Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 240: Treasure

Chapter 240: Treasure
……

Since Miaoyu had no objection, Jia Rong took her into Jia Jing's study.

After seeing it for a few people...

Jia Jing waved his hand to Jia Rong and said, "You go down first. I want to talk to Miss Li alone."

Jia Rong: “…”

"Master, what are you worried about?" Zhishui walked to Jia Rong and said with a smile.

Seeing Miaoyu's expression was normal, Jia Rong felt that he had thought too much, so he smiled and said, "No, sister, you are joking."

After saying that, he hurried out.

The master is a gentleman.

I'm definitely overthinking it.

Last time, the Prince of Nan'an brought his beautiful niece with him, but Jia Jing didn't even look at her.

After all, he is older.

Maybe my mind isn't on that anymore.

Jia Rong didn't walk too far and waited in the corridor at the door.

After a while, Miaoyu came out and saw Jia Rong still there, so she asked with a smile, "Master, are you waiting for me?"

"of course."

Jia Rong smiled and said, "You saved our master. I won't express my gratitude for this, but I have to invite a host. Is today convenient?"

Miaoyu didn't act pretentiously, but smiled and said, "Then I'd better obey your command."

"Miss Li, please."

"Please, young master."

……

In the study.

Jia Jing looked at the prescription in his hand as if it were a treasure.

Since ancient times, many emperors have tried to achieve immortality by burning elixirs and refining mercury, but most of them died violent deaths, and almost none of them died of natural causes.

The reason is that erysipelas is hidden in the stomach and accumulates over time.

In less than a year or two, he will die.

If erysipelas can be induced, then...

Is it really possible to become an immortal?
The more Jia Jing thought about it, the more excited he became!
But he did not try blindly.

After all, his son is there, so let's see if he can get better first.

As for whether to present the recipe to the Emperor...

It depends on the timing!
……

Early morning the next day.

Because it is already the twelfth lunar month, the weather is freezing cold.

Especially in the morning, when the biting cold wind blows through the palace gate, the white air just exhaled can condense into frost flowers.

Most of the ministers who came to the court meeting were frail literati who normally needed help getting in and out of their sedan chairs. It was difficult for them at this moment, so several people supported each other as they walked inside.

The military generals were not much better. They had been living a life of luxury in Beijing for many years and lacked exercise. They had big bellies like pregnant women and their steps were unsteady.

Finally arrived at the Huangji Palace.

The furnace walls were warm from the burning honeycomb coal, and the ministers breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ouch, I'm freezing."

"The weather was better in the first month of this year. I thought it was going to be a warm winter, but it took a sharp turn for the worse once the twelfth lunar month arrived."

"Who says it's not true? I heard that the honeycomb briquettes from the imperial treasury are selling like hot cakes. I'm very happy."

"Alas, they are happy, but the people suffer..."

"yes……"

Several officials began to feel compassion.

Soon, all the court officials arrived.

Emperor Anping entered the main hall from the warm room.

"Long live my emperor."

"Everyone loves you."

After a set of formalities, Zhang Lezhou, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of War, stood up and said with a little worry: "The war in the northwest continues, and the military pay is already a little insufficient. Please ask the emperor and the elders to make a decision as soon as possible."

Emperor Anping frowned when he heard this.

The war in the northwest has not been going well recently. Although we have won a few small battles, we have ultimately failed to recapture the important city of Yulin.

The military pay is insufficient at this moment...

"What do you think, dear friends?"

Emperor Anping swept his fierce eyes over the ministers below.

More than a year of personal rule has given him a lot more authority, and now he can control the court with ease.

Even if the retired emperor had come to his senses now and came back to rule the country, he felt that he could still compete with him.

Wu Nan from the cabinet was the first to stand up and said in a cold voice: "How dare the Tartar barbarians dare to offend the majesty of our Great Xia country? I think we should mobilize 300,000 troops from all over the country to crush the northwest tribes in one fell swoop and enhance the prestige of our Great Xia country!"

Emperor Anping: "..."

Talent!

The cabinet that my father left me actually has such talents! The military pay is not enough to maintain the status quo, and they are mobilizing 300,000 troops from all over the country? Are they going to leave them hungry in the northwest?

He quietly winked at his right-hand minister Li Minzhi, who immediately understood, stood up, and said with a folded hand: "This is inappropriate. Not to mention that our Great Xia is a country of etiquette, since ancient times, wars have caused great loss of wealth and lives, and the people have been displaced and suffered unspeakably."

"Therefore, I think that negotiating a truce is the best policy."

Emperor Anping smiled and nodded.

But I felt a little disappointed.

My right-hand man is too weak.

I think about peace talks all day long, peace talks!
"What does Ye Xiang think?"

Emperor Anping turned his gaze to the Prime Minister again.

As an experienced man, Ye Xiang naturally understood some of the Emperor Anping's intentions.

Don't want to negotiate peace.

Because that would make him look incompetent.

I really want to show off my talents.

It's a pity that there is no money.

But he didn't want to be controlled by Jia Jing.

If he could get money at this time, he would definitely be valued by the emperor, and his position as the prime minister would be even more stable.

but……

That is impossible.

Can Prime Minister Ye squeeze the people's money and feed it to the emperor?
Only a treacherous minister would do such a thing.

He is a loyal minister!

One more thing.

The emperor cannot have money in his hands.

When you have money, you will pursue pleasure.

He will become a tyrant!

Therefore, Prime Minister Ye cupped his hands and said, "It is winter now, so it is not suitable for war. In addition, several provinces have suffered from drought and floods this year. Even if the Ministry of Revenue still has some silver, it must first be used to provide relief to the victims."

"So, I think it's best to stop fighting for now. By next spring, the soldiers will have enough money and the barbarians will not be a problem."

Emperor Anping was speechless.

This is a typical procrastination tactic.

There is no military pay now, but will there be one next spring?
Falling from the sky?

In desperation, Emperor Anping looked at Jia Jing and smiled, "What do you think, Lord Jia?"

Jia Jing stood up and originally wanted to say that they should immediately increase pay and send troops to recapture the important town of Yulin while the Tartars were still unstable.

But he thought in a flash that he had already given up the military power of the border troops in order to avoid suspicion. If he continued to act like he knew everything, wouldn't it arouse the emperor's fear again?

Besides, doesn’t Prime Minister Ye know that he should strike the Tartars head-on while they are still struggling to gain a firm foothold?
Why not say it?
Probably just waiting for myself to say it.

By then, I will have to raise military funds and work hard.

As a result... the emperor is still afraid of me.

Thankless effort.

therefore……

Jia Jing decisively bowed and said, "I have recently been concentrating on the commercial tax reform entrusted by the emperor. I don't have a thorough understanding of the war in the northwest, so I dare not speak rashly."

Northwest, do whatever you want.

I won't get involved!
What the hell!

Although Emperor Anping still maintained a smile on the surface, he had already started cursing in his heart!

What the hell are they?

Corpse meal!

He must quickly train his own team!

Cultivate some useful talents!

"In this case, let's do as Prime Minister Ye said, and the cabinet will go back and get a charter." Emperor Anping said helplessly.

All the court officials: "Our emperor is wise!"

Wise and wise!

So wise!
……

"Snapped!"