Chapter 2333
Borrowing money to pay for a funeral is really not a glorious thing. If the current financial difficulties had not reached the extreme, it would definitely not have reached this point. But for Li Zhi, it was not the most uncomfortable thing for him to borrow the money from Haihan with shame. After borrowing the money, he realized that this was just more than 30 loans that North Korea had borrowed from Haihan in the past two years. First, there are many loans larger than this time, and there are still a lot of arrears ahead that need to be repaid slowly month by month and year by year.
"Master Jin, I remember before I went to Sanya last year, the amount of money we borrowed from Haihan was far less than what it is now. How come we owe so many loans just one year later? What happened in the meantime? What’s the situation?”
After reviewing a bunch of IOUs sent by Hucao Yamen, Li Zhi felt a headache at the moment, so he had to send Jin Shangxian to ask him about the reason and whereabouts of these loans.
Jin Sangxian said: "Your Majesty, in fact, most of the money our country borrowed from Haihan in the past year was invested in the industries in the Datong River Basin that cooperated with Haihan. It is only the current revenue of these industries It’s not ideal yet, and it will take some time to make a profit, so the government’s finances are still a little tight at the moment.”
When Li Zhi went abroad last year, the national treasury was almost at its bottom, and it was almost impossible to even pay for sending students to study abroad. At that time, in order to maintain the operation of various yamen, Li Zhu had to start borrowing large sums of money from Haihan. However, at that time, Li Zhu was relatively optimistic about the direction of the financial situation, because Haihan promised that the cooperation project in the Datong River Basin would bring sustained and considerable benefits to North Korea, and no one would doubt Haihan's ability to make money.
But one year later, Li Zhi, who returned to his hometown, found that the country's financial situation did not seem to have improved significantly, and the loan owed to Haihan had increased a lot. This was obviously not a situation he wanted to see.
Li Xie also knew something about the cooperative industries in the Datong River Basin. He even went on an on-site inspection before going abroad. However, at that time, most of the local areas were still in construction sites and there was not much actual output, so it was difficult for Li Zhen to predict the situation after the local industries were put into operation.
But in Li Zhi's view, since there are Haihan people watching over there, it stands to reason that the construction progress should not be so slow, and he clearly remembers that when he went abroad to inspect the Datong River last year, the production time promised by the Haihan people was much longer. Not so long. Relatively simple production sites like saltworks should have been put into operation last year, and the financial situation should have improved. How could it instead increase the foreign debt?
Li Xie said displeased: "The industries in Datong River, such as salt fields and mines, should have been put into operation last year. How come they are still only going out but not entering, but they continue to increase investment there?"
Jin Sangxian explained: "The salt field mines have indeed been put into production one after another, but Haihan people believe that the scale of production is still not enough, so they have been expanding the site. According to the agreement, our country must also invest corresponding funds in proportion. If it does not follow the investment, Haihan will will occupy more shares in these industries, so in order to ensure future profits, we can only grit our teeth and continue to invest money.”
After hearing this explanation, Li Zhi felt an even greater headache. He originally expected that these cooperative industries could quickly improve the country's financial situation, but he did not expect that he was already burdened with heavy debts before he saw any benefits.
Li Zhi said impatiently: "It was clearly promised to be a cornucopia, but now it has become a bottomless pit! When will there be profits over there? Did the Haihan people give an exact deadline?"
Kim Sang-hyun responded: "As far as I know, the industries in the Datong River Basin should be profitable before the end of this year, and the imperial court's financial situation will be relieved by next year."
Li Xie shook his head and said: "It's still too slow. We owe so much foreign debt and there are still many places that need to spend money. When will the hole be filled? When I was in Sanya, I calculated that just forming a new army would be a problem. , we have to invest 1.8 million taels of silver every year in the first few years, and it seems that it will not be possible in the short term if we rely on the income from the Datong River.”
While Li Zhi was broadening his horizons in Sanya, he was also making plans for the future development of his country. The most reliable way to strengthen a country is, of course, to imitate Haihan's successful experience and adopt a two-pronged economic and military approach to increase national strength as quickly as possible. It began to expand its sphere of influence outwards and gradually became a formidable power.
