You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 258 Why wasn't Chief Minister Chiang panicked?

An uproar erupted in the Golden Palace, with everyone glaring angrily.

Xia Guoxiang was observing the emperor, Liu Xuanchu was observing Jiang Qingyun, and Wu Yingxiong kept his head down and remained silent, as if none of this concerned him.

Jiang Qingyun turned his head and his eyes met Liu Xuanchu's.

Liu Xuanchu smiled in goodwill.

"Quiet, quiet."

The three eunuchs standing behind Shunzhi tried to restore order to the morning court session, but to no avail. Who would pay attention to a mere eunuch, unless you were the head of the Western Depot?

The murmurs inside the hall grew louder and louder.

Jiang Qingyun frowned, got up from the chair, and slowly raised his right hand.

Instantly, there was complete silence.

The power and influence of a minister are terrifying!
……

Jiang Qingyun: "Has Wu Yingxiong arrived?"

Wu Yingxiong stepped forward: "I am here."

"Do you think it's reasonable for your father to demand 500 million taels of silver for military expenses from the imperial court?"

"Your Majesty, Grand Secretary, I am both a Prince of the Qing Dynasty and the son of my father. I am torn between loyalty to the country and filial piety. I choose to remain silent and not take sides."

Everyone nodded in agreement; such words were perfectly reasonable in a feudal dynasty.

Thus, the blame was once again directed at Xia Guoxiang and Liu Xuanchu.

Facing a barrage of criticism!

Xia Guoxiang repeatedly emphasized that the front line was arduous and the terrain was complex. If the military pay was short, Emperor Yongli and Li Dingguo would escape alive.

Threat!

It's a threat!

Although Shunzhi was furious, he was also helpless.

……

Jiang Qingyun walked up to him and immediately made a memorable entrance.

"Does the Prince of Pingxi intend to rebel?"

Xia Guoxiang opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't utter a single word. Although he knew it was a script, he still admired Jiang Qingyun; this man was truly a ruthless and ambitious figure.

"Prime Minister, it is not that Your Highness is greedy, but that the war has been extremely costly and Yunnan is short of food and supplies."

Why didn't Sun Kewang complain about being poor when he was managing Yunnan and Guizhou?

"The traitor Sun is running large-scale estates and acting perversely. After the prince took up his fief, he ordered them to be completely abolished."

"Let me tell you clearly, the Ministry of Revenue has no money!"

Xia Guoxiang pondered for a while.

"That's 450 million taels."

Jiang Qingyun waved his hand.

"320 million taels."

Xia Guoxiang spoke earnestly.

"Grand Secretary, add some more, 420 million taels."

Jiang Qingyun glared at him.

"350 million taels."

Xia Guoxiang's face flushed red.

"410 million taels, no less, otherwise the prince's troops will mutini."

Jiang Qingyun rushed over to him in three quick steps and pointed at his nose.

"Four million taels, a fixed price! If we can't reach an agreement, I will personally lead troops south to quell the rebellion!"

"alright."

Xia Guoxiang looked dejected.

Everyone marveled, marveling that the Prime Minister was truly a bargaining genius.

……

"Speak if you have something to report, otherwise the court session is adjourned."

"Wait a minute~"

Emperor Shunzhi suddenly spoke.

"Grand Secretary, what about my marriage?"

"I have ordered the Imperial Observatory, the Ministry of Rites, and the Thirteen Offices to jointly prepare for His Majesty's wedding. This wedding is different from the past; the ceremony is grand and cannot be taken lightly."

Shunzhi nodded. His marriage to a woman from the Hesheli family was both a fulfillment of his promise and a covert political alliance to build up his power.

"Dismiss the dynasty!"

Only after Jiang Qingyun left the Hall of Supreme Harmony did the others dare to leave.

As Liu Xuanchu watched his retreating figure, he sighed to himself, "If this boy had been born 10 years earlier, it would be uncertain who would have won."

After the end of the dynasty.

One minister privately lamented, "400 million taels for Wu's salary every year! 100 million taels for Guangdong's salary! And it's increasing every year! How are we going to survive in the future?"

The financial crisis needs no further explanation.

……

South of the city, at the Chiang Kai-shek residence.

Zhou Shao and Jiang Qingyun sat in the pavilion eating watermelon to cool off. "It's so hot."

"Yes, men get hotter than women because we wear thicker and more complicated clothes."

"What does the Grand Secretary mean?"

