PFC Chapter 751 Huge Military Expenditure
Chapter 751 Huge Military Expenditure
In the deep winter, light snow was falling in Chang'an City. The bronze stove with an animal head in the study of the Wu Mansion was emitting blue smoke, but it could not dispel the solemn atmosphere that filled the room.
Wu Tianyan sat dejectedly on a carved sandalwood chair, the military newspaper in his hand gleaming coldly in the candlelight, the cinnabar handwriting of "two million three hundred thousand" stinging his eyes.
The old files piled up on the desk rustled in the wind. The files on the 600,000 troops during the Zhenguan period had already turned yellow, and the documents on the 1 million troops during the Qianwu period also seemed insignificant at this time.
"Dang--" The bronze paperweight suddenly slipped and made a dull sound when it hit the blue brick floor.
Wu Tianyan stood up suddenly, the corner of his robe brushing across the "Map of the Western Regions" hanging on the wall, and his fingertips unconsciously stroked the marching route marked with red silk on the map.
Those winding red lines were like blood vessels, extending from Chang'an to the border of the Arab Empire, but now they seemed to be draining all the blood and energy of the entire Tang Dynasty.
He remembered that three months ago, when the first conscription order was issued, the numbers reported by the state capitals were only 100,000 or 200,000.
But with each urgent imperial edict, the number grew like a snowball.
The secret letter from the governor of Shaanxi Province is still ringing in my ears: "Seventy to eighty percent of the young and strong men in the area have been conscripted, leaving only the elderly, the weak, women and children to work in the fields. If we continue to conscript, there will be unrest among the people..."
"If we set off at that time, it would be unimaginable!"
But His Majesty's imperial edict was even more weighty: "With less than a million men, how can we subdue the barbarians?"
The charcoal fire in the copper stove suddenly exploded, and sparks splashed on the edge of the military newspaper, burning tiny scorch marks.
Wu Tianyan looked at the charred spot, and in a trance he seemed to see the raging fire burning on the battlefield.
He recalled the scene of inspecting the Arsenal the day before.
Three hundred furnaces are working day and night, but even so, the "million fine machines" required by His Majesty is still a long way off.
"Squeak--" The carved wooden door was pushed open, and the cold wind carrying snow particles rushed into the house.
Li Yifu stood at the door wrapped in fox fur, his purple robe covered with frost, the goldfish bag around his waist had long lost its luster and swayed slightly with his rapid breathing.
In just a few months, this Minister of Revenue looked like he had aged ten years, with sunken eye sockets.
"Minister Wu, I've already approved the list you submitted."
Li Yifu forced himself to put the document on the desk, but his fingers were shaking slightly.
The curled edges of the document were stained with ink, revealing the traces of overnight review. Next to several numbers modified with cinnabar, there were crescent-shaped marks made by fingernails.
Wu Tianyan hurriedly stood up to greet him, but when he caught a glimpse of Li Yifu's haggard face, his throat suddenly choked.
He had never seen the other person in such a miserable state.
"Why did Minister Li come in person? In such a snowy weather..."
"Snowstorm?" Li Yifu gave a wry laugh and walked straight to the copper incense burner, rubbing his hands over the fire. "I think the snowstorm in Chang'an City is nothing compared to the raging fire in Your Majesty's heart."
He suddenly lifted his fox fur coat, revealing his patched undershirt. "To be honest, Brother Wu, the charcoal fire in my house has long been extinguished, and my wife and children are all huddled in one room for warmth."
Wu Tianyan was shocked, remembering the secret report he received the day before: the price of rice in Chang'an soared by 30% in half a month, but the food and fodder allocated to the army by the Ministry of Revenue had never been less than a grain.
"I came here today to discuss something with Brother Wu,"
Li Yifu lowered his voice and glanced outside the door warily, "Is there still room for reduction in military spending?"
He pulled out a wrinkled account book from his sleeve. "Look, just maintaining winter clothing for these 2.3 million troops has already taken out 10% of the national treasury. Not to mention the daily consumption of food and fodder, and the fodder needed for the war horses..."
