Chapter 50, an auspicious number...

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When we returned to Changsheng Island, it was already the nineteenth day of the first lunar month.

Although the journey was tiring, Li Yuanqing was in excellent spirits.

Tianqi's three-year offensive has set the tone, and the next step is to implement it step by step and turn it into reality.

It was now morning, and the soldiers were given a half-day leave to go back and reunite with their families first. Li Yuanqing also returned to his familiar home in the government office.

Caizi had already put hot water on Li Yuanqing's table, and he soaked comfortably in the hot water. Li Yuanqing also received news that made him, and even the entire Changsheng Island, extremely excited.

Zhang Yunniang is pregnant.

This means that Li Yuanqing and his Changsheng Island and Changsheng Camp have successors.

The ancients said that there are three types of unfilial piety, the greatest of which is not having offspring.

In the historical inheritance of mankind, the importance of direct descendants cannot be expressed in words.

Especially Li Yuanqing at this time, he is no longer alone. Shang Laoliu, Duan Xiliang, Xu Heizi, Shunzi, etc., all the officers and soldiers of the Changsheng Battalion, including everyone living on Changsheng Island, have already followed Li Yuanqing.

Tied to a rope, to put it more bluntly, they can almost be said to be Li Yuanqing's private property.

Li Yuanqing has direct descendants, which means that the entire group, with inheritance, will be passed down well.

After hearing the news, he couldn't take a shower, so he washed a few times casually. Li Yuanqing hurriedly changed his clothes and came to Zhang Yunniang's room.

Qu Minqiu was also there and gave Li Yuanqing a resentful look.

Li Yuanqing was feeling a little unspeakably excited at this time, but since Qu Minqiu was here, he couldn't be too straightforward and just laughed.

Zhang Yuniang was also extremely happy when she saw Li Yuanqing, "Brother."

Li Yuanqing smiled, hurriedly stepped forward and held Zhang Yunniang's little hand, "Yunniang, it's so cold, why don't you rest on the bed?"

Zhang Yunniang was a little speechless, but she was very happy, "Brother, it's only been more than a month here..."

Qu Minqiu rolled her eyes at Li Yuanqing in displeasure, "I know how good my family is, but I still went out for so long."

Of course, Li Yuanqing understood what Qu Minqiu meant, and he chuckled, "Don't worry, everyone will get it."

Qu Minqiu's pretty face couldn't help but turn red instantly, and she whispered in a low voice: "Who cares?" But his moist eyes looked at Li Yuanqing as if they were about to melt.

Caiko's face was also filled with envy and unspeakable expectations.

…………

After having breakfast with several wives and concubines in the back house, Li Yuanqing did not stay long, but quickly came to the official hall to listen to the reports from Shang Laoliu and Ma Guanjia.

This era is far from a time of peace and enjoyment. If you want your wife and children to live a better life, only strong strength can ensure their safety.

Shang Laoliu and Housekeeper Ma also learned the news. When they saw Li Yuanqing, they saluted and congratulated him.

Li Yuanqing was in a very happy mood. He exchanged a few words and got down to business.

Shang Laoliu said: "Yuanqing, the preparations for spring plowing this year are better than expected. The salt field has also produced a lot of salt products, but the key is food. Even if fish and poultry are added, I am afraid it will not last for less than a month.

.”

Li Yuanqing nodded, "How much money do we have left?"

Shang Laoliu said helplessly: "The government account only has less than ten thousand taels."

Li Yuanqing looked at Butler Ma again, who was even more embarrassed, "General, the government already has a deficit, about ten thousand taels."

The accounts of Changsheng Island are mainly divided into four parts.

The first and most important thing is the accounts of Changsheng Camp, which is handled by the logistics supervisor Shang Laoliu.

The second is the accounts within the government office, including Li Yuanqing's large fields and various real estate assets of the livestock farm.

The third one is Zhang Yuniang and Qu Minqiu’s internal property, including the various shops they are currently working hard to run.

Finally, there is Li Yuanqing's small treasury, which is also the source of all these accounts.

On Shang Laoliu's side, the main expenses are various military expenditures and baggage expenses.

Guanjia Ma's side is an infrastructure construction, which sometimes overlaps with Shang Laoliu's side, but most of the time, it is Guanjia Ma's side that provides the money. After all, with the state of Changsheng Island, everything is focused on military expenses.

As for Zhang Yunniang and Qu Minqiu's pavement industry, it is Li Yuanqing's attempt at commercialization. It is still too small and cannot be expected.

The only thing he can rely on is his small treasury.

At this time, looking at the two people with sad faces, Li Yuanqing also frowned.

It is now the third year of the Apocalypse. After more than two years of development, Changsheng Island is no longer what it was when it was first established. There are only 1,800 people and only a meager amount of money can support them.