However, it is not easy to follow Haihan's path. The investment required in the military alone is enough to drag down North Korea's finances. Whether it is arms procurement, training expenditures, or the daily operating costs of maintaining the new military establishment, they far exceed North Korea's past military budget.
Li Zhi believed that to form a new army, the required expenses would have to be provided by the income from industries in the Datong River Basin, but now it seems that this idea is still too optimistic. Under the circumstances of carrying a large amount of debt, even if the Datong River side is The industry began to generate profits, and priority had to be used to repay foreign debts. The funds that could be allocated for military expenditures were extremely limited, which was only a drop in the bucket for the development prospects envisioned by Li Zhen.
He had just read the plan for a new naval fleet submitted by Bingcao Yamen. This was a ten-year long-term plan formulated in accordance with his requirements. This plan required the purchase of a large amount of armaments from Haihan. The cost of purchasing only twenty warships and supporting ship-based artillery from him was nearly one million taels of silver.
And this is only the first phase of the naval formation plan planned by Bingcao Yamen. The goal proposed by Shen Jingzhen is to build a large fleet with one hundred Haihan standard warships in five to eight years, and use this as a Fight against the capital of Japan and the Qing Dynasty, and truly keep the enemy out of the country.
Shen Jingzhen's plan is grand and the goal is far-reaching, and Li Zhen is also excited about it. If this plan can be realized, then perhaps in less than ten years, the North Korean Navy will become one of the most powerful maritime forces in the region. The reason why there is still a little uncertainty about the future is naturally because of the existence of the Haihan Northern Fleet. It is still difficult for Li Xie to compete for the first place.
But the biggest problem is that the sky-high military expenditures required to realize this plan cannot be supported by today's fiscal revenue alone. Let alone five to eight years, according to the current situation, even if it is doubled, it will be difficult to achieve this goal. plan.
Li Zhi's horizons were broadened during his one-year study abroad in Haihan, and he gained more understanding and ideas about the country's objective status quo and development prospects. It is no longer possible to maintain the current situation step by step according to Li Zhi's governing concepts during his reign. Just rule. He wants to make North Korea strong and become a king who makes history. Building a strong armed force is the first step. However, such an ambitious goal is stuck in the first step due to financial problems. This is unacceptable in any case. status.
"Master Jin, the country needs musketeers and armed fleets. These are businesses that are like gold-eating beasts, so we have to find ways to create more income!"
Li Xie expressed his dissatisfaction with the current situation, but with his degree of control over domestic resources, he could not come up with any more effective method. He could only see if Kim Sang-heon could come up with a solution. Kim Sang-hyun said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, since last year, taxes across the country have been increased by 30%. There are already a lot of complaints from the people. If it is increased again, I am afraid it will cause public dissatisfaction and trouble."
During the Anti-Qing War last year, all the combat expenses of the Hai-Han coalition were borne by North Korea. Since the national treasury cannot come up with so much money, of course it can only collect more taxes to fill the hole. However, if tax increases are implemented as a long-term national policy, it will inevitably lead to intensified conflicts between the government and the people. The current domestic situation is inherently unstable. If we continue to increase taxes, there is a possibility that the government will force the people to rebel.
Li Xie pondered: "Since raising taxes won't work, then think of other ways."
Jin Sangxian thought to himself that if there were other cheap ways, then there would be no need to keep borrowing money from Haihan. Before this, Li Zhuo had summoned the heads of various yamen to discuss the matter several times, but he had not figured out any effective means of improvement. At this time, there was no good way to suddenly appear.
"Your Majesty, from the perspective of a humble minister, there is no need to act too hastily... Perhaps Your Majesty can discuss with the Haihan people to see if they can reduce the cost investment on the Datong River so that our country's finances can have a buffer time." Kim Sang-hyun There was nothing I could do at the moment, other than a smooth solution.
Of course, he did not expect Haihan to compromise easily on this issue, but since Li Zhi had a good relationship with the Haihan people, it might be better for Li Zhi to negotiate in person. Even if he is rejected, at least it can make Li Xie realize that this problem cannot be solved by just talking.
