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Volume 1: Fierce Battle in Changsha Chapter 483: Fiscal Deficit

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    Hong Rengan's appearance was just a small episode. After everyone's surprise and inner fire gradually disappeared, this person became insignificant.  Then began the Kingdom's first national annual planning and budget meeting under King Xi's rule.

    In fact, all dynasties and dynasties also have annual budgets formulated by the government. Historically, it started with the "Nine Fus and Nine Styles" of the Zhou Dynasty. In the 34th year of Guangxu's reign in the Qing Dynasty, the Qing government promulgated the "Financial Cleaning Regulations" and began to prepare the national budget, that is,  For the first time, China's feudal dynasty referred to the preparation of the country's annual financial revenue and expenditure plan as budget preparation.  Xidian began to prepare this budget in his first year in Sufu Province. Xiao Yungui worked in his father's company before crossing over and knew the importance of preparing annual plans and budgets, so Sufu Province started working on it very early.  The "Sufu Provincial Financial Budget Regulations" and the "Sufu Provincial Military Administration Annual Policy Outline Regulations" were promulgated, which clearly stipulated that at the end or beginning of each year, all ministries, departments, counties, counties and other government levels  The Yamen must prepare the annual budget and annual policy plan or military plan of the department.

    After Xu Naizhao took over the Ministry of Household Affairs, it coincided with the King of the West entering Tianjing. Jiangxi, southern Anhui and other places were still in the process of taking over, appointing officials, counting household registrations, measuring land and other trivial matters. Therefore, this year's conference was delayed until the beginning of spring before discussion began.  The King of the West wanted the old officials in Tianjing to adapt to the rhythm and rules of the West Palace as soon as possible. It turned out that Tianjing had prepared a similar budget during the East King's era, but that kind of budget was more extensive, that is, officials and generals were included in the budget.  Calculating the needs of soldiers, soldiers and military dependents, plus the cost of building mansions for princes, it is the main expenditure of a country.  As for a country's income, it only includes the money and grain paid in by various places.

    This kind of old budget did not take into account the capital investment in people's livelihood, industry and commerce, education, medical care, science and technology, transportation, etc., which means that there was no systematic development of people's livelihood, industry and commerce, education, medical care, science and technology, transportation, etc. in the Dongwang era.  There are no plans or charters, and the few local constructions only rely on the improvisation of local officials.  For example, when Shi Da started his western expedition, he built some civil affairs facilities to benefit the people in Jiangxi and Hubei.  But it's just a temporary preference.

    Su Fu Province's approach was completely different. Xiao Yungui wanted to squeeze out the intelligence of the officials and let them consider the future development of their own departments and counties alone, and systematically consider people's livelihood, industry and commerce, education, and medical care under the rule of one country.  , technology, transportation and other aspects of development.  There is a detailed development policy plan every year, which is accompanied by a budget for money and food that needs to be invested.  This will allow the financial revenue and grain to maximize their role.

    This year is different from the past. The King of the West has entered Tianjing. Therefore, this year's governance, military plans and annual financial budget represent the plans and budgets of almost the entire Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, instead of just Su Fu Province and Xi'an Province as in the past.  The words of the family in the temple.

    After Xu Naizhao finished reading the long and dull numbers, many of Tianjing¡¯s old officials were a little overwhelmed. Fortunately, the King of the West asked everyone to sit and listen from the beginning.  Moreover, everyone was issued corresponding official documents, otherwise many people would not be able to remember Xu Naizhao's words.

    In general, the Taiping Rebellion currently occupies the territory of Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, half of Jiangxi, one-third of Anhui, part of Hubei, and a small part of Hunan. Because the Taiping Army occupied the densely populated areas in the south of the Yangtze River, the total territory  The population reaches more than 110 million, and the army, including the East Palace, North Palace, and Wing Palace troops, reaches one million people.  There are more than 3 million rural soldiers and police forces, and more than 80,000 officials, large and small, in Tianjing and various places.

