Rebirth of the best emperor

Chapter 198 Haiyan Heqing
Competing in the Central Plains?

Wang Mang looked deeply at Shangguan Wan'er, finally smiled, stretched out his hand, and held Shangguan Wan'er's hand.

At this moment, they formally form an alliance. Perhaps, if there are historians standing here, they will be very excited to record this scene, but at this moment, in silence, an alliance that affects the general situation of the world has been concluded.

"Nowadays all countries are raising their troops and collecting supplies. I don't know if your majesty has noticed that the price of food in Daqin is rising, not only in Daqin. As far as Aijia knows, the price of food in all countries is rising now, but the increase is not high. Don’t draw attention.” Shangguan Wan’er said: “It’s obvious that a big force is hoarding supplies. The so-called soldiers and horses have not moved, but food and grass go first. This is an obvious thing.”

"Then what does the Empress Dowager think I should do?" Wang Mang said.

"Naturally hoarding supplies." Shangguan Wan'er said: "Others are hoarding supplies. If we don't stock up, we won't be able to stock up when we want to."

"Where does the money come from?" Wang Mang looked at Shangguan Wan'er, he naturally knew about hoarding supplies, but buying things requires money.

"The Ai family knows that His Majesty is laying out the land of Sanyang. Xinyang has fallen into His Majesty's control, and His Majesty's next step is Nanyang. The four major families of Nanyang have occupied Nanyang for many years. They are so rich that they are invincible. On them." Shangguan Wan'er smiled and continued: "The Ai family can provide His Majesty with an innate master, ten masters at the peak of the internal organs, they must have such strength, Your Majesty should have no worries."

What a great handwriting!
Wang Mang looked at Shangguan Wan'er in surprise, a congenital master, ten masters at the peak of the five viscera, even if Wang Mang broke through the congenital now, even killed two congenital masters, more than ten five viscera masters, he would not dare to underestimate such a Strength, at least he can't show such strength now.

Shangguan Wan'er seemed to intend to show her strength, to show his sincerity, but she paused for a moment, and said again: "Bao Si, present the things."

Bao Si looked indifferent, even when facing Wang Mang, she still looked detached, Shangguan Wan'er's voice fell, Bao Si took out a booklet from her cuff, stepped forward to hand it to Wang Mang, and said, "Your Majesty, this is the Nanyang Four Great Masters. The family has been embezzling government funds and illegally annexing common people's land over the years, and there are also thirteen extremely vicious headless cases in Nanyang, all evidence points these cases to the four major families."

"It can be said that with these alone, His Majesty can exterminate the four big families in one fell swoop." Shangguan Wan'er said: "The four big families are cancerous, but they are also fat pigs. People often say that killing pigs and eating meat for the New Year, four big families From the perspective of our imperial court, the big families have taken on this task, and now the imperial court needs money, and the four major families have money, so it is up to them to contribute."

Shangguan Wan'er's expression is as gentle as jade, and the coldness is constantly emerging on her beautiful face. She has already moved to kill the four big families. Wang Mang looked at Shangguan Wan'er in a daze, and finally smiled: "Thank you, Queen Mother!"

Wang Mang, who left Shangyuan Palace, was lost in thought all the way.

Deng Fang saw that Wang Mang was not in high spirits, so he didn't dare to speak, but accompanied Wang Mang to the study, Wang Mang sighed and said: "I thought I was cruel enough, but our queen mother is even more of a scumbag! "

From Shangguan Wan'er's means, Wang Mang made it clear that Shangguan Wan'er had nothing to do with the matter of Shiziyuan this time. If Shangguan Waner really intervened, Wang Mang really couldn't solve the matter of Shiziyuan smoothly. I really have to put myself in it, because Shangguan Wan'er's strength is too terrifying, and she has too many means.

When the Empress Dowager was involved, Deng Fang didn't dare to answer, but he didn't dare to say nothing, so he could only say: "The Empress Dowager is very human!"

Looking at Deng Fang, Wang Mang laughed and said: "The Queen Mother is indeed powerful, but I am not bad, and I have many methods, but I am just afraid of scaring everyone!"

After finishing speaking, Wang Mang temporarily put Shangguan Wan'er aside and asked, "How is the situation in Chang'an recently?"

"Qizou Your Majesty, the situation in Chang'an has been stable and prosperous recently. Many people say that Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven and the Lord of the Great Qin Dynasty." Deng Fang laughed.

"What about the prices?" Wang Mang asked again. Although he had already learned about the rising prices from Shangguan Wan'er, Wang Mang still wanted to hear what Deng Fang said about the specific situation.

"Prices have increased slightly, but they are basically stable." Deng Fangdao: "The lord of the household department said that the slight increase in prices should have something to do with the influx of a large number of scholars into Chang'an, but it is said that Mr. Fan Li, the new right servant of the household department, has some objections. Your Excellency has sent people to all over the country to investigate on the spot, but this servant feels that Master Fan is a bit of a ghost."

Prices did go up.

Wang Mang confirmed that what Shangguan Wan'er said was correct, and then Fan Li made Wang Mang's eyes light up. This financial expert recommended by the courtier was really extraordinary.

Li Hong?

Thinking of Fan Li, Wang Mang thought of Li Hong again. Li Hong's ability is indeed good, but sitting in the position of Minister of the Household Department is obviously not in line with the development route of the imperial court. It should be moved, but where should he move? Wang Mang Don't have an idea yet.

