Chapter 830: The Planned Economy Has No Plan

"Therefore, in response to this situation, we have proposed a Planned Economy model, in which meat is the most important, followed by Cloth, Porcelain, Glass, various Ironware, and livestock."

"Based on the annual production volume and demand, combined, we take an appropriate value and finally produce a type of ticket; this type of ticket will be sold in tiers according to the status and income situation of all Residents."

"At the very least, we ensure that every household can obtain tickets; they can use these tickets to exchange for the things they need at shops. For example, we issue a five-jin Meat Ticket; by paying the same price as the meat, we sell this paper ticket to the public, and then they can directly use this ticket to exchange for five jin of meat, without needing to pay any extra grain."

"They can go at any time; as long as there is meat in the shop, they can exchange it directly. At first, it will also require rushing, but when others have used up their tickets, if you want to buy meat and you do not have a Meat Ticket, you will not be able to buy it, and then the shop's meat can be left over for other people who want to buy meat."

"In this way, everyone can buy meat, and the amount of meat each person can buy is the same; this way, it is divided equally."

Yulong noticed that some people seemed to have doubts, but he ignored them and continued to say: "According to our investigation, we have divided everyone into different levels based on annual income. Of course, this level is not about status, but about the degree of wealth: high-income class, middle-income class, low-income class, and there is also one more: landless tenant farmers."

"People of different income classes have different numbers of times they can eat meat each year; if they want to exchange for meat, they also have to see if their family's grain is enough to exchange for meat to eat. The high-income class does not have this consideration."

"So, after the tickets are produced, they are distributed according to class, and everyone has a fixed quota. Those who are willing to exchange all of it will exchange it all for Meat Tickets; those who feel they do not have that ability will exchange for a portion, or even not exchange at all. Finally, the tickets that were not exchanged will be sold again within the same class; those who want to buy more can buy in excess."

"If it hasn't been sold out in the lowest class, then it will be sold to the class above, until all the tickets are sold out."

"I am using meat as an example here; all other material goods will also be handled according to this method. Alright, that is all I have to say."

Baifeng took over the floor and asked everyone: "You have all heard it; are there any more questions regarding this plan?"

An official from the Ministry of Works raised his hand, and Baifeng signaled for him to speak: "May I ask, how is the quantity of tickets for each class calculated? It should be that the high-income class has the fewest people, but the most grain at home, and the meat they can exchange for, or rather their demand for meat, is greater. Meanwhile, the low-income class has the most people, but little grain, so the meat they can exchange for is also less. This shouldn't be distributed according to the number of people, right?"

"We have all reached this position and obtained so much wealth through hard work. Besides contributing to the country, we also have higher pursuits for status and life. We can't be the same as the tenant farmers, right? Then what is the point of us doing this?"

This person spoke very bluntly, and Baifeng was already used to it. After all, status, identity, and wealth were things he promised them so they would work better. Everyone's goal was the same; right now, there were not many lofty thoughts in their heads, and Nobility and surnames were enough for them to fight tooth and nail for a lifetime.

Baifeng waved the document in his hand to quiet everyone down: "Leave professional matters to professional people. What you can think of, the Ministry of Revenue has already thought of. What I have in my hand is the final plan."

The conference room instantly quieted down, waiting for Baifeng to continue speaking.

"First of all, the distribution is still based on the number of people, but the amount of meat that each person in different classes can receive is different. Combining the annual output of the Pasture and everyone's demand, the Ministry of Revenue has already divided the quota for each person, and I think it is also very good."

"Taking meat as an example, a tenant farmer gets one jin, then the low-income gets two jin, the middle-income class gets four jin, but for the high-income here, it is eight jin. Don't be anxious; this is just a ratio, not that we are really giving you eight jin per person."

The conference room, which had almost become rowdy again, gradually quieted down. This matter was closely related to them, so naturally, they had to strive to fight for it. If it were decided just like this, it would be very difficult to change it again. And they didn't know who this entire Planned Economy was, or how it was thought up—could it be Yulong?

If it really was thought up by Yulong, then the future days for these officials might not be easy. After all, Yulong would definitely take over the position in the future, and gradually compressing the interests and power of the officials was a very terrifying thing for them.

Baifeng shook the document at the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Agriculture: "You two departments, generally speaking, have done okay. All aspects are basically on point; you have indeed put in the effort, and it is worthy of praise."

"However, you still think of things too simply. Mu, I ask you, can you guarantee that the annual slaughter volume and meat output of the various livestock in your Pasture can be about the same as what you estimated? We won't even talk about a few hundred jin; a few thousand jin is just a matter of a few dozen pigs. What if the Pasture suffers a Snow disaster, or a disease, and the meat output doesn't reach the target?"

"If there is extra meat, we can issue supplementary tickets, but if there is less meat, are we going to take the tickets back? Then what about the credibility of our government? Will everyone still believe you? If you cannot guarantee the output, then where is the significance of the Planned Economy?"

Mu was at a loss for words for a moment. Isn't this what you requested? Now we cannot guarantee it, but we can still deliver meat every day. I can guarantee the daily amount; if you want me to guarantee a year's worth now, then if the meat isn't enough, am I supposed to use my own meat to make up for it?

Mu didn't know how to explain it either, and Baifeng didn't want to make him that uncomfortable, so he directly stated his own suggestion: "It's very simple. You can't guarantee a year, then what about half a year? One hundred days? You can guarantee this, right? Guarantee the first one hundred days; for the latter one hundred days, if you feel the meat output is lower, then issue fewer tickets; if the meat output is higher, then issue more tickets. Can you guarantee this?"

Mu let out a long breath. Good, good, as long as there is a way, he won't have any trouble. So he nodded repeatedly to guarantee: "King, we in the Pasture can absolutely guarantee this."