The Fierce Teacher of Zhenguan: Starting with Teaching the Crown Prince to Make a Comeback

Chapter 106 Where will the money come from to fill the hole in Xizhou?
After the senior officials finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

The pressure fell entirely on the shoulders of Choi Don-ri, the newly appointed envoy for promotion and demotion.

None of them directly denied the matter of Xizhou, but their progressive analysis, like several invisible mountains, highlighted the words "money and provisions" as almost insurmountable obstacles.

Cui Dunli's face turned pale, and he felt a tremendous sense of powerlessness.

He harbored ambitions to achieve great things, prepared a detailed plan, and believed that he was capable enough to accomplish the task.

Unexpectedly, at the top of the imperial court, the most fundamental support—money and grain—became a castle in the air.

He opened his mouth, trying to make a move, but his voice carried a barely perceptible dryness and despair.

"Your Majesty, my esteemed ministers... Xizhou holds an extremely important strategic position. If it can be successfully developed, it will become the foundation for managing the Western Regions, protecting Hexi, and its benefits will last for generations."

"If we shrink back because of temporary financial difficulties, we may miss a great opportunity!"

"The necessary funds and provisions, perhaps... perhaps some can be saved from elsewhere and allocated in installments..."

His voice grew softer and softer.

Even he himself knew how pale and powerless such empty words as "saving a little" and "allocating funds in batches" were in front of several experienced prime ministers who were good at governing the country.

Looking down at Cui Dunli, who looked dejected, Li Shimin knew in his heart that what the ministers had said was true.

He was wealthy beyond measure, yet he was still subject to the constraints of money and provisions.

Expansion versus consolidation, ambition versus financial resources—these are always the difficult questions that emperors must weigh.

He couldn't help but feel a little irritated, and his gaze subconsciously turned to the Crown Prince, who had been listening silently ever since he spoke up and reprimanded Cui Dunli.

"Crown Prince," Li Shimin's voice carried a hint of expectation that was barely perceptible, perhaps even to himself.

"You have heard what you all have said. You have also paid close attention to the affairs of Xizhou. What are your thoughts on this?"

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Li Chengqian.

Changsun Wuji lowered his eyelids, Fang Xuanling's gaze was calm, and Gao Shilian's face was scrutinizing.

Under everyone's gaze, Li Chengqian slowly raised his head, his expression calm, even carrying a sense of understanding and solemnity.

He first bowed slightly to his father on the throne before speaking, his voice calm.

"Your Majesty, I have just listened carefully to what my uncle, the Chancellor, and the Duke Gao said, and I am deeply impressed by their wisdom and thoroughness in governing the country. Their concerns are all based on the current situation of the court and their own worries."

He first affirmed the opinions of the three ministers, which was consistent with the image of composure and consideration for the overall situation that he had just established.

However, his next words instantly extinguished the faint hope that had just arisen in the hearts of most people, including Li Shimin.

"It is a fact that the national treasury is currently empty."

"The Central Plains are the heartland of the nation. If there is a drought, providing relief and ensuring the people's well-being is the top priority and cannot be delayed."

"Official roads and canals are the lifeblood of the transportation of goods and the delivery of government orders. They have been neglected for years and pose endless hidden dangers."

He reiterated and emphasized the difficulties mentioned by the ministers one by one, speaking sincerely as if he were considering the overall interests of the court.

"If we are too eager for quick success and shake the foundation of the nation, or cause chaos in the heartland, it could lead to great trouble."

Li Chengqian's gaze swept over Cui Dunli, carrying a hint of helpless regret.

These words were reasonable and made him appear to be a crown prince who understood the bigger picture and was mindful of the overall situation.

Hearing this, Cui Dunli felt his last glimmer of hope completely shattered, and a deep sense of disappointment and resentment welled up in his heart.

The Crown Prince's actions were tantamount to pouring cold water on his already difficult situation.

His previous gesture was indeed just for show!

When it comes to crucial moments, their true colors of unwillingness to support are revealed!

Changsun Wuji, Fang Xuanling, and Gao Shilian all had a look of "I knew it" in their eyes.

The crown prince is still the same crown prince. He may have learned some political tactics and knows how to save face at the right time, but when it comes to major national policies that require courage and responsibility, he ultimately lacks foresight and the confidence to back them up.