Let it go first, Wang Mang's heart moved, he temporarily put this matter aside, looked at Deng Fang and said, "Let the Minister of War, Wang Yongji, and the Minister of Housekeeping, Li Hong, come to see me."

Wang Yongji and Li Hong came so fast that almost Deng Fang delivered the decree, and the two of them entered the palace non-stop. When they arrived at the study, they found that Shang Yang and Changsun Wuji had also arrived. Although they felt a little strange, they still had to meet Wang Mang first. After the ceremony, stand on the left and right sides.

Looking at the four ministers in the audience, Wang Mang pondered for a moment, looked at Wang Yongji and said, "Wang Yongji, let's talk about the war in the south."

Wang Yongji's expression changed. This was the first time Wang Mang asked him about the situation in the South in private.

Suppressing his excitement, Wang Yongji tried his best to describe the situation of the southern war in a calm tone.

Since the beginning of the year, the imperial army has compressed the southern rebels all the way to Shenmu County. Judging from the military law, the imperial army and the southern rebels have reached the moment of the final decisive battle. In fact, the two sides are also preparing for the final decisive battle.

Judging from the comparison of the strength and strength of the two sides, the superiority of the imperial army is very obvious, but firstly, due to successive years of fighting, the imperial army is relatively exhausted; Some were not acclimatized and unfamiliar with the environment. In the end, the imperial court was insufficient in logistical supplies, which prevented the frontline army from going all out to fight the rebels.

In general, according to Wang Yongji, the southern rebels can be suppressed at any time, as long as they have money.

As soon as he heard that Wang Yongji was greedy for money, Li Hong's face turned dark. Before Wang Yongji could finish speaking, Li Hong took out a booklet, opened it and said, "Your Majesty Qi Zuo, it's not that the Ministry of Household Affairs didn't do anything. In the hands of the minister, it's the The money allocated by the Ministry of Households to the Ministry of War in the past two years, from the accounts, the Ministry of Households has allocated at least 200 million taels of silver to the Ministry of War in the past two years, which can be said to have almost emptied the family base of the Ministry of Households.”

After a pause, Li Hong continued: "Your Majesty Wang's thoughts are known to me. According to Lord Wang's plan, the Household Department has to spend at least 100 million taels of silver, but His Majesty also knows the situation of the Household Department. , even if I sell the minister, it is impossible for the minister to take out 100 million taels of silver."

Wang Yongji said indifferently: "Master Li, don't cry poorly here, didn't you agree last time that merchants can collect donations, and all merchants who donate can finally enjoy the honor of erecting a monument in the Land of the Three Gods. As far as I know, many people have come to ask about this matter recently."

Li Hong smiled wryly and said: "My lord, this matter was originally yours and mine's business, but because most of your military department's energy is devoted to the southern war situation, most of the donations fell on the household department, and I will not hide it from you." , There are indeed many people who come to ask about this matter, but not many are willing to give real money."

"So far, how much money has been raised?" Wang Mang asked.

"Qizou Your Majesty, the Ministry of Households has set aside a special room and dispatched personnel to handle this matter. Up to now, more than 230 people have come to consult this matter, and 110 people have donated silver, and the most one has donated 1 taels of silver , at least one tael was donated, and a total of 780 taels of silver was donated.”

"What?" Wang Yongji suddenly called out, "You only donated more than 6 taels of silver?"

"It's really that much." Li Hong said with a wry smile: "Your Majesty, Lord Wang, this fundraising is aimed at merchants, and almost all the big merchants in Daqin are from the south. These people have unclear relations with the rebels in the south. , It is too difficult to take money from them to suppress the rebellion!"

Li Hong's words made the people in the room silent for a while. It's not without reason that scholars, farmers, businessmen, and businessmen are the lowest. In the eyes of businessmen, capital has no national boundaries, and capitalists also have no national boundaries.

Wang Yongji said bitterly: "A group of country moths will kill them all sooner or later!"

Shang Yang glanced at Wang Yongji with a strange look on his face, then looked at Li Hong and said, "Master Li, who is the leader of the businessmen in Beijing today?"

"Nanyang people have a lot of money." Li Hong said: "Because the household department sometimes needs to borrow some money from these merchants, the household department has some contacts with the merchants. Now the most prestigious merchants in Chang'an are Nanyang people. People from the Qian family, the Qian family is worthy of the Qian family name, they are indeed rich, and Qian Duoduo is a genius of the Qian family. Originally, the power of the Qian family in Chang'an was not very strong. The influence of Chang'an has expanded rapidly, and now it is the head of Chang'an merchants."

How much money do Nanyang people have?

Wang Mang was stunned for a moment, never thought that this could be related to the four major families in Nanyang, but this person's name is really interesting, shaking his head and chuckling, Wang Mang looked at Deng Fang and said: "Let Li Lan give me the information about Qian Duoduo .”

When Deng Fang left, Wang Mang looked at several people and said, "You are all ministers who are really worthy of the humerus. I will tell you the truth. I don't want to watch the southern rebels continue to be active in the south!"

When Wang Mang asked Wang Yongji about the situation in the south, they guessed that there would be such a result, and Wang Yongji said loudly: "My lord, Wang Yongji, I am willing to eradicate the traitors in the south for your majesty, and return the great Qin Haiyan." He Qing!"

(End of this chapter)