Dai Zhou had no choice but to say, "Your Majesty, the annual income of the national treasury is still acceptable. But there is a certain amount of money and food in the world, and all this money and food should be used on the blade."

After a pause, Dai Zhou continued, "It's okay to say that the money is good, but the food... is too expensive and wastes people's efforts, so... everything must be done within your ability. I know that the Chen family has money, but where does the food come from? Just say that Emperor Yang of Sui conquered Goryeo three times and opened up the canal. Are these two things wrong? In my opinion, if we only talk about doing things, these two things can be said to be beneficial to the future. But... he is wrong because he is so happy to be successful. Although I can understand the thoughts of Your Majesty and Chen Zhanshi, who doesn't want to do something perfectly? But if everything has advantages, there will be disadvantages... I have calculated the account."

Dai Zhou had already made preparations. He coughed and said, "In the future, this city will be built, and a large number of people will be required to migrate Shuofang. The Chen family has a large population, and now there are a large number of people dependent on the Chen family. Such a large population is all the people's strength. When they are in Shuofang, they must get food from Guanzhong. According to the rules of previous years, if they transfer one stone of grain to Shuofang, they will need to consume three stones of grain. Your Majesty thinks it is clear."

To make one stone of grain, it costs three stones of grain. This is not intentionally scary, it is indeed the actual situation!

You should know that transportation in ancient times has always been a difficult problem. If you want to transfer one stone of grain, you need to collect the people, but the people should not be hungry when they transport grain to you.

Transporting grain is different from riding a fast horse. He cannot walk fast and cannot reach his destination in just a few months. So the people who transport one stone of grain always need food and drink on the way, but how can they solve the problem of eating and drinking?

Of course, I just ate the food on the spot, but as a result... everyone was lucky and ate all the way. When they arrived, at least half of the food would be eaten.

And they are here, but you can’t let them go home later. Then on the way home, do they want to eat and drink?

Then when you go back, eat all the way. In this way, you can imagine how much food can be transported to Shuofang?

There will be losses along the way, but this loss can be described as horror.

And this... is just one aspect of loss.

Because of a large amount of manpower to do this useless transportation, this will lead to a reduction in Guanzhong's strength. If these young and strong people leave production, they will not be able to cultivate. If they cannot cultivate, the land will be deserted!

And by the coming year, there is a possibility of land production cuts.

In Dai Zhou's opinion, this is simply a waste of resources.

Such losses are increased geometrically based on the population size of Shuofang.

If Shuofang only stationed 3,000 troops and horses, it would obviously only take five or six thousand civilians to transport grain at most.

But if the Chen family expanded the scale without restraint, not only did they station troops and horses, but they also had to gather caravans and ordinary people. If the scale reached tens of thousands of people, then there would be hundreds of thousands of special people to support them.

When the ancients fought, they often had armys of hundreds of thousands or millions, which actually made sense!

It is not to say that if there are really hundreds of thousands or millions of scales, the real warable soldiers are only 30,000 or 50,000. When it reaches a 100,000, the scale is already considerable. As for the others, eight out of ten are civilians or auxiliary soldiers who transport grain.

Now, a Shuofang City was built, and all of these people became "border troops" and they had to come to Guanzhong to support them every year. After all, money was just currency. No matter how rich the Chen family was, it was just a lot of money. But what should I do if I had food?

After all, the war is only temporary. After a year or two, everyone can go back to recuperate!

But this Shuofang City is equivalent to a continuous supply, which is like the Tang Dynasty has been maintaining a large-scale war every year. How can this...bearable?

Dai Zhou’s current opposition is very reasonable. Obviously, at the beginning, everyone thought that Chen Zhengtai was just building a military city with thousands of troops stationed in it, but it was up to his character, for the sake of your Chen family’s wealth.

But when everyone comes to their senses, they are all in a bad mood!

Your uncle, what does it mean to play so much? I really think that my Tang Dynasty is very rich and can squander it. You can afford it, but we can't afford it!

