After rowing away one-third of the annual financial revenue, Zhuge Jing returned to his seat satisfied. And the next big money-eater, Sun Gangke, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, was full of bitterness.

After completing a new round of vigorous household tax clearance, the population controlled by the Jihan government has never reached 10 million. However, this population is still not enough compared with the population of more than 30 million during the heyday of the Han Dynasty (this refers to the population controlled by the government, and the total population of the whole country during the heyday of the Han Dynasty was not less than 50 million).

The population is limited, and no matter how hard the travelers try to develop commerce, the tax will still be limited.

Now, the Ministry of Household estimates that this year's fiscal revenue will eventually be about 13.5 billion yuan, which is much higher than the annual income of the state during the period of Emperor Xuan of the Western Han Dynasty of 11.5 billion: the household registration controlled by the state during the period of Emperor Xuan was close to 30 million.

(How did you spend 11.5 billion during the Xuan Emperor period?) The royal family is 2 billion, and the bureaucrats and soldiers at all levels of civil and military affairs are 2 billion in total. The rest is temporary spending. ）

Therefore, before taking Soochow, this income was almost the limit.

Of these 13.5 billion miles, 2.5 billion were given to the Ministry of War. In addition, the salary and office expenses of the civil service system are fixed at 2 billion. On the side of the royal family, due to Liu Bei's relatively few sons, Ji Han has only been established for more than 50 years, and the reproduction of children and grandchildren is also very limited. Liu Chen in the palace is also very economical, and the number of eunuchs and palace maids is very small. In addition, Liu Chen still has dividends in the Fuxing Society. So don't give too much: a billion a year.

However, although the Emperor Taishang is rolling in the direction of death, he spends more and more money every year. But even if Liu Chan hangs up, this money is saved. However, the reproduction of the descendants of the Liu family will also lead to more and more expenditures for the royal family.

Now Guan Yi has a mouth: 30% of the annual financial revenue is given to the Ministry of Rites. That's more than four billion gone!

In this way, this 13.5 billion pie is only 3.95 billion left.

Of course, it is impossible to give all this money to the Ministry of Industry, and the state must have some reserve funds every year, right? After all, this world is not peaceful, and natural and man-made disasters are not uncommon. Not to mention that the country still has to save some money to prepare for the southern expedition in two or three years.

But the work of the Ministry of Industry is also very heavy.

"Brother......" After smiling bitterly, Sun Gang stood up: "On the Ministry of Industry, if you want to complete the relevant work according to the brother's 30-year paving plan, every year, at least 3 billion, it really can't be less." ”

"Dinglie, this won't work." It was Mi Zhao who stood up and spoke: "The state has to leave some money for other things." For example, after earthquakes, floods, droughts, etc., the country always needs to provide disaster relief, right? ”

Hey, a few years ago, during the Eastern Crusade, I was still saying that I didn't have to live a frugal life of counting money and food to fight. Why is there not enough money now? Ah, yes, it's me who is too demanding, and I actually want to popularize Mongolian education, and I actually want to pave cement pavement all over the country. Moreover, the strength of the adjudication, procuratorial and propaganda organs has been strengthened. It is also necessary to completely redress the army...... These things are really beyond the capacity of this era.

"Dinglie, that's what my brother thinks. Well, how about giving you 1.5 billion a year? ”

"Uh, brother, if that's the case. The little brother only saved money on paving the road. According to the planning of the Ministry of Industry, the width of the current cement official road is one zhang seven (four meters), and the thickness is one foot three (30 cm). If the country is really in difficulty, it will not be able to provide sufficient funds. The little brother only narrowed the width of the road surface to one zhang and two, and the thickness to one foot. ”

Large vehicles in ancient times, with the length of the wheels, generally exceeded two meters. With a road width of four meters, it is a bit difficult to make a mistake. If it is narrowed to less than 3 meters......

It is foreseeable that as more and more domestic families put their capital and manpower into business. In the future, there will definitely be frequent vehicles on official roads, and there will be more and more trucks. So at the beginning, Guan Yi's plan was to directly pave the official road to four meters, which was to ensure that at least two-way progress would not even be staggered.

