Chapter 260: Chapter 260

The Crown Prince’s eyes flashed with gloom as he whispered, "Father, this is a memorial submitted by the Left General of the border army. The Left General reports that the border army lacks horses and food and has not recruited new soldiers for two years. This year, they need to recruit soldiers. He requests the court to allocate two million taels of military funding."

No wonder the Crown Prince’s brow was furrowed so tightly.

In the past two years, the North has suffered severe droughts, leading to a 20% reduction in Da Liang’s tax revenue last year, and even less collected this year, not reaching even 70%. The court must support a 400,000 strong army, maintain civil and military officials, provide for the Imperial Family and relatives, and still squeeze out silver to repair river channels and relieve the people. Everything requires silver. The National Treasury has already been as empty as to host a horse race.

The Left General is demanding two million taels of military funding outright, which the court simply cannot produce.

Emperor Taikang glanced at the Crown Prince: "Has Prime Minister Wang seen this memorial by the Left General?"

The Crown Prince nodded, "All memorials I read today were selected by Prime Minister Wang, so he definitely saw it."

The memorials that reach the Crown Prince have been carefully selected. Since Prime Minister Wang didn’t suppress this memorial, it shows his support for the Left General.

"Out of the 400,000 troops, the border army constitutes one-quarter. Annually, the funding to maintain the border army reaches as high as 4 million taels." The Crown Prince muttered angrily, "Even the troops stationed in the Capital City are no different. The court is extraordinarily generous to the border army."

"Now, with the court struggling due to the Northern droughts, and the Ministry of Revenue busy arranging food supplies, the Left General’s demand for military funds at this time is excessive."

"To put it bluntly, even if the court managed to squeeze out military funding, in the end, how much of the silver would be spent on the soldiers, and how much would end up in the Left General’s personal account..." Read complete versıon only at 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⟡𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵

"Don’t speak so recklessly!" Emperor Taikang glared at the Crown Prince with effort, "The Left General serves the country and the court with unshakable loyalty and has defended the borders for fifteen years. The border’s tranquility is thanks to the Left General."

As for the matter of enriching oneself at the expense of the troops, which army doesn’t have such issues? The difference lies in those military generals who are mediocre and incompetent, who can do nothing but siphon off military funds. Yet the Left General is capable of leading an elite border army, defending the borders, and keeping Rouran Tatars and other foreigners outside the border.

Emperor Taikang’s tolerance towards the Left General stems precisely from this reason.

The young and hot-headed Crown Prince, however, couldn’t swallow his discontent, "Credit is due, but arrogance cannot be allowed to reign unchecked. This military funding cannot be allocated."

However, Emperor Taikang said, "Allocate it! Immediately approve the memorial and allocate the military funding according to the Left General’s request."

The Crown Prince was shocked, suddenly looking at Emperor Taikang, "Father! In doing so, the Ministry of Revenue’s military budget for the year will be greatly exceeded. How are we supposed to fill such a large gap?"

After saying so much, a weary expression appeared on Emperor Taikang’s face, and his voice lowered, "Reduce the military funding for all local garrisons by 30%. As for the disaster relief for the North, that can also be delayed."

The Crown Prince: "..."

The Crown Prince looked at Emperor Taikang in disbelief, his voice slightly trembling, "Have you truly thought this through, Father? Reducing the garrison’s military funding by 30% will surely leave the soldiers dissatisfied. The Northern disaster situation is severe, and if relief is not provided timely, there will be major troubles."

Emperor Taikang strained to utter a few words, "The nation’s security must be ensured first."

The Crown Prince was left speechless.

The intentions of Emperor Taikang were already clear. With external and internal issues, external threats must be dealt with first before addressing internal problems. Reducing the military funding for garrisons may just stir some complaints or dissatisfaction, but won’t cause significant unrest. While the Northern droughts have been severe, leading to many deaths, inadequacy in relief efforts would just mean more people starving.

Military funding for the border army cannot be compromised.

Emperor Taikang closed his eyes and tiredly instructed, "Review the memorial according to my wishes, and hand it over to Prime Minister Wang tomorrow."

The Crown Prince exhaled deeply, "Yes, I will immediately review the memorial."

The next day, the Crown Prince handed the reviewed memorial to Prime Minister Wang.

Prime Minister Wang, having expected this, accepted the memorial, reviewed it, and saluted, "Since the Emperor and the Crown Prince have both agreed, I will have the Minister Ji and Duke An summoned."

Minister Ji is the Minister of Revenue, and Duke An is the Minister of War. For such a significant allocation of military funding, both the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of War must be involved.

A short while later, Minister Ji and Duke An hurriedly arrived.

Prime Minister Wang handed the memorial to the two ministers. After reading it, Minister Ji furrowed his brows tightly, "May I ask, Your Highness, is the response on the memorial the view of Your Highness or the Emperor’s decree?"

The Crown Prince solemnly replied, "Father said yesterday that the military funding for local garrisons should be reduced by 30%. The relief for the Northern disaster-stricken counties can also be put on hold; the priority is to squeeze out this military funding first."

Ultimately, Da Liang belongs to the Jiang Family. The silver in the National Treasury, Emperor Taikang can use however he desires to use it.

Minister Ji responded without any expression.

Duke An also had nothing more to say, only remarked, "The military funding will first be allocated to the Ministry of War."

This is also according to procedures and regulations. However, the silver entering the Ministry of War’s office is bound to be skimmed. Once it’s through the Left General’s hands and finally trickles down to the soldiers, who knows what’s left.

The Crown Prince was displeased with this affair, and for the following few days, he wore a sullen expression.

In private, Zheng Chen advised, "That Left General has commanded the border army for over ten years, and in his eyes, there’s only Prime Minister Wang, not the Emperor or Your Highness."

This was exactly what reflected the Crown Prince’s dissatisfaction.

If not for Prime Minister Wang’s backing, how could the Left General dare to demand military funding so boldly? In fact, this two million taels of military funding is likely to have part of it discreetly redirected to the Prime Minister’s Mansion before it’s even sent to the border army.

This kind of malpractice, carried on for decades, even Emperor Taikang has no way to tackle.

The Crown Prince grunted with frustration, "Just endure for now. Later on... hmph!"

Later on, when the Emperor passes and he, as Crown Prince, ascends the throne as the new emperor and controls the court, he will eliminate such unruly, blood-draining pests as the Left General.

Zheng Chen understood the Crown Prince’s mindset and whispered, "Since the Emperor is gravely ill, and Your Highness does not yet hold formal power, just endure it for now! Although Prime Minister Wang has his own personal interests, he does have foresight. The Left General also has some capabilities."

Once more, the Crown Prince let out a cold huff.

Having capabilities merits such arrogance?

Does having skills justify demanding military funds when the court struggles to make ends meet?

How is this any different from looting a burning house?

Zheng Chen, seeing the Crown Prince’s angry face, continued in a low voice, "There are many military generals in the army; although the Left General is formidable, the border army is not irreplaceable with just him."

The Crown Prince was intrigued and turned to Zheng Chen, "Who do you think can replace the Left General?"

Zheng Chen thought for a moment before replying, "If Your Highness asks, I will boldly suggest."

"Among the great generals in the court, General Fan commands the Divine Martial Camp, General Liu commands the Imperial Army, and there are others like General Song, who are all capable warriors."

"If Your Highness were to reshuffle them, keeping their rank and official position unchanged, it would not provoke much criticism or resistance. Secondly, it might help prevent factions among the military generals."