Fairy, Please Let Me Explain - #571 - Chapter 543 Expenses

Building a city is not about building a matchbox, or demarcating a piece of land and then repairing the land and surrounding it with four tall, flat walls to be considered complete.

This kind of thing is at best a copycat in Dayan.

Various technologies are required from the moment civil engineering planning begins.

From basic urban zoning, to the intersection of beastly roads and ordinary roads, to the complicated underground culvert system for water diversion, drainage, and water storage, many matters require the use of more than a hundred types of technologies, large and small.

Moreover, the above are just common theoretical techniques, and most of them are above the formation pattern.

The establishment of a city requires no fewer than a thousand formations, large and small.

Therefore, these large-scale construction projects are usually subcontracted by several or even dozens of chambers of commerce in different industries.

However, with the size of Tianan Chamber of Commerce, there is no need to worry about these aspects.

After Xu Yuan finished speaking, Hua Hong didn’t think anything and gave a simple and clear answer:

“I can take it on, but I don’t have enough money.”

Building a new city in Dayan is generally divided into four processes.

The imperial court allocated funds for the project—the chamber of commerce accepted the bid—the imperial court collected corvees—and the chamber of commerce began construction.

The model of getting money first and then starting construction is a guarantee for the chamber of commerce, and the collection of corvee also saves the chamber of commerce a large part of its manpower expenditure.

At first glance, the chamber of commerce seems to be very profitable, but the problem is that the money allocated is far from enough. Generally, it only accounts for one-third to one-fourth of the total project. Some poor state government agencies even only give one-fifth. one.

But even so, there are still many chambers of commerce flocking to it.

Because in order to make up for the loss of the chamber of commerce, the imperial court would grant it certain privileges within the political division of the local new city, some of which were mining and spiritual field development rights, and some of which were tax exemptions that lasted for decades or even hundreds of years.

In short, the one-time payment for the project was replaced by some local political privileges.

Within Dayan, except for those large chambers of commerce with sect or court backgrounds, the rest of the small and medium-sized chambers of commerce rise and fall at an extremely fast rate.

Most of them are rootless duckweeds with almost no ability to resist risks.

A natural disaster or a man-made disaster can wipe out several years or even ten years of their savings.

And even if it has always been smooth sailing and they have been relying on business and industry to expand their scale, once they cross a certain limit without political background, they will face being picked.

This policy of the imperial court gave these emerging chambers of commerce an opportunity to become aristocratic families, allowing them to have a certain political background.

This is the imperial court’s recruitment policy for these emerging chambers of commerce.

But Cheonan Chamber of Commerce doesn’t need this thing at all.

Even if Huahong undertakes this type of project, it does so because of some strategic resources within the planned area.

And what’s there in Huizhou County?

There is nothing, all that can be done are some mortal properties.

Although the mortal industry can also make money, it has to be large-scale. The output of only hundreds of thousands of mortals is not worth it at all by the Tianan Chamber of Commerce.

As for the strategic location of Huizhou County?

Hua Hong’s ability to sit in the position of president of the Tian’an Chamber of Commerce for decades did not rely on the “success of the dragon” by following the young lady, but on his real ability.

The intricate network of official roads in Dayan has long been imprinted in his mind. Just give the name of an official road, and Hua Hong can immediately tell which state capitals, which important towns are along the way, and what kind of goods are produced and transported. The categories, and even the risks that may be encountered along the way, require money to be used to manage officials.

Thinking in his mind, Hua Hong looked at the thinking kid and said softly:

“If Huizhou County is really so important, how could the administrative level before this be just the county government? Indeed, Changtian, you are right. Huizhou County is indeed at the junction of two continents, at the entrance to Gyeonggi Province, but it is not the only problematic entrance. The Gyeongbuk Official Road next to it accounts for only one-tenth of the transportation share between Gyeonggi and the northern border.”

After a few breaths of silence, Xu Yuan sighed lightly and suddenly said:

“Mr. Hua, you don’t really think that Huizhou County is just an ordinary county after the Xiaobai people were relocated there? Besides, you don’t know where the Jingbei Official Road continues to the north?”

“Leading to Qinlong Pass and Jingbei Mansion.”

Hua Hong answered without any pause and asked directly:

“So, Changtian, what you mean by this is that you want to rebel?”

As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze was calm and steady as he stared at Xu Yuan closely, with a hint of searching in his slender eyes.

Xu Yuan did not answer immediately.

He suddenly remembered what his father had told him.

Be careful what you say and do.

From now on, everything you say and do will be scrutinized by others.

After thinking for a moment, Xu Yuan answered seriously:

“We at least need to take some precautions. The emperor’s time is limited. He will definitely take action before then. Without the restraints of the barbarians and the northern sects, once the 300,000 Northern Feng troops move south, the situation is likely to turn south. It’s going in a direction we don’t want.”

