The Invincible Sixth Prince

Yun Zheng doesn't like to behead corrupt officials as a public display.

It would be too easy for those corrupt officials to die after enjoying themselves.

In Shuobei, there is basically no such thing as just dismissing an official and being done with it.

Officials who were corrupt and committed crimes were all sent to the mines.

Moreover, as long as the amount of corruption exceeds a certain amount, the entire family will be sent to the mine together.

It is indeed impossible to completely eliminate corruption.

The difficulty of completely eradicating corruption is as difficult as making the sea cucumber prince hard.

"Since there is no end to the problem, let's keep investigating!"

Yun Zheng did not get angry, and instead said: "I basically understand the situation. Do you have any difficulties or important matters that need my help?"

However, as soon as Yun Zheng finished speaking, he began to regret it.

Because he saw strange smiles on the faces of Chen Bu and others.

His instinct told him that he was going to bleed or have a headache!

Chen Bu took the report from someone beside him and handed it to Yun Zheng respectfully: "This is the budget for next year's expenses that we drafted. We were going to present it to Madam Zi. Now that Your Highness is here, please take a look at it first!"

Yun Zheng was in no hurry to open the report. He glanced at the people with a smile on his face and said, "It seems that this king is going to bleed heavily!"

A few people just laughed dryly but didn't respond.

Depend on!

It turned out that there would be heavy bleeding!

Yun Zheng took a deep breath and slowly opened the report.

However, after just a quick glance, Yun Zheng almost jumped up and fought with several people.

Seeing Yun Zheng like this, Shen Luoyan and Ye Zi couldn't help but move over to take a look curiously.

After seeing this, they were both dumbfounded.

That’s 16 million taels of silver?

Isn't this too exaggerated?

Yun Zheng raised his head and looked at Chen Bu and the others, "You don't think that the money I got came from the wind, do you?"

In other words, if you treat the third brother as your money bag, they will treat themselves as their money bags!

Chen Bu smiled and said, "We have listed all the expenses in detail, and we have also cut some unnecessary expenses. Your Highness can take a look at which expenses can be cut..."

Cut back?

Yun Zheng lowered his head and looked again.

Because there is a high probability that military action will be taken against the Le Dynasty next year, the military budget is 10 million taels of silver.

This is actually extremely conservative.

After all, they have such a large army, and even if they don't fight, the annual salary is six or seven million taels of silver.

This does not even include the salaries of the troops stationed in Fuzhou.

Silver is needed to make weapons, armor, tents, grain carts, etc., as well as to provide pensions for the soldiers.

All these added up to three million taels of silver, which is indeed very little.

The total budget for salaries, rewards, and sanatorium expenses for officials at all levels was only one million taels of silver, which was indeed very little.

There are also construction of cities, repair of canals, establishment of schools, expansion of Shuofang, etc., which add up to three million taels of silver, which seems reasonable.

He felt that it was a bit shabby to spend one million taels of silver to build a warship.

The rest of the miscellaneous items add up to one million taels of silver. Even if they can be reduced, it won’t be much.

He was too embarrassed to cut down on even the small amount.

“There seems to be very little room for reduction!”

Yun Zheng looked at Ye Zi bitterly.

He felt that they were working hard to make money every day, but why did they spend the money like water?

“There really isn’t much left to cut.”

Ye Zi gently rubbed her forehead, "For example, I think the silver for building warships should be increased."

“This does not need to be increased for the time being.”

Chen Bu smiled and said, "I have already understood this. We have a limited number of craftsmen to build warships. There is no point in increasing the budget unless we recruit more craftsmen."

Yun Zheng closed the report and looked at them with some depression: "How about you just pretend we haven't been here?"

A few people just laughed dryly but didn't respond.

Doesn’t it make any difference whether you come or not?

Wouldn't this report eventually be submitted to the hands of this prince?

"I shouldn't have come before the New Year!"

Yun Zheng shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Forget it, I'll take this thing back and study it first! After the day after tomorrow, you can all go home to celebrate the New Year!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Several people saluted together with happy smiles on their faces.

They have been busy for a year and it's time for them to take a few days off and spend time with their family.

Yun Zheng looked at the two women, "I don't have anything to talk about with them, do you have anything to talk about?"

He originally had something to discuss with Chen Bu and the others, but when he saw the budget they submitted, he felt sick.

Now, he had no intention of talking about those trivial matters.

It’s better to celebrate the New Year first, sort out your thoughts, and then talk to them slowly!

Shen Luoyan smiled: "Have you drafted out the rewards for officials at all levels?"

"Replying to Princess, it has been drafted."

Another cabinet member submitted a report that detailed the list of rewards given to officials at all levels at the end of the year.

Basically it is food, silk, and some silver rewards.

Officials of different ranks receive different rewards. Some officials with outstanding performance will receive an increase in the rewards they should receive based on their original ranks.

Ye Zi and Shen Luoyan looked at it carefully for a while, and after confirming that there were no major problems, Ye Zi approved it on the spot and ordered them to distribute the rewards as soon as possible.

Afterwards, Ye Zi began to reconcile accounts with the cabinet members, and Shen Luoyan also helped.

Looking at them busying around, Yun Zheng suddenly understood Xu Shifu, the Minister of Revenue.

But Xu Shifu could be corrupt, but he couldn't be corrupt!

However, compared to the third child, he is much happier.

At least if I don’t have money, I can ask the third brother for help.

The third brother is bothered by all kinds of trivial matters all the time, and he has to feel disgusted by himself from time to time. It is really difficult for him.

never mind!

Let the third child have a peaceful New Year first!

After the Chinese New Year, I’ll see if I can find a way to get some more money from the third brother.

Ah!

I am so kind!

Yun Zheng said shamelessly in his heart.

Half an hour later, Ye Zi and Shen Luoyan finished reconciling accounts with the cabinet.

Apart from a few minor expenses that were slightly discrepant because Ye Zi didn't remember them, there were basically no problems.

"So be it!"

Yun Zheng stood up and said to Chen Bu and the others, "I won't invite you during the New Year. On the third day of the New Year, all of you will come to the palace for a banquet. I won't send anyone to invite you one by one then."

"Yes!"

Several people agreed.

After giving a few simple instructions to a few people, Yun Zheng took Ye Zi and Shen Luoyan away.

"Do we have enough silver?"

After leaving the office, Yun Zheng immediately asked Ye Zi.

"It's definitely enough!" Ye Zi smiled. "In fact, this 16 million taels is not that exaggerated. Shuobei's tax revenue will bear part of it. We can probably only take out 10 million taels of silver! However, their budget is definitely not enough..."

"It's indeed not enough." Shen Luoyan nodded and said, "If we use the military force against the Li Dynasty for too long, the military expenditure will probably increase significantly. Moreover, this does not take into account the situation in the Northwest Protectorate and Xiqu..."

If the Northwest Protectorate fights with Xiqu again, the military expenditure will definitely be higher.

"Don't worry, didn't they discover a gold mine in the Northwest Protectorate?" Ye Zi comforted Yun Zheng, "As long as there is no major disaster or war, there will be enough money! But after spending this money, prices may go up again..."

"That's what I'm worried about." Yun Zheng sighed, "It seems that I have to spend more money in the interior of the country and get more supplies to Shuobei for preparation in advance..."