Zhou Shuren continued to stare at the map with a deep look in his eyes. Aren't all the garrison generals white? They really think that the emperor is far away and the sky is high. Just listen to what the emperor says. The emperor knows everything.
The emperor turned the beads and said, "There are many caravans traveling along this trade route every year. I have heard that the caravans passing through will send tributes, and I have also heard that they will be escorted."
The ministers in the study were all shrewd. Several generals swallowed their saliva. This was the purpose of expanding the army. The expansion of the army was not for the court to garrison, but for personal gain.
Zhou Shuren wondered if the emperor had anything else to say, and sure enough, the emperor continued, "What's interesting is that if the caravan doesn't have an escort, it will be robbed three out of five times."
Lord Gong kept his mouth shut. He became the Minister of War and generals from all over the country sent him gifts. He was deeply impressed by the gift from General Sun. Fortunately, he was cautious and only gave it as a token of reassurance to everyone, and returned the rest!
Several generals remained silent, and no one in the study spoke.
Zhou Shuren chuckled in his heart. If it weren't for the silver that was confiscated from the houses, the army would not be able to replace their armor and weapons. His eyes hurt every time he looked at the annual consumption of food and wages. If it weren't for the bad years that prevented the army from being cut, he would have hoped to lay off some of the older soldiers.
The army’s food and wages are a huge burden for the court!
The emperor waited for Lord Gong and the others to leave, leaving Zhou Shuren alone, "Sit down."
Zhou Shuren sat down, "General Sun, do you have any other questions?"
The emperor hummed, "The money he embezzled doesn't count. Last year, there was a heavy snow and a shortage of medicines in the place where the Sun family was stationed, and many soldiers died. He didn't report it to the court."
Zhou Shuren frowned. The dead and wounded soldiers had to be given pensions. He knew best how much money the Ministry of Revenue had to pay. Many soldiers stationed on the grassland died last year. To put it bluntly, the conditions in ancient times were not good enough. Even if he tried his best to change them, he was sometimes powerless.
Zhou Shuren asked, "What does the emperor mean?"
This year's food and wages had already been distributed, and he had no idea how much had been embezzled.
The emperor snorted, "That bastard Sun Yuan has already taken control of the garrison. He is so bold because he has been protected by everyone. What a friendship between comrades, huh!"
Zhou Shuren didn't understand the friendship between comrades. He had never been on the battlefield, never fought together, and he couldn't feel much when he put himself in their shoes. He was more willing to believe, "Sun Yuan is not stupid. I think the interests involved are more reliable."
Being in the same ship, no one can think of being innocent. It may start out as a comradeship, but then everything gets tainted with interests, and they become a network of interests.
The emperor motioned the prince to bring the map over, put it on the table and pointed at the location of the garrison. "There are 30,000 soldiers stationed here. The location was chosen to be easy to defend but difficult to attack. There are still remnants of the grassland that have not been captured. Sun Yuan deserves death."
Zhou Shuren glanced at the emperor's gloomy face. With the Zheng family in front as a comparison, Sun Yuan's proposal to expand the army touched the emperor's reverse scale. Military power was what the emperor cared about most. "Recruit Sun Yuan to Beijing?"
The emperor calmed down and said, "No hurry, I want to carefully check the garrisons in various places."
Zhou Shuren guessed that the emperor knew so much about this not only because he had people placed in various military units, but also because he had caravans everywhere to gather information. The grassland was vast and there were many caravans, so the emperor trusted his people very much.
The emperor continued, "There are indeed not enough soldiers and generals on the grassland."
Zhou Shuren raised his head, "What does the emperor mean?"
The army cannot be expanded. If the emperor dares to talk about expanding the army, he will not do it.
The emperor pointed at the map again and said, "Rotation of defense. I plan to rotate defenses every three years. No one should think of guarding one place."
There are many garrison positions on the grassland. In some places you can make money, but in some places life is very hard.
Zhou Shuren frowned, then relaxed his brows. He thought the emperor was more thoughtful than him. The emperor would think carefully about the problems such as the discomfort when the time comes. It would be better for him to keep quiet.
The emperor added: "I want to add more military funds."
This is the purpose of keeping Zhou Shuren.
Zhou Shuren had a blank expression on his face, as if to say, "I'll just listen and not say anything."
emperor,"!!"
He has laid so much groundwork, but the old fox has this expression when he mentions money!
The prince turned his head to look at the vase. Well, the vases sent to the palace from the official kiln this year are quite good.
Zhou Shuren left the palace and rode in a carriage for a short distance before the carriage stopped. "Did Lord Gong return to the Ministry of War?"
Lord Gong said, "I have been waiting for you, Lord Marquis."
Zhou Shuren invited Lord Gong to get on the carriage, and when the carriage started moving again, he said, "The money for exchanging equipment has been taken away by the Ministry of Revenue this morning."
So why stop him
Lord Gong, "I can become the Minister of War, this pie is quite big."
Zhou Shuren just watched Lord Gong being Versailles quietly. The Emperor must have hinted about who he favored a long time ago. Who was he trying to fool by looking so flattered now
Lord Gong's voice gradually became quieter, "The one who just took over the Ministry of War was in a mess, and never had the chance to invite the Marquis for tea. I want to invite the Marquis for a cup of tea."
Zhou Shuren, "This is what I think of Lord Gong."
He gave a thumbs up and said, "When Li Zhao was here, he had mentioned changing equipment many times but it never worked out. How awesome is this guy!"
Lord Gong had a toothache and could only smile dryly, "It's still a long way to go."
Zhou Shuren said "oh" without any emotion, and the conversation ended there for the day.
At the next morning court session, Zhou Shuren and Zheng Hong did not communicate. Zheng Hong stood in the team of military generals and now understood the relationship between their two families.
Apart from the Zheng family's entrustment, everything that needs to be investigated has been clarified.
The Emperor must be clear about the way out that has been entrusted to him.
Zheng Honglai didn't mention the house in his hometown, and obviously didn't want to take it back, and Zhou Shuren didn't try to give it back.
Zheng Hong is now a rising star in the capital. The women of the Zheng family have not come to Beijing, and the family situation has been clearly understood. Zheng Hong's youngest daughter is fifteen years old, and his youngest son is unengaged. Some families have become more enthusiastic about Zheng Hong.
Zhou Shuren was fascinated by what he saw, and asked Wang Ju after leaving the court, "Do you want to have a relative like Earl Zheng?"
Wang Ju, "Am I crazy?"
The Wang family does not need in-laws with military power. That is not marriage, that is playing with one's life!
The Wang family is well-behaved, but the family is so large that wouldn't it be good for them to live a peaceful and prosperous life
Zhou Shuren patted Wang Ju's shoulder and said, "Your reaction is normal. How can you be so upset?"
Wang Ju curled her lips, "Because we don't have higher aspirations?"
Zhou Shuren nodded in agreement, "You are right."
Wang Ju lowered her voice, "You don't have a close relationship with the Zheng family."
Zhou Shuren, "I thought you didn't ask!"
"I believe you."
Zhou Shuren chuckled, "There won't be any more involvement."
Wang Ju smiled and said, "I knew you were sober."
At noon at Zhou Hou Mansion, Zhulan looked at the letter and handed it to Li, "You can also take a look."
After looking at them, Li was surprised. "They are all shops with good locations. Why does the old lady of the Luo family want to sell them?"
Zhulan didn't know, and she didn't want to ask, "She wants to sell it to me, what do you think?"
Li was somewhat tempted. The shop was really good. "Mom, do you want to buy it?"
Zhulan shook her head. She had accumulated enough assets. "I don't need it. Do you guys want to buy some?"