“Is this so”

After getting his satisfactory answer, Hua Hong did not continue to make things difficult for the money. He nodded lightly and continued:

“Qinlong Pass has the Ghost Armor Army stationed in one town, and the Jingbei Prefecture next to it has the Jiulong Army stationed in two towns, and they are at odds with each other.

“If you want to block the entrance from the North to Gyeonggi, you have to control two important towns at the same time. Do you think this group of underground palace survivors can do it?”

As he said that, he glanced at Bai Muxi, who was looking down with a low eyebrow.

The war potential of the underground palace survivors is indeed great, but that is only potential.

Fanaticism and faith may make you stronger in one-on-one combat, but in large-scale military clashes, these things will become a burden if not tamed.

The Black Lin Army has all gone through years or even more than ten years of training. Otherwise, even if they can form an army, just fighting in the field will turn into a one-sided massacre against the elite warriors of Dayan, let alone Siege the city.

There may not be much time left for the survivors of the underground palace to train into an army. After all, the saint in the palace may only have one or two years left to live.

Regarding this question, Xu Yuan’s answer was straightforward:

“This depends on their own abilities. If they fail, it will be their own lives.”

“.”

Hua Hong smiled softly when he heard this.

He already understood the meaning of this boy’s move.

Xu Yinhe’s absolute authority suppressed the way the senior officials of the Prime Minister’s Office dealt with the survivors of the underground palace, but suppressing did not mean disappearing.

Xu Yuan was using this method to give them, the senior officials of the Prime Minister’s Office, an explanation.

If things really develop to that point,

If the survivors of the underground palace can really seize those two important towns and hold back the 300,000 Northern Feng troops for the Prime Minister’s Office, then they can create a time window for the Prime Minister’s Office’s coup in Di’an City.

This is a great achievement.

Moreover, after experiencing this war, the population of the underground palace survivors will inevitably be severely weakened, and the future that the prime minister’s senior officials are worried about will be postponed indefinitely.

If it fails, the survivors of the underground palace can rely on the huge base of cultivators to drag on for a period of time and create a time window. By then, the survivors of the underground palace will most likely be exterminated, and the concerns of the senior officials of the prime minister’s government will cease to exist.

Thinking of this,

Hua Hong looked at Xu Yuan with a touch of strangeness in his eyes, but at the same time he was also relieved.

Such a decisive method, that kid has grown up now

The thought flashed past, and Hua Hong’s face turned a little serious:

“If this is the case, then it is best not to use the name of Tianan Chamber of Commerce to take over Huizhou County civil engineering projects.”

“Is there any difficulty?” Xu Yuan asked.

Hua Hong smiled slightly:

“It’s just a matter of using some secrets. It’s a very simple thing.”

In addition to the obvious ones, the Prime Minister’s Mansion also buried secrets in many places, and Hua Hong held in his hands some small and medium-sized chambers of commerce that apparently belonged to the sect or the royal family.

Xu Yuan’s eyes flashed and he asked tentatively:

“The balance payment from Huizhou County”

“Find a way to raise the money yourself.” Hua Hong snorted coldly.

“Why?” Xu Yuanyi said righteously: “I am doing this for the prime minister’s house.”

“Changtian.”

Hua Hong interrupted with a gentle call and said word by word:

“Based on their nature, these underground palace survivors are your personal private soldiers, not the Prime Minister’s Office.”

“.”

Xu Yuan frowned slightly, thinking about the meaning of these words, but did not answer.

Seeing this, Hua Hong continued to speak in a serious voice:

“I have been following the young lady all my life. To me, the private soldiers of the young man are the same as those of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, but it is different for Zong Qingsheng’s Black Lin Army.”

“Just like your father is followed by a group of old guys like us, Zong Qingsheng is also followed by his faction of military commanders.

“You also know that because of your previous bad things, the Black Lin Army is suspicious or even repulsive towards you, but now you suddenly have such a group of underground palace survivors around you, what will they think?

“In the past few decades, the system in the Prime Minister’s Mansion has been basically fixed, and you, the heir, suddenly have such a direct army around you. What do you think they will think?”

Hua Hong spoke slowly and his tone became more solemn:

“Taking a closer look, there are only so many benefits of money, food, materials and ordnance for one year. If they are rationed to the survivors of the underground palace, the share originally belonging to the Black Lin Army will become smaller.

“Going further, when you inherit the Prime Minister’s Mansion, will you use this direct line to ban these veterans?

“The appearance of the survivors of the underground palace has threatened the status of their group, so if you can solve it yourself in Changtian, it is best not to rely on the power of the Prime Minister for the time being, at least until your plan for the survivors of the underground palace is implemented and you have made great contributions. Not before.”

Speaking of this, Hua Hong showed a helpless smile on his old face and sighed softly:

“It turns out that Xu Yinhe wanted you to cultivate some young men in the Black Lin Army as direct descendants. You don’t have to deny that Commander Yuan Hao was the first direct descendant of the Black Scale Army given to you by your father, but you boy You have found a batch of seedlings to cultivate outside, which can be regarded as destroying the road he paved for you to a certain extent.”

