Empress in her second playthrough: Something's not right with this plot!

"If Minister Li goes personally, who will handle the affairs of the court?"

"Prime Minister Liu is a veteran of three reigns, and Your Majesty can rely on him more in matters of state."

Jiang Qingying looked at Liu Cheng, who was second only to Li Yunsheng in rank. He was indeed highly respected in the court.

But Liu Cheng was so old that he could hardly hear, and he was also sometimes confused.

How can we rely on this?

"Prime Minister Liu is old, I fear—"

Before she could finish speaking, Liu Cheng, the Grand Secretary, stepped forward, trembling.

"Your Majesty, I will do my utmost to ensure that Prime Minister Li has no worries!"

Jiang Qingying: You heard it quite clearly this time.

"In that case, the matter of disaster relief will be entrusted to Minister Li."

"Sir, obey the order."

Li Yunsheng did not sit back down, but continued.

"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present."

"What's the matter?"

"In recent years, disasters have occurred frequently."

In order to better cope with disasters in various regions, I suggest that four more granaries be built in addition to the thirteen granaries in the capital.

At the same time, the grain reserves in these seventeen granaries must be guaranteed so that there is no shortage of grain when the country needs it.

Jiang Qingying glanced at the officials.

"My beloved ministers, what do you think?"

All the officials said in unison.

"What Prime Minister Li says is absolutely right; we agree!"

Jiang Qingying realized that there were no longer any dissenting voices from the Li faction in the imperial court.

"Do any of my beloved ministers have anything else to report?"

After a long while, no one answered.

"If there is nothing else, Minister Li, please stay. The rest of you may leave the court."

"Retreat!"

With a loud voice from Shangguan Xuanran, the officials dispersed.

Only Li Yunsheng and the Empress remained in the main hall.

Li Yunsheng said respectfully.

"Your Majesty, what are your orders?"

Jiang Qingying stood up and walked down the platform step by step.

"You've taken all of my private treasury money. I don't have a single penny left. What am I going to do when I need to spend money?"

With so many people in my palace, how do we manage their food, clothing, and daily necessities?

Li Yunsheng looked as if he had suddenly realized something.

"Your Majesty is absolutely right."

Jiang Qingying immediately replied.

"Therefore, you must return my imperial treasury!"

"Therefore, I have ordered the Ministry of Revenue to take over all the palace's expenses."

"Does Minister Li mean that I will spend the national treasury's money from now on?"

Jiang Qingying was secretly delighted. If it was money from the national treasury, she wouldn't have to feel so bad.

Anyway, the national treasury will be embezzled by Li Yunsheng sooner or later, so why not spend it yourself instead of letting that scoundrel spend it?

However, before a smile could even appear on her face, Li Yunsheng poured cold water on her.

"At the end of the year, the Ministry of Revenue will deduct all the expenses in the palace from His Majesty's private treasury."

Jiang Qingying's expression immediately changed, and she said coldly.

"Minister Li may leave now."

"Your Majesty, as we part, I would like to present you with a gift."

Jiang Qingying turned around.

What gift?

"After I leave, all matters concerning the Six Ministries will be reported directly to Your Majesty."

"Hasn't Your Majesty always wanted to rule personally? Well then, I'll grant you a taste of what it's like to rule personally."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingying walked up the platform step by step and sat on the dragon throne.

"I will definitely do better than you."

Li Yunsheng spoke slowly.

"If Your Majesty can become a ruler who brings peace and stability to the country like the late Emperor, then I will do my best to be a wise and virtuous minister like my father."

After speaking, Li Yunsheng bowed and left the main hall.

The Empress was left alone, sitting on the dragon throne for a long time.

……

Ministry of Revenue.

Upon seeing Li Yunsheng enter, Lou Jing quickly stood up to greet him.

"Prime Minister Li."

Li Yunsheng did not enter the Ministry of Revenue's room, but stood at the door and asked.

How much silver is left in the national treasury?

"Reporting to Prime Minister Li, there are still seventy million taels of silver."

Li Yunsheng nodded.

“You should take what I said during the morning court session to heart. Discuss it with the Ministry of Works and make sure the other four granaries are built as soon as possible.”

We'll work overtime to finish this job by the time I get back from Qingzhou.

Seeing his urgency, Lou Jing raised his own question.

"Prime Minister Li, there is something I do not understand."

"explain."

"Based on past years, the thirteen granaries in the capital are sufficient to cope with disasters in various places."

Why is there such a rush to build four more granaries? Does Prime Minister Li have a deeper meaning?

If you want to make money, you have to do it by taking advantage of all sorts of big construction projects.

For example, repairing waterways, building palaces and gardens.

Building granaries doesn't offer much profit, which is inconsistent with Prime Minister Li's usual style.

However, he has not been able to figure out the deeper meaning behind this since the end of the court session.

Li Yunsheng spoke with righteous indignation and stern words.

"Didn't I say this during the morning court session? It's for the sake of the common people and the people of the world."

Lou Jing was stunned. Was this the Prime Minister Li he knew?

"I understand."

"Of these thirteen warehouses, how many are empty?"

"Six granaries are empty, but the grain from Guangling Road and Huainan Road will be transported to the capital in less than two months."

At that time, there will be a maximum of only two empty warehouses.

Li Yunsheng continued.

"These seventeen warehouses must be completely filled with grain."

"I have noted it down."

Li Yunsheng glanced at the Ministry of Revenue officials who were handling government affairs inside the room, and beckoned with his finger.

Upon seeing this, Lou Jing immediately bowed and whispered in his ear.

Li Yunsheng lowered his voice slightly.

“The grain from Guangling Road and Huainan Road will not be transported here. We will use the national treasury to buy grain from Xizhou and fill all the empty granaries.”

Upon hearing this, Lou Jing was greatly shocked; this was unprecedented.

"Prime Minister Li, there is no such rule!"

Li Yunsheng said coldly.

"My rules are the rules."

Chapter 52 It's still that familiar Prime Minister

Lou Jing was puzzled.

"Prime Minister Li, why is this?"

Most of the grain in the thirteen granaries of the capital came from Guangling Circuit and Huainan Circuit.

Even if four more granaries were built, he could still fill seventeen granaries by allocating grain from various places.