Chapter 560: Opening with One Punch to Prevent a Hundred

"You speak lightly; the Tang Dynasty's annual tax revenue is only that much, and fixed expenditures take up more than half."

"Not to mention the myriad other matters; last year we even allocated five hundred thousand strings to build the Wen Ming Dian, but it was embezzled, and the stolen funds haven't been recovered yet, right?"

Dou Dan sneered at Chen Yan's claim, "Anyone can tell tall tales, but where does the Ministry of Revenue get the money?"

"Dou Siqing, then what exactly do you mean?" Chen Yan's eyes grew colder, "Earlier the Duke, on behalf of His Majesty, suggested sending troops; you refuted with the excuse of lacking money and grain, saying my Ministry of Revenue couldn't provide them, claiming the Tang Dynasty currently cannot sustain a large‑scale war!"

"I, the official, have even declared that even if the Ministry of Revenue from top to bottom were to gnaw on steamed buns and drink cold water, we would still certainly support His Majesty's campaign; yet you continue to oppose, questioning whether my Ministry can supply resources and funds."

"What? Have you placed agents in my Ministry of Revenue? You know exactly how much money and grain the Ministry has left."

"Is that why you're so confident the Ministry cannot produce that much money and grain?"

Hearing this, Dou Dan's heart tightened abruptly, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Those words were indeed weighty; if he were to admit them, even as Li Shimin's brother‑in‑law, it would be uncertain whether he could keep his life.

Planting agents in the Ministry of Revenue?

That's a death sentence for him!

"So young, yet so sharp‑tongued!" Dou Dan inhaled deeply, then said coldly, "When did I ever need to plant agents in the Ministry of Revenue?"

"Who in the entire court doesn't have a rough idea of the Ministry's situation?"

"Otherwise, why would you keep crying about poverty all day?"

"One more thing, I advise you not to speak so confidently; do you know that once we send troops, with tens of thousands of mouths, are you aware how much grain is consumed each day?"

Chen Yan suddenly laughed, "So, Lord Dou's point is that the Ministry's situation is known throughout the court; you have all examined the Ministry's ledgers?"

"Gentlemen, is that so?"

When Chen Yan swept his gaze over them, everyone lowered their heads, some even openly admitting they knew nothing about the Ministry's condition.

That infuriated Dou Dan, but before he could speak, Chen Yan continued, "As for crying poverty, that doesn't exist; although the Ministry handles the empire's finances, you are right that fixed annual expenditures alone consume more than half the revenue."

"The remainder must also be used to address various emergencies; when faced with matters we can temporarily set aside, we naturally choose to do so."

"For example, the current disturbances on the Tang border by foreign tribes; the Duke proposed sending troops—wasn't that a sudden situation?"

"I truly don't understand why Lord Dou is so certain the Ministry cannot produce money and grain."

"I…"

"Enough!" Chen Yan denied him a chance to speak, stepped forward slowly, "I'm not only young and sharp‑tongued, but I also understand a principle."

"Dignity has always existed only within the reach of the iron cavalry!"

"And I know better what it means to 'open with one punch, lest a hundred punches follow!'"

Those brief two sentences greatly uplifted the spirits of the many generals in the military officials group!

Good!

What a dignity that exists only within the iron cavalry's stride!

What a saying: open with one punch, lest a hundred punches come!

Even though he is a child born of a military general family, studied since childhood and grew up to be a civil official, the spirit that emanates from his bones is exactly to their liking!

Li Shimin couldn't help but nod repeatedly after hearing it.

Right!

Exactly right!

The Chen Zian I expect should be like this!

However, Chen Yan's next actions left everyone baffled.

He approached a palace maid responsible for serving dishes and asked, "I, the official, question you: the Tang border is continually harassed, its people live in constant peril; what do you think should be done?"

In an instant, everyone's gaze converged.

The maid was terrified by the scene, her legs went weak and she collapsed to the ground, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"Servant… servant…"

She was just a lowly palace maid; never before had so many great figures paid her attention.

"No problem, go ahead and voice the thought that arose subconsciously in your heart; I, the official, will ensure you remain unharmed!"

Chen Yan's voice shifted from cold to warm, his smile carrying a hint of dominance.

"Speak, I also wish to hear your thoughts!"

Li Shimin added a sentence at this moment.

The maid swallowed a mouthful of saliva, pressed her forehead hard against the hall's stone floor, and trembled as she said, "Servant… I haven't read many books, I don't understand great principles, but my mother once told me that if someone bullies you, you must not endure it; even if you must die, you should gnaw a piece of flesh from the bully!"

"Because the kind are bullied, the weak horse is ridden!"

"Good! Very good!"

Chen Yan laughed loudly and approached a eunuch, "The previous question, I will ask you again: how do you think we should proceed?"

The eunuch's face turned pale, yet he was far steadier than the maid; he steadied his voice and knelt, replying, "Although I am a crippled body, I know shame and courage. Hearing the Grand Secretary's words just now, my chest feels as if hot blood is boiling…"

He lifted his head, and tears glistened in his eyes:

"It must be struck!"

"Servant thinks, it must be struck!"

The hall fell silent.

Li Shimin burst into laughter, and the military officials group laughed along.

Du Ruhui and the others also laughed.

Chen Yan turned, looking at Dou Dan, "Lord Dou, my Tang generals say 'strike'! My Tang women say 'strike'!"

"Even a crippled eunuch of our Tang says we must strike!"

"Yet you keep questioning everywhere, opposing at every turn, Lord Dou… what is your true intention?"

"Enough!"

Dou Tan wanted to speak, but was interrupted again.

However, this time the one who interrupted him was not Chen Yan, but Li Shimin himself.

This Tang emperor rose from his throne, looked down upon the officials, his voice flat, "As that palace maid said, the kind are bullied, the weak horse is ridden."

Also as Chen Aiqing said, "Throw a punch to settle things, to avoid a hundred punches coming!"

This time, the Tang border is harassed by the Tuyuhun barbarians; the border folk are in dire straits, and I cannot sit idly by.

Therefore, I have decided to personally lead the campaign this September; after I depart, the Crown Prince will oversee the state, assisted by the three ministers Fang, Du, and Wei.

Chen Yan:???

Du Ruhui and the three:???

Court officials:???

As Li Shimin's words left his mouth, the hall fell so silent you could hear a pin drop, and everyone was dumbfounded.

Even Chen Yan was no exception.

No, you didn't mention this earlier!

Your Majesty, this is unacceptable!

I oppose......

Your Majesty, please reconsider......

In a moment, all the court officials could not stay seated, and they rose one after another to oppose.

Li Shimin appeared angry on the surface, but inwardly he was delighted beyond measure.

This brat Chen Yan's trick is still useful.

When your proposal to open a window is rejected, you might instead propose tearing down the house.

Thus, everyone agreed to open the window.