"If we want to fight a war, the first issue is money and food. Food, as Da Sinong has just said, I am very satisfied with the current inventory. As for money..." Zhu Youdong pondered for a moment and then turned to Li Guojun and said: "

The bank has made a calculation here to see if it will cause inflation if an additional 1 billion banknotes are issued into the market next year."

"Your Majesty, there is no need to calculate. I can answer with certainty now that it will not cause inflation."

"Oh? What's the basis for this?"

"Your Majesty, the imperial court's revenue last year was 630 million. Our Ming Dynasty's agricultural tax, commercial tax, etc. are unified and converted, which is basically five taxes and one. So, a rough estimate, our GDP last year was between 3.2 billion and 3.5 billion.

Between 100 million and 300 million, the imperial court only put 3 billion banknotes into the market last year, and at the same time stopped the entry of gold, silver and copper coins into the market. In other words, the new currency that entered the market last year could not fully purchase all the newly produced domestic products last year. Moreover,

This is only domestic, and our Ming Dynasty’s banknotes are to be used in all vassal countries, even in the Americas. Therefore, issuing an additional billion banknotes next year will definitely not cause inflation."

"Okay, then next year's budget, Cao Sanxi, let's make it based on 1.6 billion. 600 million in normal taxes and 1 billion in new banknotes."

"I obey the decree. I dare to ask Your Majesty, how much will this military expenditure be increased? How to increase it?"

"This." Zhu Youdong also took out a brochure from his arms: "What I mean is that starting from next year, within three years, the army's ordinary infantry divisions will be expanded to another fifty divisions. That is to say, on the 29th of Tianqi

In 2018, I will have 100 divisions with 1.5 million people. As for special forces divisions, this type of arms is expensive but not expensive, so there is no need to expand it for the time being.

As for the navy, in addition to the four battleships originally planned in the previous five-year shipbuilding plan that will be successfully commissioned in the next three years, I will add three more battleships. Well, these three battleships are based on His Highness King Lai's new settings and use oil.

The construction period for a new type of warship is tentatively set to be four years. Starting next year, all new heavy cruisers, light cruisers, and destroyers that are under construction will use petroleum as fuel."

"Your Majesty, I am in charge of finance, and I don't know much about technology. Well, oil can be burned, I know that. But can the oil directly extracted be used on ships?"

"Theoretically it's possible, but it's too wasteful. To drive the ship forward, heavy oil is enough. The gasoline, diesel, etc. should be extracted from the oil in advance. But I'm not too sure about this.

Understand, this is a matter of the Chemical Engineering Laboratory of Fangshan Academy of Sciences. It is their progress in this area of ​​research that enables His Highness Prince Lai to redesign warships that use petroleum as fuel."

"Then there will be more places to spend money." He waved back, and officials from the Ministry of Finance submitted relevant information. Cao Sanxi looked through it briefly and said: "Currently, our country has an oil field with full production capacity.

, there is only one Yanchang oil field in northern Shaanxi. Oh, yes, more than ten years ago, the emperor asked us to extend the Northeast Railway to Halawen, and we did find a large oil field there. But now there is no complete development there.

, refining and transportation systems. There are also oil fields in Brunei, Java and other places in Southeast Asia, but there is also no complete production system there..."

Zhu Youdong was also helpless when Cao Sanxi mentioned this: time travelers are not omnipotent. How could he have thought that the petrochemical research of Fangshan Academy of Sciences had gone so far?

Originally, according to his plan, Ming Dynasty would only need one or two small and medium-sized oil fields like Yanchang Oilfield: the oil produced from these oil fields would be used for experimental research by the Fangshan Academy of Sciences on the one hand, and used in the domestic plastics industry on the other.

.As for using it as fuel? Let’s wait until the internal combustion engine comes out.

Who knew that the research results achieved by this group of scientists in Ming Dynasty were far beyond his imagination. At present, Fangshan Academy of Sciences has been able to refine oil to various degrees, and the resulting products are obtained during the combustion process.

The thermal energy and kinetic energy of coal have exceeded that of coal.

In this case, why not take the fuel to the ship for use? Again, the steam engine boils water. Isn't it the same when burning oil and burning coal? And the heat energy released by the same weight of fuel is greater than that of coal.

Much higher - in this way, warships can run faster, have longer self-sustainability at sea, and save a lot of space for stacking coal.

Of course, it sounds simple in theory, but in practice it is very difficult. The fuel side involves the removal of oil impurities and the classification and refining of various types of oil. And if the ship needs to change the fuel, it must be redesigned.

Boilers, engines...

"Sanxi, didn't I just say that? New warships will be launched in at least four years. Therefore, it will take at least four years to establish a new oil industry."

"I understand. After the meeting, I will work with the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Heavy Industry to make a plan as soon as possible."

"Okay, let me continue. Since the army wants to expand, it cannot just have people but no weapons. Therefore, the four arsenals of Zunhua, Zhaoqing, Nanjing, and Chongqing must expand their capacity. What, Yuan Yingtai?"

"I'm here."

