Chapter 381 Yuanlong raises funds
This is not because Liu Biao has no self-awareness, but because Liu Bei has expanded too quickly. In just two years, his territory has expanded from one and a half counties to two and a half states, and his military strength has also expanded from more than 40,000 to more than 100,000.
Anyone with insight will suspect that Liu Beijun is too vain and that his foundation is unstable.
In addition, Liu Bei always maintained a low profile in front of Jingzhou, which allowed Liu Biao to earn a lot of benefits, allowing Jingzhou to continue selling grain to Xuzhou.
At present, Liu Biao's Jingzhou is also a large vassal town with more than 100,000 troops. The Huang family in Jiangxia alone has more than 20,000 troops, more than half of which are naval forces, and they have upstream advantages over the downstream.
Food is the courage of the army. Without food, even a million strong soldiers are just a mob. What's more, the five counties of Huaisi under Liu Bei's rule are experiencing a severe drought that has not been seen in decades.
In a broad sense, the Huaisi region includes Jiujiang and Lujiang in Yangzhou, Guangling in Xuzhou, Runan and Peiguo in Yuzhou.
Among these six counties, only Guangling was less affected by the drought. The other five counties were all affected by the drought. The most serious ones, Jiujiang and Lujiang, were completely destroyed.
Such a large area can almost cover a whole state.
Judging from Liu Biao's experience, without more than a million dan of food for disaster relief, at least half of the victims would have to starve to death.
In this case, how could Liu Bei still have the strength to raise troops?
Liu Biao felt that he could cut off Liu Bei's food supply at any time, so he had the idea of scorning Liu Bei. After all, when a person feels that the life and death of the other party is in his hands, it is difficult to maintain a peaceful mind.
Liu Feng's words made Liu Bei fall into deep thought, and his heart was even more moved.
To be fair, when he only had most of Xiapi and half of Donghai two years ago, he had 40,000 troops. Now that the territory has increased more than ten times, 100,000 is indeed too few.
In particular, Liu Feng sent Liu Bei a detailed intelligence report at the beginning of the year, which roughly listed the military strength data of various warlords.
The total military strength of Grand Sima Yuan Shao was as high as 350,000, Liu Biao had 120,000, and Cao Cao also had 80,000.
In this comparison, two hundred thousand does not seem to be a big number.
Liu Bei showed emotion on his face and asked Liu Feng: "If the army is suddenly doubled, can food, ordnance, armor, uniforms and other supplies still be able to keep up?"
"Keeping up!"
After discovering that his father's attitude had relaxed, Liu Feng naturally couldn't lose his temper: "My father doesn't know something. This year's tax will at least double what it was last year, and it will increase by another 30% next year!"
"Is this true!?"
Even though Liu Bei was very deep in the city, he was a little shocked and lost his temper.
Fortunately, this is not the first time that Liu Bei has lost his temper in front of his eldest son. He has become accustomed to it many times.
Liu Bei took Liu Feng's hand, with uncontrollable joy on his face.
For more than half a year, Liu Bei only saw money flowing like water. Massive amounts of food, clothing, tools, and money were spent and turned into waterwheels, canals, and water storage lakes in the fields.
If it weren't for the previous savings and Liu Feng's generous subsidies, as well as the newly invested workshops that began to increase their production capacity, even if they had money, they might not be able to buy so many tools and equipment.
There are three main reasons why the project is progressing so quickly. The first is that the cutting materials are rigorous and the material support is sufficient. All hoes, shovels, and rollers are made of the best materials, either iron tools or old wooden piles. Either it is large bluestone, the material is extremely solid.
Especially for tools such as hoes and shovels, the production efficiency has been greatly improved after the use of hydraulic forging and module production. With sufficient raw materials, the daily output can reach more than 400 pieces.
Without this output, there is really no way to replenish it.
You must know that the daily consumption of front-line projects is also quite astonishing, with as many as one or two hundred pieces lost every day.
The second reason is naturally the blessing of our ancestors. The general structure of the Shaopi Water Conservancy Project is still there. It mainly involves dredging silt, deepening trenches, and adding branch channels and drainage. There is no need to carry out the most difficult projects such as mountain excavation.
The last reason is the abundant human resources, which not only mobilized the local people in Huaisi, but also sent nearly 100,000 young people, which naturally had the effect of getting twice the result with half the effort.
However, despite this, the current water conservancy project has only completed the main body, and there is still a lot of room for expansion. But Liu Feng felt that there was no need to continue to expand for the time being, and could leave it to the future. Otherwise, it will really become a wedding dress for others.
"Father, Xuzhou's annual income last year was 150 million yuan. This was the result of my father reducing some of the excessive taxes and miscellaneous taxes. This year's estimated income is 180 million to 200 million yuan."
