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

Chapter 350 Holy Will
When receiving the memorials from Xuanfu Town and Xuanda Governor Chen Xinjia and others, Emperor Chongzhen was discussing with the Minister of Rites, Yang Sichang, who was still in charge of the Ministry of War, and Xue Guoguan, the chief assistant of the cabinet.

It was impossible for Emperor Chongzhen not to be shocked when he got this news, as early as when he appointed Wang Dou as the general guarding the East Road of Xuanfu Town.Emperor Chongzhen believed that Wang Dou would definitely have a firm grip on the entire East Road. For some reason, Emperor Chongzhen was so certain in his heart.

But I didn't expect that this day would come so fast and so suddenly.Wang Dou's fierce method was beyond everyone's expectation.His unscrupulous, bold and reckless behavior is also very uncomfortable-at the same time, he fights against scholars, businessmen, and warriors. There are few such unique characters in the world.

Order has been restored in the East Road, and the evidence is conclusive. According to the usual law, even if Wang Dou's methods are too aggressive, and some innocent people may be injured, the court cannot punish Wang Dou for this.At this time, the strength of the Ming Dynasty sent military leaders, and the imperial court always focused on appeasement.No matter how excessive Wang Dou is, are Zuo Liangyu, Liu Zeqing, He Renlong and others going too far?
And for Wang Dou, Emperor Chongzhen meant to regard him as another Qi Jiguang, just like Qi Shuai did in the past, sweeping away the southern Japanese and northern captives, and returning the world to peace.It is even more impossible to punish him for this "little matter" and make him feel rebellious.

At the same time, Emperor Chongzhen was secretly happy that Wang Dou had offended the local literati and businessmen, and was unable to win the hearts of the people, so he could only hug the court tightly.In the hearts of Emperor Chongzhen and others, scholars and businessmen are the pillars of the country, who can offend these people?

He sighed: "General Wang captured Dong Nu and worked carefully. It's a good thing. It's a pity that he is young and vigorous. This kind of thing...is a bit inappropriate."

"What the emperor said is very true."

Yang Sichang and Xue Guoguan next to him said in unison.

People who usually do not deal with speak so neatly, the two looked at each other, and turned their heads calmly.

Xue Guoguan coughed lightly. Like Yang Sichang, he was just over fifty, with big ears and a rather rich face.When he was a child, someone gave him a face-to-face, saying that he was a noble face, and in the future he would definitely be appointed as a marquis.

Sure enough, what the face-to-face person said back then came true. For this matter, after Xue Guoguan became the chief assistant, he deliberately found this fortune-teller, bought him a house, and gave him money.The person who should tell the fortune is already approaching old age, and it is the time when he is poor and destitute. According to what he said back then, he can be counted as living a happy old age.

After Xue Guoguan entered the cabinet, he tried to figure out the emperor's mind, and fully implemented Wen Tiren's plan, which won the emperor's trust and reuse.In the past, only Yang Sichang was the favorite minister often summoned by the emperor, but now there is Xue Guoguan.It was so popular that even Yang Sichang wanted to avoid it.

The matter of Wang Dou was actually known to Xue Guoguan before Xuanfu town memorials were sent to the capital.

Now the teahouses, restaurants and yamen in the capital are flocking to the families of the "victims" of the East Road businessmen who cried and complained about Wang Dou's "atrocities".Those who admired Wang Dou's actions and those who criticized Wang Dou's actions were divided into several factions, and developed from verbal disputes to physical conflicts.

There are also speech officials who are ready to impeach Wang Dou for disregarding human life and acting domineering after hearing that.

Only Emperor Chongzhen knew about the affairs of the capital.The status quo of Ming Dynasty is almost always the last one to get news from the emperor.For example, in the last two years of Emperor Chongzhen, he angrily blamed the governors of the world and even Jin Yiwei for not notifying him of anything, making him deaf and dumb.

After receiving the news from Donglu, both Xue Guoguan and Yang Sichang stood still, and first found out what the emperor was thinking.

As soon as Emperor Chongzhen opened his mouth, Xue Guoguan immediately had a plan. He said with a smile: "As the emperor said, it is a good thing for General Wang to arrest and guard the East Road carefully. Dongnu is the best at using space, and he is often spied on by him. , Caused me to lose a lot of cities in Ming Dynasty. The east road is close to the fortress, and the captive cavalry can be negligent, and the suppression of the fine workers and the generation of the captives is also for the safety of the east road."

