The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 274 Variables
Zhang Jifu's approach is correct.

If you want to get things done, you must first consolidate military power.

This is the benefit of being well-versed in history.

Even if you don't understand the true value of the phrase "controlling the barrel of a gun," just look at history. For example, Zhang Juzheng's reforms were only initiated after he had secured military power through figures like Qi Jiguang.

Wang Xin already understood.

Zhang Jifu seized military power through a combination of two methods.

One target was the Beijing garrison.

No wonder Zhang Jifu turned his attention to Zhu Wei. Although Zhu Wei was also one of the retired emperor's men, he was not one of Zhang Jifu's men, and the two were not even on the same side. Even if Zhu Wei took the initiative to ease the conflict with Zhang Jifu, unless Zhang Jifu suffered a setback, he would not accept the status quo and the conflict would continue.

The two are border towns.

Xuanfu is too close, Yulin is too far, Liaodong is too important, and Gansu is too weak.
Counting and counting.

Datong is the most suitable.

Not too fat, not too thin, not too heavy, not too light, not too fast, not too slow.

However, Zhang Jifu was too hasty.

At the same time, they reached out to Liaodong.

The hand that reached into Liaodong was cut off, and both Datong and the Beijing garrison faced problems at the same time. At its root, it was still a matter of lacking money to cause trouble.

Even a good cook cannot cook without rice.

Zhang Jifu seemed to be pondering something, his expression complex.

Wang Xin felt confident.

That's why you need to keep your cards hidden.

Zhang Jifu is indeed very capable, and his status is far higher than mine. I am not qualified to be his opponent.

But he saw through Zhang Jifu's true intentions.

The situation is now clear.

The key to the Beijing garrison lies with the retired emperor. If the retired emperor supports Zhang Jifu, then Zhu Wei will not be in much trouble, and Zhu Wei will inevitably compromise to avoid suffering greater losses.

Mainly from Datong.

Zhang Wenjin needed 500,000 taels of silver to build the Six Forts, primarily for defensive purposes.

His plan for 3,000 battalions and 9,000 militia would cost less than 150,000 taels of silver in military expenses. Even including equipment and provisions, the total cost would not exceed 300,000 taels of silver, but he could take the initiative to attack.

It's somewhat similar to the situation in Liaodong at the end of the Ming Dynasty.

Xiong Tingbi, Sun Chengzong, and others promoted the construction of fortresses to defend against attacks.

However, they all faced significant opposition.

The entire imperial court was urging the troops to be dispatched.

Similarly, given their similar financial difficulties, their plan to take the initiative, especially considering their own achievements, coupled with Liaodong's demand for 500,000 taels of silver, etc.

Zhang Jifu would inevitably side with him.

It wasn't because he trusted himself, nor because he started to value himself or changed his attitude towards himself.

Rather, it was due to the circumstances.

As the future leader, Zhang Jifu cannot act according to his own preferences; he must solve problems because he still has an emperor emeritus above him.

The whole country is a unified entity.

Pulled around and moved the whole body.

Although he was only a guerrilla general, even if he were promoted and the plan was implemented, he would only have a little over 10,000 people, including a deputy general with 9,000 militiamen. Yet, he became the key figure in the game.

If the situation in Datong survives.

Zhang Jifu could then allocate more resources to other areas, such as winning over the Beijing garrison, consolidating military power, extending his influence to Liaodong, and finally initiating various reforms.

One step at a time.

Of course, even if I see through Zhang Jifu's true intentions, I still need to maintain a proper sense of propriety.

Respect should still be shown.

Otherwise, if he offended Zhang Jifu, Zhang Jifu would rather find another way than use him again.

What I need to do is make a promise to Zhang Jifu.

"The Western Army of Datong only needs 300,000 taels of silver in military expenses each year. I am willing to make a pledge to pacify the Hu in three years." Based on Yuan Chonghuan's five-year pacification of Liaodong, Wang Xin pacified Liaodong two years ahead of schedule.

After all, the Hu people were not the Later Jin, and he himself was not Yuan Chonghuan.

If it's three years.

Enough to clearly distinguish the winner and loser.

Upon hearing Wang Xin's promise, Zhang Jifu's brows relaxed, and he couldn't help but smile.

The Datong military garrison costs hundreds of thousands of taels of silver every year. With an additional 500,000 taels of silver added on top of the original cost, the annual military expenditure of the Datong military garrison alone reaches one to two million taels.

