Chapter 288: The Battle of the North (Part 2)

The Hanyuan Hall was a little turbulent. Many scheming people had already guessed that things would not be that simple. Zhang Huan lost a game, so how could he not find it back from other aspects? Now, Li Qiao's appearance seems to be dealing with this speculation.

Not only ordinary ministers, Cui Xiaofu, Pei Jun, Li Qiu, Li Mian, even Cui Yu, Chu Xingshui, etc., no one expected that Li Qiaohui would have a memorial at this critical moment. This is a Xiaoyao Prince who is too lazy to return to the capital. He never interferes in politics, and will not speak in the great court. He is such an almost forgotten prince, but he comes forward at the most sensitive and important moment.

"I have impeached Zongzheng Temple for three years without organizing the sacrifices of the ancestral temple. I have neglected my duties first and I am very disrespectful to the late emperors."

Li Qiao's voice was not loud, but everyone's ears were clearly penetrated into the quiet Hanyuan Hall. "I requested that the Zongzheng Temple Minister Li Qi be dismissed immediately!"

There was a huge uproar in the hall, "a wonderful counterattack". Almost everyone thought so. After being forced to exchange the left assistant minister of the Ministry of War for the Shuofang Jiedushi, Zhang Huan's counterattack came. Several ministers who were preparing to borrow the memorials of the Great Court also quietly put away their memorials. In the Great Court, they were just spectators to experience the collision between the first warlord of the Tang Dynasty and the supreme ruler of the Tang Dynasty.

Cui Qinggong, standing at the corner of the hall, was a little jealous. He was marginalized in this power struggle, which caused storm waves a few months ago. He was completely forgotten, who should have been in the limelight in this great court.

Wei Deqing still maintained his cold expression, as if the turbulence in the court had nothing to do with him, and his attention was always on Zhang Huan's neck.

Pei Jun seemed to be half asleep. His play had been finished. The rest was the opposite scene between Cui Xiaofu and Zhang Huan. It had nothing to do with him. What does Zongzheng Temple do? Isn’t Zhang Huan’s purpose obvious yet?

After a brief uproar, there was silence, deathly silence, and even Cui Xiaofu remained silent. She should not explain this question.

"I am wronged!" The person involved appeared. Li Qiu, the minister of Zongzheng Temple, almost rushed out, and his fat body broke through a road, crossing in front of Li Qiao like Mount Tai. In conjunction with his two hideous gazes, if the hall was replaced with a jungle, Li Qiao would have been chewed into pieces by him.

"You... are squirting!" Li Qiu was so angry that he trembled all over. No matter what, he thought he was wronged.

"I'm swearing?" Li Qiao snorted heavily. He pointed at all the royal families and civil and military officials in the hall and asked loudly: "It's not a secret to worship the ancestral temple. Ask everyone, when have you opened the gate of the ancestral temple in the past three years?"

"Don't be excited, calm down!" Li Yun, the general of the Jinwu Guard, who was closest to Li Qiu, couldn't help but remind him.

The reminder sound was clear and like a basin of cold water poured over. Li Qiu suddenly calmed down. Li Qiao was just a dog, and the real behind the scenes was still standing there and sneering at him!

‘This is a conspiracy.’

Li Qiu took a sudden step back. He sorted out his thoughts for a little while and said loudly: "Empress Dowager, I also admit that I have not held a ancestral temple worship for three years, but it is not that I don't want it, but that I have unspeakable difficulties."

"Your dear, why not tell me what is your hard work? See if the King of Hue can understand you."

Although Cui Xiaofu's words were for Li Qiu and Li Qiao, her eyes were staring at Zhang Huan. Although the Hanyuan Palace was extremely deep and wide, the distance between Cui Xiaofu and Zhang Huan was not far, less than thirty steps. She was in the dark and Zhang Huan was in the light. From her, she could clearly see Zhang Huan's expression changes.

His face was very calm, and like all the officials, he was watching the game between the two princes, as if this matter had nothing to do with him. He took it back and said that Li Qiu had not worshipped the ancestral temple for three years. Everyone in the hall knew about it, but no one took it seriously. When violations became a habit, the habit became a new rule. If we investigated it, there were still many people and things that should be impeached, such as bringing official documents home to review, such as the issue of officials prohibiting business, raising mistresses, illegally raising concubines, and privately occupying public houses and renting fields. These are all explicitly prohibited in the laws of the Tang Dynasty. However, in recent years, the casual style has invaded every corner of the court. As long as no major incident occurs, no one will come to ask about these trivial matters. After all, this is a series of consequences caused by the absence of the Tang Dynasty supervision system.

