The Cold Door Hero

Summary

Five days after Li Yan Qing's report, the court was shocked to learn of the Zeng family's immense wealth, including 300,000 taels of gold and 8 million taels of silver, which could rival the Great Song Dynasty's annual revenue. The court faced pressing financial needs, prompting debates on how to utilize the seized assets. Li Yan Qing proposed two plans for distribution: one that split the assets between the court and the military governor's office, and another that allocated military funding while allowing the military to control the tea and liquor monopoly in Bashu. The proposal led to a divide in the court, with some fearing military control would lead to warlordism, while others believed it was necessary for financial stability. Emperor Zhao Ji opposed the military control but was challenged by his son, Zhao Gou, who supported Li Yan Qing's military expansion plans against Western Xia. After tense discussions, Zhao Gou agreed to Li Yan Qing's proposal, allowing military control over the monopoly for five years and allocating substantial funds for military preparations, a decision that suggested a compromise with the retired Emperor Zhao Ji.

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