Liu Feng started to calculate the accounts for Liu Bei with his fingers: "Yangzhou has initially decided that although there is a small amount of savings, it needs to reward the entire army. Therefore, there will be no taxes this year, but next year there will be at least 200 million guaranteed."
Liu Bei's eyes lit up. The two counties in Jiangbei will definitely be exempted from taxes this year. Since they want to show kindness, they should do it thoroughly. Liu Bei plans to exempt Jiujiang and Lujiang from all taxes.
Therefore, after the drought in Huaisi becomes less severe next year, taxes will definitely be collected as usual.
"In the end, Yuzhou is estimated to have an income of about 200 million yuan."
Liu Bei apparently already had four counties: Runan, Pei, Lu, and Liang. He also had influence on Chen, so most of Yuzhou was already under his rule.
Yuzhou is a large state, extremely fertile, with abundant products, a large population, and developed commerce and trade.
Even without the taxes from Yingchuan and Chen, they can still easily pay more than 200 million yuan in taxes.
As a result, the income of Liu Bei's Husband's Palace next year should be more than 600 million yuan.
Although this number may not be large, it is net income after excluding all government expenditures.
And as Liu Bei Group's territory becomes larger and larger, Liu Feng's business is now in full swing. He can earn a guaranteed income of 300 million yuan this year, and it is more likely to exceed 400 million yuan next year.
There are only three reasons. One is that the territory is larger, and the tax revenue from Liu Feng's business is cheaper in his own pot. Secondly, Liu Feng developed new key products - sesame oil and iron tools. Especially iron tools, which are good things and can greatly improve farmers' work efficiency.
Another is that under the rule, caravans traveling for business have become safer and there are more trade routes.
Nowadays, the fleets heading south can reach Cochin directly. They not only bring unique commodities such as frost sugar, snow salt, sesame oil, iron tools, etc. to Cochin, but they can also bring back pearls, ivory, spices, cotton and many other precious specialties of Cochin. .
The first fleet has already sailed south, and Liu Feng specifically asked to get back the rice and cotton seeds from Champa.
Liu Bei was also greatly tempted when he learned that his family was so rich.
His previous hesitation was not because he didn't want to expand his army, but because he was frightened by Liu Feng's doubling of his army.
Liu Bei was worried that his fragile finances would completely collapse due to this round of military expansion. If a mutiny broke out, it would be no joke. For the first half of his life, Liu Bei had no fixed place and no foundation, so he could only depend on others.
But he insisted on being fair and chivalrous in his dealings, and treated his subordinates equally with kindness and power. Even so, he almost caused mutiny on several occasions. Especially when they first took over Xuzhou, although Cao Bao, Xu Dan and others had no real objections, Liu Bei was really having a hard time during that time, and he didn't get a good night's sleep for half a year.
Therefore, Liu Bei just wanted to persuade Liu Feng not to be impatient, but first try to expand the army by 10,000 or 20,000, and then gradually increase the number of troops.
But now I heard that after the autumn harvest in the second half of the year, there will be 300-400 million yuan in revenue, and next year there will be 600 million yuan, and I am suddenly more confident.
"Okay, then expand the army!"
Liu Bei immediately made the decision. Now Liu Bei and Liu Feng have the final say over the entire Liu family, and the issue of army expansion has been decided.
But even if it was finalized, Liu Bei decided to convene the ministers to discuss it.
He and Liu Feng can act arbitrarily in matters, but for such a big event, they cannot exclude their confidants. Otherwise, how can they lead the team and unite people's hearts?
Six days later, Liu Bei gathered all his confidants.
Even Guan Yu from Hefei was called over. If Zhang Feiyuan hadn't been in Xuzhou and was in charge of Tancheng, he would have attended the meeting.
As soon as the meeting began, Liu Bei made the proposal to expand the army public.
Double the army.
As soon as these four words came out, everyone in the hall was shocked.
Chen Yuanlong always strives to be the first, Guan Yunchang is as bold as fighting, Xun Gongda is calm and composed, Lu Zijing is deeply attached to Xiao Shangyi, and Liu Ziyang is as respectful as flattery, they were all shocked by this proposal.
After a while, Liu Feng coughed and broke the silence: "Why are uncle and gentlemen silent?"
After hearing Liu Feng's words, everyone in the audience seemed to wake up.
Guan Yu's Danfeng eyes flashed with fire. As a general, he would not want to have as many troops as possible. It's okay if he doesn't have enough ability, but Guan Yu now thinks that there is no problem in leading thirty to fifty thousand soldiers.
However, the total number of troops under Liu Bei's command was just over 100,000, and Liu Feng came from behind. Both in terms of military merit and status, he was above Guan Yu. Moreover, Liu Feng was officially appointed by the imperial court. Although Guan Yu was selfish, he was convinced of his nephew Liu Feng.
