Chapter 942 Making a Decision

Chapter 942: Making a Decision Chapter 942: Making a Decision Editor: Atlas Studios When Fan Zijin found out that the money he owed the rich merchants had been returned, he was eating hotpot with Qi Haoran.

At this moment, Guangzhou was wet and cold to the bone, so the cousins gathered to eat hotpot at noon.

Fan Zijin carefully folded the letter from the head shopkeeper from the capital.

Now that the debt that had been weighing on his heart was cleared, his eyes were slightly moist.

For a moment, he was in a daze.

Qi Haoran stuffed a handful of cooked mutton into his mouth and asked vaguely, “What’s wrong?” Fan Zijin put the letter away and smiled gently at Qi Haoran.

“Eldest Cousin has repaid all the debts.” “Oh, then it seems that Big Brother has made up his mind to separate his inner treasury from the national treasury.

The inner treasury doesn’t need to support the national treasury anymore.” Seeing his matter-of-fact expression, Fan Zijin also came back to his senses.

That’s right.

This money was all used to aid the national treasury.

He asked, “What about the money that the national treasury owes us?” Qi Haoran looked up at him.

“You really want it back?

Why do we need so much money?” Previously, Fan Zijin had gone through blood, sweat and tears to earn that money.

To be able to support a country for three years, one could imagine how much money he had made.

Fan Zijin said, “Even if I have no use for it, I can’t let those courtiers benefit.

I’d rather use that money to let Ah Ling do good deeds.

At least we’re the ones using that money.” Qi Haoran shook his head and said, “Although it’s a little detestable for those courtiers to target Big Brother’s inner treasury, they didn’t embezzle money.

The silver was placed in the national treasury, and was ultimately used to build the foundation of the country and on the commoners.

How can you say that the courtiers are the ones who benefited?” Seeing that there were only two people in the room which meant that confidentiality was not a problem, Fan Zijin sneered.

“The former Emperor Shizong’s national treasury was unprecedentedly abundant.

Back then, he wanted to leave the money and grains to his descendants for them to run the country.

In the end, Emperor Gaozong was extravagant and spent money like water.

With Emperor Gaozong as an example, the courtiers and aristocratic families all borrowed from the Ministry of Revenue.

Gaozong’s reign alone squandered a third of Emperor Shizong’s accumulated assets, and the rest were gradually squandered by his descendants.

In my opinion, Eldest Cousin should just keep enough money and grains for his descendants, and use up the rest.

If he leaves them in the national treasury, I don’t know if it will benefit his descendants or those courtiers in the end.” Fan Zijin had never been stingy with judging others with the most sinister intentions.

“Now that the law is strict and the rules are clear, there are very few cases of corruption and bribery.

However, in another 20 to 30 years, the world will stabilize and the world will be at peace.

Such illegal actions are inevitable.” Therefore, Fan Zijin felt that rather than keeping the money in the national treasury and letting those people embezzle it, it was better to let them use it for themselves.

They could do business or charity with the money.

Even if they chose to be extravagant, it was better to spend their own money happily than to let others take advantage of it.

Seeing that Qi Haoran was not convinced, he continued, “As you can see, with Eldest Cousin’s inner treasury as a backup plan, the ministers didn’t desire to improve or conserve resources.

Their minds were occupied with means to get money from his inner treasury.

Only after the national treasury and inner treasury were separated did they focus on doing their job.

But if they have a pile of debts on their heads, do you think they will take the initiative to share the burden for the Emperor?” Dumbfounded, Qi Haoran blinked and tilted his head.

“That seems to be a good idea.” If this money belonged to the Emperor, the national treasury could refuse to return it because it was the Emperor.

It seemed natural for the Emperor to take out his money for his own country.

However, if this money did not belong to the Emperor, the national treasury could not default on the debt.

Most of that money came from Fan Zijin, and only a small portion came from Qi Haoran and Mu Yangling.

Qi Haoran thought of the expressions on those old ministers’ faces and was instantly overjoyed.

“We’ll mention it to Big Brother later.” Smiling, Fan Zijin said, “Eldest Cousin has already asked the Ministry of Revenue to write an IOU.

