Many families in Shuobei have people who have served in the army or worked as laborers in various workshops.
Yun Zheng never delayed the payment of wages and pensions to his soldiers.
This resulted in many Shuobei residents having relatively abundant wealth at home.
But Shuobei lacked supplies, and he had always implemented a military-first policy.
This has led to a shortage of basic supplies such as cloth and food in the market.
When supply exceeds demand, prices will naturally rise.
"Father, what you mean is that the silver in Shuobei is worthless?"
Yun Zheng asked.
"right!"
Emperor Wen looked at Yun Zheng approvingly, "One tael of silver in Shuobei is only equivalent to seven or even five qian of silver in other places! If this continues, it will inevitably lead to expensive goods and cheap money! If a large amount of this silver flows into the interior of the country, the interior of the country will inevitably be affected!"
...
...
Yun Zheng is indeed much smarter than the third brother and his friends.
As soon as he pointed it out, Yun Zheng understood the problem.
Now that we understand the problem, we need to find a way to solve it!
But this problem cannot be solved just because we want to!
How can he solve this problem if he doesn't lighten his burden?
If the number of indigenous people in the Northwest Protectorate is not reduced, the problem of material shortage in Shuobei and the Northwest Protectorate will continue to exist for three to five years or even longer!
If he wanted to carry so many people forward, he might get crushed to death!
"You are the future emperor of Dagan, not the emperor of the whole world!"
Emperor Wen patted Yun Zheng on the shoulder and said earnestly: "Remember this, do what you can! Even the people of Dagan are suffering, and you still care about the lives of other people?"
"I know."
Yun Zheng laughed dryly, "As long as the truce is reached, I am confident that the livelihood issues can be resolved within one or two years! In fact, the Northwest Protectorate is very suitable for growing cotton. Once the potato is fully promoted, the food problem can be gradually solved! Moreover, I have ordered people to go out to sea to look for high-yield crops. If nothing unexpected happens, they should be able to bring back some seeds..."
As long as the problem of basic materials needed for people's livelihood is solved, everything will be easy later.
Emperor Wen: "So, you still don't want to cause a large number of deaths in the Northwest Protectorate, right?"
"Father, this also depends on the situation."
Yun Zheng was helpless and said seriously: "If it really comes to that time, I will definitely take my father's advice! But now, I still want to hold on a little longer! I believe that these people can create more value if they are alive! Building cities, roads, mining, etc., which one does not require people?"
In this era, labor is productivity.
He still has a lot of hard work to do.
It would be easy indeed to kill those people.
Moreover, if a large number of people died, his burden would indeed be much lighter.
But he does need population now!
Reducing the population and exterminating households is a last resort.
If it really comes to the last resort, he will do it.
He is the prince of Dagan, not the prince of the whole world!
"That's true!"
Emperor Wen's expression eased slightly, "Then I'll give you another idea! If you still don't want to use it, don't ask me!"
"Father, please speak."
Yun Zheng said respectfully.
Emperor Wen did not rush to express his ideas, but instead asked: "Have all the meritorious soldiers in this battle been rewarded?"
"not yet."
Yun Zheng shook his head and said, "All the departments have submitted their merit reports. Isn't your Majesty going to inspect the Northwest Protectorate? I originally wanted your Majesty to inspect the Northwest Protectorate..."
Emperor Wen raised his eyes and stared at Yun Zheng with a half-smile, "Are you still thinking that when I inspect the Northwest Protectorate, you can find someone to complain to me in public, saying that the army is short of food, and then I can reward you with some food when I get excited?"
Hearing Emperor Wen's words, Yun Zheng suddenly laughed dryly.
Damn it!
Is this old guy the worm in my stomach?
He discovered all this?
This old guy is really not easy to fool!
"I knew it. You are a rebellious son. You can't poop well if you stick your butt up!"
Emperor Wen raised his hand and slapped Yun Zheng lightly on the head, saying angrily: "I always think about you, but you just want to trick me all day long!"
"Father, there is nothing I can do about this!"
Yun Zheng had an innocent look on his face. "I have thought of a way to get food! Besides, your Majesty is visiting the Northwest Protectorate, so shouldn't we let the people there feel the grace of God?"
If you come here, you have to bleed a little!
In other words, let the people over there take some credit!
"I really want to beat you to death!"
Emperor Wen glared at Yun Zheng fiercely, and then said: "While those meritorious soldiers have not yet been rewarded, we can distribute the civilians to those soldiers to form military households..."
Military household system?
Yun Zheng’s eyelids twitched.
After all, he graduated from a military academy, how could he not know about the military household system?
But this military household system is a double-edged sword!
However, from what Emperor Wen said, it should be different from the military household system he knew!
Yun Zheng thought silently for a while, and asked: "Is what father meant by this equivalent to a small-scale fiefdom reward? For now, the soldiers' food and wages will be used to support the military households, and when the military households survive, they will in turn support the soldiers?"
Emperor Wen smiled with satisfaction and said, "That's about what I mean. This kind of reward is relatively small, so it's not quite appropriate to call it a fiefdom."
This rebellious son is really smart and he understands everything at once.
"It's easy to give out rewards, but it's not so easy to take them back!"
Yun Zheng worriedly said, "All the fiefs belong to the soldiers, so there won't be much tax revenue in the future! Moreover, if the military households are persuaded by someone with ulterior motives to start a rebellion, a large number of people will be recruited in a short period of time."
“It’s a real problem.”
Emperor Wen nodded. "You need to find a balance between the two. It would be best if there is a time limit! For example, within three years, the taxes that should have been paid to the court by the military households will be given to the people who own the military households..."
To put it bluntly, it means letting the soldiers raise slaves.
However, those slaves' servitude only lasted a few years.
A few years later, they were free again.
But calling someone a slave doesn't sound very nice.
Moreover, there are some differences between slaves and military households.
Slaves belonged to slave owners, and military households nominally belonged to the imperial court, but it was merely the imperial court temporarily handing these people over to the military household owners.
Listening to Emperor Wen's words, Yun Zheng couldn't help but think secretly.
That’s a good idea!
Allowing soldiers to support military households is equivalent to monitoring those military households and preventing them from launching a rebellion.
The soldiers now save on food rations and invest in military households. The returns from the military households over a few years can fully compensate for the soldiers' losses.
"Father, this is a good idea."
Yun Zheng looked at Emperor Wen with admiration, "However, there are still some details involved. I need to think about it again so that I can improve it and reduce the risks as much as possible."
“It’s definitely something to think about more.”
Emperor Wen smiled and said, "I can't think of it all at once. This is just my idea! How to improve it is up to you and your officials! I'm here to inspect the Northwest Protectorate, not to work as a laborer for you!"
"How dare I, your son, let your father do hard labor!"
Yun Zheng grinned, but he was secretly thinking in his heart...
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