Chapter 2333

Borrowing money to pay for a funeral is really not a glorious thing. If the current financial difficulties had not reached the extreme, it would definitely not have reached this point. But for Li Zhi, it was not the most uncomfortable thing for him to borrow money from Haihan with shame.

, after borrowing the money, he realized that this was just one of the more than 30 loans that North Korea had borrowed from Haihan in the past two years. There were many loans with larger amounts than this one, and there were still a lot of arrears ahead.

It needs to be repaid slowly month by month and year by year.

"Master Jin, I remember before I went to Sanya last year, the money we borrowed from Haihan was far less than what it is now. How come we owe so many loans just one year later? What happened in the meantime?

What's the situation?"

After reviewing a bunch of IOUs sent by Hucao Yamen, Li Zhen felt a headache immediately, so he had to send Jin Shangxian to ask him about the reason and whereabouts of these loans.

Jin Sangxian said: "Your Majesty, in fact, most of the money our country borrowed from Haihan in the past year was invested in the industries in the Datong River Basin that cooperated with Haihan. It is only the current revenue of these industries

It’s not yet ideal, and it will take some time to make a profit, so the government’s finances are still a bit tight at the moment.”

When Li Shi went abroad last year, the national treasury was almost at its bottom, and it was almost impossible to pay for sending overseas students. At that time, in order to maintain the operation of various yamen, Li Shi had to start borrowing large sums of money from Haihan.

.However, at that time, Li Zhu was relatively optimistic about the direction of the financial situation, because Haihan promised that the cooperation project in the Datong River Basin would bring sustained and considerable benefits to North Korea, and no one would doubt Haihan's ability to make money.

But one year later, when Li Zhi returned to his hometown, he found that the country's financial situation did not seem to have improved significantly, and the loan owed to Haihan had increased a lot. This was obviously not a situation he wanted to see.

Li Xie also knew something about the cooperative industries in the Datong River Basin. He even went on an on-site inspection before going abroad. However, at that time, most of the local areas were still in construction sites and there was not much actual output, so Li Xie also

It is difficult to predict what will happen after local industries are put into operation.

But in Li Zhi's view, since there are Haihan people watching over there, it stands to reason that the construction progress should not be so slow, and he clearly remembers that when he went abroad to inspect the Datong River last year, the production time promised by the Haihan people was much longer.

It won't be so long. Relatively simple production sites like salt farms should have been put into operation last year, and the financial situation should have improved. How could it have caused more and more foreign debts?

Li Xie said displeasedly: "The industries in Datong River, such as salt fields and mines, should have been put into operation last year. How come they are still only going out but not entering, and instead they continue to increase investment there?"

Jin Sangxian explained: "The salt field mines have indeed been put into production one after another, but the Haihan people believe that the production scale is still not enough, so they have been expanding the site. According to the agreement, our country must also invest corresponding funds in proportion. If it does not follow the investment, Haihan will

It will occupy more shares in these industries, so in order to ensure future profits, we can only bite the bullet and continue to spend money."

After hearing this explanation, Li Zhi felt an even greater headache. He originally expected that these cooperative industries could quickly improve the country's financial situation, but he did not expect that he had already been burdened with heavy debts before he saw any benefits.

Li Zhi said impatiently: "It was said to be a cornucopia, but now it has become a bottomless pit! When will there be profits there? Did the Haihan people give an exact deadline?"

Kim Sang-hyun responded: "As far as I know, the industries in the Datong River Basin should be profitable before the end of this year, and the imperial court's financial situation will be relieved by next year."

Li Xie shook his head and said: "It's still too slow. We owe so much foreign debt and there are still many places that need to spend money. When can we fill the hole? I calculated it when I was in Sanya. It's just a matter of forming a new army.

, we have to invest 1.8 million taels of silver every year in the first few years. If we rely on the income from the Datong River to achieve balance of payments, it seems that it will not be possible in the short term."

While Li Zhi was broadening his horizons in Sanya, he was also making plans for the future development of his country. The most reliable way to strengthen a country is, of course, to imitate Haihan's successful experience and adopt a two-pronged economic and military approach to increase national strength as quickly as possible.

