Daming: The system rejected my request for salted fish

"Even if we let them go, it won't affect the foundation of our Ming Dynasty. But if we go to war with them, the cost of a cross-sea campaign will be enormous."

Having said this, the censor turned around and looked at the Minister of Revenue Zeng Tai and asked:

"Master Zeng, how much grain is in the national treasury now? Can it still support the Ming Dynasty to open a third battlefield?"

Hearing the censor's question, Zeng Tai sighed and said:

"It's difficult. Currently, supporting the southwest and Shandong has already consumed most of the national treasury's money and grain, although there is still some surplus."

"However, floods have been frequent in recent years, and the imperial court needs to reserve money and grain to prepare for any eventuality. I'm afraid we won't be able to support the opening of a third battlefield."

After Zeng Tai finished speaking, he bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang again and said:

"Your Majesty, the national treasury is struggling to support itself, and the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty in the north are ready to make a move. If we start another war, the country will be in danger!"

After hearing the censor's words, most officials nodded in agreement, including many military generals.

If it were in the past, Zhu Yuanzhang would definitely not have acted on his own, after all, what the officials said was true.

Once we send troops to suppress the Japanese pirates, we might end up being surrounded by enemies on all sides and be in danger of losing our country.

But now, he doesn't care about the money and grain in the national treasury or the threat from the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty in the north.

So, after finishing speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang did not show any anger, but just said a simple sentence.

"What you say makes sense, my dear ministers. So be it! All the money and food for this campaign against the Japanese pirates will be paid from our treasury."

When the officials present heard Zhu Yuanzhang's words, they were all dumbfounded.

In all their years of service as officials, this was the first time they heard Zhu Yuanzhang say that he would use his own treasury to support the war.

However, what the officials did not know was that Zhu Yuanzhang had the confidence to say this.

First of all, the confiscation of property from several major cases in recent years had made Zhu Yuanzhang's pockets much fatter.

In addition, the Lu family in Jiangnan was wiped out, and all the wealth obtained from the property was put into his pocket.

Secondly, when the Academy of Science and Technology was first established, all the money was paid from his private treasury and had nothing to do with the Ministry of Revenue.

Don't forget that during this period, the merchants of the Sihai Chamber of Commerce made a lot of money just from cement.

These businessmen only earn half of the profit, because the other half has to be paid as patent fees to the Academy of Science and Technology.

The key point is that the bidding for road construction is about to begin, and Wei Wu still has several million taels of silver in his hands!

Most of this money will be used on cement, and in the end at least hundreds of thousands of taels of silver will return to the Institute of Science and Technology's account.

Finally, don’t forget what Lan Yu’s purpose was in going to Shandong. Was it really just to wipe out the White Lotus Sect?

Bullshit!

They didn't go there to suppress bandits, they clearly went there to rob money. You have to know the wealth of the Kong family alone.

It is enough to make Zhu's treasury full of money, not to mention the other five big families!

This is the reason why Zhu Yuanzhang dared to say that he would use the treasury to support the war!

It has to be said that Zhu Yuanzhang's words really blocked the officials.

If the war does not require funding from the national treasury, then they can no longer use the empty treasury and inability to support it as an excuse.

Then, without waiting for the officials to speak, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke again and continued:

"Also, you don't have to worry about us not being able to come up with that much money. This time, we're only planning to send 30,000 naval troops to fight the Japanese pirates."

Thirty thousand people conquering a country?

After hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Fengxian Hall exploded again.

"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable! 30,000 men conquering a country, this, this is like sending our Ming soldiers to their deaths as pirates!"

"Your Majesty, please reconsider. Although the Japanese pirates are a small country, they are still a country after all. Thirty thousand people are like a mayfly trying to shake a tree!"

"Your Majesty, I believe that when facing the Japanese pirates, we should focus on defense, strengthen coastal defenses, and then take our time to deal with them later. Don't be impatient!"