Chapter 196 Jun Wu Xiyan
The next day, Zhao Xing did not hear the news that King Yan was arrested, but Han Zhang came.
Zhao Xing met Han Zhang in the main hall of the palace.
"Meet His Highness the Crown Prince!" Han Zhang saluted.
"Teacher, no need to be polite." Zhao Xing smiled and waved his hand, asking someone to sit down for Han Zhang.
In addition to being the Grand Prime Minister, Han Zhang was also the Prince's Young Master.
In name, he is Zhao Xing’s teacher.
“Yesterday, my father told Gu that the cities on the northern border have been in disrepair for many years and need to be repaired. But now the treasury is empty and there is no money to come out. What the teacher means is to let Gu take out the money, right? ?" Zhao Xing said.
Han Zhang was stunned when he heard this. He told the officials that half of the seats were vacant. He didn't expect that the officials would be so evil and wanted Zhao Xing to come out.
But of course he couldn't say it at this time, so he could only nod and say: "Yes, the northern border city is related to the security of the border and must be repaired. As the crown prince, your highness has money and should relieve the country's worries. .”
"I don't agree with what the teacher said. As the saying goes, take from the people and use it for the people. It is appropriate for the national treasury to be used for state affairs. Gu is rich, but it is Gu's private property. There are too many rich people in the world. "Why didn't the teacher let them donate generously?"
"Chen..."
Han Zhang was interrupted by Zhao Xing just as he was about to say something.
"I know, the teacher wants to say that I am the crown prince. But public and private matters must be distinguished. Don't say that I am the crown prince. Even if I become the emperor in the future, will I be able to use the money from the treasury at will? If so, , Gu is willing to hand over his money and business to the court," Zhao Xing said.
Although the ancient emperors were in control of the world, they could not do whatever they wanted.
Even the emperor made a distinction between public and private affairs. The expenses of the emperor and his concubines did not come from the treasury, but from the income of the imperial palace.
If the emperor wants to build a palace or something, if the inner government pays for it, he can build it directly without the consent of the ministers.
But if the cost is too high and the government cannot support it, if you want to use the money from the treasury, you need to get the approval of officials.
Why were there so many treacherous ministers when ancient emperors were fatuous?
It is not just the emperor who is fatuous, but the treacherous ministers who will coax the emperor.
The most important thing is that when these people are in power, the emperor can do whatever he wants.
The emperor wants to use the money from the treasury for enjoyment, and the virtuous ministers will definitely not agree, and the treacherous ministers will not care about it.
In order to please the emperor, he would even provide him with attention and make money.
When some wise kings were in power, when the court was short of money, they would even save money and give money to the court from the inner government.
Like his father.
But this kind of thing is natural in the eyes of civil and military officials. After all, the world belongs to your Zhao family.
Zhao Xing did not feel that this method was wrong, but he felt a little unhappy that civil and military officials took this phenomenon for granted.
It makes no sense that the emperor lived a tight life and had to save money for the court, but these officials lived a luxurious life.
In addition to his father's status, his daily personal living expenses may not be as large as those of these third-rank and above officials.
“But as the crown prince, His Highness should not compete with the people for profit.” Han Zhang said.
"Do you agree with what the teacher said?" Zhao Xing shook his head and said: "How many ordinary people are doing business in the world? The court has regulations that officials are not allowed to do business, but many families of officials in the DPRK have relatives who are in business. Do you want people to do business? , why not pay taxes to the court in accordance with the regulations?
The taxes paid to the court in these years are more than one million taels.
Gu let people make money in business and pay taxes in accordance with the regulations, and the rest is Money is Gu's private property. "
"Your Highness is right, but if the border city is not repaired, how can it be defended if the Liao Kingdom raises troops? When the time comes, the people in the north will be devastated. Is Your Highness willing to see it? "Han Zhang said.
"Gu naturally doesn't want to see it." Zhao Xing said: "As a prince, the court is in trouble, so we can't turn a blind eye. Teacher Gu He said this, and he is not unwilling to contribute."
