Chongzhen chat group

Chapter 1051
"Your Majesty, Kaihai's income tax is really unexpected, and it is expected that this year's income will be much higher than last year." Wen Tiren met Emperor Chongzhen in the Wenhua Palace after the military meeting, holding a memorial in both hands, and said, "Wei The minister has sorted out the salt tax statistics, if the illegal salt can be eliminated, the court can at least double the salt tax. However, the situation is a bit complicated, please take a look at it, Your Majesty!"

When Gao Shiyue, the eunuch on duty, saw it, he walked over to take the memorial with both hands, and presented it to Emperor Chongzhen.

There was no memorial in Wen Tiren's hands, and he looked at Emperor Chongzhen, and immediately played again: "Those who sell private salt include outlaws, serious salt merchants, princes and dignitaries, powerful officials, etc. The imperial court wants to ban private salt. It is very difficult! But no matter how difficult it is, I am determined to collect the salt tax..."

For the Ming Dynasty, the salt tax was one of the largest sources of wealth for the treasury.If it can be doubled, the amount must not be underestimated.Wen Tiren said in the court meeting that one of the measures to increase wealth and income in imitation of the Song Dynasty was to reform the salt tax. Now, he is fulfilling his promise when he was elected as the chief assistant.

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he glanced at him and didn't speak. Then he picked up the memorial that Gao Shiyue had presented, opened it and read it.

"This salt tax reform is a major event for the imperial court!" Wen Tiren continued, "And the salt tax reform has harmed the vested interests of countless people, which is worse than the sea ban in the past two years. My minister is ready , Facing the opposition of these people, I have no fear!"

After all, things like opening the sea mainly affect the southeast coast of Daming, and at most reach the south of the Yangtze River.However, the reform of the salt tax has involved the entire empire, regardless of whether it is north or south, or east or west, all vested interests will be affected.

When Wen Tiren said this, he saw Emperor Chongzhen looking up at him, so he made a serious face, and said seriously: "Now this minister is preparing to take action on the salt tax, but His Majesty wants to personally collect it. This minister is really a bit I am worried that without His Majesty sitting in the capital, the reform of the salt tax may have to be postponed later, and things will leak out after a long time, and there may be many accidents."

Wen Tiren has been busy with the reform of the salt tax, and now it is about the same time. Originally, he wanted to play the emperor, so that he could start to reform the salt tax.As a result, the emperor suddenly started the imperial conquest of Liaodong in advance, which ruined his plan.Therefore, after the military discussion was over, he came to Emperor Chongzhen to ask for an explanation on this matter.

There are many people in the cabinet, even if there are secrecy regulations, the reform of the salt tax involves the interests of many people.Therefore, it is impossible to hide this matter for too long.If the New Deal hasn't been implemented yet, everyone outside will know about it in advance.It is said that there are policies at the top and countermeasures at the bottom. If one fails, the new policy will turn into an evil policy, and the result will be bad.

Emperor Chongzhen had already read the memorial at this time, and when Wen Tiren finished speaking with a little complaint, he smiled, picked up the memorial, weighed it, threw it back on the imperial table, and then asked: "Wen Qing summed up the shortcomings of the salt administration. In detail, it can be said that the salt policy is something that is deeply rooted in the Ming Dynasty, and there are people of all kinds in all aspects. Once the new policy damages the interests of these people, even I will have to weigh it."

Speaking of this, he laughed at himself before saying: "Before, I never urged Wen Qing on the salt tax. In fact, I was worried that if the implementation of the New Deal was unstable, it would cause internal strife in Ming Dynasty. I don't want to see troubles in the local area..."

When Wen Tiren heard this, he couldn't help but suddenly realized.Originally, he was always a little strange, the emperor kept asking and explaining about the opening of the sea, but he didn't mention the salt tax, so it turned out that the emperor knew the seriousness of this matter.

