Qi Tianyou said it simply, but everyone felt that it was a bit too idealistic. Even Cui Daru was a little hesitant: "Re-recruiting soldiers, re-training, and paying such a high salary, I wonder if the court can agree to this request."
As expected, upon hearing this, Sun Yongning, the Minister of Finance, was immediately a little resistant: "Two taels of silver for military pay has been the rule set over the years. Even so, there are still so many people in the court clamoring to cut military spending. If it is really as he said, wouldn't the court be arguing over this? This won't do, it definitely won't do!"
Cui Daru also nodded and sighed: "If the coastal areas are increased, will the northwest be increased? Will the north be increased? If they are all increased, where will the Ministry of Revenue get so much money? This is indeed a problem."
Seeing what Cui Daru said, Sun Yongning hurriedly said, "That's exactly the truth. What's worrying is not the lack of wealth but the inequality of wealth. But if all the soldiers of our Great Zhou have to be rewarded, how can the court afford it?"
Xiao Heng actually knew all of their concerns. He smiled and raised his eyebrows, saying, "It doesn't mean that we should increase the salary now. Let him try it for now. If he can train a real navy, the extra military pay will not be paid by the court, but by the merchant caravans that are going out to sea. Isn't it okay? The wealth paid by those merchant caravans to hire or send off the pirates when they ventured out to sea was also inestimable. In this case, it would be much lower to let them pay for these soldiers than for the pirates. Wouldn't they agree?"
He was a man who always had unconventional ideas, so when he said that, Sun Yongning was stunned. After a while, he couldn't help but nodded: "If it's what Your Highness said, then... then it's not impossible to give it a try."
After all, the imperial court must first be able to see the results. If Qi Tianyou really has the ability to quell the Japanese invasion, then everything will be easy.
Sun Yongning frowned, "But, recruiting soldiers also requires money, and training also requires money. Everything is difficult at the beginning. I'm afraid the court won't agree to this so quickly."
Although it was approved by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, that's just the way those people in the court behave. They will delay as much as possible, and if they want to wait to see the results, it will be too late.
Xiao Heng had not originally expected to get money from the court at the beginning. He knocked on the table and suddenly called out "Teacher".
Cui Daru is now the official tutor of the crown prince. When he heard Xiao Heng calling him that, he looked at Xiao Heng and then nodded with a smile: "It seems that Your Highness wants to do the same thing as in Yunnan again?"
The events in Yunnan are still talked about with great relish by the people in the cabinet. Xiao Heng did not spend much money from the court to quell the chaos that had lasted for many years. Sun Yongning, the money bag, was even more curious: "Your Highness, I heard that you beat up those fat chieftains in Yunnan, but are you planning to do the same in Jiangnan?"
That won’t work, after all, Yunnan is Yunnan and Jiangnan is Jiangnan.
There are countless aristocratic families and wealthy people in Jiangnan. These people often have support and dependence in the court. If their interests are touched, not to mention them, there will be people in the court who will not agree, so it can be said that there are many obstacles.
Xiao Heng naturally knew what Sun Yongning meant. He could no longer use the same tactics of directly attacking the local tyrants in Jiangnan. He smiled and said, "No, this time I will let them pay openly."
In the evening, Pang Qingping received the news and came to Xiao Heng specifically.
The Japanese pirates and the pirates had been picking on him recently, and he was busy putting out fires everywhere. In addition, there was a snowstorm in the south that hadn't been seen in many years. Pang Qingping, who was so smart and capable, had aged several years. When he saw Xiao Heng, he smiled bitterly, "We've really disturbed the Japanese pirates recently. They keep showing up, which is really annoying!"
You can see that he is annoyed and exhausted.
Xiao Heng smiled, asked someone to pour him a cup of tea to wake him up, and then told him what Qi Tianyou thought.
Pang Qingping became serious. He pondered for a moment and said, "In fact, Qi Tianyou is really an outstanding young man. I have heard people below mention him many times and say that he is very useful. Since he is so confident in this method, it means that he really has this ability, but... But Lord Sun's worry is also reasonable. How to raise such a large amount of money is really a problem. This... Have you thought it through? If it is according to what I said, I am afraid it is not that simple. These big households are complicated and it is difficult to force them to hand over the money."
He was implicitly reminding Xiao Heng that these wealthy families in Jiangsu and Zhejiang were not like the chieftains in Yunnan. They were originally at odds with the imperial court, and what was more, God was wrathful and people were resentful. They were finished, and no one would speak for them.
But this group of wealthy families are different. They have the imperial court behind them, and every household has scholars. Every year they sponsor those impoverished candidates in order to consolidate their power.
Xiao Heng also understood, so he asked Pang Qingping: "If we open up sea trade, would these big players be willing to share a piece of the pie?"
Pang Qingping smiled without thinking: "How could they not be willing? They must be crazy about it. This is such a profitable business. Even if the court does not allow sea trade, many of them will secretly take the risk, not to mention opening sea trade!"
"Then, what if I am the same as the salt permit?" Xiao Heng stared at Pang Qingping intently: "What if I also need a document to go to sea? And the qualification to obtain this document is to make them donate money to build a navy?"
Pang Qingping was stunned for a moment. He had never thought about it in this way before!
Yes, as long as we give those wealthy families the qualification to go to sea, they will rush to get it no matter how much money they spend! Pang Qingping's eyes were shining with excitement, and he laughed without thinking: "Okay! Your Highness is right! If we can do this, we don't need to waste our breath, as long as they are clear-headed, they will definitely agree!"
This matter has been bothering Pang Qingping for a long time. He made the decision without saying anything: "This matter has been decided. Let's deal with these things as soon as possible so that Qi Tianyou can get started quickly. We have to try it to know whether it will work or not."
Instead of arguing here about whether it will work or not, it would be better to let Qi Tianyou just do it and then see the results.
Pang Qingping has always been a man of swift and decisive actions. Once a decision is made today, it will not be delayed until the next day. Therefore, he quickly went back to gather his staff to discuss the matter.
That evening, the wife of Duke Ping came to visit Su Yao in person. She was very humble and said, "Since you came, all the ladies here have been asking to see you. Now is a good opportunity..."