    Xu Naizhao and other officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs agreed that the annual income of the entire Taiping Heavenly Kingdom this year should be over 50 million taels. Compared with the Qing Dynasty's annual income of 60 million taels, which is already an incredible figure, how much space did the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom occupy?  Of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's 50 million taels of revenue, two-thirds came from contributions from Sufu and Fujian Provinces, which had treaty ports.  It has a relatively mature industrial and commercial system, and its income is naturally higher than in mainland China such as Jiangxi.

    However, Xiao Yungui was not satisfied with this revenue budget. He still felt that Xu Naizhao and the others' estimates were too conservative. With the opening of the Yangtze River waterway, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom will definitely encourage the development of industry and commerce in Jiangxi, Anhui and other places this year. The commerce brought by the Yangtze River's golden waterway  The profit will definitely not be just over ten million taels.  Moreover, Jiangxi, Anhui and other places were originally land of plenty, and with the expansion of territory, the copper, iron, and gold minerals under the rule also greatly increased, especially the copper mines in Dexing, Jiangxi.  Xiao Yungui believes that if these places can make full use of these resources, the income will be very considerable.  Although it will not reach the income level of Sufu and Fujian provinces in one fell swoop, it will not be less than half of it.

    The idea put forward by Xu Naizhao and others is also reasonable. The newly occupied land this year is mainly to maintain stability and invest in development. It is impossible to earn so much at once. Moreover, western Jiangxi is still under the control of Qing Yao Jiang Zhongyuan.  A war may break out at any time, and the situation in Jiangxi is not very stable, so it is conservatively estimated that the income will only be that much.

      Xiao Yungui temporarily agreed with the Ministry of Revenue's statement, but when it came to the expenses, Xiao Yungui stormed off.  The entire Taiping Heavenly Kingdom's expenditure this year actually reached an astonishing 80 million taels. When he heard this total, Xiao Yungui's thick voice almost lifted the tile roof of the Golden Dragon Palace.

    The old ministers of the West Palace are used to it. Such disputes on major military and political matters are common. However, the old ministers of the East Palace and the North Palace are a little trembling. In the previous era of the Eastern King, once the Eastern King made such a statement,  His temper is such that he wants to ask Heavenly Father to come down to earth to kill people.

    But unexpectedly, Xu Naizhao, who was demoted by the Qing court, was not afraid and slowly explained the detailed expenditures. After listening, everyone suddenly realized that the largest expenditure was still on military expenditures. The entire military expenditures cost more than 50 million taels, which accounted for almost  two-thirds of the annual expenditure budget.

    This year, the Ministry of War plans to reorganize 500,000 soldiers and horses in the East Palace and North Palace. Counting the original more than 100,000 soldiers and horses in the West Palace, plus millions of rural soldiers and police forces, this money can be considered saved, and the plan of the General Staff  , there are still two big battles to be fought this year, one is to go south to Guangdong and Guangxi, and the other is to launch the Western Expedition to attack the Qingyao in Hubei and Hunan.  As the saying goes, a cannon is fired, and gold is ten thousand taels. In this calculation, the 50 million taels of military expenses that Xu Naizhao and others from the household department calculated with Xiao Yungui, the gangster, were really very economical.

    Seeing the King of the West walking up and down the jade steps with a dark face, and the officials of the East Palace and the North Palace sitting below who did not dare to show their anger, Zuo Zongtang said with a smile: "Your Highness the King of the West. Since the budget is in deficit  , we have to find ways to smooth it out, either by increasing revenue or cutting budgets.¡±

    Xu Naizhao also said: "If the Ministry of War can reduce the number of soldiers to be reorganized this year, for example to 300,000, and only launch the Guangdong and Guangxi campaigns alone, I believe that military expenditures can be reduced to 30 million taels."

    As soon as he finished speaking, Li Kaifang of the Ministry of War, General Li Xiucheng and others quit their duties and stood up one after another and said, "Guangdong and Guangxi must be captured within this year, and Hubei and Hunan must send troops at the same time. Otherwise, the Qingyao from Hunan and Yunnan-Guizhou may reinforce Guangdong and Guangxi, causing disadvantages."  The situation." "The West Palace originally had 180,000 new troops. Now it has to deal with the Qingyao from several directions, and the territory has more than doubled. How can such a small force maintain the pressure on the Qingyao on all fronts? Reorganize the fifth  One hundred thousand soldiers and horses are already considered small, just take a look. After two major battles this year, half a million soldiers will definitely not be enough, and the more than 200,000 reserve troops behind us will still have to pull up!"

