Xie Ming

Because of a matter concerning a sum of money in Yangzhou, the imperial court dispatched Zeng Ji, then Minister of War, to Nanjing to mediate.

They hoped to snatch food from the tiger's mouth, cut off the flesh, and have a good year for themselves.

Xiao reluctantly accepted the meeting, intending to subtly provoke Minister Zeng, but in reality, Xiao Jingchuan harbored other motives.

This is Ma Weimin, who was lurking nearby.

After a series of maneuvers, seeing that Zeng Ji was unwilling to give up, Xiao Lang immediately turned to the old horse, made a statement, and began to probe.

"Hey, Lao Ma, did you hear me?"

"Minister Zeng came here for your money."

"what do you say?"

Xiao's words came as abruptly as Ma Weimin was caught off guard. He was stunned for a moment, his two bull-like eyes widening in surprise.

He thought to himself, "What happened to that money? Did you, Xiao Jingchuan, not know whether you pocketed it or not?"

That's a rhetorical question!
In a moment of stunned disbelief, I realized I had probably gotten a bag on my hand.

He was so engrossed in his performance that he spoke too quickly and without thinking, so he mumbled a couple of vague remarks, which served as a reminder.

"what?"

"No, no, that money, used for the banquet, and... it's already all gone, ah."

Old Ma hesitated for a moment, not wanting to take the blame and offend both sides, so he simply gave a vague answer and passed the matter back to Xiao.

Seeing this, Xiao Lang rolled his eyes and coughed lightly to cut the conversation off.

"Cough, cough, cough."

"This... Minister Zeng, huh?" He reluctantly returned to the conversation.

Zeng Ji glanced at the scene from both sides, and seeing that it was finally over, he quickly agreed again.

“Ah, yes, yes, please speak, Duke.” Zeng said.

"Uh, I see."

"In the previous imperial edict, I, Xiao, led an army of over 100,000 men and attacked from both land and sea. After going through countless hardships, I was able to withstand the Jurchen army's southward advance."

"The struggle here has been arduous, so I won't say any more about it."

"Minister Zeng is now the Minister of War. He must have a better understanding of the costs and expenses involved in such a large-scale military operation than I have."

"But, alas, I, Xiao, really don't quite understand the court's intentions lately."

"When a general is in the field, leading troops to kill the enemy is his duty."

"It's all about serving the court and being loyal to His Majesty, so there's nothing to it."

"But, hehe, even a farmer knows that a clever woman can't cook without rice."

"The court is in a difficult situation, and I understand the circumstances."

"But this is just an empty title; not a single penny of military supplies or provisions is mentioned."

"With 100,000 able-bodied men and 100,000 soldiers under my command, there are naturally 100,000 mouths waiting to be fed."

"If our army were to run out of supplies at this critical juncture, when tensions are already high,..."

"What do you think those 100,000 people will do?"

"If we can't withstand the Jurchens in the north and they break through our defenses again, they'll send their iron hooves to trample the southern shore."

"How long do you think Hangzhou can hold out?"

Taking advantage of the situation, Xiao Jingchuan poured out his grievances, his threat to use troops as leverage was quite strong.

Zeng Ji, a shrewd and worldly man, surely knew what the Duke of Jing was thinking.
"Uh, this"

He paused, stunned, and then retreated to advance, before finally managing a bitter smile.

"Hehe, Minister Zeng is a wise and experienced strategist who understands the ways of the country very well. I, Xiao, need not say more."

"I wonder if the court has offered any explanation whatsoever regarding the supplies and provisions for the front lines?"

If there is still some room for maneuver in what I just said.

The following remarks left no room for maneuver, directly confronting the issue and focusing squarely on the government's military supplies.

Upon hearing this, Zeng Ji felt bitter inside. He put on a long face, forced a smile, and after weighing the pros and cons, he managed to smooth things over.

Ah, the country.

"Oh dear, Your Excellency, are you trying to shut me up?" (Pleading for mercy). "Everyone knows the might of Duke Jingguo, his skillful military command, and his status as a renowned general."

"But in my opinion, your martial arts skills are not only impressive, but your sharp tongue is also relentless, huh? Hahaha."

My mouth was dry, and I had to interrupt.

"My Lord, my Lord, please have mercy on me, please spare me."

"Although I filled the vacancy of Minister of War in the chaos, my foundation was not solid in a short time. There are some things that, not to mention you may have opinions, even I have private complaints."

"As for how to raise and allocate military supplies and rations, Your Excellency, you are a polymath, and any discerning person can see it clearly."

"These financial matters, if not handled by the Ministry of Revenue, well, to put it bluntly, are just a matter of Grand Secretary Qiu nodding his head in approval."

"Based solely on my Zeng Ji?"

"Oh dear, even if I'm dying of anxiety, I could chop myself up and send myself to the front lines, and that would add a few ounces of meat to my diet."

"His Majesty is in trouble, the court is in trouble, the Duke is in trouble, the soldiers on the front lines are in trouble, and I, who have taken the place and rushed here, am in even greater trouble."

"Lord Jingguo, Your Excellency, I'm begging you."

"Let's stick to the facts. Don't worry about the military supplies and affairs. As long as we can finish this lousy job and get back, I, Zeng Ji, will assure you with my own wife and daughters that I will do everything in my power to expedite the allocation of military supplies to prevent any delays in the battle at the front."

"It's all for the sake of the imperial court, for the ancestral land and the people."

"I will do my best, but you...you still don't trust me?"

Zeng Ji's expression was unpredictable and complicated. He struggled to find the right words and managed to steer the discussion back on track.

Looking at him, Xiao felt that this person was indeed quite troublesome.

With gritted teeth, he had no choice but to stubbornly hold onto the string.

"That won't do. Without military supplies, pay, and provisions, there's probably nothing to discuss today."

"I, Xiao, may tell you the truth: the army's current grain reserves are insufficient to support five days' worth of consumption."

He raised his palms, his eyes sharp and his words stern.

"If you can't solve this food problem within five days, then you won't be able to."

"At that time, there will be no rice to cook, and the soldiers will go hungry."

"You shall fight this battle!"

"That's what I, Xiao, mean. Minister Zeng, if you really still cherish some old friendships, go back now and clearly convey my meaning to the cabinet."

"The military situation is critical; this is a time of life and death, a matter of vital importance to the nation and its people!"

Xiao Jingchuan's words were firm and resounding.

His stern words and coercive stance left no room for argument.

Seeing that the situation had escalated to this point, Qing was forced to comply.

Zeng Jishi had not anticipated such a tone.

He was so flustered that he was stunned for several beats, his face showing fear and distress.

After a long while, looking like a wronged child, he finally managed to let out a sigh of humiliation.

"Uh"

"This, this... Your Excellency, please calm down, please calm down."

"There's really no need for that, ah, why bother?"

"It was all just said in anger."

"Zeng could understand the Duke of Jingguo's concern for all the soldiers and officers."

"The deployment of a large army is costly and affects the overall situation; it's difficult, ah, it truly is difficult."

"When the nation is in peril, we must prop up the collapsing edifice, save the people from suffering, and relieve the masses from their dire straits."

"The imperial court and the Ming Dynasty cannot be without the Duke of Jingguo for even a day."

"Rest assured, I will do my utmost to handle the matter of military supplies, pay, and provisions once I return."

"With one heart and one mind, we can overcome any obstacle!"

"Zeng felt deeply responsible, ah, deeply responsible."

(End of this chapter)