It began to expand its sphere of influence outwards and gradually became a formidable power.

However, it is not easy to follow Haehan's path. The military investment alone is enough to drag down North Korea's finances. Whether it is arms procurement, training expenses, or the daily operating costs of maintaining the new army's establishment,

It far exceeds North Korea's past military budget.

Li Zhi believed that to form a new army, the required expenses would have to be provided by the income from industries in the Datong River Basin, but now it seems that this idea is still too optimistic. Under the circumstances of carrying a large amount of debt, even if the Datong River side is

The industry began to generate profits, and priority had to be used to repay foreign debts. The funds that could be allocated for military expenditures were extremely limited, which was only a drop in the bucket for the development prospects envisioned by Li Zhen.

He had just read the plan for a new naval fleet submitted by Bingcao Yamen. This was a ten-year long-term plan formulated in accordance with his requirements. This plan required purchasing a large amount of armaments from Haihan and only purchasing twenty warships from him.

And the cost of the supporting ship-borne artillery is nearly one million taels of silver.

And this is only the first phase of the naval formation plan planned by Bingcao Yamen. The goal proposed by Shen Jingzhen is to build a large fleet with one hundred Haihan standard warships in five to eight years, and use this as a

Fight against the capital of Japan and the Qing Dynasty, and truly achieve the goal of keeping the enemy out of the country.

Shen Jingzhen's plan is grand and the goal is very ambitious. Li Zhen is also excited about it. If this plan can be realized, then maybe in less than ten years, the North Korean Navy will become one of the most powerful maritime forces in the region. The reason for this

The prospect is still a little uncertain, naturally because of the existence of the Haihan Northern Fleet. It is still difficult for Li Zhi to compete for the first place.

But the biggest problem is that the sky-high military expenditures required to realize this plan cannot be supported by today's fiscal revenue alone. Let alone five to eight years, under the current situation, even if it is doubled, it will be difficult to realize this plan.

plan.

Li Zhi's horizons were broadened during his one-year study abroad in Haihan, and he gained more understanding and ideas about the country's objective current situation and development prospects. It is no longer possible to maintain the current situation step by step according to the governing concepts during Li Zhi's reign.

Just rule. He wants to make North Korea strong and become a king who makes history. Building a strong armed force is the first step. However, such an ambitious goal is stuck in the first step because of financial problems. This is not possible in any case.

This is an unacceptable situation.

"Lord Jin, the country needs musketeers and armed fleets. These are gold-eating beasts, so we have to find ways to create more income!"

Li Zhen expressed his dissatisfaction with the current situation, but with his control over domestic resources, he could not come up with any more effective method. He could only wait and see whether Kim Sang-heon could come up with a solution.

Kim Sang-hyun said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, since last year, the national tax has been increased by 30%. There have been a lot of complaints from the people. If it is increased again, I am afraid it will cause public dissatisfaction and trouble."

During the Anti-Qing War last year, all the combat expenses of the Hai-Han coalition were borne by North Korea. The national treasury could not afford so much money, so of course it could only collect more taxes to fill the gap. However, if tax increases are adopted as a long-term national policy

To implement it, it will inevitably lead to intensified conflicts between the government and the people. The current domestic situation is already unstable. If we continue to increase taxes, there is a possibility that the government will force the people to rebel.

Li Xie pondered: "Since raising taxes doesn't work, then think of other ways."

Jin Sangxian thought that if there were other cheap means, then there would be no need to keep borrowing money from Haihan. Prior to this, Li Zhu had summoned the heads of various yamen to discuss it several times, but he had not figured out any effective improvements.

Means, how can there be any good solution that suddenly pops up at this time.

"Your Majesty, from the perspective of a humble minister, there is no need to act too hastily... Perhaps Your Majesty can discuss with the Haihan people to see if they can reduce the cost investment on the Datong River so that our country's finances can have a buffer time." Kim Sang-heon.

There was nothing I could do at the moment, other than a smooth solution.

Of course, he didn't expect Haihan to compromise easily on this issue, but since Li Zhi had a good relationship with the Haihan people, it might be better for Li Zhi to negotiate in person. Even if he was rejected, at least he would

It can make Li Zhi realize that this problem cannot be solved by just talking.