Now, the population base of Changsheng Island has exceeded 30,000. According to the most conservative estimate, feeding these people requires at least 100,000 to 150,000 silver a year.

If this year's spring plowing goes smoothly, the weather is good, and the output is good, this number may be reduced a bit.

But this is basically the bottom line. Beyond this line, it is simply unsustainable.

In the second year of Tianqi, Changsheng Island received military salary expenditures from the imperial court. Even if rewards were included, it was still less than 40,000 taels.

During this period, there was a gap of 110,000 taels.

And this gap can only be solved by Li Yuanqing himself.

Of course, a big reason for this is that Li Yuanqing expanded too quickly and the population base grew too quickly.

For example, although Zhang Pan and Chen Zhong are also under pressure, their population base is small and they are far less in deficit than Li Yuanqing.

At this time, although Li Yuanqing had 50,000 taels of silver given by Yang Jiao's mother, the spring offensive in the third year of Tianqi was about to begin, and this amount of money was far from enough.

After thinking for a long time, Li Yuanqing said: "Well, Brother Shang, you contact Qu Mingrui immediately. This year, I want to purchase 00,000 taels of grain. Pay a deposit of 10,000 taels first. The goods must be received before March."

According to the discussion between Li Yuanqing and Mao Wenlong, the time for the troops to enter Fuzhou will be around mid- or late March. Before then, Li Yuanqing must handle the matter properly.

Shang Laoliu nodded hurriedly, but said: "Yuan Qing, we, we only have ten thousand taels of silver now, and there are 80,000 left..."

Li Yuanqing smiled and said, "Brother Shang, you don't have to worry too much about this. You only need to give Qu Mingrui Wan a deposit first. I will figure out a way to save the remaining money."

Shang Laoliu relaxed a little when he saw Li Yuanqing speaking so confidently.

Ma Guanjia said: "General, where is the spring plowing?"

Li Yuanqing said: "Spring plowing will still proceed as planned, but the payment of food and wages tonight will be delayed slightly. Work only for food, and the remaining rewards and achievements will be paid after autumn."

"yes."

Li Yuanqing had already set the tone, and Butler Ma quickly agreed.

"By the way, there is also the recently produced batch of salt. We will try to sell it as soon as possible. Shen Jin will work hard."

"yes."

…………

Shang Laoliu and Butler Ma left, and Li Yuanqing rubbed his temples tiredly.

In this situation, it is really difficult to collect enough money.

Even if all the salt products produced recently were sold, the maximum amount would be less than ten thousand taels of silver. Compared with Li Yuanqing's needs, it would still be a drop in the bucket.

But with the war approaching, Li Yuanqing didn't have much time or energy to get entangled with these trivial matters.

But Li Yuanqing also had a huge advantage at this time.

According to his reputation at this time, who knows and who doesn't know about him in Liao and even the entire Ming Dynasty?

In addition, the little emperor Tianqi's holy love for him at this time, Qu Mingrui would never fail to betray his face.

In addition, with the 50,000 taels of silver notes in hand, I should be able to 'cheat' Qu Mingrui's goods first.

This is like taking out a bank loan in later generations and defaulting on repayments.

Li Yuanqing understood. With Qu Mingrui's shrewdness, it was impossible for him not to be able to figure out this account. As long as the spring offensive had results, Li Yuanqing would not shortchange him.

But here, he still needs the help of two people.

Thinking of this, Li Yuanqing smiled and called Ou'er, asking her to immediately write a letter to Chen Zhong and Zhang Pan.

…………

After resting for a few days on Changsheng Island, Li Yuanqing inspected the military construction of the three thousand corps and Liu Dadou's scout team. In the evening, he worked hard to sow seeds without slacking off.

In this era, the more children there are, the greater the family's influence.

Li Yuanqing is naturally happy about this.

On the twenty-fifth day of the first lunar month, Chen Zhong and Zhang Pan arrived at Changsheng Island one after another.

The three old brothers had not seen each other for many days, so they were very drunk. However, unlike other days, there were not only three people at the banquet, but also three red-robed eunuchs.

After a night of hangover, the next morning, the three departments, accompanied by three supervisors, began to formally discuss military affairs.

With Li Yuanqing's current popularity, even Ma Qiu, the supervisor of Zhang Pan's department, dare not touch Li Yuanqing's brows. Zhang Qiliang, the supervisor of Chen Zhong's department, and Wei Liang, the supervisor of Changsheng Island, do not have the foundation of Ma Qiu, let alone talk too much. .

It is indeed difficult for ordinary people to know the things in the palace, but for people like them who have their roots in the palace, the slightest change in the palace is a big deal.
To be continued...