Chapter 956 Mistake
Whether we look at the past dynasties or the dynasties later, Governor Feng can believe that finance is the lifeblood of every political power.
With money and food in hand, no matter whether it is a natural disaster or a man-made disaster, as long as the overall governance level of the ruling class is above the average, the country can basically maintain the general stability.
Unless you encounter Sima Jin's level of brain-deadness, there is really no way.
If there is no money or food in hand, any person in power with a certain will will find ways to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. In many cases, this approach is called reform, or reform.
If it succeeds, at least it can give the country a new life, and if it is awesome, it can even make the country reborn from the ashes.
Failed... There are many examples in history.
Now Governor Feng heard Qin Bo say that Wu's treasury was not rich, but he only believed half of it.
If it was really just "lack of wealth", would Sun Quan cast a large spring for fifty?
Every year, Xinghan sells more than a tiny bit of goods to Wu.
So Governor Feng knew very well that the school office also had another power in the state of Wu, which was to set up monopoly barriers to collect taxes.
To put it bluntly, they are the white gloves used by Sun Quan to make money.
With the political system of Wu State, it was impossible to reduce expenditures.
Otherwise, should you cut off the imperial army controlled by the royal family, or cut off all levels of officials?
If you cut off the imperial army, what can you do to suppress the military leaders of the hereditary tribes below? What should we use to attack Wei State in the north?
Cut down some officials to save money?
Jiyan has used her own life to prove the attitude of the powerful people in the family.
Again, whether it is Wei or Wu, as long as Cao Rui and Sun Quan do not have the courage to overthrow the family politics, the final result will point to the highest form of this political system:
There are no poor families in the upper class, and there are no noble families in the lower class.
This process of change will inevitably intensify the contradiction between the imperial power and the aristocratic families, leading to internal strife and even civil strife until the aristocratic families completely overwhelm the imperial power and control the entire country.
Coupled with the fact that there are still strong enemies pressing down on the territory, it is basically impossible for Sun Quan to reduce expenditure.
So we can only find a way to open source it.
The problems encountered in open source are the same as the biggest obstacle encountered in reducing expenditure: the family.
Aristocratic families control a large number of people and land, making them the best tax collection targets.
The question is, do you dare?
Even if you dare, how are you going to accept it?
Wei State has a solid foundation and can still hold on for a while.
But Wu State did not have such a foundation, and its internal conflicts could not be resolved, so it had no choice but to move outward.
But well, the name of Sun Shiwan, the great emperor of Wu State, is not for nothing.
I don’t have the ability to deflect conflicts outwards, and I don’t have the courage to completely overturn the situation with the family, so I have to turn inward.
According to the original historical trajectory, Wu State should soon issue "Daquan Five Hundred", followed by "Daquan equivalent to one thousand", and even "Daquan two thousand" and "Daquan five thousand".
It can fly up!
It's different now. A good man like Feng Dai comes from the sky and is willing to fly with Wu Guoyi. Where can I find such good things?
Finding new sources of finance alleviated the problem of tight treasury, and by the way, the money and food supplies of the Jingzhou Army were returned to the central government.
No matter how you look at these two things, they are things that can only be accomplished by capable ministers who are loyal to state affairs.
Qin Bo of course considers himself a loyal minister. Now that he has received Feng Junhou's promise, he feels that he might be able to become a capable minister beside His Majesty.
Just like Sang Hongyang.
The school affairs office will only be responsible to His Majesty and His Majesty alone. Qin Bo understands his position very well.
As for what kind of bad reputation others give to the school affairs office, does it matter?
However, what Feng Governor did not expect was that for the first time in history, his decision to speed up the control of Jingzhou's food supply was fiercely opposed by Zhang Xiaoniang, Liangzhou's chief political think tank.
“The primary goal of Liangzhou now is to prepare for the Battle of Guanzhong. It is a safe move for the Zhang family to carry out the plan of cannibalizing Jingzhou’s food supply step by step.”
"Alang's sudden change of mind will not only cause problems with the food supply in Shu, but may even alert the state of Wu. At that time, several years of work will be ruined. How will Alang deal with himself?"
Miss Zhang was secretly touched on the couch by Governor Feng at night. When she learned about this, her tenderness turned into anger on the spot:
"Since the great plan of the husband's country has been agreed upon, how can it be easily changed based on a momentary thought? Even if it is to be changed, everyone must be summoned for discussion. How can it be changed based on a momentary thought of one person?"
In recent years, if Governor Feng had any difficulties, he would always turn to Zhang Xiaosi and ask him.
This time I made an independent decision and was scolded by Zhang Xiaosi again, I did feel a little bit embarrassed.
“Anyway, isn’t it all about controlling Jingzhou’s food supply? Faster or slower, there’s actually not that big of a difference…”
Zhang Xiaosi saw that this man still looked nonchalant, and immediately wanted to punch him:
"What do you know! I said that preparing for the battle in Guanzhong is the most important thing! But do you know when the prime minister will march into Guanzhong?"
Concerning this issue, Governor Feng had thought about it countless times.
