1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 2333
Borrowing money for funerals is really not a glorious thing. If the current financial difficulties were not extreme, they would definitely not have come to this point.But for Li Yi, borrowing the money from Hai Han with a low face was not the most uncomfortable thing for him. First, there are many loans with larger amounts than this time, and there are still a lot of arrears that need to be repaid month by month and year by year.

"Lord Jin, I remember that before I went to Sanya last year, the money we borrowed from Haihan was far less than the current amount. How come we owed so much money after only one year? What happened in the middle? What's happening?"

After reviewing the pile of IOUs sent by Hucao Yamen, Li Xuan also felt a big headache at the moment, so he had to send Jin Shangxian to ask him the reason and whereabouts of these loans.

Jin Shangxian said: "Your Majesty, in fact, most of the money that our country has borrowed from Haihan in the past year was invested in the industries that cooperate with Haihan in the Datong River Basin. It's just that the current revenue of these industries It is still not ideal, and it will take time to return to the capital and make a profit, so the current financial situation of the imperial court is still somewhat tight."

When Li Xuan went abroad last year, the national treasury was almost bottomed out, and he could barely pay for the expenses of sending overseas students.At that time, in order to maintain the operation of various yamen, Li Jing had to start borrowing large sums of money from Haihan.However, at that time, Li Zhen was relatively optimistic about the direction of the financial situation, because Haihan promised that the cooperation project in the Datong River Basin would bring continuous and considerable benefits to North Korea, and no one would doubt Haihan's ability to make money.

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

Li Yan also knew something about the cooperative industries in the Datong River Basin. Before going abroad, he even went to a field trip.However, at that time, most of the local area was still under construction, and there was not much actual output, so it was difficult for Li Yi to predict the situation after the local industries were put into production.

But in Li Yan's view, since there are Haihan people watching over there, it is reasonable to say that the construction progress should not be so slow, and he clearly remembered that when he went abroad to inspect the Datong River last year, the production time promised by the Haihan people could be delayed. Not so long.Relatively simple production sites like salt farms should have been able to start production and operation last year, and the financial situation should have improved. How could it cause more and more foreign debts?

Li Yan said displeased: "Those industries in the Datong River, such as saltworks and mines, should have been put into production last year. Why are they still only going out but not going in? Instead, they have to continue to increase investment there?"

Jin Shangxian explained: "Salt farms and 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, my country must also invest in the corresponding funds. If it does not follow the investment, Haihan It will occupy more shares in these industries, so in order to ensure future benefits, we can only grit our teeth and continue to invest in it.”

After listening to this explanation, Li Xun felt more and more headaches. He originally hoped that these cooperative industries could quickly improve the country's financial situation, but he did not expect to be burdened with heavy debts before seeing the benefits.

Li Yan said impatiently: "It was clearly said to be a cornucopia, but now it has become a bottomless pit! When will there be income over there? Can the Haihan people give an exact deadline?"

Jin Shangxian replied: "As far as I know, the industries in the Datong River Basin should be profitable before the end of this year, and the financial situation of the imperial court will be eased by next year."

Li Yan shook his head and said: "It's still too slow. I owe so much foreign debt, and now there are still a lot of places that need to be spent. When will the hole be filled? I calculated it when I was in Sanya, and it was just a matter of forming a new army. In the first few years, we have to invest 80 million taels of silver every year. It seems impossible to achieve a balance of payments by relying on the income from the Datong River."

While Li Yan was broadening his horizons in Sanya, he was also planning for the future development of his country. The safest way to strengthen the country is, of course, to follow the successful experience of Haihan. Start to expand the sphere of influence outward, and gradually become an awesome power.

However, it is not so easy for Haihan to follow this path. The investment required in the military alone is enough to drag down North Korea's finances.Whether it is arms purchases, training expenditures, or the daily operating costs of maintaining the new military establishment, they all far exceed the past military budget of the DPRK.

Li Yan believes that to form a new army, the required expenses must be provided by the income of those industries in the Datong River Basin, but now it seems that this idea is still too optimistic. In the case of a large amount of debt, even the Datong River The industry began to make profits, but it had to be used first to repay foreign debts. The funds that could be allocated as military expenses were extremely limited, and the development prospects conceived by Li Yan were just a drop in the bucket.

He had just read the plan for the new naval fleet submitted by Bing Cao Yamen, which was a ten-year long-term plan formulated according to his request.This plan requires purchasing a large amount of armaments from Haihan, and the cost of purchasing only [-] warships and supporting shipboard artillery from Haihan is as much as nearly one million taels of silver.

And this is just the first phase of the naval formation plan planned by Bingcao Yamen. Shen Jingzhen's goal is to build a large fleet with [-] Haihan-style warships in five to eight years, and use this as a Fight against Japanese and Manchu capital, and truly keep the enemy out of the country.

Shen Jingzhen's plan is very grand, the goal is very ambitious, and Li Yan is also excited about it. If this plan can really be realized, then perhaps in less than ten years, the North Korean navy will become one of the most powerful naval forces in this area.The reason why there is still a little bit of uncertainty about the future is naturally because of the existence of the Haihan Northern Fleet. It is still difficult for Li Yan to compete for this first place.

But the biggest problem is that the sky-high military expenditure required to realize this plan cannot be supported by the current financial revenue alone. Let alone five to eight years, it will be difficult to achieve this goal even if it is doubled according to the current situation. plan.

During his one-year study abroad in Haihan, Li Yan’s horizons were broadened, and he had more understanding and ideas about the objective status quo and development prospects of his country. Just rule.He wants to make North Korea strong and become a history-making king. The first step is to form a powerful armed force. However, such an ambitious goal is stuck in the first step because of financial problems. This is an unacceptable problem anyway. status.