Other military garrisons would certainly not agree, but Liaodong, facing even more enemies, would stand up with even greater confidence.

The trouble caused by these two military towns alone is enough to give anyone a headache.

What if it inspires more imitations?

The imperial court was short of money and owed a lot of money to various places, so it lacked the authority to speak forcefully and take a tough stance.

“You made the promise to pacify the Hu in three years, and you can still take it back now. Otherwise, if you fail to do so in the future, don’t blame me for being ruthless,” Zhang Jifu warned, hoping that Wang Xin would not act rashly.

It's someone else who will replace you.

Zhang Wenjin promised to quell the rebellion within three years, but Zhang Jifu would not easily believe him.

According to Feng Yong, Zhang Jifu would give it a try.

But it was Wang Xin.

Despite Wang Xin's low rank, small position, and fewest soldiers, Zhang Jifu was willing to believe Wang Xin's promises.

It's not that this person has a calm personality.

Rather, it was this person's military achievements.

He had only been in the army for four years, yet he fought from south to north without ever suffering a defeat.

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency. I never boast when it comes to war. I always believe in being realistic. Although I am not certain of victory, I am confident of success if Your Excellency is willing to support me."

If it were an incompetent official, he would be dissatisfied if he heard that there was only a 70-80% chance of success, and he would only be satisfied if his subordinates boasted that they would definitely succeed.

Zhang Jifu was a smart man.

A 70-80% certainty is already quite remarkable.

However, Zhang Jifu still shook his head.

"Even if we give you 300,000 taels of silver, let alone whether Zhang Wenjin will agree or whether other military towns will cause trouble, the imperial court can't give you that much."

Three hundred thousand a year, one million in three years.

When I was in Nanjing, everything I saw was gold.

Originally, I thought that the Great Zhou Dynasty was not short of money, and I had many ideas in mind.

But after arriving in the capital, he suddenly discovered that it had become so difficult to get money out of other people's pockets. Everyone was desperate and it was completely unreasonable. Zhang Jifu was deeply moved.

When I was in Nanjing.

Without me even asking, many people offer to me, even vying to do so.

They arrived in the capital.

When I asked the court for help, many people disregarded past relationships and treated me like an enemy.

If the imperial court could provide 300,000 taels of military pay annually, then he wouldn't need to worry about money and could focus on training the army. He also wouldn't need to support Tang Ping and others in forming alliances with local powerful families to gain their support, thus leaving behind long-term hidden dangers.

However, what Zhang Jifu said was true; he really couldn't possibly give himself that much money.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Xin took the initiative to concede, "Two hundred thousand taels."

My current situation under the Datong model, with an annual profit share of 100,000 taels, just makes up for the shortfall.

Zhang Jifu shook his head and gave the figure he could offer: "150,000 taels."

One hundred and fifty thousand taels in one year, and forty-five hundred thousand taels in three years.

For 450,000 taels of silver, eliminating the threat from the Hu people in the Datong-Hetao region was a very worthwhile deal for Zhang Jifu, and a price he could afford.

This is bullying.

Wang Xin was speechless.

"Your Excellency, if we don't pay enough money, the soldiers below will lose their morale."

When there are hundreds of people, it is easy to achieve a high level of sincerity.

Even with a population of over a thousand, they can still maintain unity and cohesion.

And the number of people exceeds ten thousand.

Many things have changed.

Even now, at Yanmen Pass, the morale and loyalty of the soldiers have not reached the level of unwavering loyalty for a long time.

Therefore, when the number of troops exceeds ten thousand, it is impossible for the overall morale of the army to reach the level of unwavering loyalty; only individuals and a small number of units are likely to be loyal.

“We can come up with 150,000 taels of silver,” Zhang Jifu insisted.

Wang Xin hesitated upon seeing this.

If we take over the entire Hetao region and monopolize the tea, horse, cattle, and sheep trade there, the profits will be substantial. It wouldn't be a problem for the army to receive 150,000 taels of silver annually, or even more.

But after all his hard work, it was just a 50/50 battle with the imperial court.

I lost too much money.

In fact, the imperial court was very wealthy.

Why was the Qing Dynasty so wealthy?
It's not just commercial taxes.

