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Chapter 679 Military Expenditure (II)

Minister Ding looked at the Empress's trusted generals calmly.

Little did they know that the young generals were also muttering in their hearts.

The Minister Ding in front of him looked ordinary, neither mighty nor tall, and looked like a civil official. Could such an official also be in charge of the Ministry of War?

Compared to Commander Liu who can read military books, train troops and lead troops in battle, they are far inferior. If they are sensible, they should make room for their Commander Liu as soon as possible!
Not to mention young people like Li Tianxi, Tao Daxiao and Tian, ​​even Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan were very impressed with Liu Hengchang.

The emperor did not let them read the memorials because they really could not understand them. Liu Hengchang was different. When he was in the Nanyang County Guards Camp, it was Liu Hengchang's job to sort out the military records and calculate the military expenses. The two of them were only responsible for training soldiers and fighting. These paperwork gave them a headache.

After reading it, Liu Hengchang respectfully handed the memorial to Chen Sheren, who then presented it to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, if the numbers on the military register in this memorial are true, the military expenditure calculated is a reasonable number." Liu Hengchang spoke calmly, without any emotion. "However, according to my understanding, the exact number of garrison troops in various places has always been a confusing account."

"Take the Nanyang Army as an example. There are 6,000 soldiers on the roster, but the actual strength is only about 4,000. The military budget is still allocated for 6,000 people. After deducting the money layer by layer, if only 60% or 70% is distributed to the soldiers, then the commander is considered to have a conscience."

When he heard about the layers of deductions, Ding's forehead began to sweat. As soon as Liu Hengchang finished speaking, Ding immediately said, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of War has not embezzled any money in the allocation of military funds this time."

Jiang Shaohua pulled the corner of his mouth and glanced at the nervous Minister Ding: "Minister Ding, don't be alarmed. What Commander Liu said are all examples of bad habits in the past."

"I believe that starting from the Ministry of Revenue and then to the Ministry of War, this bad habit of taking advantage of others will soon be changed."

After a pause, he smiled again: "In fact, I wish there was a doctor like Wan in the Ministry of War. If we find evidence against him, we can just behead him and confiscate his property, and the national treasury will have another huge income."

Minister Ding resisted the urge to wipe his sweat and said with a smile: "Your Majesty is joking. With Doctor Wan's experience as a warning, who would dare to reach out recklessly?"

Jiang Shaohua knocked a few words, and without saying much, he turned around and told Liu Hengchang and others: "Later, you will all follow Minister Ding to the Ministry of War."

Liu Hengchang and others bowed and accepted the order!
Minister Ding was shocked!

These six people in front of me...are all going to the Ministry of War?

At the Ministry of Revenue, there was only one more person, Tang Youyin. Why did the emperor send six people to the Ministry of War at the first request? This differential treatment was too obvious!

No matter how shocked he was, he couldn't help but respond. Minister Ding quickly came to his senses and respectfully accepted the order.

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "Minister Ding, don't panic. I let them go so that they can see how the Ministry of War does things. They won't stay in the Ministry of War for long."

Minister Ding hadn't even finished his breath when he said, "I plan to send them to escort the military funds."

The troops stationed in the capital were close, so they could just send someone to the Ministry of War to collect the military expenses. The distances of the garrisons in various places from the capital were different, so the Ministry of War had to send people to deliver the military expenses every year.

Of course, the officials who delivered the military funds had to take a benefit after their hard work.

This is what is meant by deductions at every level.

However, this time, the distribution of military funds was accompanied by beheading and confiscation of property from the beginning of the Ministry of Revenue. When it came to the Ministry of War, the emperor sent his trusted henchmen to not only monitor the Ministry of War throughout the process, but also took away the job of escorting military funds...

Wait! Minister Ding suddenly had an idea: "Could it be that the Emperor wants to use this opportunity to distribute military funds to get a feel for the details of each army?"

So, among those who can truly become high-ranking officials in the court, there are no stupid people.

Minister Ding quickly figured out the real purpose of the emperor's arrangement.

Jiang Shaohua said calmly: "That's right. Several garrisons in the capital are right under my nose. I will find time to inspect the military camps in person in the future. Forty garrisons are stationed in various states and counties in Daliang. The difference between the numbers on the military register and the actual military strength has become a confusing account."

"I will send someone I trust to check all the military camps for me."

"Military pay must be distributed personally to all soldiers, and the military registers must be checked to verify the number of soldiers. I also want to see how rotten the Daliang military camp is. I also want to see how much blood the generals of each military camp can suck from the soldiers."

The last sentence made Minister Ding feel a chill down his spine.

He couldn't help but reach out and wipe the sweat on his forehead with his sleeve, and whispered: "Your Majesty, I dare to say something that I shouldn't say. The news of your accession to the throne has slowly spread to the various states and counties of Daliang. The throne has changed, and people's hearts are unstable. At this time, it is not appropriate to take action against the commanders of the garrison. Otherwise, it will easily cause a mutiny."

"It's better to take it easy."

These are words that only one with a heart devoted to the Emperor would dare to say.

Jiang Shaohua inherited the throne as a princess, and was recommended by the court officials, and also supported by the Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Li. From the perspective of the throne, this is beyond reproach and doubt.

Everything is safe and stable in the capital, but it is hard to say whether the garrisons in the states and counties far away from the center of political power will secretly develop disloyal ideas.

At this time, stability should be the priority. If you want to catch the termites in the military camp, you can wait for two or three years, and it will not be too late to take action after you have firmly established your throne.

Liu Hengchang glanced at Minister Ding and thought to himself that it was no wonder that the princess chose Minister Ding as the next Minister of War. Although Minister Ding might not be the most talented, he had a positive attitude and was loyal to the emperor.

Jiang Shaohua looked at Minister Ding with a much gentler look in his eyes: "What Minister Ding said is not without reason. Don't worry, I will act with propriety."

We need to warn all the garrison commanders, but we cannot force them to the point of rebellion.

The right balance depends on how the guards behave after entering the military camp.

This also shows that the emperor has strong confidence in his personal guards.

Minister Ding's mind raced, and he said, "The emperor has sent people to the barracks to distribute military pay. This grace must be made known to all soldiers. After I return, I will draft an official document and have it delivered to each barracks."

"Also, since you are going on a mission, you should be treated like the emperor's personal guards. The ranks of these personal guards leaders should be promoted a few levels. The young generals should also be promoted."

As the acting Minister of War, it was reasonable for Minister Ding to propose promoting the military generals.

Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan looked at each other and grinned.

Liu Hengchang has always been low-key, and at this moment he couldn't help but relax his brows.

Jiang Shaohua agreed with a smile: "Then I will trouble Minister Ding to prepare a memorial and submit it to me after you return. I will consider it carefully."