Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 236 Qianlong: I will pay for my mistakes

"Mr. Liu, how many times can you earn from investing in mulberry trees?"

"2 times!"

"What about investing in leather goods and tea and horse trade between the north and south?"

"At least 10 times!"

“What about investing in an emperor?”

Liu Jinxin raised his head and said after a long time:

"It's immeasurable, tens of thousands times, no, a hundred thousand times."

……

Li Yu leaned lazily on the back of his chair and took a sip of tea. Dealing with these Shanxi old men is a waste of tea.

All in all, this incident exacerbated the unrest in the city.

"Because it has been like this since ancient times, and it has been like this for 3000 years."

On the board, thank you!
The angry people of Jiangning are naturally not vegetarians. In addition to the blue whale Yayan flying in the sky, there are also angry fists and bricks.

……

"This has been the case since ancient times, right?"

Today’s remarks can’t be said to be just a painting, but they do contain many real thoughts.

If the Li family army wants to grow stronger, it needs to rely on various forces, those who are bright, those who stand on the wall, and those who adapt to the wind~
Two days later, Jiangning City.

The entire city was in ruins, burned to the ground. Those Eight Banners disciples who used to hold their heads high have become homeless.

"That's what the Marshal said. The main reason is that the boss is afraid that we shopkeepers stationed abroad will have second thoughts and hold our families as hostages."

"There are strict rules in Shanxi's bank account industry. Family members are not allowed to stay abroad with the shopkeeper, and the shopkeeper is not allowed to seek favors from other places."

"Mr. Liu, you are a smart man, different from those antique bastards from the Qing Dynasty. I can tell you clearly that I do not recognize scholars, farmers, industry and commerce! I think law-abiding businessmen and superb craftsmen should be ranked alongside scholars."

The main reason is that the money came too quickly, too easily, and was much higher than expected. After excluding the money spent on Liangjiang Governor's Office, Jiangning Government Office, and Fuguo County Government Office, the profits are still astonishing.

"Why not?"

A rumor a day, a rumor leads the way.

They asked all the Han people in the east of the city to move away and free up their houses for the banner people to live in.

It doesn't matter whether Liu Jinxin believes it or not, or how much he believes it! Tiancheng Yuan's ticket number was tightly controlled by him, so he had to act as ordered, and that was enough.

The government officials always talked about it and held high the tiger skin flag. Grab a few of the most unpleasant ones and put them in the standing cage.

Li Yu patted him on the shoulder and left gracefully.

The people in the city were terrified, the morale of the army was low, and the gentry were in panic all day long.

……

The alliance of merchants and gentry headed by Lao Gao has made a frightening profit.

The sound of cannons in Purple Mountain continues day and night.

"How inhumane!"

Liu Jinxin was stunned as if he was struck by lightning:
"The commander is joking, how can a businessman break into someone's house?"

It is difficult to distinguish between true and false, but in short people are in panic.

As soon as there was a whistle, thugs with sticks rushed out and struck hard. Then the government officials patrolling the streets rushed out to maintain order.

"Why don't I come with you to Jiangnan?"

"Where are your family members?"

Countless gossips spread in the city.

……

Rice costs 80 yuan per pound?
Don’t think it’s too expensive. In the afternoon, with a wink from the shopkeeper, the guys put up a sold out sign.

Scenes like this happen not only in rice shops, but also in coal cake shops, salt shops, medicine shops and even coffin shops.

A kind of carnival before the end.

Li Yu glanced at him calmly,
It's a pity, your boss and I decided to go together.

However, the Yamen issued an order.

The businessmen headed by Lao Gao seized this opportunity and started the final madness. Increase the prices of daily consumer goods across the board!
The price increase alone was nothing, so Liu Qian silently came up with an idea and was reluctant to sell.

"They are all in Taiyuan Mansion."

The government officials cursed fiercely:
"You are only giving up the house temporarily. What the bannerman has lost is several generations of property?"

In times of war, you should use heavy codes, as the Governor said!

If Mipu dares to make this kind of money, he must be fully prepared.

