The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 29 Increase revenue and reduce expenditure

The moment Zhu Xiong Ying uttered those words, Hu Weiyong felt terrible!

He's here to review memorials?

To put it bluntly, are they here to be manual laborers?
I came here happily, thinking I was here for a small meeting, but I didn't expect this.
Just three steps inside the entrance to the Wenhua Hall, small tables and stools were deliberately set up, looking exactly like a student doing his homework!
"Yes"

Hu Weiyong forced himself to hold back a mouthful of blood and walked toward the small table and stool.

The pile of memorials to the emperor beside him was almost taller than the table.

"If the discussion isn't completed before the approval is given, their legs will be broken."

Just as Hu Weiyong was walking towards the table, Zhu Xiong Ying's casual remark caused him to stumble and almost fall flat on his face.

Li Shanchang showed no anger whatsoever at this matter.

On the one hand, Zhu Xiong Ying's act of letting Hu Weiyong step through the gate of Wenhua Hall already made him feel a sense of victory.

On the other hand, the memorials that Hu Weiyong reviewed were mostly trivial matters, and many of them were even memorials from local officials congratulating the Crown Prince on his regency.

"Your Highness, regarding the matter in Shanxi..."

Yang Siyi spoke in a deep voice, his eyes filled with worry.

Lan Yu was also filled with anxiety, yet there was nothing she could do.

In contrast, Xu Da remained calm and composed, seemingly unconcerned about the matter.

This is where the Duke of Wei's wisdom lies.

He was in charge of military and political affairs; if he were to rashly offer suggestions on matters of civil administration, it would put Zhu Xiong Ying in a difficult position.

"Minister Yang, please don't be in a hurry, please sit down."

"Please be seated, everyone."

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled slightly and then sat down in the main seat.

Once everyone was seated, Zhu Xiong Ying looked at Yang Si Yi and asked, "Minister Yang, what is the procedure for providing snow disaster relief? Could you please explain in detail?"

Li Shanchang sipped the finest tea in the Wenhua Hall, the faint white steam invigorating him.

It seems that this prince doesn't even know the most basic things.

If I simply wait quietly and let His Highness ask the questions, I will have the upper hand.

If Zhu Xiong Ying bows his head to him even once, then during his regency, this Crown Prince will inevitably become dependent on him.

"Your Highness, the snow disaster relief efforts are somewhat different."

"First, we need to distribute thick clothing and firewood to the disaster victims. That will amount to about 70,000 taels."

"Secondly, we need to build houses. Because of the snow disaster, merchants will inevitably raise prices. Even if they are simple, this will cost 100,000 taels."

"Finally, there's next year's grain."

Yang Siyi sighed and slowly began to speak.

He said that 'two hundred thousand taels' was actually a very understated way of putting it.

"Thick clothes and firewood are things we should not skimp on."

"But houses..."

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled slightly and looked at Lan Yu: "Uncle, I heard that the twenty-six guards under the jurisdiction of the Shanxi Provincial Military Command in Datong Prefecture were all fought under your guidance, right?"

This sudden remark startled Lan Yu, who then found it hard to believe.

His Highness actually called his maternal uncle in front of so many people?
Even Li Shanchang's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly!
Calling out Lan Yu at this time is clearly an attempt to curry favor!

"Your Highness, simply summon me, Lan Yu!"

Lan Yu was moved and quickly spoke up.

Although he was reckless, there was Brother Xu sitting next to him.

What kind of nonsense is it for the Crown Prince to call his own maternal uncle?
"A family is always a family. Has things changed just because U.A. became regent?"

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled faintly and spoke softly.

Upon hearing this, Lan Yu's eyes were filled with emotion.

Li Shanchang suddenly felt immense pressure!
Smart people aren't afraid of outsmarting others, but they're definitely not afraid of brute force!

Immediately, Lan Yu glared fiercely at Li Shanchang.

That one glance nearly made Li Shanchang shudder and drop his teacup. Was this the Crown Prince's scheme? To have Lan Yu threaten him?
"Grandpa, you haven't answered Xiong Ying's question yet!"

However, Zhu Xiong Ying did not mean that, and continued to ask Lan Yu.

"Your Highness, the twenty-six guards under the jurisdiction of the Shanxi Provincial Military Command in Datong Prefecture were all brothers who went on expeditions with me before. Two of the guards' leaders are my adopted sons."

Lan Yu quickly answered.

"That's good."

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded slightly.

He currently lacks formal military power, and what he needs to do next, frankly speaking, relies on connections.

"Have any of you heard of an igloo?"

Zhu Xiong Ying asked slowly.

"Ice house?"

This term was novel, and everyone was a bit confused.

"An igloo is a house built with ice blocks as bricks and then watered down. It is a house built in the freezing cold."

"Inside the igloo, there is not only no cold, but it is also unusually warm."

"This building was constructed for disaster victims, and I intend to use it as a temporary measure."

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at Xu Da and said, "Grandpa Xu, could you spare two guards to build igloos for the people?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Siyi's face was filled with disbelief!

An igloo is a house built with ice and water.

In this way, although it can only last for one winter, it truly saves on the materials needed to build houses for the winter.

Moreover, using soldiers to build igloos, even with only two guards being transferred, would not affect the Ming army's combat strength.

As for the weather warming up and the snow disaster passing, those merchants will naturally not dare to sell building materials at high prices!
If an igloo were truly feasible, it would be an absolutely brilliant idea!

"There is no problem with this, Your Highness, but I must inform His Majesty."

Xu Da nodded slightly.

Although I had never heard of the igloo, I remember when I fought the fleeing Yuan army in the north, I climbed ice and lay in the snow. Smaller ice caves were indeed warmer than the outside.

Moreover, this Crown Prince is known for his ingenious ideas, and this matter is indeed quite interesting.

As for grain...
Zhu Xiong Ying smiled slightly, looked at Yang Si Yi, and said:

"Grandma will handle this matter."

After saying that, Zhu Xiong Ying blinked.

After these words were spoken, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment!

Will the Empress resolve this?

Although it may sound unbelievable, the level of trust Empress Ma enjoyed among the court officials was something that Zhu Yuanzhang could not match.

Zhu Xiong Ying brought up Empress Ma at this moment to put their minds at ease.

The potatoes are in the hands of our own grandmother anyway, so it's not a big deal if Shanxi plants them next spring.

"Your Highness is truly wise!"

Yang Siyi did a quick calculation and realized that this method would only require about 100,000 taels of silver to quickly resolve the snow disaster in Shanxi. He was overjoyed!

On the contrary, Li Shanchang, who had been enjoying the delicious tea that was once so fragrant, now found it disgusting, like swill!
He came in and, without saying a word, this Crown Prince resolved the matter.

"If that's the case, then I'll make the arrangements immediately!"

Yang Siyi quickly stood up and prepared to leave; he was rather impatient.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Xiong Ying's eyes flickered with a hint of amusement as he said, "Minister Yang, don't be impatient."

"The most urgent matter today is the empty national treasury."

"That was about cutting costs; now we need to increase revenue."

"Ultimately, our Great Ming Dynasty also needs to make money!"

Upon hearing this, the three dukes and one minister at the small meeting were all taken aback, and then everyone showed a strange expression!
His Highness the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, nine years old! Making money for the Ming Dynasty?!

(End of this chapter)