“But you don’t have to worry. If you really can’t get the money, I can give it to you privately, but definitely don’t use the official method of the prime minister’s office.”

“.”

After listening carefully, Xu Yuan was silent.

The words from the heart made the wrinkles on Hua Hong’s face look a little older. Looking at the young man in front of him, the complexity spread in his heart.

After being taken out of the small Chang’an pawnshop by the young lady, Hua Hong has already devoted his life to his loyalty as he approaches the age of seventy.

If possible, he would really like to see the young lady’s heir sitting in the ninth-five position.

However, Hua Hong only hid these words in the deepest part of his heart.

After a period of extended silence,

Xu Yuan suddenly chuckled, rejected Hua Hong’s kindness, and said:

“I know, but it shouldn’t be necessary.”

“Oh?” Hua Hong raised his eyebrows when he heard this.

Xu Yuan smiled slightly and said half-jokingly:

“But you, old man, are so generous after all. If you have to give it to me, I can accept it.”

Hua Hong was stunned for a moment, and then said with a bit of laughter and tears:

“Changtian, I’m not joking.”

“I’m not kidding either.”

Xu Yuan replied directly, put down Erlang’s legs, sat on the soft couch, put his elbows on his knees, and said with a hint of seriousness in his voice:

“You, an old man, don’t have any heirs or relatives, how can you save your private money? In the end, it’s not just a fake account. It’s easy to leave false accounts with such a large amount of expenses at one time. When the time comes, the Heilin Army knows about it, and the opinions may be will be bigger.

“And you should know my ability to get supplies. That old woman Lou Ji robbed me of a batch of Sumeru Rings earlier. You, the old man, should also have a share of the supplies inside, right?”

“.”

After a moment of silence, Hua Hong frowned and said:

“What supplies?”

“Come on, don’t let me pretend like this.”

Xu Yuan’s eyes showed a hint of disdain: “My batch of Sumeru Rings are all military supplies. Lou Ji doesn’t have an army and can’t use them. Where can she sell such a large batch of stolen supplies? The Royal Chamber of Commerce or the sect?”

“.” Hua Hong blushed.

With a slight snort, Xu Yuan did not delve into this topic.

Because even if he looked into it deeply, it was impossible for the old man to spit out the money.

After waving his hand, Xu Yuan continued softly:

“The settlement of the underground palace survivors has been settled. In addition, I also want to purchase a batch of ordnance from you.”

Hua Hong didn’t show much surprise in his eyes. After all, Huizhou County was established to hide troops there, and he said softly:

“Of course, I will coordinate with various chambers of commerce to carry out production in the near future. The initial scale of six battalions is expected to be delivered around the beginning of summer next year. During this time, I will help you raise military pay. No deposit is required, but the ordnance must be paid in one go when it is delivered. Pay the full amount.”

This is the special care Hua Hong gave Xu Yuan.

However, Xu Yuan was a little dissatisfied and asked directly:

“Isn’t it in stock?”

Hua Hong was immediately alert when he heard this and frowned:

“What do you want with the cash?”

Xu Yuan rolled his eyes and whispered:

“Old Man Hua, we are in business, and I am a customer. How can a seller ask questions about a customer?”

Hua Hong stared at Xu Yuan for a few breaths, then breathed out softly:

“Well, I hope you know in your mind that we have it in stock, but it depends on how much you want.”

Xu Yuan touched his chin, briefly recalled the previous secret conversation with Li Yunqing, and said softly:

“Two battalions, are there any?”

ten thousand people

Hua Hong thought for a moment, and subconsciously wanted to ask the reason.

Although he was willing to believe Xu Yuan, as an elder, he really didn’t trust this kid with such a large batch of ordnance. In this troubled year, any random mischief would most likely destroy Xu Yinhe’s century-old plan.

Xu Yuan also understood Hua Hong’s concerns and immediately said:

“Don’t worry, I have thought deeply about this matter and it will not affect any situation in Dayan.”

Will not affect Great Inflammation

After receiving this hint, Hua Hong immediately understood, felt relieved, and nodded with a smile:

“The Tian’an Chamber of Commerce does have the inventory of ordnance for the two battalions, but do you have the money?”

Xu Yuan chuckled:

“You quote a price first. I still have a little money on hand for the time being.”

“Two thousand taels of spiritual pattern armor and matching helmets, and two hundred taels of standard spiritual swords.”

“.”

Hearing the price, Xu Yuan’s eyes immediately darkened.

Ordnance requires redundant inventory.

To arm 10,000 sergeants, not counting those large ordnances such as crossbows, the cost of armor blades alone is upwards of 25 million taels.

The three million taels that Xu Yuan dug out from Xu Xinyao are not even a fraction.