The matter of pacifying Liaodong could not be delayed!
Although the salt tax inspection would not generate immediate revenue, it could be treated as accounts receivable. Therefore, the 2.5 million taels required for the first year of the Liaodong campaign could be diverted from other sources, to be repaid once the salt tax funds were collected. If that still proved insufficient, Emperor Chongzhen could always tap into the Imperial Treasury to make up the difference.
With the financial question settled, the issue returned to the matter of personnel: who should serve as the Governor-General of the Liaodong campaign?
Chapter 755