si-mexico Chapter 322 "Zhongliang" Yuan Chu
Chapter 322 "Zhongliang" Yuan Chu
The next day, morning.
Emperor Kun sat listlessly on the dragon throne.
He looked at the civil and military officials in front of him with cold eyes, as if he was looking at a group of fat pigs waiting to be slaughtered.
The central army has 300,000 people, which means there are 30 generals.
These thirty generals came from twelve powerful families, all of them were powerful.
Some of them are brothers, some are father and son, and some are uncle and nephew.
As early as three days ago, he had already brought all the families of these powerful people into the palace.
He firmly believed that as long as he controlled the generals, he controlled the army.
As long as he controls the army, all the people in the city and all the civil and military officials will be under his control.
Let him be slaughtered.
"My dear ministers, Feng Chang returned yesterday and brought back the head of King Kang.
Because we looted the people of the entire city and still couldn't raise enough money.
After calculation, we still need 35 million taels. My dear ministers, do you have any good ideas?"
The audience immediately began to discuss and whisper about what to do.
The Prime Minister looked very bad, and he was coughing heavily.
Originally he was not attending court because he was "sick", but Emperor Kun insisted on having him carried up.
He knew that the emperor had brought all the general's families to the palace.
At this moment, he probably guessed what the emperor wanted to do.
This means taking action against officials and powerful people.
At this time, an official stood up and said,
“Your Majesty, we cannot leave the city now, and we cannot collect taxes from all over the place, and it is too late.
If there is really no other way, we can embezzle the central army's military funds and give them to the Yan people first. What do you think?
Our army, at worst, can just delay their pay for a few months and make up the difference later."
Hearing this, Emperor Yan nodded and said,
"So, Captain, how much can we allocate for the military budget now?"
The general stood up and said,
"Your Majesty, there are only a little over three million taels left in the military budget."
"Yes, more than three million taels!"
Emperor Kun nodded calmly, and then said slowly with an indifferent look,
"But we still need more than 35 million taels from the Yan people. This little money is not even enough to cover a fraction of that."
The ministers said no more.
Because they really couldn't figure out how to get enough money.
As for their own money, it is not even within their consideration.
Emperor Kun seemed particularly amiable and said,
"Since none of you can help, then go home and spend some quality time with your families. When the Yan army breaks into the city in two days, they will chop off our heads and hang them on the city walls.
Remember to eat something good, because you might not have anything to eat in the underworld."
"Emperor calm down!"
All the ministers knelt down.
"I can't calm down my anger!"
Kun Huang stood up suddenly, kicked over the table in front of him, and shouted,
"Go away, go home. I have two days off. If anyone has come up with a solution, come and tell me. I will reward you handsomely!
roll! "
After saying this, Emperor Kun looked at the people below with cold eyes.
I've given you the last chance. Since you don't cherish it, go to hell first.
Of course, he would not alert the enemy in advance. Instead of arresting all these people at once in the court, it would be better to let them go home, then go directly into their homes to arrest them, and force them to tell the location of the hidden money on the spot.
Then the whole family was sent to the Yan army to exchange for money.
He was looking forward to the officials' expressions when they returned home and saw the army rushing in.
What a greedy, stingy, selfish person!
Just as the ministers were about to leave, the Prime Minister did not stand up, but knelt on the ground, straightened his waist and said,
"Your Majesty! I have something to say!"
"Oh? What's the matter, Prime Minister Yuan?"
Emperor Kun's eyes were indifferent but also a little curious.
Yuan Chu knelt on the ground and said,
"Your Majesty, my Yuan family has accumulated wealth for four generations. We own tens of thousands of acres of fertile land and a considerable fortune. We also have various gold, silver, and jade articles worth millions of taels. I am willing to donate all of them to help us break the siege of Dakun!"
If that is not enough, I am willing to take my entire family, tie my hands, and go to the Yan army camp as a hostage.
If I can bring the queen back, that would be great. If not, my entire family can be used to buy some gold and silver!"
After saying this, he kowtowed three times.
Yuan Chu is a veteran politician with a very sensitive political sense.
Are you kidding? I see that Emperor Kun is about to start a massacre. If I don’t run away, my whole family will lose their heads.
Emperor Kun looked at him in surprise, and all the civil and military officials in the court felt as if they had fallen into an icy cave.
Emperor Kun never expected that at this critical moment, Yuan Chu would be willing to sacrifice all his wealth and the lives of his entire family to save the Kingdom of Kun.
The civil and military officials in the court never expected that Yuan Chu would betray them.
We are all powerful and from aristocratic families. We should be united in purpose, jointly protect our interests, be united against external threats, and resolutely not take money.
But Yuan Chu, as the head of a prominent family, actually betrayed his own class and betrayed them!
The eyes of all the officials turned cold.
Damn it, you’ve already taken the money, should we take it too?
Emperor Kun looked at Yuan Chu and said,
"Prime Minister...you are so thoughtful. Let me lend you the money. When the Yan army retreats and the national treasury has money, I will return it to you."
"No! Your Majesty!"
Yuan Chu said loudly,
"I do not want your Majesty's money, nor the money from the national treasury. I only pray for your Majesty's health and the continuation of the great Kun.
Your Majesty, please listen to what this old minister has to say."
"Go ahead, go ahead. I'm listening. I'll agree to whatever you have in mind!"
Emperor Kun was also very moved at this time. True friendship is shown in times of adversity.
The Yuan family, the oldest aristocratic family in Kun country, is the most loyal to him.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to serve as an envoy and also as a hostage, bringing my entire family and all the gold and silver I have, and I will once again go to the Yan army camp.
I have a large family, and according to the prices of the Yan army, they are probably worth hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.
I will negotiate with Prince Lanling and Prince Nan to get the Queen back. Otherwise, I will run into a wall and die in their camp!
Your Majesty, I am already very old and suffering from heart failure. The current situation in Dakun cannot be changed by an old prime minister.
But you are still young and in the prime of your life.
The empress is still young, and she is a virtuous queen of her generation, as witnessed by all the civil and military officials in the court and the soldiers and civilians of Shengjing.
Nothing can happen to you two, the dragon and the phoenix.
Your Majesty, please do not believe what the Yan people said about sending you on a diplomatic mission. It is a trap.
I am willing to go on a mission on behalf of Your Majesty, and I hope Your Majesty will grant my wish!"
Emperor Kun looked at Yuan Chu who was kowtowing and was so moved that tears came to his eyes.
"My dear, why are you doing this? I won't allow you to die!"
"Your Majesty! If you don't agree, I will crash myself against this pillar!"
After saying that, Yuan Chu stood up tremblingly and was about to hit the pillar.
All the officials hurriedly stopped him.
"Prime Minister, calm down."
"Prime Minister, you absolutely cannot do this!"
"Your Majesty will agree to this. Prime Minister, please don't do this!"
"Calm down!"