"Every time sacrifice to the ancestral temple, it will cost at least 20,000 guan. However, the Zongzheng Temple where I am located only has 30,000 guan per year. The daily expenses of official business, the travel expenses and subsidies of officials, the cost of wages and chariots, the cost of carriages and horses, the marriage and funeral subsidies of the royal family, etc., all of which cost money. 30,000 guan is already very tight, so how can I hold the ancestral temple sacrifice? Dear ministers, I believe everyone is very clear about the financial situation of the court. Every minister is considering how to save money. I think not only Zongzheng Temple, but also Penglai Pavilion, which was burned last month in the Daming Palace, did the Empress Dowager openly express his opinion not to rebuild it?"

Li Qiu's words were firm. Although his failure to hold sacrifices was a result of a comprehensive consideration of various reasons, including his disagreement with Sishou King Li Wei, and even the Queen Mother Cui Xiaofu also hinted that he would hold less royal activities, but he also knew that it would be dangerous to be dismissed if he had not held a ancestral temple festival for two years. For this reason, his aides had already discussed countermeasures with him and shirked on the grounds that he had no money to hold it. The court's finances were tight and he had to practice frugality. This was an extremely glamorous excuse.

The more he said it, he became more and more reasonable. He glanced at Li Qiao, and snorted coldly, "The difficulties of the imperial court are not what those who are drunk and dreaming of death in Longyou want?"

"What Zongzheng Temple said is wrong!" Lu Qi, who had been waiting for the opportunity to leave, finally stood up. He bowed to Cui Xiaofu and said, "Empress Dowager, please report the situation."

Things seem to be a little complicated. Now it is not only a fight between the two princes, but also the Ministry of Revenue is also involved. Lu Qi is Pei Jun's confidant. Was Zhang Huan and Cui Xiaofu finally involved Pei Jun?

Everyone will wait and see.

"Please say it to me if you love Lu!" Cui Xiaofu restrained the displeasure in her heart and said coldly.

Although Li Qiu had already gained the upper hand, the matter would be left to nothing, but Lu Qi jumped out of trouble. She looked at Pei Jun dissatisfiedly, but saw that Pei Jun still closed his eyes and ignored foreign affairs.

Zhang Huan's face showed a faint smile. In his layout, the most worrying part was Lu Qi. If he refused to stand up, he had to come forward in person. But in that case, Cui Xiaofu or Pei Jun would be very likely to see through his plan. Now, he could watch it calmly.

"Zongzheng Temple Master, the reason why you said that you do not conduct ancestral temple sacrifices is because you have no money. Then I will ask you, Zongzheng Temple has a budget of 30,000 yuan a year. Why can you be sacrificed in the past, but now can't be sacrificed?"

"This..." Li Qiu was speechless for a moment.

Lu Qi sneered and said to everyone: "Empress Dowager, Your Majesty, all ministers, the cost of holding the ancestral temple memorial service in Zongzheng Temple is not among the 30,000 chunks of funds per year, but he is asked to apply separately. But in fact, he has never applied for this fee in three years. It is because he does not do anything by himself. How can it be said that the Ministry of Revenue refuses to allocate money to him?"

"Hmph! I don't do anything, and I want to blame the Ministry of Revenue. If it weren't for Mr. Lu's explanation, I would have thought King Luo really had an unspeakable difficulty!"

Li Qiao, who seized the handle, no longer gave Li Qiu an opportunity to explain. He stepped forward and bowed to Cui Xiaofu and said, "I returned to Beijing this time to worship the ancestral temple. I saw yesterday that there were many halls in the ancestral temple and many damaged places. This is an unshirkable responsibility of Zongzheng Temple. I once again suggested that the position of Zongzheng Temple be removed from the position of Zongzheng Temple as the capable one."

Angry voice echoed in the hall, and the atmosphere in the hall began to become tense. Everyone looked at Cui Xiaofu to see how she would protect Li Qi.

At this moment, a slightly immature voice came from the jade steps, "Why did the reason why Wang Anzhizong Zhengshi, Wang of Hue, refused to apply for funding, actually to save the expenses of the court?"

For two full hours, Li Miao, the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, said nothing. Just when everyone had forgotten him, he took action at this most critical moment.

Blood is thicker than water, and Li Qiu is his biological father. The father-son relationship made him finally resolutely save his father from participating in politics without regard to his mother's advice before his death.

Everyone looked at the young emperor, and even Pei Jun opened his eyes and showed surprise. Li Miao simply stood up and said loudly: "I think that even if the sacrifices to the ancestral temple are rituals and cannot be abolished, when the court's finances are tight, you can consider the number and methods of worship, such as changing the annual sacrifice to one large sacrifice per year and one small sacrifice per year, try to use existing materials and people in the palace to spend thrifty, so that the money can be used for major issues of people's livelihood. I think that our ancestors will agree to us to do this, Zongzheng Temple Minister..." Li Miao's eyes turned to Li Qiu standing in the middle of the hall.

"I'm here!" Li Qiu was excited and his son stood up at the critical moment.

