Li Chengzhong's pressing orders that were eager for success caused the entire Liucheng government to run at high speed. Even Feng Dao complained about Li Chengzhong and denounced his behavior as "reckless"! But Li Chengzhong was determined to act recklessly this time.
, did not give in at all. However, it was a complaint. When it came to specific expenditures, Feng Dao still agreed to Li Chengzhong's requirements one by one. At this time, even Liu Shenjiao, who was far away in Xiaolinghe preparing for Jinxian affairs, could not sit still.
After hearing about it, he rushed back to Chang Shi's Mansion overnight, and together with several officials who also had strong opinions, they went straight to the study of Chang Shi's Mansion to see Feng Dao.
"If the general keeps doing this, the Governor of the Battalion, Shi's Mansion, will not see a single copper coin until November at most. All the officials in the Governor's Mansion will not be able to pay for it. But where will the military pay come from? I'm afraid the soldiers won't be able to wait.
!" Liu Shenjiao was very angry. He even regretted a little. Why didn't he stand up to Li Chengzhong's rhetoric and come to Yingzhou to become an official? He didn't care about people's livelihood, didn't understand economics, but liked to interfere in the government's governance.
It is really a very unfortunate thing for Shangguan. He has seen people who are tormenting, but he has never seen anyone who can toss so much, and he is tossing recklessly!
"Brother Qiu Yi, where did you say that?" Feng Dao asked Liu Shenjiao slowly and slowly, without being anxious at all, as if he couldn't see the angry look on the other person's face.
"Where do you say that? General, does he know how much money is left in the treasury now? Does he know how much money we need to spend in the remaining three months? Does he know how much money we collected and how much money we spent after occupying Liucheng?
How much more money will he spend in the next three months? Damn, can't you give me some advice?" Liu Shenjiao saw that the other party was still unhurried. He was even more angry, and his words were a little rude. He
I can't understand Feng Dao at this moment. Didn't I hear that Feng Dao reprimanded the general in person for this matter? Why are you trying to change things for him now?
Seeing Feng Dao smiling and not answering, Liu Shenjiao said again: "Ke Dao. You are a long history member, and you came earlier than me. You have been in charge of Yingzhou affairs. You should know these figures very well. Our Yingzhou has always spent money lavishly.
, I have long said that I can't continue to waste money like this. Now there are only 70,000 yuan in the treasury. Well, in the past few days when I have been working in Jin County, I heard that another 60,000 yuan have been stolen from Gu Lihun and Rong Ge's house.
Guan. The total is only 130,000 Guan.
What about expenditures? The sergeant’s salary alone requires 13,000 guan per month, and the food needs at least 6,000 guan per month. Add the two items together. By the end of the year, the total will be 80,000 guan! As for the manufacture of weapons, it will be soon
We have to pay 10,000 guan. This is because we have our own iron mountain, otherwise 30,000 guan will not be able to stop us. A certain person is taking care of various things in Jin County, and the county can temporarily afford it. A certain official can temporarily owe the payment to Pingzhou.
On the other hand, the newly purchased farm tools and grain planting require 20,000 guan. The first batch of more than 2,000 refugees transported by the Gao family from the Jianghuai River has arrived at the mouth of the Xiaoling River. A certain person plans to build water conservancy projects, reclaim new fields, and build villages to accommodate the refugees. These and
I got 10,000 guan, and there was no delay. Now is good. General Li planned to buy military uniforms, and I did a rough calculation. He had to spend another 20,000 guan, not to mention so many armors. It was good for him, and he planned to pay 30% more!
It can be said that we have no tax collection this year, and both farming and business are exempted for one year, which means that we will be hungry for four months from next January and drink the northwest wind! Oh, no, maybe this year October
I’ll start to feel hungry in February.”
After saying so many words in one breath, Liu Shenjiao snatched the tea cup from Feng Dao's hand and drank it in one breath.
Feng Dao was a little funny. Liu Shenjiao and others arrived in a hurry and spoke in a hurry. He didn't have time to let anyone serve tea. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he quickly ordered someone to add tea to Liu Shenjiao and others.
After Liu Shenjiao calmed down, Feng Daocai asked: "Brother Qiuyi, you just said it yourself. Our general spends too much money, but where is all the money spent? Building pavilions for himself.
Pavilion? Searching for beauties? Or fine wines and delicacies? Or silks and satins? "
When asked this question, Liu Shenjiao became a little bit silent. Indeed, although Li Chengzhong spent money lavishly, he never asked too much for his own enjoyment. He is now the lord of Yingzhou, but his residence is only the original Yingzhou.
The Dudu's Mansion is now the back house of Zhongnanhai, and it only made simple repairs to the building. No money was spent on the pavilions and pavilions. He and his concubine Wanzhi didn't have many servants. I heard they only had two.
, one is in charge of washing and cooking, and the other is in charge of sweeping and tidying up, together with Mrs. Wanzhi's sister Lv Mo, there are five people in total. Compared with those who are as powerful as him, this kind of life can almost be described as shabby.
After a moment of silence, Liu Shenjiao protested unconvincingly: "I didn't say that General Li was extravagant and lustful, but he spent all the money in the treasury on the soldiers. The word 'military and aggressive' is not an exaggeration!"
