The Red Mansions Across the Four Seas

Chapter 178 Military Expenditures ([-])

Under Jia Min's proposal, an enlarged meeting of the three-person group on the issue of military expenditures for training the soldiers was held in Rongxi Hall.

Those who participated in the meeting were the members of the three-member group Jia Min, Jia Mu, and Mrs. Wang.And Jia Amnesty, Jia Zheng, and Mrs. Xing.Because the training of the soldiers involved the Ningguo Mansion, Jia Zhen, Youshi and Qin Keqing from the Ningguo Mansion also participated in the meeting at the same time.

In the past, Qin Keqing was not qualified to participate in such meetings, but now that the Popcorn Project is in full swing and is likely to control the Ningguo Mansion, Qin Keqing naturally participated.

In addition, there is one more person on my side, which can increase the weight, so Jia Zhen and You Shi happily invited Qin Keqing to participate in the meeting.

The central topic of the meeting was about military spending.

No one mentioned the external discussion about Jia Min's military training methods.Perhaps this question was deliberately avoided.

Naturally, Jia Min would not take the initiative to bring up this matter.

There must be an expenditure standard for the military budget.Jia Min's standard is the middle standard in military training of various aristocratic families: 100 taels of silver per person per year.

For this standard, everyone has no objection.

There are 600 people in Rongning Second Mansion, plus 100 historians, a total of 700 people.One year is 7 taels of silver.

"The 7 taels includes five parts. The first is the daily food, clothing and housing expenses. The second is the salary for soldiers. The third is weapons and protective gear, including war horses, bows and arrows, knives and guns, helmets, armor, etc. The fourth is fodder for war horses. The fifth is daily training equipment, including deer stockades, horse rejection posts, etc."

"Feng Mansion, Chen Mansion and Wei Mansion currently pay 100 taels per person per year. Now, everyone, let's see how to solve this fee problem."

After Jia Min calculated the accounts, he kicked the ball to everyone.

As for how to solve the problem of military expenditure, Jia Min already had a plan in mind.However, at the moment he cannot be thrown out prematurely.He also needs to exchange something with these people.

The current military expenditure issue is the best time for him to get what he wants.This is the moment when you have the strongest bargaining power.

When these people are asked to spend money, they don't need to be taught one by one.If you ask them to make money, they are almost helpless.

No one came forward to speak, and the Rongxi Hall was completely silent for a while.

"Brother Rong's daughter-in-law, your popcorn business is booming now. I also calculated it in private. In a year, there is still an income of tens of thousands of taels of silver. The military expenditure of your mansion is 3 taels. You There should be some, right?"

Jia Min started talking.Mentioning Qin Keqing first was a plan that Jia Min had discussed with her in advance.

"Fourth Uncle Min, although my popcorn business can make some money, but it is also limited. In order to get people to go out to do this business, I have drawn out a lot of servants in the village."

"Now it's the autumn harvest, and there aren't too many jobs in the village, so we can spare some manpower. If we start planting in the spring next year, there will be not enough manpower. In addition, some people will be drawn out to serve as soldiers, and the manpower will be even tighter. .Now I'm also worrying about what will happen next spring."

What Qin Keqing said was also taught by Jia Min.The purpose is to bring out the question of Zhuangzi's reform.She asked the question in front of everyone, so Jia Min could give the answer.

"Although I haven't been to your Zhuangzi, I have been to the Zhuangzi on the Xifu side. It must be similar on both sides."

"In my opinion, those Zhuangzi of yours are not short of manpower, but overstaffed. In fact, you don't need that many people at all. My idea is that those who are drawn out to serve as soldiers and do popcorn business should not go back. gone."

"As for the shortage of manpower after the beginning of spring, there is no need to increase it. It's better to lease the original land to the remaining people. Just take out the profits in your mansion for a year, and give the rest to those people. servant."

"In this way, they will have a career ahead, so they won't be lazy and play tricks. Because all the extra money they earn belongs to them, they must be working hard from dawn to dusk, and careful planning. Since the government has got hundreds of people to serve as soldiers and earn money , the income in Zhuangzi has not decreased, so why not do it?"

Jia Min's plan is actually a measure to break the big pot and implement the joint production contract responsibility system to fully mobilize the enthusiasm of the remaining people in the village.

"Fourth Uncle Min's method is certainly good, but the mansion can't afford too much money for military expenses. Naturally, the money should be paid, but if there is too much, the masters and servants of the mansion may have to cut down on food and clothing. , this is difficult."

"In your opinion, how much can you pay?"

"My intention of running this popcorn business is to make the life of the mansion more comfortable, and the people in the mansion have a better life than before. If this can be guaranteed, I think I can pay 1 taels. "

Reform is nothing but a process of redistribution of interests.In this process, the original vested interests want to obtain more benefits while ensuring that their original benefits will not be reduced.Otherwise, they will have no incentive to reform, and may even become an obstacle to reform.

