Do You Know?: I, the Little Cabinet Elder, Regent of the World

Pointing his finger at the group, Jiang Zhao said sternly, "I knew it! You'd end up scheming against the founding emperor, the Taizong emperor, the Zhenzong emperor, and even the emperor himself!"

"The Ministry of Works undertakes water conservancy projects every year. How dare you compare them to the Di and Jia sacrifices?"

His righteous spirit was awe-inspiring, and his stern rebuke echoed throughout the hall!

On the steps of the imperial palace, the emperor stood with his hands at his sides and his eyes gently closed.

All the civil and military officials looked toward Cai Xiang, Du Xi, and Wang Tao.

His intense gaze made me inexplicably uneasy.

Wang Tao's face flushed red, and sweat beaded on his cheeks. He quickly retorted:

"I was referring to the Ministry of Revenue's budget, not the Di and Jia sacrifices. Don't make baseless accusations, Junior Grand Secretary! If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext."

"Wang Tao!"

“This is a court meeting; no one has falsely accused you! If you have any objections, just state them clearly.” Minister of Revenue Cai Xiang’s expression changed slightly, and he quickly stopped them.

Who can falsely accuse a subject?

君！

Since this involves fabricated charges, doesn't it mean that the emperor above is incompetent and foolish?

“If it’s a budget, it can be changed.”

Jiang Zhao waved his sleeve and said, "The Ministry of Works' policy on livelihood projects has not yet been communicated. With the two or three million strings of cash spared, we can relieve the suffering of a million people."

"Is there a problem with this?" Jiang Zhao questioned.

"One yard owned by a yard."

Minister of Revenue Cai Xiang seized the opportunity to speak up: "With the Ministry of Revenue's finances, relief can only last for thirty to fifty days. If some funds were drawn from the Three Departments and Six Ministries, it would be enough for a hundred days' worth of expenses. What do you think?"

In order to gain fame, the policy for Fujian Road was issued long ago.

If they suddenly withdraw the policy, won't they have any shame?

Crucially, this also severely damages their prestige.

Destroying hope is easy; cultivating hope is difficult.

Not everyone can become famous like the young Grand Secretary by respecting his teachers.

He was the top scholar in the imperial examinations, challenged the Grand Secretary, secretly established the heir apparent, and expanded the territory.

These are all things that are hard to come by and can only be obtained by chance.

The vast majority of people still rely on getting older to maintain their status.

Having gained considerable prestige, Cai Xiang would not possibly destroy it himself.

"The Three Offices and Six Ministries?"

Jiang Zhao's face darkened slightly, and he shouted, "Why should the three ministries and six departments share the burden equally? What I have always argued with you about is the Ministry of Works' finances!"

With just one sentence, Cai Xiang wanted to drag the Three Departments and Six Ministries into the fray and stir up trouble.

is it possible?

Du Xi, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, hesitated for a moment, about to speak up and try to smooth things over.

"The treacherous minister has already revealed himself!"

"Du Xi is one!"

Jiang Zhao pointed, then suddenly changed direction: "And Cai Xiang!"

"The Ministry of Revenue, a dignified body, is so slow and inefficient. If the million disaster victims in Huaidong were to rebel, you two would be held responsible!"

His voice was powerful and deafening.

Cai Xiang's expression changed slightly: "Young Grand Secretary, I have already provided the disaster relief plan, but you are using the disaster as an excuse to delay and prevent the decrees from being implemented immediately. If a rebellion really breaks out, you will also be held responsible!"

During court discussions, they directly denounced the "treacherous officials," which was extremely upsetting.

For a time, Cai Xiang had no good way to respond.

"Stop rambling!"

"We're all doing this for the court, yet you're dragging your feet and throwing mud at us. I truly don't understand why the one who does the most work suffers the most injustice!"

Jiang Zhao was filled with rage, his aura righteous and awe-inspiring.

"The rebellion in Guangnan West Road has not yet been quelled by 10,000 Imperial Guards."

"A natural disaster has struck Huainan West Circuit. I have been doing my best to secure disaster relief measures. The Ministry of Works' water conservancy is of little importance, yet you have been so stubborn and unwilling to slow down."

"Go ahead and stir it up, just keep stirring it up!"

"It caused constant rebellions in Huainan East Road, caused General Gu great anxiety and left him overwhelmed, and caused widespread suffering to the people."

"I'm willing to risk my life for you!"

Having said that, he waved his sleeve and glanced at her with disdain.

His impassioned speech was truly inspiring and thought-provoking!

The main hall was completely silent!

……

Chapter 141: A Fifth-Rank Official Enters the Game, Using a Lower Rank to Overthrow a Higher Rank! Is there any precedent for this?

quiet!

The palace was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

All the civil and military officials turned their attention to the past.

The first thing to look at was Jiang Zhao, who was sweating profusely from the argument.

That's really fierce!

From beginning to end, they almost completely dominated Cai Xiang.

The Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet exchanged glances and shook their heads in unison.

In fact, in terms of sheer strength, they are not incapable of putting up a fight.

The main problem is having a terrible teammate!

Wang Tao's words put the group in a passive position.

