The general's wife knows medicine

Chapter 209: The soldiers and horses have not moved, but the food and grass go first

If the soldiers and horses are not moving, the grain and grass will go first.

The Minister of Revenue worried until his hair turned white, but he was still able to raise enough food and fodder for Mu Jintang's 200,000 troops on the journey.

"Your Majesty, I really tried my best." The Minister of Revenue knelt in front of the hall and prostrated himself on the ground.

Although the late emperor worked diligently, he could not withstand the natural disasters in the past two years.

One disaster can wipe out half of the national treasury.

Where would he have extra money these days? He had to save some for emergencies, right? If something happened again, he would have time to react, right?

Bai Heyi sighed helplessly, he knew the difficulties of the Minister of Revenue. But the border town was in danger, if there was no sufficient food and grass support, even if Mu Jintang's army rushed there at full speed, it would be difficult to resist the attack of the State of Chen.

"I understand your difficulties," Bai Heyi said, "but the situation in the border town is urgent, and we must find a way to solve the problem of food and grass."

Bai Heyi looked at the ministers and asked, "My dear ministers, do you have any good ideas?"

A minister stood up and said, "Your Majesty, can we collect grain from the people?"

Bai Heyi shook his head: "The people are not well off at this time. If we forcibly collect grain, it will only cause resentment among the people."

Another minister stepped forward and said, "I heard that there is a bumper harvest of grain in the south this year. Your Majesty can send people to buy grain from the south and take the waterway from the south to Tong County. It will be much faster if we go through Tong County."

The Minister of Finance was still kneeling on the ground. After hearing this, he said again: "But there is not much money left in the treasury!"

Everyone says that the Ministry of Revenue is a good position with very lucrative benefits.

But who knows the difficulties of the Ministry of Revenue?

Bai Heyi was not unaware of this. He had also been familiar with the Ministry of Transfer of Households, so naturally he knew a little about it.

After thinking for a moment, he said to the eunuch behind him: "Call the chief steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

Eunuch Du is not young anymore. After the late emperor passed away, he applied to go to the imperial mausoleum, saying that he wanted to continue serving the late emperor.

Bai Heyi felt sorry for his deep feelings and granted his permission.

The person serving him now is Eunuch Hong, who was recently promoted and is Eunuch Du's favorite godson.

Being a clever person, Bai Heyi found it very easy to use.

Soon, Eunuch Min, the head of the Imperial Household Department, arrived.

"How much money do I have in my private treasury?"

"Your Majesty, there are still 500,000 taels of silver." Eunuch Min replied respectfully.

Bai Heyi frowned. Five hundred thousand taels of silver were far from enough to buy the necessary food and fodder.

He looked at the Minister of Revenue, "Mr. Li, can you think of other ways to raise funds?"

The Minister of Revenue kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, I will do my best. But right now, there is really no other way except to collect taxes from the people."

Bai Heyi felt annoyed. He knew that taxation would bring burden to the people, but the crisis in the border town could not be delayed.

At this moment, a young official stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I have a plan."

Bai Heyi's eyes lit up, "Tell me about it."

"Your Majesty, you can issue a notice to encourage wealthy merchants to donate money and grain. At the same time, the court can grant them honorary titles or official positions as a reward."

Bai Heyi nodded slightly, "This plan is feasible. Li Qing, you will be in charge of this matter, and Wei Qing will assist you. You must collect enough food and grass as soon as possible to relieve the danger of the border city."

The Minister of Revenue and the young official said together, "Yes, I accept your order."

After the morning court session ended, Bai Heyi summoned Mu Jintang to meet him again.

"Jintang, I know that in a war, food and fodder should be sent before troops move out. However, the national treasury is short of money right now. Do you think it is possible for you to take the soldiers and go first, and I will then collect enough food and send it to the border immediately?" Bai Heyi really had a headache.

Mu Jintang knew that only if he rushed to the border as soon as possible would he have a chance of saving the city. Now that the situation was imminent, he naturally could not wait any longer.

"I have gathered all the soldiers and are ready to go out at any time. Since the emperor says so, I will notify them and set out early tomorrow morning."

Bai Heyi was very satisfied, "Okay, Jintang, I'll have to work hard on you from now on."

Mu Jintang knelt down and said, "I am willing to sacrifice my life for the emperor to defend our country's territory."

Bai Heyi patted Mu Jintang on the shoulder and helped him up personally.

"Okay, okay, then you can set off tomorrow. Trust me, I will gather all the food and supplies as soon as possible."

"Then I will take my leave first and go down to arrange it right away." Mu Jintang bowed.

Bai Heyi nodded.

Mu Jintang went straight back home after leaving the palace.

Since Tang Peipei knew that Mu Jintang was going to the border, she has been leaving early and returning late.

Mu Jintang has also been busy recruiting soldiers.

The two lived together, but they hadn't had a good conversation for several days.

Tang Peipei went back home to get some things. Just as she was about to go out, she saw Mu Jintang who had just dismounted.

He hurriedly greeted him.

"Why are you going home at this time today?"

Mu Jintang took Tang Peipei's hand and said, "Let's go back home and talk."

Mu Jintang pulled Tang Peipei into the mansion.

"The emperor ordered me to lead the army tomorrow." Mu Jintang looked at Tang Peipei with reluctance in his eyes.

"Is the food ready?"

Mu Jintang shook his head. "No, the situation at the border is urgent. We cannot wait any longer. Your Majesty, please do your best to prepare food and fodder. I will go first. Once the food and fodder is ready, I will send it directly to the border."

Tang Peipei turned around and said to Zi Su, "Go and get the box from my room."

Zi Su soon came over holding a big box.

Tang Peipei took it and opened the box.

Mu Jintang was stunned.

The box was full of silver bills, one hundred taels each, neatly arranged in several stacks.

Tang Peipei smiled and said, "Business in the capital is easy to do. This is what I earned after arriving in the capital. It's a total of 300,000 taels. You can take it all."

Tang Peipei pushed the box in front of him.

Mu Jintang was stunned. His little wife was so good!

Tang Peipei then said, "I inquired about the current grain prices in the capital. Brown rice is three cents a dou, and polished rice is eight cents a dou. At this price, these three hundred thousand should be able to solve the urgent needs of the border. In addition, I inquired about the grain production in the south this year. We can buy from there, then take the water route to Tong County, and then transport it from Tong County to the border town, which can save more than half of the time."

Tang Peipei was a little worried. "However, I heard that there are rampant pirates in the south. I'm afraid this road is not easy to travel."

Mu Jintang listened carefully to what Tang Peipei said, and was deeply moved.

He stretched out his hand and pulled Tang Peipei into his arms, and said in a deep voice: "With a wife like this, what else can a husband ask for? Peipei, you are the treasure that God has sent me."

Tang Peipei smiled and hugged his waist, but she was actually a little scared.

She was born in a peaceful era in her previous life and had never experienced war. Although she had experienced some hardships in this life, she had not experienced war either.

However, she also knew that a general would die in a hundred battles, while a warrior would return after ten years.

She was very worried about Mu Jintang.

But, she couldn't keep Mu Jintang.

He was a natural born general, and she had heard him talk about his exploits on the battlefield.

Every time he talked about the years he spent on the battlefield, his eyes lit up and he spoke very seriously and with great devotion.

He remembered every detail and every event from his time on the frontier, big or small.

She could feel that the blood in his body was boiling when he said those things.

So, she knew she couldn't stop it.

But she is his wife, she should stand behind him and support him.

He went there to fight for himself and for his country.

Both publicly and privately, she could only support him and be his firm backing.