He chose the safest, but also the most mediocre, path—to curry favor with powerful officials and protect himself.

On his throne, Li Shimin looked down at his son, whose tone was calm and words were earnest, yet who gently deflected the matter of Xizhou.

The glimmer of light that had just risen in his deep eyes because of the Crown Prince's previous performance quietly dimmed, transforming into a barely perceptible, indescribable disappointment.

He had originally thought that Gao Ming's recent changes might offer some different perspectives.

Even if he only puts forward some bold and immature ideas, it at least proves that he dares to think and dares to take responsibility.

However, what was ultimately received was a bland, unproductive, and even resigned statement.

It seems that Chengqian ultimately failed to truly understand what the courage and responsibility required of a pioneering ruler are.

The obstacle in his heart did not seem to have been truly eliminated despite the recent progress.

The atmosphere inside the hall became even more somber because of the Crown Prince's speech, which showed consideration for the overall situation.

The matter in Xizhou seemed to have been shrouded in a heavy shadow even before it had truly begun.

Everyone thought that the Crown Prince's words had temporarily put an end to the matter in Xizhou.

Cui Dunli's tone carried a hint of deliberately suppressed urgency, yet also concealed an almost imperceptible question.

"Your Highness! The Crown Prince has made several suggestions regarding the affairs of Xizhou. Your Highness even discussed with us the benefits of relocating people to strengthen the border in the Xiande Hall, saying that Xizhou is the foundation for managing the Western Regions and must not be abandoned."

"Could it be that what Your Highness said earlier was merely a perfunctory response?"

That's a sharp question that hits the nail on the head.

The gazes of everyone in the hall suddenly sharpened, all turning to Li Chengqian—if the Crown Prince did not answer well, it would be inconsistent, and the credibility of the heir apparent would be damaged.

Li Chengqian, however, did not get angry and continued to stand up straight.

His gaze swept over Cui Dunli, then turned to Li Shimin on the throne.

“I cannot agree with what you said, Cui Qing. I said before that Xizhou is important, and I did not say today that it is not important.”

"Xizhou is a grand plan devised by my father, the foundation for the court's strategy in the Western Regions. When have I ever said I would abandon it?"

"What I'm saying is true. The court's funds and provisions need to be prioritized—the relief efforts in the Central Plains and the repair of the canals are things that will cause trouble if they are not done now."

"The development of Xizhou is a project that will yield results in ten or twenty years. Both aspects need to be addressed."

Cui Dunli pressed further: "If the imperial court diverts funds and provisions elsewhere, where will Xizhou get its needs? You can't expect me to go to Xizhou with empty documents and leave the relocated people to cultivate the wasteland on an empty stomach, can you?"

Li Chengqian's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, but remained steady.

“The western region needs to be developed, the migrants need to be resettled, the water conservancy needs to be repaired, and the military government needs to be established—none of these things can be omitted.”

The moment these words were spoken, the hall fell silent.

Even the crackling sound of the candle flame became clear.

Changsun Wuji stopped stroking his beard.

He looked up at Li Chengqian, his eyes full of inquiry—Since the Crown Prince knows that the national treasury is empty, yet he insists on not giving any discounts to Xizhou, could he have another way?

He knew best about the expenses of the Crown Prince's palace.

The salaries of officials in the Eastern Palace, the food and lodging of palace women, and the ceremonial items were all paid according to fixed regulations by the Imperial Household Department on a quarterly basis, and were called "monthly expenses".

Every year there is also a fixed "annual gift," which is mostly silk and land. The amount is determined in advance by the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs. Any overspending, even a penny, must be reported to His Majesty. No action can be taken without an imperial edict.

Where would the Crown Prince get the money to fill the hole in Xizhou?

Fang Xuanling frowned even more deeply.

He went through it in his mind.

The royal treasury was divided into two parts. One part was the emperor's personal treasury, which managed palace expenses and rewards for officials.

The other part was the Crown Prince's private treasury, which came from imperial rewards and land taxes, and the amount was far less than that of the imperial treasury.

If His Majesty refuses to allocate funds from the Imperial Treasury, the Crown Prince's private treasury is barely enough to support the daily expenses of the Eastern Palace, so how could he possibly come up with 150,000 strings of cash?

Gao Shilian stared at Li Chengqian's face, trying to glean some clues from his expression.

(End of this chapter)