Given Jiang Zhao's political style, once he gains the upper hand, it wouldn't be difficult for him to take down a whole group of people by himself, and the others simply wouldn't be able to fight back.

He possesses both literary and military talents, outstanding political achievements, and excellent political skills.

This configuration.

Many South Korean officials exchanged silent glances and nodded in agreement.

This really has the potential to become a perennial favorite!

The title of "Young Grand Secretary" is truly well-deserved.

Many officials looked toward Cai Xiang, Du Xi, and Wang Tao.

Wang Tao, in particular, has attracted much attention.

Funds need to be allocated for disaster relief in Huaidong.

The young Grand Secretary provided the answer as to exactly where the money would be received from.

They're robbing Fujian Road!

The struggle for power at the "Road" level saw more than fifty people from Huainan East Road jointly submit a memorial, their influence rivaling even that of those who could support a cabinet seat.

In this struggle, nearly ten high-ranking officials of the third rank were involved, and some of them didn't even have a chance to speak.

Wang Tao, a mere fifth-rank official, dared to interrupt!

A fifth-rank official enters the game, using the lower rank to defeat the higher one!

Is there any precedent for this?

Have!

Where is the precedent?

Right across from Wang Tao, the young Grand Secretary!

As it turns out, not everyone has the level of a junior Grand Secretary and is qualified to intervene in the struggles of officials of the third rank or above.

Wang Tao entered the game, but his words were full of flaws, and he was defeated in a few words!

Wang Tao lowered his head, his face covered in a cold sweat, and felt deep regret that was hard to express.

It seems he's gotten himself into trouble?

I should have known better than to stand out!

The remaining two, Cai Xiang and Du Xi, had somber expressions, momentarily stunned by Jiang Zhao and unsure how to respond.

Officials, both civil and military, were abuzz with discussion.

More than ten breaths passed.

"For the sake of the people of Huaidong, the Ministry of Works can allocate 500,000 strings of cash." Du Xi, the Left Vice Minister of Works, gritted his teeth and took a step back.

Of the Ministry of Works' estimated expenditure of ten million strings of cash, seven to eight million strings were for the Di and Jia sacrifices. Of the remaining two million strings, two to three hundred thousand strings were needed to construct water conservancy projects on the thirteen routes other than Fujian Road, just to make a show of it.

Only about 1.7 to 1.8 million strings of cash can be allocated to Fujian Road.

Now, if Fujian Road were to give up 500,000 strings of cash to support Huainan East Road, it would be a full third less.

If it's reduced by a third, then the subordinates should be stricter.

It's so-so, but it's enough to maintain the policies that should be implemented on Fujian Road.

They can barely maintain their dignity.

"The Ministry of Works has 600,000 strings of cash, and the Ministry of Revenue can free up 1 million strings of cash, totaling 1.5 million strings of cash."

Cai Xiang's face turned grim, and he said in a deep voice, "During the disaster relief, have your men find some wild vegetables to cook together, make it a little thinner, and save 30% of the grain. 1.5 million strings of cash can support the disaster relief for 100 days."

A quarter less, which is equivalent to a disaster-stricken household going from four liters of rice every four days to three liters every four days.

When preparing porridge for disaster relief, the requirement is that it "suffices to fill the stomach and prevents dehydration from prolonged hunger," or at least it should be "so slender that it can be scooped into a thin thread."

If you thin it out a bit and add some wild vegetables, it'll be barely enough to coat the food with batter.

Two meals a day won't starve you!

Jiang Zhao glanced at the Ministry of Works but remained silent.

One and a half million strings of cash is enough.

No matter how much you fight, you won't get anything out of it.

Ultimately, apart from the Ministry of Works, the budget of the three ministries and five departments was only four million strings of cash, which was indeed not much money left over.

On the contrary, the Ministry of Works could still be squeezed dry.

“Dredging the river will also cost a million strings of cash.” Zhou Mengyang, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, understood the meaning and interjected, “Since we are all building water conservancy projects, why don’t we allocate one million strings of cash from the Ministry of Works to build water conservancy projects in Huainan East Road separately?”

As he spoke, he looked at Du Xi, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works.

They were both vice ministers of the Ministry of Works, and he knew the ins and outs of the business better than anyone else.

The money was changed to the Ministry of Works.

Since it was the Ministry of Works' money, building Fujian Road was considered water conservancy, and building Huainan East Road was also considered water conservancy.

Disaster relief was the responsibility of the Ministry of Revenue. For the Ministry of Works to allocate 500,000 strings of cash for disaster relief was a loss, and some officials in the Ministry of Works who were eager for political achievements might have been secretly dissatisfied.

However, if we simply build water conservancy projects, the money will still be consumed by the Ministry of Works.

For Ministry of Works officials who needed to achieve political results, it was simply a matter of working in a different place.

Moreover, disaster relief and reconstruction efforts make it easier to achieve political success.

Du Xi, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, frowned.

The total amount allocated to water conservancy projects is only two million, and at least half a million has already been allocated to disaster relief. If another million is allocated to Huainan East Road, then Fujian Road will really have a hard time even getting a bowl of soup.