Li Zhi thought Jin Sangxian's proposal was good. Since he already knew what was going on, it would be a good idea to have an interview with Tom Wang and Qian Tiandun while the two people in charge were still in Seoul.
Later, Wang Tom was invited to the palace to meet Li Xie. Li Zhi knew that the other party did not like to talk in circles, so he explained his intention to invite him to the palace for a meeting in a concise and concise manner.
After hearing this, Wang Tom smiled and said: "Your Majesty, the situation over the Datong River is actually not as bad as you think. The production levels of the salt fields and mines are steadily improving, and profits are actually there, but the settlement period has not yet arrived. As for the operating investment, the proportion will be gradually reduced in the future. Your Majesty does not have to worry about being unable to get in or out. If you are still worried, we can go to Datong River to see the actual situation when we evacuate Seoul.”
Li Zhi felt a lot relieved after hearing what he said. He smiled and said: "I know that there is no need to worry about your country's ability to run industries. I just heard from ministers that the Datong River has not been profitable, so I still want to I can check the situation with General Wang and explain it to the officials later. As for Datong River, there is no need to go. The situation in Seoul is determined, and it is better for me to stay here."
Wang Tom said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, we also have many places overseas operating industries such as salt farms and mines, and the profitability has always been very good. However, the initial investment is relatively large, and it will take a long time to recover it." cost. But once it enters the profit period, the profits will be considerable, and it can drive the development of related industries. In one or two years, the Datong River Basin will initially form an industrial scale. At that time, Your Majesty can verify whether what I said is Got cashed in. ”
When Li Zhi heard that he would have to wait a year or two to taste the benefits, he frowned and said, "Then I wonder if General Wang has any good ideas that can help our country improve its current financial situation?"
Wang Tom said: "Is your country's finances not functioning properly again? Do you need me to come out and say hello to Haihan Bank and ask them to borrow some more money?"
Li Zhi sighed: "That's not the only reason. I just hope to form a new army as soon as possible and strengthen the military strength, so as to reduce the dependence on the Allies. But whether it is a musketry unit or an armed fleet, the funds required are very large. A large amount, given the current financial situation, may be difficult to achieve in three to five years.”
Wang Tom nodded thoughtfully, thinking that Li Xie had gone to Sanya for a year, and it seemed that he had been greatly affected, and he had vaguely had the idea of militancy. If it were not restricted by objective conditions, I would probably have already started struggling.
Of course, this is not a bad thing for Haihan. The more Li Zhi wants to strengthen his military strength, the more he has to rely on the support provided by Haihan, whether it is weapons and equipment or personnel training. Without Haihan, it is just empty talk. If North Korea's military strength can be strengthened to a certain extent, it will also help alleviate the external pressure faced by Haihan in Northeast Asia. It will also have an additional useful boost if it wants to use troops against the Manchus in the future.
But of course, Wang Tom knew better than Li Xie how much money it would cost to form a new army. The Annan and Fujian Xu families, two loyal supporters, had already invested astronomical amounts of military expenditure in these years. It is precisely by relying on such huge investment of resources that the military strength of these two companies can be rapidly improved, and they are even able to send troops to expedition overseas with Haihan. In terms of the combat effectiveness of the armed fleet alone, they have even surpassed the Ming Dynasty Navy during this period.
North Korea is indeed poor in this regard. In Wang Tom's view, its navy can only serve as a logistics force during wartime and has not reached the level of combat at all. Li Zhi was dissatisfied with the current situation, and it was reasonable to want to form a Haihan-style armed fleet.
However, even if the industries in the Taedong River Basin enter a period of profitability, military expenditures to maintain a large-scale armed fleet will still put great pressure on North Korea. Li Zhi wants to use the profits from industries in the Datong River Basin to support military construction, but it is not easy to achieve it in the short term.
But Wang Tom is not without any ideas. Since Li Xie is so proactive, it seems that he can make a bold suggestion to Li Xie based on the current situation.
(End of chapter)