Chapter 177 Roof Removal Theory

The evidence presented by Mu Yun was enough to force ordinary officials to step down.

But for Ang Lee, there is no possibility or need to bring him down.

He came to help Northern Qi become stronger and make the people live better, not to waste time engaging in intrigue with people from different forces.

He wants to change the world.

After the censor had read out all the charges and evidence, he stood up and looked around without Zhan Doudou saying anything more. After a moment, he said loudly:

"I intend to use military force against the Kingdom of Qing after the spring!"

As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the audience was shocked!

"You can't do that! Your Majesty, these southerners are cunning and should not be underestimated!"

"Yes, we were defeated last year, and now the army has no morale at all. How can we start a war again?"

"Your Majesty, this Li An, the Imperial Master, is really delusional and talking nonsense! Our dynasty just signed a peace agreement with the Kingdom of Qing, and now it has been a year since they sent troops to attack them. Their repeated changes of orders will only make the world laugh at them!"

"How shameful! How shameful!"

All the court officials rushed to express their opinions and persuade the emperor, fearing that his majesty would be moved and listen to Li An's words.

How can Li An be called a national teacher? He is clearly the culprit who brings chaos to the world!
"Silence!" Yu Wenyun spoke in a stern voice, and at the same time used his true energy, but the direction was downwards.

The court officials then slowly calmed down, but their expressions were full of anxiety.

Zhan Doudou glanced across the crowd and saw Nanling County Governor Xiao Shitong. He said, "My dear Xiao, Nanling County where you are is closest to Qing State. Do you have any opinions? Is it feasible to go south?"

Xiao Shitong stepped out of the line and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty, I have the right to report that the military forces and supplies deployed by Nanling County are not enough to start a war against Qing Country, and the people under my jurisdiction are also in a state of panic and have no desire to fight. The people's will has reached this point, so please think twice!"

Zhan Doudou nodded, then turned to ask the Minister of Revenue He Suoqi: "My dear He, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I will tell you the truth!"

He Suoqi's face was bitter and his complexion was a little yellow. "The Ministry of Revenue has mobilized the domestic wealth and has no extra strength to use the army against Qing Kingdom!" In just a few words, he had already implicitly revealed the fact that the treasury was empty. "This is just for money and grain. As for the storage of weapons and armor, I think the Ministry of War will give the same answer."

Sure enough, the Minister of War gave the same answer.

No matter how you look at it, the conditions for using military force against the Kingdom of Qing cannot be met at the moment.

"Your Majesty, the words of Li An, the national teacher, are full of ill intentions. He is trying to drag our Qi country into the abyss! He is totally unruly and unfatherly."

"No need to say any more!"

Mu Yun was interrupted by Zhan Doudou before he could finish his words.

She asked the general Uesugi Tora, "What do you think, General?"

"Whether to fight or not depends on your majesty's will, and the other matters will naturally be solved by us! Your majesty can ask me to take off my armor with just one word, so why bother about this group of incompetent people! If your majesty wants to go south to counterattack Qing Kingdom, I will definitely charge ahead. Please don't doubt it!" Uesugi Tora's words were as heavy as a mountain. He had been resisting the barbarians in the north of Qi for several years. In the following years, because of the rise of the Western Hu National Master, the northern barbarians were forced to fight back, and the other side had no power to fight back. This made Uesugi Tora breathe a sigh of relief and return to Shangjing.

It is not an exaggeration to say that he was the only great general of Northern Qi.

However, these words also angered many officials, and they all glared at him. However, his adoptive father Sean, on the other hand, raised his lips at this moment, his eyes full of relief. This kid was smart for once.

Although the boy he mentioned is already over 40 years old.
Zhan Doudou chuckled and threw the question to Li An again: "Please continue, Master."

Li An cupped his hands and his voice gradually became louder: "If you need some money and supplies, I can think of some way to solve this problem. But I am worried about whether the soldiers still have the morale and courage to face the Qing Kingdom!"

