Lu Heng’s efficiency was quite high.
Early the next morning, Lu Heng delivered the revised reception budget to Shen Jing.
As Shen Jing reviewed the budget, Lu Heng said with a bitter expression, “Marquis Shen, one thousand taels of silver is indeed too little. Your subordinate made a preliminary calculation, and no matter how much we cut, it would still require at least ten thousand taels of silver…”
“Can you produce that much silver?”
Shen Jing directly interrupted Lu Heng.
“This…”
Lu Heng paused slightly, then fell silent.
“We will do as much as the silver we have allows!”
Shen Jing shot Lu Heng a look, “Are we not going to receive the Yong Country Delegation just because the Ministry of Revenue doesn’t approve the silver? Alright, draft it according to the reception standards I set and submit it to the Ministry of Rites as soon as possible! Oh, and draft an extra copy to submit to the Ministry of Revenue!”
Hmm?
Lu Heng’s eyes lit up, and he immediately understood, “Marquis Shen, are you trying to force the Ministry of Revenue to approve the silver for us?”
“Approve it or not, I don’t care!”
Shen Jing said dismissively, “The Ministry of Revenue wants to hold us back, but we won’t indulge them! At worst, we’ll all suffer together! Let’s see who’s afraid of whom!”
Lu Heng suddenly understood, and said with a beaming smile, “Your subordinate understands!”
“If you understand, then go do it!”
Shen Jing waved his hand lightly, secretly scolding Lu Heng for being too stubborn.
...
Upon returning to the Court of State Ceremonial, Lu Heng drafted two reception budgets according to Shen Jing’s requirements, even including the attire of the reception staff.
The reception budget submitted to the Ministry of Revenue was immediately delivered to Yao Jian.
Looking at the reception budget in his hand, Yao Jian’s mouth twitched involuntarily.
Observing Yao Jian’s expression, Wang Fu, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, cautiously said, “Chancellor Yao, should we still approve the silver for the Court of State Ceremonial? If they really host them like this and something goes wrong, and the Emperor investigates, our Ministry of Revenue will also be held accountable!”
If something went wrong, the people from the Court of State Ceremonial would definitely be in trouble.
But as long as Shen Jing and his people claimed that the Ministry of Revenue’s refusal to approve the silver forced them to act this way, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue would inevitably suffer as well.
Yao Jian composed himself and said with a slight smile, “Of course, it must be approved! However, the imperial court is already financially strapped; we can’t just approve whatever amount of silver they ask for!”
Shen Jing’s actions were somewhat unexpected to him.
He had thought Shen Jing would rely on his current favor and directly bring people to the Ministry of Revenue to cause a scene!
He didn't expect Shen Jing to turn the tables on them.
Listening to Yao Jian’s words, Wang Fu instantly understood, “Then should we approve twenty thousand taels of silver?”
“That’s too much!”
Yao Jian shook his head, “Approving half of that will suffice!”
Wang Fu’s eyelids twitched, and he tentatively said, “Fifteen thousand taels, isn’t that a bit little?”
The Yong Country Delegation had nearly two hundred people!
“It’s enough!”
Yao Jian said indifferently.
At the same time, the reception budget submitted to the Ministry of Rites was directly brought to Emperor Zhou by the newly appointed Minister of Rites, Yu Zhaoxing.
“Your Majesty, please take a look! The Ministry of Revenue’s delay in approving the silver has driven the people of the Court of State Ceremonial to this state!”
Yu Zhaoxing said indignantly.
Although he was no longer the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, the Court of State Ceremonial was still under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites.
How could he stand idly by while the Court of State Ceremonial was being stifled by the Ministry of Revenue?
Emperor Zhou nodded slightly, “In that case, I order the Crown Prince to urge the Ministry of Revenue…”
Before Emperor Zhou could finish speaking, a eunuch hurried in, “Your Majesty, Chancellor Yao requests an audience.”
“Oh, what a coincidence, isn’t it?”
Emperor Zhou smiled, “Please invite Chancellor Yao in!”
Soon, Yao Jian arrived before Emperor Zhou.
After Yao Jian paid his respects to Emperor Zhou, Yu Zhaoxing immediately questioned Yao Jian directly, “Chancellor Yao, the Yong Country Delegation is already almost here. Why has the Ministry of Revenue been so slow to approve the silver for the Court of State Ceremonial?”
