The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 407 Mending
The paper, which was clearly light, seemed extremely heavy in Chongzhen's hands.

Chongzhen slowly put down the document in his hand, slowly closed his eyes, and looked extremely painful.

The thing he least wanted to see finally happened.

In the palace, all the ministers bowed their heads and remained silent.

His face was pale and his body was thin, and he could hardly even support the dragon robe he was wearing.

The burden of the entire country fell on his shoulders, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Chongzhen opened his eyes again.

In sight, there is a familiar palace.

More than a decade has passed, and these palaces have not undergone any changes.

This has been the case for hundreds of years since Emperor Chengzu moved the capital.

However, the familiar scene did not bring Chongzhen any sense of security.

Outside the palace, cold raindrops were flying all over the sky, like thousands of silver needles shooting down.

The rain came down hard and the sounds became louder and louder.

The fierce and violent cold wind swept up the sand and dust as it whistled through the various markets in the capital.

The mighty roar of the wind echoed outside the temple.

The endless dark clouds almost covered the sky above the entire capital.

Not a single ray of light could penetrate the sky.

The sky outside the temple was terribly dark.

It is still noon, but the sky is as dark as night.

When I stretched out my hand, I could hardly see my fingers.

Palace servants came in from outside the hall, lit the lamps in the hall, and closed the doors and windows around it.

As the lights gradually stopped flickering, all sounds were isolated outside the hall.

It also finally calmed Chongzhen's originally troubled mood a little.

However, Chongzhen still could not regain his confidence.

Chongzhen put down the document in his hand, shook his head slightly and smiled bitterly.

"Natural disasters continue, the mountains and rivers are in turmoil, the ministers are willing to wait for the barbarians, and the world... has the intention to leave..."

Chongzhen's voice was not loud, but the ministers in the hall heard it clearly.

Everyone's expressions changed as Chongzhen spoke.

Zhou Yanru trembled all over. Chongzhen's words forced him to sit there no longer.

"The country is in turmoil, and at a time of internal and external troubles, there are bound to be those who want to steal the sacred artifacts, but most of the officials are still loyal to the country."

Zhou Yanru knelt on the ground and consoled him.

As the Prime Minister, he does not need to kneel when making comments in front of the emperor.

But now it has reached the point where he has no choice but to kneel.

What Chongzhen meant by "ambitions to usurp the throne" was that his subjects had the intention to usurp the imperial court, that is, the ambition to seize power and usurp the throne.

Zhou Yanru knew clearly who Chongzhen was referring to.

The court had previously ordered the troops of Hanzhong Town to march north to rescue Xi'an, but the troops under Hanzhong Town said that they had not received food and wages for many days, and the soldiers were very resentful and refused to move.

Even if they were told that food and wages would be distributed immediately upon arrival in Xi'an, he would remain unmoved.

He said he would not transfer unless he saw the salary.

Zhou Yanru sighed in his heart. Chen Wang gave him a difficult problem.

He suddenly felt that the 12,000 taels of gold he had received from Chen Wang's men not long ago suddenly felt a little hot.

"General Pingze has been loyal for many years, chasing and suppressing bandits and fighting against Jian Nu, risking his own life, which is enough to show his heart."

"The country has spent a huge amount of money to aid Songjin, and the towns within the pass are increasingly in arrears of pay."

"Hanzhong Town has a total of 13,400 soldiers. I checked the archives and found that except for Hanzhong Town, which immediately issued the full amount of food and wages, the amount has been decreasing day by day since then. Since the beginning of this year, only 7,000 soldiers have been issued food and wages every quarter, which is nearly half of the shortage..."

Zhou Yanru carefully chose his words and defended Chen Wang.

It was not only for the 10,000 taels of gold presented by Chen Wang, but also because Chen Wang was now the most powerful military officer among the towns within the Great Wall and must be won over.

Zhou Yanru did not agree with what Chongzhen said.

Judging from Chen Wang's previous behavior, he should not have any intention of being disloyal.

In the campaign to defend the king, facing the invading Qing army, the soldiers from various towns fled one after another.

However, Chen Wang rose to the challenge and lost nearly half of his 3,000 elite soldiers in a bloody battle.

Later, we launched the suppression campaign and did our best.

Unlike other towns within the Great Wall, Hanzhong Town had as many soldiers as it had, and Chen Wang did not go there to collect empty salaries.

This is the situation reported by various states and counties.

Henan Governor Gao Mingheng and Yunyang Governor Yuan Jixian both reviewed the troops of Hanzhong Town.

During the parade, each battalion of the Hanzhong garrison was nearly fully staffed, and they were by no means like the other garrisons, which had to scrape together some young beggars to fill the numbers in order to defraud military pay.

The food and wages for 7,000 soldiers are used to support more than 13,000 people. It is normal that they are unwilling to mobilize them due to the shortage of food and wages.

"Let's not talk about this for now, but in Huguang, an imperial edict just came out ordering Yunyang Governor Yuan Jixian to lead Zhou Yumao and the Sixth Battalion of Huguang to Wuchang to help suppress Zhang Xianzhong."

