After crossing, I was forced to hold on to my thighs and build a kingdom

The annual Lantern Festival was soon approaching. The people in the capital, who were originally on high alert, celebrated the New Year in peace because the northern government troops had been besieging them for several months without attacking. They then happily began to prepare for the upcoming Lantern Festival.

It was not known whether Crown Prince Shenyou was truly confident in the loyalty of the two generals from the Northwest Army and the Southern Border, and was certain that these two would lead their troops back to the capital to defend the king after the New Year; or whether he was just bluffing and trying to cover up the truth, but he actually walked out of the palace on the Lantern Festival and had fun with the people.

Thus, the night of the Lantern Festival in the capital was once again bustling and lively.

A few days later, in the court of Dajin.

Crown Prince Shenyou looked down with disappointment and a gloomy expression.

After a series of calculations by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Military Affairs a few years ago, it was finally calculated that the Northwest Army's military pay was 1.8 million taels, and the Southern Border Army's military pay was 1.5 million taels, totaling 3.3 million taels of unpaid military pay.

When this number came out, the whole court was shocked!

Zhang Zhenzhong, the Minister of Revenue who was the money handler of the imperial court, immediately rolled up his sleeves and started crying poor.

Adding the land tax just collected last year, there were less than two million taels of silver in the treasury. Even if the court did not use it and sent all of the two million taels of silver to the southern border army of the Northwest Army, there would still be a difference of 1.3 million taels.

What's more, the imperial court is so big and has many serious expenses every year. If you calculate it this way, the gap is at least 1.5 million taels.

Upon hearing the news, everyone fell silent. As the saying goes, "A good cook cannot cook without rice." One million and a half taels of silver is not a small amount. Who can come up with it?

As a result, the court was in chaos again. First, the various departments attacked each other, and then it developed to the stage where you called me a corrupt official and I called you a termite. Many official scandals were exposed, but there was still no progress on the issue of money.

Finally, Crown Prince Shenyou couldn't stand it anymore and shouted loudly, which stopped the court from being as chaotic as a vegetable market.

Looking at the faces that were fighting for power and disregarding the overall situation, Shenyou felt a strong sense of powerlessness.

He frowned and spoke solemnly, "You are all high-ranking officials of the imperial court. When you encounter a difficult problem, instead of working together to solve it, you have the energy to attack each other. The arguing and insulting momentum is comparable to that of street scoundrels. You are truly the pillars of our Great Jin!"

The sarcasm in his words made all the ministers lower their heads in shame.

Shenyou once again glared coldly at the ministers below, and slowly said, "I'll find a way to make up for the remaining 1.5 million taels!"

Everyone's worried expressions vanished as if they had heard imperial decree. This was especially true for Zhang Zhenzhong, the Minister of Revenue. A beaming expression lit up his face as he stepped forward and said, "The Crown Prince truly cares deeply about the state and the people, forsaking his own interests. Such a character, one that cares deeply about the nation and its people, is truly a blessing for the Great Jin."

When everyone saw this, they also followed suit and praised the emperor endlessly. For a moment, the harmonious situation in the court was restored.

After returning to the East Palace that day, the staff who learned about this matter could not wait to come to the presence of Crown Prince Shenyou.

"Prince, are you really prepared to spend 1.5 million to make up for the military pay owed to the Northwestern and Southern Border troops?"

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

Shenyou said these words while walking hurriedly.

The staff hurriedly followed their master into the hall. After the host and guests sat down, Shenyou first drank a sip of tea before continuing the previous topic.

"I've worked hard for years to finally earn these two million taels. Those old guys above me, who only know how to suck my blood and don't know how to work, are trying to get me to cough up one and a half million taels right out of the gate. They're really calculating!"

"Then why did the master promise in the court today that you would be responsible for collecting the remaining 1.5 million taels of silver?"

"It's just a delaying tactic!"

Shenyou sneered and said slowly, "I only said to gather it, but I didn't say when! The Ministry of Revenue still has two million taels of silver. I will first send one and a half million taels to the northwest and southern borders. The remaining one and a half million taels will be sent in the next batch. When they receive these military pay, I think they will lead their troops back to the capital to defend the king. By then, with their help, defeating the Dingbei King and his son will be a piece of cake!"

Having said that, Shenyou stretched out his hand, made a fist in the air, and a look of complacency appeared on his face.

