Thousands of miles of rivers and mountains are vast, who can say that the outstanding party is brilliant! The general's name is on the border, but where do you know how to wear the armor?

These unknown craftsmen are the most solid backing for the invincible and invincible Jingzhou army. It is precisely because of their sweat and blood and tears that there are constantly improved weapons and battle armor, there are countless powerful siege equipment in Jingzhou, there are advanced labor tools, and there is a steady stream of materials.

Although Wang Xu learned that Jingzhou was empty of money, he still couldn't refuse the demands of these craftsmen, and made up his mind to give them an explanation no matter what. Zheng Hun and the others were grateful, and soon left happily with the representatives of the craftsmen, in fact, they didn't want much at the moment!

Returning to the General's Palace, Wang Xu immediately summoned the main ministers to gather in the conference hall to discuss the fiscal deficit that Jingzhou was currently facing.

Sitting on that high and handsome position, Wang Xu's brows furrowed tightly, and his gentle gaze swept over the faces of each subordinate, and after a long time, he sighed: "It is Gao Yi for the princes to take out their family wealth to support the operation of Jingzhou, here, Xu thanked you first!" ”

"Why did the lord say this? Our winners are very important, and we should do our best to repay the service! Guo Jia spoke immediately, showing the popularity of the literati.

Wei Cao Peng Xi Zhen, one of the six major families in Jingzhou in the past, the son of the Xi family, at this moment also looked firmly and said aloud: "The lord is the lord of the world, and his virtue is all over the world, and he is the best choice to help the world. ”

Immediately afterwards, Jingzhou's ministers also spoke one after another, expressing their willingness to donate their wealth to help Jingzhou survive this difficulty!

Wang Xu looked at the persistent and determined familiar faces. I was very moved. It's also very emotional. I have a deep understanding of the word "righteousness".

Quietly waiting for everyone to finish speaking impassionedly, Wang Xu took a deep breath and said with a calm smile: "Princes, you and others have contributed to the society and the people, and you deserve all the wealth and respect, and the righteousness of the princes will be remembered by me and the entire Jingzhou rule." can rely on your high wind and brightness for so long. It is not a long-term solution, but more importantly, it is more important to try to break through the current difficulties and ease the financial pressure on Jingzhou. ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone nodded again and again, after all, it is not a way to hold on like this, and it is impossible to really solve the problem.

"The lord is very good at what he said!" As a practitioner, he was the first to speak.

"Hmm!" Wang Xu smiled, didn't say more, and turned his attention to the new bookkeeper Cao engaged in Chen Deng. "Yuanlong, what is the current fiscal deficit in Jingzhou?"

"Deficit?" Chen Deng was puzzled.

Wang Xu reacted instantly. Only then did he remember that there was a deficit at this time, and immediately explained: "Oh! And I mean the part of the budget that can't make ends meet. In the future, you can also record this part of the accounts in red, so that the accounts can be more easily distinguished, and the state of loss can be called the fiscal deficit. ”

"What the lord said is wonderful!" Chen Deng's eyes lit up, but he didn't talk about it anymore, and reported it to himself. "My lord, if you talk about this fiscal deficit, Jingzhou is currently losing a total of 980 million yuan, and it is still growing at a relatively fast rate."

"If you count the private money donated by the princes and the generals in the army, then only 620 million yuan will be lost, and this money can barely be taken out as long as the civil and military people work hard to make it up, but now the operation of Jingzhou continues to consume, and I am afraid it will not last long in the long run."

"So much?" Wang Xu frowned, this is much more strict than he imagined, the economy of this era is not like that of later generations, the economic system is developed, there are many turnover circulation channels, today's productivity is insufficient, the market is not developed, so once there is a deficit in the natural economic system, it will be very difficult to make up for it.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Xu asked with a little worry: "Yuanlong, if the current tax revenue in Jingzhou is coupled with the ability of the government-run profit-making organization, how long will it take to calm this deficit?" ”

"Three and a half years!" Chen Deng did not hesitate, and immediately continued: "If Jingzhou's previous development plan is still followed, then logically speaking, the fiscal deficit should be reversed in about three and a half years, but during this period, a large number of arrears will inevitably be owed to sergeants and officials at all levels, and the completion of various government decrees and goals will be delayed for more than two to five years!" Even the expansion and replenishment of the originally planned army could not be completed in a short period of time. ”

When the problem came out like this, Wang Xu suddenly felt a headache.

The expansion and replenishment of the armed forces must not be slowed down in the slightest, and in this troubled era, strength is the last word, otherwise everything is empty talk. As for the development of other affairs, it is also imperative, because in this era, the south is congenitally much worse than the north, and if you want to chase the Central Plains and enter Hebei in the future, if you don't take advantage of the precious time to accumulate the foundation, then you will have the heart and be powerless.