Chen Zhengtai listened calmly and then said, "I have reported this to my mentor. There will be many difficulties in the early stage, but I have asked my tribe members to carry out military farming and cultivation in Shuofang. I really need to supply some military rations in the early stage. In a few years, I can be self-sufficient. In the future, this grain can be supplied to Guanzhong. After all, there is land in the desert. Not to mention feeding tens of thousands of people, it is not impossible to support one hundred thousand or one million."

Chen Zhengtai said it sincerely. In fact, this is just a struggle of ideas. Dai Zhou and others have just made purely empiricist mistakes. After all, for thousands of years, in the agricultural society, output has been fixed and there is no possibility of opening up the source. So... the only way to prevent yourself from going bankrupt is to reduce expenses.

Therefore, people pursue frugality, so do they govern the family and the country.

This frugality has become the highest virtue, as if you spend a little more money, it becomes a crime! Those who spend money indiscriminately are called prodigal sons, if you are a minister, you are a treacherous minister; if you are a king, you are probably a fool.

It is under this trend of thought that everyone seems to have a value of diligence and thrift that is deeply rooted in the bones.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with this.

However, what Chen Zhengtai considered for building the Fangcheng City in Shuo was the long-term benefits. The benefits here were not only for the Chen family, but also for the Tang Dynasty!

But when he heard that Chen Zhengtai was going to go to the desert to farm, it obviously caused another wave of surprise, and many people whispered.

Growing grain in the desert? Are you sure you are not fooling everyone?

If you can plant that place, everyone will plant it long ago, okay!

Although Chen Zhengtai had previously struggled with high-yield grain, can this high-yield grain be grown in the desert?

Some people even doubted Chen Zhengtai's intentions. Could it be that this guy is in the name of trying to cook raw rice into a rice cooked in the desert. After the city is built, can the court really ignore the people there?

Seeing Dai Zhou and others showing signs of furiousness, Li Shimin smiled and said, "Okay, okay, this is just a state dispute. Why don't Chen Zhengtai give it a try? Grow grain..."

Speaking of growing grain, Li Shimin's heart became hot.

After all, there are also traditional genes of farming civilization in his bones and blood. When he thinks of growing grain in the desert, he feels very touching and his blood is boiling.

If it can be successful, then... the Tang Dynasty will rule the world and there will be no more border troubles in the north. How come this is not a huge temptation?

This is enough to make Li Shimin unable to help but take a gamble due to these many concerns.

Li Shimin saw everyone, then waved his hand and said, "Let's discuss here first today. All the good guys will retreat, and Zhengtai will stay."

Dai Zhou was afraid that His Majesty would make up his mind to stand on Chen Zhengtai's side, and he was ready to refute to the end before coming here today!

At this time, I was a little unwilling to accept it, but I could do nothing. I frowned and finally had to leave silently.

Seeing everyone leaving, Li Shimin gave out a sigh and smiled bitterly: "Look at me, how much effort has I spent to protect you."

Chen Zhengtai couldn't help but complain that the Chen family's military farming in Shuofang also required a lot of manpower and material resources, but wasn't this also for the Tang Dynasty? Why did it seem like I owe a favor?

Of course, in this case, people who go to argue with others often have no brains and are missing a string in their minds.

The best way is of course to admit it obediently and be willing to accept this groundless favor!

Chen Zhengtai was very tactful, so he smiled and said, "If there is no teacher's blessing, how can there be a student today?"

Li Shimin said happily: "I will be very pleased if you think this way."

After a pause, Li Shimin said again: "I heard that the Supreme Emperor was in the toilet and said something to you?"

Chen Zhengtai didn't expect that Li Shimin would suddenly ask about this. The father and son were indeed very concerned about each other. He did not hide it and told the Emperor's original words in detail.

When Li Yuan said that the Chen family was a loyal and kind family, Li Shimin thought about it and silently chewed the deep meaning of Li Yuan's words.

But when he heard that Li Yuan wanted to make money... Li Shimin couldn't help laughing and said kindly to Chen Zhengtai: "The Supreme Emperor is old and occasionally has selfish thoughts, which is reasonable. He is so beautiful, so I will give him a beauty. If he has good money, I will give him money. If he has some life, report to him and don't let the Supreme Emperor down."