However, it is impossible to determine such major events related to the fate of the country unless Feng Jishi personally returns to Hanzhong and then has an in-depth conversation with the Han Dynasty Prime Minister in secret.
After all, as a feudal official, Feng's status as governor is already very sensitive.
With a large number of troops in command outside, if you can still know the top secrets within the court at any time, your hands will be stretched a bit.
At least not while the Prime Minister is still here.
So I can only wait for the Prime Minister to tell me on his own initiative.
But so far, the Prime Minister has not received any definite news about this.
Even the Emperor of Han Dynasty had no clue about this matter.
Feng Jishi can only rely on guesswork.
According to the Liangzhou General Staff’s military deduction and Zhang Xiaosi’s political deduction, the highest probability is the year after tomorrow and the year after tomorrow.
“That’s just a possibility, what if it’s next year?” Zhang Xiaosi finally couldn’t help but kicked Feng Jishi, “It’s not like you don’t know what the prime minister’s health is like!”
"The past two years have been the most critical moment. Are you so blind that you suddenly want to cause more trouble?"
Zhang Xiaosi kicked him, but still couldn't understand his hatred, and slapped Feng Jishishi on the shoulder again, "How much food and grass should be prepared in advance for the battle of Guanzhong? You, the commander-in-chief of the three armies, really don't know what to do?"
“When the time comes, Shuzhong will have to support Jingzhou and the Northern Expedition army. Are you sure there won’t be any problems?”
Being asked a series of questions by Zhang Xiaosi, Governor Feng was actually a little nervous in his heart.
"Isn't it possible? After all, the grain output in Shuzhong has been increasing year by year in recent years. I am not worried about what if I suppress those who grow grain too hard and they really stop growing grain..."
"You fart!" Zhang Xiaosi cursed without hesitation, "You are sophistry! If they don't grow food, what can they grow? As long as Xinghan will control the silkworm breeding for a day and give them a huge ability, what else can they do? Change grain into mulberry?"
“Besides, doesn’t the imperial court guarantee a minimum price for food every year? As long as this policy exists, I really don’t believe they have the guts to fight to the death!”
"That's enough!" Governor Feng's face turned red after being scolded. "If I hadn't offered advice to the country, it would still be a question whether the Han Dynasty's treasury could afford this minimum price of food..."
Zhang Xiaosi laughed angrily on the spot:
"So Feng Gong can think that there are no heroes in the Wu Kingdom and no one can see through Guan Zhong's skills? Lu Xun still has Sun Quan's Emperor's Seal in his hand, and Feng Gong actually dares to plot against Lu Xun with a mere unknown school."
“Are you looking down on Lu Xun, or is this official of the Wu State School the same as Feng Gong back then, an extraordinary person?”
“If you are really a great person, but you secretly discuss with Feng Gong to bring down the pillars of your family, and you don’t know that you have been betrayed, isn’t it ridiculous?”
The young lady of the Zhang family grabbed a gun and a stick and said "Smart words to seducing Mr. Feng" to the point of embarrassment:
“You know nothing! Little people are often the key to changing history, do you understand?”
“I don’t understand!” The young lady of the Zhang family gritted her teeth and said bitterly, “You understand everything, okay? Then if anything happens in the future, don’t come looking for me again!”
As he spoke, he stretched out his foot and kicked Feng Jishi.
Because of his thick skin and thick flesh, he was not injured even when he was injured, and he didn’t even feel much pain on his body.
Just this action completely **** off Governor Feng.
He stood up suddenly and cursed:
"Are you crazy? You kicked me so hard? Just tell me if you don't want to sleep with me, scolding and kicking me. What do you mean?"
After finishing speaking, he muttered a few more curses, such as "give up the dispute" and "discuss together", and turned around and walked out.
After walking a few steps, I felt something was wrong again, so I turned around and came back, rolled up the clothes I had taken off earlier, put them on randomly, and then left angrily.
It took a long time before Zhang Xiaosi's curse came from the room behind him: "Feng Wenhe, you bastard!"
Then there was a "clang" sound, and I don't know what was thrown.
Governor Feng was too lazy to argue with her. He wandered around the backyard of the Governor's Mansion for a long time and then moved to the main courtyard.
“Your Majesty, my wife has gone to bed.”
The guard on duty reminded him.
Looking at the room where the lights were turned off, Governor Feng turned back angrily and turned away.
Don't dare to disturb the main room, Xiaosi will definitely not be able to go back, but it doesn't matter.
Feng Jishi didn’t have many others, but the number of his wives and concubines was enough.
All the way to Li Mu's yard, Li Mu had already fallen asleep.
However, a concubine has no human rights. When she heard her husband coming, Li Mu ran out in her pajamas to greet her.
“Why did Alang come here so late?”
As for the daughter of an aristocratic family, Li Xiaosan's voice was soft and soft, with a softness that he didn't usually have.
Feng Jishi threw himself directly onto the couch:
“I don’t have a place to sleep tonight, so I’ll just squeeze in at your place. Do you mind?”
