"Mr. Neitai, as the saying goes, even a good cook cannot cook without rice. Food and money are the foundation of military preparations. Recruiting militia, supplying military equipment, training soldiers for battle... all of these require food and money. Without food and money, how can I prepare for military preparations?! Mr. Neitai, please allocate food and money as soon as possible so that I can prepare for military preparations."
Shortly after going to work in the morning, Zhu Ping'an once again appeared in the office of the Prime Minister on time, bowed and requested the payment of food and wages.
Twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, Zhu Ping'an would come to the magistrate on time to report and request the allocation of food and wages. Today was the third day, and this was Zhu Ping'an's fifth visit.
"Zihou, it's not that I don't allocate food and money to you, but the court has not allocated food and money to our Judicial and Provincial Administration. Zihou, when you inspected Taicang, you must have known that the court's finances were getting tighter and tighter. The northern military garrisons alone were barely able to maintain their operations. Now that the Japanese pirates have risen again, the court's finances are even more stretched. In addition, some time ago, Zhu Bochen, a member of the Military Department, requested to build the outer city of the capital based on the site of the old earthen city, citing the large number of residents outside the capital, the gathering of merchants and travelers, and the increasing troubles on the border. The emperor has approved his request and has started construction. For this project, the Ministry of Revenue will pay 240,000 taels of silver, and the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works will pay 180,000 taels of silver, totaling 420,000 taels. During this period, all budgets, whether in the capital or in the local areas, had to give way to the outer city of the capital. A few days ago, I petitioned the court for militia food and money, but they were all suppressed. To be honest, Zihou, I'm more anxious than you."
After Zhu Ping'an came to ask for food and money for the fifth time, Lord Neitai explained helplessly.
"Sir, our Judicial and Censorate is such a big office, can't we even allocate a grain of food?"
Zhu Ping'an's lips had become dry from talking to Lord Neitai, and now he felt very nervous whenever he opened his mouth.
"We really have no money. Our government office is not big, but we have many stalls. We need money for everything, from top to bottom, inside and outside. The funds allocated by the court are limited. Now we are just robbing Peter to pay Paul to maintain the business."
Lord Neitai spread his hands and said helplessly.
"Master Neitai, let's tear down another wall and build a parapet for my military training camp."
Zhu Ping'an said jokingly, "Hit the snake and follow the pole."
Upon hearing this, the magistrate pointed at Zhu Ping'an and smiled bitterly, "Zihou, you can't just tear it down. The government really has no money. Otherwise, Zihou, you should first recruit a militia. With the troops, I can apply for food and wages from the court, and this way I will have a more convincing reason."
"Master Neitai, the saying goes that food and fodder come first before troops move. Food and fodder should be sent first, and then troops. I will send out a group of troops first. If food and fodder cannot be applied for and supplied, what should I do? Throughout history, there have been countless mutinies and military disasters caused by the failure to distribute food and fodder in a timely manner."
Zhu Pingan smiled bitterly.
"How about this, Zihou? Take a look at what valuables I have in my room and pawn them first..."
Lord Neitai seemed to be at a loss. He pointed at the furniture in the room and said to Zhu Ping'an.
Zhu Pingan was speechless after hearing this. Can I pawn the things in your room? In a feudal society that values respect for superiors and subordinates, if I do this, won’t I be criticized? Wouldn’t I be impeached
Besides, these things in your room are not valuable, at most they are just a few taels of silver.
After a cup of tea, Zhu Ping'an once again came out of Lord Neitai's room covered in dust, just like the previous times.
"So, I told you Zhu Zihou would return empty-handed, right? Fatty Chu, if you're willing to accept defeat, bring the silver quickly."
Zhang Chufeng saw this scene in the corridor outside, and couldn't help but smile and reached out to push Chu Xiong, urging him.
"Alas. Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang three times to get him out of retirement. Brother Zhu visited him two more times than Liu Bei, but he still hasn't been able to get food and money. It's really heartbreaking to see..."
Chu Xiong smiled bitterly, took out a ten-liang silver note from his sleeve, and stuffed it into Zhang Chufeng's hand with heartache.
"What about me?" Zhuo Yan stretched out his hand seriously.
"Oh, I have to tighten my belt again this month..." Chu Xiong took out another photo with a painful look on his face and put it in Zhuo Yan's hand.
"Stop it, Fatty Chu! In our yamen, no one is richer than you, Fatty Chu." Zhang Chufeng sneered.
Well, Zhu Ping'an's application for food and wages has become the object of their gambling...
Zhu Ping'an went there again in the afternoon, but returned empty-handed, also in disgrace.
In the evening, Zhu Ping'an returned to the assigned building and courtyard. Hua'er and the seductive girl Ruonan had already prepared dinner.
"Hehe... From the look on your face, I know that you have no money or food. My father has already sent someone to write back, saying that they have won the surrender of a mountain stronghold for you. Someone promised us solemnly that we would have royal food and military pay... He won't leave us to starve now, will he?"
The evil woman Ruonan rolled her eyes and sneered when she saw Zhu Ping'an's dusty appearance.
"Ruonan, my uncle is already disappointed enough, and you are still making sarcastic remarks." Hua'er glared at the witch Ruonan, then diligently stepped forward to help Zhu Ping'an change into his regular clothes, and brought him water to wash his hands. While looking at Zhu Ping'an with concern, she said carefully, "Uncle, don't listen to Ruonan's sarcastic remarks, don't take them to heart, Hua'er believes in you, you can do it."
"It doesn't matter. She wasn't just saying that. I really haven't applied for food and wages yet." Zhu Ping'an washed his hands with the basin of water that Hua'er brought. He smiled slightly and then looked at the demon Ruonan with a frank face. "Don't worry, I will never let you starve. I, Zhu Ping'an, will definitely keep my promise."
"I don't care, but they really come here to eat the emperor's food and receive military pay. They are not good people, and they don't have the noble sentiment of devoting themselves to the country and the people until their death. If there is no food and pay, they will definitely not do it, and then they will definitely cause chaos..." the evil woman Ruonan reminded.
"I know." Zhu Ping'an nodded.
"Sir, I still have more than 80 taels of private money here, and a lot of gold and silver jewelry, you can take them all. I know that these are definitely not enough, but don't worry, sir, the young lady is rich, tens of thousands of taels, and the master has even more. The master dotes on the young lady the most, as long as the young lady asks, the master will agree..."
As Hua'er spoke, she took out a purse that was still warm from her bosom and handed it to Zhu Ping'an without hesitation.
"No need!" Zhu Pingan smiled and shook his head, "I know Shu'er is rich, but you can't..."
"Why? It's all silver, why not?" Hua'er asked puzzled.
"This militia is the imperial court's militia, not ours. It must and can only be provided with food and wages by the imperial court. If I pay for the militia out of my own pocket, it will become my own private army, which is a big taboo."
Zhu Pingan explained simply.