Rongshan’s aid was like water to a man dying of thirst in an arid desert. The first installment of 3.7 million taels had not even fully arrived, yet every faction was already impatient to wet its lips.

Of course, Rongshan would still supervise the use of the funds.

As the creditor, it had the right to monitor where the money went. The agreement stated it in black and white. If the Royal Court of Yuan wanted to receive further aid, it could not breach the contract.

None of this struck He Lingchuan as strange. A dead tree did not rot only at its heart. In a state this large, countless places were clamoring for money.

The closer one stood to the funds, the more one benefited.

As for ordinary people, neither the 3.7 million taels nor even the full 7 million had much to do with them.

He Lingchuan thought for a moment and asked He Yue, “The court debate was so fierce. What did Father say?”

“Father said nothing...