"Of course, General Wang is young after all, and he is from the army. This behavior is a bit irritable, and the local officials are trying to appease him."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded slightly. This is what he was satisfied with Xue Guoguan. He was good at figuring out his own thoughts, starting from his own point of view, and would not oppose for the sake of opposing.It is different from those ministers who invite fame and sell straight.

He issued a decree: "Since the East Road has been settled, the author and the department will try it together. After the conviction, the verdict will be heard. The soldiers of the East Road will prepare the Dao Ma Guoxi, and they will guard the general Wang Dou for his meritorious service in suppressing the investigation. The second official also needs to You know, even though things cannot happen urgently, we should seek long-term solutions, earnestly."

"...Wu Zhi, the magistrate of Yanqing Prefecture, invited himself to be an official, checked his maturity and experience, and acted with sincerity. Although his son and concubine neglected things, he was allowed to commit crimes and make meritorious deeds. He was fined for one year and recorded once. He was still absent from the official position..."

This is the art of grace and power of Emperor Chongzhen. He rewarded Ma Guoxi and Wang Dou, and still allowed him to balance civil and military affairs to prevent Wang Dou from becoming too powerful.At the same time, Wu Zhi was retained to let him be grateful and work more sincerely.Let him stay on the East Road so that he can better monitor Wang Dou.

Moreover, Ma Guoxi and Wu Zhi, one leaning towards Yang Sichang, the other leaning towards Xue Guoguan, leaving the two on the East Road also meant to check and balance each other.

No one family can dominate anywhere, this is the idea of ​​Emperor Chongzhen.

……

"Emperor Shengming!"

Amidst the praises of Yang Sichang and Xue Guoguan, the accident on the East Road came to an end.

For Emperor Chongzhen, the matter of the East Road was just a "small matter", and he had more important matters to discuss.

That's right, compared to the "little matter" of the East Road, what Emperor Chongzhen discussed with Yang and Xue just now was the most important "big matter".

This is the rebellion of Zhang Xianzhong, Luo Rucai and others. On the ninth day of May, Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai rebelled again. How long did it take for them to recruit?Just a year later, I can't wait to rebel again.Also because Zhang Xianzhong and others were in front, Emperor Chongzhen dared not be strict with Wang Dou. Wang Dou's power was not comparable to Zhang Xianzhong's generation.

In fact, there were early signs of Zhang Xianzhong's rebellion. In April of the 11th year of Chongzhen, Zhang Xianzhong was entrusted to Gucheng. On the surface, he knelt down and worshiped in Gucheng with etiquette. Controlling the government, arrogant and disobeying the law.

He collected grain, taxed, and expanded troops in Gucheng, and threatened Xiong Wencan endlessly. Ruan Zhitian, the county magistrate of Gucheng, said that Zhang Xianzhong would rebel, and reported several times.Xiong Wencan heard his words badly and ignored him. Sure enough, Zhang Xianzhong rebelled, and Ruan Zhitian was killed.Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai united, and the momentum was greatly boosted.

Emperor Chongzhen was very angry after hearing the news, and ordered Xiong Wencan to be dismissed as a crime.Just over ten days ago, Zuo Liangyu, the commander-in-chief of the army, was defeated by Zhang Xianzhong. Tens of thousands of soldiers were killed and injured, countless military assets were discarded, and all military seals were lost.

Because Zuo Liangyu was defeated and the situation deteriorated, Emperor Chongzhen became even more angry with Xiong Wencan, and sent envoys to arrest Xiong Wencan and go to Beijing.In history, on the sixth day of October in the 13th year of Chongzhen, Xiong Wencan was beheaded and abandoned the market.

At this time, Emperor Chongzhen already had the intention of making Yang Sichang the supervisor, but the problem of food and payment must be solved first.

In the early years, the Ming Dynasty had already levied the Liao's salary and the suppression of the salary. Because the Qing soldiers invaded the army in the 11th year of Chongzhen, it was decided to train the elite soldiers in each town and increase the training salary.The salary suppression in those years lasted for one year and stopped after one year.Unexpectedly, the rogue bandits were not wiped out after the food and payment were exhausted, so Emperor Chongzhen had to order half of it to be collected.

Now Zhang Xianzhong is rebelling again, and the situation is corrupt. To wipe out his troops, the food and salaries needed may reach astronomical figures.A few days ago, the Minister in charge of payment asked for the full amount of payment, and then increased the payment by 730 million taels.Combining Liao's payment, suppression's payment and practice's payment, a total of 670 million taels of tax was added.

