"Tell me."

The Empress is very polite to Jing Heng.

Everyone knows that Jing Heng is not very capable, but Jing Tianlie and his younger brother Jing Feng are very powerful.

That's why he was the Minister of Revenue.

"Weichen asked to re-formulate this year's taxes and increase tax revenue by 20% to balance the revenue and expenditure of the treasury."

Jing Heng said this, which scared all the ministers in the court.

The empress's eyes sternly shook and said, "Risk 20%? Is the Ministry of Revenue no money?"

The accounts of the Ministry of Revenue have always been the responsibility of the eldest princess Di Yuwei.

Di Yuwei walked out and asked, "Shangshu Jing, hasn't the treasury's income and expenditure always had a balance? Why did you suddenly need to increase taxes?"

Di Yuwei has always kept the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue very carefully and the account book can be clearly seen.

The annual tax revenue is 25 million taels of silver, and the expenditure is about 23 million taels of silver, and the annual balance can be about 2 million taels.

It should be said that the treasury income and expenditure of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty were very balanced.

Jing Heng said: "Last year, he attacked Linjiang City and mobilized 250,000 troops, spent 6 million taels of silver. The direct expenditure of 1 million taels of gold was spent on building the northern fortress and indirect expenditure of 5 million taels, which was 12 million taels."

"Also, our commercial tax this year may be very difficult. Sifanglou notified Weichen that the business this year may be bleak."

The expenditures for these two items were indeed huge in the war and the construction of fortresses last year.

The fortress built in the northern border has only 1 million taels of clear account, and I don’t know how to calculate the remaining 5 million taels.

The empress frowned slightly and sat on the dragon throne without saying anything.

Di Yu said anxiously: "We have a surplus every year, and the expenditure of 12 million taels will not empty the national treasury."

Di Yuwei said that Jing Heng embezzled the silver from the national treasury.

Jing Heng spread his hands and said helplessly: "Although the eldest princess is in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, she does not directly manage it. It is difficult to be a home in the Ministry of Revenue. There are too many places to spend money."

"Also, my second brother said that the northern barbarians are also ready to move, and the military expenditure of the Beiting cavalry is also at the right time to allocate, and there is a gap of 1 million taels here."

Di Yuwei was very anxious, the empress did not say a word, and the ministers in the court were talking.

They did not expect that the national treasury deficit was so serious and such a large gap was really difficult to deal with.

"My dear friends, let me tell you, how should I deal with this matter?"

The empress asked the ministers in the court, but these ministers didn't speak.

They knew that the empress did not want to increase taxes, and the people of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty were already suffering than the Southern Liang Dynasty. If the taxes were increased, the people would be overwhelmed and even rise up.

"Sage, Sifanglou said that business is difficult this year, and I'm afraid commercial tax will be difficult to handle. If the national treasury deficit is too large, there is only a tax increase."

An old lady came out. She was Bai Anning, the censor of the Censorate, and an old minister of the court.

Bai Anning spoke, and the other ministers dared to agree.

"Weichen knows that the emperor does not want to increase taxes, but the national treasury is too deficit. Sifanglou said that business is difficult to do, so I'm afraid that the commercial tax will be sharply reduced this year, so it is a forced tax increase. I will reduce taxes when it gets better next year."

A middle-aged man with three beards came out to worship.

This person is Xu Zhong, the Minister of the Honglu Temple, and is a diplomat from the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.

Bai Qiulian, Minister of War, said: "The emperor, Nanliang is preparing for horses and soldiers, and the barbarians are eyeing each other. Xixia is also ready to move recently, and military expenditure is indispensable."

The ministers in the court basically tended to increase taxes, and the empress was in a dilemma.

"Shangshu Long, what do you think?"

The empress suddenly asked Long Chen.

The ministers in the court all looked at Long Chen.

"Returning to the emperor, I thought I should check the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue first and see why the deficit is so large."

Long Chen's words were like poking a hornet's nest, and Jing Heng was immediately exploded.

"Die eunuch, what do you mean? Do you say that I am corrupt?"

"Shangshu Jing, I only said to find out the accounts, but didn't say anything else. Why are you nervous?"

"If you want to check the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue, that means I am corrupt, it's outrageous!"

"I don't do bad things during the day and don't be afraid of ghosts knocking on the door in the middle of the night. I suggest checking out the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue. Is there any problem?"

"Yes! If you check the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue, you are suspicious of me!"

Jing Heng was so angry that he jumped his feet, and he wanted to kill Long Chen with one knife.

Long Chen found it funny and said, "Is it possible that Shangshu Jing really has a ghost, and he is afraid that we will investigate?"

Jing Heng's performance was too intense, which made the ministers in the court whisper.

The empress said, "Shangshu Jing doesn't have to do this. The Ministry of Revenue is the foundation of the country. If I don't believe you, I will not let you serve as the Secretary."

"The six ministries also need to verify each year. This is a court practice and has no other meaning."

The empress spoke, and Jing Heng shut up only then, but her eyes were still staring at Long Chen.

"Let's do this, check the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue first to see how much deficit is, and then see how much tax is required."

"This matter...it will be led by the East Palace, who will be willing to assist you?"

The Ministry of Revenue’s deficit scared the empress. She has been exhausted from dealing with threats from various countries over the years and has not personally inquired about internal accounts. She did not expect such a big deficit. She made up her mind to check the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue.

However, checking accounts is a technical job and a courage job.

If there is a problem with the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue, it is Jing Heng’s problem.

Jing Heng is the eldest son of the General's Mansion. If the problem is found, it is because he offended Jing Tianlie.

Who dares to take such a hot potato?

After the empress asked, there was no one talking in the hall.

Everyone knows that the Ministry of Revenue cannot get involved regardless of whether there are any problems or not.

Jing Heng sneered in his heart: Whoever is not good at seeing you dare to come to the Ministry of Revenue to check the accounts!

The empress was very dissatisfied when she saw that no one dared to answer the conversation, but her face did not show.

"Why...Shangshu Long is here? He is very capable and best at solving problems."

At this time, Bai Li Bing, the Minister of Personnel, spoke.

Long Chen felt a little whispered. Checking the accounts was a troublesome, and he knew very well that he would offend Jing Tianlie.

I had just been appointed as the Minister of Shang in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and had not yet gained a foothold. It was very unwise to conflict with the General's Mansion at this time.

"Shangshu Long?"

The empress looked at Long Chen in an inquiring tone.

"There are so many things in the Ministry of Works, so Secretary Long may not be able to get busy, right?"

Jing Heng said in a threatening tone.

Long Chen didn't want to mess with Jing Tianlie, but Jing Heng was so annoying.

"Sharing worries for the king is the duty of the minister, and the minister accepts the order."

Long Chen bowed and took over this hot potato.

Jing Heng was so angry that his face and neck turned red.

"Okay, if you can't find out about your selves, you will never end up with you!"

Jing Heng threatened Long Chen at that time.

Long Chen stood lightly, ignoring Jing Heng's threat at all.

The empress said, "Long Chengen, the Minister of Works, will assist the East Palace in checking the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue."

Di Yuwei bowed and said, "My son received the order."

The empress stood up and the ministers scattered their court.

Jing Heng walked to Long Chen, pointed to his crotch deliberately, and sneered: "A eunuch who has no roots, dares to fight with me, you are tired of living!"

Long Chen laughed and said, "The Lord's will, do you want to resist the order and rebellion!"

Jing Heng gritted his teeth. He thought Long Chen would be afraid of him, but he didn't expect Long Chen was not afraid at all.

"Hmph, you wait!"

Jing Heng angrily brought a group of court officials out of the Daming Palace.

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