Simultaneous Transmigration: The Re-merging of 99 Selves

Chapter 130 The Impolite Huang Yaoshi

Although Lei Xiaoyou was also dissatisfied with Zhao Yu's actions that sidelined the Council of State, he was more concerned about the safety of the country.

He felt that the so-called cabinet was nothing more than a stopgap measure.

Once the Jin army is defeated, the emperor will naturally understand that governing the country still depends on officials like them who came from the proper path of the imperial examinations.

"Take it slow and steady?" Qian Xiangzu sneered. "Ji Zhonggong, do you know how the outer court addresses us now? 'Imperial Secretary'! We've spent decades in the central government, and now we have to bow down to a mere child. What face do we have left?!"

Huang Yaoshi is only about thirty years old this year, and in the eyes of these veteran officials, he is indeed a young man.

Lei Xiaoyou's face twitched slightly.

He can be open-minded about national affairs, but he can't help but harbor some resentment about these matters.

After a long silence, Lei Xiaoyou finally managed to say, "With a formidable enemy at hand, we should prioritize the nation's well-being and endure for the sake of the country."

Qian Xiangzu shook his head helplessly: "The national treasury is empty and food supplies are scarce. We can't get enough provisions just by confiscating property. Once the Jin army marches south, the Jianghuai region will be hard to defend. Your Majesty is still too young and acts too rashly..."

He didn't say what he was going to say explicitly, but the meaning was clear: Qian Xiangzu was skeptical about whether Zhao Yu could lead the Song Dynasty to defeat the Jin army.

"The affairs of the world are ruined by pedantic scholars like you who only know how to talk big and have no ambition!"

A cold voice suddenly came from the doorway.

Qian Xiangzu and Lei Xiaoyou looked up abruptly and saw Huang Yaoshi standing at the door, dressed in a blue robe, with a cold and stern face and undisguised contempt in his eyes.

"Huang Yaoshi, what brings you here?" Qian Xiangzu stood up instinctively. "You should know that this is the Hall of State Affairs, where we prime ministers discuss state affairs, not your cabinet!"

"Of course I know this is the State Affairs Hall."

Huang Yaoshi walked in slowly, still with that arrogant demeanor: "If it weren't for your extremely low efficiency, I wouldn't bother setting foot here."

He walked up to Qian Xiangzu, his eyes sharp: "The document my cabinet issued the other day, requesting the transfer of 30,000 shi of grain to the Xiangyang front, why has it not been approved yet?"

"This is a chaotic command!"

Qian Xiangzu argued forcefully: "Those 30,000 shi of grain are the provisions for the Imperial Guards in the capital. If they are all transferred to the front lines, the defenses of the capital will be weakened. What will become of us then? You are so young, yet you don't know the importance of your actions. I truly don't know how you have misled the Emperor!"

Huang Yaoshi scoffed, "Those Imperial Guards who've been reduced to bricklayers? I've heard that back in Bianliang, the Imperial Guards were all turned into the private property of officials. Now that they're in the south, it's no different. What use are their provisions and pay?"

"You!" Qian Xiangzu was so angry that his face turned red. He pointed at Huang Yaoshi and couldn't speak for a long time.

"Alright, alright, both of you, please calm down for now," Lei Xiaoyou quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.

"Mr. Huang, it's not that we're unwilling to distribute grain. It's just that there's already not much grain in the capital. If we were to transfer more grain away from the capital, and something unexpected happened, our Great Song Dynasty could not withstand another upheaval."

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Huang Yaoshi, and said sincerely, "Please understand, Mr. Huang."

Huang Yaoshi was promoted by Zhao Yuchao. Although his official rank was low, his authority was very high. The officials in the court did not know how to address him, so they simply called him "Master".

Lei Xiaoyou's concerns were not unfounded. The lack of pay for the Imperial Guards was inherently prone to causing unrest, and Zhao Yu had already staged a coup once. The Song Dynasty simply could not afford a second one.

Seeing Lei Xiaoyou step forward, Huang Yaoshi's expression softened somewhat.

He's the kind of person who responds better to gentle persuasion than force.

He despised treacherous people like Qian Xiangzu, but he held Lei Xiaoyou, a loyal and outspoken veteran, in high esteem.

"Don't worry, Lord Lei, I don't intend to transfer all the grain supplies in the capital."

Huang Yaoshi explained, "The Imperial Guards' rations and pay are only being delayed for a few days. General Wang is in Xiangyang preparing for battle and urgently needs provisions. The sooner the provisions arrive, the better the chances of victory for the soldiers at the front. The Emperor has already said that a large amount of provisions will arrive in Lin'an in a few days. At that time, not only will it fill the gap in the capital, but it will also be able to send another batch to the front."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qian Xiangzu let out a cold snort.

Where will the large quantities of grain come from? This is probably just a way to fool ordinary people.

Of course, he didn't say it aloud, but the meaning was clear.

Huang Yaoshi's eyes turned cold: "What, does Master Qian not believe the Emperor's words?"

Qian Xiangzu sneered: "I naturally believe what the Emperor says, but I don't trust you! You are nothing but a crooked official with no official rank. What gives you the right to control the government? How do I know that you didn't embezzle the grain supplies sent to the front lines?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Yaoshi's eyes flashed with a cold light, and his fingers clenched slightly. In the end, he forcibly suppressed the urge to attack.

If he hadn't promised Zhao Yu to restrain his temper in court, he would have already poked him with a finger.

Just as tensions were rising, Wang Huai'an walked in.

"Oh, Mr. Huang is here too, that's perfect."

Wang Huai'an said, "The Emperor has issued an edict summoning you gentlemen and Mr. Huang to go to Duanping Granary in the West City, saying that there is something for you to see."

"Close out positions?"

Qian Xiangzu was filled with doubt and exchanged a glance with Lei Xiaoyou.

Duanping Granary was the largest official granary in Lin'an, but it had been empty and abandoned for many years. What did the officials want them to do there?

Over there, Huang Yaoshi had already strode out with great speed, and the others quickly followed.

The group boarded a carriage and soon arrived at Duanping Granary in the western part of the city.

Zhao Yu was standing in front of the warehouse door, waiting for them with his hands behind his back.

"Your Majesty, we pay our respects." The crowd bowed in greeting.

"Please, everyone, no need for formalities."

Zhao Yu waved his hand and said with a smile, "I know that you have all been worried about the lack of food supplies lately. It is said that when there is no food in the court, people's hearts are unsettled. Today, I have brought you here to see the situation and put your minds at ease."

After saying that, he waved his hand, signaling the soldiers guarding the warehouse to open the warehouse door.

The heavy warehouse door slowly opened.

Inside the granary, it was already piled high with the grain that Zhao Yu had brought back.

Given his position, it would be easy for him to divert manpower and smuggle grain in.

Others simply assumed that the emperor had other people at his disposal, and they didn't think anything further, which only increased their awe of Zhao Yu.

Inside the granary, grain was piled up from the bottom to the top, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Sunlight streamed into the granary, and the golden grains were so dazzling that it was hard to open one's eyes.

"This...this..." Lei Xiaoyou's beard trembled with excitement. "So much grain, at least hundreds of thousands of shi! Your Majesty, where...where did this come from?"

Qian Xiangzu was so shocked that he couldn't speak.

Zhao Yu smiled but did not answer the question about the origin of the grain.

"All you need to know is that I have not exploited the people. I only ask one question: with this grain and fodder, can we reorganize the army and stabilize the Jianghuai region?"