Liu Qianzheng was worried that he couldn't find new materials to make trouble. This was simply a pillow for sleepiness, and he used the topic to make everyone in the city feel in danger.

Lao Gao's face was glowing, and he officially became the president of the chamber of commerce at the age of 60.

At the beginning of taking office, he said boldly:
"Comrades in the business community, the current situation is not a small good, but a great good."

"As long as Jiangning City persists for another half a year, all of us here will become some of the most prominent businessmen in the Qing Dynasty."

"This is the shopkeeper of Tiancheng Yuan branch. If you want to save money, you should hurry up. They also want to increase prices and make a small fortune."

A man with an exquisite mustache and a jade melon skin hat stood up.

He smiled and held his hands in a circle and said:

"Starting from tomorrow, for my wartime hedging business, the handling fee will be increased by an additional 1%. But it's the same today, it's the same."

A fat man raised his palm boldly and turned it back and forth three times.

"For 15 taels, let's make a verbal agreement first and transfer the cash to you tomorrow. How about that?"

"no problem."

The elder stood up again and said loudly:

"If all my colleagues want to go to Jiangbei in advance, you can inform me in advance. I have already gone through the official channels and connections there. Let's put it this way, regardless of whether Jiangning City will be a sea of ​​blood and fire tomorrow, everyone here will There are 10 tickets for crossing the river.”

……

Everyone was shocked:
"President, is this serious?"

"I, Lao Gao, have been living in Jiangning City all my life, relying on my character. Lao Wang, why don't you give it a try first? Send your wife and children to Jiangbei first?"

The salt merchant, known as Lao Wang, nodded:
"I think it works!"

"Send a few trips first."

Tiancheng Yuan Jiangning's shopkeeper came up to him again and said:
"Your Majesty has gone to Jiangbei, so you don't have to worry about pocket money. Tian Chengyuan has a branch in Yangzhou Prefecture, and you can pay the money in advance with a check."

As soon as he said this, dozens of people in the audience suddenly looked at him.

As the president, Lao Gao first asked:

"Is that all?"

"Yes, Tian Chengyuan is a reputable ticket account. However, the thieves are so fierce that they may not be able to protect Yangzhou Mansion. If they are all taken out now, and Yangzhou Mansion falls again later, you will have to deposit again. This handling fee is not high Happy discount~”

Everyone nodded silently, it was reasonable.

It is safer to store it in the ticket number, so you can withdraw money safely in other places.

If that doesn't work, you can get it in the capital.

Liu Qian asked quietly:

"I have a concern. What if the Governor sends troops to raid your bank account?"

The mustached shopkeeper drank the wine in his glass, shook his head and said:

"I have a shareholder who is a powerful person in this dynasty."

President Gao also asked with interest:

"Official of Liubu Hall?"

"I'm young. A mere minister is nothing. Let's put it this way, I see this saintly face every day, and the Forbidden City is my own courtyard. Let's stop this topic here. It concerns the reputation of the old man. I hope you can control it. My own mouth. What I said today is where I said it."

President Gao raised his wine glass:
"I am old and forgetful. What did you just say? I have forgotten it."

Hahahaha, everyone burst into laughter.

The sporadic sound of cannons on Purple Mountain in the east was just for fun. Anyway, everyone is in the west of the city and safe.

……

In Jiangning City, the arrests are getting increasingly outrageous.

Li Shiyao was sure that there was a spy in the city and issued a strict order to search for him. The government officials and green camp soldiers went door to door and arrested all those who were slightly suspicious or displeased.

People were arrested and imprisoned on every street. The jails were so overcrowded that barracks had to be temporarily requisitioned for interrogation. In order to get the reward money, people are beaten every day. More than 100 "detailed" confessions have been obtained, half of which were from the mastermind alone.

All major cases that occurred in Jiangning City in the past ten years have been claimed.

Even at Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, many people rushed to confess that he secretly protected it. Oh, by the way, there are also the Purple Mountain fire case, the Confucius Temple theft case, and the Governor's Yamen haunting case, all of which have been claimed.

