The Prodigal Son

Not enough money?

Song Zhuo's words were like throwing a boulder into a calm lake.

Zhao Luan's eyes widened suddenly as she looked at Song Zhuo in disbelief. "It can't be that bad, can it? At the end of last year, the national treasury still had nearly 20 million taels of silver. This year's various incomes should also add up to 20 million taels of silver, right?"

Last year's national treasury deposits plus this year's tax revenue totaled at least forty million taels of silver.

Otherwise, would she dare to even consider destroying Yan?

But now, Song Zhuo is telling her that she doesn't have enough money?

For a fleeting moment, Zhao Luan even wondered if someone had emptied the national treasury.

Song Zhuo smiled wryly, "There is indeed a lot of silver, but the imperial court has many other places where it needs to spend it!"

As he spoke, Song Zhuo began to calculate the details with Zhao Luan.

This year, the imperial court launched a trade program with the Yan state, selling a considerable amount of old grain and a significant amount of pepper, which brought the court additional revenue.

In the case of the Prince of Chengyang, many other officials will have their homes searched, and some silver should be found there as well.

In reality, the imperial court had more money than Zhao Luan had imagined.

But she has to see what the imperial court is going to do!

During the war to destroy Yan, there was an almost certain time when war would break out with Bei Qi.

This is the most important matter for the imperial court right now. Twenty-five million taels of silver for military expenses is really not much!

Since this summer, the drought in Longzhou, Juzhou and Tongzhou has continued to worsen.

If the drought continues to worsen, the imperial court will likely have to spend at least two million taels of silver just on disaster relief.

To be on the safe side, three million taels of silver should be prepared for disaster relief.

Officials in the imperial court can't go a year without receiving their salaries, can they?

Another two or three million taels of silver will be deducted from the salary alone.

There were also various projects involving water conservancy construction, port building in Chenzhou, and other expenditures.

The little bit of silver left might not be enough to live on!

Moreover, a country's treasury should at least have seven or eight million taels of silver to cover its expenses, right?

Otherwise, let alone fighting a war, if a natural disaster or man-made calamity were to suddenly occur, the imperial court would not be able to come up with a single tael of silver!

After hearing Song Zhuo's calculations, Zhao Luan was completely distraught.

So, does that mean the imperial court really doesn't have enough money?

"Shangguan, make a note of this! Have the Ministry of Revenue prepare a detailed budget for me later!"

Zhao Luan gave the order, then rubbed her slightly throbbing head, "So, my mentor's suggestion that I reinstate Gao Yi also had this in mind?"

"really!"

Song Zhuo nodded: "Gao Yi served as Minister of Revenue for nearly ten years and has extensive experience in increasing revenue and reducing expenditure. Reinstating Gao Yi at this time is most appropriate!"

There are essentially two ways to replenish the national treasury.

Open source, cost reduction!

And this is also Gao Yi's strength!

Zhao Luan pondered for a moment and replied, "Appointing Gao Yi as prime minister is a matter of great importance! I'm afraid I'll have to discuss it with the senior officials in the court before making a decision! My teacher is unwell; I'll have someone send him home to rest first!"

"Alright!"

Song Zhuo said no more and bowed to take his leave.

Watching Song Zhuo leave, Zhao Luan couldn't help but sigh softly, and slowly knelt down in the direction where Song Zhuo's figure disappeared.

"I bow in gratitude to my revered teacher!"

Zhao Luan kowtowed in gratitude, her eyes feeling a little sore.

……

The following day, after the court assembly, Nan Que'er, having received the imperial decree, took the Qin family grandfather and grandson to the Prime Minister's residence to treat Song Zhuo.

Qin Fumeng also brought some tonics with him when he visited.

When they arrived, Song Xian was busy with official duties at court and was not at home.

"Hey Lao Song, weren't you perfectly fine a while ago? How come you suddenly got sick?"

Qin Fumeng, on the other hand, was quite casual. Before Song Zhuo could speak, he sat down casually and even teased Song Zhuo, "You haven't gotten addicted to faking illness, have you?"

