When Zhao Hongrun walked into the Manlu Hall and came to the bedroom where Emperor Wei was recuperating, Emperor Wei was lying on the couch, discussing something with several ministers in front of the couch.

Zhao Hongrun took a few glances and recognized that the courtiers were all familiar faces, such as Li Liang, the Minister of the Ministry of Hubu, Xu Guan, the current Minister of the Ministry of War, etc. At this time, those who appeared in the Ganlu Hall were all from the Ministry of War and the two ministers from the Ministry of Hubu.

An important official in the government.

Based on this, it is not difficult to speculate that Emperor Wei was probably preparing to resist the enemy.

Seeing these ministers of the DPRK and the Central Government crowded around Emperor Wei's couch, Zhao Hongrun was not in the mood to squeeze past, so he simply stood aside and listened to the opinions of several important ministers from the Ministry of War and Ministry of Household on this war.

He mainly wanted to hear about the Ministry of Revenue's war reserves - mainly food.

Under the attention of Zhao Hongrun, Li Liang, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and Cui Can, the left minister of the Ministry of Revenue, respectively made detailed reports to Emperor Wei on the status of "treasury funds" and "grain storage in various local granaries in the country".

Cui Can, the left minister of the Household Department, pointed out that the "Wei-Korean Northern Border Battle" that took place between the country and South Korea last year had emptied the grain reserves in all the granaries in the two counties of Hedong and Hanoi, and the "Capital" in Daliang was also

The land was emptied out, so that at that time the Ministry of Household Affairs had no choice but to raise funds from the private sector for grain and grass, causing domestic grain prices to rise by about 20% compared to before.

Although this year's domestic harvest is generally pretty good, it can only bring domestic food prices down to previous levels, which is not enough to support the entire country's war against the five forces at the same time.

To sum up, it can be said in one sentence: it is difficult for the Ministry of Revenue to ensure the logistics and food supply of various armies defending against the enemy.

After hearing this, Emperor Wei was silent for a moment and asked: "How much food and grass can the Ministry of Revenue guarantee for the army?"

Cui Can, the left minister of the Ministry of Revenue, hesitated for a moment and quickly reported an amount: "Food and grass to support an army of 200,000 for about nine months."

These words made the entire Manna Hall suddenly become silent.

To be fair, the share of "food and grass sufficient to support an army of 200,000 for about nine months" is already a very large food reserve. After all, in terms of Wei's national conditions, a battle of 200,000 troops for nine months is enough to solve the problem.

Most wars, but unfortunately, the army Wei will dispatch this time is far more than 200,000 troops.

This is a war to defend the country. The serious consequences of defeat have prompted the Wei State to mobilize at least 80% of the country's troops. Even local county soldiers may have to participate in the war to defend the country this time. Roughly speaking,

After calculation, Wei may have to dispatch at least 500,000 troops this time.

This is the minimum. After all, the armies of various countries that jointly attacked the Wei State this time. The Chu State alone is known as one million, not to mention the Qin State, South Korea, the Sanchuan rebels, the Hexi Qianghu, and the Song Dynasty rebels.

Party’s military strength.

"I know..."

After listening to the words of Cui Can, the left minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Emperor Wei nodded, and then said something that made the officials of the Ministry of Revenue turn pale: "Before the army moves, the Ministry of Revenue must find a way to raise double the amount of grain."

.As for the rest, we will think of other ways in the future..."

After hearing this, Li Liang, the Minister of Household Affairs, and Cui Can, the left minister, looked at each other and reached out to wipe the cold sweat from their foreheads.

However, considering the seriousness of this war, the two North Korean and Chinese ministers could only grit their teeth and accept it.

They have realized that people across the country may have to tighten their belts this year and next, unless this war can be ended in a short time.

But the question is, facing an enemy that may have more than two million troops at every turn, can Wei really end the war in a short time?

Although the Wei State has many generals who are good at fighting, such as "King Su Zhao Run", "King Zhao Zuo of Nanliang", "General Shao Hu", etc., those from other countries are not inferior either.

