"Food." Liu Zhixing didn't talk nonsense, and said simply and directly.

Hearing this word, Wang Youxiao and Li Yong sighed in unison, with a sad look on their faces. Li Yong is in charge of military supplies and knows how powerful.

Wang Youxiao's job is to supervise and supervise, but he has worked as a county magistrate and knows that he is powerful.

"Hoo !!" Wu Nian took a deep breath, a wry smile appeared on his face, and then he shook his head gently, and the pressure on his shoulders increased suddenly, and it was heavy.

The joy of defeating Wang Zhongbi and capturing Nanhai Mansion was also dissipated.

This is an ever-present problem.

His army had no pay.

Everyone is a man of lofty ideals gathered to fight against the Mengyuan people. Or a man who wants to fight pirates. At present, there are twelve captains, that is, twelve soldiers of ten thousand households.

They had no food, only weapons, armor, and rations.

Only whenever Wu Nian was victorious, the Han people who killed the Mengyuan people and treated the Mengyuan people as dogs' legs, confiscated the fields, and rewarded the soldiers who had merit in battle or died in battle.

Everyone is a hero, so the army did not collapse. But this is not a long-term solution.

Everyone has to provide for their families.

on this. Wu Nian felt guilty, but there was no way to solve this problem head-on. His army was too much, too much.

The expansion of territory is far less rapid than the expansion of the army.

Let's say this time, for example.

He has just conquered Nanhai Mansion, and the officialdom has not yet been fully stabilized, and the taxes have not been collected. Liu Zhixing has already proposed to expand the 60,000 households of soldiers with subordinate treatment as defenders. In this way, the number of troops is enough to 180,000 households.

This is an astronomical figure, a reckless force among the reckless.

Wu Nian didn't need to calculate, and he knew that under normal circumstances, the three prefectures under him, Nanhai, Yingqing, and Guangchuan, plus the silver and copper ingot trade with the Jingji family, would not be able to pay food.

If the entire five prefectures and 32 counties of eastern Liaodong are laid, they may be paid rations.

Wu Nian sighed, shook his head and said, "Zhixing." You know mine. Outsiders say I'm a butcher, but every time I see a soldier who has died in battle, my heart aches. ”

"It's a pity that they are all men from the Han family, and they died on the battlefield."

"I'm not stingy with money and food, but I can't pay food at all."

Liu Zhixing, Li Yong, and Wang Youxiao all nodded, as Wu Nian's close ministers and important ministers, they still knew Wu Nian very well.

This auxiliary Han general is ruthless, and only treats foreign tribes such as the Mengyuan people, or Han people who break the law, or have a big loss.

But it's good for ordinary people, and it's definitely the king of benevolence and righteousness.

Droughts and locust plagues are good examples. And the [small court] that operates with Wu Nian's will is also honest and kind to the people.

The military and the people, the government and the people are like fish and water, very harmonious, and they are united in one mind.

This is the foundation of the Fuhan General's Mansion that clearly betrayed Huang Chu and still maintained its rule.

"General. Of course I know that. Liu Zhixing took a deep breath, clenched his fists and said sincerely: "With all due respect." Looking at the history books, I am afraid that there are only a handful of kings and emperors who can achieve the level of generals. ”

"I feel honored to be able to work under the general."

With that, Liu Zhixing stood up, walked in front of Wu Nian, and bent over with his fists clenched. Seeing this, Wang Youxiao and Li Yong also stood up and followed Liu Zhixing.

"What are you doing here? Sit, sit. Wu Nian shook his head, quickly stood up and walked to the three of them to help them up one by one, and then asked them to sit down.

After returning to his seat and sitting down, Liu Zhixing said, "But the general." It's hard, but the food needs to be addressed. ”

Speaking of this, Liu Zhixing glanced at Li Yong and Wang Youxiao, and then said in a deep voice: "General." The 40,000 Chu troops surrendered. If they are arranged to be tuntian, they will be strictly guarded. They can't run away. ”

"But we arranged for them to be defenders, and there was no food. They will definitely run away. ”

And he gave them food. For the rest of the army, there must be rations. Otherwise, you have food, and I have nothing. Those soldiers who do not have food and salary may be psychologically unbalanced. ”

"And not only that. These defenders. After we arranged to go to the place, we could find a local woman and let them start a family on the spot. ”

"I have food and salary, and I have wives and children. They won't even think about running away. ”

"If the Mengyuan people come to attack, they will also resist desperately."

