Qin Hui pondered for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, the purpose of Chen Qing's establishment of the "Beijing News" is to let the "Beijing News" publicize his achievements in Jiangnan. Unless the "Beijing News" is shut up, it will definitely insist on reporting every day. Previously, it was slightly
I thought of letting it run out of paper, but I was still solved by it. I was thinking that if I couldn't stop it by cutting off raw materials, then I could stop it by cutting off people. For example, the chief writers of the newspaper resigned one after another."
Zhao Gou suddenly felt bored. He thought about dealing with the newspaper office all day long, but it was of no use at all and could not solve the troubles in his heart at all.
He put his hands behind his hands and sighed: "I am a dignified emperor, but I am racking my brains to compete with a newspaper. What's the point? I can't solve the problem from the root. The biggest threat I face now is that Chen Qing will replace Zhao
Song Jiangshan, my country cannot be saved. This is the key. We cannot let Chen Qing have any accidents or let my army become stronger. Otherwise, we can negotiate with Chen Qing. If he is willing to continue to serve Song Chen
, What conditions do I give him? I think these three paths are the right way, instead of thinking about dealing with a small newspaper office all day long!"
Qin Hui's old face turned red, how could he not know? The emperor is no longer easy to fool.
Qin Hui said for a long time: "Your Majesty, the assassination method may not work. The minister is worried that it will trigger Chen Qing's strong revenge, and building a strong military is a long-term process that cannot be achieved in a short time. Either it is negotiation, but the humble official does not know that Chen Qing
What else do you want? But Your Highness can give it a try and ask Mr. Xu to talk to Hu Yun!"
At this time, the eunuch reported at the door, "Your Majesty, Xianggong Xu and Academician Zhang are here."
Zhao Gou nodded, "Let them in!"
Soon, Xu Xiantu and Zhang Jun quickly walked into the inner study. Qin Hui's expression was a little unnatural. It turned out that the emperor did not just summon him.
"See Your Majesty!" Xu Xiantu and Zhang Jun bowed together.
"Thank you for your hard work, both of you!"
Zhao Gou asked again: "Are there no Tai students making trouble outside?"
"No!"
Xu Xiantu said quickly: "They just went out for a walk. The weather was too hot. Some of them couldn't bear it and fainted from heatstroke. So the students went back, and the people dispersed and went home."
Zhao Gou nodded, "Just now I was discussing with Qin Xianggong how to prevent Chen Qing from further annexing the imperial court. There are only two ways. One is to become stronger, and the other is to reach an agreement with Chen Qing. He is willing to be a minister of Song Dynasty forever. I have repeatedly considered it.
, even if Chen Qing agrees to any conditions, it is only a temporary measure, the key is to have strong military strength, I want to hear your opinions!"
Zhao Gou looked at Zhang Jun and said, "Grandmaster, let's talk first! If you have anything to say, just say what you want. We have to face reality. Grandmaster, feel free to speak your mind!"
Zhang Jun hesitated for a moment and said: "I have considered this issue more than once. Population and military resources are not a problem. Famous generals can also be cultivated. The key is still a financial issue. Building a strong army requires equally strong financial support. Previously, we issued Jiaozi
We can use this method to raise 10 million guan. If we calculate based on the three guan money for a soldier of 300,000 soldiers per month, 10 million guan can only support ten months. In other words, we need at least one guan every year.
Twelve million yuan is used to pay military salaries, but how much tax revenue do we get every year now?”
"Eight million strings!"
Xu Xiantu said: "The annual tax revenue from Jiangnan East Road, Liangzhe Road, Fujian Road, and Lingnan Road is only 8 million yuan. This includes salt tax. Not only does it have to pay military salaries, but also hundreds of officials.
Excluding salaries, palace expenses, court and local government expenses, and all other necessary expenses, there will be only 5 million guan at most to pay military salaries."
Qin Hui said from the side: "If we don't consider an army of 300,000, but instead consider an army of 200,000, to build an elite army, wouldn't it be enough?"
Zhang Jun shook his head, "Twenty thousand people are not enough. There is a gap of millions of dollars in salary alone. We also need to support the army with food, vegetables, meat, and build soldiers and armor. There is also a gap of millions of dollars. In other words,
, if we support an army of 200,000 people, there will be a gap of two million guan every year. The previous 10 million guan can only fill the gap for five years at most, not to mention I heard that only about half is left."
"Is there any way to increase revenue and reduce expenditure?" Zhao Gou asked.
Zhao Gou no longer has the extravagant hope of an army of 300,000. He will be satisfied if he can maintain an army of 200,000.
"I remember before that I could conduct overseas trade and make a lot of profits!"
