Watching Zhang Bangchang's smug expression, Cai Jing really wished he could bite him to death.
This old rascal was clearly doing this on purpose. Hadn't he also engaged in ripping off merchants?
But the problem was that now, standing in the imperial court, this old rascal had managed to position himself on the moral high ground. Even Cai Jing had no good way to deal with him at this moment.
After all, Wang Fu was, in any case, the Shaozai of the court, and he was well aware of the court's financial situation.
In recent years, the court had been spending more than it earned annually, already living on borrowed time.
Coupled with the special circumstances of this year, with wars on both the northern and southern fronts, not to mention the unfavorable progress of the northern campaign, what would happen if they were defeated?
Even if they won, the rewards for the soldiers and the appeasement of the local populace would require an astronomical sum of money.
And it was precisely at this time that the entire six provinces of the southeast, the main source of the court's taxes, had descended into chaos.
Rebels and soldiers were everywhere. Although Prince Xin, Zhao Zhen, had gained the upper hand and was gradually tightening his net, given the current situation, it would take at least several more months to completely quell the rebellion.
Even after the rebellion was completely suppressed, it would take three to five years for production to recover and for the finances of the entire southeast to return to pre-war levels. No one should expect anything sooner.
With all these circumstances accumulating, it would take at least seven or eight years for the court to repay this debt.
At this juncture, to ask for money was tantamount to setting a trap, wasn't it?
"What you said is not entirely wrong. But if the national treasury is empty, was all the money spent by the Grand Tutor alone? At this critical juncture, Scholar Zhang, instead of helping the court resolve its difficulties, you are here making sarcastic remarks. Is this your benevolence and sincerity?"
Seeing his self-satisfied demeanor, Cai Tao couldn't hold back any longer and stepped forward to support his father.
Upon hearing this, Cai Jing's mouth twitched.
If this were not in the imperial court, he would have wanted to slap this boy directly. Saying such words at this moment was clearly mocking the Emperor!
Where had all the money of the Great Song dynasty gone?
Before Emperor Huizong ascended the throne, the national treasury had been full.
Not only the national treasury, but the dozens of treasury vaults within the inner court were also piled high with gold, silver, and jewels.
Where had all these things gone?
Hadn't they all been squandered by the current Emperor?
"Minister Cai, what do you mean by those words? Are you implicitly criticizing His Majesty?"
Although Zhao Kai didn't know why Cai Tao would say such a thing at this moment, he certainly wouldn't let such a good opportunity pass. Without thinking, he stepped forward.
"Cai Tao slanders the sovereign! I implore His Majesty to issue a decree to expel this villain from Bianliang City!"
With Prince Yun personally entering the fray, his subordinates naturally came out one after another to support him!
Although they had given Cai Jing some face and didn't directly call for violence, being expelled from Bianliang City would be no different from being killed!
Cai Jing was already of such advanced age; could he really remain in his position for another ten years?
Once the Cai family's descendants were expelled from Bianliang City, it would not be so easy to return.
"This is a court discussion. Stop using veiled insults. Can what you are saying conjure up money?"
Seeing that everyone had reached this point and were still vying for power and engaging in petty schemes, Zhao Ji was truly dizzy with anger.
Without thinking, he slammed the table and interrupted their words.
"Reporting to His Majesty, your subject has a memorial here, submitted by Han Mo, the Pacification Commissioner of the coastal regions of Liangzhe and Fujian. He has requested me to present it to Your Majesty!"
As the assembled officials were staring at each other blankly, Fan Zhengxiao cleared his throat and stepped forward.
"Present it!"
Upon hearing that it was Han Mo's memorial, Zhao Ji frowned.
After all, he had granted Han Mo the privilege of submitting secret memorials. The fact that this boy had sent the memorial to Fan Zhengxiao first was rather peculiar.
However, at this moment, the only person who seemed capable of raising funds for the entire court was likely him. Even though he felt a little uncomfortable, Zhao Ji still spoke.
"Yes!"
Upon hearing this, the eunuch standing nearby quickly stepped forward, took the memorial from Fan Zhengxiao, and then placed it before Zhao Ji with both hands.
Reaching out and opening the memorial, Zhao Ji's face immediately showed an expression of disbelief after glancing at its contents.
"When was this memorial submitted?"
After taking several deep breaths, Zhao Ji immediately asked with a joyful expression.
"Replying to Your Majesty, the memorial arrived this morning. Your subject has already sent people to wait at the Bian River docks! According to the escorting officers' letter, they should reach Bianliang City by noon at the latest today!"
Hearing Fan Zhengxiao say this, Zhao Ji's face lit up with joy.
"This is a loyal subject! This is someone who shares the worries of the ruler and father! Hahahaha!"
"Your Majesty, this is..."
Seeing Zhao Ji's unrestrained laughter, even Cai Jing couldn't help but ask.
"When I appointed Han Mo as the Pacification Commissioner of the coastal regions of Liangzhe and Fujian, and concurrently as the Grand Overseer of the Maritime Trade Offices of the various routes in the southeast, you all complained about this regulation and that irregularity. Now? Do you know what he has done? Without a sound, he has raised six million guan in military funds for the court, which will be delivered to Bianliang City today!"
"Six million guan!"
Upon hearing this figure, even Cai Jing's pupils contracted.
The remaining officials couldn't help but whisper among themselves, as this was not a small sum.
This was already close to one-eighth of the court's annual revenue!
And how long had he been in office?
At most, a little over a month in total.
Raising so much money in just over a month?
Was this something that a human could accomplish?
"That's right, six million guan! Do you know where this money came from?"
When Zhao Ji reached this point, he began to gnash his teeth again.
"The Fujian Maritime Trade Office in Quanzhou, with all its officials totaling no more than a hundred people, managed to embezzle no less than eight million guan in just three years!"
As Zhao Ji spoke, his ferocious gaze caused all the court officials to lower their heads.
After all, this was originally his money!