The struggle for the throne among nine princes—I really don't want to be the crown prince.

Chapter 318 Father and Son Battle of Wits: We Are Both Rulers

Emperor Qianxi asked each of them in turn, and finally asked himself.

What does this show? It shows that Emperor Qianxi didn't listen to any of the previous answers at all.

If he were satisfied, would he need to keep asking so many questions?

But if you actually voice a different opinion, not only will you offend people, but you might also end up losing the job of distributing the money.

Shen Ye's mind raced, and she instantly came up with an idea.

He respectfully said to Emperor Qianxi, "Father, I think what you gentlemen said makes sense."

These words immediately darkened Emperor Qianxi's expression.

He deliberately asked the Crown Prince at the end, his purpose being to force the Crown Prince to disagree and express a different opinion, so that he could legitimately pass this hot potato into the Crown Prince's hands.

After all, when it comes to making money, who in the entire court doesn't know that the Crown Prince is the most capable?
This is a widely accepted fact!
Some people even said in private that the crown prince was the reincarnation of the God of Wealth.

Unexpectedly, this kid actually pretended to be confused!

This kind of unfilial son is simply despicable!
"Do you really think this salary should be delayed until after the winter solstice?" Emperor Qianxi's voice was icy.

Upon hearing Emperor Qianxi's tone, everyone present felt a chill run down their spines.

Tong Guowei and the others all kept their mouths shut.

It's easy to say what Emperor Qianxi wants, but where are you going to find millions of taels of silver?
What's more, the winter solstice is just around the corner!

Emperor Qianxi's intention was clear: to have the Crown Prince take over!

Shen Ye could also sense the hostility in Emperor Qianxi's tone, but he was not afraid at all.

Now, he is a prince who only wants to live a life of ease.

How could someone like him be intimidated by a few words from Emperor Qianxi?
He then said calmly, "Father, those who understand all of you ministers best are none other than the officials present here."

“Especially Tong Guowei, the Grand Secretary, who was the head of all the officials.”

"Since he said that the salaries of the officials could be postponed until after the winter solstice, I think it can't be wrong."

Tong Guowei felt an urge to hit someone.

He desperately wanted to tell the Crown Prince, "If you don't want to agree, just say so. Why are you dragging an old man like me into this? Do you think I'm easy to bully?"
You repeatedly emphasize that it was my suggestion, Tong Guowei, to postpone the payment of salaries. Is this because you're afraid that those ministers who are waiting for their paychecks will secretly curse me?

Although he secretly complained, he could only keep it to himself and dared not say it.

After all, Emperor Qianxi was in a fit of anger at that moment.

If he speaks again, wouldn't that just add fuel to the fire?
Emperor Qianxi also had an urge to hit someone, but he had to suppress it.

Tong Guowei was the Grand Secretary, and as the emperor, he had to give the Grand Secretary enough face; only in this way could Tong Guowei continue to hold the position.

If the emperor disrespects the chief minister and publicly humiliates him, it basically means that the chief minister is about to step down.

Emperor Qianxi took a deep breath and said, "Yunye, it's not bad that you have such thoughts."

"If you were just an ordinary subject, I might even praise you a couple of times."

"But you are not a subject, you are the crown prince! You are half a ruler!"

"If you share the same idea as Grand Scholar Tong, then you are sorely mistaken!"

Before Shen Ye could object, Emperor Qianxi continued, "Grand Secretary Tong and the others made this suggestion for the sake of the court and for the benefit of my son and me."

"But, as the ruler, and you as the crown prince, you should be more considerate of your ministers."

"Only when the ruler and his ministers understand each other can the court be united and work together."

At this point, he solemnly said, "We must remember the understanding of our ministers."

"But the livelihoods of our officials cannot be neglected!"

"Yunye, since Ma Qi is ill, you will go to the Ministry of Revenue to oversee the administration and be responsible for distributing a month's salary before the winter solstice."

"We, father and son, cannot disappoint our ministers and let them down!"

Emperor Qianxi spoke these words with deep emotion.

Tong Guowei was the first to kneel down with a thud, his voice choked with emotion: "Your Majesty's great kindness has moved us to tears!"

"With Your Majesty's compassion, we, your humble servants, will certainly devote ourselves wholeheartedly to the cause, even unto death!"

As soon as Tong Guowei spoke, Zhang Ying and the others knelt down without hesitation, their voices filled with fervor: "Your Majesty's great kindness will never be forgotten!"

Hearing these words of loyalty, Shen Ye felt a surge of emotion.

He truly admired Emperor Qianxi.

He had already blocked Emperor Qianxi's path by using Tong Guowei's words, but unexpectedly, Emperor Qianxi turned the tables and not only forced this daunting task on him, but also won him a lot of popular support!

Even a seasoned veteran like Tong Guowei was so moved he almost cried!

Emperor Qianxi was so considerate of his subjects that he couldn't bring himself to make excuses.

Moreover, Emperor Qianxi also gave him a sweet treat by allowing him to observe the administration of the Ministry of Revenue, which was clearly a way of giving him real power.

After consoling himself like this, Shen Ye could only smile bitterly and admit defeat: "Your subject is foolish, always placing himself on the same level as Lord Tong Guowei and the others."

"Today, listening to Father's words is more valuable than reading for ten years. Your son has also realized his shortcomings."

Emperor Qianxi nodded in satisfaction: "In that case, you should handle this matter as soon as possible."