In the Ming Dynasty, officials needed to spend money to curry favor with eunuchs and superiors in order to get promoted, and they also had to send tribute silver every year.

The Qing emperor couldn't stand it.

It's all my money.

Therefore, the Qing Dynasty was the first dynasty to institutionalize the sale of official positions.

A fourth-rank civil official earned 16,400 taels of silver, while military officials earned less; even a guerrilla commander earned several thousand taels.

The money from the Ming Dynasty flowed into the pockets of officials.

The Qing Dynasty's money flowed into the pockets of the Eight Banners.

Wang Xin changed his request, "The Datong Western Army was established with the support of the Grand Secretary. As for the promotion of the officers below, I would like to ask the Grand Secretary to go all the way and resolve this issue as well."

Zhang Jifu pointed helplessly at Wang Xin. A promotion only required a nominal appointment from the imperial court; Zhang Jifu didn't need to incur any extra costs.

However, doing so would delay the financial path of many people and cause dissatisfaction among many. But it is not impossible to handle the Datong Western Army's affairs as a special case.

Zhang Jifu nodded.

Wang Xin breathed a sigh of relief.

They achieved their goal and saved a lot of money.

"Please compile a list and send it over."

Zhang Jifu stopped being stingy.

Wang Xin was overjoyed.

This is the Zhang Jifu I know, with his shockingly extravagant lifestyle in Nanjing.

Having been in the capital for less than a year, I've become quite calculating.

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency, I will certainly not fail you in the three years to quell the barbarians."

Wang Xin bowed.

I believe in keeping my word.

do as promised.

"I hope so. If you can quell the barbarians in three years, I will celebrate your victory."

Zhang Jifu also laughed.

These days, only when he is in contact with Wang Xin can he feel somewhat satisfied. If everyone could be as diligent in their official duties as Wang Xin and less selfish, how could the court be in such a predicament today?

After sending Wang Xin away, Zhang Jifu felt a pang of emotion.

Lin Ruhai really struck gold.

soon.

Zhang Jifu went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The retired emperor has not been feeling well these past few days, which worries Zhang Jifu greatly.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation is the main hall of the inner palace, located to one side of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

Zhang Jifu was granted a seat.

The retired emperor treated his ministers very well, although he could be quite strict at times. His courteous treatment of civil officials was something they appreciated, such as being granted seats.

"Suppress the barbarians in three years?"

"hehe."

Behind the curtain, the Emperor Emeritus could not be seen, only his aged voice, mixed with a few laughs, could be heard.

Does the Emperor Emeritus not believe it?
Zhang Jifu quickly explained, "Although Wang Xin is young, based on my understanding of him, he is not a boastful person. On the contrary, he has a calm and steady personality. Moreover, based on his past achievements, I believe it is credible that he pacified the Hu in three years."

If Wang Xin were here, he would have to accept another favor from Zhang Jifu.

Zhang Jifu speaking up for Wang Xin was tantamount to endorsing him.

If Wang Xin fails to live up to expectations in the future, not only will Wang Xin bear the responsibility, but Zhang Jifu will also have to bear the responsibility for misjudging and improperly employing people.

The retired emperor lay on the couch.

Dai Quan was massaging the chest of the retired emperor.

As the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, the most powerful eunuch, Dai Quan shouldn't have had to do these things. It would have been better to assign some junior eunuchs to handle them. However, the Emperor Emeritus didn't want others to see him as powerless.

This is a dependence on oneself; although Dai Quan works hard, he doesn't want to give it to others.

The retired emperor's eyes were cloudy, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Finally, the Emperor Emeritus seemed to have regained his strength, and as if he had thought of something, he slowly opened his mouth, not daring to exert himself, otherwise he would easily cough, and coughing would take half his life.

"What do you think about sending Lin Ruhai to Beijing?"

Hearing the weariness in the Emperor Emeritus's voice, Zhang Jifu's heart skipped a beat, and he became tense.

Zhang Jifu subconsciously raised his head, staring intently at the curtain, hoping to see something.

Swallowing hard, Zhang Jifu said cautiously, "Lin Ruhai has just taken office in Jinling. If he is rashly transferred back to the capital, it may cause controversy."

The retired emperor seemed to see through Zhang Jifu's thoughts and said, "You decide what to do."

Then he stopped talking.

He didn't say much about Wang Xin's affairs.

Zhang Jifu stood up, respectfully backed away, and left.