“Minister Yu, please calm down.”
Yao Jian smiled calmly, “This chancellor just received news that the Ministry of Revenue has already approved fifteen thousand taels of silver for the Court of State Ceremonial.”
Yu Zhaoxing’s expression changed slightly, and he said angrily, “The Court of State Ceremonial’s budget was clearly thirty thousand taels of silver, so why was only fifteen thousand approved?”
The initial budget was made when he was the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial.
He knew exactly how much silver the Court of State Ceremonial needed.
“Where is there thirty thousand taels?”
Yao Jian smiled, “The latest budget received by the Ministry of Revenue was only a thousand taels of silver. The Ministry of Revenue approved silver that is more than ten times their budget! Does Minister Yu still want to say that the Ministry of Revenue and this chancellor are in the wrong?”
With that, Yao Jian took out the budget that had been submitted to the Ministry of Revenue.
Yu Zhaoxing choked slightly and said angrily, “Does Chancellor Yao not know why the Court of State Ceremonial would re-draft the budget and report it to the Ministry of Revenue?”
“Of course I know!”
Yao Jian still maintained a smile on his face, “Shen Jing knows that the imperial court is financially strapped, and therefore lowered the reception budget!”
“This chancellor would like to ask Minister Yu in front of His Majesty, regarding the budget for receiving the Yong Country Delegation, why is there such a huge difference between when Minister Yu and Shen Jing were in charge of the Court of State Ceremonial’s affairs?”
“Is Minister Yu falsely reporting the budget, or is he not as considerate of the imperial court’s difficulties as Minister Shen?”
Listening to Yao Jian’s questioning, Emperor Zhou couldn’t help but nod secretly.
This was Yao Jian!
On the surface, he was praising Shen Jing and questioning Yu Zhaoxing, but in reality, he was trying to sow discord between Shen Jing and Yu Zhaoxing.
Shen Jing was indeed clever, thinking of using this method to force the Ministry of Revenue to approve the silver quickly.
But Yao Jian was even cleverer; the budget Shen Jing resubmitted to the Ministry of Revenue could be used by Yao Jian to make a point!
As for Yu Zhaoxing, he didn’t think things through clearly before confronting an old fox like Yao Jian here, which was indeed a bit imprudent.
Compared to Yao Jian’s shrewdness, both Yu Zhaoxing were still quite lacking.
Being outmaneuvered by Yao Jian, Yu Zhaoxing couldn’t help but curse inwardly, then he snorted lightly, “Your subordinate is indeed not as considerate of the imperial court’s difficulties as Minister Shen. Your subordinate only knows that Chancellor Yao took a ninth concubine last year and also renovated the Chancellor’s manor!”
“My taking a concubine, His Majesty and the Crown Prince both know about it!”
Yao Jian looked coldly at Yu Zhaoxing, “My chancellor’s mansion has been in disrepair for many years; renovating it, do I still need Minister Yu’s permission? Minister Yu is being a bit too meddlesome, isn’t he?”
“Enough!”
Emperor Zhou raised his hand to stop the two bickering individuals, “The imperial court is indeed financially strapped, and I believe fifteen thousand taels of silver should be more or less enough!”
“Your Majesty is wise!”
Yao Jian immediately bowed in agreement.
Yu Zhaoxing was unwilling, but Emperor Zhou had already made the decision, so he could not say more.
Emperor Zhou glanced at Yu Zhaoxing out of the corner of his eye, “Chancellor Yao, you didn’t come specifically for such a small matter, did you?”
Yao Jian shook his head and said, “Your humble servant has another important matter!”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhou waved his hand at Yu Zhaoxing, “Minister Yu, you may withdraw first!”
“Yes!”
Yu Zhaoxing bowed and withdrew.
After Yu Zhaoxing left, Yao Jian then said to Emperor Zhou, “Your humble servant has received a secret report that the Yong Country Delegation’s visit this time may be to ask our dynasty to marry a princess to the Third Prince of Yong Country, to facilitate a marriage alliance between the two countries!”
“What?”
Emperor Zhou’s expression suddenly changed.
Marriage alliance?
Among all the princesses, only Qinghe was of marriageable age!
However, Qinghe was his most beloved princess!
How could he allow Qinghe to form a marriage alliance with the Third Prince of Yong Country?