"I hope to receive good news that salaries have been distributed before the winter solstice." He then glanced around and said, "Court adjourned."

Although Shen Ye was unwilling, Emperor Qianxi was more skilled, so he had no choice but to admit defeat.

As Emperor Qianxi walked toward the Qianqing Palace, Shen Ye turned around and pulled Zhang Fengpan, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and said, "Lord Zhang, we need to discuss the matter of the salaries of the officials."

Zhang Fengpan naturally dared not offend Shen Ye, the crown prince, easily.

They quickly pledged their loyalty, saying, "Your Highness, with you taking the lead this time, we can finally relax."

"As long as Your Highness makes the arrangements, we will absolutely not dare to say a word."

Zhang Fengpan's words were quite clever; while expressing his loyalty to Shen Ye, he also shifted the blame onto the Crown Prince.

Although he couldn't escape this task either, the person primarily in charge of it had become Shen Ye.

Shen Ye, who was well aware of these things, did not point them out, but asked directly, "Lord Zhang, how much silver is the monthly salary?"

How much silver do we still need?

“Your Highness, if only the salaries of the officials are paid, it would only amount to a few hundred thousand taels of silver. But His Majesty's intention is that the soldiers and nobles should also receive their salaries.”

"In that case, 1.3 million taels of silver will not be enough."

"The Ministry of Revenue can only raise 200,000 taels of silver right now. As for the remaining 1.1 million taels, do you think we should also discuss it with the Imperial Household Department?"

"After all, when His Majesty issued the decree, he instructed Lord Ma Qi to discuss it with the Imperial Household Department."

Upon hearing this suggestion, a cold glint flashed in Shen Ye's eyes.

He didn't know why Maqi was sick, but he knew that Maqi had failed to get money from Yarjianga.

Yarjiang'a said that the money from their Imperial Household Department was for the palace's New Year expenses, and no one could get the money out of him.

Zhang Fengpan's decision to send him to find Yarjiang was either to create difficulties for himself or to deal with Yarjiang.

He casually replied, "We'll discuss the matter of the Imperial Household Department later, once it's been finalized."

"What we need to do now is figure out how to raise enough silver before the winter solstice," Shen Ye said to Zhang Fengpan. "Lord Zhang, you've been in the Ministry of Revenue for many years, do you have any good suggestions?"

Zhang Fengpan looked troubled and said, "Your Highness, if I could think of a solution, I would not have kept it from His Majesty."

"I really can't think of a solution."

At this point, as if afraid that Shen Ye wouldn't believe him, Zhang Fengpan looked around twice and then whispered, "Your Highness, to be honest, Lord Ma Qi fell ill first. It was such a coincidence that I almost wished I could fall ill myself."

Zhang Fengpan didn't speak loudly, but Shen Ye understood the meaning behind his words.

He looked at Zhang Fengpan, who seemed to regret not having fallen ill sooner, and couldn't help but laugh.

Shen Ye patted Zhang Fengpan on the shoulder and said, "Minister Zhang is indeed an honest man."

Zhang Fengpan could only laugh awkwardly and say, "Your Highness, I dare not say anything else, but I will resolutely carry out any order from Your Highness."

Shen Ye knew that it was basically impossible to force Zhang Fengpan to come up with a solution at this point, so he said after thinking for a moment, "Lord Zhang, you should go and do your work."

"If there's anything, I'll have someone contact you."

As they spoke, Shen Ye headed towards Yuqing Palace.

Zhang Fengpan watched Shen Ye leave, filled with doubt.

The salary is still 1.1 million taels of silver short, and there are only a few days left.

The Crown Prince told me to go about my own business; could it be that the Crown Prince already has a plan?

Or is the young master simply going to lie down and give up...?

Although puzzled, they dared not disobey Shen Ye's order and could only head out of the palace.

Emperor Qianxi's order was quickly disseminated.

When ordinary officials heard Emperor Qianxi's concern, regardless of what they thought in their hearts, they all appeared to be grateful and acted as if they would do anything for such a wise ruler.

However, some people began to worry about where this million taels of silver would come from.

After all, over a million taels of silver is no small sum.

Will the Crown Prince receive his salary on time?
At Ma Qi's residence, the imperial physician who had just come to visit him took his leave with Liang Jiugong after writing a prescription.

Ma Qi lay on the bed, his face flushed. Although he was covered with several layers of blankets, his body still trembled involuntarily.

However, at this moment, he had already regained his senses.

After hearing his nephew Fuheng's report, he sighed and said, "I knew His Majesty would not give up such an opportunity to win people's hearts."

"However, without the support of the Imperial Household Department, it is really difficult to raise the money in a short period of time."

"Otherwise, why would I have to suffer this ordeal?"

"Tong Guowei is senile. Does he think he can fool the emperor by talking to the ministers? That's wishful thinking."

When Fuheng heard his uncle complaining about the university, he didn't say anything, but just listened quietly.

After Ma Qi finished speaking, he asked with concern, "Uncle, His Majesty has appointed the Crown Prince to head the Ministry of Revenue. What will you do now?"

"It's simply impossible for the Crown Prince to raise enough salaries for all the officials in just a few days," Ma Qi said with a confident sneer. "The Crown Prince simply can't do it, and once he messes it up, he naturally won't be able to stay in the Ministry of Revenue."

"Don't worry, nothing can happen!"

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(End of this chapter)