Wu Tianyan looked out the window. The snow was getting heavier and the branches of the red plum blossoms in the courtyard were bent by the snow.
"Brother Li, there are some things that we cannot control."
He walked over to a table piled high with weapon blueprints and unfolded a musket design. "Take this new type of repeating musket, for example. Each one costs as much as a farmer's annual harvest."
"But Your Majesty said, 'Without enough firearms, how can we defeat the enemy?' How can we disobey?"
Li Yifu suddenly grabbed his wrist and said in a trembling voice, "Brother Wu, you and I are both sensible people."
"Even if we empty the national treasury, what good will it do if we can win?"
He let go of her hand and slumped down on the armchair. "The expedition is a thousand miles long, and the supply line stretches ten thousand miles. The money consumed every day is like running water."
"Even if we win, what can those desert lands bring to the Tang Dynasty?"
The room fell into dead silence, with only the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire in the copper stove.
Wu Tianyan recalled the morning court session three days ago, when the Crown Prince's Secretary had advised: "Your Majesty, mobilizing so many troops like this will only lead to the same fate as Emperor Yang of Sui..."
Before he could finish his words, he was dragged out of the hall and beaten with eighty sticks.
The scene of blood splattering on the Danbi is still vivid in my mind.
"Brother Li, do you know why His Majesty is so determined to fight?"
Wu Tianyan suddenly spoke, his voice as deep as the night, "The Qianwu Dynasty has accumulated a wealth of wealth, but the Tang Dynasty will not always be so strong, and those barbarian countries will not always be so weak."
"If not, how can we deter the barbarians? If we don't fight them now that they are so powerful, will we have to wait until the Tang Dynasty's power declines and they invade us again?"
“But what if it’s shocking?”
Li Yifu suddenly became agitated. "The treasury is empty, and the people are complaining. Even if we conquer thousands of miles of territory, who will guard it? Who will support it?"
He started coughing violently.
"Last night, while checking the accounts, I discovered that seven prefectures have been in arrears with their taxes for over three months. However, the documents I sent out demanding payment have fallen on deaf ears..."
Outside the window, the wind and snow suddenly howled. Wu Tianyan walked to the window and looked out at the snow-covered Chang'an City. The lights on Zhuque Street in the distance were sparse, no longer as prosperous as before.
He recalled his childhood when Emperor Taizong, Emperor Qianwu, rested with the people and reduced taxes and levies. At that time, even in the dead of night, the streets of Chang'an were bustling with people.
"Brother Li, you and I are both ministers personally appointed by His Majesty."
When Wu Tianyan turned around, his eyes were full of fatigue. "Some words should not be said; some things have to be done."
He took out a secret letter from the box. "This is news from outside. Some local people have cut off their fingers to avoid military service..."
Li Yifu took the secret letter, took a look at it, and then threw it into the fire.
The flickering flames made his face look ferocious: "It's good to burn it, it's good to burn it... If His Majesty knew about it, I'm afraid..."
He suddenly lowered his voice, "Brother Wu, if we lose the battle..."
“I won’t lose.”
Wu Tianyan interrupted him.
"I'm afraid the Ministry of Revenue's treasury won't last until spring." He stood up and straightened his clothes.
Brother Wu, there will be a discussion about the allocation of 300,000 dan of grain and fodder at tomorrow morning's court..."
Li Yifu suddenly smiled bitterly and said, "Although I don't understand the art of war, I know what a long expedition a thousand miles away means."
"The supply lines stretch for thousands of miles, and every mile of progress is paved with real gold and silver."
"Even if we win, how are we going to clean up this mess?"
He paused and lowered his voice, "I heard that His Majesty is still preparing to recruit soldiers and expand the military to three million..."
"Three million?!"
Wu Tianyan was horrified, the bill in his hand dropping to the ground. This figure meant that if war broke out, almost all of the young and strong laborers in the entire Tang Dynasty would be conscripted into the army. Farmland would be left barren, merchants would be forced to close, and how would the people survive?