Prime Minister of Great Qin

Chapter 375 Economic increase in revenue and expenditure reduction! (Two updates tomorrow)
  Fusu was a little surprised to hear that the imperial censor Dun Rui and the Dian Ke Yao Jia also recommended Zhang Cang.

He looked at Zhang Cang and said with a smile: "Zhang Yushi, it seems that I didn't know you well before. I thought that you were not taken seriously by the court because of your appearance and figure, but judging from today's situation, that may not be the case. , not only Prime Minister Li Si is willing to recommend you, but now even the imperial censor, Dian Ke and other important court officials are recommending you."

heard.

Zhang Cang smiled wryly.

He didn't know why Dunruo and Yao Jia recommended him.

Even when Li Si recommended him, he was actually surprised. He didn't have much friendship with Li Si. They were indeed Xunzi's disciples. But when he joined Xunzi's disciples, Li Si had already accomplished his studies and left soon after. Li Si immediately jumped up, and he couldn't catch up, and he didn't bother to rely on connections.

Therefore, the relationship between the two is actually as light as water.

However, Li Si's recommendation actually had some justification. After all, he was from the same school, and it was probably Fusu who made the arrangements for him. As for the imperial censor and Yao Jia, they were mostly just following the trend, in order to ensure that he could secure his position as the young master.

He has a clear mind.

But how could he really say it?

Zhang Cang cupped his hands and said solemnly: "I actually didn't know that there would be so many important ministers recommending me, but Zhang Cang does have some ideas about the position of Shaofu. Zhang Cang has been the censor of Shangji for many years and is in charge of the world's accounts, so he is interested in the position of Shaofu." I have some understanding of the local situation, although it is not comprehensive, but I still have some coverage.”

"In my opinion."

"Under the former Shaofu, the finances were already very serious."

"It's just that the 'Guan Shan Hai' project planned by His Highness in the past few years has provided some extra money and food for the imperial court, thus delaying the outbreak of the financial crisis. However, with the emergence of various major projects of the imperial court in recent years, these extra funds Money and food have gradually been unable to make ends meet, and the imperial court's finances have become increasingly difficult, and now it has reached a point where it is difficult to recover."

"But Shaofu is the lifeblood of the country's economy, how can it really fall into a pool of stagnant water?"

"Fragile finances are very detrimental to Da Qin."

"That's why I advocate for change."

"Prime Minister Li Si may be aware of my desire for change. The Imperial Censor is in charge of the Imperial Censor's Office, so he is aware of it. They may also have discovered financial problems, so they will introduce it to you at this time."

"Zhang Cang also feels the pressure."

"But the world has a lot of disadvantages and we always have to face them."

"Zhang Cang is willing to try one or two, to challenge the current embarrassment of the Young Mansion, so that Da Qin's economy will no longer be like a pool of stagnant water, but will flow and become active again, so that Da Qin can continue to get rid of its economic constraints. .”

"This is also Zhang Cang's current wish."

"Your Highness, please enlighten me."

heard.

Fusu nodded slightly.

He looked at Zhang Cang and said in a solemn voice: "Zhang Yushi is interested."

"Since you have some ideas about the world economy, can you tell the situation in public so that the courtiers can understand your thoughts."

"The position of the young master is very important."

"Fusu also had to be cautious and considerate again and again."

Zhang Cang nodded, he cupped his hands towards Fusu, and then slightly cupped his hands towards other ministers, and said in a deep voice: "If you want to change the world's economy, fundamentally speaking, there is only one way."

“Increase revenue and reduce expenditure.”

"In today's world, open source is not easy."

"The rents, taxes, and gifts in the world have already overwhelmed the people at the bottom, and the court has been unable to collect any more. If we collect more, I am afraid that the place will really be in war. However, the financial problem is imminent, and the court has to Change it."

"That's the financial difficulty today."

"But just because open source isn't easy doesn't mean it can't be done."

After one word fell, everyone in the hall was shocked.

The ministers in the palace looked at Zhang Cang in surprise.

Although they are not very proficient in economic matters, as officials of the Qin Dynasty, they are involved in basically all walks of life, but their understanding is not comprehensive. How can they not be unaware of the economic predicament?

Open source.

It's not that easy.

Fusu's "Guanshanhai" operation was already a great source of "open source" in the world. Under the "Guanshanhai", the imperial court's finances were greatly relieved. It can even be said that Guanshanhai continued to improve the finances. fate.

But there are almost no open sources like Guan Shan Hai in the world.

Merchants can no longer squeeze out money and water.

It’s even worse at the bottom.