Han Zhang felt relieved when he heard this. He suddenly understood why the officials didn't say that the vacancy was only half.
It seems that the officials understand the prince's temperament and their purpose is to achieve success.
But as long as Zhao Xing is willing to pay.
"Gu is willing to help, but how to help needs to be explained carefully."
Zhao Xing paused and said: "Gu has thought of a charter, teacher, let's see if it is feasible."
"Your Highness, please speak." Han Zhang said. "The imperial court provided five hundred thousand taels of silver, and Gu arranged for people to repair all the cities on the northern border." Zhao Xing said.
Yesterday, he saw the Zhazi and made a plan in his mind. The northern border city must be repaired. Not only must it be repaired, but it must also be reinforced and raised.
In the future, no matter whether there is civil strife in the Liao Kingdom or not, it is impossible for the Liao Kingdom to allow the Song Dynasty to annex Xixia.
In the battle between Song and Xia that year, although the Song Dynasty was defeated, Xixia's national power was not as good as that of the Song Dynasty. If the war continued, even if Xixia could not be destroyed, it would not lose the city or land.
But it was because the Liao Kingdom was at the border with Chen Bing at the critical moment, forcing the Song Dynasty to negotiate peace with Xixia.
If Zhao Xing were to use troops against Xixia, he would not give up because of the Chen Bing of Liao. The north would definitely have to defend Liao by then.
But the money he gave to the court could only be used to repair the city, and there was no need to think about heightening and strengthening it.
After all, with this small amount of money, coupled with layers of corruption, not much will be used to actually repair the city.
But now cement has been fired. Using cement sand and gravel to repair the city is not only low-cost, but also very strong.
In fact, it’s just some labor costs.
"Your Highness means that the court will give the money to His Highness, and His Highness will arrange someone to be responsible for the repairs?" Han Zhang said a little uncertainly.
"That's right." Zhao Xing nodded.
"Your Highness, this is no joke." Han Zhang frowned.
In his opinion, there is no difference between Zhao Xingxiu and Chaoting Xiu.
Five hundred thousand taels will definitely not be enough, Zhao Xing will definitely have to pay for it.
In this case, why does Zhao Xing still take on this troublesome matter?
After much thought, there is only one purpose - to cut corners.
Only in this way can you save money.
Although Zhao Xing didn't know what Han Zhang was thinking, he could guess a rough idea and said, "Teacher, don't worry, the court only needs to give Gu half a million taels of silver, and Gu promises to repair the border city and work on it." The Ministry can send people to check, and if it is not strong, I will order someone to rebuild it, and I will not need to recruit corvettes.”
"Not recruiting corvees?" Han Zhang frowned upon hearing this.
The budget of more than two million taels is actually just the cost of materials and the cost of food and drink for the corvee.
Labor charges are not included.
Because people need to serve a certain period of corvee every year.
To put it simply, it means working for the court for free.
But if corvee labor had not been recruited, the budget would have been at least several hundred thousand to one million taels larger.
Even if Zhao Xing cuts corners, the cost will not be much lower than the original budget.
And Zhao Xing also said that the Ministry of Industry can inspect it, and if it fails, it can be rebuilt.
He really didn’t understand what Zhao Xing’s intention was.
"That's right." Zhao Xing nodded.
The reason why he wanted to talk to Han Zhang was not only to not let Han Zhang continue to worry about the money in his hand, but also to get the right to repair the city.
Only in this way can we do what he wants.
The reason why corvee labor was not drafted was because labor was cheap in ancient times.
Recruiting corvees can only recruit people from the north. The north is already poor and it doesn't cost much, so Zhao Xing doesn't want to trouble the people.
Han Zhang was silent for a long time, looked at Zhao Xing, and said seriously: "Your Highness, you have no words to say!"
He was reminding Zhao Xing that this matter was no joke.
(End of this chapter)