Danzi. Niu Tong pointed at Wanyan Zonghan and said, "Danzi, is this man your father? Why is your father here? Isn't he in Huanglong Mansion?"

Three questions in a row made Danzi at a loss for words. His eyebrows, which were thicker than those of ordinary people, knitted together and said, "How would I know if you ask me?" After thinking for a while, he looked at Wanyan Zonghan while holding the candy figurine and said, "Dad, were you also captured?"

The little ones nearby covered their mouths and laughed.

Wanyan Zonghan's face darkened: "What are you talking about? What do you mean I was also arrested? Don't you wish me well, you bastard?"

He rubbed his scalp and said, "When I was in Huanglong Mansion, I surrendered to the king. Now I am the General of the Righteous Army. The king promised a house to our family. I came here to take you there. You are waiting for me at home."

Several children showed joy on their faces, and Qiongying punched Danzi on the arm: "That's great, you can finally be reunited with your family."

Wanyan Zonghan looked at Qiu Qiongying, Niu Tong and the others. They were all wearing luxurious clothes and had no pale faces. The boys were much stronger than their peers. He knew they were not from ordinary families. Seeing that they were happy for his silly son, he couldn't help but ask, "I wonder who these young ladies and young men are..."

Danzi walked over and stood beside Wanyan Zonghan, grabbed his trouser leg and grinned, pointing at Qiu Qiongying: "This is Sister Qiu, the disciple of His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi. The one with white skin over there is Ruan Liang, the son of General Linghai; the dark one is the son of Lieutenant Xuanwei, named Niu Tong; the siblings over there are Huyan Yu and Huyan Yuying from Lieutenant Zhenwei's family."

He looked up at his father and said, "Dad, my uncles treated me badly. It was only because Sister Qiu took care of me all day that they had no choice."

Wanyan Zonghan clenched his fists and thought that they were indeed the children of officials. He took a deep breath and bowed to the younger generations: "I would also like to thank the young officials and ladies for protecting my golden bullet."

Qiu Qiongying and the others quickly returned the greeting: "We don't deserve the general's thanks. We are also sincere in our friendship with Danzi."

Instead, the boy next to him shouted, "Dad, when did I become a golden marble?"

Wanyan Zonghan looked at him and said, "After you were taken away from Huanglong Mansion, you were sad all day long. And then you happened to get pregnant and gave birth to your brother. I was afraid that she would be even more sad and upset without you, so I simply named your brother Silver Bullet and you Gold Bullet."

"Oh..." Jindanzi nodded and looked at his friend: "Then I can't always call you by your nickname. Since my father has joined the Qi army, he should at least call me by a full name."

"Who got you captured..." Wanyan Zonghan touched his head, his expression softened a little: "Your name has been chosen a long time ago, Sheyema, Wanyan Sheyema."

After saying this, he ignored Wanyan Sheyema who was happy about his fame and turned to Qiu Qiongying and the others: "Please all the young men and women come to my house, first to get to know me, and second, let me and my wife express our gratitude to you. If it weren't for your protection..." He stretched out his hand and slapped Jindanzi on the head: "I'm afraid this fool will be harmed by my brothers."

“Where, where…”

"I don't deserve your thanks."

Several young men and women shook their heads, not daring to accept his thanks, but still willing to go with him and his son as guests, just as he said, it would be good to get to know the family. (End of this chapter)