Zhang Cang saw the suspicions of other courtiers and said calmly: "The vision of all ministers is too limited and narrow-minded. It is true that there is no longer any source of financial resources in the Qin Dynasty, and it is impossible to find any more." We’re going to compress the living space at the bottom, but what about outside Great Qin?”

"Outside the Qin Dynasty?" All the court officials looked suspicious.

Zhang Cang said again: "My idea lies with the Xiongnu."

"When the world was unified vertically and horizontally, Zhang Yi, the prime minister of our country, Great Qin, proposed a policy."

"Distant friendship and close attack."

"I think we should follow suit at this time."

"Put aside the hatred and hostility towards the Huns for the time being."

"To establish good relations to a certain extent, allow the two sides to conduct trade, follow Guan Zhong's measures in Qi, and collect tariffs at the passes. In addition, as the victor, the imperial court must show its due strength through the use of force. The Xiongnu were forced to sell cattle, sheep, horses and other goods at low prices, while at the same time they purchased salt, tea and other items from the court at high prices."

"To make money and food."

The voice just fell.

Someone in the court immediately refuted.

Yang Xiong said: "I, Yang Xiong, disagree with Zhang Yushi's idea."

"And I'm afraid it's not just me who disagrees, but all the officers and men of Great Qin."

"It was the national policy of the Qin Dynasty to expel the Xiongnu. For this reason, the imperial court sent [-] troops to the northern frontier, and sent troops to the Northern Expedition many times. Only then did the Xiongnu chase them thousands of miles north. Now that they are open to trade, won't the Xiongnu have to come back again? Then? How can there be peace on the frontier? Wouldn’t the peace that Da Qin’s soldiers paid such a heavy price in terms of casualties have been wasted?”

"Your idea is clearly to support the enemy."

"His heart can be punished!"

"If this news spreads, what will the soldiers in the North think? Wouldn't it shake the morale of the military? What will the rest of the world think? How will they comfort those dead soldiers?"

"Military affairs are a major matter for the country, how can we covet the small profits in front of us?"

"It's impossible for me, Yang Xiongduan, to agree."

Yang Xiong's attitude was very sharp and brooked no argument.

Other ministers in the court also objected, and for a time, Zhang Cang became the target of thousands of people.

Zhang Cang's expression did not change.

Let the court ministers insult and question him.

When the voices in the hall gradually became quieter, Zhang Cang said in a deep voice: "Zhang Cang is indeed not familiar with military affairs, but he has dabbled in military books in the past. He has read a lot of books, and he knows that there are no so-called allies and allies between countries. Enemies always exist only for profit."

"It's good to communicate, and it's good to disperse."

"This is the normal relationship between countries in the world."

"If we became enemies of each other just because of a brief encounter, how could the world be like this?"

"Back then, Qin and Jin had good relations and joined forces to suppress Chu."

"Qin and Chu had good relations and worked together to encircle Jin." "Such examples abounded in the past hundreds of years."

"Now it's just a matter of replacing the former 'Jin', 'Chu', 'Qi' and other countries with the 'Xiongnu'. Why does it arouse such strong opposition and opinions from the ministers?"

"Your arrogance is a bit too strong!"

"The Qin Dynasty indeed unified the world, but why didn't the Xiongnu also unified the grasslands?"

"The imperial court's [-]-strong Northern Expedition did not destroy the Xiongnu. They only chased the Xiongnu for thousands of miles. This is enough to prove that the Xiongnu's strength is not idle. How can they be as short-sighted as in the past when facing such a grassland overlord?"

"We should treat him as he treated the princes in the past."

"The Qin Dynasty expelled the Xiongnu, and its military power was at its peak. If it stopped suddenly, it would be disrespectful to the Qin Dynasty. The Qin Dynasty paid such a high price to expel the Xiongnu, and what did it get? It was just the recovery of Hebei. , drive the Huns out? Is this enough? If the imperial court can use its current strength to make some relaxation with the Huns."

"Forcing the Xiongnu to bow to the imperial court, and the imperial court has benefited, wouldn't it be higher than it is now?"

"This is the value of war."

"of course."

"The friendship with the Xiongnu is a friendship with a bottom line."

"It's not really unreserved."

"Loose on the outside and tight on the inside."

"Restricting each other, secretly testing the bottom line of each other, stumbling between brothers and sisters, and making deals at a tense moment are the long-standing habits between countries."

"Everything is for profit."

"Now the Xiongnu intends to purchase tea and other goods, and the imperial court is in urgent need of excess goods. It is a time for everyone to get what they need. If the imperial court does not seize the current strong opportunity and seek more benefits from the Xiongnu, it will be even greater. waste."

