Chapter 198 Jun Wu Xiyan
The next day, Zhao Xing did not hear the news that Prince Yan was captured, but Han Zhang came.
Zhao Xing met Han Zhang in the main hall of the palace.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!" Han Zhang bowed.
"Teacher, there's no need to be so polite." Zhao Xing smiled and waved his hand, asking someone to let Han Zhang sit down.
In addition to being the prime minister, Han Zhang was also the prince's tutor.
In name he was Zhao Xing's teacher.
"My father told me yesterday that many of the cities on the northern border have fallen into disrepair and need to be repaired. But now the treasury is empty and there is no money to spend. Teacher, you want me to pay for it, right?" Zhao Xing said.
Han Zhang was stunned when he heard this. He had told the emperor that there was a half vacancy, but he didn't expect the emperor to be so cruel as to want Zhao Xingquan to pay for it.
But he naturally couldn't say it at this time, so he could only nod and say: "That's right, the northern border town is related to the safety of the border, and it must be repaired. Your Highness is the crown prince, and since you have money, you should solve the country's problems."
"Teacher, I don't agree with what you said. As the saying goes, take from the people and use it for the people. The money in the national treasury should be used for national affairs. I have money, but it is my private property. There are so many rich people in the world, why didn't you ask them to donate generously?"
"minister…"
Han Zhang was about to say something when he was interrupted by Zhao Xing.
"I know that the teacher wants to say that I am the crown prince. But public and private affairs must be clearly distinguished. Not to mention that I am the crown prince, even if I become the emperor in the future, can I use the money in the national treasury at will? If so, I am willing to hand over all my money and business to the court." Zhao Xing said.
Although ancient emperors ruled the world, they could not do whatever they wanted.
Even the emperor had a clear distinction between public and private affairs. The expenses of the emperor and his concubines were not funded by the national treasury, but by the income from the imperial farm.
If the emperor wanted to build a temporary palace or something, he could do it directly without the consent of his ministers if the inner court paid for it.
However, if the expenditure is too high and the inner court cannot support it, and one wants to use money from the national treasury, one needs the approval of officials.
Why were there so many treacherous ministers when the ancient emperors were incompetent?
It's not just the emperor who is incompetent, the treacherous ministers who flatter him.
The most important thing is that only when these people are in power can the emperor do whatever he wants.
If the emperor wants to use the money from the national treasury to enjoy himself, wise ministers will definitely not agree, and treacherous ministers will not care about it.
In order to please the emperor, they would even give him advice to make money.
When some wise rulers were in power and the court was short of money, they would even live frugally and take money from the inner treasury to provide to the court.
His father is like this.
However, in the eyes of civil and military officials, this kind of thing is justified. After all, the world belongs to your Zhao family.
Zhao Xing did not think that this approach was wrong, but he felt a little unhappy that the civil and military officials took this phenomenon for granted.
It doesn't make sense that the emperor has to live a tight life and save money for the court, while these officials live a luxurious life.
Apart from his status, his father's personal living expenses were not necessarily as much as those of officials above the third rank.
"But as the crown prince, Your Highness shouldn't compete with the people for profit," said Han Zhang.
"Teacher, I don't agree with what you said." Zhao Xing shook his head and said, "How many people who do business in this world are ordinary people? The court has regulations that officials are not allowed to do business, but many officials in the court have relatives who do business. I let people do business and pay taxes to the court according to regulations, what's wrong with that?
Over the years, I have paid more than one million taels of silver in taxes to the imperial court.
I let people do business and make money, and they pay taxes according to regulations, and the remaining money is my private property."
"Your Highness, what you said makes sense, but if the border cities are not repaired, how can we defend them if the Liao Kingdom raises an army? By then, the people in the north will suffer. Do you want to see that, Your Highness?" Han Zhang said.
"Of course I don't want to see it." Zhao Xing said, "As the crown prince, I can't turn a blind eye to the court's troubles. I'm telling you this, not because I don't want to help."