He turned around, met everyone's gaze and smiled, "Since the conditions are not met yet, let me solve these problems first, and then send troops after sufficient preparations!"

Then, Li An expressed his real intention.

"I request that a new Black Ice Station be established, with Sean in charge, to conduct external investigations."

The functions of the Black Ice Guard and the Imperial Guard are not in conflict, one is responsible for external affairs and the other for internal affairs. The Imperial Guard is the emperor's personal guard, while the Black Ice Guard is the emperor's private army!

"I request to establish a new People's Bank, and let me manage all matters, take over external channels, increase revenue and reduce expenditure to create tax revenue. This bank will be linked to the Ministry of Revenue and controlled by the court."

This People's Bank is comparable to the Taiping Bank owned by Li Bohua, a disciple of Si Gu Jian in Dongyi City, and it has the attribute of financing. It was opened with funds from the court, which is also a lifeline, and it can solve many problems.

"I request to establish a new military equipment manufacturing office, which will be led by my disciple Hong Kaijia. It will be under the Ministry of Works but independent. The financial resources will be provided by the People's Bank, not the Ministry of Revenue."

This part is somewhat similar to the weapons factories built by capitalists in the United States, where they funded production and then sold them to make money. However, Li An was not doing this for the purpose of making money, but for self-sufficiency and not being controlled by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Industry. Of course, this was also to facilitate the production of gunpowder in the future.
"I request that a new navy be established, with Captain Yan Xiaoyi as the commander, and soldiers be recruited and trained vigorously. At the same time, the sea ban will be lifted and shipping will be restored. Similarly, the money and weapons needed for this part will all be provided by the people's bank."

"I request to establish a new shipping department, which will be headed by my disciple Hong Kaijia. It will be responsible for shipbuilding and collect commercial taxes from shipping and customs."

"I request that a new Salt and Iron Bureau be established, and I will be in charge of it concurrently. The salt and iron business of the whole country will be nationalized, and all the profits will be put into the people's banks."

"I request the establishment of a new Agriculture Department"

"I request to establish a new Hundred Schools Academy and a Royal Military Academy, both to be built in one place, with me as the chief priest and Your Majesty as the honorary principal."

"I request the establishment of a new imperial merchant."

The ministers in the court became more and more nervous as they listened, and they were already sweating profusely!

If the Imperial Master's method is followed, all of the spies and officials in the court, including military affairs, economy, students, grassroots officers, industry, agriculture, etc., will be under the control of Li An!
They knew that doing so would most likely allow Da Qi to return to its peak and become even more powerful, but they had no choice but to oppose it!
Some people who were previously in the Emperor's Party and the Empress' Party were even more furious!

We believe you when you say this will make Da Qi stronger, but will this powerful Da Qi still be named Zhan? I'm afraid it will be named Li!

So they spoke out against it one after another, and their words were very fierce and left no room for negotiation!
"If that doesn't work, then just send troops to Qing Kingdom!"

Li An's cold and mocking look made all the ministers in the court hesitate to speak. He continued, "If you can't make Da Qi strong, why don't you let others come? Anyway, if we maintain the status quo for a few more years, the soldiers will still be powerless, and the treasury will still be empty. In my opinion, there is no reason for Shangjing Academy to continue to exist!"

"It would be better if everyone dispersed and made room for me to open the Hundred Schools Academy!"

Seeing that everyone was talking and speaking ill of each other again, the voices of opposition were not as loud as at the beginning.

Li An smiled slightly. This is what Brother Xun said about the theory of removing the roof: people always like to reconcile and compromise. For example, if you say that the room is too dark and you want to open a skylight here, people will definitely not allow it. But if you advocate removing the roof, they will come to reconcile and be willing to open the skylight.

Just as Li An first proposed something that could not be done now - sending troops to Qing State. Then he asked these ministers to state the reasons why they could not send troops and oppose his proposal. Then he took the second best option and established many departments to achieve his goal of integrating Qi State's resources.

(End of this chapter)