The next morning at the early court session, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue began to bicker in Zhaoyang Palace!
Zhou Cong had stayed at the Ministry of Revenue Minister's residence until midnight. When he left, he carried a drafted list of imperial gifts in his sleeve, meticulously filled over three large pages. Both ministers had reached a consensus: use lavish gifts to purchase the exotic medicine from the grassland, as this would provide a satisfactory explanation to both the Marquis of Zhennan and the Emperor.
However, as soon as the morning court session began, Zhou Cong was left stunned. The Minister of Revenue claimed illness and stayed home, leaving Vice Minister Wei Xian in charge. In a complete reversal of policy, the Ministry of Revenue refused to show any deference! Wei Xian insisted that the national treasury was empty and that the ministry had no grain—not a single grain of rice could be spared for the Quanrong!
Chapter 55