"Later, a civil uprising broke out in Yunyang. The mountain people in the Yunyang mountainous area clashed with the local guards and invaded the prefecture and county."

Chongzhen clenched his fist with one hand, placed his other hand on the armrest of the throne, and said in a cold voice.

"Is there really such a coincidence in this world?!"

Chongzhen's eyes were like a steel knife, stabbing straight at Zhou Yanru.

Zhou Yanru felt a chill in his heart and was frightened.

"Chen Wang appears to be gentle and respectful on the outside, but he has a heart of a tiger and a wolf on the inside."

If it is said that the Hanzhong garrison troops were unwilling to march north because their food and wages had been in arrears for too long, it could still be explained.

How could it be justified that just when he was about to mobilize the Sixth Battalion of Huguang, a civil uprising suddenly broke out in Yunyang without any warning? !
"Wang Mang... was humble before he usurped the throne..."

Chongzhen’s words were very serious.

It was so heavy throughout the palace that one could hear a pin drop when Chongzhen finished speaking.

At this moment, not only Zhou Yanru knelt on the ground, but all the court officials in the palace knelt on the ground.

"To test jade, one must burn it for three days, and to identify the material, one must wait seven years."

"The Duke of Zhou is afraid of the day of rumors, but Wang Mang is humble and does not usurp the time."

Zhou Yanru took a deep breath, raised his head, looked at Chongzhen, and said solemnly.

"Before Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty, he was indeed very humble and a traitor who looked loyal. However, Duke Zhou was devoted to the country and was also regarded as a usurper."

Having been in the officialdom for many years, Zhou Yanru naturally knew whose money he could take and whose money he could not take.

Zhou Yanru dared to take Chen Wang's money because he knew exactly what was going on.

The emperor issued an edict to summon Zhou Yanru to the capital. On the way there, Zhou Yanru had already prepared a speech and learned about information from various sources.

Zhou Yanru already had a general understanding of Chen Wang's situation.

The memorials impeaching Chen Wang were nothing more than allegations of seizing land and minerals by trickery, guarding passes and setting up checkpoints to collect taxes, and reselling military supplies and fodder.

But these things were not only done by Chen Wang, but also by the battalion commanders of other camps and towns.

Among the nine camps, which one has clean subordinates, and which one can really withstand a thorough investigation?
Even Cao Wenzhao, who died in the battlefield not long ago, had many gray industries when he was in Liaodong and Datong.

Not to mention Liu Zhaoji and Yang Guozhu, their servants and generals all needed money to be fed.

Even though servants and generals don't need money, weapons and armor do require real money.

"If Chen Wang really wanted to steal the artifact, he only needed to keep his troops in Fengyang and destroy the towns he was attacking."

Zhou Yanru looked solemn and said in a deep voice.

If Chen Wang really had the intention to rebel, he could have just watched Sun Chuanting be defeated in the Battle of Fengyang.

At that time, Sun Chuanting's troops were the last ones to come to support the rebellion.

If Sun Chuanting died in Fengyang, the Wanmin Army would go down the river and sweep across the south of the Yangtze River in an instant.

Once Jiangnan was lost, the grain transport system would be controlled by the rebels, grain ships would not be able to reach the north, and the country would be destroyed at any moment.

Moreover, the country's finances were already in difficulty, and if the tax-collecting area of ​​Jiangnan was seized by the rebels, it would undoubtedly make the situation worse. Moreover, even if Chen Wang really had the intention to rebel.

We can't bring this matter to the surface.

There are many people in the court and all eyes are on the public. As long as you spend enough money, you can buy any information.

There were eunuchs in the Forbidden City who sold information, and there were also court officials who were willing to sell information.

Regardless of whether Chen Wang really had rebellious intentions, knowing what Chongzhen said today would undoubtedly make things worse.

The imperial court had no way to deal with Zuo Liangyu.

The number of troops under Chen Wang's control was several times greater than that of Zuo Liangyu.

Naturally, the imperial court had no way to deal with Chen Wang either.

It is no longer the time when a commander-in-chief or a governor can control the troops of several towns.

The power and status of military generals increased day by day as the war continued.

It was an unspoken rule that Chen Wang and Zuo Liangyu recruited surrendered soldiers as combat force when they launched the suppression campaign, and it was not made public.

But this is also the result of tacit consent from all parties.

Because the recruited surrendered soldiers and the surrendered bandits do not take up any manpower quota, they do not need to be paid.

The battalions in each town would recruit surrendered soldiers to increase their combat power and also to fight against the bandits.

Ultimately, the trouble is caused by lack of money.

Now is the time for backlash.

Chen Wang and Zuo Liangyu controlled multiple battalions of troops, and the court's control over them became increasingly weak.

It is no longer something that can be resolved with just a transfer order or an order.

Although the imperial court has a reputation for righteousness, if it fails to handle things properly, it could lead to a mutiny...

No one dares to take this responsibility...