"
"If it weren't for General Li's 'militancy,' where did you, the magistrate of Jin County, come from? Where did the great victory of Lumingwa come from? Or in other words, where did Liucheng come from? Where did Yingzhou come from? I'm afraid we are all still in the pass.
He was worried about how to resist the Khitan plunder." Feng Dao was slightly younger than Liu Shenjiao, but his words were rude and pointed at the flaws in the other party's words. Liu Shenjiao's words immediately made Liu Shenjiao blush. Liu Shenjiao had been there for several months.
The reason why he was willing to be transferred from Jiedufu, the center of the entire Thirteen Lulong Prefectures, to the remote Yingzhou outside the Pass, in addition to promotion in terms of character and rank, was because of Li Chengzhong's ability. Now he uses this
Speaking of things, no wonder Feng Dao had to warn himself.
"But if this is the case, how will we survive this winter? The treasury is almost empty..." Liu Shenjiao's voice has become much weaker, and his confidence is getting weaker and weaker.
"Brother Qiuyi, it seems that you still don't know our general very well. I have been following General Li since last autumn. I remember that there were less than two hundred people leaving the customs at that time. Starting from the defensive battle of the Bailang Mountain military camp, I have been fighting
Up to now, in the Battle of Lumingwa, every time we fought, the force became stronger and stronger. Up to now, it has occupied the entire Yingzhou. I remember that the most difficult time was the winter in Bailang Mountain, but the former camp at that time
But we lived happily. What did we rely on? We relied on having an army that could win the war! For more than three months, Pingzhou did not send us a grain of food, so we went to the Khitan people.
Rob, rob sheep, knives, bows and arrows, tents... and finally captured Liucheng.
Brother Qiuyi has just been complaining about General Li's excessive spending, but I would like to ask, brother Qiuyi manages Jin County, needs money to purchase farm tools, grow grain, build water conservancy, dredge rivers, and settle the refugees. Has General Li ever owed money?
No, not a penny! And General Li has never hesitated to ask for help from brother. As for the four words "military and aggressive", is there any army in the world today that is not "military and aggressive"? What's more, with a certain
Experience, General Li is so eager to 'go to war', can't he see the emptiness in the treasury? I think it is because he sees the embarrassment of current treasury fees that General Li is so eager to 'go to war'!"
Liu Shenjiao was a little enlightened. He said "ah" and said, "Sure, you are saying that General Li plans to..."
Feng Dao smiled and said: "Brother Qiuyi, let's see. General Li has his own plan. We only need to do a good job in local governance. It is not our turn to worry about these things."
Liu Shenjiao felt a little embarrassed: "I heard that Mr. Kedao reprimanded General Li for being 'reckless'..."
Feng Dao laughed: "If you don't put some pressure on him, how can he fill up the treasury as soon as possible? Nowadays, everyone needs money, and I am worried about a penny."
At this moment, Liu Shenjiao finally felt deeply self-reproached for his recklessness in rushing into Chang Shi's study. He stood up and bowed to Daochang Feng: "Ke Dao, today is my fault. Du Cheng Ke Dao can help me clear up my doubts. I am here to apologize."
Already."
While Feng Dao, Liu Shenjiao and others were talking in the Changshi Mansion, Li Chengzhong was in Zhongnanhai summoning Wuli, the young man of Pinbu, who was still studying. Wuli had now read the "Four Books" and became more and more polite in his actions and actions.
"I wonder what you are calling your son to come here for?" Wu Li was dressed in Confucian attire, with his hands hanging down, showing respect.
Every time Li Chengzhong saw his cheap son, he couldn't help but feel funny. He suppressed his laughter and asked, "How is the fundraising committee I asked you to set up before going?"
The so-called fundraising committee was a temporary idea that Li Chengzhong came up with when he captured Liucheng due to lack of military resources. It mainly targeted the surrendered Khitan minister elders and nobles as its main fundraising targets. However, after the confiscation of Tuli and others, they obtained
After having a large amount of money, he forgot about this matter. Now that the treasury was about to bottom out, he remembered this matter and couldn't help but invite Wuli to ask. Of course, he didn't take it too seriously.
Great hope. After all, I haven't cared about this matter for five months. God knows if Wuli has taken care of it.
Wu Li hurriedly said: "How dare my son not take the matter that your Excellency has told me to take to heart? Now, a donation of 63,400 yuan has been raised, and it is all in my son's mansion. If your Excellency needs it, my son will go and pick it up immediately.
"
Li Chengzhong was stunned. He didn't expect that he would be hit by a pie when he asked casually. He hurriedly asked: "Why are there so many?"
Wu Li counted the money in detail and reported the donations made by the elders of the Pin Department in the past five months. Among them, the eldest elder, who was completely blind, donated 30,000 yuan, and the rest was collected by the elders.
Even the beheaded former elder Gu Lihun donated 3,000 guan. Originally it was not that much, but in the past few days, Yu Lai and Dan Zhumu took the initiative to donate 5,000 guan each.
Li Chengzhong was extremely satisfied. He chuckled and said: "Okay! Very good! My son, hurry up and take out the money and send it to the treasury of the Changshi Mansion. The treasury is a bit tight now."
Wuli quickly agreed and went out.
With the money to relieve urgent needs and the treasury to support it for a while longer, Li Chengzhong was in a good mood. He was thinking about where to get money. A military report sent from the northern command put him in deep trouble.