Xu Xiantu shook his head, "Originally, the imperial court was considering making money from overseas trade, but the imperial court had no ships. The last time the navy was organized, the civilian sea-going ships were basically all used up. Coupled with the issuance of Jiaozi, major maritime merchants went bankrupt.
Flee, your majesty, and think no more about overseas trade.”
Zhao Gou looked a little ugly, waved his hands and said: "Then let's not talk about overseas trade, think of other ways, or half of the military salary should be paid with land. Isn't that what the Western Army does?"
"Your Majesty, the imperial court has no extra land. In the past, it was considering the land on Jianghuai and Jiangnan West Road, but now" Xu Xiantu looked at the emperor helplessly.
Zhao Gou was annoyed. He thought for a while and asked Qin Hui again: "Last time, Qin Xiangguo mentioned the money exchange method, which can greatly increase the finances. Can you explain it more specifically?"
Qin Hui gritted his teeth and said: "This was actually proposed by the officials of the Third Division. There are two ways. One is to cast large coins, which can be used as ten coins or five coins. The other way is to cast iron coins, which are equivalent to copper coins!
"
Zhang Jun and Xu Xiantu looked at each other, with shock in their eyes. Isn't this blatant robbery of the people?
Zhang Jun said coldly: "If you use big money and iron money to pay salaries to the army, I'm afraid the army will rebel immediately."
Zhao Gou slammed the table and said angrily: "This won't work, that won't work either, you guys come up with a feasible solution!"
Zhang Jun bowed and said: "Your Majesty, please calm down. I may have an alternative solution."
Zhao Gou held back his anger and said: "You say it, I listen!"
"Your Majesty, the composition of the army is actually diverse, and not all must be supported by the court. I think that for an army of 200,000, it is enough for the court to support 150,000, and the other 50,000 can be used as state troops for local officials.
To allocate 50,000 troops to each state, it will be spread thinly, and the burden on each local government will not be large. When needed, these 50,000 troops can be gathered together and trained for a period of time to become a regular army."
Although Zhao Gou was very reluctant, he had no choice. After all, his finances could no longer support so many troops. He could only support 150,000 troops at most. He thought about it and said: "This method can be considered. I need a specific one."
Plan, Xu Aiqing, I will leave this plan to your Privy Council to draft."
Xu Xiantu bowed and said: "I obey the order!"
"Then let's talk about the negotiations with Chen Qing!"
Zhao Gou said to Zhang Jun: "Zhang Aiqing, you are responsible for the negotiation. It is very simple. I ask him to promise to be a minister of the Song Dynasty forever, and then see what his conditions are. Then we will bargain and see if we can finally reach a solution acceptable to both parties.
.”
The next morning, Zhang Jun found Hu Yun and formally submitted an invitation to negotiate on behalf of the imperial court. The so-called negotiation does not mean that you can talk if you want, but that both parties must be willing. For example, if the imperial court proposes to reduce the vassal status, let Chen Qing
What would Chen Qing do if the army and land were handed over to the imperial court? He would simply ignore it, so this kind of negotiation was meaningless.
Hu Yun looked at the official document with the seal of Zhongshu's family and asked with a smile: "You must not overstep the rules of the monarch and his ministers. You must be a minister of the Song Dynasty and recognize the imperial court as your respecter for a long time. This is a fact. What do you need to talk about?"
Zhang Jun shook his head and said: "King Yong has occupied most of the Song Dynasty, seized finances, and appointed officials. In fact, it is an independent dynasty, and he is only a Song minister in name. Isn't it like this?"
Hu Yun sneered and said: "Since the academician is frank and I respect the facts, I am a minister of the Song Dynasty in name only. What else does the court want? Hand over the army and return the prefectures and counties to the court? How is this possible? King Yong
His Highness has not established his own dynasty and continues to recognize the emperor, which is already the most benevolent and righteous thing. I hope the court can recognize the reality and not do things that make people laugh."
Zhang Jun said quickly: "Special Envoy Hu may have misunderstood me!"
"Grand Master, please speak, I am all ears."
"We are not asking King Yong to be a minister of the Song Dynasty in reality. We also know that this is unrealistic. Even if he is a minister of the Song Dynasty in name, it is fine, but we need a commitment from King Yong to be a minister of the Song Dynasty for a long time and cannot be independent."
"I will always be a minister of the Song Dynasty, and I will not wear a yellow robe. Is this what you mean?"
"That's exactly what I mean. The Emperor hopes that the two sides can talk. If King Yong has reasonable requests, we can also consider them."
Hu Yun nodded and said: "This is not something I can decide. I must ask His Highness King Yong for instructions!"
"Of course I have to ask His Highness King Yong for instructions!"
"Okay! I will send an urgent pigeon letter to Jingzhao today."