For example, the commander-in-chief of Chu's army, "Shouling Junjingshe", was the famous commander of Chu who "King Su Zhao Run" never got the slightest advantage from.

Considering this, the courtiers in Ganlu Hall couldn't help but feel a little anxious, fearing that the country would have a bad outcome in this war.

At this time, Emperor Wei saw Zhao Hongrun standing aside, smiled and said, "Hongrun is here?"

The courtiers in the palace were slightly startled when they heard this, and turned back to look at Zhao Hongrun. For some reason, when they saw the young and frail Prince Su, the fear and uneasiness in their hearts dissipated a little.

"Father." Zhao Hongrun walked to the bed where Emperor Wei was recuperating, bowed his hands and greeted softly.

Emperor Wei nodded, and then said to the courtiers in the palace: "My dear friends, please go back to the office to make overall calculations. You must give me a definite answer within three days... How much money can I, the Wei Dynasty, use for this war?"

How long can the military strength, food, fodder and military pay be sustained?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

All the courtiers bowed their hands in salute, then bowed and left the Ganlu Hall.

With the help of the eunuch Tong Xian, Emperor Wei sat up on the couch. Seeing his son's face heavy, Emperor Wei smiled and said, "I have sent people to summon King Nanliang and Shaohu, but they are not here.

Daliang, I'm afraid it will take a day or two before I can return to Daliang. I summoned you first because I want to hear your opinion."

At this point, he saw Zhao Hongrun's eyes were red and his face was sad, and he felt something was wrong in his heart.

At first, Emperor Wei thought his son was feeling sad when he saw him lying in bed, but the problem was that he was in good spirits right now, and there was no reason why the son in front of him would be so sad.

So, he frowned and asked, "Hongrun, what's wrong?"

Zhao Hongrun took a deep breath and whispered: "Father, Uncle Six...are gone."

Emperor Wei was stunned. He misunderstood Zhao Hongrun's "leave" as "leave Daliang", so his heart was not disturbed. After all, King Yi Zhao Yuanli did such an act of forcing the palace that day in Zhongyang Palace.

, if he still stayed in Daliang, Emperor Wei would feel embarrassed - he couldn't really kill this brother who had been with him for more than 20 years, right?

Therefore, in the view of Emperor Wei, even if the son in front of him indulged his personal interests and let King Yi Zhao Yuanli go, it would not be a bad thing.

However, at this moment, a young eunuch who was serving as a chamberlain hurriedly came into the palace and whispered a few words to the senior eunuch Tong Xian. Tong Xian's face was filled with shock and horror.

"What happened?" Emperor Wei asked with a frown.

After dismissing the young eunuch, the great eunuch Tong Xian glanced at the sad Zhao Hongrun, then lowered his voice and said in a serious tone: "Your Majesty, just now, Prince Yi...he is in the prison of the Zongfu.

, took medicine... committed suicide by taking medicine."

Hearing this, Emperor Wei was stunned for a moment. After taking a few breaths, his face suddenly turned red. He stared and said in a horrified voice: "Lao Liu... Lao Liu committed suicide by taking medicine?"

"Yes..." Tong Xian lowered his head and said, "It's the son of Prince Yan, His Royal Highness Zhao Hongmin, the official of the clan, who personally came to the palace to deliver the news."

"..." Emperor Wei opened his mouth, then suddenly turned his head to look at Zhao Hongrun and asked: "Hongrun, were you in the clan mansion just now?"

"Yes." Zhao Hongrun nodded, as if he had guessed Emperor Wei's thoughts, and said in a low tone: "Uncle Liu said that he had committed an unforgivable mistake and must be punished... but he was pardoned for treason.

This precedent must never be set.”

"...This idiot!!"

Emperor Wei's face turned red and he cursed angrily with an excited expression.

Even on the night of his stay at Zhongyang Palace, when King Yi Zhao Yuanli exposed all the dark history of that year, the Emperor of Wei was not so angry.

Seeing this, Tong Xian quickly advised him: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Your Majesty, please calm down."

