Chapter 345: The Great King Throws a Brick

Zhang Laotou was about to swear an oath, solemnly declaring that his office had not taken a single penny. This year, aside from Youzhou, the newly annexed lands yielded not a single coin, and he even lost more; he was also hard-pressed to cook without rice.

Your Highness, how could you not know? Zhu Ti is the AI chief steward; numeric processing gives results by the second. As for this bare treasury of the Northern Border, how much silver it holds, and whether the figures are correct, you know perfectly well.

"Your Highness, this figure is too huge for the Northern Border; I, the old minister, think…… I think, it's really unnecessary to buy such expensive armor." What armor costs two hundred eighty taels!

Zhang Laotou saw the Great King not retorting, sensing an opportunity, and said, "Your Highness, hasn't Bingzhou discovered iron ore? I petition Your Highness to establish a Northern Border Armaments Bureau, independent of the Works Bureau, dedicated to forging armor and weapons!"

The Great King crisply replied: "Approved!"

The Chancellor and the Grand Tutor both raised their eyes at him; today he's so amenable? Is that it?

Indeed.

"We need to build the Armaments Bureau, but are you sure you can immediately produce armor identical to that of our Youzhou troops? This armor is impervious to blades. So, those tens of thousands of armors must be purchased, yet the Armaments Bureau also needs to be built."

Zhang Sinong was about to cry; why do we still have to allocate funds to set up a new department?

He wished he could turn back and slap himself.

The treasury was already empty, and now it's missing a corner.

He turned his pleading gaze toward the two bigwigs leading the team ahead: the Chancellor and the newly appointed Grand Censor.

Xie Yuan had just arrived, knew little, and had no intention to speak, so Chancellor Xue had to take the blame.

He didn't dare say not to buy, only said to delay, letting everyone jointly think of ways to make money, and buy when funds are available.

The Great King said: "You're making me lose face like this! I was coaxing, cough! When I persuaded Tang Qian, I had promised them that as long as they followed me, they would receive food, clothing, weapons, and armor equal to the Xuanjia Cavalry. Shanggu Pass is the same; they're still guarding the border, and now I'm going back on my word? Don't I care about face?"

What can we do? The money really isn't there.

Everyone could only start brainstorming ways to boost the Northern Border's economy.

Some said to collect taxes next year according to the Great Jin's previous rates; some said the Great King holds salt fields and can leverage this asset to raise salt prices; some said to open the sources and curb expenditures, actively reducing salaries.

The Great King didn't expect these officials to come up with any money-making ideas; could they possibly outdo the Chief Manager of Commerce? This didn't dampen his moved expression at all.

"You all have this intention, and I am deeply moved. In that case, Zhao Bao, transfer the five million taels of silver from my private treasury to the state treasury for emergency use."

Zhang Sinong could hardly recognize silver anymore, blurting out, "Five million?"

Zhao Bao: "……Is there, is there?" Do we really have that much silver?

Everyone knew nothing of the Great King's strength; of course he had those five million taels, and far more, but they were in Zhu Ti's hands.

The Ministry of Commerce's revenue, plus the spoils from a western campaign and his father's estate—these liquid assets the Great King still possesses.

"Go ask Zhu Ti of the Ministry of Commerce. After a year's effort by the Commerce Department, the five million are still available; my private stash can be taken out first for emergency." Since all past expenses for maintaining the troops came directly from his own pocket, those people below have no idea how huge this amount is.

Now the Northern Border has over two hundred thousand registered soldiers; the Great King doesn't want people to think everything will fall into place automatically, and still feels he's doing a good job every day.

The Great King doesn't mind going through extra financial hoops with the state treasury; don't think he can conjure money out of nothing.

The Great King threw out a brick; those who were perceptive and had decent family conditions eagerly offered to donate two months' salary to buy armor for the soldiers, and the atmosphere became warm and heartwarming to an extreme degree.

Xie Yuan: ……

He looked at the Great King above, who was almost moved to tears, and realized, "So this is what kind of Great King you are!"

Is the Great King eyeing those few melons and dates?

Of course not.

"Our Northern Border is really tough! Although these donations don't solve the problem, I appreciate the sentiment; we're all of one mind, and no matter how difficult things get later, I'll be even more motivated!"

Grand Tutor's translation: Money is short.

After saying that, the Great King still excitedly stood up: "There are still a few days until New Year; seeing everyone work so hard, I can't stay idle! In that case, while there's still time, I'll personally go out to sea for a trip, catch some fish to add a dish to the soldiers' New Year's feast."

The officials: "Your servant, incapable!"

Chancellor: "……Could it be that all the preceding was just laying groundwork?"

The Grand Tutor's moved face instantly fell……

Xie Yuan: ……Not only skipping class but also escaping morning court?

He glanced doubtfully at the Great King, about to speak, but the Great King beat him to it: "Before the New Year, you'd better first settle the officials' evaluations, striving so that at the year's start we can fill all the vacancies in the three outer prefectures!"

Although he can't create money out of nothing, he can create officials out of nothing, right!