"I remember that the four arsenals including Zunhua have been overstaffed over the years, right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Because I have been waiting for this day for a long time, although the four major arsenals have been working in one shift except for the three shifts during the expedition to India, I still insist on this day.

The four arsenals support four shifts of workers and more apprentices."

"The Ministry of Finance allocated funds, purchased new land and equipment, built new factories, and expanded the capacity of four arsenals. Starting next year, the production capacity of each arsenal will be increased to more than three times the current level."

"I will receive the order."

"To expand the capacity of arsenals, shipyards must also expand their capacity. The production capacity of the four major shipyards in Changsha, Binhai, Zhaoqing and Funing must also be increased to more than three times the current level. I hope that after the completion of the existing five-year shipbuilding plan, next

A shipbuilding program that is more than three times the current shipbuilding program.”

"I will receive the order."

"Just now I just talked about the expansion of the army and the expansion of arms production. But today's economy and technology of our Ming Dynasty have developed to a considerable level, and they are extremely closely connected with each other. It is the so-called influence of one hair to affect the whole body. Therefore, today we will

Finally, Cao Sanxi, your Ministry of Finance will take the lead and work with relevant ministries to formulate a general implementation plan. In short, in the twenty-ninth year of the Apocalypse, I will have an army of more than 1.5 million and more than ten battleships. At the same time, the reserves will be completed

The number of men of suitable age for military training in one year must be at least 5 million. While achieving the above goals, we also need the domestic economy and people's livelihood to remain stable.

At the same time, the Propaganda Department will also formulate a propaganda plan for the next three years based on the tone of today's meeting. The people of the country must gradually accept the reality that a war will be fought, and a big war will be fought."

"I obey your orders."

…

After the state meeting this time, Zhu Youdong stopped Zhu Youxiao, Zhu You?, Zhu Youjian, Prince Zhu Ciyi and other royal family members. Then he took the lead and led everyone to slowly climb Meishan and arrived at

In front of the crooked-necked tree.

"Youjian, what's wrong? What's wrong with you?"

"Thank you for your concern, second brother. I suddenly feel a little uneasy right now, especially my neck, which is itchy and tight."

"It's nothing serious. Just hold on for a while. Big brother will bring a few of us here. There must be deep meaning."

"Second brother, don't worry, I will save it for you."

Zhu Youxiao and Zhu Youjian were muttering, but Zhu Youdong, who was walking at the front, didn't hear it. Even if he heard it, he could only smile helplessly: You can't expose yourself.

When we reached the top of the mountain, we had a sweeping view of the entire city of Beijing. Zhu Youdong slowly moved his fingers forward for a while: "Everyone, this is Beijing, this is the world!

Forty years ago, I entered the Mongolian School. Fortunately, the Emperor's great kindness allowed me to participate in machine maintenance at a young age. From then on, I knew that there was a huge problem within our Ming Dynasty. If it could not be solved in time, I would just

Afraid that I will become the king of subjugation!"

"Brother Emperor (Father Emperor) made a strong statement."

"It's really not exaggerating at all, it's just the truth." After turning around and gesturing for everyone to find a place to sit down, Zhu Youdong said: "It's been forty years. I've spent a full forty years to cut off the construction."

Slaves, re-established the Yellow Book, opened up the sea ban, reformed the tax system, the military system, developed science and technology, and obtained raw material production areas and sales markets for our Ming Dynasty... In the past forty years, it can be said that except for the conquest of India, it was me who took the initiative to send troops.

War is a last resort.

Why is this so? That's because our Ming Dynasty is a huge country with a vast territory and hundreds of millions of people. It is extremely difficult, tiring and time-consuming to improve such a country from within. There is not enough time.

Many problems of the Ming Dynasty cannot be solved. Taking the initiative to attack the outside world without alleviating internal worries is not a long-term solution.

Nowadays, I can see through many inspections and reports submitted by various officials, Jinyiwei, and Dongchang. Although there are still many problems within our Ming Dynasty, such as corruption among officials, some people still have no problem with food and clothing, and some places

It is still relatively poor...but these no longer pose a big problem to the overall development direction of the Ming Dynasty. It can be said that I have spent forty years to basically repair the internal strength of the Ming Dynasty."

Having said this, Zhu Youdong took out a letter from his arms: "This is a letter that Richelieu in Europe spent a lot of effort and many times to get to me. In this letter, Richelieu reported

He said that since the European Union withdrew from Nanyang, its leader Philippe has determined the national policy of comprehensive preparations for war in Europe and a showdown with the Ming Dynasty in three to five years."

"The thief is so brave!"

"Brother Emperor, who is my Ming Dynasty afraid of?"

"That's right, as long as the Western thieves dare to come, we will make sure they never come back!"

"Based on my father's decision today, I'm afraid we won't wait for the Western thieves to come to our door. Instead, we'll fight them out first, right?"

"That's right." After nodding heavily, Zhu Youdong said: "Although I have faced many enemies in the past forty years, I have always been very clear in my heart that there are too many internal problems in the Ming Dynasty, and the country's focus is on improving people's livelihood.

Winning the hearts and minds of the people. Therefore, in many cases, even if foreign enemies show off their aggression, I do not invest the country's main assets in the military.
Chapter completed!