"Good words are warmer than cloth, but hurtful words are deeper than spears and halberds."

Zhou Yanru shook his head secretly and persuaded.

Words spoken are like water spilled.

Chongzhen's words may provoke greater backlash in the near future.

However, Zhou Yanru could also understand Chongzhen's anger.

The country is exhausted and has suffered a series of military defeats. It has reached a critical moment of survival.

Zhou Yanru sighed in his heart. The current situation made him despair.

The more he understood, the more worried he became.

Zhou Yanru recalled the letter in which Ni Yuanlu declined the offer when he asked him to take up an official position.

There was a sentence in the letter that left a deep impression on Zhou Yanru.

If you were to extinguish the stove today, you would first have to collect firewood and make a fire.

It is like meeting the emperor one day and speaking on his behalf.

Whenever a lenient policy is adopted, the ruler must first ensure that it is sufficient.

Once a mistake is pardoned, the superior must first hold the person responsible for the achievement.

It takes time to achieve success, and it is not a responsibility that can be fulfilled in one day.

However, it seems that it will take some time for the world to pardon the old gentleman with lenient policies.

The situation he was facing now was that the fire in the stove had completely gone out. If he wanted to relight the fire, he had to drill two woods to make fire.

Leniency means reducing or exempting taxes, but the emperor will ask where the food and wages will come from if the taxes are reduced or exempted.

Forgiveness means temporarily postponing tolerance, but what the emperor needs now is to suppress the bandits and slaves and rectify the country.

Whether it is the problem of taxation or the suppression of bandits and slaves, it is not something that can be solved in a short period of time.

Now that the country is exhausted, everyone hopes that he, as the Prime Minister, can be lenient and forgiving so that the country can have a chance to breathe.

But in reality, how could Zhou Yanru possibly do that?

Zhou Yanru sighed in his heart. He felt that it was difficult for him to repay Chongzhen's trust and kindness to him.

He is aware of his abilities and talents.

If it is a peaceful and prosperous time, he is confident that he can take on the position of Prime Minister and govern the country.

But now is a time of war and chaos, the Ming Dynasty is becoming increasingly weak, and signs of national demise are already appearing.

Zhou Yanru had no confidence in handling the current situation, nor did he have the ability to clean up the current chaos.

only……

Zhou Yanru had no choice.

The Fushe members forced him to come to the capital, and the emperor personally issued an edict to summon him to the capital.

I really have to...

Now, he could only do his best to mend it.

Chongzhen's face changed, and he knew he had said something wrong.

He shouldn't have spoken like that in front of all his ministers.

But he has always trusted Chen Wang.

But Chen Wang is now doing things that betray him.

Yuan Chonghuan was like this, Xiong Wencan was like this...

Chongzhen's eyes were cold, and bad memories once again flooded into his mind.

He lowered his head, forcibly suppressing the anger that was bubbling in his heart.

Zhou Yanru naturally saw everything that was wrong with Chongzhen.

The atmosphere in the hall became increasingly strange, and Zhou Yanru changed the subject at the right time.

"The most urgent matter now is the battle of Pizhou."

"The bandit army has gathered a large force and is advancing from both the north and south, intending to cut off the grain transport and destroy our reinforcements."

Zhou Yanru stood up and said solemnly.

"Because of this, its inland defenses are weak."

"Although the Henan uprising was a big deal, it was not as serious as the Battle of Pizhou."

"You can quickly send an order to General Chen Wang, who is in charge of suppressing the rebels, to lead the various garrisons in Henan Province to advance and besiege Feng, Xu and other places, and carry out the strategy of besieging Wei and saving Zhao."

"Some time ago, we have already collected enough military pay to ship to the south. Once the pay arrives, there will be no more excuses to back down."

Chongzhen nodded slightly, and his frown finally relaxed a little.

"But distant water cannot quench a nearby fire. Kaifeng Prefecture is far from Fengyang and Xuzhou, and the threat of the bandit army is imminent."

Zhou Yanru already had a plan in mind, and he spoke immediately.

"Your Majesty, I have also considered what you said."

"In the past, during the siege of Kaifeng, the local soldiers were organized and trained to defend Kaifeng, so they were able to defend Kaifeng."

Many of the ministers present here are unaware of the so-called community soldiers.

But Chongzhen knew what the community soldiers were all about.

He had also heard about the nature of Kaifeng's community soldiers and the role they played.

"What Yuanfu said is really like enlightenment, but I didn't think of such a method."

There was finally a hint of color on Chongzhen's face.

"The affairs of state are numerous and your majesty is busy with government affairs. It is normal for some omissions to occur."

Zhou Yanru said lightly and in a serious tone.

"As subjects, we naturally share your worries."

“Extraordinary times call for extraordinary things.”

"Not only Kaifeng and Pizhou can do this, but other prefectures and counties can also recruit community soldiers according to this example."

Chongzhen's expression became much better. Zhou Yanru's words also made Chongzhen, who had been at a loss, feel like he had found his backbone.

"Just follow what Yuanfu says."