However, it’s fine if the national treasury finishes repaying that debt while we’re still alive.

If not, let’s burn the IOU in front of the ministers before we die, lest our unfilial descendants use it to cause trouble.” Qi Haoran nodded.

The brothers happily finished their hotpot before returning to their respective workplaces to do their work.

It was only when Qi Haoran returned at night that he found out that he had also received a letter.

He opened it and took a look.

Delighted, he said to Mu Yangling, “Big Brother sent us 50,000 taels of silver and even said that since this munitions factory is in the name of the royal family, we’ll use the money from his inner treasury.

Zijin and I will each have a 30% share and Big Brother will take a 40% share.” “Really?” Mu Yangling was also delighted.

“Then did Big Brother say that all of the 50,000 taels must be used on cannons?” Qi Haoran shook his head and Mu Yangling drooled.

“Then how do you plan to use this 50,000 taels?” “Of course, to choose a location to set up a factory and hire craftsmen.” Qi Haoran said, “It costs a lot of money to set up a munitions factory.

It requires a furnace and a large amount of copper and iron.

It’s not as cheap as your two factories, so 50,000 taels is definitely far from enough.” “Then where do you plan to build the factory?” Qi Haoran took out a map and pointed to the south and north.

“Dongping Prefecture or Shaozhou Prefecture.

The former is near Jinnan Prefecture.

There are discovered iron and copper mines there, and the land is vast and sparsely populated.

Moreover, there’s the North Clear River and the Yellow River.

Water and land are not a problem.

However, Dongping Prefecture and Jinnan Prefecture were snatched back from Great Jin four years ago by General Yuan.

It’s still very chaotic there, and there are even miscellaneous Jurchen tribes there.

Once a war breaks out between the two countries, our cannons might very well benefit Great Jin.” At this point, Qi Haoran felt a sense of loathing.

At the end of the day, they had yet to recover all the lost soil, so there were still security concerns.

“As for Shaozhou Prefecture, its strengths are obvious.

I’m in Guangdong now, and Shaozhou is not far from Guangzhou.

It’s easy for me to manage things there.

Moreover, there’s a waterway that leads directly to Guangzhou, which means transportation is convenient.

Most importantly, if the munitions factory is built here, there isn’t the security threat posed by foreign enemies.” That was because the north, south, east, and west of Shaozhou were safe zones, and it was very far from the border.

As for the coastline, he didn’t believe that the pirates could break through his defense line and reach Shaozhou.

Mu Yangling did not believe it either.

“However, the shortcomings are equally obvious.

The iron and copper mines here are not big.

It’s fine if the munitions factory is small, but should we expand it, the iron and copper mines here are not enough.” “Then transport the iron and copper from elsewhere.” “It’s gonna cost a lot.” “Aren’t there other locations?” “Yes, but I’d be worried if it’s not under our noses,” Qi Haoran said.

“Dongping Prefecture is not under our noses either.” Qi Haoran smiled.

“But General Yuan is there.

Everyone knows General Yuan’s character well, and I have written to him about this.

He’s also very interested in cannons.

I’ll be more assured if the munitions factory is built in Dongping Prefecture.

But other than General Yuan, I don’t feel at ease handing it over to other generals.” Even if it was his trusted aide, he was still worried because people could change.

General Yuan’s character had been tested thousands of times, so he could be trusted on this point.

“Then let’s build it in Shaozhou.” Mu Yangling decided.

“It doesn’t matter if we expand the factory or not.

What’s important is whether the cannon can be successfully developed, so production levels aren’t the most important.

Its goal is to conduct research and come up with a blueprint.

With these two, we can build another factory elsewhere.” “No matter how few iron and copper mines there are in Shaozhou, it shouldn’t be a problem to support the needs of research, right?” Mu Yangling looked up and asked Qi Haoran.

Qi Haoran nodded slowly.

“We’ll do as you say.

I’ll find some time to make a trip to Shaozhou.

I’ll start searching for the craftsmen too.

Coincidentally, the craftsmen hired by the previous dynasty’s royal family are still around.

I’ll talk to Big Brother and ask him to send a few craftsmen who are proficient in weapons over.”

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