Tokyo was exceptionally quiet on a snowy night. The snow could not cover the beauty of the moon.
The Snow Appreciation Pavilion in the palace was more than ten meters tall and surrounded by plum blossom trees. The red and white branches stood proudly in the cold wind.
The pavilion was separated by a few large screens, leaving only a small space for people to enjoy the snow scenery. The charcoal fire was exuberant, and the venison emitted the fragrance of meat in the charcoal fire.
When Ximen Qiao was brought here by the eunuch, it was snowing heavily and the wind was blowing.
"Greetings, Emperor!"
"Beloved minister, please rise. There's no need to be so polite.”Zhao Ji had been waiting for four hours, and he was getting impatient.”
"Thank you, Your Majesty. The weather is getting colder and colder, just like the officialdom in Tokyo.”
Zhao Ji's face turned cold." If this snowstorm continues to blow, I'm afraid we'll be wiped out."”
"Your Majesty, the wind knows the strength of grass." Ximen Qiao took a sip of the hot wine that the eunuch had given him.
The warm wine flowed from his mouth to his stomach, warming him up.
"My dear minister, is the wind too strong?”Zhao Ji said with a flushed face.
"If the wind is not strong, the snow will not rise. Your Majesty, things are getting better. There are not many people captured today. Those people who are devouring and devouring have already begun to donate money. When I came, there were already 100 million taels of silver in the national treasury, enough to make up for the deficit in the national treasury for the next two years.”
"100 million taels! Really?" Zhao Ji started to get excited.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I dare not lie.”
"That's good, that's good!" Zhao Ji rubbed his hands excitedly, and the beeswax on his hands was polished until it shone.
"My dear minister, you're really a capable minister! I want to reward you. Tell me yourself, what official do you want to be? As long as I can give you an official position, I will give it to you.”
"Thank you, Your Majesty! I haven't finished what I've done yet. I'll receive Your Majesty's grace when I'm done.”
"The storm of anti-corruption can be slowed down for a while.”Zhao Ji said.
When Ximen Qiao heard this, he thought that the emperor was afraid after seeing so many officials being arrested. He wanted to slow down, but he couldn't take it anymore.
"Your Majesty, I have the same thoughts. However, I'm afraid that the officials who are currently under investigation will not be able to stop for the time being. The actions of the various provinces can be stopped for the time being.”
"Zhen will give you a clear decree. You are not allowed to spread it out. Give Zhen another 50 million to spend on the Flower Stone Gang and everything will stop.”
What Zhao Ji was worried about was his Flower Stone Guide. Without it, his palaces could not be built.
"This subject will obey!" Ximen Qiao thought to himself that this was not easy. When he came, he had given the Ministry of Revenue 100 million taels, and the other officials had privately given him more than 100 million taels.
Ximen Qiao had a taste of power. It turned out that it was the easiest to earn money when one had a certain amount of power.
"Your Majesty, I heard that the Duke of Chu is already on his way back?”
"That's right. The Duke of Chu has worked hard and made great contributions. This time, I don't even know how to reward him. How about this? I'll reward him with ten million taels of silver from the national treasury.”
"Your Majesty, the silver in the national treasury is used to make up for the deficit.”
"Then reward him with 100,000 mu of fertile land."
"Your Majesty, I have also heard that the Duke of Chu is dissatisfied with me. Is this true?”
"Beloved minister, you can rest assured. The Duke of Chu is a righteous person and will not attack those who are of the same party.”Zhao Ji said.
Zhao Ji was well aware of the various forces in the imperial court. Balance was the art of an emperor.
'It's not that Zhao Ji doesn't know how to be an emperor, but he's just simple-minded,' Ximen Qiao thought.
"Then I can rest assured. Your Majesty summoned me today not just for a small matter like anti-corruption, right?”Ximen Qiao said.
"One more thing. Recently, the mountains have been sealed by heavy snow. Gao Qiu has lost another battle. The Great Liao has been pacified. The Liangshan bandits have grown in power. Their troops have reached the Eastern Peace Prefecture. They have committed all kinds of crimes.”
"Your Majesty, since Grand Commandant Gao is not good at using troops, you can replace him. The Duke of Chu is good at fighting. I think he is the best candidate to pacify Liangshan.”Ximen Qiao thought that it would be best if Tong Guan was transferred to the other side so that he would not be held back in the capital.
"The Duke of Chu is the best candidate. I haven't asked for his opinion, but he just returned from a bloody battle with the Liao Dynasty.”
"It is the duty of a subject to share the worries of the monarch and father. Your Majesty can make arbitrary decisions.”Ximen Qiao said.
"We'll discuss this when the Duke of Chu returns. My dear minister, do you know how to use troops to set up formations?”
When Ximen Qiao heard that, he immediately cast the Mind Reading spell.
"That Tong Guan has already made such a great contribution that it shocked his master. If I let him go to Liangshan, wouldn't I be giving him my throne?" This Ximen Qing's martial arts were strong, and it seemed like he could be used.”
"I will send troops to set up the array, but I can't split up at the moment. Unless I wait until spring next year, I will ask for help to deal with the bandits.”
PS，!
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