"Master Jin, the country needs musketeers and armed fleets. These are gold-swallowing beasts, so we have to find a way to generate more income!"

Li Xun expressed dissatisfaction with the status quo, but given his control over domestic resources, he couldn't come up with any more effective solutions. He could only see if Jin Shangxian could come up with a solution.

Jin Shangxian said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, since last year, the national tax has been increased by [-]%, and there are already a lot of complaints from the people. If there is any more increase, I am afraid that it will lead to public resentment and troubles."

During the anti-Qing war last year, all the combat expenses of the Haihan coalition forces were borne by the North Korean side.The treasury can't afford so much money, so of course it can only collect more taxes to fill the hole.However, if the tax increase is implemented as a long-term national policy, it will inevitably lead to intensified conflicts between the government and the people.However, the current domestic situation is inherently unstable. If taxes continue to increase, it is impossible to say that there may be a phenomenon of officials forcing people to rebel.

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

Jin Shangxian thought to himself, if there are other cheap means, then why should he keep borrowing money from Haihan.Prior to this, Li Jing had called together the heads of various yamen for several times, but he hadn't figured out any effective means of improvement. How could there be any good way that suddenly appeared at this time.

"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, 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 of the Datong River, so that our country's finances can have a buffer time." Jin Shangxian He couldn't come up with any solution at the moment, he could only give a peaceful solution.

Of course, he didn't expect Hai Han to easily compromise on this issue, but since Li Yan has a good relationship with the Hai Han people, it might be better for Li Yan to negotiate in person.Even if he is rejected, at least it can make Li Yan realize that this problem cannot be solved by talking about it.

Li Yan felt that Jin Shangxian's proposal was good. Now that he knew what was going on, since Tom Wang and Qian Tiandun were still in charge in Seoul, it would be good to have an interview with them.

A little later, Wang Tom was invited to the palace to meet Li Yi.Li Xuan knew that the other party didn't like going around in circles, so he briefly explained his intention to invite him into the palace for a meeting.

Wang Tom laughed and said after listening, "Your Majesty, the situation on the Datong River side is actually not as bad as you think. The production levels of the saltworks and mines are steadily improving, and the profits are actually there, but the settlement period has not yet come. As for the operating investment, the proportion will be gradually reduced in the later period, so your Majesty need not worry that you will only enter and exit like this all the time. If you are not at ease, then when we evacuate from Seoul, we can go to the Datong River together to see the situation on the ground."

Hearing what he said, Li Xuan felt relieved a lot, and smiled at the moment: "I know that you don't have to worry about your country's ability to manage industries, but I just heard from the reports from the courtiers that the Datong River has not been profitable, so I still want to I can check the situation with General Wang, and I can explain it to my courtiers later. As for the Datong River, there is no need to go, the situation in Seoul is uncertain, and it is better for me to stay here and sit in charge."

Wang Tom said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, we also operate industries like salt farms and mines in many overseas places. The profitability has always been very good, but the initial investment is relatively large, and it will take a long time to recover. cost. But once it enters the profit period, the profit will be quite considerable, and it can drive the development of related industries. In another 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 fulfilled."

When Li Yan heard that he had to wait a year or two before he could taste the sweetness, he couldn't help but frowned and said, "Then I wonder if General Wang has any good ways to help our country improve its current financial situation?"

Wang Tom said: "Is your country's finances failing again? Do you need me to say hello to Haihan Bank and ask them to borrow some more money?"

Li Yan sighed: "It's not just for this reason. I just hope that a new army can be formed as soon as possible to strengthen the military, so as to reduce the dependence on the Allied forces. But whether it is the musketeers or the armed fleet, the funds required are very high. With the current financial situation, it may be difficult to realize such a large amount in three to five years."

Tom Wang nodded thoughtfully, thinking that Li Yan has been in Sanya for a year, and it seems that he has been greatly affected, and he has faint thoughts of resorting to war.If it is not restricted by objective conditions, it is estimated that the toss has already begun.

Of course, this is not a bad thing for Haihan. The more Li Yan wants to strengthen his military strength, the more he must rely on Haihan's support. Whether it is weapons and equipment or personnel training, it is just empty talk without Haihan.And if the military strength of North Korea can be strengthened to a certain extent, it will also help relieve the external pressure Haihan faces in Northeast Asia.

But of course Tom Wang knew better than Li Yan how much money it would cost to form a new army. The two loyal supporters of Annan and the Fujian Xu family have already invested astronomical figures in military expenditures over the years.It is also by relying on such a huge investment of resources that the military strength of these two families can be rapidly improved, and they are even able to send troops to overseas expeditions with Haihan.In terms of the combat effectiveness of the armed fleet alone, they have even surpassed the Daming Navy during this period.

In this respect, North Korea is indeed at a poor and poor level. In Wang Tom's view, its navy can only serve as a logistics force during wartime, and it has not reached the level of combat at all.Li Yan is dissatisfied with this status quo, and it is reasonable to want to form a Haihan-style armed fleet.

However, even if the industry in the Taedong River Basin enters a period of profitability, the military expenditure for maintaining a large-scale armed fleet will still put great pressure on North Korea.Li Yan wants to use the income from the industry in the Datong River Basin to support the construction of the army, but it is really not so easy to achieve in the short term.

But Tom Wang is not helpless. Since Li Yan is so proactive, it seems that he can give Li Yan a bold suggestion based on the current situation.

(End of this chapter)