Chapter 1017: Chicken and egg problem

War is not only good, it also has some disadvantages. The disadvantage is that prices in Qi have risen. Due to the war, Qi’s local grain stocks were consumed extremely quickly. The speed of the war and the expansion of the scale of the war have led to a rapid increase in war consumption. Qi State's originally relatively rich family background was under continuous wars. There is no savings left.

Although the war stimulated the development of Qi's military handicraft industry on the other side, and these handicraft industries also brought some benefits to Qi, on the other hand, Qi was caught in a price war.

What Qi is lacking most. The answer is food, which is the most concerned issue with ordinary people.

Qi's grain stocks have been exhausted. The war is still going on. Food is the most consumed material in war. The food supply of the soldiers in front emptied the food supply in the rear. This has to make Qi import a large amount of grain from abroad, and the price of imported grain continues to rise. The reason for the continuous rise of Qin State wheat futures is largely because the huge demand in Qi State has led to continuous price increases.

Rising prices force Qi State to import rice from Chu State. Although Qi State has opened multiple channels to import grain, Qi State’s grain is still tight. The price of grain pushed up the price level of Qi. Many things in Qi are rising in price. Just connect to the food. Then the overall price of Qi will be very high.

The agricultural foundation of Qi is undergoing tremendous changes. Many farmers are losing the land they depend on, and in another, a large number of farmers who have lost their land are pouring into towns. They began to sell their labor for a living. Only after they sell their labor can they get the labor compensation they want. These labor remunerations have to be exchanged for high-priced food. In this way, the people are still on the verge of poverty, when the people of a country use all their savings to buy food. This country is facing a huge crisis, and this crisis comes from the foundation.

Qi needs a huge change to change the current situation, but Qi has no such talents who can recognize this level. All their attention was focused on the current war.

The people of Qi are worrying about the war. But the people of Qin are busy cutting their military expenditures, and the issue of military expenditures is suppressing everything in Qin.

"As for the issue of armed merchant ships in the south, we will leave it alone. What we need to discuss is that all issues regarding military spending reductions must be resolved first." Shang Wen said at a government and military meeting.

"Military expenditure is not very large, why should it be cut?" Wang Jian wanted to bring this issue to the original starting point. He wanted to circumvent this problem directly.

"This question, I need to make some economic explanation." Shang Wen said.

"At present, a large part of the government's expenditure comes from military expenditure. Although we have worked very hard to carry out two large-scale military expenditure reductions and personnel reductions. However, for now, Qin's military expenditure is still very high. Big." Shang Wen said.

"According to our previous data analysis. Our military expenses account for nearly half of the entire fiscal expenditure. If you add the royal family's expenses." Shang Wenyou looks for a pair of glasses to put on. Having said this, he paused intentionally. Pushed the glasses.

"It will exceed 60%. This is a terrible expenditure. These expenditures have led to an extreme deterioration in the overall financial situation." Shang Wen said.

"So, why do we still have so much money for us to fight?" Wang Jian asked.

"Huh." Shang Wen breathed out a heavy breath.

"Yes, the role of government bonds. Without these bonds, I am afraid that we will not be able to continue to support it." Shangwen said.

"At present, the government has issued a large number of bonds, and the issuance of these bonds is more than twice our fiscal expenditure. Moreover, this number is still growing rapidly. It is in this gap where we are talking." Shang Wen looked at himself. Said the clock.

"Our government has already owed about two and a half taels of banknotes." Shang Wen said.

"I admit that Qin's current military expenditure is not too much compared to the country's security system. However, Qin's current financial situation is unable to support such a large defense expenditure. Qin needs to readjust. It is conducive to the continued improvement of the economic situation." Shang Wen said.

"This." Everyone was watching the military's attitude. At this meeting, they need to reach a consensus with government representatives. The result of this consensus is that the military will formally submit a report on the plan to reduce military expenditures by the General Staff. The military is independent. The King Qin has the final veto power. Shangwen needs to mobilize the military first before reaching further opinions.