The most obvious manifestation is that Nanyang County and Zhangling County are barely in the north, but the income of the two counties is more than that of the four counties of Jingnan, plus the sum of Yuzhang County.

This is also the reason why the Central Plains, north of the Yellow River and other large areas are in full swing, but there is always spare strength, the population of the north in this era, is dozens or hundreds of times the total population of the south, both economic and technological, it is difficult for the south to beat.

A big reason why the south came to the top was that during the Three Kingdoms and the Jin Dynasty, there were constant wars in the north, which led a large number of people to move south, bringing with them advanced technology and a large number of people.

Now, if you want to have enough strength to compete with the powerful in the north in the future, or even crush it, then there can be no moment of slowing down in development, and when the overall situation in the north is decided, it is still a fart, people can easily get a million people by dispatching a large army, but it is difficult in the south.

Historically, Liu Bei led an army of 700,000 to attack Wu, but was burned by Lu Xun, and Zhuge Liang and others worked hard for many years to burn it to the ground.

Zhuge Liang's seven Northern Expeditions, regardless of whether his strategy is right or not, but the overstretched force is definitely a problem, if it weren't for Zhuge Liang, as well as the personal ability of Jiang Wei and other famous ministers in Shu, he would have been bulldozed by Cao Wei, how could there be anything to do with the Sima family!

But what about the North? Far more people died than in the South. The princes scuffle. to the Battle of Guandu. and then to the War of Northern Unification, and then to the Battle of Chibi, how many people died, but later, Cao Wei was still able to organize troops far beyond the sum of Wu and Shu. When did you go south in history, didn't you go 100,000 or hundreds of thousands? And what about the South? 100,000 is a lot!

This is the foundation, this is Soochow. There is also the helplessness of countless capable ministers and strategists in Shu.

Even if you defeat me a hundred times, I only need to win once, and you will never recover. This is one of the reasons why Cao Cao Chibi was defeated, and Dongwu didn't dare to let go of a fart, and he didn't dare to take advantage of the situation to invade Yu and Xu Erzhou, but instead competed with his allies for Jingbei as a strategic reserve!

Guarding the river must guard the Huai River, the famous ministers and generals of Eastern Wu may not be able to see clearly, and taking the north and south of the Huai River will have a broad strategic depth and foundation. Who wouldn't? But they don't dare, and they don't have that strength yet. Sun Quan led 100,000 troops to conquer Hefei, but was broken by Zhang Liao, who was in Xiaoyaojin, and did not dare to go north for many years? It's all because of Zhang Liao's personal strength? It's not entirely, it's not easy for him to organize some troops!

Nima, a Zhang Liao has tossed him so much that his chickens and dogs jump, what can he do? Cao Cao was also tossed by Zhou Yu, but it didn't take long for the army of millions of people to shout and drink there again, what was the arrogance? Sun Quan and Liu Bei are both tears with nowhere to wipe, no one to complain about their suffering, and they are aggrieved......

Wang Xu doesn't want to be like that, now that time is getting less and less, Jingzhou's development must not only not slow down, but also speed up, which is the key to strength. Thinking of the grievances of Liu Bei, Sun Quan and others in history, Wang Xu shuddered fiercely, shook his head and said: "No matter what, the development of Jingzhou cannot be stagnant for a moment, and the pace must be accelerated!" ”

"Quicken?" Chen Deng was dumbfounded, and the ministers were also shocked by Wang Xu's words.

"Not bad!" Wang Xu nodded affirmatively, took a deep breath and said: "No matter what, first ensure that the construction speed of the army is not reduced, and then try to ensure the development as much as possible, money!" We found a way from somewhere else. ”

As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Xu Shu beside him: "Madam, how profitable are your department stores all over Jingzhou?" ”

"Hey!" Xu Shu sighed, shook her head helplessly, and said: "Excluding the cost of the workshop, 70% of the net profit is donated to the government treasury on a regular basis, and the remaining 20% is used for expansion and construction, and the remaining 10% is used to maintain the livelihood of the general's mansion and the royal compound, and there is nothing that can be done." ”

Hearing this, Wang Xu was even more anxious, his brows were furrowed, he thought about it, and suddenly gritted his teeth and asked, "Who of you knows, where are the bandits under Jingzhou's rule at present?" General Ben led his troops to fight the autumn wind, and if he didn't believe it, he couldn't get some money to save the emergency. ”

"This ......" The ministers looked at each other, not knowing how to answer.

After a long time, Guo Jiacai replied with a wry smile: "Lord, except for Hanzhong Xinding under the rule of Jingzhou, there are many bandits, and other places have long been singing and dancing, and they have been wiped out, where are the bandits!" ”

"How can there be no bandits? Check it again! Wang Xu was already distressed.

