Not long after, Lu Ban came in a hurry.
"My lord, what are your orders?"
Qin Yun put down the book in his hand.
"The manufacturing speed of artillery shells can't keep up, we have to think of a way!"
Lu Ban paused: "Your Majesty, we have been working overtime to make it. Unless we give up making firearms and concentrate on making cannonballs, it will be difficult to increase the speed."
"no!"
Qin Yun vetoed it outright. It was useless to have cannons but not guns. The most important thing was that Qin Yun was preparing for the future.
"Is there any other way to increase production?"
Lu Ban paused: "In fact, the biggest factor restricting production currently is iron. Qiongzhou Steel Plant failed to build it, and the main consumption of artillery shells is this iron sheet."
Qin Yun suddenly thought of something.
"No, iron is not necessarily needed. Although the effect will be greatly reduced, there are a lot of raw materials."
"What does the prince mean?"
Qin Yun smiled and said: "You recruit ordinary craftsmen from the people, let them mine stones, put explosives in the holes in the center, and then make a trebuchet to replace the cannonballs."
Upon hearing this, Lu Ban said: "What a good idea. As long as there are enough stones, these cannonballs can be produced continuously."
Qin Yundao: "That's it. This bullet is called a bomb, and it is used for close combat. Of course, you can't stop the artillery shells. Find a way to make more."
Lu Dian nodded: "I will order the Ministry of Works to summon the masons."
Qin Yun waved his hand and said: "Don't bother, just use money. For ten dollars a hollow stone the size of a human head is available. I think there are many people willing to mine it."
"yes!"
After Lu Ban left, Qin Yun summoned Wang Muzhi again.
"Master Wang, how much money is left in the account?"
Wang Muzhi said bitterly: "Your Majesty, we have no money. We were already in deficit yesterday. Your Majesty, how about suspending the conscription? Or delaying the advancement of other projects?"
Qin Yun smiled bitterly: "Even so, it can't change the fact that he has no money."
Wang Muzhi muttered: "Your Majesty, it's time to take out the payment note you mentioned earlier."
Qin Yun slowly stood up and walked to the window. He had never considered these issues before, but now that he has control of the fief, he, the prince, has too many things to take care of!
Finance, military, people's livelihood, economy, officials' salaries, you can ask for money wherever you open your mouth.
It stands to reason that Qiongzhou today cannot support a war on its own.
But Qin Yun understood that if this battle was not fought, Qiongzhou would have neither peace nor development opportunities.
As for Jiaozi, in the final analysis, it is a paper currency endorsed and issued by the government. Qin Yun originally wanted to wait for the palace to get on track before issuing Jiaozi.
But now, the financial gap is really too big, but it is useless to issue it hastily and the people will not buy it.
Qin Yun suddenly thought of something.
"Send invitations to wealthy households in Qiongzhou with a household wealth of more than one hundred thousand taels, saying that I want to treat them to dinner."
Wang Muzhi said: "Does the prince want these wealthy households to pay for Jiaozi?"
Qin Yun waved his hand and said: "No, things like Jiaozi are different from banknotes. Once issued, it is equivalent to opening a magic box. I cannot guarantee whether it will be issued indefinitely once you get used to it."
"And it will take time for people to accept it, but we can issue bonds."
"Bond?"
Wang Muzhi said doubtfully.
Qin Yun smiled and said: "That's right, bonds are issued by the palace and purchased by the private sector. When the term is up, the palace will pay the silver and interest."
"I call it the royal debt."
Wang Muzhi said: "My lord, people are jealous and no one will buy it."
Qin Yun smiled and said: "It depends on your ability. I will allocate 100,000 acres of new land to you."
Wang Muzhi waved his hands repeatedly: "I can't do it, I can't do it!"
Qin Yun said: "These 100,000 acres of new land are mortgages. If it is in the name of the palace, no one will dare to buy this bond. After all, who dares to ask the palace to pay back the money, but you, Wang Muzhi, are different. You are the most powerful official in Qiongzhou."
"What's wrong with you selling some land and making some money?"
