The Zhengshi Hall, the discussion on the construction of Tongji Canal is underway. First, the Minister of Works Yuwen Kai explained the entire project and construction plan, and accepted inquiries from the Zhengshi Hall officials.

The officials of the Zhengshi Hall refer to the chief officials of the three provinces (Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice) who discussed affairs in the Zhengshi Hall. Now there are fifteen people in total.

It can be said that these fifteen people are high-ranking officials (prison officers) at the level of prime minister. As for the others present, except for the emperor who was present and the prince who was listening to the audience, they all ran errands.

The information of Tongji Canal and the officials of the Zhengshitang have already obtained it in advance. After a few days of reading it, we can have a preliminary understanding of the canal connecting the Yellow River and the Huai River. If you have questions when reading the information, Yuwen Kai must be answered at this time.

In other words, the several priests who opposed the construction of Tongji Canal were now ready to launch an attack.

The importance of Tongji Canal is self-evident, so no one objected to the construction of Tongji Canal, but they had two opinions on when and how to start construction.

The powerful Shangshu Ling Li Yunxin was one of the opponents. If he still had objections at this meeting, then Emperor Yuwen Wen had to consider the start of the Tongji Canal.

Yuwen Kai was well prepared for today, but he only explained the feasibility of Tongji Canal from an engineering perspective. Another person should answer the start time and corresponding series of questions.

Hao Wubo, the clan of the Secretariat, was one of them. Even though he was in the Political Affairs Hall, he could only accept questions, but now, of course he is still accepting questions.

The reason is that Hao Wubo, as the official of the Central Secretariat, was the chief official of the Central Secretariat, and was in charge of the "feasibility study" of the entire construction plan. Since he gave a positive opinion on borrowing money and starting construction of the Tongji Canal immediately, he had to face the attacks of opponents.

Uncle Hao Wu was not alone in facing the attack. Zheng Tong, the new Water Department doctor of the Ministry of Works, also accompanied Uncle Hao Wu to be questioned.

The question lasted for more than an hour. Hao Wu Bo and Zheng Tong had a lot of talk and finally answered the opponent's questions one by one. Then they attracted the most important opponent, Shangshu Ling Li Yunxin.

Li Yunxin did not object to the construction of Tongji Canal, but believed that the timing was wrong. The court should start construction in a few years, and the practice of borrowing money to build the canal was very inappropriate.

Li Yunxin knew that it was Yuwen Wen's intention to build the Tongji Canal, but as the Secretary of State, he believed that the situation was wrong, so that the court could not bear heavy debts. The other opponents were also worried.

Regardless of the motive or reason of borrowing, the behavior of borrowing will first make the people think that the court will soon be unable to hold on, and people's hearts will be fluctuating, and it is easy to be caught by people with ulterior motives.

Second, if so-called public debts are issued and funds are raised from the private sector, if there are few responders or insufficient funds are not raised, where will the court face be put? Who will be responsible then? Who can bear the responsibility?

The first two points are fine, the third and most important point are: borrowing money to build the canal, so that the court will bear huge debts for no reason. Once other places are rushing to use a lot of money and grain in the next few years, where will the court, which is almost in debt, make money and grain be used?

The scenery this year is good, so the court seems to be able to cash out the principal and interest after the government bonds expire. But what if there are any mistakes in the next few years that lead to unsatisfactory fiscal revenue and the government bonds cannot be cashed out when they mature, what should we do?

Who can guarantee that the surplus of the court's fiscal revenue in the next few years is enough to pay the principal and interest of the due government bonds?

If something goes wrong at that time and stir up public resentment, how many people will be killed at that time to calm down public resentment?

The Shangshu Ling had a high position and was the closest position to the prime minister in the various kilometers of the Political Affairs Hall. The Shangshu Ling Li Yunxin's questioning, Hao Wubo and Zheng Tong could not speak cleverly or avoid answering, and they did not have the qualifications to guarantee that their heads could not be resentful.