As soon as these words came out, all the ministers in the hall were happy, and Guo Jia couldn't help but laugh and said: "Lord, don't check, it's really not!" ”

Wang Xu's face was full of bitterness, he sighed, and joked self-deprecatingly: "It seems that it is not a good thing to govern too well, and I don't even know who to rob at a critical time!" ”

After speaking, before everyone laughed, he was already looking back at Wang Kai who was sitting on the lower left. "Big brother, later you draft a letter, urgently ordering Hanzhong Taishou Wei Yan to wave the army to suppress the bandits, all the seizures shall not be distributed, all will be confiscated, and escorted back to the General's Mansion!" Also, let him give me a hard blow to the landlords and squires or families who had secretly supported Zhang Lu, confiscate the nine-layer property, but not kill people, and order the soldiers Cao officials, the younger brother of Wei Cao Peng Xi Zhen, and Xi Chengye to rush to Hanzhong to supervise this matter! ”

"No!" Wang Kai smiled and responded.

Wang Xu nodded, looked at everyone again, and said sternly: "Go back, you should also think of a way to solve my financial crisis in Jingzhou, and disperse first today!" ”

"No!"

The meeting dispersed, everyone left one after another, and Wang Xu also returned to the backyard with a gloomy face.

Zhao Yu was watering the flowers and plants with Diao Chan and Cai Yan in the yard, and when he saw him coming back, he immediately rushed over and said happily: "Brother Xu, why did you come back so soon, didn't you say to go to the doctor?" ”

"I'm not going!" Wang Xu said coldly.

"Huh?" Zhao Yu looked at Wang Xu's face suspiciously, and said strangely: "What's wrong?" Brother Xu is in a bad mood? ”

Xu Shu smiled slightly, and said softly: "Yu'er, don't ask, let him be quiet!" ”

Wang Xu was not in the mood to care so much at the moment, so he walked into the small study alone and closed the door with a "bang"!

Diao Chan, Cai Yan and Zhao Yu looked at each other, and they didn't know what was going on, so they had to ask Xu Shu. Xu Shu didn't hide it, and told them about the emptiness of Jingzhou's property, and the girls also looked worried, and they didn't know what to do!

For two or three days in a row, Wang Xu's face was not good-looking, he never thought of a solution to the financial crisis, and wandered around the barracks and Xiangyang in distress, looking for a feasible solution.

Xu Shu and the others couldn't do anything, so they could only do it in a hurry.

That afternoon, Wang Xu returned from the outside with a gloomy face, Xu Shu looked at his face and couldn't help but comfort: "Husband, don't be too anxious, there will always be a way." ”

"Hey! It's hard. Wang Xu shook his head and said with emotion: "The operation of Jingzhou can be supported for a while for the time being, but I haven't gotten the money for the opening of the craftsman Cao's family until now." Since I have promised, I must carry it out, and besides, the craftsmen have paid too much, they are worthy of me, and I can't be sorry for them. ”

After speaking, Wang Xu sighed slightly, didn't say anything more, and walked into the study alone......

Xu Shu didn't bother, shook her head, and was busy helping Zhao Yu and Diao Chan cook again. Most of the meals eaten on weekdays are cooked by a few women, although there are many servants and maids in the backyard of the General's Mansion, but except for Xiao Min and other five close maids, the rest of them can't interfere at all, they do this in the hope that Wang Xu can eat the food they cook forever!

"Boss, sister-in-law! Are you there? ”

Suddenly, the calm main courtyard of the General's Mansion was broken by a rapid shout, and it was Zhou Zhi's voice, and only he would be like this, without the soldiers guarding the arch of the main courtyard, he yelled directly.

After a while, Xu Shu had already hurriedly walked to the arch of the main courtyard, and when she saw that it was Zhou Zhi and Zhang Jing together, she couldn't help but laugh and scolded: "Why are you here?" Rubbing rice again? Now our general's mansion is also poor, so I'll go to your place to eat another day! ”

"That's really unbelievable, there are many people eating lively!" Zhang Jing immediately smiled and answered.

Zhou Zhi didn't joke, but asked, "By the way, the boss is not there?" ”

"In, studying the art of making money in the study, I have a stiff face all day long!" Xu Shu said with a smile.

"Oh! Then we're looking for the boss! Zhou Zhi said.

Xu Shu nodded, gestured slightly to the guards, and said lazily: "Then you can find him yourself, I still have to cook!" ”

Zhou Zhile: "Haha, tonight I can taste my sister-in-law's craftsmanship again, happiness!" ”

"I didn't leave you to eat!" Xu Shu rolled her eyes, was too lazy to say, and went straight to cooking.

At this time, Zhou Zhicai and Zhang Jing glanced at each other and said with a smile: "Let's go!" Go to the boss, I think his hair is going to be gray! (To be continued......)