The emperor called for the President of the Board of Revenue and asked him directly, "How much does the treasury still have in reserve?"
The Board of Revenue's President was crestfallen when he replied. "We have no more than twenty million taels."
Based on their normal daily expenses, the twenty million taels in the treasury could last them at least a year, perhaps more. It was not a small amount, but for now, it was wholly inadequate!
There wouldn't even be change left over.
They had millions of heroic souls, how much would it cost to give everyone a hundred taels? Besides, how could a hundred taels each be enough to compensate them?
"It's not enough! Far from enough!"
His Majesty murmured under his breath and asked immediately, "How much taels do we have in cash? I want a precise number."
"No more than five million taels."