While Liu Cong was recuperating from his injury, he had a rare family time. Time passed quickly, and Liu Cong's injury gradually improved.
"My lord, according to statistics from the Ministry of Household Affairs, the population of Jing, Gui, Jiang, and the three states totals 2.42 million. Including the barbarian women captured by the lord, the total is 2.63 million. In addition, there are more than 40,000 slaves!"
Ma Liang, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, reported to Liu Cong. After nearly half a year of hard work, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue finally calculated the approximate population of the three states.
Liu Cong nodded with satisfaction, "Yes, the Ministry of Household Affairs has done a very good job. Such a population must be the result of the aristocratic families and powerful people hiding, right?"
Ma Liang continued to report, "My lord is wise. If my lord hadn't reformed the uniforms, the tenants would never have been able to escape. Jingchu would not have such a large population, and no one would cultivate those wastelands!"
"Nowadays, everyone has land and pays taxes directly to the government. To a large extent, it eliminates the possibility of powerful families becoming bigger!"
In fact, population statistics only measure a rough number. I had known that even in modern times with advanced technology, population statistics would be a difficult job.
Even in later generations, the number of people is just a general estimate. You must know that people die every day and new lives are born every day. Therefore, no matter which country or government it is, there is no way to achieve this.
Provide reasonable and accurate population statistics.
Even so, Liu Cong was already very satisfied. Jingchu was able to have a population of more than 2.6 million thanks to Liu Biao's nearly twenty years of rest and recuperation.
When Cao Cao went south, he was blocked to the north of the Han River. Jingchu did not suffer too much war. He captured Xunyang County with a population of more than 100,000, and captured more than 200,000 barbarian women.
These will become part of Jingchu's strength in the future! Those who contribute to Liu Cong's struggle for world supremacy will always be the common people!
"Lord, there are powerful families in various places, and rebellions continue. Our army has sent troops many times to quell the rebellions. So far, there have been thirty-five rebellions!" Pang Tong was not only the Secretary of the Central Committee, but also the Minister of the Ministry of War!
"However, no rebellion can really threaten the lord's rule. Since last month, peace has been restored in various places, and local security has gradually become stable."
"Everything I do is for the common people. Perhaps the implementation of policies will indeed harm the interests of a small number of people, but for the vast majority of ordinary people, I will insist on doing this!"
Can Liu Cong understand the rebellion of the aristocratic family? You have robbed the family of dozens or even hundreds of years of foundation and destroyed the family's foundation, but you still don't allow the family to resist?
But as he said, by attacking the few and making life better for the many, the foundation of his rule will never be shaken.
As long as the people can have a good life and not be oppressed by powerful families, the people of Jingchu will be grateful for his kindness!
"Lord, although the police department is trying its best to stabilize public security in various places, it is seriously short of manpower. There are retired veterans in various places." Police Director Xiang Lang reported again.
Liu Cong didn't understand what happened to retired veterans. "Aren't retired veterans just the right people to supplement the staff of the police department?"
Deputy Director Wen Ji answered this question for Liu Cong, "Lord, most of the retired veterans are missing arms and legs. If not for this, they would not have retired!"
Xiang Lang continued, "Lord, if the veteran does other jobs, the impact will not be too great. But in the police station, it is really, really..."
Xiang Lang was embarrassed to say what he said later, but even so, it made Pang Tong unhappy. "What Director Xiang means is that retired veterans are not worthy of this profession, right?"
"Zhongshu Ling's words are wrong. What I mean is that the retired veterans are disabled and can no longer do such dangerous work. They should have better jobs."
"Hmph, don't you dislike the veterans and their lack of arms and legs?" The job in the police station is a relatively decent job for soldiers who can no longer stay in the army.
As Pang Tong was the Secretary of the Central Committee and the Minister of the Ministry of War, he would naturally fight for such a good job for the soldiers.
Wen Ji is a warrior, but he is not as reserved as Xiang Lang. "Zhongshu Ling, retired veterans can't even hold a knife tightly. How can we punish criminals? How can we fight against evil? How can we protect ourselves?"
"This?" Faced with Wen Ji's three consecutive questions, even a wise man like Pang Tong couldn't answer.
Concepts such as criminals and evil were proposed by Liu Cong. The police department has indeed played a certain role in stabilizing public security in various places.
"Okay, you don't need to say anything more. What Xiang Lang and Wen Ji said is reasonable. I have decided that retired veterans who are not physically qualified will be removed from the police station and arranged for other jobs."
"As for the serious shortage of manpower in the police station, Guxiang conducts examinations from various places, mainly to examine character and physical fitness. If there are outstanding candidates, they can be admitted to the police station. What do you think?"
"My lord is wise!" No matter what others think, Xiang Lang and Wen Ji no longer want to have disabled people under their command.
Even if you are a veteran, you are missing arms and legs. If you go out on patrol, people will just laugh and ridicule you, and you will not even have any respect for the police.
If such people continue to be in the police station, it will only undermine the dignity of the police station!
"My lord, the number of the army is already less than 200,000. I believe that if we want to conquer Jiangdong, we must resist Cao's thieves. The number of the army cannot be less than 200,000."
Pang Tong took out a bamboo slip from his sleeve and said, "This is my new plan for recruiting soldiers and horses. Please read it, my lord."
Xing Daorong quickly took it and handed it to Liu Cong. After browsing for a while, Liu Cong was a little surprised and said, "Two hundred and fifty thousand troops?"
Pang Tong's plan was to recruit 250,000 soldiers and horses! You must know that in this era, all the princes were farmers, and all the people could be used as soldiers.
After Liu Cong was reborn, he could use Jingchu's wealth to turn soldiers into pure soldiers! Even so, Liu Cong felt the pressure on Jingchu's finances brought by an army of 200,000!
Now, Pang Tong actually wants to recruit an army of 250,000!
Pang Tong cupped his hands and said, "My lord, Jiangdong and Jingchu can never coexist! I believe that if Jiangdong is to be destroyed, the number of troops must not be less than 150,000. To resist Cao's thieves, the number of troops must not be less than 100,000!"
"Lord, if Jingchu's finances support an army of 250,000 men for a long time, they will definitely be unable to make ends meet!" The speaker was Ma Liang, the Minister of Revenue.
"My lord, you have used troops many times, and your investment in the army is unmatched by other princes. You also invest in the research of the scientific research institute. The families of soldiers either do not pay taxes, or they pay half tax."
"It's only been more than half a year this year. Jingchu's expenses this year have already reached 400,000 yuan, and the tax revenue will never exceed 400,000 yuan. There is no way the finances can withstand such expenses that cannot make ends meet every year, Lord!"
"Zhongshu Ling said it nicely. How will we support an army of 250,000 people? We will recruit as many people as possible. How is Jingchu's finances? Does Zhongshu Ling know anything about it?"