Chapter 35

As soon as the news spread in the yamen, someone soon came to ask for leave.

It can be seen that the Eunuch Faction's plan was successful.

Human greed is common; being able to attract the children of nobles can also attract civil officials and gentry.

As long as the price is attractive enough, there is no worry about no one taking over.

If it weren't for the fact that land cannot be moved and the distance is too far to manage, just the bureaucrats in the capital could buy out these industries.

It doesn't matter if it can't be sold out for a while; after the local gentry receive the news, they will also rush over quickly.

Moreover, next year is the year of the imperial examination, and scholars from all over the country can also enter the capital in advance.

Unless the place is too remote and the powerful in the court don't like it, Li Mu doesn't think they can get a share.

2.8 million mu sounds like a large number, but for the princes, nobles, relatives, and civil and military officials in the court, it is simply not enough to divide.

Looking at history, every time a dynasty enters the mid-to-late stage, the population of the ruling group will grow rapidly, and the corresponding demand for wealth will also increase.

The eldest son inherits the family business, and other sons also need to have a place to settle.

Relying entirely on the ancestral business to live, it won't be long before they fall into a financial predicament.

Apart from increasing the plunder of the people, the struggle within the ruling group will also become unprecedentedly intense.

Patting his head, Li Mu found that he was worrying about nothing.

If the sky falls, the Emperor will hold it up first.

Below, there are a group of cabinet ministers and princes and nobles to take over, and it is not his turn to worry as a small shrimp.

From the situation understood, whether it is Emperor Tianyuan or the officials in the court, they are one more shrewd than the other.

Whether they can learn lessons from history is unknown, but reading history books is certain.

From the series of actions since Emperor Tianyuan ascended the throne, it is clear that he noticed the danger of the empire, which is why he pushed for reform.

As of now, the most direct result of these reforms is reflected in finance.

Compared with the first year of Tianyuan, the imperial court's financial revenue has increased by nearly a quarter in seven years.

For an old, large empire, this is definitely a remarkable achievement.

Of course, Emperor Tianyuan had more failed reforms, but he is a behind-the-scenes player.

Not only did he divide the officials, but he also launched the Eunuch Faction as a top-tier scapegoat, pulling hatred in front.

Everyone's target was the Eunuch Faction, and no one noticed what the Emperor did.

Or rather, he, the Emperor, did nothing, and the whole process was hinting at others to do it.

If it succeeded, it was the Emperor's wisdom.

If it failed, it was the subordinates who misunderstood the holy will.

If the Emperor doesn't go down personally, he won't make mistakes.

Except for the decisive decision at the critical moment, at other times, things were done by the officials.

Playing like this in a feudal dynasty is simply invincible.

Assisting the monarch in handling state affairs is the duty of the officials.

If something goes wrong, they naturally have to bear the corresponding responsibility.

Shifting the blame to the superior is a technical job, not something anyone can play.

Especially shifting the blame to the Emperor is even more full of risks.

The blood-drained Censorate is the best negative teaching material.

The Emperor, who has always been open to advice, borrowed the hands of eunuchs to get rid of them without a sound.

It is estimated that many people were exiled from the capital without knowing that they had offended the Emperor, thinking that they had angered the Eunuch Faction in the factional struggle, leading to disaster.

After a round of brain-filling, Li Mu regained confidence in the Emperor and the imperial court.

Just returned to the Marquis's mansion, before he had time to change his official uniform, he was called over by the Marquis of Zhenyuan.

"Uncle, you called me over, did something happen?"

Li Mu asked suspiciously.

He knows something about the Marquis of Zhenyuan.

Having been in the capital for so long, every time they met, this uncle was always in a state of having a plan in his chest, as if everything was under control. This was the first time Li Mu saw him lose his composure.

"Something big is going to happen!

The Embroidered Uniform Guard found survivors of the Great War in Liaodong, and learned from them that the army had run out of food the day before the decisive battle with the enemy.

Further investigation revealed that according to the deployment of the Liaodong Commander Duan Wenhong, the army requisitioned food and grass from nearby guard stations.

But the nearest Shenyang Guard has been attacked by the Northern Barbarians all year round, and the military fields have been abandoned.

The military households had long since fled, and there was simply not enough food in the warehouse.

Such important news should have been reported before the war.

As a result, the news was suppressed by someone during the transmission process.

After the war broke out, Commander Duan sent someone to urge for food, only to find something wrong.

Unfortunately, the messenger's attitude was too bad, which angered the Commander of the Shenyang Guard, who killed the messenger in a fit of rage.

In order to escape the imperial court's accountability, he transported fake food and grass on the road, forged the illusion of the Northern Barbarians attacking and the entire army being wiped out halfway, and now his whereabouts are unknown."

Li Yuan said with lingering fear.

Whether it is concealing military intelligence or the deficit of the guard station, it is a big deal that pierces the sky.

It just so happens that these two major events directly led to the defeat in Liaodong.

At this point, no matter what, the imperial court must pursue it to the end.

"Uncle, do you mean that the imperial court wants to check the guard stations?"

Concealing military intelligence is a serious crime, and losing one's head is inevitable. It might even trigger the nine-generation elimination copy.

Whoever it is checked to, that person is finished.

No matter how big the backing is, it is useless. No matter how much the two parties in the court fight, no one will want to go and collude with the Northern Barbarians.

From the Emperor to the civil and military officials, no one will let these bastards go.

Since the ending is doomed, there is nothing to say. Then the big thing that is going to happen can only be checking the guard stations everywhere.

Emperor Tianyuan has long been dissatisfied with the problem of the rotten combat effectiveness of the guard station troops.

It's just that this kind of historical stubborn disease involves too many people behind it, and it's not something that can be moved just because you want to.

The opportunity of the defeat in Liaodong created favorable conditions for checking the guard stations across the country.

Don't doubt it, all the guard stations in the country, count one by one, all have big problems.

The combat effectiveness of the guard station troops declined, apart from lack of training, the most important thing is the power that supports their fighting—land, which was occupied by others.

Of the nearly 100 million mu of military fields in the country, less than one in ten remains in the hands of military households.

Military households who originally enjoyed tax exemption and should have had a higher standard of living are living even worse than hired laborers.

If they can't even fill their stomachs, naturally don't expect any combat effectiveness.

"That's right!

The Emperor has long intended to rectify the guard stations everywhere, and he naturally will not let go of such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

At the small court meeting, the Ministry of War proposed to check the military fields of the guard stations everywhere. Even if we nobles strongly opposed it, the proposal was still passed!"

Li Yuan said with a gloomy face.

On the issue of checking the guard stations, the Emperor and the cabinet actually reached a consensus. This made the nobles who had little say in the court fall into a passive position all of a sudden.

When it comes to playing with words, all the noble bosses tied together are not the opponents of a cabinet minister.

Moreover, for this matter, people have sufficient reasons.

The reasons for opposition raised by the nobles simply couldn't stand.

(End of chapter)