"I suggest you re-plan the rules for sacrificing ancestral temples and submit them to the Queen Mother and the Prime Minister for approval. It is indeed not necessary to not sacrificing ancestral temples for three years. I hope you prepare as soon as possible and start sacrificing together during the Zhongyuan Festival."

"I obey the order!"

Li Miao looked at Li Qiao again and smiled and said, "I can understand the anger of the King of Hue, but the court's finances are indeed in short supply. I have ordered Zongzheng Temple to correct the situation. Please forgive me."

Li Qiao bowed and bowed, "I dare not!"

After a few words, Li Miao resolved the upcoming storm. He was so calm and composed at such a young age. He considered the problems in all aspects and took the overall situation into consideration. It was really impressive. Almost everyone was deeply inspired and secretly cheered in his heart: The Tang Dynasty is lucky! He was such a wise ruler.

But not everyone is happy about Li Miao's excellence. Zhang Huan said nothing about it, Cui Xiaofu's heart was also chilling. For many years, Li Miao has been a chick under her wings, and has always been a stepping stone for her rule. At this moment, the chick has become an eagle about to spread its wings and fly high. The stepping stone has become a bulging hill. How can this not make her feel frightened? Power, she cannot tolerate anyone or thing that threatens her power.

"My mother thought my son was doing a good job?" Li Miao finally asked Cui Xiaofu for instructions.

Looking at the little face in front of her, which was flushed with excitement, Cui Xiaofu suddenly felt a trace of murderous intent in her heart, but this murderous intent disappeared in an instant. She smiled gently and said, "The emperor has done a good job. Look, the ministers are cheering for you!"

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, I still have this memorial." At this time, Lu Qi took out a memorial and stepped forward to report the report.

Cui Xiaofu's face changed, and Lu Qi unconsciously reversed the order of the emperor and queen, which hurt her sensitive heart. It took her a long time to hear Cui Xiaofu say coldly: "Please speak with Mr. Lu."

Lu Qi suddenly realized that he had made a big mistake, but the matter could not be restored. He had to bite the bullet and continue, "Report to the Empress Dowager, as I said just now, the government's finances are indeed very tight. Because there are many bandits along the way of the canal transportation, for safety reasons, I suggest that the canal transportation be changed, go to Xiangyang from the Yangtze River, and then transfer to Danshui to Guanzhong, and ask the Empress Dowager to approve it."

At this time, Fang Zongyan, the minister of Taifu Temple, also walked out of the court and said, "Mr. Lu is right. The financial crisis of the court is indeed imminent. Shaofu Temple has begun to collect copper ware and cast coins, but it can only solve the annual salary owed, which is far from the required money. It is necessary to transport the canal to Chang'an in time. The former Salt and Iron Supervision Order Yang Envoy also proposed to divert the canal to Xiangyang, but I am worried that Danshui can pass through the large ship?"

"Don't worry about this!" Lu Qi smiled and said, "I received a letter from Yang Yan, that Danshui is now feasible for small boats, and Yang Envoy has established a transit warehouse in Xiangyang, and the money and grain can be temporarily stored in the warehouse and sent it in a small boat company. I have calculated that although it is a few days slower than the previous canal transportation, the Yangtze River has a large capacity, and the actual loss is more cost-effective than the old road."

"Please give the approval from the Queen Mother!" Lu Qi and Fang Zongyan even asked Cui Xiaofu for advice in unison.

Cui Xiaofu knows why the canal transportation does not follow the old path, but it is time and time. I wonder if Cui Qinggong dares to intercept the canal transportation anymore. It is more important that Xiangyang is Zhang Huan's territory, so how can it be controlled by him? Not to mention establishing a warehouse in Xiangyang, Cui Xiaofu will never agree with this based on this point alone.

However, Cui Xiaofu did not show too confidence. She pondered for a moment and said to Pei Jun: "The Prime Minister, the Ai family thought that since the court's finances were in critical condition, it would be better to transport millions of coins from the old road to rescue the emergency first. However, the new road in Xiangyang has never been through, and there are too many things that cannot be confirmed. Once an unexpected incident occurs, it will be a big problem. This matter should be done with caution. What does the Prime Minister think?"

Pei Jun's idea is exactly the same as Cui Xiaofu. He has been controlled by Zhang Huan, so he must not let him hold back the finances. Since Cui Xiaofu suggests to follow the old path, that is to say, she can guarantee that Cui Qinggong will not engage in the canal transportation.

Pei Jun nodded immediately and agreed, "Okay! First, transport millions of taxes from the old road to respond to the emergency. You can order the regiments along the way to train troops to protect the safety of ships. As for the matter of Xiangyang's canal transportation, we will discuss it later."

"The Empress Dowager, I also have a suggestion. Since Li Huai, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of War, happened to go to Donghai County to inspect the reform of the military system, he could also serve as the commander of the grain transport transportation and transfer the regiment to train troops to protect the safety of the grain ships."
Chapter completed!