Southern Ming: A boy soldier at the beginning, supporting the world

Chapter 19 Extortion
Qu Shisi readily followed Jiao Lian's advice and supported Jiao Lian's expansion of the army. That evening, he hosted a banquet for Guilin gentry in the pretext of watching a play.

It rained all day and stopped at 3 pm. The air was fresh and slightly humid.

The gentry came to the governor's mansion one after another and sat down in the flower hall. They whispered to each other, wondering: The governor has always been content with poverty, why did he suddenly invite female musicians and set up a banquet tonight?
At 5 p.m., Qu Shisi finally showed up. The gentry stopped talking and took their seats.

Qu Shisi smiled and said, "Everyone, I am in a rare mood today, so I will prepare some wine for you to drink with. Jin Ji in the mansion is a famous Kunqu opera artist. Today, I will ask her to sing a song to liven up the atmosphere. Come, I will offer you a glass of wine first."

Liu Shou was born into a wealthy family in Suzhou and Changshu, and the women in Wu were the best in the world. Everyone had heard that Liu Shou had a concubine named Jin, who was extremely beautiful and talented, and was a figure similar to the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai.

Today, they were lucky enough to see Jin Ji's face and listen to her singing Kunqu Opera. Everyone was envious and drank the wine in their cups, looking forward to seeing Jin Ji.

After a while, a young and beautiful girl came in. The lights in the hall were dim, and her face could not be seen clearly. But her graceful figure and elegant temperament had already made everyone intoxicated.

There was another zither player in his forties who followed behind Jin Ji. He sat down and began to tune the strings.

As the two candles moved closer, Jin Ji's outline became clearer. She had small and delicate features, pure and fair skin, and deep eyes. She was a stunning beauty.

Everyone was attracted by Jin Ji's beauty, with greed on their faces.

The zither player stroked the strings, producing a melodious sound. Jin Ji opened her red lips and sang in the soft Wu dialect:

"It turns out that all the colorful flowers are in full bloom, but now they are all left to the broken wells and dilapidated walls. What can we do about the beautiful scenery? Whose yard is this enjoyable and pleasant place? It flies in the morning and rolls up in the evening. The clouds and the green pavilion, the rain and the wind, the painted boats in the mist, the people on the brocade screen look down on this beautiful time..."

It is "Visiting the Garden" from the famous Kunqu opera "The Peony Pavilion".

Although the merchants present were wealthy, they had rarely heard authentic Kunqu opera. Jin Ji's soft and intoxicating singing was like the sound of nature. The sound of the zither was like the gurgling water, spreading far in the night sky.

Everyone was mesmerized by the performance. It would be better to stay and enjoy it. Such elegant Kunqu opera and such stunning beauties, how could they be bought with thousands of gold?

Suddenly, the strings broke with a crisp sound, and Jin Ji's singing came to an abrupt end.

Then, in the night, there was a burst of rapid horse hoof sounds, coming from far away and getting closer and closer, from small to large. Everyone was startled and turned their eyes to Qu Shisi.

Shi Si pretended to be calm and looked at Jiao Lian standing beside him.

Jiao Lian had been conferred the title of Xinxing Earl, and his status was elevated. He sat side by side with Shi Si. He wore casual clothes and called on his personal soldiers to go out and investigate.

The garrison was close to Wenchang Gate and was not very large. Before the guards could leave, a group of cavalry suddenly arrived. A dozen heavily armored cavalrymen entered the hall, their armor clanging.

A young general, Cen Danchu, ignored the presence of the business gentry and saluted to the garrison commander, saying, "Lord, Marshal, there is urgent military information."

Fortunately, they were our own people. The merchants were still in shock, and when they heard about the urgent military information, they frowned in worry.

Jiao Lian shouted, "Why are you so flustered? The elder is hosting a banquet, and you are rushing in recklessly. How can you behave like that?"

Danchu pretended to be panicked and said incoherently: "Duke Anguo sent Wugangbo Liu Chengyong to lead 6,000 elite soldiers to Guiyang overnight. Wugangbo's outposts are approaching Lingchuan and are urgently demanding military pay!"

The candlelight flickered, Jin Ji uttered a coquettish cry, and her face turned pale. Qu Shisi waved his hand, and Jin Ji and the zither player left the hall.

The businessmen looked at each other in dismay and discussed:

"Is Wugangbo Liu Chengyong the younger brother of Duke Anguo?"

"These two brothers are not easy to mess with. If they are allowed to enter Guilin City, the whole city will be in turmoil!"

……

Qu Shisi and Jiao Lian did not say anything, but Cen Danchu continued:
"In addition, the 3,000 soldiers under Guan Weifan, a general under Marquis Si'en, were originally ordered to return to defend Xunzhou. Today, they are reluctant to leave and are demanding travel expenses. The soldiers have already looted at Baishitan and threatened to capture Guilin and allow the troops to loot!"

"Ah!" The merchants and gentry were in an uproar. The leader, a Jin gentry who had served as a minister during the Chongzhen reign, said:
"The troops of the Duke of Anguo are arrogant and lawless, and the troops of the Marquis of Si'en have poor discipline. Looking at all the armies, only the Duke has strict military discipline, and his soldiers never plunder. If the troops of the Duke of Anguo and the Marquis of Si'en are allowed to enter the city, Guilin will be in turmoil! Lord, you must persuade them to stay, and you must not let them enter the city!"

Qu Shisi looked heavy-hearted and as thin as an old vine. He asked Jiao Lian beside him, "Can you please hold the city gates and prevent Liu Chengyong and Guan Weifan's troops from entering the city?"