Hearing this, Li Mu smiled happily and said:
"That's a good relationship. If Alang has no place to sleep every night, I will be happy to death."
As she spoke, she came up to help Feng Jishi take off his clothes.
Feng Jishi lay on the couch like a dead pig. He only moved when Li Mu reminded him to turn over so that she could take off her clothes.
"This is strange. Who dressed Alang like this? He just let it be messy and unkempt, but why did he tie it up in a tight knot?"
Li Mu took a long time to untie his clothes, so he had to lower his head and get closer to observe carefully, and then asked curiously.
Feng Jishi did not answer.
Then he suddenly asked:
“How is the situation at Liangzhou Workshop going?”
"It's pretty good. Didn't I just mention it to Alang two days ago? Come on, stretch your arms."
Finally taking off Governor Feng's clothes, Li Mu asked, "Do you want Alang to wear pajamas?"
“No need, I feel comfortable sleeping.” Governor Feng didn’t want to move.
"Oh." Li Mu understood, then took a blanket and wrapped himself and Feng Governor in it.
It’s not time to burn the kang yet, but it’s already getting a little chilly at night, so a blanket is a must.
“Is Alang encountering something troublesome?”
Li Mu huddled in Feng Yong’s arms and asked quietly.
Feng Jishi still did not answer this question:
“Is it possible to take out a batch of woolen materials next year and sell them exclusively to the Wu people?”
"Wu people specialize in it?" Li Mu was slightly surprised, "Isn't this a lot of quantity?"
Monopoly is not retail, it represents stable channels and large-volume supply.
"It must be a lot." Feng Jishi nodded, put his arms around Li Mu, and rubbed his tender shoulders with his big hands.
"I'm afraid it's a bit difficult." Li Mu said hesitantly, "After all, next year's plan is to meet the needs of each family in Liangzhou first. Soochow will have to wait at least the year after next."
Which family can be called a wealthy family in Liangzhou but has no connections?
Whether selling it to the Hu tribes inside Liangzhou, going to the Western Regions, or even the Hu people outside the Great Wall, or the Wei State in the east, as long as the Liangzhou Governor is willing to open their doors, they will have a way to escape.
Liangzhou Workshop has just begun to take shape, and at most it can serve as an appetizer for the wealthy Liangzhou family.
Feng Jishi suddenly wanted to divert part of the money to Wu. No wonder Li Mu would feel embarrassed.
“Is there really no way?”
Governor Feng sighed and asked.
“I just said it’s a bit difficult. If Alang really wants this batch of wool, I’ll just think of a way when I get there.”
A concubine who cannot help her own Alang solve his problems is not a qualified concubine of the Feng family.
Li Mu’s dark eyes flashed:
"As long as Alang is willing, it's not a big deal to sell a few workshop quotas in Gassai, right? What I mean is that this quota may not be sold for a few years. It's not a bad thing to sell a few more while it's valuable now."
"Alang has to think of a way to get more female workers for my concubine. Otherwise, if we have a workshop but no weavers, we are afraid that people will call us liars."
Training Hu women to be weavers and Hu men to be handymen, Mrs. Mu has already summarized a complete set of procedures over the years.
This time it was Governor Feng’s turn to hesitate:
“Isn’t this... not good? Don’t let those people who have already bought the workshop place try to poke my spine...”
At the beginning, the wealthy Liangzhou family was willing to fully support Feng Jishi. One of the tacit agreements reached between the two parties was to ensure their interests in entering the textile industry.
And when a wealthy family pays for food, it is a deposit paid in advance.
Feng Langjun’s brand, it’s better not to smash it, as it will have many uses in the future.
Li Mu chuckled lightly:
“I said I wanted to sell the quota, but I didn’t mean to sell it to others. We can sell it to them first. Who doesn’t want to open more workshops? They really don’t want it. If we sell it to others, they can’t say anything, right?”
“Actually, from my point of view, the most important things in Liangzhou Workshop are the issues of wool and workers. As long as these two issues can be solved, the rest will not be a big deal.”
“Alang can safely leave all the remaining issues to my concubine.”
Think of the "sheep cannibalism" movement in later generations, which was actually to expand the supply of wool and at the same time force farmers into free labor.
Feng Jishishi felt that he, this concubine, was really sharp in seeing the problem.
It's just that wool is easy to get, but at worst, it can be sold in more places in the border areas, and by the way, it can also strengthen the development of the border areas.
You can even try to sell the land on the grassland outside Guan Fortress. After all, isn’t there still a city barrier?
It doesn’t matter even if the price is low.
It’s just a little too shameless…
As for this free labor force...
“Well, it seems that next year we will have to let Liu Hun and Yang Wanwan lead the army to look further north.”
Governor Feng murmured to himself thoughtfully, "Just going east is not enough..."
The business of the labor company is still not developed enough!
Feng Jishi was reflecting, but Li Mu couldn't help but groaned softly, bringing him back to reality.
Feeling the tenderness he had grasped in his hands at some point, Governor Feng became very angry:
“Go and call Amei from the next yard. I’m going to have a good fight tonight!”
(End of this chapter)