Now after a long journey, artillery can finally be produced. Only with artillery can this large ship tailor-made for artillery truly exert its power.
After many obstacles from the beginning to the present, Qiu Zhi and the navy officers were naturally excited when they finally saw the hope of successfully launching the ship.
Some people are excited, while others are naturally helpless.
Yu De on the other side said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the national treasury is tight now. Whether it is the production of weapons and equipment or the construction of road facilities, etc., a lot of money needs to be invested. I am here because the navy needs to allocate money.
I want to install new firearms on the warships, but even if I plunder all the ministers and others, it is really difficult to give the navy another copper coin."
Qiu Zhi and other naval admirals immediately looked over with unkind eyes.
This guy has been pouring cold water on him since he came here in the morning. If we weren't all under the same roof, the navy officers would have thrown him directly into the river to feed the fish. It is said that this guy from the north doesn't know how to swim.
The navy dared not express its anger before, but now His Majesty is here in person and has shown his admiration. This guy is actually not a bad guy, he really needs to be dealt with.
At this time, as long as Li Xingchen gave the order, Qiu Zhi and the others would immediately lift Yu De and throw him out.
However, Li Xingchen only frowned slightly and looked at Yu De.
Yu De raised his hand in a neither humble nor arrogant manner.
"I know the difficulties in the household department." Li Xingchen sighed.
Yu De has a thin figure. His official robe does not seem to be worn on him, but more like it is hanging on his body. He also has thick dark circles on his face. You don't need to think about it to know that it must be because of this or other things in the past few days.
There is no good rest when it comes to money mobilization.
Chen Shushen, the left minister who is currently in charge of the household department, is famous for his workaholic. Except for Zong Yuanrao, the secretary of the household department who is taller than him, the entire household department is running continuously under his command every day. Otherwise, such a big man,
Money is needed everywhere and I really can’t make enough money.
Because of Chen Shushen's efforts, Dahan, which had just been founded a few years ago, has never encountered a very difficult financial crisis. Chen Shushen can always dig out a sum from a certain corner when the court needs money. Of course, this is also
It has something to do with Li Xinchen's vigorous development of business. The wealth came out of the warehouse and began to flow, which gave Chen Shushen the possibility to continuously fill the holes.
The Ministry of Finance's daily "night fighting" was such that the old minister Zong Yuanrao couldn't bear it anymore and came to supervise the formation in person to let Chen Shushen rest. No one could persuade him to leave. In the end, it was Li Xingchen who came forward in person, and again
A lot of people were transferred from the Rites Department, the Commercial Department and other temporarily idle departments to help, and then the old man was allowed to rest.
If the old minister fell ill due to overwork and died of illness before taking office, then Li Xingchen would really feel guilty.
Therefore, Li Xingchen can understand that the Ministry of Household Affairs is complaining constantly.
He knew that both Chen Shushen and Yu De were hard-working and always liked to work in silence. If they both started to complain, it meant that the matter was really difficult to solve.
Li Xingchen raised his head and looked at the huge warship.
Naturally, such a warship cannot just sit in the dock for so long.
Its journey should be across the stars and the sea.
But there are times when heroes are short of money.
"How much more money does the navy need?" Li Xingchen said in a deep voice, "Make a detailed list and I will get it from the inner palace. At the same time, I will call on the concubines in the harem to donate silver and property, and try to make up part of it within a month. At least the artillery will be first.
Start boarding!"
"Your Majesty, you can't do this!" Qiu Zhi and Yu De were both shocked.
Your Majesty draws money from the inner treasury, not to mention how much money is in the inner treasury now. Everyone knows that the royal family is frugal. Every year, His Majesty cuts the expenses in the palace, and even lets many maids go out of the palace to serve as ministers.
Spending money is a shame, a shame to the Ministry of Revenue, and a shame to the Navy!
The Ministry of Revenue cannot make money, and the Navy cannot steal money. It is a shame and incompetence!
"Your Majesty, if you grit your teeth, you should be able to free up the money to build at least ten artillery pieces for the navy. Please don't do this!" Yu De said hurriedly.
"Your Majesty, as long as your Majesty gives the order, the navy can still gain something even if it goes to the south and north to rob it. This ship will be launched later!" Qiu Zhi also stood up.
If Wang Chang knew that he dared to ask for His Majesty's money, then it would be Qiu Zhi instead of Yu De who would be floating on the river tomorrow.
Li Xingchen laughed and said: "The old ones won't go away, and the new ones won't come in. What's the point?"
After a pause, he looked at Qin Sizu: "Is it enough to allocate 100,000 yuan from the inner treasury now?"
Qin Sizu suddenly felt a little embarrassed: "Your Majesty, the two free school buildings in Guangling and Jinling just took away 30,000 yuan, and there may only be more than 80,000 yuan left."
"It seems that I have become a pauper." Li Xingchen touched his nose in embarrassment, "Well, let's take it as much as we have. The free school should not need funding this year."
He had forgotten about this incident.
"Your Majesty!" Qiu Zhi knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, you must not do this!"
"Get up," Li Xingchen encouraged him, "I didn't say I wouldn't let your navy return it."
Qiu Zhi was stunned for a moment.
Li Xingchen said directly: "The navy is now the military branch that spends the most money in the Han Dynasty. We can't keep doing nothing. Today, the Ministry of Revenue and I will give you an IOU. You will have to pay me back within five to ten years. At least
Twice the interest!”
Qiu Zhi hurriedly and solemnly handed over his hand: "On behalf of the navy, I would like to thank your majesty for your grace. I will not give up even if I die!"
Li Xingchen raised his eyebrows and turned to look at Yu De: "Is this okay? The Ministry of Revenue grits its teeth and frees up a little more. A little is a little. I will guarantee the navy, and they will pay back twice as much in the future."
Yu De also handed over his hand: "I obey your order!"
Li Xingchen then said: "If this is the case, I should be able to mobilize officials and even the people. As long as the navy can return it, then I will have the confidence to borrow!"
Qiu Zhi's hands trembled slightly.
If officials and people can be mobilized to donate generously, the Navy will even have the confidence to build a second gunboat!
"You guys have to pay me back," Li Xingchen joked, "otherwise my reputation will be ruined on the street."
"I obey!" Qiu Zhi and other naval generals all prostrated themselves.
This time Li Xingchen did not refuse.
I always feel like a loan shark.
However, Li Xingchen also knew very well that as long as the navy was careful, it would not be difficult to repay these debts.
There is a lot of wealth on the large and small islands in Southeast Asia. As long as the navy is given enough ships, they should have the capital to earn back bit by bit!
"Tell Wang Chang that I have entrusted the vast Nanyang to him. If you don't come back in five years, you guys don't want to come back." Li Xingchen waved his hand and walked straight out.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The voice behind him was so loud that it seemed that the entire shipyard was alarmed.