Expenses

Building a city is not about building a matchbox, it is not about demarcating a piece of land and then repairing four tall, flat walls on this land to surround it and then it is completed.

This kind of thing is at best a copycat in Great Yan.

Various technologies are required from the moment civil engineering planning begins.

From basic urban zoning, to the intersection of Beastwalk Road with ordinary roads, to the complicated underground culvert system for water diversion, drainage, and water storage, many matters require the use of more than a hundred types of technologies, large and small.

Moreover, the above are just common theoretical techniques, most of which are based on formation patterns.

The establishment of a city requires no fewer than a thousand formations, large and small.

Therefore, these large-scale construction projects are usually subcontracted by several, or even dozens of chambers of commerce in different industries.

However, with the size of Tian'an Chamber of Commerce, there is no need to worry about these aspects at all.

After Xu Yuan finished speaking, Hua Hong responded simply and clearly without any thought:

"I can take it on, but I don't have enough money."

Great Yan Building a new city is generally divided into four processes.

The imperial court allocated funds for the project - the chamber of commerce accepted the bid - the imperial court collected corvees - and the chamber of commerce started construction.

The model of getting money first and then starting construction is a guarantee for the chamber of commerce, and the collection of corvees also saves the chamber of commerce a large part of its manpower expenditure.

At first glance, the chamber of commerce seems to be very profitable, but the problem is that the amount of money allocated is far from enough. Generally, it only accounts for one-third to one-fourth of the total project, and some poor state government agencies even only provide one-fifth.

But even so, there are still many chambers of commerce that are eager to do this.

Because in order to make up for the loss of the chamber of commerce, the imperial court would grant it certain privileges within the political division of the local new city, some of which were mining and spiritual field development rights, and some of which were tax exemptions that lasted for decades or even hundreds of years.

In short, the one-time payment for the project is replaced by some local political privileges.

Within Great Yan, except for those large-scale chambers of commerce with sect or court backgrounds, the rest of the small and medium-sized chambers of commerce rise and fall at an extremely fast iterative speed.

Most of them are rootless duckweeds with almost no ability to resist risks.

A natural disaster or a man-made disaster can wipe out several years or even ten years of their savings.

And even if it has always been smooth sailing and they have been relying on business and industry to expand their scale, once they cross a certain limit without political background, they will face being picked.

This policy of the imperial court gave these emerging chambers of commerce an opportunity to become Aristocratic Clan, allowing them to have a certain political background.

This is the imperial court's recruitment policy for these emerging chambers of commerce.

But Tian'an Chamber of Commerce doesn't need this stuff at all.

Hua Hong Even if it undertakes this type of project, it is because of some strategic resources within the planned area.

And what's over there Huizhou County?

There is nothing, all that can be done are some mortal properties.

Although mortal industry can also make money, it has to be large-scale, with only hundreds of thousands of mortals producing it, and Tian'an Chamber of Commerce can't even look at it.

As for the strategic location of Huizhou County?

The reason why he Hua Hong has been able to sit in the position of President Tian'an Chamber of Commerce for decades is not due to the "success of the dragon" by following the young lady all the way up, but because of his real ability.

The intricate network of official roads within Great Yan has long been imprinted in his mind. If he just gives the name of an official road, Hua Hong can immediately tell which state capitals and important towns are along the way, what types of goods are produced and transported, and even the risks that may be encountered along the way, which require money to manage officials.

Thinking in his mind, Hua Hong looked at the thinking kid and said softly:

"If Huizhou County is so important, how could the administrative level before this be just the county government? Indeed, Changtian, you are right. Huizhou County is indeed at the junction of the two continents, at the entrance to Gyeonggi, but it is not the only entrance to the problem, and the Capital North official road next to it only accounts for a tenth of the transportation share between Gyeonggi and Northern Border."

After a few breaths of silence, Xu Yuan sighed lightly and suddenly said:

"Mr. Hua, you don't really think that Huizhou County is just an ordinary county town after the Little White people migrated there? Moreover, you don't know where the Capital North official road continues to the north?"

"To Qinlong Pass and Capital North Prefecture."

Hua Hong answered without any pause and asked directly:

"So, what Chang Tianqian means is that he wants to rebel?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes were calm and steady, and he stared at Xu Yuan closely, with a hint of exploration in his slender eyes.

Regarding this, Xu Yuan did not answer immediately.

He suddenly remembered what his father had told him.

Be careful what you say and do.

From now on, everything you say and do will be scrutinized by others.

After thinking for a while, Xu Yuan answered very seriously:

"We at least need to take some precautions. The emperor's time is limited. He will definitely take action before then. Without the constraints of the Barbarian Tribe and Northern Border sects, once the three hundred thousand Beifeng Army goes south, the situation is likely to develop in a direction we don't want."

