Cao Jing's meaning is very simple, that is, there is no money. This year, Li Jing's army is fighting everywhere, from south to north, from east to west, there are big battles everywhere, the army of the Tang Dynasty is vertical and horizontal, majestic, but the same is that the money and food consumed every day is an astronomical amount, and now Wang Mu is still thinking about strengthening the defense of the nine borders, and even sending heavy troops, where can the imperial court support it.

"Your Majesty, the nine sides are very important, in the past, our army had an absolute advantage in the grassland, so we did not send heavy troops on the nine sides, and now General Xiao Wei is about to be defeated, and the nine sides will be harassed by the Jin people at any time, and the minister believes that the defense of the nine sides should be strengthened." Zhu Wu said. Wang Mu felt a burst of pride in his heart when he heard this, and glanced at Cao Jing.

"The nine-sided town is very important, once the Jin people cross the Great Wall, North China will become his hunting ground, and our governance of North China for so many years will come to naught." Li Jing stood up, looked at the map on the wall, his face was gloomy, although the huge North China was blocked by the Great Wall, but the troops were insufficient, loopholes would be formed everywhere, allowing the Jin people to enter and exit at will. This made Li Jing very angry, but there was nothing he could do about it.

"In that case, then raise taxes." Li Fu sighed: "Speaking of which, since Your Majesty ascended the throne, taxes have always been light, and now it's time to raise taxes. ”

Tax increase is the most common practice in this era, once the court has no money, use the situation of tax increase, earn money for the court, tide over the difficulties, although the tax increase will affect the world's perception of the court, but this is the simplest and most direct way.

"The people have been poisoned by Zhao and Song for a long time, and they finally have a peaceful life, if the tax is raised, I am afraid it will make the people of the world disgusted." Li Jing quickly shook his head, the tax hike sounds very fair, in fact, in the end, it will still extract money from those ordinary people, the unlucky people are still the people, as for those rich people are still very rich, the key problem is that Li Jing is the founder of the country, everything is regular, and it is used as an example for those who come after. Taxes are increased at every turn, and it is conceivable that the emperors of the future will follow behind.

"The minister's incompetence has embarrassed His Majesty." Cao Jing's face changed, and he hurriedly said. Li Jing is rich in the world, and the money of the imperial court is ugly, it is Li Jing's own money, and now when it is Li Jing's turn to use the money, Cao Jing, the head of the household, actually said that he has no money, isn't this a sign of incompetence?

"It's none of your business, no one knew something like this was going to happen." Li Jing took two steps back and forth and said, "This dynasty's taxes this year have reached 200 million silver coins, Mr. Cao, if the imperial court uses the taxes of the treasury as a guarantee, how about issuing war bonds?" ”

"Your Majesty, how do you interpret this war bond?" Zhao Ding couldn't help but ask.

"It is the imperial court that issues a kind of note to the wealthy people, and those rich people buy these instructions, and then within the specified time, the court not only pays these debts, but also pays a certain amount of interest." Li Jing said with a smile: "To put it more thoroughly, the imperial court borrows money from rich people, and then pays a certain amount of interest while returning the principal. What is the interest rate of private borrowing now? It's not going to be nine out of thirteen! ”

A strong smile suddenly appeared on everyone's faces, it is also a normal thing to return to nine, and some people among the people are bankrupt by this borrowed money, of course, no one dares to use one to borrow money from the court.

"The minister thinks that it can be higher than the money stored in the money bank in the same period, who dares to use nine out of thirteen?" Cao Jing's eyes lit up, and he said: "Your Majesty's move is sage, so that you can not only get a lot of money, but also ensure the credibility of the imperial court, and the most important thing is that you don't have to take money from the common people, I believe that those rich people will definitely buy this kind of bond." ”

"This is also a national debt, how much is issued each time, there must be a fixed number, and the court can't pay it back then, that's a big joke, there is borrowing and repaying, and it is not difficult to borrow again. If someone is fooled once, will anyone buy this bond in the future? Li Jing advised: "The bond is very important, you must be careful, I think this is a solemn matter, related to the safety of the country, put the seal of the political hall on it!" ”

"Obey." Zhao Ding frowned, he didn't like this kind of war bond very much, but Li Jing had already made a decision, and the imperial court really had no money, so Zhao Ding would reluctantly agree to this matter, but still asked: "I don't know how many bonds Your Majesty is going to issue in the early stage?" If war breaks out, I am afraid that the cost of money is also very staggering. ”

"How much more can the imperial court pay each year? Now that Jiangnan has been recovered, I think it will increase a lot every year! Li Jing looked at Cao Jing.

"If you go back to Your Majesty, you should be able to increase 30 million taels of silver by this time next year." Cao Jing hurriedly said: "It's just that Your Majesty is preparing to implement mulberry reform in Jiangnan, and the minister is worried that he will lose some." ”

"It is not an easy thing to change mulberry to agriculture, and it is impossible to let those people in the south of the Yangtze River plant mulberry trees, which is also a subtle process, just issue war bonds with 30 million taels of silver, and the issuance time can be longer, and it can be paid off in two years, or three years." Li Jing said indifferently: "You just calculated the increase in the annual tax of the imperial court, not the imperial court still has an income, Lin Chong and Gao Chong have passed through the Western Regions, plundered a lot of gold and jewelry, and there will be a lot of money, which I believe can fill these debts." Master Cao can rest assured now! ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Cao Jing took a deep breath and said, "The minister is stupid, forgetting that the favorite thing of many kingdoms in the Western Regions is to collect gold and other things, and when they are shipped to China, the minister believes that these debts can be filled." ”

"In that case, then it is decided. The problem of money is solved, and all that remains is the problem of soldiers and horses. Li Jing pointed to the Great Wall in front of him and said: "The nine sides are actually from Shanhaiguan in the east, to Jiayuguan in the west, Shanhaiguan, Yanjing, Xuanfu, Yunzhou, Taiyuan, Xiping, Fengshengzhou, Ganzhou, Xiazhou Jiuchu Fortress, the military aircraft department and the military department should strengthen the defense of the nine sides in the shortest possible time, compared with the west, the eastern border pass is the most important, after all, we still have Gao Pet, Lin Chong soldiers and horses, enough to deter the west." The mobilization of troops and horses in the east must be accelerated, and I see that the matter of moving the capital is also imminent, Bianjing is located in the plain, and there is no danger to defend around, but it has dragged most of the soldiers and horses, if the capital is moved to Yanjing, the Gyeonggi army is enough to fill a gap. ”

"Your Majesty, the ministers think that this is a matter of moving the capital and can be prepared, after all, the relocation of the capital is a major event, and the palace of Yanjing and the residences of the ministers have also been prepared, just waiting for a holy decree from Your Majesty." Zhao Ding also responded. More than a year of preparation is enough for the relocation of the capital to proceed in an orderly manner.