The annual salary of officials was only 4 million strings of cash, and the rest, including official land, silk, food, rewards, ice and charcoal, spices, etc., definitely did not exceed 10 million strings of cash. This shows how great the military expenditure was.
So the economy of the Song Dynasty was indeed good, but the money was not spent on the right things. Instead, it was used to support a large number of refugee troops with little combat effectiveness, which was meaningless.
Zhao Jun continued, "The Song Dynasty's economic achievements cannot be denied, but a healthy national finance must be rationally planned. Military spending should not be too high, except in times of war. Our country's annual military expenditure currently only accounts for 7 or 8 percent of its fiscal expenditure, but even so, its military capabilities are already the second best in the world."
"In contrast, the Song Dynasty spent most of its fiscal expenditure on the military, with very little investment in education, science and technology, healthcare, transportation, and economic development. The country stagnated for a long time, and coupled with the constraints of feudal ethics and long-term superstition of Confucianism, and a lack of research into science and technology, it ultimately led to its demise."
"Even the largest military expenditure is a joke. So much money is spent every year to support a group of parasites with low combat effectiveness. The bulk of the money is basically taken up by those generals and dignitaries. The lower-level wing troops and imperial guards don't get much per person."
"It would be a good thing to be able to fatten up some capable generals and train a group of elite soldiers."
"But the problem is that we're spending so much money to support useless people. When there's money to be made, these noble generals only know how to suck the blood of their soldiers, collect empty salaries, and embezzle the treasury. When the country is in crisis, they run away faster than anyone else, and their kneeling surrender postures are more typical than each other. They are of no use to the country at all."
"So the Song Dynasty emperors were just stupid. What's the point of raising these things? They might as well spend all the money to subsidize the lower classes."
Take the money out to subsidize the people?
Zhao Zhen was cheered up. Could this be some great way to govern the country?
I see. This is called sharing wealth with the people.
He immediately asked, "Teacher Zhao, I've realized this. If we spend money on the people, can we make the Song Dynasty prosperous?"
"You've got a clue."
Zhao Jun smiled slightly and said, "What I mean is, if we spend the money on the common people, when the Song Dynasty falls, at least we can still have a good reputation among the people."
Everyone was so shocked that they almost peed themselves.
What?
When the Song Dynasty fell, at least it would still have a good reputation among the people?
After this speech, Zhao Zhen, Lu Yijian and others looked at each other in bewilderment.
They were used to Zhao Jun scolding the Song Dynasty emperor and didn't care anymore.
Moreover, they are well aware of the harm of redundant soldiers, and naturally know how large the interest groups are that have formed here and how great the resistance to reform is.
But why doesn’t the country maintain a redundant army and use the money to subsidize the people? Will the country still perish?
So everyone is dead, right?
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