The newly appointed Jiang Ning acted as the judge. Yu Yunhe, the eldest son of Military Minister Yu Minzhong, frowned. He suppressed all the case files and ordered a new arrest.

After all, he comes from a wealthy family, and he is not very experienced in the world and has some bottom line in his work, so he is not that mean.

The government officials were ordered not to arrest people randomly, but to make arrests only when they were generally sure that there was a problem.

At least, some elaborate physical evidence needs to be found?

For example, weapons, correspondence, operational funds, badges and flags, etc.

……

His idea was good, but when the officials below implemented it, he went to his grandma's house.

You need evidence, right?
become! Find the door of a big house with a little money but no background. As long as you don't show enough sincerity, you can break in and search for physical evidence.

Gold and silver are the funds for meticulous activities.

There are weapons to protect the house inside the gate of the mansion, which are solid evidence of rebellion.

Then I will leave it to you, Lord Tongpan, to confirm whether it is true or not.

no? That's okay, just release it. Anyway, we already found enough when we searched.

Yu Yun and Qi's noses were crooked.

He originally wanted to use this opportunity to perform well. If he could catch a few real tricks, he would be considered successful in defending the city.

"You, can you give me some snacks when you arrest someone?"

"Sir, the young ones have done their best. They are all arrested according to the suspicion standards you mentioned. Besides, the word "careful work" is not written on their faces. We can only try our luck by arresting those who look wrong. , torture it, just in case you encounter it~"

Yu Yunhe walked away in a hurry.

He has been studying for half his life and has little contact with practice. Now I finally understand what my father said: "Even if an old official lasts ten years, even the ghosts can't trouble him."

……

For the dignified military minister to comment like this, one can imagine how tricky and difficult the officials in the Qing Dynasty were.

Of course, it is not impossible for officials to punish officials.

If his father were here, he would definitely tell him:
"As an official, you should use official methods to remove obstacles. Take out the laws of the Qing Dynasty, find out those Huanghuang national laws, and take the right medicine. As long as you arrest one, the head will fall to the ground. Kill people with righteousness and be confident."

"Can't find the evidence? Then throw out a piece of fat and let them compete. If there is competition, there will be hatred. If there is hatred, someone will take the initiative to provide you with evidence!"

"In our Qing Dynasty, you don't have to know how to do things, but you must understand people."

These truths are difficult for even talented and intelligent children from poor families to understand deeply.

It was not until many years later that I suddenly realized that my official career had gone round and round. Unfortunately, my beard and hair had turned gray, so I could only write it down in a book, hoping that the next generation would avoid detours.

However, Liu Qian was very successful in the city.

When the government officials saw him, they all respectfully called him: Master Niu.

Mr. Niu is rich and generous. Every time a patrol passes by, no one is left empty-handed when they come to register. Everyone can always get some scattered silver flowers.

How can such a person be a bad person?

……

Old Summer Palace,
A horse rushed in, the sound of horse hooves clanking.

This is unusual and out of order. The eunuchs and maids quickly ducked to both sides of the road for fear of being knocked away.

He rushed to Fuhai (a large lake in the garden) and reined in his horse.

With almost no pause, he dismounted and rushed out of the hall with a beautiful sliding kneel.

The eunuch at the door quickly took it and sent it in with his head lowered.

Qianlong became nervous, and Yu Minzhong's heart beat too fast.

"Your Majesty, urgent military report from eight hundred miles south of the Yangtze River."

"open."

Qin Si, the eunuch in charge, quickly removed the paint and took out the paper inside. His heart skipped a beat because there was blood on the paper.

How dare you be so disrespectful in your secret letter to the emperor? There is only one possibility, failure!

Fucha Mingliang and his hundreds of remnant soldiers were chased for dozens of miles in Jiuhua Mountain before they got rid of their pursuers. In a hurry, he wrote this military report on the back of the house slave.

It took another three days to deliver it through the Anqing government.

Qianlong felt dizzy after just reading two lines of words.

He held onto the table to steady himself.

"Your Majesty~"

Qin Si reached out his hand to support the old emperor in distress, but was violently thrown away, so frightened that he quickly knelt on the ground.