We left the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Zhang Jifu felt depressed.

What is the Emperor Emeritus thinking? Could it be that the Emperor Emeritus is in poor health?
Zhang Jifu could no longer worry about Wang Xin's affairs and rushed to his mentor's place without delay.

Zhou Daofeng stayed at home.

The courtyard of the Zhou residence was not large; compared to Zhou Daofeng's status, it seemed much smaller.

However, Zhang Jifu knew that his mentor was very capable.

My hometown has thousands of acres of fertile land.

The entire clan worked diligently in farming and studying, with over ten thousand tenant farmers. Each member fulfilled their duties, living a self-sufficient life undisturbed by the outside world. It was a vibrant and thriving community, and only such a virtuous family could endure for generations.

Zhang Jifu told Zhou Daofeng about his concerns.

Zhou Daofeng didn't pay any attention.

"The sage is old, but who knows how much longer he can live? Doing your own thing at your own pace is more important than anything else."

"But I'm afraid there won't be enough time."

Zhang Jifu said with concern.

"You've done very well. Sometimes, don't just focus on what's outside, but also pay more attention to what's around you."

Zhou Daofeng disagreed.

Zhang Jifu couldn't understand where his mentor's confidence came from.

If the retired emperor passes away, the emperor will inevitably take over the reins of government. If the emperor takes over the reins of government, how can they escape? They will inevitably face being purged.

Zhang Jifu could not accept this outcome.

Two maids supported Zhou Daofeng as he watered the flowers and plants he had planted, seemingly unaware of the danger he was facing.

Seeing his mentor's expression, Zhang Jifu felt relieved.

My mentor must know something, and he must have some methods.

Wang Xin left the cabinet.

It went even more smoothly than last time.

"Get ready, it's almost time to leave the capital," Wang Xin instructed Shi Ping and the others who came to greet him as he exited the city gate.

"Here."

Shi Ping and the others should acknowledge.

Most of them were filled with joy. Although the capital was prosperous, it was too oppressive, unlike when they were in the army. Although there were many rules, everyone felt happy.

It seems that I am getting closer and closer to Zhang Jifu.

Wang Xin was lost in thought while riding his horse.

Others may not know, but surely I do: in the years to come in the Dream of the Red Chamber, at least before and after the Jia family was raided, the emperor was in power.

As for how the emperor won.

To what extent did they gain control over the government?

These specific matters cannot be judged.

The fact that the Jia family's property was confiscated demonstrates that the emperor had gained considerable power.

However, the fact that Prince Bei Jing could speak up for the Jia family, while Prince Nan An, despite suffering a defeat, still wielded considerable influence in the capital, and that there were also petty thieves lurking around the city, all seemed to indicate that the situation was not good.

But now the one in power is the retired emperor.

If you want to get things done, you need the support of Zhang Jifu and his group.

suddenly.

I understand the Tianqi Dynasty a little better now.

Getting things done is really not easy; you have to get support from above. But who should you support?

When the Chu faction is in power, it will inevitably have to support the Chu faction.

But what if the Chu Party falls and the Donglin Party comes to power?

Then.

When the Donglin Party falls, the eunuch party will come to power.

The Donglin Party came to power again, and then collapsed.
These are acceptable; at worst, I'll just lose my job.

As a result, the factional struggle became unbalanced. The losing side faced more than just losing their official position; it could mean death, even having their property confiscated and being tortured. The problems that followed became very serious!
Who would dare to do anything practical now?

Let's make some money first, and once we've made enough, let's get rid of it quickly.

I've been so close to Zhang Jifu, and even the Jia family couldn't escape the fate of having their property confiscated. What will become of me in the future?
He couldn't very well explain to the emperor that he was only doing this to quell the barbarians.

In officialdom, nobody cares about your reasons; they only care about which side you've chosen.

The same applies to emperors.

They only care about loyalty or disloyalty.

A person with great ability but disloyalty to the emperor is a threat and should be eliminated.

"I still need to write a letter to Lin Ruhai."

Wang Xin sighed.

You have to leave yourself a way out.

If you think this way, what about others?

No wonder the emperor was like a roly-poly toy, even though he was clearly in a weaker position.

Wang Xin breathed a sigh of relief.

Sudden.

its not right.

People like Zhang Jifu and Zhou Daofeng, could they not see the risks?
(End of this chapter)