Wang Muzhi gave a bitter smile: "Your Majesty, you want me to be the sinner who will bear eternal infamy!"
Qin Yun: "Wrong, it's not like we won't pay it back. We will pay it back when our finances are better. Besides, these pirates not only robbed us of our money, but also the accumulation of so many years. As long as we capture it, won't this money be lost?" Are you still on?"
"Furthermore, with the foundation of bonds, the issuance of Jiaozi will become much easier in the future."
Wang Muzhi muttered: "Okay, I'll just go all out and don't want this face."
Qin Yun patted Wang Muzhi on the shoulder: "You are my prime minister, the prime minister of Liang State, and you will also be the prime minister of Daxia in the future. Besides, with Yingying's relationship, how can I put you in trouble. "
"Don't worry, just do your best!"
Qin Yun was smiling, but Wang Muzhi was furious.
This is to ask him to issue a military order.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will definitely raise the money!"
Qin Yun waved his hand: "Go ahead and be careful not to tire yourself out. The king will perform such a show with you tomorrow."
Wang Muzhi sighed and bowed out. Qin Yun looked away, feeling a little embarrassed.
After all, people end up living in the way they hate the most.
"It's all these damn pirates who are blocking my growth!"
At this time, Jiang Yingying came forward with ginseng decoction.
"Your Majesty, my mother-in-law made this specially for you. She said you must let me watch you drink it!"
Qin Yun took Jiang Yingying in his arms and said, "How is Granny Jiang recovering recently?"
Jiang Yingying chuckled: "My mother-in-law is recovering very well, but there is always an annoying fly."
fly?
Qin Yun, who paused for a while, laughed loudly: "You mean Mr. Wang, right?"
Jiang Yingying nodded obediently: "Your Highness, drink quickly, otherwise the soup will get cold. My mother-in-law said that after her eyes get better, she wants to select some children from the academy to learn martial arts."
Qin Yun: "Okay, they will become talents, and we in Qiongzhou will have a steady stream of talents."
Qin Yun took the soup bowl and took a sip.
"This soup is really delicious. Come and have a taste!"
Jiang Yingying blushed: "No, my mother-in-law said this is specially for men to drink."
Qin Yun chirped, and suddenly felt a little hot all over his body. He looked at Jiang Yingying's dress today. She was wearing a tube top red dress, a purple mandarin duck bellyband, beautiful red lips, some rouge on her face, and her little hands were helpless. Rubbing the corners of his clothes.
Qin Yun narrowed his eyes and asked, "Tell me, what is Grandma Jiang worried about?"
Jiang Yingying: "Mother-in-law...mother-in-law said this is a soup for giving birth to children!"
Qin Yun pulled Jiang Yingying over and said, "Why are you so shy? Now you are my king's princess."
After finishing speaking, he picked up Jiang Yingying and came to the bedside.
Jiang Yingying took the initiative at this moment: "Your Majesty, let me come, you are exhausted these days."
Qin Yun smiled and said nothing, then pulled down the curtain.
…
The next day, the meeting hall of Prince Liang's Mansion was filled with distinguished guests, and a group of wealthy people from Qiongzhou gathered together. They didn't want to come, but they couldn't stand the intimidation of Jin Yiwei.
One by one, they came to the main hall with an uneasy mood.
"The prince is here!"
Following the voice of a waiter, a group of rich people were sitting upright.
"Meet the prince!"
Qin Yun glanced sternly, waved his hand and said: "Everyone, please get up!"
Qin Yun sat on the throne, and Wang Muzhi stepped forward with his hands in hand.
"Your Majesty, I have a plan to tell you!"
Qin Yun looked extremely impatient.
"Didn't you see the heads of the families in front of me today? I won't talk about official business, but come and serve fish and crab meat."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone saw a salmon being put on the table, and the chef killed the fish in front of them. The scene was so bloody and bloody, and all the family heads were pounding in their hearts.
