sjar Chapter 1350: I Don’t Know If I Should Talk About It (171 Million Rewards Plus)
Chapter 1350: I Don’t Know If I Should Talk About It (171 Million Rewards Plus)
"The news brought by the Princess is indeed timely."
"The national treasury is currently in a tight spot. If any relatives could generously donate money or send troops to aid us in the war, it would undoubtedly be a timely help, and Your Majesty would surely be pleased."
Princess Wenshu was visibly relieved when she saw his approval, a faint smile on her face: "Do you think this is a good idea too?"
Bai Mufeng nodded with a smile: "Don't worry, Princess. I have made note of this matter and will carefully consider it. I will find the most appropriate time to tactfully mention this proposal to Your Majesty."
"Princess, please do not worry about this matter anymore. Leave everything to me."
He deliberately took the responsibility of the matter upon himself, his tone gentle but full of responsibility: "The eldest princess just needs to live a peaceful life as usual. These turmoil of the previous dynasty should not be a burden for Your Highness."
When Princess Wenshu heard Bai Mufeng say this, her heart suddenly felt warm, and the slight uneasiness she had completely disappeared.
She looked at his profile softened by the candlelight, feeling extremely relieved and trusting, and nodded gently: "Yes."
Bai Mufeng smiled and picked up the teacup: "Then let's use tea instead of wine. May the Great Zhou Dynasty quell the border troubles as soon as possible and enjoy peace and prosperity!"
Princess Wenshu also raised her teacup and murmured, "May the seas be peaceful and the rivers be clear!"
As the aroma of tea wafted in the air, the two chatted some more, and the atmosphere in the private room was warm.
……
Deep inside the Prince Jin’s Mansion, in a hidden secret room.
The candlelight cast several figures on the cold stone wall, twisting and swaying like dormant ghosts.
The atmosphere was solemn, depressing and tense.
The King of Jin sat upright in the main seat, dressed in a dark green casual suit. He had shed his gentle and gentle appearance in front of others, and his brows were shrouded in an inextricable layer of gloom and calculation.
Several trusted aides sat below, all with solemn expressions.
"War IOU..."
Prince Jin spoke slowly, his voice low and mocking, "I underestimated my brother and his newly promoted capable ministers. They actually pushed through such a risky strategy, and the public's enthusiasm for subscription far exceeded our expectations."
A thin aide with a goatee replied sinisterly, "Your Highness, if this plan succeeds, it will indeed alleviate the court's urgent needs in the short term and stabilize the border war."
"Your Majesty's reputation will then rise even higher, which will be extremely detrimental to our cause!"
Another staff member, with a stern expression, said in a deep voice, "We must try to stop this. We can't let this go so smoothly!"
"How to stop it?"
The goateed aide's eyes flashed, and he lowered his voice, "We can't resist it head-on. But... maybe we can shake it from the root."
"Ordinary people subscribe for profit."
"If some 'rumors' were to spread quietly at this time, saying that although the court is now talking big, if the war drags on for a long time and the cost is excessive, this huge debt may not be repaid, and taxes may even be increased to fill the hole..."
"Three people make a tiger, and gossip can melt gold. As long as people's hearts are in chaos, how can this IOU still be issued?"
Someone immediately agreed: "This is a great idea!"
"And we don't need to do it ourselves. We can just have our people discuss it 'anxiously' in teahouses, taverns, and on the streets. Those ignorant fools will pick up on it and spread it."
Concubine Qi added, "Not only that, they can also secretly incite some local gentry to jointly submit a petition. They may appear to be concerned about the country and the people, but in fact they are questioning the long-term drawbacks of this policy and putting pressure on the court."
The staff members talked to each other, and all kinds of sinister plans were proposed. The secret room was filled with a hidden malice.
Prince Jin listened quietly, with no expression on his face, except for a hint of coldness that occasionally flashed across his bottomless eyes.
Until everyone gradually quieted down, their eyes focused on him, waiting for his decision.
Prince Jin slowly raised his eyes, glanced at every confidant present, and a smile slowly appeared at the corners of his lips.
"That's all well said."
His voice was low, but full of determination: "My brother, you want to use a war IOU to stabilize the situation? Dream on!"
The candlelight cast a deep shadow on Prince Jin's face, making his handsome features appear somewhat sinister. "The more my royal brother relies on this strategy, the more we must not let him succeed!"
Only by letting the war with the Huns drag the emperor into a state of exhaustion, emptying the treasury and causing public unrest, can one find an opportunity to take advantage of!
"Spreading rumors and shaking people's hearts is only the first step."
Prince Jin's eyes were filled with ambition: "Just let me do it. I must make sure this war IOU becomes a death warrant!"
“This is a godsend for us!”
Everyone said in unison: "Yes!"
……
The Hall of Nourishing Heart.
Nangong Xuanyu sat upright on the dragon throne with a solemn expression, listening to the reports from several trusted ministers below.
Bai Mufeng was at the last seat. He bowed and spoke in a clear yet solemn voice, "...Your Majesty, the implementation of the war IOUs is generally going smoothly, and the public is also enthusiastic about subscribing."
"It's just that...recently, some rumors have quietly appeared in several places in the capital."
"Most of them are seditious, questioning the court's ability to repay in the future, or making alarmist claims about potential tax increases..."
"Fortunately, our ministers handled the matter promptly, and the officials in the capital did not dare to neglect it. The rumor has now been suppressed and has not caused too much trouble. The subscription matter has not been substantially affected."
Upon hearing this, Nangong Xuanyu's already stern expression instantly darkened even more, and a chill suddenly appeared in his eyes, as if a layer of frost had formed.
"check!"
The emperor's voice was low, but it carried a sense of impending dominance, and every word was icy cold: "I want to see who is stirring up trouble behind the scenes, attempting to destabilize the foundation of this nation!"
Bai Mufeng immediately bowed: "Your humble servant obeys your order!"
"I have ordered a thorough investigation, but... the person spreading the rumors is quite cunning, often spreading them through the mouths of ignorant people in the market, and the source is extremely hidden. For the time being... there is no clear clue."
Nangong Xuanyu snorted coldly, and without even thinking about it, a name emerged in his mind -
King of King!
Although the war IOUs affected the interests of some wealthy merchants, those profit-seeking people might not have the courage and ability to set up such a sinister scheme in a short period of time.
Only his eighth brother, who seems gentle but actually harbors evil intentions, has such motivation and strength!
Only by muddying the waters and making the imperial court exhausted in dealing with the situation can the King of Jin seize the opportunity to act.
"Keep a close eye on me!"
Nangong Xuanyu's voice was filled with murderous intent: "No matter who is involved, we will investigate it thoroughly. I want solid evidence!"
Bai Mufeng solemnly agreed: "Yes! I will do my best!"
Afterwards, several ministers reported back on several important military and political matters. Nangong Xuanyu listened to them one by one and issued instructions.
The atmosphere in the hall was still solemn.
After several important matters were discussed, there was a moment of silence at the scene.
Bai Mufeng seemed to hesitate for a moment, then took a step forward, bowed again, and spoke in a more cautious tone: "Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should say it or not..."