...... Although Lei Qing has a lot of money left in hand now, if he wants to keep sticking it upside down, it will definitely not be a long-term solution. The mountains of gold and silver also have to sit and eat and be empty.

Not to mention that you have to rely on the territory to make money, at least you have to maintain all kinds of expenses, right?

"Mr. Hao. Lei Qing was in the study, frowning and saying to a white-faced middle-aged man with a long beard, "What is the best way to face such a predicament?"

This middle-aged man is a master, understands government affairs, understands finance, knows articles, and is a literati. was originally from Zhongzhou, but because he committed something and offended people, he had to go to this western place to make a living.

Seeing that Lei Qing was recruiting a master, he recommended himself.

Lei Qing saw that he liked to wear a white robe, his face was white and bearded, and he looked quite upright and knowledgeable. I probably took a few questions for him, and Mr. Hao answered them fluently. With Lei Qing's cultural level, I really can't guess his depth, seeing that his temperament is a bit of a teacher, and it seems that he does have some knowledge.

invited him to be his master, and he was paid a gold coin a month, and the price was fair. Unexpectedly, Lei Qing really invited him to the right time, this Mr. Hao is well-versed in the past, and there are few things he doesn't know. And the professor Lei Qing is very attentive, so that Lei Qing can learn quickly. This gradually made Lei Qing begin to trust him.

Of course, Lei Qing had already sent his henchmen to Zhongzhou to inquire about the origin of this gentleman. Lei Qing didn't dare to really rashly believe in a person whose identity was fictitious.

Mr. Hao's face was warm, and he was holding his long beard, but he looked like a fairy wind and bones. Faced with Lei Qing's question, Mr. Hao said lightly: "Now in the final analysis, it is just a matter of money. If you want to be rich, there are only two strategies, one is to throttle and the other is open source. Let's talk about throttling first, the young general is benevolent and righteous, and he is willing to spend money on settling-in expenses, more money, more pensions, more food expenses, and more war horses. ”

"What do you mean, sir?" Lei Qing groaned slightly.

"According to the meaning of the major general, the Black Flag Regiment must recruit 1,500 people, including 200 auxiliary soldiers such as baggage logistics and 300 reserves. Please forgive Hao for bluntly saying that raising so many troops with just 30,000 people is simply wishful thinking. It can't be done in a rich place in Zhongzhou, not to mention that the young general spends money quite lavishly. Mr. Hao mercilessly pointed out the weakness of Lei Qing's extravagant army.

Lei Qing's face turned red, and he said with a dry smile: "Mr. Hao, don't be angry first, Lei still has thin assets, and he can afford to recruit troops and raise so many people." So far, Lei still has about 80,000 left. As for other resources, they don't count for the time being. The reason why Lei is so big is that he doesn't want his subordinates to fight with me, and he has to worry about his family's livelihood. ”

Mr. Hao sighed, but looked at Lei Qing in some surprise, but he didn't ask Lei Qing where the money came from. Instead, he pondered a little and said: "Since the young general is so rich, he can think of another strategy, and it is not impossible to raise 1,500 troops, but he has to think carefully, and he can't keep sticking money in, right?"

That's exactly what Lei meant. Lei Qing arched his hand and said with a smile: "Please also ask Mr. Hao for advice." ”

"According to the standard given by the major general, the settling-in fee, armor blades and war horses cost an average of thirty gold coins per person, and our army still needs to gradually recruit about a thousand people, that is, thirty thousand gold coins are directly spent. For 1,500 men and horses, 100 gold is needed for food and clothing for men and horses every month, and 50 gold is needed for the maintenance of weapons and equipment and newly purchased equipment. The most terrible thing is the salary, which is much higher than that of the Iron Cavalry, and if you recruit 1,500 men, your army's salary alone will cost you 600 gold per month, and a total of 9,000 gold per year. And that's not even counting the administrative overhead. ”

"Uh, so much?" Lei Qing was also a little dumbfounded, he didn't have much concept of money before, and he was used to being lavish. But when he heard that the recruitment and settling-in expenses were not counted, it would cost 9,000 gold coins to maintain a cavalry army of 1,500 people every year, which really shocked him.

No wonder, Uncle Xiahou sits on the entire land of Tieling, and he will cry poor all day. Raising an army is so fucking expensive.

"This is because the salary given by the major general is too high, and if you refer to the standard of the Iron Cavalry Regiment, it can be reduced to about 5,000 gold coins per year. Master Hao said lightly: "Of course, there are also high benefits of high salary, and the soldiers will be more supportive and loyal to the young general." I am also willing to endure more hardships in training, and I am not willing to be eliminated. The trade-offs are left to the discretion of the major general. ”

"No, it doesn't fall. Lei Qing shook his head heavily and said: "The Iron Cavalry Regiment is low because of Uncle Xiahou's strong personal strength and charm, and everyone has overcome difficulties together. My Lei Qing wants to have no status here, I want to have no strength, and I have lowered my salary, who is willing to start with me? What's more, my Lei family's method of training elite soldiers is very hard and tiring, and who is willing to endure this kind of hardship if the salary is less?"

