A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 325 Reevaluation
Wen Shiyan looked at Wen Fangliang for a long time, and suddenly felt that the nephew in front of him was very strange. He sighed: "It's very rare for Liang'er to think like this."

He pondered and said: "Baanzhou is the place where General Dingguo made his fortune, so it is natural to guard it with people close to him. As the cousin of General Dingguo, Zhong Tiaoyang is indeed the most suitable candidate. Lianger, you take the initiative to withdraw. This decision is right. of."

He looked at Wen Fangliang and nodded with a smile, with a look of relief on his face.

Wen Fangliang was a little surprised to be praised so much by his uncle, but at the same time secretly pleased. His uncle was always strict with him, and it was rare for him to be so amiable.Everyone is happy to be praised by the elders, especially the strict elders in the past.

The two uncles and nephews sat down to talk again. When they talked about something, Wen Shiyan shook his hands, and the tea in the cup almost splashed out. He couldn't help being excited, got up and paced in the study.

He thought for a long time, with a dignified expression: "General Dingguo's establishment of the shogunate is a very important matter. If you can get a post and follow the general's side, the prospects are limitless. A mere defense is really not comparable to it."

He paced and murmured: "I think that in my uncle's opinion, among the divisions of the shogunate, the second division of finance and staff is the most important. The selection of the intelligence division, the township division, the logistics division, the civil affairs division, and the education division is not suitable for you. I heard that Lin Daofu was in Shun The master of the fort is in charge of military training, he should be the ambassador of the military training department, and the financial secretary... is the general staff of the uncle. Han and Korean generals will serve as the garrison of Laishui, such as Zhong Tiaoyang, and then the state city. Among the generals, you have the longest official position and seniority Yehou, the position of ambassador of the staff department belongs to you."

Wen Fangliang smiled and said, "My nephew thinks the same way."

Seeing the radiant expression on Wen Fangliang's face, Wen Shiyan was deeply moved.In the past, this nephew was useless, but now it seems that the important task of revitalizing the family has to fall on this boy who is usually regarded as a playboy. There is nothing more strange in the world than this.

After a long time, he calmed down his excitement, and whispered to Wen Fangliang: "Although you are very likely to be the chief of staff, you should walk more among your colleagues to prevent accidents."

However, Wen Fangliang shook his head: "Otherwise, the general's heart will be like a mirror, and he will not move as if he is still."

Seeing his calm expression, Wen Shiyan was surprised for a while, and laughed at himself: "Could it be that you are getting old?"

He sighed and said: "There is an altar of stagnant water in the Weicheng City, and my colleagues are so excited that they all want to come to the state city to seek business. People say that you can stand at thirty, don't be confused at forty, and know the destiny at fifty. As an uncle, he is close to the destiny, but he can't do anything. Feel guilty."

He said to Wen Fangliang: "By the way, if there is a good opportunity, Liang'er can give Weishu a post in the staff department, and Weishu still has the ability to give advice and suggestions for General Dingguo."

……

At this time in Zhang Gui's house, looking at the dazzling array of books in Zhang Gui's study, Tian Changguo couldn't help but shook his head and praised: "I didn't expect Brother Zhang to collect so many military books and agricultural books, and he is so eager to learn. I really admire and admire him. "

Zhang Gui sat down on his seat and sighed: "If you don't learn, you can't do it. Right now, all the soldiers in our Shun Township must be able to read and write. If you relax a little bit, you will be left behind. Brother Tian knows that inside and outside the city, there is nothing to do." There are a lot of people jealous of me, I am trembling every day, I dare not neglect."

Tian Changguo agreed, "Yes, yes, it's not easy for everyone."

He leaned comfortably on the huanghuali official hat chair, and said with emotion: "Brother Zhang didn't know that I was invited to participate in the discussion today. Brother, I feel so at ease."

He sighed and said, "I'm over fifty years old, and I'm the commander of the security guards, and the secretary of the state city. But you know, the power of battalion and military inspection under my name is all taken by Lin Dao. Fufen is gone. What's the fun of the remaining patrolling position? Baoanzhou is not picking up things on the road now, and the door is not closed at night, so you don't have to patrol once a month. My brother is crazy because of his idle time. Fortunately, General Dingguo's eyes saw him. gone."

He sighed contentedly.

Zhang Gui glanced at him: "Great opportunities are rare, brother Tian must pay attention, the general has always hated his subordinates indulging in alcohol and sex. From now on, you should avoid running to brothels and restaurants. If you make the general displeased, it will ruin a big deal."

Tian Changguo looked a little embarrassed, and said: "Yes, yes, thank you, brother Zhang, for reminding me, my brother remembers five things, and remembers five things."

He took a sip from the teacup and coughed: "The general set up the shogunate, and the subordinate divisions. According to my brother, the post of ambassador of the Civil Affairs Department must be Zhang's brother."

Zhang Gui looked smug, he said reservedly: "The general hasn't made a final decision yet, it's too early to talk about it."

Tian Changguo pondered: "I heard from the general today. In the future, we will develop farming, animal husbandry, mines, forests, roads, and commercial affairs in the territory of the East Road. According to my brother, how many departments will the Civil Affairs Department divide?"

Zhang Gui got up and paced: "My guess is nothing more than water conservancy, agriculture, animal husbandry, business, and mining. If there is a commercial department, I will definitely recommend my brother as the head of the commercial department."

Tian Changguo was overjoyed, got up and thanked Zhang Gui: "So, I would like to thank Ambassador Zhang."

