"Prime Minister, what is the population of Yizhou?" Liu Chan asked.
"250,000 households, a population of more than a million.”Zhuge Liang said.
"How much money and grain does the Imperial Court earn each year? How many of them eat the food of the imperial court?" Liu Chan said.
"This…I don't know. It's not that I'm lazy, but it's different every year.”Zhuge Liang said.
"There's a number that the Prime Minister definitely knows. How much money and grain does the Imperial Court lose every year?”
"This subject knows that ever since the first year of Jianxing, the Imperial Court has suffered a deficit of three million catties of grain and ten million taels of silver every year.”
Zhuge Liang said. After saying that, he felt ashamed. After all, he was the Prime Minister and was directly responsible.
"Then the Prime Minister still has to submit a memorial to the Northern Expedition every year.”Liu Chan mocked.
"I'll tell you again, the population of Yizhou you mentioned is also wrong, because you only counted the number of people on the register and did not count the population raised by those great clans and noble families.”Liu Chan said.
"Your Majesty is wise. I did not count those people because they do not farm or pay food.”Zhuge Liang said.
"I'm telling you, those great clans raise far more people than they cultivate. Why? It was because farming was not enough to make a living, so why not? It was because the imperial court had given too much food and the people could not bear the burden, so they abandoned the land. Why did Hannan rebel? It was forced by famine and forced by food."
The more Liu Chan spoke, the angrier he became. These were the investigation memorials given to him by Wang Anshi and Di Renjie.
"I…really don't know, but it's only right and proper to pay grain. I know that the people are the most important, so I made some adjustments, but the results were minimal.”
Zhuge Liang was already drenched in cold sweat. He subconsciously stood up and wanted to move.
As soon as he got up, the armchair he had been sitting on had been taken away by a eunuch in the meeting hall.
Zhuge Liang was embarrassed. He didn't know whether to sit or stand.
"Prime minister, standing is good for your body. It's good for your brain and blood circulation.”Liu Chan said.
"Thank you, Lord!" Zhuge Liang bowed.
"Prime Minister, you don't have to care about the affairs of Yizhou. I'm going to order you to be my special envoy to Dongwu. The Empress Dowager of Dongwu has passed away, so she's my aunt in name. You can pay her respects on my behalf and strengthen our alliance with Dongwu at the same time.”Liu Chan said.
"Your Majesty, I accept your decree! It has always been my intention to mend the East Wu. I have always had this idea after the death of the previous emperor. I am just worried that the entire court will oppose it. After all, we fought a war with Sun Quan.”
Zhuge Liang said. He approved of Liu Chan's decision.
"Prime Minister, I only have one sentence to say to calm Sun Quan down.”Liu Chan said.
"This subject obeys the decree!" Zhuge Liang knelt down and bowed.
"Alright, dear ministers, if you have something to report, then leave.”
Liu Chan felt comfortable all over. He had finally done what he wanted to do.
"I, Li Yan, have something to report."
Just as Liu Chan was about to move, Li Yan came out and knelt down.
"What is it?" Liu Chan sat back on the throne.
"Your Majesty, I impeach Jiang Prefecture Governor Di Renjie. Di Renjie is a despicable person. Your Majesty has generously promoted him, but he has made enemies of my son, Li Feng, everywhere in Jiang Prefecture. He has even whipped my family's generals. It seems that he has also committed corruption in the name of trading with Wu.”Li Yan said.
"Zhen will send someone to investigate this matter.”
Liu Chan indeed did not receive Di Renjie's memorial, because he did not rest after returning to the palace.
"Your Majesty is wise.”Li Yan kowtowed three times and nine times.
Zhuge Liang shot Li Yan a look of disgust, but Liu Chan sneered in his heart. Li Yan must be thinking that he had lived too long.
After returning to the palace, Wei Zhongxian placed all the official documents from the various prefectures in front of him. They were as tall as half a person.
Liu Chan was troubled when he saw the mountain of memorials. How could he finish reading them?
"Your Majesty, ChenQie knows a little about literature and ink. Can I help Your Majesty take a look and manage them separately, listing out the key points for Your Majesty to read?”
Lu Lingqi walked up to Liu Chan and said.
"Beloved Concubine Xi Yanxue, how can you be knowledgeable?”Liu Chan said in surprise.
"Your Majesty, let this servant tell you. This is a memorial from Di Renjie of Jiang Prefecture. Di Renjie accused the Governor of Jiang Prefecture, Li Feng, of colluding with Wu, annexing the country's wealth, filling his own pockets, raising death warriors, and conspiring against Wu.”Lu Lingqi said to Liu Chan after reading it.
"Your Majesty, this memorial is an important matter. We should present it to Your Majesty for you to read at the first moment. What do you think?”
"Very good, very good, Shanye!”Liu Chan exclaimed in delight.
"My beloved consort, you can take care of the palace documents in the future. I didn't expect my beloved consort to be so talented in both civil and military matters.”
"Your Majesty, you praise me too much. This servant does not deserve it.”Lu Lingqi bowed, feeling extremely happy.
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