"Is this so"

After getting a satisfactory answer, Hua Hong did not continue to make things difficult for the money. He nodded lightly and continued:

"Qinlong Pass is resident in one town, Ghost Armor Army, and Capital North Prefecture next to it is resident in two towns, Nine Dragons Army, and they form an angle with each other.

"If you want to block Northern Border's entrance into Gyeonggi, you have to control two important towns at the same time. Do you think this group of the Underground Palace survivors can do it?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Bai Muxi, who was looking down with a low eyebrow.

The war potential of the Underground Palace remnants is indeed great, but that is only potential.

Fanaticism and belief may make you stronger in one-on-one melee combat, but in large-scale military clashes, these things will become a burden if not tamed.

Black Scale Army has gone through several years or even more than ten years of tempering. Otherwise, even if they can form an army formation, just fighting in the field will turn into a one-sided massacre against Great Yan's elite soldiers, let alone siege the city.

There may not be much time left for the Underground Palace remnants to train into an army. After all, the saint in the palace may only have one or two years left to live.

Regarding this question, Xu Yuan's answer is also very simple:

"This depends on their own abilities. If they fail, it will be their own lives."

"."

Hua Hong smiled softly when he heard this.

He already understood the meaning of this boy's move.

The way Prime Minister's Mansion's top management dealt with the Underground Palace survivors was suppressed by Xu Yinhe's absolute authority, but suppressing does not mean disappearing.

Xu Yuan is using this method to give an explanation to the senior executives of the Prime Minister's Mansion,

If things really develop to that point,

If the Underground Palace survivors can really seize those two important towns and hold back three hundred thousand Beifeng Army for the Prime Minister's Mansion, then they can create a time window for the Prime Minister's Mansion's coup in Di'an City.

This is a great achievement.

Moreover, after experiencing this war, the population of the Underground Palace survivors will inevitably be severely weakened, and the future that Prime Minister's Mansion's top leaders are worried about will be postponed indefinitely.

If it fails, the Underground Palace remnants can rely on the huge base of cultivators to drag it on for a period of time and create a time window. By then, the Underground Palace remnants will most likely be exterminated, and the Prime Minister's Mansion remnants will no longer have any worries.

Thinking of this,

Hua Hong looked at Xu Yuan with a touch of strangeness in his eyes, but at the same time he was also relieved.

Such a decisive method, that kid has grown up now

The thought flashed past, and Hua Hong's face turned a little serious:

"If this is the case, then it is best not to use the name Tian'an Chamber of Commerce to take over the Huizhou County civil engineering project."

"Having trouble?" Xu Yuan asked.

Hua Hong smiled slightly:

"It's just a matter of using some secrets. It's a very simple thing."

In addition to the obvious ones, Prime Minister's Mansion also has hidden secrets in many places, and Hua Hong holds some small and medium-sized chambers of commerce that apparently belong to the sect or the royal family.

Xu Yuan's eyes flashed and he asked tentatively:

"Then the final payment of Huizhou County"

"Find a way to raise money yourself." Hua Hong snorted coldly.

"Why?" Xu Yuan said righteously, "I am doing this for the Prime Minister's Mansion."

"Changtian."

Hua Hong interrupted with a light call and said word by word:

"Based on their nature, these Underground Palace remnants are your personal private soldiers, not Prime Minister's Mansion."

"."

Xu Yuan frowned slightly, thinking about the meaning of these words, but did not answer.

Seeing this, Hua Hong continued with a serious voice:

"I have been following you all my life. To me, your boy's private soldiers are the same as Prime Minister's Mansion's, but it is different for Zong Qingsheng's Black Scale Army."

"Just like your father is followed by a group of old guys like us, Zong Qingsheng is also followed by his faction of military commanders.

"You also know that because of your previous bad things, the Black Scale Army people are suspicious or even repulsive towards you, but now there are suddenly such a group of the Underground Palace survivors around you, what will they think?

"In the past few decades, the system in the Prime Minister's Mansion has been basically fixed, and you, the heir, suddenly have such a direct army around you. What do you think they will think?"

Hua Hong spoke slowly and his tone became more solemn:

"To put it more closely, there are only so many benefits of money, food, materials and ordnance for one year. If it is rationed to the Underground Palace survivors, the share that originally belonged to the Black Scale Army will become smaller.

"Going further, after you inherit Prime Minister's Estate, will you use this direct line to ban veterans like them?

"The emergence of the Underground Palace remnants has threatened the status of their group, so if Changtian you can solve it yourself, it is best not to rely on the Prime Minister's Mansion's power for the time being, at least not until you have implemented the plan for the Underground Palace remnants and made great contributions."

Speaking of this, Hua Hong showed a helpless smile on his old face and sighed softly:

"It turns out that Xu Yinhe wanted you to cultivate some young men in the Black Scale Army as direct descendants. You don't have to deny that the commander named Yuan Hao was the first direct descendant of the Black Scale Army that your father gave you. However, you, the kid, found a group of seedlings to cultivate outside. To a certain extent, you destroyed the road he paved for you."

