CH 54.3

Lin Bozhou’s tone was calm. “What did Elder Cui and Deputy Chen say?”

“Elder Cui intends to spend it on vital matters, such as His Majesty’s mausoleum, military pay, and the navy operation. Nowadays, frontier troubles occasionally rise, and the Japanese invasion has just quietened down, so we must be prepared. Deputy Chen intends to settle the people first and bring the money to the disaster areas. The people of Yu and Wan Provinces will be forced to start a riot if they have nothing to eat.”

Meng Huan looked left and right, half-understanding.

“What does His Majesty say?”

“His Majesty wants to repair the mausoleum and build a chess palace to enshrine the masters of Go from the previous dynasty to the present, saying that he will move to the chess palace to eat and sleep in the future.” Shen Qingyu’s expression was solemn.

Lin Bozhou frowned, and the corners of his lips were even more strained. He did voice an opinion and asked again, “What is your father’s intention?”

Shen Qingyu said, “My father intends to allocate some to each section and save some for inspection. The people must be pacified; nobody can afford it if something happens. The money will be given to the officials with the longest delayed payment, and the others will wait. As for military pay, the most urgent is Liaodong, which must be allocated. There is also His Majesty’s mausoleum…… His Majesty is still young, and there is no hurry……”

Lin Bozhou finally nodded. “Your father is a man loyal to the country.”

Shen Qingyu chuckled. “But what my father said did not count. Although he is in charge of the money, the red approval and the proposed ticket are all in the hands of the cabinet and the Supervisor of Ceremonies, all in the hands of Elder Cui, Deputy Chen, and the prince.”

Meng Huan looked around again, trying to hear more clearly.

Lin Bozhou said, “Your father does not want to allocate the silver to His Majesty and wants this prince to act as the villain again?”

Shen Qingyu laughed outright. “If Your Highness doesn’t act as the villain, no one dares to do it. We also know His Majesty listens to no one but Your Highness.”

Lin Bozhou was quiet for a rare moment.

Emperor Xuan He was a small child, preferring whoever gave him what he wanted.

For example, he wanted the mausoleum and chess palace now. The two cabinet ministers knew that the finances were tight and the people were in dire straits, but they didn’t forget to leave a spare amount of money to Emperor Xuan He, wanting to gain the emperor’s favor.

But Emperor Xuan He would definitely be angry if he said he would not give the money. He would lose the emperor’s heart, and his survival was at stake.

Lin Bozhou replied, “Tomorrow, this prince will go to the palace and ask the emperor what he wants.”

“That’s good.” Shen Qingyu could be considered to have declared his father’s words in his place. He picked up his teacup and took another sip, then saw Meng Huan, who was frowning and thinking.

He smiled, “How does Princess think the money should be divided?”

“……”

Meng Huan did not expect the topic to come to him.

“Ah? Are you asking me?”

Meng Huan subconsciously glanced at Lin Bozhou as if he was suddenly pointed out in class. A little confused and too late to think more, he said tentatively, “The majority to the people?”

“Right.”

Shen Qingyu smiled approvingly; the smile seemed to have some bitterness inside.

“See, the princess also knows that is the truth, but there are just people in the court who don’t do that.”

A cool breeze gently blew by the lotus pond, and the surrounding suddenly became quiet.

Then your court…… is quite bad.

Meng Huan mentally thought of this sentence but did not speak aloud.

He knew it was time for Lin Bozhou to speak and turned his head over.

Lin Bozhou looked grave and said, “The Liaodong military pay, General Mao Chenchang is asking for it yearly. He did not say anything in the past even if he was not prioritized, but how come he wants it so urgently this year?”

Shen Qingyun stared straight, also not comprehending and feeling baffled for a while. “This is Elder Cui’s intention. He thinks it has been lacking for some years, and if it is not given, Liaodong’s armaments will be neglected. Previously, a few unjustified Jurchen in scattered areas would invade and harass from time to time, so people were annoyed. If the armament is really damaged, the northeast border conflict will start. The humiliation of the Jin people breaking through the capital in those years will probably reappear again.”

Jurchen, military equipment, border conflict.

Hearing this, although Meng Huan struggled to understand, he finally heard from a few keywords that they were talking about the Jurchen tribe.

—That was An Chui’s tribe.

Lin Bozhou looked terribly indifferent and snorted. “The accounts book that Mao Chengchang submits to the capital year after year all state that the frontier defense is steady, the armament is sufficient, and His Majesty should not worry. The ethnic groups do not dare to go down and herd their horses, and the soldiers do not dare to bend their bows and complain. How come they suddenly started crying about poverty this year?”

Shen Qingyu scratched his hair, looking somewhat puzzled. “I don’t know.”

Lin Bozhou put down the teacup in his hand.

He said only one word, “Concealment.”