Qin Yun picked up a piece of fresh fish meat and was an excellent cook. He was Ding Xie, an expert on sea conditions that he had recruited before. He was born a fisherman and had strong points in killing and selling fish.
Qin Yun dipped the wasabi into his mouth and said, "No, this fish is very delicious. Pass it out to all the members."
The words seemed frivolous, but no one in the room dared to say anything. They were afraid of being killed. Every one of the heads of the aristocratic families who had rebelled against Qin Yun had their sky lanterns hung up.
A wealthy man couldn't stand this anymore. He bowed tremblingly and said, "Your Majesty, if you have something to say, please speak out!"
Qin Yun did not answer, but looked at Wang Muzhi.
"You just said you had a script to play. What should you play?"
Wang Muzhi said: "Your Majesty, all the officials are very interested in our newly developed fertile land. They also secretly communicate with the grassroots officials among themselves to replace our fertile land with their bad farmland."
"Master Wang, you can't spit on others. How dare I?"
"Your Majesty Mingjian, we will never dare to take advantage of the public land."
"Wang Muzhi, what is your intention to sow discord between us and the prince?"
Qin Yun waved his hand: "Okay, please be patient. I am not an unkind person."
"Let's do this. I have awarded all the latest 100,000 acres of fertile land to the prime minister. If you want land, just ask the prime minister."
Everyone was stunned. All 100,000 acres of new land were given to the prime minister?
You know, it's not their kind of sand field, but a new field that Qin Yun specially sent people to cultivate, and also built water conservancy facilities.
In ancient times, rich people actually had no good way to invest other than burying their money in cellars. Buying land is an idea that is rooted in every wealthy person's mind. After all, the money is gone when it is spent, but the land is there, and the children and grandchildren will also have endless blessings.
Qin Yun's previous idea was to ban the sale and purchase of land across the board, but can banning the sale and purchase of land really prevent land annexation?
Disaster!
People's desires are greater than those of heaven, and they will try their best to make money from their own money.
In fact, this group of wealthy households just want to put their money in a safe place and find a place to maintain its value and generate stable income.
Qin Yun continued to eat the fish and just looked at Wang Muzhi. He didn't say anything, but it seemed that he had said everything.
After finishing the meal, Qin Yun stood up.
"Everyone, eat well and drink well. I am still busy training my troops. I'll take my leave!"
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
After Qin Yun left, all the family heads gathered in front of Qin Yun.
"Lord Wang, what do you mean by this, Your Highness?"
Wang Muzhi said: "Everyone should know that the Liang Prince's Palace is currently at war with pirates. This war together is worth ten thousand taels of gold."
"Qiongzhou Mansion doesn't have any money left. I shamelessly asked the prince, and he agreed to take out the land. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Someone frowned and said, "Didn't the prince say that land is not allowed to be bought and sold at will?"
"It's impossible for the prince to slap himself in the face!"
Wang Muzhi smiled and said: "Everyone, these hundred thousand fertile fields are now under my command, and they belong to me."
"Of course it is up to me to decide whether to sell or not, but the prince is the prince after all. We cannot go against what he says. I do have a good idea."
"Everyone, please listen!"
"My lord, just tell me."
Wang Muzhi said: "My lords, there is no doubt that the prince is short of money now, but it is only temporary. After all, you also know that there is a sugar and salt business. The prince will never be short of money in the future."
"I would like to use the 100,000 acres of land in my hand as a mortgage to borrow money from you, on a one-year, two-year, or five-year terms."
"After maturity, pay the principal and interest. The longer the period, the higher the interest. Moreover, you can sell this IOU to anyone at any time. The prince said that only the IOU will be recognized and no one will be recognized."
A group of wealthy households suddenly realized that they were being asked to pay for the quarrel they had been making for a long time.
No way!
"Master Wang, the landlord's family has no food left, so take your leave!"
After speaking, one of them turned around and left, and the others followed.
After everyone left, Qin Yun walked out of the screen with his hands behind his back. Wang Muyi looked helpless: "My lord, you have also seen that it won't work!"
Qin Yun smiled and said: "Don't worry, I still have a way."
