Brother, do you know what is just empty talk? Even if you let me go, I dare not take responsibility for the lives and deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
"Let's not take this. Things change rapidly on the battlefield. If the war fails because of me, I'm afraid I will let the people down."
Li Kuo was silent for a while and did not mention this matter again. Li Xiuzhu was right. He was too young and he was worried about him.
But he suddenly thought of another thing.
He couldn't interfere in the war, so the money matters should be easy, right? "The army is going to war now, and it needs a lot of money. The treasury is empty. Does Xiuzhu have a good way to fill the treasury?"
"At least finish this battle."
Li Xiuzhu was slightly startled when he heard this. Is the national treasury so poor? It can't be compared with the banks of later generations.
After thinking about it, he actually came up with a few ideas.
"How much silver does the treasury need to support this war?"
"Conservatively speaking, there is still a shortfall of 50,000 taels, and this probably doesn't even include the post-war pension."
Just 50,000? That’s not much of a difference.
However, Li Xiuzhu was also full of contempt. Fifty thousand taels was just enough for the ransom of his own Nong Yue. It was uncommon for an emperor to be so poor.
"If it's just about ensuring the war is won smoothly, then it's too simple. Supplies can be delivered in batches. There's no need to deliver them all at once."
“First, categorize the ones that should be given all at once and the ones that don’t.”
"Let's not talk about anything else, just talk about the armor and arrow reserves. If an army of 100,000 soldiers has 10,000 armor in reserve, it can basically be used for a long time."
"The same goes for arrows. Provide a hundred times the number of archers. It will last for at least ten days or half a month."
"As long as we can ensure a continuous supply of supplies and avoid being robbed, we can play like this."
"After conquering Silla, we can replenish the national treasury from Silla."
"Although Silla was hit by a natural disaster, there is still a lot of silver and treasures."
Li Kuo nodded when he heard this. This was indeed an idea. Moreover, in this way, he wouldn't have to use his own small treasury.
But Li Kuo was not satisfied.
"Is there any better choice?"
"There are better ones, too..."
After a pause, Li Xiuzhu continued: "One is to donate an official position."
"All real positions below the seventh rank and all honorary positions below the fifth rank can be sold. Once the vacant positions are sold, the gold and silver problem can be solved immediately."
"Even if the government feels that food and grass are hard to buy, they can use food and grass to buy officials."
"There are many wealthy people among those big family merchants."
Is this a question of whether there is a lot of money? We cannot start selling official positions.
"This... Xiuzhu, you are still young, you don't know. Selling official positions is to shake the foundation of the country, this cannot be done."
Li Xiuzhu had a different opinion after hearing this. He shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, this is wrong."
"The honorary posts below the fifth rank, such as Imperial Academy Assistant Imperial Secretary, Ministry of Rites Four Translation Co-officers, Imperial Academy Classics, Honglu Temple Han Mingzan, and so on, are all dispensable. Having a few idle posts that don't require attendance won't have any impact at all."
“To put it simply, it is to give these businessmen an identity, and also give their children an identity to study.”
"The real positions below the seventh rank are more important. Even if it is just a prison warden in the Ministry of Justice, there are a lot of benefits to be gained."
"Those who want these positions either want money or power. If you want power, Your Majesty will have more officials who can do practical work."
"If they want money, that's even better. These people should have a lot of wealth. If they commit corruption and bribery, it would be like handing a knife to your majesty."
"When we can find a charge to confiscate their property, we will confiscate their money. Then their money will become your majesty's money."
"Then the vacant seats can be sold again. After all the sands have been washed away, there will always be some gold to be found."
At this moment, Li Kuo didn't know what to say. He admitted that he was moved by what he said.
At this moment, he seemed to see an endless supply of gold and silver ingots waving at him.
"Xiuzhu, I'll leave this matter to you."
Since ancient times, those who sold official positions were always the ones who got into trouble. Isn't this obviously intended to discredit him?
Li Kuo waved his hand and said, "Since you are the one who brought up this matter, you should do it. Don't worry, I will give you a golden medal of immunity from death."
Li Xiuzhu's mouth twitched. Can the death-free gold medal really save one from death? Generally speaking, this thing is useless.
"Then please give me another copy of the written order, otherwise I really don't dare to touch this thing."
Li Kuo saw the cautious look on Li Xiuzhu's face and knew that he would not work seriously without the imperial order.
"Okay, I'll give you a handwritten order, but this order cannot be used unless it is absolutely necessary."
Li Xiuzhu was also a straightforward person and nodded when he heard that.
"Okay! Then here's the reward."
Li Kuo's eyes widened suddenly.
There is no wrong version in the 1619 book forum!
"I have no daughter left to marry."
...? Am I doing this for the chick? Man, you see... you got me.
"Then there can't be no benefit at all, right?"
Li Kuo paused.
"Isn't it enough to give you a promotion?"
"Well, I have no ambition for an official position."
Li Xiuzhu smiled shyly and continued, "You see, I'm going to open a mansion too, and I have to pay for the expenses of this big family."
"One percent profit!"
One percent? Hiss, so much? It seems that this old man has never sold an official position, so he doesn't know much about the benefits! "Don't worry, father-in-law, I will definitely take care of this for you."
"Humph, you know how to say nice things now? I've discovered that you, kid, will not do anything without profit."
As they were talking, they arrived at the Fu Mansion. A few minutes after Li Xiuzhu entered the house, he took out a special plow.
There is a roller under the plow, and there are serrations on the roller, which looks very much like gears.
Next to the wheel is a large plowshare with a curved hook and three plowshares with curved earth-dividing plates.
This thing is lighter than the traditional plow. The pipe used to pull the plow is made of aluminum. The thickness is very high, which ensures it is strong and durable, and also a lot lighter.
At this time, all the officials' sedan chairs or carriages were waiting. When they saw what Li Xiuzhu took out, everyone was very curious.
Such a simple thing can be used to plow the land? Li Xiuzhu was not strong either. He handed the plow to the guard beside him and got on the emperor's carriage again.
"Let's go!"
Following Wang Defa's nod, the team set off again.
Although the imperial fields are outside the city, they are very close to the imperial city. The land here is open and close to water sources. It is one of the best lands in Shangjing.
As everyone came out, Li Xiuzhu looked around with a satisfied look on his face.
"You can try any nearby land, just pull it."
"If we want to cultivate dry wasteland, we still have to wait until it rains so that oxen can pull the crops."
Li Kuo and the officials could no longer hold back. Upon hearing this, Song Lian from the Ministry of Revenue immediately said, "Your Majesty, let me try!"
At this time, a general heard this and immediately said, "Your Majesty, let me do it."
"Even if this plow could be used to till the land, how could a weak scholar like Minister Song pull it?"
Song Lian paused when he heard this. He really had no confidence in this.
But he was not willing to give up like this.
(End of this chapter)