Chapter 959: Court

Emperor Wen rested for two days before formally attending the court meeting.

However, Emperor Wen still followed the convention and let Yun Li preside over the court meeting, while he himself sat on the throne in his old age.

After Yun Li talked about some random things at the court meeting, he finally came to the main topic of the day.

"Now, the Sixth Elder of Shuobei is desperately building warships. I think he is preparing for a future march south! Everyone, tell me, how should the court respond?"

Faced with the questions raised by Yun Li, many people sighed inwardly.

Although this matter has not been fully confirmed, it can be seen from Yun Zheng's various actions.

Why would Yun Zheng need so many shipbuilding craftsmen if not to build warships?

As for the purpose of building this warship, who can say for sure?

"Your Highness, I heard that the Sixth Prince sent people out to sea with the warships that the court had given him before, and brought back a lot of seeds of high-yield crops. Three warships went out, but only one warship came back in the end! I think that the Sixth Prince built the warships just to go out to sea again to look for high-yield crops, and the court does not need to be overly nervous."

An official from Xu Shifu's faction took the lead in standing up and putting forward his own ideas.

Xu Shifu also said the same thing to Yun Li in private.

Now, when this person mentioned it again, Yun Li immediately became displeased.

"I don't want to be nervous."

Yun Li suppressed his anger and looked at the ministers: "Who among you dares to guarantee that Lao Liu will not go south after he builds the warships?"

Faced with Yun Li's question, the ministers fell silent.

Who can guarantee this?

Even a fool can’t guarantee that!

Once Yun Zheng comes into conflict with the imperial court, if Yun Zheng has elite navy at his disposal, why wouldn't he use it?

When you are fighting with someone, do you still let them lend a hand?

Isn't this pure nonsense?

Seeing that no one responded, Yun Li's gaze fell on Xiao Wanchou again, "Duke Yu, you are the Minister of War, I want to hear what you think."

After being named by Yun Li, Xiao Wanchou could no longer remain silent.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Wanchou stepped out and said, "I think the court should train the navy and build warships to prepare for any unexpected events! However, building warships requires a large amount of silver, and I don't know if the court can afford it."

Yun Li said nothing, his eyes fell on Xu Shifu.

Xu Shifu felt bitter in his heart, and stood up helplessly, "Your Highness, although the court has a surplus this year, there are still many places where money needs to be spent..."

Compared with previous years, Daqian's military expenditure has dropped a lot.

Of course, the fundamental reason is that the imperial court no longer needs to maintain the huge Northern Army.

Thanks to Xu Shifu's efforts, the national treasury will still be able to save more than five million taels of silver this year.

However, this money cannot be moved just like that.

There are many other places where the court needs to spend money.

If you want to build a warship, you definitely need more than just one or two!

If you want to build a powerful navy, it is impossible without tens of millions of taels of silver.

Besides, once the navy is created, we have to keep it around, right?

From then on, the imperial court spent a lot of money on the navy every year.

This also invisibly increased the court's military expenditure.

"Your Highness, the court's military expenditure is already very high. If we build a navy, I'm afraid the court cannot afford it!"

"Yes, the imperial court has to spend hundreds of thousands of taels of silver every year to maintain the current navy warships..."

"Your Highness, think twice!"

"..."

After listening to Xu Shifu's advice, many court officials followed suit.

Many people looked at Emperor Wen eagerly, hoping that he could stop Yun Li from having such thoughts.

When Emperor Wen ascended the throne, he thought about expanding the size of the navy, but was stopped by his ministers.

Now, Yun Li has not even ascended the throne yet, but he is already thinking about expanding the navy.

Where does the imperial court get so much silver?

"Do you think I don't know the financial situation of the court?"

Yun Li's face suddenly fell, and he suddenly emphasized his tone: "I just want to ask you one question, if Lao Liu leads the navy south, how will the court respond? Can anyone tell me, if the court does not expand the navy, what else can it do?"

Faced with Yun Li's questioning, the ministers were suddenly speechless.

"Your Highness is right. This is also what I am worried about."

Xiao Wanchou bowed: "I think that building a hundred warships at once is indeed too much. The court can build fifty warships first! If His Highness the Sixth Prince leads the Shuobei Navy to the south, the court's navy will at least have the strength to fight..."

"Where does the money come from?"

Xu Shifu questioned Xiao Wanchou angrily: "Should the treasury keep money? Canal repairs, disaster relief, your salaries, which one doesn't require money? The court only puts so little money into the treasury every year, where will the more money come from?"

"This is something you, the Minister of Revenue, should consider!"

Xiao Wanchou responded to Xu Shifu coldly, "You are a minister of the Ministry of Revenue, but you can't even raise money. What kind of minister of the Ministry of Revenue are you? You just sit in the Ministry of Revenue all day long, and the money will come to you by itself?"

"you……"

Xu Shifu was furious and said angrily: "Come here, I will give you my position as the Minister of Finance!"

Seeing that Xu Shifu and Xiao Wanchou were about to quarrel, Emperor Wen quickly raised his hand to stop them.

"There is no rush for this matter. We can discuss it after the prince's wedding."

Emperor Wen slowly stood up and said with a tired face: "I can't stand seeing you quarreling now. It's already this hour, and you're still quarreling all day long? When I die one day and Lao Liu leads his troops south, I wonder if you will still be in the mood to quarrel!"

After listening to Emperor Wen's words, everyone fell silent.

Emperor Wen sighed listlessly, too lazy to sit in the court any longer, and asked Mu Shun to help him leave.

Yun Li was also in a bad mood and announced with a sullen face that he would leave the court.

The wedding day was approaching, and he should be happy.

The results of it?

One by one, they are making things difficult for him!

Can't you find a way if you don't have money?

Can a living person be suffocated to death by urine?

Full of anger, Yun Li returned to the Prince's Mansion.

After a while, Xu Shifu came.

"Uncle, are you here to persuade me again?"

Yun Li asked with a gloomy face, looking very annoyed.

"No!"

Xu Shifu chuckled, "Your Highness wants to build warships and train a navy, I naturally support it! Your Highness, rest assured, I will definitely find a way to help you raise money!"

"Ok?"

Yun Li looked at Xu Shifu in dumbfounded.

What is he doing?

Hadn't he always been against it before?

When I talked to him about this matter alone before, he also strongly opposed it!

Why are you supporting me so much now?

"Your Highness, you still don't understand His Majesty!"

Xu Shifu shook his head and smiled, "Your Highness, do you think that the emperor really cannot stand hearing the ministers arguing in the court? Your Highness, think about it, if your proposal is supported by all the important ministers in the court, what will the emperor think?"

how to think?

Yun Li's heart moved, and he immediately realized, "Is my uncle afraid that my father will think that I have completely taken control of the court, so he is deliberately putting on a show for my father to see?"

Xu Shifu smiled without saying anything, just nodded slightly.

Yun Li was surprised and asked, "Why didn't Uncle tell Gu Tong about it before?"

"Since we are acting, we must act realistically." Xu Shifu replied with a smile, "I am afraid that if I inform Your Highness in advance, Your Majesty will notice something strange."

That's it!

Yun Li suddenly realized what was going on and quickly stood up and saluted: "Thank you, uncle!"