"There's another benefit to that. In recent years, there have been frequent wars in Liaodong, and there are many women among the people, but few men. There were many widows and unmarried girls. ”

"Let these more than 40,000 Chu troops surrender and start a family nearby, and you can also reconcile yin and yang."

Wu Nian bowed his head slightly, what he said made sense. The soldiers had no food and were willing to follow them. It's because everyone is from Liaodong and anti-Mongolian warriors.

In order to drive away the Mengyuan people, he was willing to throw his head and spill his blood and live a hard life. The troops of Chu are in the south, and they have no pain with the Mengyuan people, why don't they run away?

Food, starting a family, this link is one after another.

Straight to the heart of humanity.

No money, absolutely not.

When a man gets married, he has roots, and the family's wealth is expensive.

"Okay. Although this is a big mountain, it is difficult for us to suffer again. Gotta move it out of the way. Move mountains and open the way. "It's a lot of pressure, but you can't avoid it. Wu Nian sighed, stretched out his hand and rubbed his temples, then looked up at the three of them and asked, "It seems that you haven't been thinking about this for a while. ”

"Do you have any suggestions?"

"Salt and iron franchise." Liu Zhixing said simply.

"Isn't this a competition with the people?" Wu Nian's face changed slightly, revealing a serious look, and he shook his head and said.

The so-called salt and iron franchise.

It is to buy and sell salt and iron, nationalize it, and operate it uniformly by the Fuhan General's Office. But this comes with a huge administrative cost.

Official salt and iron are definitely more expensive than private salt and iron. This is a snatch of money from the wallets of the people.

This is the real competition with the people.

Although there is a saying called.

Concentrate on doing great things.

But Wu Nian still thinks that this is not good.

Liu Zhixing was not surprised by Wu Nian's reaction, and said calmly: "General." It's not about competing with the people. ”

"General, you think about it. We are now poor and tighten our belts, and we can't even pay our salaries. ”

"We specialize in salt and iron, not for government expenses. Nor is it for the purpose of building mansions and palaces. Rather, they paid the soldiers. ”

"If it is executed according to the plan. We will have eighteen thousand soldiers. In almost every household, there are people who send troops. Our salt and iron franchise has gained benefits. Then it became a ration and was given to the soldiers. Isn't this taking money from the people's wallets and giving it back to the people? ”

"Money is still circulating among the people. It did not go into the hands of the government. ”

Wu Nianleng paused, raised his right hand and pinched his chin. It makes sense.

He doesn't know much about economics, but he is good at listening to opinions and has his own judgment.

After hesitating for a long time, Wu Nian nodded and said, "Okay." Monopoly on salt and iron. But try it first. If there is a huge backlash from the people, cancel it immediately. ”

"Yes."

Liu Zhixing couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he saw Wu Nian agree. Although Wu Nian is not there, with them, General Fuhan's mansion can also operate normally.

But there are some things that Wu Nian can't do if he doesn't agree.

The power is firmly in the hands of Wu Nian.

"The financial revenue brought by the salt and iron franchise. Can it make up for the huge gap in wages? Wu Nian thought of this question again and couldn't help asking.

"I can't." Liu Zhixing shook his head and said bluntly: "I can only say." The financial income brought by the salt and iron franchise, we can try to pay the soldiers rations. ”

"If there is no salt and iron franchise, this shop will not be opened."

"Digesting the more than 40,000 troops of the Chu State, recruiting 20,000 strong and strong, and setting up a garrison of 60,000 households, is empty talk."

Wu Nian involuntarily raised his head and looked at the beams and tiles.

All right.

Money.

It's really a good thing.

But.

How can I get the money?