Chapter 764: The treasury deficit, making ends meet
Chapter 764: National treasury deficit, unable to make ends meet
"Why don't you come sit down quickly!"
Zhao Shen smiled and patted his side. He would never act like an emperor in front of his only sister!
When he reached Zhao Shen's side, he heard Zhao Shen ask, "What?
You've been away for several months, aren't you afraid that the emperor will worry about you?"
"Hmph, even if I'm in Lin'an, my brother is still busy with court affairs all day long, so he won't have time to pay attention to me!"
"Your Majesty will naturally focus on state affairs. However, Ling'er, you can come and talk to me when you enter the palace. I happen to be bored in the palace, so you might as well tell me interesting things!"
Mr. Xia on the side smiled and chatted.
"It seems that my palace is not as good as the Shen family's mansion in Lianli City."
Zhao Shen smiled and nodded Zhao Ling's forehead.
"Of course!"
Zhao Ling nodded fiercely, "My sisters treat me very well, and there are many things in the city.
Not long ago, Sister Yue secretly took me to the ancient city to run horses! However, when I returned, I was discovered by Sister Xiangling and was punished by Sister Xiangling!"
Hearing this, Zhao Shen couldn't help but frown slightly!
The ancient city is located northeast of Lianli City and belongs to the land of Suqian. It is truly the territory of the Kingdom of Jin.
I wanted to criticize a few words, but when I saw the excited look on Zhao Ling's face, I endured it.
My sister finally left Lin'an with great difficulty, and now she has returned safely, so why should she be scolded and unhappy?
"Sister Xiangling?
But the county lady who was canonized not long ago?"
The queen is the mother of the world. If it is an official's promotion, she may not understand it. However, if the imperial court consecrates a county lady, it is impossible for her not to know it?
"A mere county lady actually scolded the princess?"
Queen Xia was a little dissatisfied.
Zhao Shen on the side waved his hand and interrupted Xia's words, "It's just for Ling'er's safety. Ling'er doesn't care, so why should we pursue it!"
A few people talked for a while, and then Zhao Shen said to Zhao Ling, "This time you come back because your mother has a nephew named Wu Xian who wants to get married.
Not long ago, my mother mentioned this matter to me, and that's why I asked you to come back.
Soon it will be my father's birthday, and Wu Xian will definitely come by then.
Regardless of whether you agree or not, let’s meet first and then talk about it. In this way, it will be easier for me to say it in front of my queen mother..."
"Brother Royal!"
Zhao Ling pushed Zhao Shen dissatisfied, "I don't want to marry that Wu Xian, I just want to stay with the emperor brother all the time, so I won't get married!"
Zhao Ling's words made Zhao Shen burst into laughter, "You girl, how can you not marry? This matter is settled like this. When your father's birthday comes, you will come to find the queen, and the queen will take you there." See that Wu Xian! Don't worry, the emperor won't force you. If you are not satisfied, the worst is that the emperor can go to the mother and talk to the queen."
"Your Majesty, Lord Shen and Lord Ma are all here! Which Lord is here first?"
At this time, Wang Quan walked to Zhao Shen and spoke in a low voice.
"Master Shen?
Isn’t that the husband of several sisters, Shen Tang?”
Zhao Ling on the side asked with wide eyes.
"good!"
Zhao Shen patted Zhao Ling's head gently.
"I heard that Shen Tang defeated those Tubo barbarians this time. Shouldn't Brother Huang give him a promotion?"
Zhao Ling's words were somewhat questioning!
"Princess, this is Your Majesty's business..." Xia on the side said quickly.
The harem does not interfere with politics, this is an iron rule in the palace!
Zhao Shen waved his hand indifferently, "Haha, yes, our princess also knows how to share my worries.
Then according to our princess, what kind of official title should be given to Shen Tang!"
"Hey, Shen Tang is so powerful, so naturally he needs to be made a prime minister!"
"Hahaha..." Zhao Shen raised his head and laughed, "With Shen Tang's qualifications, it is not enough to become the prime minister! Okay, you are here to chat with the queen, and I will go meet these two beauties first!"
After that, he turned to Wang Quan and ordered, "Just let the two of them come together. I will wait for them at Qinzheng Hall!"
At the entrance of Qinzheng Hall, Shen Tang couldn't help feeling a little different when he saw Ma Shao, who was summoned by Zhao Shen.
After seeing the ceremony, the two of them did not dare to say anything and waited quietly for Zhao Shen to summon them.
"My lords, come in quickly! His Majesty is already waiting for you."
Not long after, Wang Quan appeared with a smile on his face and led the two of them into the Qinzheng Hall.
"Chen Shen Tang/Ma Shao, see your Majesty!"
"Rise up, King Quan, and give me a seat!"
After the two of them sat down, Zhao Shen went to Ma Shao and said, "Ma Shao, in a few days it will be my father's birthday! Are you ready with the required silver?"
Zhao Shen's question made Ma Shao couldn't help but smile bitterly! As the third envoy of the imperial court, he is in charge of the financial power of the imperial court, which is indeed a high and powerful position.
However, this position is definitely not easy to do!
Speaking of this matter, we have to mention the taxes and various expenses of the Song Dynasty!
Throughout Zhao Shen's reign, the maximum annual income of the state treasury was more than 65 million! Only half of the country was left, but it could have more than 60 million, which is enough to show how prosperous the Song Dynasty's economy was.
However, although you receive a lot, you spend more money!
One of the major items is salary, which is the salary of officials! The grace of Yinbu, Renzi, etc. brought the number of officials in the court to a terrifying level.
Every month, Zhao Shen spends as much as 1.2 million taels of silver to pay salaries to officials at all levels! This does not include various rewards or rewards.
Another big item is military expenditure! Not to mention the imperial army's ban, local armies in various places, including Lianghuai and Huaihe, need nearly 20 million each year! The armies in Huguang and Guangxi are nearly 10 million, and the army in Sichuan is the largest, reaching 30 to 40 million!
In addition, the expenses of the Supreme Emperor Zhao Gou are also not small!
Zhao Shen was a filial son, and anyway, the world was passed down to him by Zhao Gou. Therefore, although Zhao Gou had abdicated, Zhao Shen was not stingy at all in terms of expenses! He received one hundred thousand yuan every month! There are additional contributions for birthdays, festivals, etc.! In one year, it will be at least two to three million!
In other words, since Zhao Shen came to power, the court has been in a state of deficit.
This is also the reason why the imperial court in Chengdu has to raise temporary funds for troops and even food and salary! There is no way, it’s not that they don’t want to pay, it’s because they really don’t have the money.
Just a few days ago, Zhao Shen informed Ma Shao that in addition to purchasing corresponding gifts for the Emperor's birthday, he also needed five hundred thousand silver! How could this not give Ma Shao a headache?
"Your Majesty! The Ministry of Revenue now has nearly 7 million taels of silver! However, it still needs to support the remaining few months of official salaries and other expenses. In addition, part of the military supplies to compensate the Jin Kingdom for sending troops has been shipped out, but there is still a shortfall. The two million taels have not yet been fully paid."
Ma Shao said with a wry smile.
Seven million taels is not a small number anywhere, but it is a bit stretched to support the operation of such a huge country!