"Wow," said here. The military representatives felt that there was a certain truth, and they knew it. The current situation. It is the military that will have to reach a compromise with government representatives.

According to Qin's political system, the prime minister is the head of Qin's hundred officials. Shangwen has certain power to intervene in the military partly, mainly in fiscal expenditures. But the military is still an independent system because it involves national security. And the army is only loyal to King Qin. Not the prime minister.

"If this situation continues to develop, then Qin will be heavily indebted. Moreover, if these debts cannot be cleared up in time, then Qin's creditworthiness will decline, and what will be the consequences of the decline in creditworthiness. That is Qin. The country’s national prestige capacity declines. In that case, Qin will not be able to obtain the funds we want most through bonds. Without funds, we will not be able to win any war. This is a completely new situation. This In this situation, I need your soldiers to understand and understand our current situation. We need joint cooperation and understanding to overcome the difficulties of Qin." Shang Wen said.

"What the Prime Minister said is reasonable. Judging from the military expenditure sent by the Prime Minister, we do need to make some concessions." A staff officer on the side said.

At this time, the military representative sitting at the front, Wang Jian, didn't say anything. Although several special military meetings have been held within the military to discuss how to cut military expenditures. However, the military quarreled for a long time and did not come up with a plan. This means that Qin's military cannot be produced, and a feasible plan is provided to Shangwen.

"I want to ask a question?" Wang Jian asked at this time.

"Please explain." Shang Wen said directly.

"What is our fiscal revenue? Also, that is, our fiscal revenue mainly depends on taxes. However, our current taxes are maintained at a low level. Then, can we provide a tax threshold? It can be solved." Wang Jian said directly.

Although Shang Wen knows that the military is likely to mention such a plan. This is because it is not that such a scheme has not been mentioned, but it has been mentioned. But Shangwen believes that it should not be adopted.

"This issue has a broader scope. I need to make some special statements." Shang Wen said.

"Qin's current economic development is rapid, mainly dependent on Qin's low tax rate. If the tax rate is raised, then Qin's economy will weaken a lot. This is like we are raising chickens and laying eggs. We only had one chicken before. "Shang Wen said.

The people around were holding back their laughter at this time.

"Look at our prime minister, he actually learned how to raise chickens." An officer sneered. Wang Jian, who was not far away, turned his head to look at that officer.

"We need to understand a lot of things. Why can such an unproactive officer become a staff officer of the General Staff?" Wang Jian said to the people on the side. Obviously, Wang Jian was very dissatisfied with such words.

"In the beginning, we only had one chicken, and we could only lay one egg a day, but we needed a lot of eggs to do a lot of things, what should we do?" Shang Wen said.

"We need to make cakes, egg custard, and some scrambled eggs. However, chickens can only lay one egg a day. We cannot meet the current needs. Therefore, we need to temporarily restrain our current desires and make one. Long-term investment." Shang Wen continued. And the people around are listening to Shang Wen telling this relatively easy-to-understand story.

"We need that chicken, lay the eggs, and hatch the chicken. Then the chicken grows into another chicken, one chicken hatches the egg, and the other chicken provides us with all kinds of food." Shang Wen said.

"I think everyone should understand at this time, what I mean." Shang Wen said.

"We need a lot of eggs. But chickens will only lay one egg every day. We need many chickens that can lay eggs to meet our growing demand. If, at this time, we kill the chickens, we will have nothing." Shang Wen said .

"Similarly, if we raise the tax rate today, then tomorrow, we will have no tax-paying enterprises." Shang Wen said.

"Our ultimate goal is to get eggs, not chickens. If we kill the chickens, we will have nothing." Shang Wen said.

"En." Wang Jian nodded in approval.

"Wow." All the people present began to applaud, and they expressed their admiration for Shang Wen's easy-to-understand explanation.

"The prime minister is right, but I think our views are also correct." Wang Jian said to the army chief of staff.

"We can't cut too much, and if we give up too many problems, it will also cause the government to demand more and more of us. For our own consideration, we cannot make too many concessions." At this time. Wang Jian clearly expressed his views.