Traveling through ancient times: starting with live streaming

Chapter 589 Meeting in the Imperial Study Room

The so-called "burnt offering" is to burn all the slaughtered pigs, cows and sheep with firewood to make smoke, and offer it to the heaven. But no one can leave yet, and they must wait until the sacrifice is completely burned out before the ceremony is completed.

"What a pity..." Zhou Chang looked at the black smoke rising into the sky and could faintly smell the aroma of burnt meat.

Feng Suo explained quietly behind him: "Brother Jiu, this is not the Spring Festival at the beginning of the year, and there will be no food sharing afterwards."

"No points? It's hard for me to get up so early." Zhou Chang's face was full of disappointment.

Thick smoke rose into the sky.

As the ceremony was drawing to a close, Zhou Chang wanted to leave.

After all, more than half a year has passed, and the progress of everything that needs to be done is basically slow. Today I want to go to the Ministry of Revenue to take another look. If the "three unethical taxes" don't work, they really should be withdrawn.

Just as he was preparing to escape, two young eunuchs beside Fang She came running over from afar to summon him, saying that there was an urgent matter from the Ministry of War and the Emperor Lin was summoning all the ministers to his study.

King Xian was even more exhausted from this battle than the last one, and everyone seemed numb.

Zhou Chang was too lazy to ask, so he ignored him and turned to leave, but Prince Rong grabbed him and said, "Ninth brother, where are you going? You should listen to the military and national affairs."

"As for me..." Zhou Chang was about to refuse, but Prince Rong looked at Feng Shuo again, "Shuo'er, you come too."

"Me?" Feng Suo was pleasantly surprised.

Prince Rong acted like an elder brother and said as a matter of course: "Your birthday is in another month, and you will be sixteen, almost seventeen. It's time for you to start learning to share the worries of your father and the king."

"Can I?" Feng Suo asked a question, but his eyes betrayed everything.

In the past two years, his height has increased by leaps and bounds, almost reaching the same height as Prince Rong, but he turned his head to ask Zhou Chang.

Zhou Chang was still being held by Prince Rong's wrist, and seeing Feng Suo's thoughts, he smiled and said, "Okay, then Brother Nine will go with you."

So the two of them followed Prince Rong and a group of important ministers to the imperial study.

After they arrived at the imperial study to see the emperor, they learned that Prince Xian Fengzheng had suffered a surprise attack by the enemy and most of his food and grass had been burned, so he was in urgent need of supplies. That was why the Ministry of War had urged him three times with an urgency of eight hundred miles.

A good cook cannot cook without rice. As winter was approaching, the court's food reserves were running out, and Emperor Lin was at a loss as to what to do.

The ministers were summoned and started to discuss. Either winter was approaching and the national treasury did not have enough grain, or many places in the south were hit by disasters. Not only had the dam not been built, but it also required a large amount of money and grain supply. Not to mention the lack of grain, it was impossible to comfort the victims...

After all the old talk, someone suggested that since winter is approaching, why not try to take a break, take a breath, and wait until next spring.

Someone immediately stood up to object, saying that since the last defeat of the Mirage Kingdom was after the winter snowstorm, they should seize the opportunity this time.

After listening for a long time, Zhou Chang couldn't help but say, "They came to our door to attack us. Invasion... Do you understand what invasion means?"

Prince Rong was full of concerns: "That being said, I'm afraid that relying on my ninth brother's frostbite cream and herbs won't be enough. The situation this time is more serious than the last time. If there is no food, are we going to let the soldiers go to war hungry in the middle of winter?"

"Then we need to raise food grains. We can still take out a batch from the national treasury. Then the court can raise the second and third batches from the people..." Zhou Chang didn't think this was an easy task, but the Mirage Kingdom was really hateful.

I wasn’t afraid of losing last time, so I can’t lose this time.

Prince Rong shook his head and said, "It's not as easy as you say. The people don't have much food left. They are all waiting for the New Year and winter. Even if they can hold on until the beginning of next spring, they will be exhausted."

"The other party is invading, what choice do we have? The three states in northern Vietnam were originally our neighboring countries. At this moment, we can't give up an inch of land even if it means risking our lives." Zhou Chang would be lying if he said he had no selfish motives at all. He also remembered a sentence from his previous life, "Whoever offends China will be punished no matter how far away they are."

As the discussion failed to reach a conclusion, the Emperor was extremely worried. He glanced at his ministers, but they could only sigh and shake their heads.

Once Zhou Chang opened his mouth, Prince Yi could no longer suppress his consciousness. He was even more indignant and took over the right to speak: "It's only been a few years. Isn't the Mirage Kingdom afraid of fighting? Why do they dare to invade? Isn't it because they are poor and crazy? If a poor and crazy country can persist in fighting this war, why can't we?"

Everyone present was speechless again.

Feng Ming was furious, so he didn't care. "Food, food. Didn't Lord Song just say that he could still supply more than 100,000 dan of food? As for raising food and fodder, why should we raise food from the people? I have 3,000 dan of rice and noodles a year, and we can donate some of it. I'm sure Brother Rong and his officials can't finish eating it either, so we might as well donate it."

At this point, we can’t care whether anyone is willing or not, so we just use “moral kidnapping”.

When everyone heard this, they became even more silent.

However, the Minister of War Peng Pai stood up again at an inopportune time and said, "Your Majesty, it's not just about food and fodder. A few days ago, we received reports from the south that Nanqing is also ready to make a move. If we focus all our efforts on dealing with the north, and the south starts a war again, I'm afraid it will be difficult to take care of both ends."

"Is there any action in Nanqing?" Feng Ming was surprised, and Zhou Chang was also unaware.

Many people also unconsciously turned their eyes to Feng Suo.

Feng Suo is the prince born from the marriage between Emperor Lin and Princess Nanqing. Because of this marriage, the diplomatic relations between the two countries have been stable for many years. Otherwise, how did Duke Gu Yan of Xu get the title of Duke?

If Nan Qing stabbed Feng Suo in the back at this time, wouldn't Feng Suo become a joke?

Feng Ming also reacted and quietly grabbed Feng Suo's hand.

However, Feng Suo had a serious face and ignored everyone's gazes. He exuded a maturity and stability that was inconsistent with his age, and seemed more reassuring than Feng Ming.

Shangshu Ling Ding Mao came to analyze again: "Don't worry, Lin State and Nanqing have been at peace for so many years. Nanqing is a small place, and we have more trade exchanges in recent years. Our Lin State is strong, and they dare not easily invade."

Prince Rong still tried to be cautious: "Although Nanqing dare not attack easily again after suffering a heavy blow from my Lin Kingdom 20 years ago, there is always a chance of something happening, so we must be prepared."

"My Lords, what should we do with the current situation?" The Emperor was visibly in poor spirits. He had no idea and could only ask his ministers.

Prince Rong solemnly said, "Father, in my opinion, if Nanqing is really worried, why not send an envoy to appease them?"

"This is a solution." Emperor Lin nodded slightly.

Prince Rong continued, "For such foreign affairs missions, a minister can be sent, but to show sincerity, a prince can also be sent as an envoy, which can better demonstrate sincerity."

Now that Prince Rong is the "number one" in the court, no matter what he says, all the ministers will agree with him.