100,000 Ming soldiers are desperate on the front line, if the imperial court can't even guarantee supplies, then the true religion is disappointing, Zhu Cihong is not a little sloppy at this point, this is the advice given to him by his father.

One of the pieces of advice is to do your best to polish the sword in your hand, this sword is the army, to give kindness to the generals, to the soldiers to give grace, the emperor can be invincible.

Not to mention that the Western Expedition Rakshasa was his approval, he must not let Liu Honggradually suffer in the supply, if he can't do anything, he will not hesitate to transfer Liu Honggradually back, he can't imagine how Liu Hongjian will go if Liu Honggradually loses the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, the supply line is too long, it is three thousand miles, and if the king of Anguo continues to fight westward, this supply line will continue to be extended.

In the three hundred years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, there has never been a war of 3,000 miles in front of the supply line. Zhang Tianlu sighed and said.

Although there is a political gap, Zhang Tianlu can still distinguish between the important and important in military affairs, of course, he knows that with his current ability, he wants to play tricks for Liu Hongjian is not an opponent, so he is also attentive in supply.

However, the supply line is too long, and the distance from the south to Datong, and then to Beihai or Xinjiang is not short.

In addition, the severe cold in the north has hindered the speed of the grain delivery team, and in the past two months, more than 2,000 soldiers of the grain transportation team have been frostbitten, and they have also encountered several wolf attacks in the middle of the night, so that 100,000 stone of military food has reached the front line, and five or six out of ten consumers along the way have been consumed.

"Just tell me how much the military will spend this year!" Zhu Cihong listened to Zhang Tianlu's explanation, but was still unmoved.

"Back to Your Majesty, a total of 11 million taels were spent, of which 7.4 million taels were the food, salary, and equipment of the 1.1 million army and sailors in various parts of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhang Tianlu said that he didn't even turn over the account books, and it was obvious that he was familiar with the current military expenditures of the Ming Dynasty.

The food and military salaries of the entire garrison are 7.4 million taels, which means that the remaining more than 3 million taels are the expenses of the Western Expedition to the Rakshasas.

It consumed more than three million taels in a few months, and it is likely to continue, which is undoubtedly a challenge for the treasury with only more than 10 million taels of silver left, and the imperial court is not only spending on the army.

"What about taxes?" Zhu Cihong was silent for a moment, and suddenly asked.

"Back to Your Majesty, up to now, a total of 24 million taels of commercial taxes have been levied in the country, and the customs duties are almost negligible due to the blockade of the Netherlands."

Spending several times more than revenues is a serious fiscal deficit.

Zhu Cihong was silent again, he walked back and forth in front of the dragon chair several times as if he was trying to figure out a way, and at the same time, the ministers in the court did not dare to say much.

"The huge sea has proposed that the construction of the new palace should be stopped immediately, the old palace should also be repaired, and I do not need to purchase the imperial robes this year, and all the expenses in the palace will be reduced, and the silver saved will be used for the army." Zhu Cihong said with a frown.

"This ......" The ministers in the court looked left and right with some surprise, and they seemed to sense a familiar taste.

But it is not enough to satisfy the army, and the expenditure of new schools and armories cannot be saved, but where is the silver?

Zhu Cihong was still using his brain, he looked at the ministers in the court, and suddenly thought of a good idea.

"Let's not talk about these bad things, how have you Aiqing been doing lately, and you can have no worries about food and clothing at home?" Zhu Cihong suddenly showed a benevolent smile and looked at the ministers.

Hearing this, Zhang Tianlu and the others, who were standing at the forefront, trembled.

But the rest of the subordinates didn't come back to their senses, and they thought that the emperor was concerned about their food and clothing.

"Back to Your Majesty, since the past two years, the imperial court has given more money to the officials, although the ministers are not able to eat and drink, but the family's food and clothing are still not a problem, Your Majesty Xie cares." A member of the back row bowed and said with a smile.

The impact of the last salary increase on officials is still quite big, especially those officials who are honest and honest, and the salary paid by the imperial court is enough to make the family live well and have a surplus.

As soon as the official finished speaking, other middle-level officials who did not know the truth echoed him, and it didn't take long for the court to be full of praise for Zhu Cihong.

"Alas! You Aiqing have no worries about food and clothing, I am only worried about whether the soldiers on the front line can eat enough, they are working hard in the Rakshasa country, but I even supply supplies, every time I think about this, my heart hurts, it hurts! Zhu Cihong covered his chest appropriately.

Zhang Tianlu and Cheng Zhi rolled their eyes, and said that they had known that this was the case, and the first assistant of the cabinet, Li Banghua, and the second assistant, Han Yu, naturally knew it but did not speak.

Zhu Cihong has said this, if the other subordinates still understand it, it will really be an insult to the imperial examination system, and the atmosphere in the court has become very embarrassing.

"Your Majesty, as the old saying goes, if the king is worried, he will be humiliated, and if the king is humiliated, he will die, and the minister is willing to donate this month's salary and the remaining silver at home a total of 28,000 taels to solve His Majesty's urgent needs!"

Shi Kefa, a scholar of the Middle Temple and a scholar of the Criminal Department, immediately went out of the class to play.

Shi Kefa's true nature has undoubtedly been revealed since he entered Beijing and joined the cabinet, and his ability to control the sky and the air is comparable to that of Huang Daozhou, who was far away in Guangzhou Mansion.

As long as he was allowed to see and hear any officials who knew the law and violated the law, or other unfair things, Shi Kefa would immediately attack, so that in less than half a year, Shi Kefa got a new nickname - Shi Cannon.

Together with Huang Daozhou, who was far away in Guangzhou Mansion, he was called the Second Artillery of the North and South, because the two of them never chased the wind and shadows, and the officials who were impeached were indeed guilty, plus both of them were promoted by someone, and the courtiers could not afford to hide if they couldn't be provoked, so the two of them could jump to the present.

"Shi Aiqing's words are not right, this is not my urgent need, this is the urgent need of the imperial court and the Ming Dynasty, but Shi Aiqing can have such an awareness, it is really relieved for me!"

Zhu Cihong smiled at Shi Kefa and corrected his speech.

"It's the minister's inconsiderate consideration, Your Majesty Xie reminds you!" Shi Kefa clenched his fists and admitted his mistakes.

The two sang and explained what it means to be a monarch and a minister, which made the other courtiers feel as uncomfortable as eating rat droppings.

After Shi Kefa stepped back, Zhu Cihong stopped talking, but sat on the dragon chair and looked at the ministers, as if waiting for their expression.

The atmosphere was even more awkward.

"The minister is willing to donate 30,000 taels for the imperial court to solve its urgent needs." The second assistant Han Yu came out of the class and played.

After Han Yu finished speaking, the first assistant Li Banghua was one step late before speaking.

"The minister is willing to donate 10,000 taels."

"The minister donated 20,000 taels."

"The minister donated eight thousand taels."

……

In the end, it was the Beijing officials, and many old ministers already had some savings, and under the leadership of Shi Kefa and the first assistant and the second assistant, the officials spontaneously began to report their own amounts according to their positions and family situations.

At the same time, the huge sea standing behind the throne held a brush and wrote hard, and what was written down was all silver!

"Now that the Ming Dynasty is in financial crisis, I and all of you Aiqing should share the honor and disgrace, and I will temporarily halve the salaries of hundreds of officials in the world until the financial tolerance is completed.

Retreat! ”

Zhu Cihong went down the imperial stairs with satisfaction, and then walked out of the imperial palace with his head held high.

……