Accidentally dressed as an empress

Inside Juanshu Hall, Yun Se sat on the couch. It was almost noon. Yun Se asked the guards outside, "Why hasn't Cui Ti come yet?"

Cui Ti was standing in the Yunji Palace study, discussing government affairs with Xu Ling, Zhong An, and others. Lin Hong sat in the chair His Majesty usually sat in, his slightly tired face almost obscured by the bamboo slips piled on the table.

Zhong An said to Lin Hong behind the bamboo slips, "According to His Majesty's orders, we have organized the northern region to rush to harvest this year's wheat, and have collected 20,000 dan."

Lin Hong said, "I have read the military report submitted to me. There are military settlements in the East and North Ridges, so the food shortage is not too big. The most pressing issue right now is in the West Ridge. Farmers in the West Ridge are constantly facing looting by the Di people, making it difficult to secure a harvest.

The Xiling army is especially responsible for supervising the criminals mining and maintaining order. They have to feed not only the army but also the 5,000 mouths that work in the mines. This year, the harvest in Xiling was poor, and they are still short of 800,000 dan of grain."

Xu Ling's eyes widened in disbelief, "800,000 shi?"

Zhong Andao said, "Nanling has also increased its demand for food and fodder due to the expansion of its military."

"Why did Nanling expand its military presence?"

Zhong An made a bitter face, "Well, because the Second Prince has formed a men's army."

Lin Hong shouted, "Nonsense!" The demand for food and fodder in Nanling has also increased by half compared with previous years. It can be said that it is raining cats and dogs. They are already short of food, and now they have to support an additional army. If they are not careful, they may mutiny in Xiaoying.

Cui Ti thought, like father, like son.

Cui Ti pulled out a scroll from the bamboo slip rack, walked over to the table, and said to Lin Hong, "This is the military report submitted by the Second Prince. The Second Prince used barbarians to fight barbarians. He recruited a group of surrendered barbarian tribes, all men, to attack other barbarian tribes."

"His Majesty also agreed with this plan and even praised it, expressing his gratitude that the Second Prince was not a woman."

Lin Hong's expression calmed down as he pondered a countermeasure. "It will take at least half a month for His Highness to return from Chu State. The army can't wait any longer."

Lin Hong said firmly, "Master Xu, the only solution now is to buy grain from merchants."

Xu Ling looked embarrassed. She had just slaughtered those merchants, and now she had to go to the merchants to buy grain again? How could she put her face in that situation?

Xu Ling said, "The merchants in Lingyun City have donated 100,000 shi."

"Excellent! First, transport these 100,000 shi to Xiling and Nanling."

Xu Ling was a little excited, "But this is the food and fodder that the people of Lingyun City need!"

Lin Hong's face darkened, and he asked, "Which is more important, the army or the people?"

Xu Ling was speechless after being asked.

Lin Hong said softly, "The people of Lingyun City can wait until food and fodder are transferred from other cities, but the army cannot."

"Even if we can transfer food and fodder from other cities, it will take at least ten days. How will the people of Lingyun City survive these ten days?"

"I have news that there is a royal merchant who can send 10,000 dan of grain back to Lingyun City from Linjiang County every day."

Xu Ling's heart skipped a beat, "Ten thousand stones a day?" What kind of transportation capacity is this?

Cui Ti smiled slightly. This imperial merchant was naturally Gu Zezhi. His Majesty had asked him to be in charge of the dock business, and even she herself was not allowed to interfere.

Gu Zezhi got off the boat in Xiangcheng, Chu State, and did not move forward. In the name of a merchant, he bought food and grass from Chu State and transported them back to Yun State by boat. This was the task given to him by His Majesty.

Lin Hong closed his hands and smiled gently, "Master Xu, can you rest assured now?"

"Our only option at the moment is to purchase food and fodder from merchants at prices higher than the market price. No matter what, the army's food and fodder must be guaranteed. Otherwise, the consequences will be disastrous."

Once the army is short of food, chaos will break out and the morale of the army will be unstable. There may also be soldiers with lax military discipline who will rob the farmers of their food. By then, there will be no need for foreign invasion, as chaos will have already occurred.

Xu Ling lowered his hands and said, "This...using the national treasury is such a major matter that it requires the approval of His Majesty."

Lin Hong turned to look at Cui Ti, wanting to see her attitude.

Although Cui Ti had a private relationship with him, public was public and private was private. Public and private should never be confused, let alone letting private things override public ones and distort judgment. Lin Hong came from a family of military merit, so he naturally leaned towards the military, and he also had his own selfish considerations.

Cui Ti bowed and said, "Even if the Shaofu is used, His Majesty must approve it."

Lin Hong got the expected answer, "Then I will go and ask His Majesty."

Cui Ti's expression was mysterious and deep as she said, "His Majesty is recuperating in the back hall. Commander Wu is guarding the place and no one is allowed in." His Majesty seemed to have become suspicious, and she didn't know what to do next. She had to prepare the chess pieces.

Lin Hong lowered his eyes and said, "This matter is of great importance. I must report it to His Majesty."

A palace attendant outside announced, "Your Majesty summons Aunt Cui to the Juanshu Palace."

Lin Hong stood up and said, "It's just right. I have to go see His Majesty. I'll leave the grain purchase to Lord Xu and Lord Zhong."

Zhong An was suddenly assigned a task and had to follow the Minister of Agriculture Xu Ling out of the palace to visit merchants.

Hearing a knock on the door, the merchant opened it and saw that it was the arrogant Lord Xu, accompanied by a garrison of soldiers. The merchant hurriedly tried to close the door, but the garrison raised an eyebrow. The merchant lowered his hand and invited Xu Ling and the others in.

The merchant pleaded, "Master Xu, you have already requested grain, you can't just grab a sheep and plunder it."

Xu Ling smiled and said, "No, no. This time, His Majesty heard everyone's generous donations and was very pleased. He decided to do business with everyone and buy as much grain as possible. The price is absolutely very generous!"

They bought grain from merchants who had it, and after much haggling, they finally settled on sixty wen per bushel. The unscrupulous merchants refused to lower the price. The purchase price was higher than the market price, and wealthy merchants, eager to profit, were willing to travel to other cities to buy grain and resell it to the government.

In order to ensure the food supply of the Siling Army, the necessary blood had to be shed.

This meant a large sum of money had to be spent from the national treasury. Xu Ling frowned as he wrote on the bamboo slips and prepared to hand them over.