"Boyuan, you are still in Chang'an this time. You are afraid you will be ranked third. I think it is suitable for you." Walking on the long road, Guan Yu and Liu Yi were sitting in the carriage, feeling idle and found some topics to post. After going 700 miles, the army marched differently from two people on the way, and they were not in a hurry to rush, so it was normal to walk for a month.

"Yes, I'm the most powerful minister." Liu Yi leaned on the back of the carriage and looked at Guan Yu and smiled: "But these are all false."

"Oh?" Guan Yu looked at Liu Yi and smiled, "What's the truth?"

"Now that Guanzhong, Heluo has been cut off. I mean to rebuild Erdu and strengthen the defense line along the way. After all, these 700 miles are easily destroyed by the enemy. Just like Dong Zhuo back then, something really happened. Chang'an is not easy to support it. I have sent someone to send his Majesty the budget and drawings before. After this reward, I will prepare to start construction. The tracks in Hanzhong must be repaired first and the materials will be transported out first. In fact, there is no difference between Sikong and Shaofu, and they still have to be busy." Liu Yi smiled.

"Boyuan is very commendable for his country. My brother will definitely support him. I wonder how much Boyuan's budget has this reconstruction of Erdu?" Guan Yu didn't care much when he heard this. Liu Yi made a big project in the past, and Liu Bei did not support him. Of course, the results brought can also be seen. From Yueyang to Xiangyang, Jiangling, and then to Yunnan, the comprehensive strength of the Han Dynasty was almost built like Liu Yi, so Guan Yu believed that Liu Bei would not refuse Liu Yi's request.

"This project is a bit big." Liu Yi smiled and said: "The basic track laying along the way must be provided, and there are also checkpoints from Chang'an to Luoyang. The preliminary budget is 3 billion. In the future, laying to Xiliang may even communicate with the Western Regions. If the Silk Road is opened, it will have to be added. However, by then, the economy of both cities will be revitalized and there may be less..."

Liu Yi said a lot later, but Guan Yu no longer had the intention to listen. Even though he was a general, he did not value money very much on weekdays, but when he said the 3 billion yuan, Guan Yu obviously felt that his breathing was delayed for a moment, and he felt a feeling of chest tightness and shortness of breath.

Later, Guan Yu didn't listen to Liu Yi's professional terms, or he had no intention of listening to them, and he was thinking about what the concept of 3 billion was?

When Liu Yi built Nanyang, Xiangyang and Jiangling, the imperial court invested about 300 million yuan in total. Now Liu Yi opened his mouth and said 300 million yuan. Guan Yu looked at Liu Yi with a mechanical look: "Is there a little more? The two cities of Xiangyang and Jiangling were only more than 300 million yuan in the past, so what...

"It's not 300 million, but the government invested 300 million. Besides, the Xiangyang city itself is not big. As for Jiangling, there is no foundation. Just this, what Jiangling has it taken from? Xiangyang gentry to get as much as 500 million. Now we want to build two capitals. Chang'an alone, if we are in terms of area, it will be topped with five or six Xiangyangs, not to mention the track laying, the manufacturing of track cars, and the checkpoints along the way. How can this be compared?" Seeing that Guan Yu's expression was wrong, Liu Yi quickly smiled and said, "Of course, if Hedong can be built, it will save some."

"How many?" Guan Yu asked.

"There are about one billion yuan, and there are many passes that need to be defended along the way. Junhou has also seen that the water level of the river has dropped in recent years. The passes in the past are no longer used now. They must be re-arranged, and the tracks must be laid in these places, which is a little troublesome." Liu Yishui said. The most rare thing is not the construction of a city, but the defense line from Chang'an to Luoyang. He will start from this aspect first.

Guan Yu frowned and nodded, thinking in his heart whether to discuss with his brother and capture Hedong by the way. Although it would be even more troublesome, it would save one billion.

"Of course, if Hedong is captured, it will be a hundred million yuan that can be invested in the construction of Hedong, and the checkpoints must be built. The terrain of Hedong is relatively complicated. Junhou is from Hedong. You have to ask Junhou for this. How much to use in the end depends on the situation." Liu Yi thought. He had seen the map of Hedong before, but based on the map, he could roughly understand the landforms of the Hedong area, but it was difficult to be refined. The three-dimensional sense in his heart is not too strong. This thing is related to future defense and cannot be subjectively conjectured. You have to conduct on-site inspections before making a decision.

In Liu Yi's opinion, it is not cost-effective to launch a war alone in Hedong. It is best to take down Bingzhou in one battle. However, there are many problems involved. Not only are they fighting with the Wei army, but they also have to consider the border defense of Bingzhou in the future. The current great man is afraid that he will not be able to afford that much money.

Guan Yu laughed dryly when he heard this, and the thought that had just risen in his heart disappeared in a flash. The man at present had just obtained Guanzhong and Heluo. He was about to rest and recuperate and gradually digest the gains. Don't be greedy for merit. Well, it's better to be more stable.

As for Liu Yi coming to ask for money this time, Guan Yu decided not to care about it. Let his brother consider this kind of national affairs. He just interfered with a martial arts man, or just manage the war well. What are you worried about in this kind of people's livelihood?