Jia Zhen, You Shi, and even Jia Mu, Jia She, and Mrs. Wang all had this mentality.Even in the face of external challenges, this mentality is not easily changed.

Jia Min asked Qin Keqing to throw out this question, and then gave his own solution, which was a corresponding decision made by this kind of psychology.As long as the problem of Ningguo Mansion is solved, it will provide a reference model for Rongguo Mansion.

Similarly, Zhuangzi in Ningguo Mansion reformed, and Zhuangzi in Rongguo Mansion followed suit.

"1 taels seems to be a little less, and there is still a shortfall of 2 taels."

"The 2 taels is a big deal for others, but it doesn't seem to be a problem for Fourth Uncle Min. We all know how well Uncle Min does business. If Fourth Uncle Min makes a move, tens of thousands of taels of silver will be enough. It's not a big deal."

On the surface, it was Qin Keqing who kicked the ball to Jia Min.However, her statement did represent the aspirations of the vast majority of people present at this time.

If Jia Min solved the problem of military expenses by himself, their burden would be greatly reduced.

At this time Qin Keqing said these words, feeling very uncomfortable.Although Jia Min had discussed this with her in advance, she felt sorry for Jia Min when she thought that no one else was willing to pay.

"Yes, Brother Rong's daughter-in-law is right. The fourth brother Min is the most capable, and tens of thousands of taels of silver is naturally not a problem. Military training is also a major event in the mansion, and our East Mansion only pays 1 taels."

Seeing that she was actually mature, Jia Zhen expressed her opinion in time, and she asked for 1 taels, which was very generous.

"The fourth brother Min said about the reform in Zhuangzi. I think the fourth brother Min's method is very good. It not only increases the income, but we also have less to worry about. Even those servants can live a better life. This is the best of both worlds." There is no reason not to follow."

Seeing Jia Zhen's statement, You Shi also came up to assist in time.

So far, the affairs of the Ningguo Mansion have basically been settled.

However, Jia Min did not express his position directly.Rongguo Mansion still needs an answer.

"Mother, the East Mansion has made a statement, what does our Mansion mean?"

Jia Min turned to Mrs. Wang.

"I've been worrying about this matter too. Fortunately, a girl named Bao came to me yesterday and said something, which made me think of a way."

"Miss Bao told me that we should follow the example of Brother Rong's daughter-in-law and start the popcorn business. Ordinarily, this business has already been done in the East Mansion, and we shouldn't have intervened in it."

"However, this business is currently the only one. Even if Dongfu does it, the business will never be finished. Besides, this popcorn machine is the only one here, and no one else has it. , since it can be given to Dong Mansion and to my own family, there is nothing to say."

Damn, this old Zhaidou fighter really speaks impeccably.Tell her that, if I don't give her a popcorn machine, it's as if I'm not human.

"I discussed this matter with your uncle and aunt, and they all agreed."

Such a good thing to make money, they will naturally agree.

"It is said that a man can't go without a head, and a goose can't fly without a head. I don't know who mother wants to ask to preside over this matter?"

"Since this matter was brought up by Miss Bao, she has worked hard to think about it. Her family has been in business for generations, and Miss Bao still has some knowledge in doing business. In addition, they are all real relatives, and they are also called people. Relieved."

"There is the matter of the official carriage, and the example of Dongfu Rong's daughter-in-law before me. They all speak according to the shares. Since Miss Bao has a large share, she should preside over this matter. We old people, there is no Work hard on business, so Miss Bao is in charge of the overall situation."

Jia Min still admires Baochai's work.She directly talked to Mrs. Wang about this matter, which was the best entry point, and achieved twice the result with half the effort.

"Yeah, we have already discussed this matter. Now we are waiting for Brother Ming to give us the machine. To make money in business, we must first think about our family. I think Brother Ming has a good idea. The Zhuangzi in our mansion can also be entrusted to the servants like in the East Mansion. Some people are selected to serve as soldiers and make popcorn, without delay."

"Since the East Mansion gave out 1 taels, and our two families have the same number of people who donated, so naturally there must be less. I think the West Mansion will also give out 1 taels."

Jia Amnesty naturally actively supports such things that can benefit.

"Brother Rong's daughter-in-law is insightful, and she knows heroes with her eyes. She said that the rest of the money will be settled by Brother Min, so she knows that Brother Min has this ability. We also agree with her opinion. We firmly support Min Brother, take on this errand."

You old rascal, you have told me all the good and bad things.

But Qing is of course knowledgeable, her knowledge is to make a private life with me, not greedy for money as you think.

Obviously you put the military expenses on me, but you still strongly support me, old rogue uncle, you have a really thick skin.

(End of this chapter)