You must know that the five million taels of silver were cut out of the military expenses of the new army. It can be said that for these five million taels of silver, Chongzhen placed a lot of expectations.

And now, not only are expectations dashed, but five million taels of silver have also been lost......

As soon as Liu Yun, the chief soldier of the Navy Division, finished speaking, the anger in Emperor Chongzhen's heart rose up......

After the fist clenched because of anger smashed on the dragon case in front of him, Chongzhen's eyes full of anger and murderous aura immediately shifted to the military department Shangshu......

At this moment, the forehead of the military department Shangshu was already sweating beads because of nervousness.

Such a big thing, even if you can't blame yourself for it, a joint responsibility is not something you can bear.

At this moment, he was sweating profusely, frowning, thinking about whether there was any scapegoat in the military department that could help him share some of Chongzhen's anger and let himself not die too miserably......

However, Chongzhen, who was already shrouded in anger, obviously didn't intend to give him this opportunity......

The whole person was like an angry lion, and he asked loudly at the military department: "Zhang Aiqing, do you remember your promise in the main hall ten days ago...... Now what else do you have to say......"

As an old minister, he is still very familiar with Emperor Chongzhen's temper.

At this moment, any rebuttal may cause Emperor Chongzhen's anger even more.

Therefore, as soon as Chongzhen's words were finished, the military department Shangshu knelt on the ground and said with a look of regret: "The old minister is guilty, please calm the emperor's anger...... However, it is hoped that His Majesty will be able to confess his guilt before the old minister. Speak your heart......"

"Said ...... "After all, the secretary of the military department has been with him for several years. And the old minister who never abandons himself.

Even if there is no merit, there is hard work. At the moment when the old figure of the military department was kneeling in the main hall. Chongzhen still subconsciously showed a trace of unbearability in his heart.

"Emperor Xie...... What the old minister wants to say is that the old minister is just a secretary of the military department and assists the emperor in managing the national army...... What's more, Lao Chen was born as a literati, and although he had fought in wars, he had never been in contact with naval warfare and naval ......" "Therefore, Lao Chen knew nothing about the equipment needed by the sailors...... If the emperor really wants to cure the sins of the old ministers. Please ask the emperor to be a few days late, and after the old minister will punish all the officials who neglected their duties in the military department, the old minister will definitely come to the emperor in person to confess the crime...... Of course, this is also the last request of the old minister to fulfill his promise and die before he dies......"

"I'm right......" Chongzhen replied without thinking.

Then, as if thinking of something, he continued: "Aiqing, even if you are guilty, you will not die for your crime...... As you just said, you don't know about the sailor's equipment. The real guilty are the civil and military officials under the Ministry of War......"

"I believe in you. I will give you ten days to make meritorious service for your crimes, and find out all the officials in the military department who have neglected their duties...... This time, I must kill people, use their heads to sue the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, no matter who they are, how much power they have, they can't make small moves against my army, otherwise, there will be no ......mercy for killing."

After hearing Chongzhen's decision to kill, all the generals in the court showed a heartfelt moved expression on their faces.

Because, for hundreds of years, they have been pressed by civil officials, and they do things according to the eyes of civil officials.

And now, Emperor Chongzhen directly told them with his actions that the days when civilian officials were higher than military attaches are gone. From now on, they can also raise their heads and become officials, and they don't have to worry about the civil servants persecuting them......

Therefore, after Chongzhen's words were finished, more than a dozen generals, including Liu Yun, knelt on the ground at the same time as if they had been discussed, and shouted with a fiery face: "The emperor is wise...... The ministers and others brought all the soldiers from all over the world, and the emperor ......"

The sudden arrival of Liu Yun, the chief soldier of the Navy, not only subverted the relaxed atmosphere in the court, but also made Emperor Chongzhen hold back his anger and have no place to vent......

Therefore, as soon as the matter of the warship and artillery was resolved, Chongzhen, who still had anger on his face, planned to signal Wang Chengen to announce his retirement from the dynasty......

And just when Wang Chengen was about to speak, Hubu Shangshu suddenly stood up.

Before Chongzhen could react, he said with a solemn face......

"Your Majesty, the minister has a plan to play...... The fact that the naval warships cannot go to sea to fight, which means that the Haw Par Army naval warships can still turn the coastal waters south of the Yangtze River into their backyards without any scruples......"

"In this case, our access to the outside world will be blocked, and there will be no way for merchant ships to go to sea to trade with Portugal and other countries in exchange for the silver that the imperial court urgently needs......"

In addition, the salt tax was greatly reduced, and all the five million taels of silver transferred to the water division were wasted, and the new army of the imperial court also spent 20,000 soldiers of the new army of Ganning. This year, the imperial court's tax revenue is only fifteen million taels at most. ”

"Only eight months have passed since then, and the tax revenue of 15 million taels of silver has been exhausted......"

"Although the household department still has 300,000 taels of silver in storage, these reserves are to maintain the normal operation of the imperial court, and they must not be used ......."

"Therefore, if the imperial court wants to ensure stability and persist until next year's tax revenue, there is still a gap of at least eight million taels of silver......

"Of course, the gap that the old minister mentioned only refers to the gap when the new army of the imperial court does not continue to expand......"

"If the new army of the imperial court is expanded to 200,000 by the end of the year, according to His Majesty's requirements, then this gap will directly increase to fifteen million...... After all, the additional 80,000 new troops of the imperial court, whether it is food or equipment, will require a large amount of silver......"

"If the imperial court can't raise so much silver in a short period of time, at the latest next month, the 120,000 new imperial army will be out of salary......"

Fifteen million taels of silver in four months is an astronomical amount even for Chongzhen, the emperor.

Therefore, the court of Nuoda quickly regained its calm after a short discussion. Including Emperor Chongzhen, everyone had an incredible look of shock on their faces.

Of course, behind the shocked expressions, there is a deep helplessness hidden from their hearts......

Even the head of the household department who is in charge of the country's money and grain taxes has no way to do it, let alone other civil and military officials who do not touch taxes......

Under such circumstances, the Cabinet had to stand up and break the atmosphere......

Facing Emperor Chongzhen, he also said helplessly: "Your Majesty, there is really no way, the imperial court can only raise taxes on the people like a few years ago...... As long as the current tax revenue is doubled, we can get fifteen million taels of silver in a short time to fill the financial gap and ensure that the imperial court and the 120,000 new army can survive this crisis......" (to be continued......