"Well, we still have to keep 20,000 gold coins as a pension reserve, otherwise once the soldiers are killed and injured too much, there is no money for their families, and the reputation of the young general in this life will be ruined. Master Hao said solemnly.

"Yes, we must leave a pension reserve. "Lei Qing's most taboo is the pension, this is the ancestral training of the Lei family, the soldiers serve you, and if you deduct the pension after you die, it is simply not as good as a beast.

"Then, the money of the major general is only enough for three years. Master Hao said coldly: "Within three years, if the major general fails to find a stable source of money, I am afraid that the Black Flag Army will collapse on its own because of financial difficulties." Since the major general is rich and refuses to throttle, let me talk about the open source. ”

"I like to listen to this. Lei Qing smiled and said heartily: "I don't trust such a large piece of territory, and I can't make money." Master Hao, think about it quickly, make money, and I can't lose you. ”

Master Hao smiled and said, "Take the money of the young general, Hao naturally wants to share the worries and solve problems for the young general." In fact, we have a lot of troops in our hands, and although it costs a lot, it may not be our capital. If we have 1,500 heavy troops and defend this small town of Yehe, ordinary horse thieves will not dare to come and make a nuisance, and we will easily keep the peace of this land. Once the peace is settled, the people's lives will be stable and prosperous, then, of course, the tax will be higher, which is the most basic kind of good surname cycle. ”

"Yes, with heavy soldiers in hand, Lei will let the horse thieves die in waves. Lei Qing's eyes were also sharp, and he said: "Lei's duty is to let horse thieves disturb the territory again." ”

Master Hao showed an appreciative look at Lei Qing: "This is one of the reasons why Hao is willing to serve the young general, and I hope the young general will persevere." Of course, this alone is still out of reach to support the cost of maintaining the army. Hao also has a number of strategies here for the major general's reference. But these strategies can only work under the premise of peace and tranquility in my town. Let's talk about the first policy first, within the scope of my Yehe Town, the grassland and the loess are half. The way for the people to survive is also the coexistence of agriculture and animal husbandry. But in fact, because the grassland horse thief is always a disaster, these two karmas are always in a very low state. ”

Lei Qing said thoughtfully: "What does Master Hao mean by vigorously developing agriculture and animal husbandry?"

"Why not?" Master Hao laughed: "My Yehe Town has a vast land, most of the places are deserted, and there are many, many grassland pastures that have not been utilized. As long as the army of the major general can deter the horse thieves, we will naturally be able to vigorously open up the land and vigorously develop pastures. With food, we can not only be self-sufficient, no longer have to buy it, but we can also hoard it and sell it. The most important thing is animal husbandry, which is very rich and densely populated in several parts of the southern state. The demand for meat leather is extremely high, and in addition to our own use, we can open up business routes and sell them to several places in Zhongzhou. ”

Lei Qing's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he said with appreciation: "Master Hao really woke up the person in his dream with a word, I, Lei Qing, sat on the treasure land and didn't know it." ”

"This is also the young general's money, otherwise even if Hao has this strategy, he will not be able to use it. Master Hao stroked his beard and said: "However, before it works, the young general has to spend 10,000 or 20,000 gold coins to build a large number of farms and pastures, recruit farmers and herdsmen, and buy a large number of breeding sheep and horses." These are places where a lot of money is spent. ”

"Lei saved this matter, and asked Master Hao to draw up a detailed plan. Lei Qing nodded solemnly and said, "If the money is not enough, Lei can still pawn some other things, and it will not be a problem to make up another 100,000 gold coins." What Lei Qing was referring to was, of course, those crystal nuclei, although some of them were divided, most of them were still in their own hands. If it wasn't enough, Lei Qing was willing to take a space ring as one.

Lei Qing was also secretly worried, he was really right to blackmail the Li Chamber of Commerce at the beginning. If you don't have this money, how long and how long will you have to develop to have some strength?

Master Hao was stunned for a moment, and couldn't cry or laugh: "I didn't expect the young general to be so wealthy, so Yehe Town really has great development and great opportunities." For a while, Master Hao was also full of pride: "Hao Mou will talk about the second strategy, the second strategy is trade, in fact, the Huer prairie is a cornucopia, where there are many herdsmen who live in the grass, and there are countless cattle, sheep and good horses under their hands. It's just that because the grassland people are fierce, even some herdsmen who seem to be good people will be transformed into robbers at any time. It makes doing business with them too risky and trembling. If our army has sufficient deterrence, it will be able to do business with some herdsmen, exchange the supplies they urgently need for their cattle and sheep, and then sell them upside down, and then make a lot of profits. ”

"Do business with the grassland people?" Lei Qing was slightly stunned, and said solemnly: "They have no fixed residence, isn't looking for them to kill a blind cat and killing a mouse?"

"Otherwise, the grassland people actually have a lot of needs. Master Hao smiled lightly and said, "As long as we open a market outside Yehe Town, and let those grasslands come to take the initiative to trade, wouldn't there be no need for laborers to move the people into the grasslands?"

......

(To be continued)