He didn't hesitate and replied to Lu Qingwan, "The official roads near Xindu are a bit narrow. They can be rebuilt, but for Your Highness to want to lay out the entire national road network at once, it's unrealistic."
Lu Qingwan's gaze fell on the treasury and storage rooms outside. "What, the national treasury doesn't have enough funds?"
Although the national treasury was indeed insufficient, the stored supplies were piled so high that they filled the storeroom, which was larger than a typical wealthy family's residence.
Chen Jianzhang's plea of poverty at this juncture lacked any credibility.
However, Chen Jianzhang had no intention of crying poverty to Lu Qingwan. He was simply stating the facts. "If all the money in the national treasury were used to build roads, then yes, it would be enough.
But if that were the case, the post-disaster reconstruction in large areas of Qian Northwest, Xiliang, Yunqiang, and Beiwei would be difficult to sustain.
Moreover, if I recall correctly, Your Highness and Your Highness Consort promised the people in the war zones tax exemption for three years.
The imperial court has just been established, and a hundred things await rebuilding. Has Your Highness Consort considered that the need for funds extends beyond road construction?"
In truth, the imperial court had many areas requiring expenditure, but the few projects Chen Jianzhang listed were those Lu Qingwan herself had personally participated in discussions and decisions for, making them the most convincing.
Lu Qingwan was indeed persuaded by his arguments.
"Very well, road construction is a long and arduous task, no need to rush.
Chen Daren, please calculate how much the Ministry of Revenue can allocate, and I will handle the rest myself.
For now, the priority is to resolve the safety hazards in the storerooms."
Having said that, she turned and left, giving Chen Jianzhang and the officials of the Ministry of Revenue no chance for further pleasantries.
Upon exiting the Ministry of Revenue, Li Su hurried to catch up. "It's getting late, Your Highness Consort. Are you still going to the Ministry of War?"
"Yes, I must go."
Lu Qingwan's emotions were still unsettled. "The dignified national treasury was reduced to such a state by a mere merchant. I am now very concerned that the armory storerooms of the Ministry of War might also be so unreliable."
Of the Six Ministries, only the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War dealt with tangible assets, and these two ministries represented the foundation of the dynasty.
The state of the Ministry of Revenue's storerooms had indeed shocked Li Su as well.
However, upon hearing Lu Qingwan's words, she instinctively tried to pacify her. "Your Highness Consort, please do not be angry. The Ministry of War was jointly built by the Military Advisor and General Shen. Anyone who dares to cut corners under their watchful eyes would surely not wish to live."
Si Fengwu's enthronement was imminent. The principal officials of the Six Ministries had all been appointed, except for the position of Minister of War, which remained vacant.
It was not that a suitable candidate could not be found, but rather that Si Fengwu, Lu Qingwan, and Elder Wen and other senior officials all favored Lian Yu for the position of Minister of War.
However, if Lian Yu were to become Minister of War, many of the matters he was currently handling would be considered overstepping his authority.
Therefore, Si Fengwu had appointed Shen Da, who also had military experience and understood military administration, as the Vice Minister of War to temporarily act as the Minister of War on Lian Yu's behalf.
This was to allow Lian Yu to complete his current tasks before officially taking up the post of Minister of War.
Even so, Lian Yu had participated in major affairs such as the construction of the Ministry of War's yamen and the recruitment and establishment of the yamen.
Lu Qingwan herself did not believe that anyone could tamper with things under the nose of Lian Yu, that cunning old fox who was as sharp as a monkey with fur.
But given the precedent of the Ministry of Revenue, Lu Qingwan still needed to see it with her own eyes to be at ease.
The Six Ministries' yamen were not far apart. Lu Qingwan left the Ministry of Revenue and soon arrived at the Ministry of War.
Unlike the Ministry of Revenue, upon arriving at the Ministry of War, aside from the guards performing their duties and a duty fúchéng, Lu Qingwan did not see any other principal officials of the Ministry of War.
When Lu Qingwan requested to inspect the armory storerooms, she was even sternly refused by the fúchéng.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness Consort. The armory storerooms are a state secret. To enter, one requires a warrant from His Highness the King or the direct presence of Lord Shen. Otherwise, this subordinate has no authority and cannot open the doors for you."
He was merely a low-ranking eighth-rank fúchéng of the Ministry of War, yet he dared to refuse Lu Qingwan's request. However, Lu Qingwan and her entourage did not become angry or agitated. Instead, they exchanged knowing smiles, their eyes filled with unconcealed amusement.
After smiling, Lu Qingwan frankly asked, "Did this fúchéng come from the Xuanjia Army?"
The fúchéng, who appeared to be in his early thirties, looked up in astonishment. "This subordinate did indeed come from the Xuanjia Army. How did Your Highness Consort know?"
Although Lu Qingwan was the matriarch of the Xuanjia Army, the army comprised 400,000 soldiers, with constant fluctuations in troop numbers each year. It was clearly unbelievable that she knew every single soldier.
The fúchéng's doubt was evident.
Lu Qingwan smiled and gestured with her lips. "Firstly, while the key to the armory storerooms cannot be opened easily, a general fúchéng would not dare to refuse me so blatantly.
Secondly, although you appear to be like any other person on the surface, if you walk too quickly, it is evident that your weight is shifted to your left leg, indicating an imbalance and an injury to your right leg, isn't it?"
The fúchéng was greatly surprised. "I have long heard of Your Highness Consort's superb medical skills, but I did not expect you to discern so much at a glance.
Your Highness Consort is correct; this subordinate did indeed come from the Xuanjia Army, and Lord Shen has promoted me many times. However, this subordinate also entered officialdom through the examinations of the Ministry of Personnel's Bureau of Assessment. I implore Your Highness Consort to see clearly."
This was to prevent Lu Qingwan from suspecting Shen Da of abusing his power and implicating his former superior.
Lu Qingwan smiled upon hearing this. "I understand. You may return now.
Tomorrow, when you see Lord Shen, please have him provide me with a list of the current armaments in the armory.
The delivery time is flexible; I will review it when I have the chance."
Lu Qingwan departed after speaking. The fúchéng, his surprise still evident, quickly escorted them out the door.
Back in the carriage, Ying Yi seemed unsure of their next destination. "Your Highness Consort, where are we going next?"
She had intended to inspect the Ministry of War's armory storerooms, but upon the fúchéng's refusal, Lu Qingwan had simply turned and left.
Ying Yi could hardly believe that Lu Qingwan would be so good-tempered.
"The palace gates must be locked by now, right?"
Lu Qingwan glanced at the night sky, where stars were already appearing.
She stretched lazily. "Let's return to the Shence Camp yamen. I'll handle the matters that need to be dealt with there, and then I can catch up on sleep tomorrow."
Li Su hesitated for a moment before reminding her, "Your Highness Consort, tomorrow is the King's first official meeting with all the officials in the new capital. Aren't you attending?"
This was their first official meeting with all the officials since their return to the new capital. If Lu Qingwan were to attend, it would undoubtedly be a public declaration of her status.
In the future, even if Lu Qingwan continued to involve herself in court affairs, those who were discerning would no longer use the outdated argument of "a hen crowing at dawn" to interfere with her actions.
However, Lu Qingwan expressed her decision very clearly. "I will not be attending.
Have someone prepare detailed meeting minutes, and you can show them to me later."