Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

Chapter 368 If Marquis Guanjun doesn't come, the financial meeting can't be held "Father, what kind of person is Marquis Guanjun?" Princess Kunyi squatted at the feet of Emperor Chongzhen, holding her cheeks with her hands.

Speaking of this topic, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly became very interested. He stood up and said:

"He is a talented person who is truly helping your father and the Ming Dynasty.

Our Ming Dynasty has been in power for 271 years, and with our current style and talent, no one can compare to us.

We were able to fight our way out of such a difficult situation last year.

Not only did he curb land annexation and enable the common people to own land, but he also collected so much tax for the court. Even looking back over the past thousand years, no one could match him.

He was still able to fight and win battles. He led the army twice and fought bloody battles with the Jianlu twice, and won both victories over the Beijing camp soldiers who had only been trained for more than half a year. His father witnessed it with his own eyes.

Now we have pacified the rebellion in the south and made another military achievement.

This year he also said in a letter that next year will be the period of revival of our Ming Dynasty, and suggested that the emperor should be more benevolent.

My daughter may not know that it costs a lot of money to implement a benevolent policy, but you see, the thing we have the most right now is money.

These were all taken back for me by the Champion Marquis.

What he is best at is finding money!"

Emperor Chongzhen had a smile on his face while he spoke, and little Kunyi, who was sitting next to him, was listening attentively.

She had never heard her father praise someone like this, and the smile on his face never disappeared when he talked about the Champion Marquis.

"He is a hero of the Ming Dynasty." Seeing that her father was very happy, Princess Kunyi echoed.

"Yes, he is also your father's hero!" With no one around, Emperor Chongzhen rarely spoke to his daughter.

"My father's hero is Kunyi's hero." Princess Kunyi murmured.

“But father, you once told Kunyi that no one is perfect and everyone has flaws.

What about Guanjun Hou? Is he a perfect man?

Upon hearing this question, Emperor Chongzhen's smile suddenly disappeared and he became a little depressed.

"Of course, he's not perfect."

Princess Kunyi stuck out her tongue and asked:

"What are the shortcomings of Champion Marquis?"

This time, Emperor Chongzhen did not answer directly, but was depressed for a while. When Princess Kunyi continued to ask, he said helplessly:

"That boy is so lazy!

If I hadn't urged him, I don't know how long he would have delayed this year's matter. I have never seen such a lazy person!"

Princess Kunyi’s mind was full of question marks.

"But father, you are the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Doesn't he have to do whatever you want him to do?

How dare he disobey his father's orders?"

Princess Kunyi really didn’t understand. In her little head, she felt that nothing was more important than heaven, and her father was given an order by heaven. Anyone who dared to disobey would have to be careful with his head.

Laziness can actually become a great hero's shortcoming.

Can a great hero be lazy?

But when Emperor Chongzhen heard his daughter's question, he looked even more depressed.

"He's really brave."

"Father, I'm afraid that one day that kid won't want to work anymore and will do those bad things he said."

Emperor Chongzhen rarely spoke the truth.

As the emperor, there are some things he can only keep in his heart. The court officials can't say anything, the servants can't say anything, and even his family members can't say anything...

Alas, as an emperor, there are some things he cannot say. If he talks about this in front of his concubines, they may just laugh at him.

But how could they understand the importance of the title of Marquis of Guanjun to him and to the Ming Dynasty?

He can also occasionally confide his frustrations to his beloved daughter.

"Isn't he afraid of death?

If he doesn't work hard, his father will scare him!" Princess Kunyi thought she had a good idea.

"You think he's stupid, but that guy is smart!

Father, I’m afraid that if you use too much force, you might scare him away.

He really dares to run away." Emperor Chongzhen said seriously.

Zhang Shikang had been fighting outside for ten months, and in his letters he was still complaining about being exhausted. He said that even the donkeys in the production team were not as tired as he was, and that he must have a good rest when he returned this time.

"Then Father, tie him up and don't let him run away.

Kunyi will also help father!" Princess Kunyi blinked and said with confidence.

Emperor Chongzhen was finally not so depressed anymore, and he reached out and stroked his daughter's forehead again.

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister Li Banghua requests an audience."

At this time, Wang Chengen walked in from outside the hall and said.

Princess Kunyi left the Qianqing Palace very sensibly, and before leaving she once again assured her father that she would help him find a solution.

After Princess Kunyi left, Emperor Chongzhen once again regained his imperial majesty, with a stern look on his face as if no stranger could approach him.

"Call him in."

Soon, Li Banghua was called in. He was wearing a thick cotton coat and looked a little bloated.

After the ceremony, without waiting for the emperor to ask any questions, Li Banghua asked:

"Your Majesty, today is already the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month.

In the past, the financial meeting would have already been held at this time. If it was delayed any further, the Ministry of Revenue would not be able to summarize the information, which would also affect next year's expenditure budget.

The other ministers still hope that Your Majesty will convene a court meeting as soon as possible to resolve this year's accounting and next year's budget expenditure issues."

This is not the first time that court officials have brought up this issue.

Whether in the future or now, the central government has to do reconciliation. There are budget expenditures every year, actual expenditures are settled at the end of the year, and there are budgets and plans after the year.

The six ministries and other government offices of the Ming Dynasty had to settle their respective expenditures for the year, and then submit them to the Ministry of Revenue for summary, cabinet ministers for drafting, and Emperor Chongzhen for approval.

This process usually starts as soon as the twelfth lunar month begins, and is basically completed around the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month.

After all, this is a very complicated matter, and time must be reserved for the various departments to argue with each other. This situation has often occurred in the past.

Moreover, this year is different from previous years. Too many things have happened this year. Many court officials are no longer in the court or even in this world.

Many people responsible for expenditures are no longer in office, and the new people who replace them naturally may not take responsibility, which is a problem.

Moreover, the court's fiscal revenue this year is particularly large, even exceeding the total of the previous ten years. It goes without saying where this revenue came from.

But it still needs to be recorded in the account, and the calculation must be clear.

How much silver and gold were seized from the house search? How much of the jewelry, calligraphy and paintings, antiques and porcelain were sold? How much was left? Where were they stored? How were they expected to be disposed of next year? And so on.

Li Banghua has been an official for more than 20 years and has never encountered a situation like this year.

It is said that the Minister of Revenue Hai Zhongqi has hardly been home in the past month. He has been staying in the Ministry of Revenue every day to settle accounts. He finally figured it out a few days ago.

The cabinet ministers were anxious, but the emperor did not seem to be in a hurry, and Li Banghua also knew why the emperor was not in a hurry.

Isn't it obvious that he is waiting for someone?

But even if you know you're waiting for someone, there has to be a deadline, right?

The New Year is approaching and all government offices have their own affairs to deal with. How can they carry out their duties if the financial issues are not settled?

However, Emperor Chongzhen did not change his expression when he heard this, and said bluntly:

"The expenditures of various government offices remain the same. Rules are rigid, but people are alive. It's fine as long as there are no problems with the account details.

In short, if Champion Hou doesn't come, this financial meeting cannot be held.

Even if we have to wait until next year, the Ming Dynasty law does not stipulate that the financial meeting must be held in the same year."

……