These two "silent" subordinate Liu Xuan, who has the right to discuss matters, cannot refute them, because the truth is the same. As for Liu Zhuo, as the Minister of Rites in charge of academic affairs, he does not even have the qualifications to enter the conference hall today, let alone refute them.

The last general who checked Yuwen Wen, the Secretary of the Secretariat Li Delin, faced the question of "If something happens to issue public debts, who can bear the responsibility?", took out a pair of prestigious glasses that are popular nowadays and took out some information from the thick file on the case in front of him.

"Extraordinary things and extraordinary ways. What the Shangshu Ling said is indeed for the country and the people, but it is a concern..."

Li Delin and Li Yunxin are not confused about who can take responsibility after borrowing debts, but instead target the word "risk".

First of all, the court's debts to build the canal will indeed make the people who don't know the truth wonder and think that the situation in the court is not good. But in fact, as long as the court can ensure that the official army soldiers have sufficient food and supplies, ensure that the salaries of all officials are paid in full, and that disasters can be relieved, the world will not be in chaos.

Some foolish people are not enough to disturb the central decision-making.

Second, the court issued public bonds and raised funds from private debts. The interest rate was two cents, which lasted for four years. This was already a good interest. Even if the private counter house used this interest to attract depositors, they were not afraid of not being able to attract depositors. The court, which has always had a good reputation, was it still afraid that no one would come to buy public bonds?

Speaking of arresting here, Li Delin asked back: "Did Shangshu Ling think that the court's reputation was not good, so that the people would not actively purchase public debts?"

Li Yunxin could not say such a thing, so he replied: "This is a bad statement, and the reputation of the court is naturally good."

"Since this is the case, the Secretary of State can let go of the worries."

Li Delin's rebuttal question could be said to end this issue. Li Yunxin certainly knew that the court (the emperor) had a good reputation, and even if the court had a bad reputation, he would not be able to say it in person.

In the above two points, Hao Wu Bo, Zheng Tong and Liu Xuan can actually be said, but their rank is not enough. Facing the powerful Shangshu Ling Li Yunxin, it is impossible to ask, "Does Shangshu Ling think that the court has a bad reputation?"

So I can only be silent, otherwise I will be criticized if I have too much sharpness.

So the "retreat" of the three was actually to let the Secretariat Ling Li Delin come out to fight.

The first two questions are questioned, and now there is an explanation, Li Delin continues.

Third, the risk that the court cannot repay its debts does not actually exist.

Li Delin took the thick information and began to present facts and talk about the data: Since the first year of Mingde, the main reasons for the rapid increase in the imperial court's expenditure and the Japanese have been the following.

First, pacify and manage Nanzhong, and broaden Yizhou and Jiaozhou Road.

Second, the Han Mian Dynasty was developed and the people were organized to enter the Han Mian Dynasty to clear out land and farm; third, the Yewan Canal was built: Fourth, the Turks were attacked, and new-style fortresses were built in Longyou, Bingshuo and other places to strengthen border defense.

Fifth, send troops to Liaodong to attack Goguryeo; Sixth, build Yongji Canal.

The above six points have accounted for most of the court's financial expenditure since the first year of Mingde, and have indeed caused a heavy burden.

But by this year, the situation in South China has stabilized and the government no longer needs as much money as in previous years.

With the full line of Yizhou-Jiaozhou Road, the governments along the way no longer need to invest a lot of manpower and material resources to build roads, and the sea can rely on collecting commercial taxes to increase income.

The development of Han Mian has begun to show results. With the increase of grain output and as more and more people settled in Han Mian, the court does not need to invest a lot of manpower and material resources as in previous years. On the contrary, it has begun to make profits.

Yewan Canal has been in operation for several years. Although it is still a loss in terms of operation, it has not lost much. In a few years, it will be able to balance the income and expenditure or even achieve some profits, and the court does not need to invest any more money.

The same is true for Yongji Canal. Compared with the Yewan Canal, the income that Yongji Canal brings to the court in the next few years will inevitably increase year by year.

As for the use of military forces against the Turks and Goguryeo, after the first few years of effective attacks, these two border disasters have become weaker, and the new-style fortress to be built has also been basically completed.

