The Bianliang Palace in the Song Dynasty.

Song Renzong, sitting on the dragon throne of the hall, was very happy and was very satisfied with the peace-seeking attitude of the king of Xixia Li Liangzuo. Originally, Song Renzong planned to make things difficult for Viet Ge Ning Ling! At this time, he had already been thrown out of the sky.

Song Renzong put the letter of the country on the dragon table, sat on the dragon throne and looked down at the Verge Ning Ling with a smile, "Your dear, I have worked hard all the way. I have read this letter of the country. Before, Xixia was originally a vassal of my great Song Dynasty. Now that Xixia is in trouble, I will naturally not stand by as the emperor. I agree with the matter that Li Guozhu asked in the letter of the country;

I immediately issued an order to restore the tribute trade and border deliberation between the two countries, and restore the annual monies system of the Qingli peace treaty; and also rewarded the Xia king Li Liangzuo with 100,000 taels of silver, 50,000 pieces of silk, 20,000 pieces of silk, and 30,000 kilograms of tea..."

Standing below, Wei Ge Ningling was stunned by what Song Renzong said on the spot. Wei Ge Ningling did not expect that Song Renzong not only agreed to make peace, but also gave so much money to Xixia. Wei Ge Ningling knelt on the ground and said, "Foreign minister, take my lord to thank His Majesty the Emperor of Song Dynasty. Long live your majesty, long live your majesty, long live your majesty, long live your majesty, long live your majesty."

In fact, in Song Renzong's opinion, these things were all small. At this time, the fiscal revenue of the Song Dynasty was 70.72 million jin, which was converted into silver to more than 30 million taels. In Song Renzong's opinion, it doesn't matter if you don't harass me, it doesn't matter if you give me some money; after all, if the two countries are at war, the money will be spent more than this.

In fact, the annual currency system of the Song Dynasty was not a manifestation of humiliation and peace at that time. Whether it was the Liao Kingdom in the north or the Xixia Kingdom in the northwest, they were part of ancient China. The contradictions between the Three Kingdoms were actually similar to those of the Three Kingdoms period. And the Song Dynasty could only spend a little money to exchange for peace on the border, which was a drop in the bucket for the Song Dynasty.

Just when Song Renzong received the escort of the politician, Li Liangzuo was summoning Zhou Wentai. Zhou Wentai was appointed by Li Liangzuo as the director of the Finance Department and was in charge of the financial and taxation of Xixia. To put it bluntly, Li Liangzuo's steward's money bag; now Li Liangzuo is going to form a new army, establish education, and reform the political system, which all require a lot of money. This shows Li Liangzuo's attention and trust in Zhou Wentai.

"Zhou Aiqing, how much money and grain are there in the treasury now?" Li Liangzuo asked Zhou Wentai.

Zhou Wentai opened his mouth and replied, "Report to your Majesty, you will first have 300,000 taels of gold and 21,376,321 taels of silver in the national treasury, and 700,000 shi of grain storage in various places."

Li Liangzuo frowned and said, "There is only so much money in my treasury?"

Zhou Wentai smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, most of the money and grains were stolen from Datong, and there were also searches from the homes of traitors. It would be nice if the treasury could have several million taels of silver before."

"This little money is probably not enough! It seems that we have to find a way to get some money and food first." Li Liangzuo said with a sad face.

"Your Majesty, after the autumn harvest, taxes will be charged into the national treasury." Zhou Wentai said to Li Liangzuo.

"How much money is there?" Li Liangzuo asked.

Zhou Wentai immediately replied: "According to His Majesty's newly issued tax law, the tax revenue this time is much smaller than before, about 10 million guan, or more than 5 million taels."

Li Liangzuo shook his head and said, "It's still not enough!"

Zhou Wentai couldn't help it now. What is the emperor doing? Nearly 30 million taels of silver, the emperor said it was not enough. This money would be a huge sum of money no matter where it was placed in the Song Dynasty! Zhou Wentai even doubted whether Li Liangzuo's brain was burned out now.

Li Liangzuo looked at Zhou Wentai's expression and said, "Sir, don't look at me with such a look. My mind has not been burned out yet. This little money is really not enough. If you don't believe me, look at this."

Zhou Wentai took a book from Li Liangzuo. The account book recorded all the expenses needed by Li Liangzuo to train the new army. When Zhou Wentai saw the expenses one by one, his face turned green all of a sudden and said to Li Liangzuo: "Your Majesty, according to your flowering method, even the finances of the Song Dynasty cannot afford it! The cost of this new army is too great, I am afraid that the army trained will be flashy and unreal at that time!"

"That won't be. I will train this new army myself." Li Liangzuo said with a smile, "You will know when the new army is finished."

Zhou Wentai has been following Li Liangzuo for so long and knows Li Liangzuo's temper. Li Liangzuo has always said the same thing. Since Li Liangzuo said that, the huge cost required to train the new army cannot be saved.

"I can only do my best to raise money and food for Your Majesty." Zhou Wentai said with a bitter face.

Li Liangzuo thought for a while and said, "This is how you can! You can draw 20 million taels of silver from the treasury, and I will find a way for the remaining money."

"Your Majesty, according to the equipment equipped by Your Majesty for the new army, the 100,000 troops will cost 39.5 million taels in total, which is nearly 20 million taels!" Zhou Wentai said to Li Liangzuo.

Li Liangzuo smiled bitterly and said, "I know that the equipment of the new army cannot be built in a short while. With these 20 million taels of advance costs, I am thinking of ways for the rest;

Now the entire Daxia Kingdom is in chaos. I know that you, the Finance Director, are not easy to do, and all departments have reached out to ask you for money. I only tell you one thing, you can’t spend a penny of money, and you can’t spend a penny of money that you shouldn’t spend. Do you understand?"

"I understand, please rest assured by Your Majesty." Zhou Wentai replied.

Li Liangzuo patted Zhou Wentai on the shoulder and said, "The Finance Department is my money bag. I put you in this position because I trust you. Don't let my trust in you down!"

"Your Majesty has saved me, and I will never repay you..." Zhou Wentai said on his knees on the ground.

"Get up!" Li Liangzuo said to Zhou Wentai; "I heard that you didn't approve the education funds that Gao Zhiyao asked you to approve, right?"

"Yes." Zhou Wentai said; "Your Majesty, it's not that the empress is unwilling to criticize, but Gao Da wants too much, and he only needs five million guan (one tael of silver equals two guan in the Song Dynasty), which is too much."

"Five millions of trump cards are indeed not bad, but even if I am poor, I cannot be poor in education. You can just go back and approve it! Tell those students to study hard. Now the entire Daxia Kingdom needs talents everywhere." Li Liangzuo said to Zhou Wentai.

"Yes, I'm going to accept the order." Zhou Wentai replied.
Chapter completed!