Chen Zhengtai finally couldn't hold it in. Although flattery was one thing, it was another when it came to money.

Of course, it’s not about money, but about a very bad self-esteem.

Chen Zhengtai widened his eyes and said, "Didn't the teacher say that if the Supreme Emperor loves money, the teacher will give him money, right? Why did he end up becoming a student..."

Li Shimin sighed: "Don't I want to borrow flowers to offer Buddha? But I always have to worry about the people of the world. So many places in the world still need money. But how can I get into a gold fight like you? I am not able to do anything! You are my student. Since you have such skills, I have not asked you to pay money directly, so why should I push back and forth?"

Chen Zhengtai: "…"

Chen Zhengtai suddenly felt that he admired Li Shimin's good eloquence and was speechless!

Seeing Chen Zhengtai's frustrated expression, Li Shimin smiled and said, "Of course, I didn't let you give it to you for nothing. I have thought about it. This is a hundred miles in a radius. It should be regarded as the fief and fief of Princess Sui'an. Since the Supreme Emperor has given you marriage and live some days, he will tell the world. In this way, I will treat this fief as a reward to your Chen family."

"On the other hand, Dai Zhou and others are reluctant to give in. Now that Shuofang has become a fief, it has nothing to do with the court. The bigger the city you want to build, the bigger the city you have has nothing to do with them. I just treat it as a reassurance to you so that you will still have doubts."

Chen Zhengtai was excited when he heard this.

On the one hand, Li Shimin admitted that the Supreme Emperor gave the marriage, so his engagement with Princess Sui'an was a foregone conclusion.

On the other hand, the fief given to the princess was indeed as Li Shimin said, allowing Chen to have no worries.

Although this desert land has nothing to do with the imperial court, the Chen family is still a citizen of the Tang Dynasty.

When I arrived at Shuofang to build a city, Shuofang was actually from the court, but some people in the court were always pointing fingers and stumbling around when doing things. Once they became the princess, that is, they were given to the Chen family, then it would be completely different.

After all, what does it have to do with you about my own land? You can't stand it, can you still come and beat me?

This is equivalent to giving this huge project, eliminating the major problems, and there is no need to worry about the troubles that will arise after halfway through the project.

Even in the future, the court could not send officials to Shuofang. The management of fiefs was often assigned to the chiefs. There was no such thing as the governor and county magistrate to go to Shuofang for governance. Without all kinds of complex relationships, the Chen family could be free to be free there.

Chen Zhengtai was ecstatic and was grateful for Li Shimin's decision, so he couldn't help but say in a move: "Student..."

Li Shimin looked at Chen Zhengtai and waved his hand and said, "I am actually borrowing flowers to offer Buddha. This desert is not owned by me, but it is the land of others. I rewarded it to Princess Sui'an, but it is just a verbal benefit, and you don't have to thank me."

Li Shimin paused, but changed his subject and said, "I think that it's time to prepare for the provincial examination in the middle of this year. This is a big deal. You are my disciple. Now Erpigou University has finally gained a good reputation. However, I heard that all the aristocratic families in the world are now teaching their children to memorize by rote, and even ask them to do articles every day. These people dare not underestimate them. They are also doing what you do in the university. If this continues, the gap between them can be gradually filled."

Chen Zhengtai nodded and then said, "Don't worry, my teacher, students will never fall into the royal name of Erpigou University."

Li Shimin felt relieved when he heard this. Chen Zhengtai was really smart and clever. As soon as he said this, he knew his concerns.

Erpigou Royal University Hall was appointed by Li Shimin, and he didn't take it seriously at the beginning, but now as the university hall becomes famous, Li Shimin is gradually beginning to take it seriously!

Now this university has gradually become a signboard, don’t let this golden signboard end up smashing it.

So Li Shimin said seriously: "I have expectations for you. In this university, I will give you fifty people to me. One of the top three must be one of them. I have always been arrogant and defeated. After learning your methods, most of these families have a profound family background. You should not be careless."
Chapter completed!