Back to Ming Dynasty with Industrial Revolution System

Chapter 456

After Nanjing City became the center of the Nanming regime, Jiangsu and Zhejiang businessmen backed by high-ranking Nanjing City officials became even more prosperous, and Chen Hongmi, the prefect of Suzhou, was restrained.These businessmen don't like wars, or wars that are unprofitable or even costly.

"Master Chen, how do you plan to deal with the enemy?" A Suzhou businessman asked.

"We still have several thousand officers and soldiers in the city of Suzhou. If we shrink our forces in the inner city, they should not be able to attack so easily. When the troops from Hangzhou and Nanjing arrive, the Kyushu army will naturally retreat." Chen Hongmi expressed his thoughts.

As a more upright Suzhou prefect, Chen Hongmi really wanted to defend Suzhou City if possible.

"This matter is absolutely impossible. There are many people and fields in the outer city. Once the officers and soldiers withdraw into the inner city, the property in the outer city will become the possession of the Kyushu Army. And no one here knows how long the siege will last. , if it becomes a dead city, none of us present will survive." A representative of the gentry said.

It's not just the merchants who are worried about the losses caused by the siege, but also the noble families and big landlords who are also worried about the loss of their own interests!There are large fields and real estate in the outer city of Suzhou City, which are their savings over the years.The bustling city of Suzhou is as rich as an enemy, and the property in the outer city alone is too late to evacuate.

"Our granary in Suzhou City still has enough food for a year's consumption, and there are hundreds of thousands of people. You don't have to worry that we will fall into a dead end after the Kyushu Army sieges the city." Chen Hongmi said.

"Food is one thing. Our officers and soldiers in Suzhou maintain stability on weekdays, and it is more than enough to keep one side safe. But if they are involved in fierce offensive and defensive, I am afraid that the officers and soldiers of the Kyushu Army will immediately disperse like birds and beasts." Some wealthy families said to Chen Hongmi. Dissatisfied with the handling.

"That's right, once we stick to Suzhou City, we will definitely attract the dissatisfaction of the Kyushu Army. The businessmen we present have more or less business dealings with the Kyushu Army. I don’t have the face to go to the Kyushu Army to do business. If the merchants can’t do business, our textile workers in Suzhou will probably lose their jobs. When the people are in dire straits, the prefect’s deeds will be recorded in the annals of Suzhou.” A big man Businessmen were equally dissatisfied.

"This mansion is the official of the parents of Suzhou, so it is only natural to keep Suzhou safe." Chen Hongmi saw that many forces, even officials in his own mansion, were opposed to defending Suzhou city, so he couldn't help but frown, "But we, as ministers of the Ming Dynasty, don't You should surrender to the Kyushu Army and become a minister of subjugation."

The merchants, gentry, and big landlords present were silent.Although everyone knows that with the two fall of the northern capital, the orthodox Ming forces were attacked twice by the Dashun Army and the Kyushu Army, and they no longer have the right to speak in the northern land.The newly established Nanming regime actually controlled very limited places, limited to the four towns in Jiangbei, Yangzhoufu, Yingtianfu, Suzhoufu, and Hangzhoufu.

However, as an interest group of the former Ming Dynasty, these businessmen, gentry, and big landlords were unwilling to speak out about surrendering to the Kyushu Army in front of everyone because of their morality.

"Master Zhifu, I have a plan to make the Kyushu Army withdraw." An official from Suzhou Prefecture broke the silence.

"What method?" Chen Hongmi and others asked.

"Our Suzhou businessmen have always maintained a good relationship with the Kyushu Army. There must have been some businessmen present who joined the Far East Trading Company established by the Kyushu Army. They are shareholders in the company. Is there such a thing?" The official looked at the representative of the Suzhou businessman.

The Suzhou merchants were already rich in the world, and these representatives were even the best among them. Seeing that the government suddenly came up with their own ideas, they couldn't help feeling a little uneasy.

"It is true that some of our Suzhou merchants have joined the Far East Trading Company, and the Jiangnan merchants still have a seat on the board of directors of the Far East Trading Company. But this does not mean that we have betrayed the imperial court. Our relationship with the Kyushu Army is only a business relationship. "The businessman in Suzhou City said quickly, fearing that the Suzhou government would take the anger out on him.

"The meaning of the officer is not to blame you for your contacts with the Kyushu Army, but on the contrary. Because of the good relationship between you and the Kyushu Army, the relationship between our Suzhou City and the Kyushu Army is not a life-and-death relationship. Opportunity for negotiation," said an official from the Suzhou government.

"What are you trying to do at this juncture? Tell me quickly." Chen Hongmi urged.

"Yes. Your Excellency can send us Suzhou businessmen as envoys to negotiate with the Kyushu army outside the city and ask them not to attack Suzhou city again," said the official of the Suzhou government.

"It would be great if we could do this. We are members of the Kyushu Army's Far East Trading Company, but we don't have that much influence to make the Kyushu Army give up their plan to attack Suzhou City. The business of their army is not something that businessmen can do." Intervene." The merchants in Suzhou City were frowning, and they all felt that it was impossible for the Kyushu Army to give up the strategy of attacking Suzhou City.

"That's true. If there is no benefit, how can the Kyushu Army take into account our Suzhou city's thoughts." Chen Hongmi shook his head.

"As long as the Kyushu Army gives up attacking Suzhou, we can provide the Kyushu Army with three benefits." The Suzhou government official stretched out three fingers, "First, they will not lose any troops by attacking Suzhou City. Second, they will attack Suzhou The purpose of the city is just to worry about our support of Nanjing City. As long as we promise that the Kyushu Army will not take the initiative to support Nanjing City, and will not be an enemy of the Kyushu Army, they must be able to bypass our Suzhou City and march towards Nanjing City. Thirdly, we Suzhou merchants A large amount of money can be raised to redeem the city. With such three benefits, the leaders of the Kyushu Army will have to carefully weigh the pros and cons before attacking us," said an official from the Suzhou Mansion.

"We all understand the truth, but why are we Suzhou merchants paying for the redemption of the city? Suzhou city is everyone's city, and the whole city should raise funds for the redemption of the city." Suzhou merchants protested against this approach in unison.

"No one in the world knows that Suzhou is the richest city in the world, and the merchants are even richer. If the Kyushu army attacks the city, you will suffer the most. Instead of suffering heavy losses because of the besieged city, it is better to donate a few 10 taels of silver to the city. As the redemption money for the city, the Nine Provinces Army can recover some losses, and it will win the favor of the Nine Provinces Army, killing two birds with one stone." The officials of the Suzhou government seem to be planning to let the Suzhou businessmen pay the money.

(End of this chapter)