To achieve immortality, I cultivate using Qi Luck

Chapter 977: Chapter 405: Debate at the Wei Palace_3 Chapter 977: Chapter 405: Debate at the Wei Palace_3 But even so, it was merely papering over the cracks.

In order to save silver taels, “I” first cut the consolation money given to the families of soldiers who had died in battle over the years, leaving those who had sacrificed their lives for the country with insufficient clothing and food, their homes broken, and people dying, starving on the streets.

Later, the military pay at the front line was further reduced, with only 70% of the assigned pay doled out each month, leaving those soldiers unable to support their families, their wives and children forced to forage for wild vegetables to fill their stomachs.

Great General, you are a famous general of our nation.

Tell me, is this not the situation in the army right now?

What is the morale of the soldiers now that they know they risk their lives for the country, only to end up like this?

Do we still have people willing to fight on the front lines?”

Wei Yang looked at Meng Chenglin and interrogated him.

The latter, facing the former’s gaze, involuntarily dodged aside, not daring to confront him directly.

As a great general, how could Meng Chenglin not know what kind of life the common soldiers were enduring?

He had once felt angry about this, believing that the national court treated soldiers harshly, and that those corrupt officials at the rear were too much to bear; he had confronted Wei Yang about this.

But it was only when the opponent showed him the account books and itemized them that Meng Chenglin realized that the court truly had no money left.

So, ultimately faced with this reality, faced with the suffering of the soldiers, he could only remain silent and turn a blind eye.

Seeing Meng Chenglin remain silent, Wei Yang looked towards Qiu Shiyi and asked, “Xuan Xiahou, as the Right Chancellor in charge of the finances, you must also be aware that to save money, starting from five years ago, the salaries of officials at all levels in the country have been cut to just half, and last year it was even reduced to only a third.

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Without their salaries, how can they support their families?

In the end, isn’t it the common people who suffer?

Moreover, the local infrastructure such as water conservancy and roads has not been maintained for ten years.

At the same time, the daily expenses of local governments and the court have been reduced wherever possible or outright denied.

As a result, officials, in order to get things done, have to default on money owed to the local populace and merchants, leaving them in bitter distress.

Are you unaware that officials, commoners, and merchants are already in uproar, people unable to survive turning to banditry, and local regions now rampant with thieves?”

Wei Yang questioned again.

However, unlike Meng Chenglin, Qiu Shiyi did not avoid the interrogation; instead, with a cold laugh he said, “Of course, I know.”

After speaking, he saluted the Emperor: “Your Majesty, as the Left Chancellor has said, our Great Wei has run a deficit for consecutive years, and the imperial court owes untold sums to soldiers, officials, merchants, and civilians.

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The military morale is thus unsettled, local grievances are boiling, and officials are full of complaints.

But it is precisely because of this that the court must agree to join Chu State and wage this Great War.”

Qiu Shiyi’s voice grew louder still: “If we don’t go to war, how can Great Wei resolve the threat on our western borders?

If we don’t address this threat from the west, how can Great Wei’s Guannei and Shuofang prefectures remain peaceful?

If those two prefectures are not at peace, how can we afford to maintain an army of one and a half million soldiers on our western borders year-round, let alone contemplate reducing the size of the army and cutting military spending?

Without reducing the military budget, which is the most significant annual expense, how can we reverse the deficit?

If we cannot reduce the number of soldiers, where will Great Wei find the robust labor force needed for production and cultivation, and how will we grow enough grain?

And besides, those migrating Barbarians are not without possessions; they all come with their families and all their worldly goods.

By waging war on the Barbarians in the west and winning, we can plunder their wealth for the use of the nation.

Is this not money?”

Qiu Shiyi kept firing questions, then stared at Wei Yang, asking, “Have you, Left Chancellor, ever considered these things?

Or do you only know how to lament that the state has no money, that the imperial court has no money, knowing only to call for the cessation of battle without considering whether it is practical for Great Wei to stop the fighting?

How do you think I fare in saying this?”

Qiu Shiyi spoke righteously and fervently, leaving Wei Yang, who was usually so articulate, at a loss for words and unable to respond.

Because the opponent was indeed speaking the truth.

It was not as simple as saying that Wei Country wanted a cease-fire; it was not something that could be easily achieved with just words.

To accomplish this goal, it seemed necessary, just as Qiu Shiyi had said, to fight this battle in Wei Yong.

At the very least, after this battle, if it were possible to inflict serious pain on and win against those Barbarians of Yong West, then without the threat of border skirmishes, Wei Country could, at a minimum, reduce the size of the army by six or seven hundred thousand, cutting down the military budget by forty to fifty million silver taels each year.

This one measure alone could put an end to Wei Country’s financial deficits.

Moreover, the six or seven hundred thousand soldiers who would be cut, along with several hundred thousand civilian workers conscripted to serve them, could go back to their hometowns, providing an additional labor force of over a million strong to engage in production and cultivation, further alleviating Wei Country’s grain pressure.

Once grain production increased and was sufficient to meet domestic needs, Wei Country naturally wouldn’t need to continue buying grain from Chu State.

The money saved from not purchasing grain could then be put aside.

With a surplus in finances, it would be possible, over time, to give full military pay, official salaries, and death compensations, to settle debts with local merchants and civilians, to re-initiate the construction and repair of roads and water conservancies, and gradually everything would get back on track.

All these matters are interdependent; missing even one piece would not work.

Initiating the campaign in Yong West and resolving the border threat are the start of this series of actions, and they cannot be bypassed.

Faced with this reality, despite his reluctance, Wei Yang had no choice but to admit it.

As Wei Yang, the Left Chancellor, was rendered speechless by the Right Chancellor Qiu Shiyi, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

The Emperor Wei Yong, who had been watching the debate for a while, finally spoke: “Alright, Uncle Wang and Right Chancellor, you are both loyal ministers of our country.

Everything you do and say is for the good of Great Wei, so why must you undermine each other and get angry?

I am here to be the judge; this matter is settled now.”

Wei Yong smoothed things over and then looked at the three men: “Since the three of you have come to a decision, the matter of agreeing to Chu State’s request and sending troops to Wei Yong is thus decided.

Great General, you are the pillar of our nation.

As for which troops to dispatch for this battle, I entrust that to you.

Uncle Wang, Right Chancellor, I will summon Chu’s envoy tomorrow to explain this matter.

The subsequent engagement and details of the alliance with Chu State and so forth will need your diligent efforts.”

Seeing the Emperor speak this way, Wei Yang, Qiu Shiyi, and Meng Chenglin bowed together, saying, “Yes, your subjects respectfully comply with the royal decree.”

Wei Yong nodded in satisfaction, then announced the meeting adjourned and left the hall.