Beiyang reactionaries

Salt merchants have been wealthy since ancient times, even now.More than half of the government's fiscal revenue is salt tax.When Duan Xun was in western Henan, the salt team sent from Luoyang every month paid the most taxes to western Henan.Even more than the opium merchants paid in taxes.

Not to mention Luzhou.

Every day, Zigong salt is loaded from Luzhou and sold to various places.

Because of this, during the Revolution of [-], when the Yunnan army entered Sichuan, the first goal was Zigong.After occupying Zigong, they not only robbed Zigong of salt, but also robbed local money.

why?

Because Zigong is rich.

grandma's.

Now that it's here, Duan Xun can't watch it, of course.

"Brother Mingjie, Luzhou is a good place."

"Yes. It's indeed a good place. Compared to Yuxi, it's like heaven."

Western Henan.

One word is poor, two words are very poor, three words are very poor.

Regardless of how Wang Yongjiang rectified Western Henan, Western Henan is still one word, that is, poor.On the whole, Western Henan is not generally poor, and it is barely enough to support Duan Xun's troops.If Duan Xun hadn't controlled the coal and tungsten mines in western Henan and made money during the First World War, he wouldn't have been able to support many troops.

But Luzhou is different.

This place is really rich, let alone a mixed brigade here, even if it can support a few divisions, it will not be a problem.It was also the first time for Duan Xun to come to such a wealthy place.Looking at the rushing money here, how could Duan Xun not drool.

Although it is not as rich as Jiangnan, it is one of the richest places in the southwest region, which is enough for Duan Xun at present.

"Ming Jie, send someone to occupy the Sichuan Southern Branch of the Salt Audit Office tomorrow, and this department will directly belong to me from now on."

"Yes."

The most valuable thing in Luzhou is salt.

In order to manage salt well and to collect taxes, the Sichuan government established the South Sichuan Branch of the Salt Audit Office in Luzhou, which is mainly responsible for the collection and escort of salt taxes.The salt tax here can even account for about 20.00% of the annual income of the Sichuan provincial government.Sichuan's annual fiscal revenue is around 500 million yuan, while the salt tax here is 400 million yuan a year.

It is the most important income of the Sichuan government.

But Duan Xun didn't care about that.

Since I came here, this is my jurisdiction, and the money here is my own.Anyway, the war to protect the country will break out in a few months, and I will have a lawsuit with Chen Heng for a few months, and Chen Heng will not have the energy to take care of himself by then.As long as the War to Protect the Nation breaks out, the situation in the entire Southwest will be corrupted, and who cares about it at that time.Use this money to continue recruiting troops in Sichuan, and also to deal with the future war to protect the country.

"There is also the immediate establishment of the Tobacco and Alcohol Taxation Bureau under the Luzhou Governor. I want to rectify the alcohol industry here."

collect taxes.

In addition to salt, Luzhou is the most developed water transport.However, most of the water transportation in Luzhou is currently in the hands of foreigners, especially the British.Although the First World War broke out, Duan Xun still does not want to turn his face against the British.

Of course, I am not qualified to turn against the British.

Therefore, water transportation cannot be managed by itself.In addition to these two, the most developed thing in Luzhou is the wine industry.

Luzhou's wine making industry is well-known in China, and even foreigners know about Luzhou's wine making.At present, there are many distilleries in Luzhou, more than 80 cellars, and an annual output of more than 800 tons of wine. Luzhou Laojiao Daqu is very famous.

Now that Luzhou's winemaking industry is well developed, Duan Xun of course has to collect taxes.

"Yes."

After Deng Hanxiang left, Duan Xun immediately asked Li Jishen to come over.

"Ren Chao (Li Jishen)."

"teacher."

"I'll give you a mission now. Take the 67th Regiment and the Xinbing Regiment, and wipe out all the bandits around Luzhou. By the way, train the Xinbing Regiment."

"Yes."

After coming to Luzhou, Duan Xun really looked down on Liu Cunhou.As the commander-in-chief of Qingxiang in southern Sichuan, his mission is to suppress bandits.In particular, the salt industry is developed here, so there are many bandits.

These bandits occupied the salt road, attacked at every turn, and robbed the salt tax.Do it once and grab tens of thousands of taels of silver.Seriously affect the safety of the salt tunnel.Duan Xun even wondered if these bandits had handed over bribes to Liu Cunhou.Otherwise, although Liu Cunhou's Second Division of the Sichuan Army was severely downsized by Chen Heng, how could thousands of people not even do this bit of banditry?

"However, teacher, there are many horse bandits in this place, should the cavalry regiment also attack?"

"Okay. You will be the commander of the bandit suppression in Luzhou, and lead three regiments to wipe out these bandits for me. By the way, take a good look around Luzhou and draw a detailed map for me."

"Yes."

Suppressing bandits is one, and surveying the terrain is the real purpose.

In another four or five months, the War to Protect the Country broke out.I am a guest army in Sichuan, and I don't know Sichuan at all.This is especially true for Luzhou.Once you fight it will be very difficult.It is a good strategy to make various preparations in advance.

"Go."

"Yes."

When he came to Luzhou, Duan Xun made arrangements one problem at a time.After Li Jishen left, he quickly let Xu Yongchang in.

"commander."

"Cichen, raise my flag immediately, and then recruit troops in Luzhou. But be careful, the elder brother association here is very organized, don't call me some pao brothers. Now remember my order and cancel the first regiment and the second regiment of recruits." In terms of establishment, the first regiment of recruits was incorporated into the 67th regiment, and the 68th regiment, 69th regiment, cavalry regiment, and guard regiment each added a reinforced battalion of 800 people. The insufficient part was recruited in Luzhou to make up for it.”

"Yes."

This time when he came to Sichuan, Duan Xun was not going to leave.

The most chaotic place in the War to Protect the Nation was Sichuan, where the Beiyang Army, Sichuan Army, Yunnan Army, and Guizhou Army fought in Sichuan.The more chaos there is, the more opportunities there are. Duan Xun is about to rise in the chaotic Sichuan.

Originally, if Duan Xun continued to be in western Henan, if there was no such thing as the National Defense Movement, even if Duan Xun's army developed, it would not be possible to have a big development.Because someone from above looked at Duan Xun.

What do you mean by privately expanding the army?Even in the name of the local army, the expansion of the army should not be too excessive.

But now is different.

As long as the movement to protect the country breaks out, as long as Yuan Shikai dies, then China will enter a real warlord melee.At that time, local warlords were trying to expand their armies, so no one cared about your orders.

If the central government doesn’t give you money, I will withhold taxes at the local level, and I will also have enough money to expand the army.

Duan Xun is the same.

I was short of money in western Henan, but now I have come to Luzhou and withheld all the salt tax in Luzhou.Luzhou's salt tax for a month is higher than the income of Western Henan for a year.With so much money, I can easily expand the army.

But Duan Xun dared to do it.

Other troops don't have the guts to withhold money from the Sichuan government, especially now that Chen Heng is so powerful.Only Duan Xun knew that the movement to protect the country would take place in a few months. At that time, Chen Heng would not be able to protect himself, and he would be able to settle accounts after the fall.