The Turkic Dulan Khan was defeated repeatedly and was killed by his subordinates because of his repeated defeats. Datou Khan suffered a series of defeats and is now busy gaining a foothold and will be unable to invade the east for a while.

It can be foreseeable that in the next few years, the Turks will be unable to take the initiative to invade.

As for Goguryeo, let alone, the imperial court did not need to use large-scale military forces on the grassland and Liaodong like in the previous two years, so military expenditures did not increase but decreased.

In other words, in the next four years, the court will actually not have any additional major expenses. Every year, there will inevitably be a considerable surplus. If you accumulate four years, how can you not pay the due public debt?

"Where is the natural disaster?" Li Yunxin asked, "Natural disasters cannot be resisted by human resources, and no one can guarantee that the world will be in good luck in the next four years."

"Even if water conservancy facilities are being built everywhere and steam pumps are also available, natural disasters may not be drought or flooding. Once insects occur, insects will cross the border and be over the ground for thousands of miles. At that time, disaster relief may exhaust the national treasury. How can there be a surplus accumulation to repay the due government bonds?"

The "worm plague" mentioned by Li Yunxin refers to locust plague, but "locust" and "huang" pronounced the same, so it is called "worm plague". His worries are not unreasonable. After all, no one can say whether such natural disaster will happen.

His opinion is that the treasury must have a surplus to ensure that when a natural disaster occurs, the court has enough funds (money and grain) to provide disaster relief. Otherwise, if the disaster relief is not effective, it will lead to more and more refugees, which is not a good thing.

Faced with the risks that Li Yunxin emphasized again, Li Delin replied:

"There is a possibility for everything. If the court is temporarily unable to repay the debt for some reason, then it can borrow money and pay back the public debts issued by the first... first phase."

Li Yunxin asked loudly after hearing this: "Just! If you borrow money to repay debts, you will have more and more debts! Not to mention that you cannot repay the first phase of the government bonds, you will have to issue the second phase of the government bonds. Who will buy bonds then?"

"Of course I will buy it. As long as the people have confidence in the court, of course I will buy it." Li Delin's words were a bit empty, so he then came up with the facts: "The steamship is confidence!"

"Steam ship?" Li Yunxin took out a piece of information, shook it in his hand, put it on the case, and then said: "Early this year..."

After his speech came to an abrupt end, Li Yunxin saluted to Yuwen Wen, who was sitting in the head, and continued: "At the beginning of the year, Your Majesty personally said that the steamship was progressing slowly and was far from practicality. How come it has become the people's confidence in the court now?"

"That's because..." Li Delin smiled slightly, "Good news came from Huangzhou yesterday. The experimental steamship has achieved a speed of 15 miles per hour!"

Everyone here was stunned after hearing this. They all knew what a steamship was before, because the emperor had shown this magical ship in Taiye Pool. However, no matter how magical this ship was, it was slower than a person walking against the current, and it was not practical. It was just a toy for children.

At the beginning of the year, the emperor also said that the steamship was not good. It has only been a few months since then, so why has it become practical?

True or fake?

Li Yunxin thought so too, and was stunned for a moment, asking in disbelief: "This... is such a coincidence?"

Then he realized that he had made a mistake and quickly smoothed out: "Is it sure that it is sailing against the current and speed faster than walking on ordinary people?"

Li Delin answered firmly: "That's right! In a while, the first public voyage of the steamship will be carried out in Huangzhou. At that time, it will be clear whether it is true or false in full view of the public!"

"With the powerful weapon of steamships, the shipping cost has been greatly reduced. The speed of sailing against the current is 15 miles per hour, and the journey is ten hours a day. From Guangling to Xiakou, it only takes ten days. What does this mean? Will the people still have no confidence in the court?"

"Baixin has confidence in the court. If the court issues public debts, it is not afraid that no one will buy them."

Li Yunxin was speechless when Li Delin said that, while Yu Wen Wen, who was sitting upright, looked at the speechless opponents and his heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

The good news for the practical use of steamships is Yuwen Wen’s trump card to Li Deli, but in fact...
Chapter completed!