Li Zhi thought Jin Sangxian's proposal was a good one. Since he already knew what was going on, while the two people in charge, Tom Wang and Qian Tiandun, were still in Seoul, he might as well have an interview with them.

Later, Wang Tom was invited to the palace to meet with Li Zhi. Li Zhi knew that the other party did not like to talk in circles, so he explained his intention to invite him to the palace to meet in a concise and concise manner.

After hearing this, Wang Tom smiled and said: "Your Majesty, the situation on the Datong River side is actually not as bad as you think. The production levels of the salt fields and mines are steadily improving, and profits are actually there, but the settlement period has not yet arrived.

As for the operating investment, the proportion will be gradually reduced in the later period. Your Majesty does not have to worry that it will always be like this. If you are not worried, then when we evacuate Seoul, we can go to the Datong River to see the actual situation."

Li Zhi felt a lot relieved after hearing what he said. He smiled and said: "I know that there is no need to worry about your country's ability to run industries. I just heard from ministers that the Datong River has not been profitable, so I still want to

I can verify the situation with General Wang and explain it to the ministers later. As for Datong River, there is no need to go. The situation in Seoul is determined, so it is better for me to stay here and take charge."

Wang Tom said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, we have many places overseas operating industries similar to salt farms and mines, and the profitability has always been very good. However, the initial investment is relatively large, and it will take a longer time to recover it."

cost. But once it enters the profit period, the profits will be considerable, and it can drive the development of related industries. In one or two years, the Datong River Basin will initially form an industrial scale. At that time, Your Majesty can verify whether what I said is true.

It was honored.”

When Li Zhi heard that he would have to wait a year or two before he could taste the benefits, he frowned and said, "Then I wonder if General Wang has any good ideas that can help our country improve its current financial situation?"

Wang Tom said: "Is your country's finances not functioning properly again? Do you need me to come forward and say hello to Haihan Bank and ask them to borrow some more money?"

Li Zhi sighed: "That's not the only reason. I just hope to form a new army as soon as possible and strengthen the military strength, so as to reduce the dependence on the Allies. But whether it is a musketry unit or an armed fleet, the funds required are very large.

A large amount, given the current financial situation, may be difficult to achieve in three to five years."

Wang Tom nodded thoughtfully, thinking that Li Xie had gone to Sanya for a year. It seemed that he had been greatly affected, and he had vaguely had the idea of ​​​​militancy. If it were not restricted by objective conditions, he would have probably started

Tossed.

Of course, this is not a bad thing for Haihan. The more Li Zhi wants to strengthen his military strength, the more he must rely on the support provided by Haihan, whether it is weapons and equipment or personnel training. Without Haihan, it is just empty talk. And North Korea

If the military strength of China can be strengthened to a certain extent, it will also help alleviate the external pressure faced by Haihan in Northeast Asia. It will also have an additional useful boost in the future use of troops against the Manchu and Qing Dynasties.

But of course, Wang Tom knows better than Li Xie how much money it will cost to form a new army. The two loyal supporters of Annan and the Fujian Xu family have invested astronomical military expenditures in these years. It is precisely because of the

With such a huge investment of resources, the military strength of these two companies could be rapidly improved, and they were even able to send troops to accompany Haihan on overseas expeditions. In terms of the combat effectiveness of their armed fleets, they had even surpassed the Ming Dynasty Navy during this period.

However, North Korea is indeed poor in this regard. In Wang Tom's view, its navy can only serve as a logistics force during wartime, and has not reached the level of combat at all. Li Xie is dissatisfied with this status quo.

, it is reasonable to want to form a Haihan-style armed fleet.

However, even if the industries in the Datong River Basin enter a period of profitability, military expenditures to maintain a large-scale armed fleet will still put great pressure on North Korea. Li Zhen wants to use the income from the industries in the Datong River Basin to support military construction

, it’s really not that easy to achieve in the short term.

But Wang Tom is not without any ideas. Since Li Xie is so proactive, it seems that he can make a bold suggestion to Li Xie based on the current situation.
Chapter completed!