"As for the hidden worries of the Xiongnu."

"When the imperial court's financial problems are resolved, we will have a lot of energy to deal with them."

"How can we say that we are collaborating with the enemy?"

"War is a continuation of politics. If we just win the war, it will end abruptly. Such a war will undoubtedly do more harm than good to the Qin Dynasty. It will be a major trauma to the entire world. I have deep feelings for that year. I don’t know much about the political decisions made by the imperial court, so I don’t say much about it.”

"But in Zhang Cang's view, economy is also a part of war."

"Even an essential part."

"If we don't further oppress the Xiongnu in the economic field, compress the Xiongnu's living environment, and make them have to struggle to survive, this will undoubtedly only increase the hatred and anger of the other party. When the Xiongnu licks their wounds and recovers, then The Huns will definitely move south as a whole, and a war will still be necessary."

"So military coercion alone is not enough."

"There still needs to be economic pressure."

"Therefore, I, Zhang Cang, suggest that peace should be made."

"Enough is enough."

"As for the local people who don't understand or are angry, let them be angry. When does the court need to take into account local attitudes when making decisions? Moreover, how can local people understand and figure out major national events? "

"When the north settles down and the people benefit from it, they will understand the imperial court's intentions and their foresight."

"When the time comes, how can they complain anymore?"

"Profit is fundamental!"

Zhang Cang's eyes swept across the entire audience, and the entire audience was silent.

Yang Xiong and others' faces were green and red, but they couldn't refute. They just made a few noises, looking a little embarrassed.

Other ministers in the court were thinking about the feasibility of Zhang Cang's idea.

This is also the pursuit of victory.

But it is no longer a military pursuit of victory.

But economically.

Because of the previous disastrous defeat, a lot of dissatisfaction has actually arisen within the Xiongnu, and some have even broken away from the Xiongnu chanyu. If the court chooses to relax with the Xiongnu at this time, it will, to a certain extent, shake the will and determination of some of the Xiongnu. This made the already somewhat loose Xiongnu alliance even more fragile, and it was difficult for Touman Chanyu to knit together the remaining Xiongnu units.

Even if they can be screwed together in the future, it will take more effort.

If some Xiongnu tribes could be made to defect during this period, the slander to the Xiongnu might be even more serious.

after all.

The imperial court blocked relations with the Xiongnu.

It will only intensify the hostility and hatred of the Xiongnu tribes towards the Qin court, and it will also accelerate Touman Chanyu's recruitment of the old tribes. He can even directly go south and defeat the Qin army as a morale booster. If there is a certain opening, Touman Chanyu will be afraid The most furious.

For the court, the advantages outweighed the disadvantages.

Think of this.

The courtiers nodded slightly.

The idea proposed by Zhang Cang is indeed a good strategy.

Zhang Cang added: "As mentioned before, it is about increasing revenue. Zhang Cang also has some ideas about reducing expenditure."

"All the money and grain collected from the world go to Aocang, and the money and grain distributed to officials and projects all over the world also come from Aocang. The transportation cost is too high. I think it should be adjusted."

"Six or more temporary warehouses will be rebuilt on the basis of the old granaries of the Six Nations."

"For short-term cargo storage and transportation."

"In this way, the losses along the way can be greatly reduced, and money and grain can be distributed to local governments as quickly as possible."

"This move will also reassure local officials and the people."

"Every minister, you can rest assured."

"The money and grain collected by the local government will not stay in the local area for too long. It will basically take a few months to collect and distribute it gradually after the court makes appropriate arrangements."

"At the same time, all excess money and food will be sent to Aocang and will not be kept there."

"also."

"The imperial court will send special officials to take charge."

"No place will be allowed to interfere."

"In this way, with these increases in revenue and expenditures, the imperial court's finances will be much larger to a certain extent, and the imperial court will be able to free up more money and food for other things."

"And these are Zhang Cang's thoughts."

"Da Qin's finances have reached a point where they have to change."

"Zhang Cang has an understanding of the world's accounts, and Li Si comes from the same school as Xunzi and knows my talents, so he recommends me. As for the other ministers, I may have some connections, but as for why he recommended me, I, Zhang Cang, actually don’t understand.”

"Zhang Cang believes that he can still take up the position of Shaofu."

"On the road of financial reform in Da Qin, Zhang Cang is also confident that he will destroy the old and establish the new, and carry the reform to the end."

"Your Highness, please enlighten me."

Zhang Cang bowed respectfully to Fusu.

Then he slowly returned to his seat.

The entire palace is silent.

(End of this chapter)