Han Zhang felt relieved after hearing this. He suddenly understood why the government did not say that the vacancy was only half.
It seems that the emperor understands the prince's temperament and his goal is to achieve the best and the worst.
But as long as Zhao Xing is willing to pay, it will be fine.
"I am willing to help, but we need to discuss how to help."
Zhao Xing paused and said, "I have thought of a plan. Teacher, please listen to it and see if it is feasible."
"Your Highness, please speak." Han Zhang said. "The court will give 500,000 taels of silver, and I will arrange for people to repair all the cities on the northern border." Zhao Xing said.
When he saw the plan yesterday, he had an idea in his mind that the northern border city must be repaired. Not only that, but it also had to be reinforced and raised.
In the future, when the Liao Kingdom launches military operations against Western Xia, regardless of whether there is civil strife in the Liao Kingdom, it is impossible for the Liao Kingdom to allow the Song Dynasty to annex Western Xia.
In the Song-Xia War, although the Song Dynasty was defeated, Western Xia was not as powerful as the Song Dynasty. If the Song Dynasty had continued to fight, even if it failed to destroy Western Xia, it would not have lost cities or territories.
But it was because the Liao Kingdom deployed troops on the border at a critical moment that the Song Dynasty was forced to negotiate peace with the Western Xia.
If Zhao Xing wanted to use military force against Western Xia, he would not give up just because the Liao Kingdom deployed its troops. At that time, the north would definitely have to defend against the Liao Kingdom.
However, the money he gave to the court could only be used to repair the city, and there was no need to think about raising or strengthening it.
After all, with this little money and layers of corruption, not much of it is actually used to repair the city.
But now cement has been produced, and using cement, sand and stone to repair cities is not only low-cost but also very solid.
In fact, it’s just some labor costs.
"Your Highness means that the court will give you money and you will arrange people to be responsible for the repairs?" Han Zhang said uncertainly.
"That's right." Zhao Xing nodded.
"Your Highness, this is no joke." Han Zhang frowned.
In his opinion, there was no difference between Zhao Xingxiu and the imperial court.
Five hundred thousand taels is definitely not enough, Zhao Xing will definitely have to pay.
If that’s the case, why did Zhao Xing take on this troublesome task?
After much thought, there is only one purpose - to cut corners.
Only in this way can you save money.
Although Zhao Xing didn't know what Han Zhang was thinking, he could guess roughly what he was thinking and said, "Teacher, don't worry. The court only needs to give me 500,000 taels of silver, and I promise to repair the border city. The Ministry of Works can send people to inspect it. If it is not solid, I will order people to rebuild it. And I don't need to conscript corvée."
"No conscription for corvée labor?" Han Zhang frowned when he heard this.
The budget of more than two million taels actually only covered the cost of materials and the expenses for food and drink for corvée labor.
Does not include labor costs.
Because the people had to perform corvee labor for a certain period of time every year.
To put it simply, it means working for the court for free.
But if there was no conscription for corvée labor, the budget would have to be increased by at least hundreds of thousands to one million taels.
Even if Zhao Xing cut corners, the cost would not be much lower than the original budget.
Moreover, Zhao Xing said that the Ministry of Works could inspect it and if it failed, it could be rebuilt.
He really didn't understand what Zhao Xing's intention was.
"That's right." Zhao Xing nodded.
The reason why he wanted to talk to Han Zhang, besides not wanting Han Zhang to continue to covet the money in his hands, was also to get the right to repair the city.
Only in this way can we do what he wants.
The reason why there was no conscription for corvée labor was because labor was cheap in ancient times.
Only the people in the north could be recruited for labor service. The people in the north were already poor, and it wouldn't cost much money, so Zhao Xing didn't want to make things difficult for the people.
Han Zhang was silent for a long time, then looked at Zhao Xing and said seriously, "Your Highness, I am not kidding!"
He was reminding Zhao Xing that this matter was not to be taken lightly.
(End of this chapter)