The carriage was moving forward slowly, but the carriage fell into tranquility. Guan Yu's eyes closed slightly, as if he was asleep. After all, he was old and it was understandable that he was exhausted. Liu Yi sat by the window, watching the scenery outside the window retreat from his eyes, silently estimating his future plans in his heart.

At the same time, Liu Bei, who had arrived in Chang'an and after preliminary stability, began to wait for generals from all sides to come to Chang'an to reward him, was now worried about attracting Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong.

"Your Majesty!" Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong came to Liu Bei, bowed, looked at Liu Bei with a sad face, and said in confusion: "What's the matter worried?"

Could it be that Cao Wei was ready to burn all the jade and stones and fight against them?

"What do Kong Ming thinks about the drawings sent by Bo Yuan before?" Liu Bei did not answer, but just looked at Zhuge Liang and asked.

"The concerns are quite comprehensive, and the time, place, five elements, and feng shui are all considered." Zhuge Liang thought for a while and said.

Although Liu Yi sent a sketch before, Zhuge Liang's vision could not find too many problems. Even if there were any, it was still details. When making a regular picture, it could be corrected. I wonder why Liu Bei suddenly asked this?

"Sometimes, Bo Yuan ordered people to send the budget for the two cities. In addition to the reconstruction of the two capitals, there are also tracks along the way, rail cars, checkpoint construction for Wei from Chang'an to Luoyang, and track laying between Guanzhong counties and Hanzhong." Liu Bei handed the letter sent by Liu Yi to the servants and asked the servants to pass it to the two of them.

In fact, if you don’t look at it, you will know that the budget that can make Liu Bei, who has always used money, show this expression.

Pang Tong came up and watched with Zhuge Liang.

The other things were nothing. The two of them finally looked at the actual budget. The initial investment was 3 billion yuan. It was just the initial connection between Luoyang and Chang'an and the track laying between Hanzhong and Guanzhong. It was not counted as the workshop to be built in the future, nor as the roads and cities needed for the Xiliang, Qiang area and even the Western Regions mentioned by Liu Yi.

The suffocating data, just now I was using Guanzhong, and it was time to use money. As a result, Liu Yi said that Shuzhong's continued years would probably be emptied again.

Well, every time Liu Yi had any movement, he would emptie the treasury, but the speed of money coming later increased a lot, especially after Nanzhong was opened, Shuzhong's income has been quite considerable in recent years. But even so, when he saw the request of 3 billion, Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong were still shocked.

"At present, there are a lot of food, grass and supplies in the warehouse in the Jing and Shu areas. If you talk about coins, there are indeed some, but they still need to be used to pay for the fallen soldiers. Rewarding the meritorious soldiers requires money. I am afraid that these 3 billion will not be able to produce these in a short period of time." Zhuge Liang smiled bitterly. He was responsible for the logistics of the entire Han Dynasty. He knew best how much money the Han Dynasty has now.

There are 3 billion, but it is absolutely impossible to give it to Liu Yi at once. After all, the reward is imminent, and a lot of this money is to be used to reward heroes and soldiers.

"I'm asking you two to come here for this." Liu Bei looked at the two with a wry smile. When Liu Yi sent the drawings, he was already ready for heavy bleeding, and even planned to take out half of the money in the treasury to let Liu Yi carry out construction. After all, after more than ten years of experience, after every major construction project, what happened to Liu Yi was following is the rising economy, and Liu Bei also had this courage.

But the problem now is... there is not enough money, or it is impossible to give it to Liu Yi. After all, rewards cannot be delayed. Otherwise, the court will be untrustworthy to the soldiers of the three armies. Now the court has the confidence to promote the academy to recruit descendants of meritorious soldiers to study because all the troops are on the side of the court, and even if the aristocratic families oppose it, it is useless. Therefore, this matter is urgent, but Liu Yi's money cannot be delayed. The earlier he gives it, the more he can see the Han Dynasty prosper further. Liu Bei is older, and he wants to watch the Han Dynasty move towards glory step by step in his hands, and even surpass Hanwu and Guangwu to reach a new peak.

Pang Tong pinched his beard under his jaw and frowned. He could do anything to fight and manage, but the way to make money...is a bit difficult.

Zhuge Liang gently shook the feather fan. Although the weather was already a little cool, his feather fan had never stopped since he read Liu Yi's letter.

Liu Bei was not in a hurry, and he had no choice.

Zhuge Liang suddenly looked up and looked at Liu Bei and said, "In recent years, our dynasty's regaining territory has expanded, but it has also caused a lot of corruption, and many complaints have occurred among the people. I believe that after the reward, corruption can be strictly investigated."

Liu Bei was stunned when he heard this and then reacted.

No matter which dynasty or generation, a thing like corrupt officials cannot be avoided, but generally even wise monarchs will not hold on to this point. Although it is a bit unpleasant, this matter is just a small problem for the country, not too much.

Of course, there is another point, which is a bit dark, that is, when the court has no money, it can kill corrupt officials. There are two benefits: one can calm the anger of the public. Even if killing corrupt officials does not bring any practical benefits to the people, it is to relieve hatred, and the other is to enrich the national treasury. Zhuge Liang obviously thought of this.

After Liu Bei was silent for a moment, he nodded silently and said, "This matter will be left to Kong Ming for responsibility."
Chapter completed!