After half a cup of tea, Emperor Wei let out a long sigh and lay back on the couch again.

Originally, he summoned Zhao Hongrun because he wanted to discuss with his son about sending troops to defend against the enemy, but now, he no longer had such thoughts.

And he believed that the son in front of him was not in the same mood at the moment.

"Hongrun, please go back first. After two days, when King Nanliang and Shaohu return to Daliang, I will discuss with you about going to war."

"Yes, Father." Zhao Hongrun lowered his head.

Just as Emperor Wei had guessed, Zhao Hongrun's thoughts were extremely confused at this moment, and he indeed did not have this intention.

However, before leaving the Manlu Palace, he stated the purpose of his visit: "Father, I hope that I can keep my filial piety for my sixth uncle."

Emperor Wei took a deep look at Zhao Hongrun and then nodded silently.

He knew that King Yi Zhao Yuanli had always treated Zhao Hongrun, his nephew, as his own. The relationship between the uncle and nephew was deeper than that of his biological father. Therefore, Zhao Hongrun should keep filial piety for that uncle.

"It should be." Emperor Wei sighed.

Seeing that he had received his father's approval, Zhao Hongrun bowed his hands and saluted, and then left the Manna Hall.

Looking at his son's leaving figure, Emperor Wei sighed silently, and after thinking for a while, he said to Tong Xian: "Tong Xian, in my name, declare to the government and the public that King Yi Zhao Yuanli fought to the death on the night of the rebellion in Zhongyang Palace.

Unfortunately, I was killed by the rebels. I stayed with the clan and spared Lao Liu from all his... faults."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Tong Xian bowed and retreated from the Manna Palace, and went to call for people to convey the Holy Edict, leaving Emperor Wei lying alone on the couch in the palace.

"Fourth brother..."

"Brother Four Kings..."

He closed his eyes and recalled, and after a while, Emperor Wei murmured and cursed: "Idiot, will I... really kill you?"

Emperor Wei understood that the reason why Zhao Yuanli, the sixth child, chose to commit suicide by taking medicine was that he did not want to make things difficult for two people, and these two people were none other than him, Zhao Yuansi, and his nephew Zhao Hongrun, whom the sixth child regarded as his own.

The situation described by Zhao Hongmin also proves this point: Zhao Yuanli had a chance to escape, because many Zongwei secretly hoped to help the righteous and generous Prince Yi escape, but Zhao Yuanli chose to commit suicide, leaving Zhongyang's palace that night

The forced palace incident allowed Emperor Wei to give an explanation to the government and the public.

For no apparent reason, Emperor Wei felt a twinge of cramping pain in his heart, and then his eyes started to spin.

Vaguely, he heard Tong Xian's panicked shouting: "Here comes! Call the doctor quickly! Call the doctor quickly!"

At the same time, Zhao Hongrun and Zongwei Chief Wei Jiao had left the palace and returned to the prison of the Zongfu again, where they saw the body of Zhao Yuanli, the sixth uncle of the king.

That night, Zhao Hongrun sat in front of the body of the Sixth Uncle Zhao Yuanli all night. It was not until dawn that he summoned the clan guards to collect the body of the Sixth Uncle and prepare for the funeral.

Regarding Zhao Yuanli's funeral, both Emperor Wei and Zhao Hongrun hoped to bury him according to royal standards, but Zongzheng Zhao Yuanyan objected.

It's not that he has any resentment towards Zhao Yuanli for neglecting him, Zhao Yuanyan just thinks that since Zhao Yuanli has done things like "colluding with Xiao Ni" and "forcing the palace to cause chaos", according to the clan system, he cannot be buried in the ancestral grave, and even,

Remove Zhao Yuanli from the genealogy.

After all, the ancestral system clearly stipulates that those who conspire against or commit rebellion are not descendants of the Ji Zhao family.

After Zhao Hongrun's strong opposition, Zongzheng Zhao Yuanyan of the clan finally compromised: Zhao Yuanli would not be removed from the genealogy.
To be continued...