"But you don't have to worry. If you really can't get the money, I can give it to you privately, but definitely don't go the official route of the Prime Minister's Mansion."

"."

After listening carefully, Xu Yuan was silent.

The words spoken from the heart made the wrinkles on Hua Hong's face look a bit old. Looking at the young man in front of him, the complexity spread in his heart.

He was taken out of the small Chang'an pawnshop by the young lady. Along the way, Hua Hong has already devoted his whole life to his loyalty.

If possible, he would really like to see the young lady's heir sitting on that ninety-five position.

But these words Hua Hong are just hidden in the deepest part of my heart.

After a period of extended silence,

Xu Yuan suddenly chuckled, rejected Hua Hong's kindness, and said:

"I know, but it shouldn't be necessary."

"Oh?" Hua Hong raised his eyebrows when he heard this.

Xu Yuan smiled slightly and said half-jokingly:

"But you, old man, are so generous after all. If you have to give it to me, I can accept it."

Hua Hong was stunned for a moment, and then said in a dumbfounded way:

"Changtian, I'm not joking."

"I'm not kidding either."

Xu Yuan replied directly, putting down Erlang's legs, sitting on the soft couch, resting his elbows on his knees, with a hint of seriousness in his voice:

"You, an old man, have no heirs or relatives, how can you save your private money? In the end, it is not just a fake account. It is easy to leave flaws in the fake accounts of such a large amount of expenses at one time. When Black Scale Army knows about it, the opinions may be even greater.

"And you should know my ability to get supplies. That old woman Lou Ji robbed me of a batch of Sumeru Ring earlier. You, the old man, should also have a share of the supplies inside, right?"

"."

After a moment of silence, Hua Hong frowned and said:

"What supplies?"

"Come on, don't let me pretend like this."

Xu Yuan's eyes were filled with contempt. "My batch Sumeru Ring is full of military supplies. Lou Ji has no army and cannot use it. Where can she sell such a large batch of stolen supplies? Imperial Clan Chamber of Commerce or the sect?"

"." Hua Hong blushed.

With a slight snort, Xu Yuan did not delve into this topic.

Because even if he investigated deeply, it was impossible for the old man to spit out the money to him.

Waving his hand, Xu Yuan continued to speak softly:

"The settlement of the Underground Palace survivors has been settled. In addition, I also want to purchase a batch of ordnance from you."

Hua Hong didn't show much surprise in his eyes. After all, Huizhou County was established to hide troops there, and said softly:

"Of course, I will coordinate with various chambers of commerce to carry out production in the near future. The initial scale of six battalions is expected to be delivered around the beginning of summer next year. During this time, I will help you raise military pay. No deposit is required, but the full payment must be paid in one go when the ordnance is delivered."

This is a special favor from Hua Hong to Xu Yuan.

However, Xu Yuan was a little dissatisfied and asked directly:

"Isn't it in stock?"

Hua Hong was immediately alert when he heard this and frowned:

"What do you want the spot for?"

Xu Yuan rolled his eyes and whispered:

"Old Man Hua, we are doing business, and I am a customer. How can a seller ask questions about a customer?"

Hua Hong stared at Xu Yuan for a few breaths, and then gently exhaled:

"Well, I hope you know in your mind that we have it in stock, but it depends on how much you want."

Xu Yuan touched his chin, briefly recalled the previous secret conversation with Li Yunqing, and said softly:

"Two battalions, are there any?"

ten thousand people

Hua Hong thought for a moment, and subconsciously wanted to ask why.

Although he is willing to believe in Xu Yuan, as an elder, he really doesn't trust this kid with such a large batch of ordnance. In this troubled time, any random mischief will most likely destroy Xu Yinhe's century-old plan.

Xu Yuan also understood Hua Hong's concerns and immediately said:

"Don't worry, I have thought deeply about this matter and it will not affect any situation in Great Yan."

Will not affect Great Yan

After receiving this hint, Hua Hong immediately understood, felt relieved, and nodded with a smile:

"Tian'an Chamber of Commerce has the inventory of ordnance for the two battalions, but do you have any money?"

Xu Yuan chuckled:

"You quote a price first, I still have a little money on hand for the time being."

"Two thousand taels of spiritual pattern armor and its matching helmets, and two hundred taels of standard spiritual swords."

"."

Upon hearing this price, Xu Yuan's eyes immediately darkened.

Ordnance requires redundant inventory.

To arm 10,000 sergeants, excluding those large ordnances such as crossbows, the cost of armor blades alone is upwards of 25 million taels.

The three million taels that Xu Yuan dug out from Xu Xinyao are not even a fraction of this.

The first day of continuous updates...