"The New Life Movement is a grand undertaking. How can it be considered a success simply by building a few outhouses and altering a few cheongsams? The cheongsam is just a trial run. Clothing, hairstyles, etiquette—everything will need to be changed later."

Zhou Shao seemed to be deep in thought.

Jiang Qingyun handed him a slice of watermelon.

"Brother, you didn't come to see me today just to complain about the heat, did you?"

"Grand Secretary, the Ministry of Revenue is running a deficit, and the treasury is empty. If this continues, I fear..."

"It's good if income doesn't cover expenses; the best situation is when income doesn't cover expenses."

"what?"

Zhou Shao was stunned.

Jiang Qingyun grabbed a piece of watermelon, munched on it, and explained.

“Brother, a court that’s spending more than it earns is a headache for anyone who takes it over. If Wu Sangui’s army isn’t paid, it won’t reach the capital anytime soon. But if the bannermen’s pay and the officials’ salaries aren’t paid, will the Eight Banners tolerate it? Will the officials in the capital tolerate it?”

Zhou Shao didn't really believe it, but he kept nodding.

……

Everything that happens is beneficial to Chiang! What appears to be a crisis is actually an opportunity!

That's confidence!
Only those who are confident can inspire others to believe in them!
But Zhou Shao is one of our own, so we have to tell him the truth.

Jiang Qingyun:
"Since the incident in the capital, the local governors and viceroys have become noticeably less obedient. The arrears of grain tribute and taxes have become increasingly serious, and the conflict between the local authorities and the central government is on the verge of erupting. However, we can only take things one step at a time. I don't have the time to deal with them right now. I can only try my best to maintain the balance in the central government and cultivate Zhili."

"Grand Secretary, what should we do about the Ministry of Revenue's lack of funds?"

"borrow!"

"Who should I borrow from?"

Before the words were even finished...
Green Pearl arrived and bowed respectfully from a distance.

"Young Master, Prince An requests an audience."

"Please~"

……

Before Prince Yue Le arrived, Jiang Qingyun continued the previous topic.

"If we don't have money, we'll borrow from the Shanxi merchants first!"

"How much to borrow?"

"Borrow as much as you can! You're in charge of this. Invite Fan Yongdou, Wang Dengku, Jin Liangyu, Wang Dayu, Liang Jiabin, Tian Shenglan, Zhai Tang, and Huang Yunfa all to the Forbidden City and subtly suggest that they be granted titles."

Before long, Prince An, Yue Le, arrived.

As one of the few surviving adult princes in Manchuria and a member of the cabinet, Yue Le was extremely respectful to Jiang Qingyun, at least on the surface.

"Greetings, Grand Secretary. Greetings, Lord Zhou."

"Sit down, Your Highness, let's eat watermelon together."

"Sorry for bothering you."

"What business does Your Highness have?"

Yue Le hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Jiang Qingyun laughed and said, "It's alright, Zhou Shao is me, and I am Zhou Shao, so please speak freely."

"Grand Secretary, Wu Sangui is nurturing bandits to enhance his own power."

"I know."

"Grand Secretary, with 400 million taels of military spending every year, sooner or later a behemoth will be created."

"Your Highness, I know, but I have my reasons."

Yue Le tentatively asked, "Grand Secretary, how many Manchus died in the capital during the last coup?"

"According to statistics from the Infantry Commander's Office, more than 3000 people died."

"Actually?"

"24."

Yue Le was almost stunned, her hand trembling slightly as she held the watermelon.

"Your Highness, that's why I must appease Prince Pingxi now. I dare not fight, I cannot fight."

"Prime Minister, I dare to ask you for the truth."

"what?"

"How many bannermen are left? How many Manchu bannermen are left?"

……

Jiang Qingyun wiped the watermelon juice off his hands and shook his head.

"do not know."

Why aren't these statistics compiled?

"I dare not give a count."

"I am foolish and would appreciate your guidance, Grand Secretary."

"The bravery of the Eight Banners was forged in battle. Without statistics, it can still be used to intimidate people. But if the true numbers are tallied, hehehe, heroes will vie for supremacy, and war will break out everywhere in just ten days."

"Your Highness, when you have time, please go to the palace and tell the Emperor something. Right now, our Great Qing is in turmoil, riddled with holes, and cannot withstand any more setbacks. If I don't take the helm, this dilapidated ship really won't sail much further."

(End of this chapter)