The late Ming Dynasty in the living room

Chapter 61 I have to pay for the stone lion
After a while, Axiu finished her meal, the table was cleared, and only Fang Yu and Sun Chuanting were left in the room.

There were the sounds of workers talking outside (at the education hall construction site), and there was also the intense chirping of cicadas.

So the room was not quiet.

But Sun Chuanting couldn't hear other sounds. He only heard his heart beating wildly.

Sun Chuanting, the last pillar of the Ming Dynasty, the right minister of the Ministry of War, and the governor of the three sides, is as nervous now as when he first stepped into the Ming Palace to participate in the imperial examination in the 47th year of Wanli.

But this time the test is not about his fate, but the fate of the Ming Dynasty and the people of the world.

Fang Yu thought for a moment and said, "Master Sun sent me a pair of stone lions. I can't get them for free, I have to pay for them."

Sun Chuanting's mind went "Weng": A pair of stone lions still have to pay for it. If he sees it this way, is Fang Shenzi not willing to help the Ming Dynasty? "

Sun Chuanting's heart fell to the bottom.

Even so, he still had to stand up and declined: "Master Fang, this stone lion is just a useless old thing, not worth spending money on..."

"I'll give you 2000 million taels of silver." Fang Yu said.

Sun Chuanting's refusal came to an abrupt end as if he had been struck by a knife.

Sun Chuanting's eyes widened. It was really hard for him to believe his ears.

So he asked with difficulty, his voice trembling: "Master Fang said... 2000 million taels?"

Fang Yu nodded and said: "One stone lion is 1000 million taels, and a pair is 2000 million taels." (The middleman deducted a very reasonable handling fee)

This happiness came so violently that Sun Chuanting was suffocated by the impact of this happiness.

And it's a little soft on the feet.

Where's the stool?I am the governor of the three sides of the imperial court, so I cannot collapse on the ground, Sun Chuanting thought to himself.

Then he heard Fang Yu say: "But let me make it clear first, what I bought was your Lord Sun Chuanting's stone lion, not anyone else's. Lord Sun, can you understand?"

Sun Chuanting was naturally smart. Mr. Fang meant that the money should be controlled by himself and should not be handed over to the treasury or the emperor.

Fang Yu specifically made this request to guard against the rats in the court.

These mice called "civilian officials" are very powerful. Let alone 2000 million taels, even [-] million taels are not enough for them. (The military attaches and nobles are not capable, so they can only drink some soup)

As for Chongzhen, this emperor... was a good man, but he was too gullible, and he couldn't keep the money at all.

There is no difference between leaving it in his hands and leaving it in the hands of those civil servants.

Sun Chuanting also knew this, but...

"Buying" the stone lion was just a pretense. The fact was that Fang Shenzi gave Sun Chuanting 2000 million taels of silver.

Fang Shenzi didn't trust others, so why did he trust Sun Chuanting?
2000 million taels of silver represents countless grains and troops. As long as Sun Chuanting makes a mistake, he can achieve great things immediately.

Sun Chuanting couldn't figure it out after much deliberation, so he simply asked Fang Shenzi directly.

Fang Yu didn't hesitate at all, and directly told him the spoiler: "If you don't give me money, you will die in Tongguan on October [-]th next year! And you will die very cowardly."

Sun Chuanting returned to the county government office in despair.

He stayed alone and drove out all his soldiers and servants.

Officials who came from Baoding wanted to see him, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Even the owner Min Wen Gong has been kicked out and is standing stupidly outside the county government office.

Well, although there are more officials outside the county government, the place is still spacious... The stone lion doesn't take up space anymore.

Sun Chuanting had been sitting there from day to night, like a clay sculpture, until a servant cautiously said at the door: "Mr. Governor, it's time to turn on the lights." Sun Chuanting finally moved, glanced at the people outside, and said, "Come in Hold the lamp."

The servant came in and lit the lamp, and was about to leave when he suddenly heard Sun Chuanting shouting: "Light two more lamps, the governor has plenty of money now!"

Well, anyone who hears the news of their own "death" while alive will be stunned.

Sun Chuanting did not question Fang Shenzi's words at all. Fang Shenzi said that he would die in Tongguan on the sixth day of October next year, so he must die in Tongguan on the sixth day of October.

He will not die on the fifth day of October, nor will he die in Yuanqu. (You can reach Tongguan via Yuanqu)
What makes Sun Chuanting sad is not the news of his "death", but that if he dies, the Ming Dynasty will die.

Although Fang Shenzi didn't say it, he knew that this was the case.

It's not that he, Sun Chuanting, is arrogant, but that there are only two people in the entire Ming Dynasty who can lead large armies to fight: one is Sun Chuanting, and the other is Zuo Liangyu. (Guan Ning’s army cannot move or be mobilized)
But Zuo Liangyu not only refused to fight with the bandits, but also robbed people everywhere, and his actions were even more cruel than the bandits.

It is impossible for such people to fight for the Ming Dynasty.

So after Sun Chuanting died, no one could protect the Ming Dynasty. (History of Ming Dynasty: Chuan Ting died and Ming Dynasty died)

"Fortunately, my Ming Dynasty has Fang Shenzi. Now, my Sun Chuanting will not die!"

Sun Chuanting took a few deep breaths to clear away the tightness in his chest.

"Hold the lamp! Hold the lamp! Two more."

Sun Chuanting shouted to the servant.

He wanted the house to be bright and bright right now. How could two or three lamps be enough?The governor now has 2000 million taels.

Thinking that Fang Shenzi gave him 2000 million taels as soon as he opened his mouth, Sun Chuanting was filled with joy again.

"I have to think about how to spend it." Sun Chuanting sat down again.

Sun Chuanting did not bring back a tael of silver from Fang Shenzi, but gave him a better choice.

He can buy grain from Fang Shenzi in any quantity and at the price of Jiangnan rice. (Lower, due to drought in Zhejiang, food prices have risen)

He could also buy the best quality armor, swords, and matchlocks. (not available now)

Sun Chuanting knew that these were all for him to recruit troops for war.

So how many troops should I recruit?Sun Chuanting thought, one hundred thousand? 20?Or 50?
Sun Chuanting's face became ugly as he thought about it, and he suddenly thought that he still had five thousand Beijing camp burdens on his hands.

That was the "elite" given to him by Emperor Chongzhen.

In the past, Jingying relied on the imperial court. Now that Sun Chuanting has 2000 million taels, will the imperial court still pay salaries to Jingying?

Certainly not!

Sun Chuanting felt uncomfortable all over when he thought that Jingying would eat his flowers in the future.

No, we must get rid of these burdens.

Fang Yu didn't know yet that Sun Chuanting wanted to lose [-] strong laborers. If he knew, he would definitely feel distressed.

Although these strong laborers cannot fight, they can build roads, right?Is it possible to dig a canal? (If you don’t obey, go to the brick kiln)

In fact, the more of this kind of strong labor the better.

Because once Sun Chuanting starts large-scale military training, he will have to transport a large amount of food and supplies from Laishui County.

Then it is necessary to build roads, and it is also necessary to dig small canals to connect to the grand canal.

There are such good strong laborers in Jingying. Sun Chuanting should quickly lure them to Laishui County without any delay.

(End of this chapter)