The strongest nine thousand years old

Yan Yunzheng sat high on the dragon throne, glancing coldly at the ministers in the hall.

"Everyone, the bet between Eunuch Chen and Lord Zhang expires today. I want to see the result before the court meeting." Yan Yunzheng said.

"I have no objection, but I'm afraid some people can't afford to lose." The Minister of Revenue sneered.

He had been having people keep an eye on the donation boxes placed in the four districts. According to reports from his steward, the amount of silver collected in donations over the past seven days had just reached 100,000 taels.

Collect one million taels?

Arabian Nights!

Chen Dong smiled calmly, "Same words for the Shangshu Lord."

The Minister of Revenue snorted heavily.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards carried four wooden boxes into the hall. Each box had a hole on the top to make it convenient for the people to put in silver.

When one of the wooden boxes fell to the ground, there was a dull "bang" and the Minister of Revenue's face suddenly changed.

He has been dealing with silver for many years, and the sound made by the silver in the wooden box is definitely not just one hundred thousand taels.

Seeing Chen Dong's confident look, the Minister of Revenue's face suddenly darkened.

"Sir Shangshu, do you dare to add some notes?" Chen Dong asked with a raised eyebrow.

The Minister of Revenue asked in a serious tone, "What should I add?"

"One hundred thousand taels!" Chen Dong said, "If the donation reaches one million taels, you can add another hundred thousand taels to the army. If it is less than one million taels, I will personally give you one hundred thousand taels."

The Minister of Revenue was startled, and felt that Chen Dong had ill intentions. He rolled his eyes and said, "I am a clean-handed person. I only have one house and a few acres of land. I can't afford 100,000 taels."

"Eunuch Chen has been reluctant to open the box. Are you worried that there is not enough silver inside? I am willing to donate ten taels of silver." The Minister of Revenue said this, and actually took out ten taels of silver and put them into the donation box.

A trace of regret flashed across Chen Dong's eyes. He wanted to trick the Minister of Revenue again, but unfortunately, the old man didn't fall for it. In this case, he would disgust the old man.

"It wasn't enough originally, but we were short of the ten taels of silver from the Minister. Now it is enough." Chen Dong said with a smile.

The Minister of Revenue's face twitched. He was disgusted by Chen Dong. He said in a deep voice, "Open the box."

Several clerks from the Ministry of Revenue came and counted the silver in the donation box.

When the wooden box was opened, the Minister of Revenue trembled. The other three boxes were fine, but one of them was filled with silver!

A wooden box can hold one million taels of silver. This wooden box is almost full. How many hundreds of thousands of taels are contained in it?

The Minister of Revenue opened and closed his lips, as if he was about to say something.

After the three smaller wooden boxes were counted, the total value was 300,000 taels.

Several clerks worked together to count the silver in the last wooden box, and Zheng Chong also walked over to help count the silver.

"Six hundred and ninety-nine thousand seven hundred."

The Minister of Revenue stared with his eyes wide open.

"Six hundred and ninety-nine thousand eight hundred."

Other ministers also craned their necks to estimate the remaining silver.

"Six hundred and ninety-nine thousand nine hundred."

There were only a few scattered pieces of silver left in the box. Everyone took a look and their faces suddenly darkened.

"Six hundred and ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety."

Most of the silver had been counted, and only one piece of silver was left in the wooden box.

Twelve!

Zheng Chong picked up the silver and shook it in front of the Minister of Revenue, "Seven hundred thousand taels! A total of one million taels!"

The Minister of Revenue trembled, and he spat out a mouthful of blood in anger.

The ten taels of silver he had just raised became the last straw that broke the camel's back!

The other ministers looked at each other with disbelief in their eyes.

Such a coincidence?

Just short of ten taels of silver from the Minister of Revenue to make up the one million taels?

Is he tying himself up in knots?

Everyone looked at the Minister of Revenue with a hint of pity in their eyes.

He really dug a hole and buried himself!

"Impossible! This is impossible!" the Minister of Revenue muttered, his eyes fixed on the ten taels of silver in Zheng Chong's hand, his expression changing constantly.

Chen Dong said calmly, "Your Majesty saw it with his own eyes in the meeting hall, and all the gentlemen were present. How could this be false? Your Excellency, I accept the defeat."

The Minister of Revenue not only lost, but he also cut off his own livelihood and ruined his official career with his own hands!

The feeling is hard to describe.

In an instant, he seemed to have aged ten years and could hardly stand.

Yan Yunzheng coughed lightly and said, "I pity Lord Zhang for his old age and allow him to retire and return home. Zheng Chong, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, will be promoted to the Minister of Revenue immediately."

Zheng Chong was stunned, then ecstatic. He fell to his knees and said loudly, "I will definitely live up to your trust. I will serve Great Yan and your majesty until my death!"

The Minister of Revenue's lips trembled, but he could not utter a word.

He took off the black hat on his head tremblingly, and staggered out, his body hunched and his back looking bleak.

Many people showed a look of pity in their eyes. As ministers in the same palace, it is inevitable that the fox will feel grief when the rabbit dies.

But some people have eager eyes.

Now more than half of the official positions are vacant. If they get close to Your Majesty, wouldn't they have a chance to climb up?

Why should I keep hanging on this big tree of the Yuwen family?

Yan Yunzheng's eyes also showed a hint of emotion. The two key positions of Minister of Personnel and Minister of Revenue had already been replaced by her people, and the Minister of Works Cao Ning had expressed his loyalty very early on.

She can already compete with the Yuwen family who control the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Justice!

And all this was brought by Chen Dong.

Yan Yunzheng gave Chen Dong an approving look, and Chen Dong winked at her with malicious eyes.

Yan Yunzheng quickly withdrew his gaze.

"The money has arrived. I now announce that a new army will be organized and placed under the Zhenbei Army. After the beginning of next spring, we will launch the Northern Expedition!" Yan Yunzheng said solemnly.

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

No matter what everyone was thinking, they all bowed to Yan Yunzheng.

The Minister of Revenue who had been blocking the Northern Expedition has been removed, and they don't want to follow his old path.

"In addition, after the beginning of autumn, it will be the first test for selecting candidates for the imperial examination. I have decided to hold a ceremony to worship the heavens before the first test. First, to boost the morale of the students; second, to commemorate the heroes who gave their lives for Dayan in the battle in the north; third, to pray to God to lead the army to the north!" Yan Yunzheng said solemnly.

"We obey your order!" said all the ministers in unison.

A slightly proud look appeared on Chen Dong's face. All the three things Yan Yunzheng mentioned were promoted by him.

"Her Majesty has given me such a great reputation, shouldn't she reward me well tonight?" Chen Dong looked at Yan Yunzheng who had a serious expression, but strange thoughts were running through his mind.

After discussing a few more things, the court meeting ended, and Chen Dong followed Yan Yunzheng back to her bedroom.

"Your Majesty, isn't it time for you to reward me?" Chen Dong hugged Yan Yunzheng from behind and said with a smile.

The heat wave coming from behind made Yan Yunzheng tremble all over, and his body felt a little hot.