    The ministers under Xu Naizhao's household also quit. Lu Xianba was the first to jump out and said: "Half a million new troops are enough for the Northern Expedition. How can there be so many soldiers and horses in the direction of Qingyao? Your war department and staff officers  The boss is thinking about blooming in all directions, but we also have to think about whether our current money and food can support the war!" "Yes, there is King Yi in Hubei. Are you still afraid that the Qingyao Hunan Army will aid Guangdong Province? Qingyao Ye Mingchen is in Guangzhou.  We are almost driven crazy by the British and French fleets. Why don¡¯t you consider joining forces with the British and French and directly land in Guangzhou to fight? This will at least save a lot of money and food expenses!¡±

    There was a dispute like this in the Golden Dragon Palace. The old ministers from the various divisions in the West Palace were arguing passionately, while the people in the East Palace, North Palace and others were dumbfounded. Is there such a discussion?  It turns out that Dong Wang decides the matter with his words, and there is rarely such a scene of scolding and quarreling.

    Zuo Zongtang frowned and listened for a while, and found that these people only considered the budget between cutting and not cutting. They really had no creativity and couldn't listen anymore.  Then he shouted loudly: "Okay! After talking for a long time, there is no way to work! Cut it, don't let it be cut, don't you have any other ideas?"

    After arguing for a while, Xu Naizhao's face turned red. After taking a few breaths and drinking tea, he stood up and said: "His Royal Highness the King of the West, the Prime Minister of the Left, and other subordinates have also considered the method of opening the source. But just as the subordinates said,  Industry and commerce in Jiangxi, Anhui and other places have just begun to recover this year, and they will definitely not be able to dig out more money. Next year may be much better, but there is no way that large amounts of money, food, and taxes will be put into the treasury this year. Jiangxi and Anhui  There is also a lot of investment in civil affairs, especially in rural schools, primary schools and other places of education. Jiangxi, Anhui and other places are very poor. Do we need to reduce investment in these?"

    Xiao Yungui stood up and waved his hand: "Don't touch a penny of the funds for education and scientific research! Think of other ways to open up the source of money! Xu Naizhao, I am asking you to find ways to make money, not asking you to deduct this and that.  of!"

    Xu Naizhao also lost his temper. He had stayed up for several nights to get to this point because of this budget. If King Xi saw that the first draft had a deficit of 60 million taels, he would probably overturn the table right away.  At that moment, Xu Naizhao snorted and said: "I am stupid and can't think of a better way."

    Xiao Yungui also knew Xu Naizhao's difficulties. Last year when he took over Tianjing and took over Jiangxi, the West Palace spent a lot of money. Now it is indeed very difficult to reorganize and arm 500,000 troops, but the West Palace has begun to pure  Firearms unit combat mode, Xiao Yungui is not familiar with??Go back to the mixed use of hot and cold weapons, so that the previous reorganization will be meaningless.

    Hong Yun'er, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly stood up and asked the people in the East Palace, North Palace and others: "Just now we only listened to the people in the West Palace talking, why are you so silent? Why don't you come up with some suggestions if there is a good way?"  "

    "My subordinates came from Shanghai and saw that the people in Sufu and other places are prosperous and prosperous, and there are many wealthy families. These people have a lot of money and food" It was Hong Rengan who spoke. When he said this, everyone in the palace thought, could it be that  Does Hong Rengan want the King of the West to engage in these big businesses again?  Forcibly confiscate their property?

    Xiao Yungui also frowned after hearing this. If he goes to take advantage of the big family again, the bud of capitalism he has worked so hard to build will be really destroyed. Hong Rengan should not talk nonsense.

    But Hong Rengan went on to say: "The wealth hidden among the people is beyond our imagination. In this case, why doesn't our Kingdom of Heaven follow the example of Western countries and set up banks, issue national bonds, collect private capital, and do major national affairs?" After finishing his words, the palace came to the throne.  There was total silence.
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