Frontier Army Warrior

Chapter 948 No Salary

Han Qi didn't want to say much at first, because he knew that the emperor had no money and relied on selling some valuable household items to make a living.

But things are different now. Lin Feng appeared in the morning court.

This made all the ministers very excited.

Who is Lin Feng? This boss has the final say in Sanjiang Prefecture, where they depend for survival.

The previous emperor treated Lin Feng poorly, but he is now dead. Now it is Zhao Cun's era.

Besides, Lin Feng did not refuse to serve as regent, so would Lin Feng be kind enough to relieve the pressure of life for these ministers?

How can you know it won’t work if you don’t try?

Therefore, Han Qi stepped down and continued to be the leader of all officials.

Seeing that Lin Feng didn't say anything, Zhao Cun had to speak.

"Lord Han, the court is currently facing its most difficult time. We need all of you to work together to overcome this difficult time. I believe that with the assistance of the Regent, the Dazong Dynasty will surely regain its vitality and return to its former glory in the near future."

He would also praise Lin Feng.

Han Qi nodded and smiled, then turned around and bowed to Lin Feng.

"Your Majesty, I wonder if you could show me a way to overcome this difficulty."

Lin Feng frowned: "Master Han, doesn't the court have any salary?"

"No."

"Haha, me neither."

The ministers all smiled bitterly.

Lin Feng glanced at everyone's expressions.

"Sir Han, I wonder how many years you have been an official?"

Han Qi raised his head proudly.

"Your Highness, this old minister has been in office for forty-eight years and a little over three months."

Lin Feng exclaimed in admiration: "He is indeed a senior official of the great clan. I wonder how many years he has been receiving salary from the great clan court?"

Han Qi felt that something was wrong, but he had to answer.

"Well...it's been about forty years."

Lin Feng waved his hand. "I won't settle this score with you. I just want to tell you that when I, Lin Feng, was a foot archer at the Lingdouzi Beacon Tower of the Great Frontier Army, I could only get one bag of polished japonica rice every six months. And that was the kind that was half-mixed with sand."

He paused. "And later on, even the rice mixed with sand was gone. You had to farm it yourself, and you could only get a meager harvest."

Lin Feng sighed. "When the Tartars invaded the border, we were so busy fighting that we couldn't even farm the land. We had no choice but to rob the Tartars of their food. Since I was a centurion, I was considered a legitimate military officer, but I never received a penny of military pay."

The lobby was very quiet and everyone was silent.

"Until I led my army into the capital to defend the emperor and became the commander of the Imperial Guards, or until now, when the late emperor appointed me, Lin Feng, as regent..."

"Hehe... I still haven't received a penny of salary from the imperial court."

He turned his head and glanced at Zhao Cun and Zhu Qisheng.

"If you don't believe me, you can ask the emperor. This is a fact that can be verified by accounts. I am not making it up."

When Zhao Cun heard Lin Feng calling his name, he didn't dare not respond.

"Everything the Regent said is true. I can testify to that."

Lin Feng nodded and smiled: "Everyone knows that the people in the eight prefectures of Zhenxi are all very wealthy. Why is that?"

He glanced at the ministers.

No one answered, everyone hung their heads, as if they were listening attentively, or as if they were fast asleep. In short, it was very quiet.

"Because our Dazong Dynasty has good policies, not only have taxes been waived for three years, but houses, land, grain, and farm tools have also been distributed free of charge. As long as you have these basic necessities, anyone with healthy limbs can live a good life, right?"

Still no one spoke.

"Only those who can do practical work will receive a salary. In the past, the court supported you while you did nothing. Now, you need to step forward and support the court."

Zhao Gui was a smart man. He stood up and asked loudly.

"Your Majesty, I wonder how we can support the court?"

Lin Feng nodded. "That's a good question. Those with money can contribute money, those with strength can contribute strength. You can use your knowledge, connections, skills, and the ability to improve tools, or anything else. In short, you must bring profits or benefits to the court. Do you understand?"

Many people were confused, and almost all the ministers thought that Lin Feng was talking nonsense.

If they can make money, why do they need the court?

Let them support the imperial court in return?

Are you crazy?

More than twenty officials began to discuss.

Zhao Shuo finally couldn't help it, walked up to Lin Feng, and knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, can you allow my father and his men to return to the great clan court?"

He knew very well that Lin Feng, as the regent of the Dazong Dynasty, was nominally in a legitimate position, and both the late emperor and the current emperor had recognized his royal title.

Then his father took his men and ran away to occupy the mountains and become king, but he became a traitor to the court and a rebel.

It turned out that since the emperor didn't say anything, no one bothered to hold them accountable.

Now, with just one word from Lin Feng, Zhao Xun and others would be left with nowhere to go.

Moreover, they were doing it under the legitimate pretext of suppressing banditry, and no one dared to say a good word for them.

Lin Feng looked at Zhao Shuo who was kneeling in front of him.

"Prince Rui Zhao Xun and his companions could not bear the hardship of farming, so they fled Jinggaofu City, proclaimed themselves kings, and no longer accepted the jurisdiction of the imperial court."

As he was talking, he couldn't help laughing.

"Hehe, if you let them come back and still cultivate the land, why bother?"

Suddenly, a middle-aged official among the twenty or so ministers took a few steps forward and spoke loudly.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, some ministers in the Dazong court have purchased manors and land on their own, using the money they previously embezzled to live a wealthy life. I wonder what should be done with these people?"

Everyone was stunned and couldn't help but start biting each other.

If we are both poor, that would be fine, but I am so poor that I can't even afford to eat, but you are rich as a ton, how can that be acceptable?

Zhao Cun was also at a loss and turned to look at Lin Feng.

Lin Feng asked calmly, "Sir, can you provide some concrete evidence?"

"I don't have any evidence, but if Your Highness wants to investigate, these people will certainly have it."

"You mean, you can talk nonsense here and let me find evidence myself?"

The man shouted angrily, "You're talking nonsense! I can guarantee it with my own money."

The attitudes of these officials have changed. Since the court could no longer pay their salaries, Zhao Zhen has been sick all day and has not shown up.

Therefore, these officials began to despise the imperial power.

If Lin Feng had not been present today, Zhao Cunzhen would probably not have been able to control the situation.

Lin Feng stared at him: "Tell me your name and position, I think I can check it first."

"Hehe, does the prince only bully honest and trustworthy officials like us?"

"Whether you are an honest official or a corrupt official is not up to you. If you are truly an honest official, the court will praise you. But if you are a corrupt official..."

The official became anxious and shouted loudly.

"The court hasn't paid salaries for several years. We, your subjects, exist in name only, yet we remain loyal and have followed the Emperor to this point. We never imagined that after the late Emperor passed away, before his body was even cold, you would already be plotting against these loyal ministers and generals... Your Majesty, I am willing to die with you to prove my innocence..."

He became so excited that he began to cry.

Zhao Cun looked at Lin Feng awkwardly with an embarrassed look on his face.