The Eldest Daughter Is Beautiful and Saucy
Chapter 976: Top priority
Chapter 976 Top Priority
Liu Rushi didn’t know that Rongdi was now completely controlled by Bai Qingyu and was already in the hands of the Great Zhou. As a minister of the Great Zhou, it was not surprising that Liu Rushi had such thoughts.
However, Bai Qingyan could not reveal Ayu’s identity to Liu Rushi for the time being. Bai Qingyan only said, “The reason why we asked Lord Liu to hold back Xiliang Yan Wang Li Zhijie is because our people who were gathering information in Xiliang were arrested. But now it is not clear whether they were arrested because their identities were exposed or for other reasons! Bai Qingqi has already set off for Xiliang. Whether the treaty is signed or not… is entirely up to Bai Qingqi, but… before everything is settled, Li Zhijie must stay in the capital.”
Liu Rushi was startled, then nodded: “Your Majesty, if you say so, I understand, but… Xiliang Yan Wang Li Zhijie came to the capital to congratulate Your Majesty on his ascension to the throne. If we rashly detain Li Zhijie in the capital, I’m afraid we will be criticized.”
“Li Zhijie will never leave the capital before the alliance is finalized. He has only three options: either to sign an alliance with the Great Zhou, or to join hands with the ghost-faced prince of Rongdi to fight against the powerful country, or… to sign an alliance with the Ninth Prince of Dayan. Once the war between Rongdi and Xiliang begins, we will let Yan hold back our Great Zhou!”
Liu Rushi was about to speak when Bai Qingyan waved his hand to signal him to listen: “Our Great Zhou’s goal is to unify the world, so we can’t watch Xiliang and Rongdi destroy one of the other countries and form a three-kingdom situation with us. Otherwise, it will be more difficult to unify the world than it is today!”
Liu Rushi is upright. He knows that Bai Qingyan’s words are based on the overall situation, but… Liu Rushi believes that even for the overall situation, the word morality cannot be abandoned.
“I am not at your level, so I don’t understand your control over the overall situation, but I can still understand your words.” Liu Rushi was very serious. “Despite this, I still want to advise your majesty. If others prevent King Yan of Xiliang from leaving Dadu… that’s fine! But our Great Zhou is a great country. If we kidnap the envoys who come to congratulate and don’t allow them to leave the capital of the Great Zhou, we will be criticized if it gets out! How can we win Xiliang if we lose morality in Xiliang? Your Majesty, please think twice before acting!”
As soon as Liu Rushi finished speaking, he heard a report from outside that the Minister of Revenue Wei Bugong wanted to see him.
Liu Rushi stood up, walked to the center of the hall and bowed to Bai Qingyan: “I will take my leave now.”
“Lord Liu, I have one more thing I want to entrust to you.” Bai Qingyan smiled and looked at Liu Rushi. “Starting from next month, the court will send an important official every three days to discuss state affairs with the students of the Imperial College. Lord Liu, go first… to discuss with the students whether we should form an alliance with Xiliang and Rongdi.”
Liu Rushi did not expect that Bai Qingyan would ask him to discuss national affairs with the students, but he still agreed and bowed to leave.
Liu Rushi and Wei Bugong met outside the main hall. They greeted each other and had just exchanged a few words when Bai Jinse came to see Bai Qingyan with soup and snacks. He quickly stepped aside to make way for the door to let Bai Jinse in first.
After returning from the disaster relief mission, Wei Bugong looked much darker and thinner. As soon as he returned to the capital, he learned that Bai Qingyan was going to build schools in various places, and Bai Qingyan asked him to start doing this as soon as possible.
When it comes to spending money, the first to take action is the Ministry of Revenue, which is responsible for receiving the money. Wei Bugong has been working tirelessly these past few days to calculate the total amount of money needed and has come to ask to see Bai Qingyan.
Bai Qingyan meant that every county should set up boys’ and girls’ schools, but it was difficult for the national treasury to come up with so much money at once. Wei Bugong wanted to discuss with Bai Qingyan and wanted to reduce the number of schools by half.
After hearing what Wei Bugong meant, Bai Qingyan suddenly remembered that when his grandfather was still alive, he asked for compensation for the casualties of the Bai family army. He angrily threw his whip and said this…
My grandfather said that the Minister of Finance of each country is in charge of the purse of a country, but if you ask who is the best at crying poor, the Minister of Finance of each country would be second to none and no one would dare to claim to be first.
Daddy brought tea to comfort grandfather, saying that the Minister of Revenue also has his own difficulties, that being in charge of a country’s purse is not easy. This was what their grandfather taught them. Why is he becoming more and more childish as he gets older, and even seems more childish than Abao?
My grandfather was speechless and pointed at my father angrily… and said that my father was a disloyal person.
Recalling the old days, she couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
Wei Bugong, who was kneeling on the couch and looking down at Bai Qingyan, was at a loss as to what to do. He raised his head and looked towards Bai Qingyan.
Bai Jinse saw it, put the soup next to Bai Qingyan’s hand, and said to Wei Bugong: “I think you must have remembered what our grandfather once said…The Minister of Revenue is the best at crying poor.”
Seeing Bai Qingyan nodded, Wei Bugong didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so he had to say to Bai Qingyan: “Your Majesty, the establishment of a school is not a very important matter after all, you can put it aside for a while. I dare to come to your Majesty to make a suggestion, please think twice.”
“Give half of the snacks to Lord Wei, and bring the soup to Lord Wei as well.” Bai Qingyan smiled, “Lord Wei probably hasn’t had his meal yet, so give him some snacks to fill his stomach first, and we can talk while he eats.”
Wei Bugong had never seen such an easy-going emperor before, so he kowtowed and said he dared not.
“Master Wei, you don’t have to be so reserved. Even though this is official business, you can’t neglect your sleep and food… If you really ruin your health, where can I find another Minister of Finance? Let’s use some of it together. Although the relationship between the monarch and his subjects should be polite, it doesn’t have to be too harsh!”
Bai Qingyan had not rested or eaten since returning from the Imperial College, so Bai Jinse came over to bring food to her eldest sister.
Wei Zhong brought snacks and soup to the table in front of Wei Bugong. Wei Bugong hurriedly thanked him and saw Bai Qingyan pick up a piece of snack with silver chopsticks. While eating, he looked through the detailed account he had sent over. Then he picked up the snack with chopsticks and ate it in small bites.
Soon, Bai Qingyan finished reading the detailed accounts that Wei Bugong had sent her. She put down the teacup in her hand and said, “Well, I’ve finished reading it…”
When Wei Bugong, who was eating snacks, heard Bai Qingyan’s words, he quickly put down his chopsticks and saluted Bai Qingyan. Before he could finish his words, he was choked by the snacks. He swallowed hard and said, “Your Majesty, this humble minister borrowed people from the Minister of Works and estimated the money needed in the most frugal way. The Great Zhou Dynasty has just been established and there are many things to be done. We should focus on the most important things first.”
Bai Qingyan nodded, unfolded the bamboo slips beside him, and said, “Lord Wei, do you think that building a school is more important than building the imperial mausoleum?”
Wei Bugong looked up at Bai Qingyan, his face full of confusion. This was naturally a top priority…
The third update, continue to ask for monthly tickets…