"You think everyone's like you, old codger, as strong as an ox!"

Song Zhuo glared at Qin Fumeng with a smile. "By the way, did His Majesty mention the matter of reinstating Gao Yi as prime minister to you in court today?"

"What?"

Qin Yu suddenly raised his voice, "Your Majesty intends to reinstate Gao Yi as prime minister? Has His Majesty been bewitched?"

"What are you saying!"

Song Zhuo glared at Qin Yu with a smile, "It was I who suggested that Your Majesty reinstate Gao Yi."

"what?"

Qin Yu was stunned, looking at Song Zhuo speechlessly: "Prime Minister Song, are you delirious from illness?"

"Shut up!"

Qin Fumeng glared at him fiercely, his eyes wide, and raised his hand as if to strike.

Qin Yu curled his lip.

That's exactly right!

He knew that the old man had even considered killing Gao Yi.

Song Zhuo also extended his warm greetings to Gao Yi's mother in court on more than one occasion.

Now that Gao Yi has been driven out of the capital and there has been no news of him for many years, he has actually recommended Gao Yi to come back as prime minister.

Isn't he just disgusting himself?

Is he really so magnanimous that he can hold a boat in his belly?

He wants to repay evil with good?

Song Zhuo didn't blame Qin Yu; instead, he asked with a hint of testing, "Why do you think I suggested His Majesty reinstate Gao Yi?"

Qin Yu snorted, "Anyway, I suspect you're delirious from your illness!"

No sooner had Qin Yu finished speaking than the old man's hand came slapping him across the forehead.

Fortunately, Qin Yu had the foresight to dodge in advance, successfully rewriting his fate of being drawn.

"You beast!"

Qin Fumeng glared at him fiercely and warned, "If you dare to spout nonsense again, I'll hang you from the roof beam and let you dry in the wind today!"

Qin Yu shrank back, but he didn't think much of it.

You've got a screw loose!

Gao Yi is practically a traitor!

How can you treat traitors with kindness and repay evil?

The key point is that this is the position of prime minister, the head of all officials!

Is he trying to influence this traitor with his actions?

"Kid, you're smart, but in some areas you still have a long way to go!"

Song Zhuo didn't argue with Qin Yu. "Ask your grandfather if Gao Yi should be appointed as Chancellor and concurrently Minister of Revenue?"

Ok?

Qin Yu was surprised.

Could it be that he has a deeper meaning behind this move?

"What the hell are you talking to him about!"

Qin Fumeng glared at Qin Yu, annoyed. "If he could understand those things, he wouldn't be constantly trying to embarrass himself in front of His Majesty!"

Huh?

Judging from the old man's words, does he also agree with Song Zhuo's approach?

Damn it!

What are these old foxes thinking?

Qin Yu's gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, his mind racing.

"Your grandson is already quite good!"

Song Zhuo chuckled, "We've all been navigating the bureaucracy for years, do you really expect a young man not even twenty to be like us?"

Hearing Song Zhuo's praise of his grandson, Qin Fumeng was secretly pleased, but he said aloud, "You mustn't praise this brat! The more you praise him, the more arrogant he'll become! Alright, Que'er, go and treat Prime Minister Song first!"

Nan Que'er nodded and stepped forward to treat Song Zhuo.

The old man then flashed to Qin Yu's side, giving Qin Yu no chance to resist, and grabbed Qin Yu's ear directly.

"Gently, gently!"

Qin Yu roared and cursed inwardly at the old man for his lack of martial ethics.

They just know how to bully a young kid like me!

Go find a grandmaster and fight him, you son of a bitch!

Damn it, after this period of tempering, his meridians and physique have been tempered almost completely!

Let's absorb Cao Zhong's strength first!

I'll strive to become a ninth-level expert within six months, and then have a good fight with that old guy to avenge the years of being brutally humiliated!

"Come with me!"

Ignoring Qin Yu's cries, Qin Fumeng grabbed his ear and dragged him aside...