Emperor Chongzhen was worried about losing his trust in the world. After all, he issued an edict that only collected half of the salary, and now the full amount is re-levied.Just now in Qianqing Palace, Emperor Chongzhen was discussing this issue with Yang Sichang and Xue Guoguan, but was interrupted by a new memorial from Xuanfu Town.

The matter of the East Road has been decided, and the monarch and his ministers will continue with the topic just now.

As for the emperor's worry about dishonesty, Yang Sichang said: "There is no injury, the taxation comes from Tutian, and all the Tutian belongs to the powerful family. A hundred mu of silver is donated to three or four coins, and it is slightly suppressed and merged."

He gave the emperor an example. According to national statistics, there are more than 700 million hectares of registered land, and the usual tax revenue only accounts for [-]% of the output of the people.Even if the three salaries are increased, even if it is doubled, it is only [-]% of the people's harvest, and it is by no means unacceptably heavy.

After the rogue bandits are wiped out, these additional factions can be dispensed with, and the world will return to peace.

Moreover, the increase in salary training and the re-collection of the full amount of salary suppression are mainly aimed at those powerful landlords, which will not have any impact on ordinary people.

Obviously, Yang Sichang overlooked a problem. The land in different places is fertile and barren, and the yield varies. Uniform taxation by mu will cause many tragedies.More importantly, more than half of the registered land is owned by vassals, dignitaries, eunuchs, ministers, warriors, literati, and businessmen. These people do not pay taxes or evade taxes.

The final burden will only be passed on to ordinary self-cultivating farmers. In addition to the rampant corruption, officials from all over the country will be assigned at various levels.Another increase in the three salaries will only cause a greater wave of bankruptcy and the emergence of larger-scale rogues.

Yang Sichang said that most of the taxation should be attributed to "powerful families", which obviously does not work.

Emperor Chongzhen may not understand that there are so many acres of land in the book, and the burden on the people is not heavy, so why do they resist or even rebel?
The emperor didn't understand this principle, but Yang Sichang definitely didn't understand it, maybe he pretended to be confused.

Through his analysis, Emperor Chongzhen finally made up his mind. He sighed: "I will issue an edict to levy three salaries. I hope that after the bandits are wiped out, the world will return to peace and the people will be happy again."

Yang Sichang sang: "The emperor is wise!"

Yang Sichang also guessed in his heart that the emperor might appoint himself as the supervisor.He is ambitious, determined to wipe out the rogues, to create invincible achievements, and to live up to the mighty kindness of the king.But before this, Yang Sichang revealed that he wanted to transfer Wang Dou to fight with him.

Of course, Emperor Chongzhen agreed with Yang Sichang's opinion. If a strong general like Wang Dou is not used, who should he use?
The Tartar soldiers who were like wolves and tigers were all beaten up by him, and they ran away like rats, and the mere bandits were easily captured?

However, Wang Dou just went to battle last year, and not long after he returned to Xuanfu Town this year, he was exhausted, and he was newly transferred to the East Road.Looking at the situation, it seems that it has not deteriorated to that point. Ordinary officers and soldiers can also handle it, but they just need a capable commander.

……

After Yang Sichang resigned respectfully, Xue Guoguan glanced at his back coldly, Xue Guoguan was 1 jealous of Yang Sichang's possible appointment as a supervisor.It's a pity that I am not as "knowledgeable" as Yang Sichang, but Xue Guoguan has his own way to win Jun's favor.

Facing the current financial difficulties and making ends meet, Xue Guoguan tried his best and came up with a wonderful solution.

"What's the magic method of Aiqing, tell me quickly."

Emperor Chongzhen was really happy. He worried about food and pay all day long. Emperor Chongzhen welcomed any method.

"With help?"

The emperor was taken aback.

"Exactly!"

Xue Guoguan calmly said: "There are many wealthy households in the capital, and the Ming Dynasty has supported scholars for hundreds of years. This time when the court is in crisis, it is time for the gentry and wealthy families to serve the country. The minister's help is to issue loans to let officials and wealthy businessmen donate money and food. To save the country's urgent needs. The relevant provisions are detailed in the booklet. If the emperor agrees with the policy of the humble minister, all the officials and businessmen in the outer court will be covered by the minister..."

He hesitated for a moment: "As for the relatives of the emperor, the emperor has to go out in person."

(End of this chapter)