Jiao Lian shook his head and said, "I only have 3,000 troops. We have been owed wages for years, our morale is low, and our troops are few. How can we resist Liu Chengyong and Guan Weifan's army of nearly 10,000 people?" Cen Danchu refused to retreat and said, "Lord, Marshal, the soldiers fought to protect Guilin. In the battle the day before yesterday, 300 standard soldiers rushed out of the city to fight against 50,000 Qing invaders. They went in and out four times and suffered heavy casualties, but they protected Guilin's safety.

"But the court has been in arrears of pay for many years, and the soldiers who died in battle received no compensation. Their families and children are left with no clothes to wear and have to eat porridge and wild vegetables. Now the Liu and Guan armies are besieging the city to demand pay, and you merchants want us to defend the city for you with a small number of troops. Don't you feel guilty?"

At this point, the cavalrymen present deliberately made the sound of their armor to demonstrate to the merchants.

The business gentry all looked at Jiao Lian, hoping that he would step forward to stop it, but Jiao Lian remained silent.

At this time, the angel officer Qu Shawei also stood up and said in fluent Chinese:

"Sir, three hundred Portuguese soldiers will soon arrive in Guilin, and the eunuch Pang of the Imperial Household Department will also rush to Guilin with red cannons to supervise the troops. Please make early arrangements for the military pay."

The wages of the Portuguese mercenaries were very high, but they had already been settled, from the imperial palace. The Yongli court sold official positions and titles, and was extravagant, so there was still money.

Qu Shisi's face became even uglier, and he said, "There is a shortage of money and food, and the garrison is empty. However, no matter how difficult it is, we cannot let the soldiers fight on an empty stomach. Is there any gentleman who likes Jin Ji just now? If you like her, you may buy her and the money you spend will be used as military pay."

Jin Ji's beauty naturally attracted everyone's attention. But in public, no one was shameless.

"The country is in danger, and the Qing invaders are rampant. The safety of Guilin and the peace of the people all depend on the soldiers. If the city is captured, the Qing invaders massacre the people, rape my wife, and kill my son, what is the use of leaving me with a fortune? Sir, how much money do you need? Tell me first."

The person who spoke was named Zhu Minru, a well-known wealthy man in Guilin City. He was a military scholar and was serving as a lieutenant general in Jiao Lian's army.

When everyone saw this, they knew they had fallen into a trap and felt very upset.

Qu Shisi made a brief calculation and said, "Fifty thousand silver coins should be enough."

Fifty thousand silvers were enough to recruit ten thousand new soldiers. Even if the price was reduced by half, it would be enough to recruit five thousand new soldiers. Lingchuan County was also under the control of Qu Shisi. Although it was not as rich as Guilin City, he could get ten or twenty thousand silvers by plundering it.

Zhu Minru said generously: "I will donate 10,000 taels of silver!"

Everyone dared not respond, and cursed in their hearts: "You, Zhu Minru, are a military general. You donate money from your left pocket and put it in your right pocket, and you are strengthening your own army. If we donate money, won't it all go to waste!"
Seeing this, Jiao Lian sneered, "At the end of Chongzhen's reign, the rebels were approaching, and Emperor Weizong persuaded officials to donate silver. Empress Zhou asked her father-in-law Zhou Kui to set an example and gave him 5,000 taels of silver. Zhou Kui embezzled 2,000 taels of silver and donated 3,000 taels of silver. The royal family, the civil and military officials of the whole court donated a total of 200,000 taels of silver, but it was of no avail.

"The rebels broke into the capital and tortured officials to get money. Zhou Kui's family was ruined and he donated no less than 100,000 taels of silver. Liu Zongmin was in charge of the matter and it is said that he got 70 million taels of silver and 1.5 million taels of gold.

"The soldiers fought bravely and shed blood all for your protection. If you are so stingy, I will lead the army out of the city and ask Liu Chengyong to come in to protect you!"

Everyone exclaimed that it was impossible.

Qu Shisi also said quickly: "Marshal, you should not act on impulse. Everyone present is a scholar and is reasonable. Since Zhu Zongchen has set a generous example, others will follow suit.

"Besides, when Commander He was in Huguang, he increased the voluntary salary and suppressed the treacherous people, and obtained countless food and salary. If there is no choice, I will have to follow the example of the Commander, and let you know in advance."

The heavy levy of voluntary military pay caused uprisings in Huguang. The suppression of treacherous officials was even more fabricated. As long as someone reported the crime, they would confiscate the property of the rich and rob them of their homes on the pretext of collusion with the invaders.

Therefore, He Tengjiao's administration in Huguang was very harsh and he was not popular among the people. When the Qing army came, He Tengjiao was defeated repeatedly, which was closely related to this.

"Adding more voluntary salaries" and "suppressing treacherous officials" are like drinking poison to quench thirst. Qu Shisi is well aware of the pros and cons and will not follow suit easily.

The merchants were restless, and one said, "Sir, I will take my leave first and go home to get the banknotes."

As soon as everyone stood up, Cen Danchu had already blocked the door with his cavalry. At some point, the entrance to the flower hall was already filled with soldiers.

Qu Shisi remained calm and said, "Everyone, the pen, ink, paper and inkstone are ready. You all have servants and lackeys, so why not write a letter in person and ask the servants to take it back so that your family can either withdraw cash or send banknotes.

"I will be waiting here to enjoy the night view with you. As for the money, the rich will give 1,000 taels, the middle-class will give 700 taels, and the small will give 400 taels. If you can donate as generously as Zhu Zongchen, I will naturally thank you and write to the court to ask for commendation."

Extorting donations for military pay was an extraordinary measure. The situation was extraordinary, and Qu Shisi also used extraordinary measures to accomplish his goal.

However, Cen Danchu couldn't help but worry secretly. Can this kind of thing happen again and again and sustainably?
Never mind, let’s raise money and complete the military expansion first.

(End of this chapter)