"As long as we strangle those traitors, Su Changshan and Su Cheng'an, the Northern Territory will fall back into the hands of the imperial court. Isn't the white salt that's now spread throughout the Great Jin and even the four barbarians produced by the Northern Territory Salt Administration? It's a lucrative business. If I can successfully control the Northern Territory Salt Administration, let alone the current 1.8 million taels of silver, even if it doubles, it will not be a problem for us then!"

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is indeed wise."

The staff member praised him first, then criticized him. "However, the Dingbei King and his son have always been agile and skilled in warfare. They have controlled the northern border for many years, and the customs and education of the people there are more closely aligned with the Dingbei Palace. This time, the Dingbei King's son, Su Cheng'an, is keeping his troops stationed outside the capital. Is he also waiting for the Northern Di to retreat beyond the Great Wall after the New Year, so that the northern border army can continue to send reinforcements south to aid them?"

After hearing this, Shenyou showed a thoughtful look.

Seeing that he no longer underestimated the enemy, his staff continued to persuade him, "The court has been withholding food and wages from the Northwestern and Southern Border troops for months, which has long aroused the anger of the soldiers on both sides. This time, we need the two generals to lead the troops back to the capital to defend the emperor and defeat the Dingbei King and his son in the northern border, so we are hastily preparing to pay the previously owed military wages."

"If the food and wages are fully distributed this time, perhaps these two generals will obey the court's orders. If the food and wages are still insufficient, even if they receive them, if they are still depressed, they may not be willing to lead the troops to the capital in time!"

"No way? The Northwest Army and the Southern Border Army are both legitimate armies of the Great Jin. Last year, my father suddenly fell ill, and the court was in chaos. They temporarily ignored the distribution of food and wages for these two armies. But now they are all alive and well. Moreover, Generals Liu Zhongquan and Chen Guang were both personally conferred by the court. They would not stand on the same side with the Dingbei Palace in the northern border, right?"

Shenyou frowned, his tone filled with uncertainty.

"Your Highness, have you forgotten that the Northwestern Army and the Southern Border repeatedly petitioned the court for the release of food and wages? But how did the court respond? At first, they used the excuse that the Emperor was ill and would take time to respond to the soldiers of the two armies. Later, the court simply did not respond and kept the money."

The staff member turned to Shenyou and reminded him meaningfully, "Under these circumstances, can the soldiers, let alone the two generals, remain loyal to the court as before? Furthermore, the Northwest Army once tragically lost Floating Cloud City to Chen Tianyao. When the court learned of the news, they were met with a barrage of reprimands."

"Later, General Liu Zhongquan took command of the Northwest Army and marched north to retake Floating Cloud City. Logically, such military achievements should have been lavishly commended by the court, but what did the court do? Still, only superficial accolades, without any tangible rewards. How could the two generals, repeatedly neglected by the court, devote all their energy to rescuing the capital?

"Therefore, Your Highness should no longer prioritize wealth and should focus on repairing the relationship between the Northwestern Army and the Southern Territory. Once this disaster is over, the entire world will belong to Your Highness. Why should you be concerned with a mere one million taels of silver?"

The staff knew that the Third Prince had a great shortcoming: he was extremely greedy for money and lacked foresight, so they tried to persuade him with all their heart.

However, character flaws really cannot be changed all at once, or perhaps Shenyou does not have an absolute chance of defeating the Prince of Dingbei.

He always wanted to leave a way out for himself, so he was naturally reluctant to spend the money.

"Sir, you worry too much. I see that General Liu and General Chen are both devoted to the country. After receiving this portion of food and wages, they will surely understand the court's difficulties and lead their troops to the capital to provide assistance."

Shenyou rejected his staff's suggestion and smiled confidently.

The aide surnamed Li wanted to say more, but was interrupted by Shenyou with a wave of his hand: "I have made up my mind. There is no need to persuade me. You are a little pessimistic. If you have been feeling depressed recently, you can go out for a walk to relax. You should feel better when you come back!"

Li Muliu was dumbfounded upon hearing this, and a chill immediately washed over him. He immediately lost the will to persuade him any further and only replied respectfully, "Your Highness is absolutely right. I have indeed been feeling upset and depressed lately. I will go out of the city tomorrow to relax!"