After Qianlong read all 200 words, the paper fell to the ground.

Yu Minzhong quickly picked it up and browsed it, his face turned pale:

"This, how is this possible?"

"Dear ministers, our Qing Dynasty is in trouble. More than 10,000 people from the Firearms Battalion and Xishan Jianrui Battalion were wiped out in Jiangnan. Mingliang almost escaped alone, and he is currently awaiting trial in the Luzhou Yamen."

Everyone's heads in the hall buzzed and felt numb.

The empire's most elite Eight Banners Army of more than 10,000 people is gone!
……

"Your Majesty, those are the elites who just returned victoriously from the Jinchuan battlefield last year. How could it be~"

Qianlong sat back in the chair tiredly, feeling that all his energy had been drained from his body.

With empty eyes, he said:
"Since a year ago, I had a vague feeling that something terrible and terrible was moving in the area south of the Yangtze River. Only today did I realize that this terrible thing is a failed scholar. His name is Li Yu!"

The hall was very quiet. A group of ministers were kneeling with their upper bodies straight and their heads held high, listening to the holy teachings.

Work hard to show your backbone!

And calm down!

The country is in crisis and loyal ministers are seen. This is a good time to show off one's face.

Qianlong said in a dazed tone:

"I wrongly accused Shi Linglun, the deputy general of the Taihu Association, and wrongly blamed the Shi family. He was not a rebel at all, but was forced to rebel by the rebels and the local government."

"I decree that Shi Linglun be rehabilitated and posthumously granted the title of Admiral of Jiangnan. The position of Marquis of the Shi family is restored! Select one or two capable descendants of the Shi family to come to Beijing, and I will use them again."

"Ming Mingliang imprisoned himself in the prison of Luzhou Prefecture and asked me for the death penalty. Can you tell me how to deal with it?"

Yu Minzhong said quickly:
"He should be given another chance. After all, he is a descendant of the Fucha family."

"Yes, the Fucha family is full of loyal people."

Qianlong nodded:
"Mingming was fined for 1 year and demoted to the rank of third-grade city guard. He is still serving in the army."

"Mobilize 4 people from Shaanxi-Gansu, Shandong, Henan, and Zhili Green Camps to form the Jiangbei Camp."

There was something he couldn't say out loud in his heart. Manchu had shed enough blood and he could no longer rush to the front. It’s time for the Han and Meng people to make some sacrifices for the Qing Dynasty.

"Qian Feng resigned as imperial envoy and did not need to return to Beijing. He was appointed chief envoy to Jiangsu and salt transport envoy to Huaihe and Huaihe. He was responsible for raising food, grass and military pay for the Jiangbei camp."

Yu Minzhong thought that when the court encountered difficulties, the independent ministers would have more say. If there is peace in the world, Qian Feng will stay silently in a certain border county until his death.

"Please tell me, Your Majesty, where will the Jiangbei camp be located? And who will command it?"

……

Before Qianlong could speak, the sound of horse hooves came from outside the palace again.

From far to near, then a young eunuch hurried in.

"Your Majesty, urgent military report from the Governor of Liangjiang."

Qianlong took a deep breath. To be honest, as an old man in his 60s, he couldn't bear to be hit one after another.

"Slave Li Shiyao reported with tears and blood. The Beijing flag reinforcements were exhausted in one battle. The thieves were so powerful that Jiangning was in danger like a lonely boat in the sea. The thieves occupied Zijin Mountain and shelled day and night. The city was broken in only ten days. I have been favored by the emperor in this life. We should sink with Jiangning. If the city is alive, the servants will be there; if the city is destroyed, the servants will die."

Along with the letter came a lock of hair expressing his will to die.

Qianlong closed his eyes and could only vent his anger.

Qin Si, the eunuch in charge, wanted to call the imperial doctor, but was afraid of being scolded. He was sweating profusely and could only look at Yu Minzhong as if asking for help.

However, the presence of the old god Yu Minzhong is like a clay sculpture, and there is nothing troublesome about it.

……

(End of this chapter)