amaotonovel Chapter 1167 What I got wasn't a bargain, but a lot of trouble?
Chapter 1167 What I got wasn't a bargain, but a lot of trouble?
Emperor Zhu was also somewhat bewildered.
Our Great Ming's national treasury actually has a surplus of about 20 million strings of cash?
The treasury of our Great Ming Dynasty is no longer so poor that even mice can run through it?
Just thinking about how he had spent over 100 million and 31.5 million strings of cash last year made Emperor Zhu's teeth ache again.
Damn it, what good is a lot of money if it doesn't last long?
Just as Emperor Zhu was feeling a pang of regret, Yang Siyi continued, "The total tax revenue two years ago was about 135 million strings of cash. After deducting last year's expenditures, there was a surplus of about 3.5 million strings of cash."
"According to the budgets for the eighth year of Hongwu reported by various ministries, supervisory offices, temples and monasteries, the total expenditure was estimated to be more than 190 million strings of cash."
"In other words, last year's revenue of 158.76 million guan is not enough to cover this year's budget. It may even deplete the treasury funds that were barely saved in previous years, and there may still be some shortfall."
"..."
Emperor Zhu's eyes widened, and he said in a trembling voice, "Ten million, then five thousand, eight hundred, seven hundred and sixty thousand strings of cash, and there's still a deficit?"
Yang Siyi bowed to Emperor Zhu and said, "Your Majesty, yes, the budgets submitted by various ministries, supervisory offices, temples, and academies this year are enough to deplete the Ming Dynasty's treasury."
At this point, Yang Siyi couldn't help but glare at Wang Guangyang again and said, "Especially the budget reported by the Ministry of Works, which is the main culprit for the national treasury deficit!"
Wang Guangyang was furious and looked at Yang Siyi, saying, "The Ministry of Works submitted its budget before the new year. The Minister of Works at that time was Xue Xiang. Why are you glaring at me?"
"Besides, if Xue Xiang dared to report it, why did you, Yang Siyi, dare to approve it?"
Yang Siyi ignored Wang Guangyang and continued, "According to the cabinet's principle of 'spending to receive,' the total tax revenue in the eighth year of Hongwu should be 200 million strings of cash to cover the expenditures of the eighth year of Hongwu."
Emperor Zhu grunted in acknowledgment, reached out and tapped the armrest of the dragon throne, and asked, "Has the Ministry of Revenue estimated the total tax revenue for the eighth year of Hongwu's reign?"
Upon hearing this, the tense look on Yang Siyi's face immediately disappeared, and he even became relaxed.
Yang Siyi bowed to Emperor Zhu and said, "Your Majesty, according to the Ministry of Revenue's estimate, the total tax revenue in the eighth year of Hongwu should be around 200 million and 20 million strings of cash, which is enough to cover the expenditures of the eighth year of Hongwu and even have a surplus."
Wang Guangyang was even angrier—so you think you're so confident that you dare to approve such an outrageous budget of 100 million and 90 million guan? Then why the hell are you glaring at me like that!
After glaring fiercely at Yang Siyi, Wang Guangyang looked at Xue Xiang with an unfriendly expression.
You, a dog, submitted a budget, but in the end, I'm the one who suffers the injustice for you.
Xue Xiang, who had been transferred to the Ministry of Rites as Minister, glared back and said in a low voice, "Why are you glaring at me? I submitted a higher budget, so aren't you the one who benefits now?"
Wang Guangyang's expression immediately changed, and he looked at Xue Xiang and said, "Don't blame me, don't blame me. I was just confused for a moment. How about this, after court is over, I'll treat you to some wine?"
Xue Xiang snorted angrily and said, "Damn it, I quoted too high a budget, but you old bastard got it for free. But the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Kong Xixue, is such a coward. The budget he quoted is enough to make me furious!"
Looking around, Xue Xiang muttered under his breath, "Seriously, although I knew long ago that the Duke of Yansheng's family were all cowards, I never expected that Kong Xixue would only have this much guts. This guy only quoted a budget of 25 million guan."
"Damn it, what can you do with 25 million strings of cash in the Ministry of Rites? Is it enough to repair a few prefectural schools or a few community schools? Not to mention that this year we also need to promote the construction of libraries in various places and purchase a large number of books and writing materials."
"..."
Xue Xiang ranted and complained for a while, but then said to Wang Guangyang with a hint of schadenfreude, "Don't be too happy yet."
"Originally, the Ministry of Works applied for a budget of 67 million strings of cash. The key issue is that the Ministry of Works is to be split into the Ministry of Industry, and a portion of it is to be allocated to the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Railways, or other government departments."
"This budget of 67 million strings of cash will inevitably involve lawsuits between you and other government departments."
"And what about those departments under your Ministry of Industry? How they'll be reassigned in the future is going to give you a headache too."
"..."
Seeing Xue Xiang's expression, as if he were ready to watch the drama unfold, Wang Guangyang was almost driven mad with anger.
So, what I gained wasn't a good deal, but rather a lot of trouble?
This is outrageous! You old scoundrel Xue, you've gone too far!
Hu Weiyong glanced at Xue Xiang, then at Wang Guangyang, and after some deliberation, he leaned close to Yang Shaofeng again and whispered, "The imperial court has become rich, and the officials in the capital have also become wealthy."
Yang Shaofeng chuckled and said, "You're so afraid of being poor. Now that you've suddenly got money, you have to show off for a couple of days, right?"
Hu Weiyong said with a face full of envy, "Actually, I also want to be as flamboyant as them—I say, Your Highness, you've been to that wretched place, Liaodong, yourself. The people of Liaodong can't say you've been bad to your son-in-law, can they? You..."
Before Hu Weiyong could finish speaking, Yang Shaofeng widened his eyes and asked, "Liaodong is poor?"
Is Liaodong poor?
Damn it, of all the dozen or so provincial administrations in the Ming Dynasty, the richest was Zhili, the second richest was Shandong, the third richest was Beiping, and the fourth richest was your Liaodong!
But to my surprise, that old scoundrel Hu Weiyong actually has the nerve to complain about being poor here.
Hu Weiyong nodded very seriously and said, "Poor, really poor!"
Seeing Yang Shaofeng's suspicious look, Hu Weiyong immediately started to complain about being poor: "You know that Liaodong is a terrible place with waterlogged areas and hills everywhere. It's only warm for four or five months out of the year. The rest of the months are either windy or snowy."
"When the snow is three feet deep, people can't go out, farm, hunt, or dig for medicinal herbs. They can only rely on stored grain to get through the winter, and they can't save up much money all year round."
"If you're going to accuse me, Hu Weiyong, of playing the victim, crying poverty, and spouting lies, these are all things that your son-in-law personally witnessed and experienced in Liaodong, aren't they?"
"Really, believe me, I, Hu Weiyong, would never lie or deceive anyone in my entire life."
"..."
Yang Shaofeng immediately rolled his eyes.
Generally speaking, what is said to be "not about money" is often actually about money.
"I'm not trying to cause trouble," but that's often exactly what happens.
As for whether you, Hu Weiyong, are lying and deceiving people.
You, Hu Weiyong, can't even scan a shared bike, yet you tell me you're trustworthy and don't lie?
I bother!