"That's it, Dinglie. When paving, the cement pavement is still paved according to your new standard. However, there must be enough space on the roadside, and it is strictly forbidden for vendors from all walks of life to build all kinds of houses close to the road. In this way, when the country's finances improve, we will be able to re-expand the road. As for the thickness of the roadbed, this can't be reduced. ”

"But brother, in this case, the money is still not enough."

"If it wasn't enough, the 30-year plan was changed to 50 years. Well, you first make every effort to build the official road here in Yongliang. In the future, after we take Soochow, the sea trade will definitely prosper. At that time, if the northwest side does not want to decline, it can only rely on the speed of logistics to compete with the large number of goods carried by sea trade. Therefore, the official road in the northwest must be extended from Chang'an to the Green Mountains within three to five years, otherwise the northwest will decay due to the decline of the trade route. At that time, our control over the Western Regions will quickly weaken, and all kinds of rebellions in Liangzhou will definitely rise one after another. Well, speaking of which, the temporary slowdown in the construction of official roads in Kanto and Yizhou will still have an obvious protective effect on the northwest. ”

“…… The younger brother understands, so be it. The Ministry of Industry's paving plan first guarantees the northwest. ”

……

The meeting was dismissed, and after all the officials of the Prime Minister's Office and the Grand Sima Mansion left, behind the screen, two teenagers, Guan Fu and Guan Hui, walked out.

The joint meeting of the two governments is the highest meeting to decide on a country's major policies. Participating in such a meeting, even if it is an observant, can quickly increase one's political experience. Therefore, Guan Yi used a little privilege here, and let his two sons listen behind the screen every time. This is kind of preparation for raising your own next generation.

After reviewing the content of the meeting just now again and teaching his two sons earnestly, Guan Yi sighed: "Tannuer, Annuer, your studies in Longshouyuan Academy may have to be terminated early. ”

"Father, is there anything important that we need to do?"

"Well, yesterday I discussed state affairs with Your Majesty in the palace for my father, and I only felt that Your Majesty was becoming more and more assertive and powerful. Ha, Your Majesty has been in charge of the country for a long time, and there are such changes, which is a matter of course. But as a father, we must also make some plans for the future of our family. ”

"Is Your Majesty going to take back the power from your father?"

"There is no such thing, but sooner or later this power will have to be returned to Your Majesty. But until then, we must be invincible. After all, the heavenly family is ruthless, and the father can't pin the lives of our family on the emperor's benevolence. ”

“…… Please show me how we should do it. ”

"My father had already sent Xiaoqi, Datou and other generals to Dongmu County in Donglai County, Qingzhou last year. A large coastal harbor and several nearby hills were bought there. Xiao Qi wrote some time ago that now the shipyard in Dongmu has been built, and all kinds of timber have been put in place, so that ships can be built in large quantities. ”

"What does my father mean that my family will eventually have to go overseas?"

"And what do you want?"

"Father's credit to this country has long been unrecompensable by the emperor, why? Belch...... Father, forgive me, although my father has told us many times about the harm that usurpation has done to the country, to the nation, and to our family. But the child is still ........"

"Hahahaha~~ It's not just that you are reluctant. This country is becoming prosperous little by little in the hands of the father, and the father is reluctant to give him to others like this! As a father, I also want to take this step and become a generation of saints who reign over the world! However, people have to be self-disciplined after all. This can be done by the prime minister, by the general, and by the father! ”

"Father! …… Well, please tell the father what the children should do. ”

"My father has already agreed with your third grandfather, and all the generals, tenant farmers, and house slaves of our Guan family will all be transferred to Dongmu. There is no need to hide this transfer process, and His Majesty will only feel at ease when he sees it...... After you went to Dongmou, you first familiarized yourself with the local hydrology, recruited local fishermen, and trained our private soldiers in accordance with the current military law of the Han Dynasty. Then when the wind direction and tides are very favorable, they will cross to the east of the country! ”

"Wa Guo? Father, is that the future fiefdom of my Guan family? Isn't it a little too small? ”

"It's just a springboard, and our future is to cross the Pacific Ocean to find the descendants of Yin Shang in the Americas!"

"The Pacific? Americas? ”

"It's time to tell you some of the most secret things, come with the Father. Haven't you always wanted to go into that small independent building in the house? ”