In this way, the number of troops that can fall under Guan Yu's command will only be more than ten thousand in most cases.
Unless he is fighting for Liu Bei, it is difficult to have the opportunity to lead several armies.
In the military system of the Han Dynasty, a school was composed of a battalion with 2,000 men, but a school captain could even supervise several battalions.
The two schools form one army, led by generals such as Zhonglang General, Pi General, and Piian General.
During most of the Eastern Han Dynasty, a Zhonglang general was often qualified to serve as the supreme commander, commanding several armies and tens of thousands of soldiers.
With the military rank of General Guan Yu Zhendong, it is more than enough to serve as the commander-in-chief of a party. What is lacking is opportunity and troops.
If Liu Bei's army can be successfully doubled, its strength may reach 200,000 to 250,000.
Then Guan Yu is very likely to be responsible for one direction, and his subordinates can command at least 30,000 troops.
It's just that although Guan Yu is proud, his public spirit is very strong.
Even though the expansion of the army was beneficial to him, Guan Yu did not blindly support the expansion. Instead, he persuaded him: "Brother, if you rashly expand the army by 100,000, I am afraid that the state government will not be able to support it. If something goes wrong in the future, the harm will be very serious."< br>
Liu Bei listened to Guan Yu's advice and nodded repeatedly: "What Chang Yun said is true, but now my brother has three states under his rule. He has gained the trust of the court and entrusted the military affairs of the three states in the southeast. Now that Yangzhou is under the new rule, his The mountains and jungles in the territory are rampant, and Yuzhou and Xuzhou are both places of the Four Wars. The one hundred thousand people are not enough to support them, and they are increasingly stretched. "
What Liu Bei said was indeed true. After careful consideration by everyone in the hall, they found that it was exactly what Liu Bei said. Especially since everyone is Liu Bei's confidant. In today's world of great strife, how can we be willing to spit out the meat we eat?
Now that Yangzhou has been taken, it is natural to bring it under the rule. Otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste of advantage to the court or other princes?
Chen Deng suddenly spoke, but it was Liu Feng who asked: "Young Master is stationed in Yangzhou, Deng is brave enough to ask you how many troops and horses you need?"
Liu Feng frowned slightly, then quickly relaxed it. He couldn't figure out what Chen Deng was saying for a while, so he kept it secret: "If it's just to appease, 30,000 soldiers will be enough."
Chen Deng then asked: "What if it wasn't Zhenfu?"
Liu Feng immediately replied: "If we want to clear out Shanyue and Jingman, sweep the mountains, and stabilize the people, we will need a hundred thousand people to achieve success in one or two years."
The conversation between Chen Deng and Liu Feng naturally fell into the ears of others.
Xun You nodded slowly and said: "Yangzhou, Yuzhang and Kuaiji have many hills and mountains, and the territory is vast. Among them, there are probably millions of people in Shanyue and Jingman. Among them, there are two or three hundred thousand young and capable soldiers." That’s right. What the young master said about a hundred thousand people is not false.”
Liu Bei looked over and said, "Oh, does Gongda also agree with military expansion?"
Xun You did not evade this time, but answered bluntly: "If the general's palace has sufficient financial resources, now is indeed a good opportunity to expand the army."
Lu Su woke up from Xun You's words and looked sideways at Liu Ye.
Liu Ye happened to be looking at him at this time, and the two looked at each other and smiled at the same time.
However, neither of them was in a hurry to speak, because they knew that Chen Deng would definitely speak first.
Sure enough, Chen Deng immediately stood up and came out of the queue, bowed to Liu Bei and said: "My lord, in view of Deng, we should follow the strategy of expanding the army! If the Husband's mansion has enough financial resources, then it would be the best. If the financial resources are insufficient, Deng is willing to return." Xuzhou raises military funds for the general! ”
As soon as Chen Deng finished speaking, Lu Su and Liu Ye both laughed. The two looked at each other again and prostrated together: "Brother Yuanlong's words are also what we feel. If the Husband's Mansion does not have enough financial resources, we will Willing to raise funds for the general!”
Liu Bei was very moved and quickly stood up to help Chen Deng up.
Liu Feng also stood up specially and went to help Lu Su and Liu Ye up.
"This is a state matter. How can I get Yuanlong and you to pay for it?"
Liu Bei said words of rejection, but when he looked at Chen Deng, his eyes were extremely soft and close: "I have my own arrangements for this matter, Yuan Long doesn't need to worry."
Chen Deng glanced at Lu Su and Liu Ye, and then said to Liu Bei who was holding his hand in front of him: "My lord, now Xu and Yu have made their decisions. Although the young master is new to Yangzhou, with his ability, he will definitely be able to do it next year." Great governance. Therefore, the number of people in the mansion will increase dramatically next year, and it will be able to support 200,000 people. "
(End of chapter)