After the nervous and worried expression on Zhao Yun's face finally disappeared, Wei Zheng also followed closely behind with a long sigh of relief.

At this time, Wei Zheng once again spoke in a surprising voice: "Next, there is the last content of the military reform, the reform of military salaries...... Now that our Haw Par Army has a more precise division of ranks, there is no way to reflect the ranks of the soldiers in the current salary system. In this case, the officers and soldiers will not have the motivation to continue to work hard in the army and be promoted......"

"Therefore, the salaries of the officers and men of the whole army must be reformed......"

"Our current salary is: soldiers of the local garrison, four taels of silver per month. The officers and men of the Haw Par Army Field Army are paid six taels of silver per month. Now that we have a more direct and clear military rank, there is no doubt that the military salary of the soldiers must be linked to the military rank...... According to the rank of the soldiers on their shoulders, the specific salary and silver ......"

"Ben Shuai's idea is that after the reform is completed, the monthly salary of ordinary soldiers is six taels of silver...... The corporal's monthly salary was six taels of silver...... The sergeant's monthly salary was eight taels of silver...... The sergeant's monthly salary was ten taels of silver......"

"As for lieutenant-level officers, the second lieutenant's monthly salary is fifteen taels of silver...... The lieutenant's monthly salary is twenty taels of silver, and the captain's monthly salary is twenty-five taels of silver......"

"For colonel-level officers: the major's monthly salary is thirty-five taels of silver...... The monthly salary of a lieutenant colonel officer was forty-five taels of silver...... The colonel's officer's monthly salary is fifty-five taels of silver......"

"In terms of general-level officers, the monthly salary of a major general is seventy-five taels, and the monthly salary of a lieutenant general is ninety-five taels. Admiral one hundred and fifteen taels...... The marshal's monthly salary was one hundred and thirty-five taels ......."

When Wei Zheng said what he thought in his heart. Zhou Shuyuan and Zhou Lao, who were sitting on the other side, were not idle.

According to Wei Zheng. Calculate as quickly as possible the annual salary required after the completion of the reform of the military system of the Haw Par Army.

Soon, a number was sent to Zhou Shuyuan by Zhou Lao.

In the face of this number, Zhou Shuyuan, who has always been unfazed, showed a trace of solemnity from the heart on his face...... Because, the number in front of me has greatly exceeded my expectations......

After taking a deep breath. Wei Zheng reminded him in front of him: "Marshal, increase the salaries of the soldiers and let them fight on the battlefield without worries, I not only do not object, but also agree very much."

"Because I know that in this troubled era, the army is the foundation of our foothold in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. Therefore, the first thing we need to ensure in our annual tax revenue is the salary and ...... of the soldiers."

"But what I didn't expect was this. If we pay according to the amount of money you just mentioned, our Tiger and Leopard Army is a field infantry regiment. The amount of silver needed for a month is a staggering sixteen,000 taels ......."

"If you add this musket regiment for a month, the logistics and ammunition to be consumed will not be given. In a month, it will take at least 20,000 taels of silver......"

"After the completion of the reform of the military system, the field troops had a total of ten divisions and five independent heavy artillery regiments, for a total of thirty-five regiments. In other words, we will use up 700,000 taels of silver for the field troops alone. ”

"If we add the local garrisons, which are also facing expansion, the amount of silver we spend on the army every month is a staggering two million taels...... In a year, it is twenty-four million taels. ”

"You know, that's just the cost when you don't have to fight...... If there are two more battles in the middle, it is absolutely very possible to spend tens of millions of taels of silver in military spending......"

"Therefore, I am worried that after the completion of the military reform, the huge military expenditure will bring very huge pressure to my Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces......

"More than 30 million taels...... hiss...... "Hearing this number, except for Wei Zheng, everyone else subconsciously let out an inhalation sound......

Because, everyone was taken aback by this number.

You must know that the annual tax revenue of the imperial court is only two or three million taels of silver, and even if other taxes such as salt tax and various salaries are added, it is only more than 10 million taels a year...... According to this situation, two years of taxation from the imperial court can meet the salary of the Haw Par Army for one year......

The territory currently owned by the Haw Par Army is less than three provinces at full duty. Can the tax revenue of the three provinces exceed the tax revenue of the imperial court for two years? A big question mark quickly came to everyone's mind.

Just when everyone's faces slowly showed worried expressions, Wei Zheng spoke.

"Old Zhou, you have been taking over the economy of Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces for several days...... Can the future economic strength of Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces meet the needs of the Haw Par Army for a year......"

"Can ......" surprised everyone, under the simultaneous gaze of several pairs of eyes, Zhou Lao didn't think about it, and gave an affirmative answer.

Then, facing Wei Zheng and Zhou Shuyuan, he assured with a confident face.

"Marshal, Prime Minister...... Thanks to your trust, at my age, I have been placed in such a high position. Since the marshal and the prime minister trust me so much, I will definitely not disappoint you......"

"Today, I am here to pledge that by the end of this year, the total amount of taxes collected by the Governor's Palace of Shanxi will exceed 35 million taels of silver...... Plus the war dividends of the two sorties of the Tiger and Par Army against Mongolia. By the end of this year, that is, in the remaining five months, there will be at least twenty-five million taels of silver available in the Doge's Palace......"

"In the next year, I guarantee that the total tax revenue of Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces will exceed 45 million taels...... Coupled with the arrears of the Governor's Mansion that have been repaid by millions of people in the two provinces, the amount of silver that the Governor's Mansion can use next year will definitely be more than 50 million taels......"

"As for the future, I dare say that the taxes of the Governor's Palace will only increase and ......."

Hearing this, Wei Zheng couldn't help but let out an exclamation and asked Zhou Lao rhetorically......

"So much, Old Zhou, will you be mistaken......"

Zhou Lao shook his head and affirmed: "Marshal, I dare to issue a military order here, and I will never dare to say the slightest nonsense...... Among these taxes, in addition to the most basic grain tax and commercial tax, with the continuous increase in grain production and the continuous decline in commodity prices in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, the income of the Foreign Trade Department from all parts of the country will become higher and higher......"

Wei Zheng's eyes lit up, and he asked Zhou Lao rhetorically, "Ben Shuai seems to understand a little...... Zhou Lao, what you mean is to control all the grain in the two provinces and bring down the grain. Then, they bought grain from the people at a low price, and then sent the grain out of Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces to sell it at a high price......"

Zhou Lao affirmed loudly: "The handsome and wise, not only grain, cattle, sheep and livestock, can give me a large amount of silver in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces......" (to be continued......