Zhang Gui quickly came over to help Tian Changguo: "Brother Tian, ​​if I were the ambassador of the Civil Affairs Department, we two brothers would work together to rectify the entire civil affairs of the East Road and create a paradise. The general's eyes are like lightning, and he will definitely arrest you." I can see my grades.”

Seeing his ambitious appearance, Tian Changguo was also excited. He rubbed his hands and said, "Don't worry, Ambassador Zhang. When it comes to business, I'm still very good at doing business."

Zhang Guidao: "Now there is an opportunity. The price of goods in Baoan Prefecture is soaring. I heard that the general is worried. If the price can be flattened, the general will definitely look at us with admiration."

Tian Changguo said: "My brother also knows about this, but our Baoan Prefecture is different from other places. It's not that the people in the state don't have grain, but they just don't want to sell it. And they have silver in their hands, and they buy grain vigorously. When they arrived, they bought them all, causing prices in Baoan Prefecture to keep rising.”

"It is easy to solve this problem. As long as the state residents sell grain or no longer buy grain, the price can be leveled. With the general's prestige, it is just a matter of paper. Not to mention the general took back a large amount of grain, rice, cattle and horses. Some trustworthy rice stores sell grain and rice at a reasonable price, and there is no need to worry about prices.”

Zhang Gui shook his head: "Brother Tian thought about one of them, but didn't think about the second. People in the state can sell grain, and generals can also sell grain, but if grain merchants from other places come to Baoan Prefecture to rush to buy grain and rice, so what? In Taiyuan, there are many rich and powerful grain merchants, if they buy a large amount of grain and rice, the price will rise even more seriously than now."

Tian Changguo was stunned for a moment, then blurted out: "Then prohibit them from buying grain."

Zhang Gui even shook his head: "If this is the case, traders from other places will not send food to Baoan Prefecture."

Tian Changguo got up and paced without knowing it. He thought over and over again, and always felt that there was no perfect solution.

Seeing him in a daze for a long time, Zhang Gui said: "Let's discuss this matter slowly, Brother Tian, ​​there is something I want to tell you. If you are really the head of the commercial department, in order to avoid suspicion, the business of the shops under your name should be stopped. Well, find a suitable price and transfer it earlier."

Tian Changguo said embarrassingly, "It's okay, right? It's just some nephews and nephews in the family doing some small business."

Zhang Gui patted his forehead and said: "Old Tian, ​​don't be confused. If your family is doing business, how will you manage the affairs of the department? What will outsiders think, and what will the general think? Some money matters are small, but losing the general's value is a big thing. Time doesn't wait for me."

Tian Changguo came down in a cold sweat, and he saluted Zhang Guishen: "Thanks to Ambassador Zhang for reminding me, brother, I almost missed a big deal."

Zhang Gui waved his hand and said, "You and my brother's family, why bother to see each other like this?"

He pondered: "I heard from the general today that in the future, taxation bureaus will be set up in various places on the East Road to collect business taxes. I think the establishment of this taxation bureau can start from the prefectural city and collect taxes from those merchants. It is used to support the army and the people. Those merchants are under the control of the commercial department, and they can better prevent foreign thieves from spying."

Tian Changguo said: "I'm afraid this matter will cause a big disturbance. Most of the merchants operating in the state city are the nephews and nephews of officials and gentry. To collect business taxes from them, I am afraid that it will cause scolding, and may even lead to a strike. Strike the market and use it to blackmail the government."

Zhang Gui sneered: "Our Shun Township army is invincible and invincible, and we are afraid of some merchants making trouble? If they dare to jump out, General Dingguo can pinch them to death with a little finger!"

"You can rest assured about this matter. Either they pay taxes obediently, or they get out of Baoanzhou. I don't believe that they will not do business! My business tax in Ming Dynasty is only 40 taels, and I will take one, and the purchase price is less than [-] taels. Tax exemption, they are unwilling to pay such a light business tax, that is madness! What good do such profiteers stay in the East Road?"

Tian Changguo gritted his teeth: "With Ambassador Zhang's words, I am relieved, brother. Damn it, do it!"

Zhang Gui shouted: "Okay, you and my brother will advance and retreat together."

Then he sighed: "It's good that you are in charge of the Commercial Affairs Department. If I were in charge of the entire Civil Affairs Department, I'm afraid it would cause even more criticism."

Tian Changguo tentatively asked, "What does Ambassador Zhang mean?"

Zhang Guidao: "From the time when General Dingguo came to Shunxiang Fort in the ninth year of Chongzhen, he went to Zhoucheng to reclaim wasteland and distribute land to the soldiers and civilians. But my brother also knows that the fields under the names of the officers in Zhoucheng and other forts were not They moved and did not pay taxes. What I mean is to measure their fields again and collect grain by mu!"

"For the newly distributed land, whether it is an officer or a soldier, the grain is collected on the basis of the mu. It makes no sense that those old fields are still not collected at all. It is time to pay the grain uniformly."

Tian Changguo took a deep breath: "This matter is not trivial, I'm afraid..."

Zhang Gui chuckled: "If not, how could you leave a deep impression on General Dingguo? Brother Tian, ​​before my castle, there were Han Chao, Gao Shiyin, Zhong Xiancai and others. When it comes to fighting, I can't keep up. If they don't do something in civil affairs, how will they gain a foothold in our Shun Township Army in the future?"

Tian Changguo looked at Zhang Gui for a long time, and re-evaluated this big man who was known for his rudeness in the eyes of outsiders.

(End of this chapter)