"Grand Commandant Gao, you don't have to worry. I know what you're worried about. According to the usual track, when Father abdicates, you'll lose your power.”
Zhao Kai smiled." But you've already joined me. If I ascend the throne, I'll guarantee you a day of glory and wealth."”
"Think about it. If you always have wealth and power in your hands, even the guards in your residence will be filial sons and grandchildren.”
Gao Qiu thought about it carefully. This was indeed the case.
If he could always control power and wealth, who wouldn't be respectful to him and ask about his well-being?
Zhao Kai continued," I heard that you still have brothers in your hometown. You have more than ten sons and nephews. Why don't you choose an honest and dutiful one to adopt? Firstly, your sons and nephews will take care of you when you die. Secondly, it will prevent more trouble."”
Gao Qiu came to a realization and bowed again.""Many thanks for your highness 'reminder. This servant feels as if I've been enlightened. Tomorrow, I'll send that unfilial son back to the countryside and pick a new one to adopt.”
Gao Qiu was furious.
Half of his bad reputation in the capital was caused by his son.
And an adopted son!
At this moment, Gao Qiu heard Yun Wang say,""Gao Qiu, have you ever heard of the eminent monk Xuanzang of the Great Tang going to the Western Paradise to obtain scriptures?”
Gao Qiu hurriedly nodded.
At this time, there was no Journey to the West in the Great Song. However, Gao Qiu had once been Su Shi's attendant and had heard about Monk Xuanzang.
Zhao Kai continued,"The sutra that Xuanzang traveled through mountains and rivers to obtain is located in India in the west.”
"Buddha Shakyamuni was born in India. India is a magical country. What I want to tell you is that there is a secret technique in India.”
Gao Qiu suddenly raised his head.
His eyes were filled with disbelief.
His greatest pain was that he did not have any children. He was in a high position but did not have his own children.
He had tried everything he could and found many famous doctors, but none of them could cure him.
He did not expect Yun Wang to say that India had a way.
"Commandant Gao, you're in your fifties, right?" Zhao Kai looked at Gao Qiu.”
"Your Highness, this servant is fifty-two years old this year. I'm only fifty-two years old." Gao Qiu hurriedly replied.”
Zhao Kai smiled." An old Indian man in his seventies can still have children. Grand Commandant Gao is only fifty-two years old. That's even more so."”
"However, such secret techniques are only circulated among the high-ranking nobles in India. Ordinary civilians are not qualified.”
Gao Qiu nodded in agreement.
This kind of thing was the same everywhere.
The aristocrats controlled the resources, while the commoners could only barely survive.
However, this was not what Gao Qiu was concerned about.
What he was concerned about was the secret medicine that could still give birth at the age of seventy.
Zhao Kai smiled." Commandant Gao, you might not know much about India. They are a group of barbarians who refuse to leave and are trying to retreat.”
"If you are not strong enough, no matter how much you respect them, they will still look down on you. Even if you offer them 10,000 taels of gold, they will still ignore you.”
"But when you are truly powerful, his king will kneel down and kiss your boots, proud to be your servant.”
"Gao Qiu, I promise you that when our Great Song army becomes stronger, I will personally lead the army to the west and bring you that secret medicine. I will let you enjoy the joy of having a child around your knees.”
"Your Highness!"
Gao Qiu fell to his knees again, tears streaming down his face.
What Yun Wang said was the scene in his dream.
Now that he actually saw hope that could be realized, how could he not be excited?
"Your highness, your kindness to this servant is as heavy as a mountain. This servant really has no way to repay you.”
Zhao Kai helped him up and said in a heavy tone,"Then please work hard with me to make the army stronger. For me, for you, for the Great Song.”
Gao Qiu took a deep breath.
A trace of determination flashed in his eyes. He had been the Grand Commandant of the Palace Marshal's Estate for many years.
He knew better than anyone how rotten the Great Song army was.
He struggled for a while and said in a low voice," Your Highness, I am incompetent. I have been in charge of the Palace Marshal's Residence for many years, but I have made the Great Song army bloated and weak. I deserve to die."”
"Your Highness, do you have a good plan to strengthen the army? This servant will do my best to execute it.”
"Is this all?" Zhao Kai tapped the table lightly.”
Gao Qiu gritted his teeth and said in shame," There's also the problem of having empty salaries. All the officials of the Great Song, including the servants, are having empty salaries.”
"Your highness, this servant has truly understood now. I made so much money, and I don't have any children, so what use is it? Please don't be in a hurry to punish this servant, let me atone for my sins.”
He took a deep breath." I have 12 million strings of strings ”
"12 million strings?"
Zhao Kai's eyes were cold. The Great Song's annual military expenditure was only this amount.
During the reign of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, one tael of silver could be exchanged for 200 wen, which was two strings of coins.
Gao Qiu actually embezzled six million taels of silver.
He really didn't deserve to die.
If one didn't have a concept of this number, after the Great Song's hated "Tan Yuan Alliance", the Great Song would pay the Liao Kingdom 300,000 taels of silver and 200,000 bolts of silk every year.
It's a shame to pay Liao money every year.
However, it brought 120 years of peace to the Great Song.
This was the reason why the Hebei Army at the border of Song and Liao was so corrupt.
Anyway, Song Liao is peaceful and doesn't know how to fight. Even if he comes, we won't be able to defeat him.
Let it rot…
Gao Qiu had actually embezzled six million taels of silver during his years in power. He really deserved to die.
Gao Qiu deserved to be killed. The officials of the Hebei Army, the Southeast Army, the various prefectural armies, and the village armies who were eating empty pay should also die.
Zhao Kai stared at Gao Qiu." A prodigal son returning to his old ways is worth more than gold. I accept your repentance."”
"But Gao Qiu, I want you to find all the parasites that are eating empty salaries.”
"This servant accepts the order."
Greed catching greed, that was accurate.
Gao Qiu had been in power for many years, and he had colluded with all kinds of vermin.
He didn't even need to seriously investigate.
He only needed to look through the list of bribes taken at home, and there was no escape.
When Gao Qiu passed the name list to Zhao Kai.
Even though he was prepared, Zhao Kai was still dumbfounded.
"Wait for my orders in the residence. I want to enter the palace tonight.”
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。