"...As Wen Qing said, this salt involves thousands of households, and Yanyin has been rewarded a lot by the past emperors, vassal kings, clans, hereditary princes, etc. Don't talk about Wen Qing, even if it is me , I also find it very tricky, especially when I have just ascended the throne for a few years. "Emperor Chongzhen suddenly had a serious face, and smiled slightly," but after the imperial conquest and the recovery of Liaodong, I believe it will deter many evil spirits. Whoever dares to jump out and make trouble, at that time, I don't mind letting my new army go on a killing spree..."

When Wen Tiren heard this, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.At the end of the emperor's words, he was majestic and murderous, and his tone was even more firm.However, when he came back to his senses, he immediately felt happy.

He understood what the emperor meant.

Emperor Chongzhen temporarily ascended the throne from the vassal king. If he had not been a prince, he would not have the old people in the prince's mansion to use, that is, he would not have his own emperor team. Being emperor at the age of 17 does not have much prestige in the eyes of civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty.

Although Wei Zhongxian was wiped out later, Wen Tiren understood that it was not so much that Emperor Chongzhen brought down Wei Zhongxian, but rather that the foundation of Wei Zhongxian's power was gone.In this case, any emperor can drive Wei Zhongxian out of power.This matter will only be praised verbally by civil and military officials, but there are probably not many who really admire it from the bottom of their hearts.

But later, Emperor Chongzhen used his body as a bait, and finally forced Jianlu to withdraw from the capital early, and Qiankun was arbitrary, organized a new army, promoted Lu Xiangsheng, and won one victory after another in the war against Jianlu. , also wiped out the rogue bandits, designated the Hetao as the territory of the Ming Dynasty, and so on. These things made the emperor's power grow day by day.If it was a normal matter, it is estimated that the prestige of the emperor at this time can indeed deter demons and monsters.

But the salt tax is different, it really involves all kinds of people in Ming Dynasty, even in the army, such as Zu Dashou, in the court, such as various ministers, etc., may have interests involved.After all, the emperor is not the founding emperor, and his prestige is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.If you don't have any prestige, that is, if you don't have the cronies you have cultivated from scratch, you don't know who it will fall on when you raise this butcher's knife!
However, as the emperor said, the imperial conquest, regaining all the lost land in Liaodong from the Wanli period, and destroying the mighty Jian captives, will be a great achievement. The other former emperors were much stronger.Coupled with those other deeds, the emperor's power must be at its peak.Moreover, in this kind of war of destroying the country, the emperor will definitely be able to promote a lot of righteous and upstarts of the Ming Dynasty. With the support of these upstarts, even the clans of the vassal kings and hereditary princes, who would dare to disobey the emperor's will?

Thinking of this, Wen Tiren's eyes lit up!

Emperor Chongzhen noticed this change in him, and smiled in his heart, knowing that Wen Tiren finally understood the importance of the imperial conquest.If it is just like the later generations, threatening a few factory guard leaders, and then letting people kill them to stand up, this emperor is too easy to be.

In fact, being an emperor is definitely the most difficult subject in the world.If one is not good, several of the first emperors of the Ming Dynasty died strangely, which is an example.Emperor Chongzhen was cautious about matters involving great interests.Especially for this salt government.He even decided to do it after recovering Liaodong, when he would be more confident.

These thoughts flashed through Emperor Chongzhen's mind, and then he smiled confidently at Wen Tiren and said: "I have made a decision in my mind about the salt administration. Regardless of the troubles of people of all kinds, one size fits all, they will not be able to oppose it, and the people of Ming Dynasty can truly enjoy the benefits of the New Deal, and the revenue of the treasury will also increase greatly!"

When Wen Tiren heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then he felt 1 in disbelief.You know, after he investigated the situation of the Yanzheng, his head was so painful.This situation is too complicated. It is necessary to implement the New Deal to increase the revenue of the treasury, but also to reduce the obstacles to innovation as much as possible. To be honest, he has lost sleep thinking about it for many nights.

But for Emperor Chongzhen, he said that a one-size-fits-all approach would make everyone unable to oppose it. Not only would the treasury revenue increase greatly, but also the common people of Ming Dynasty could enjoy the benefits of the New Deal. Is there... is there such a way?

Thinking of this, Wen Tiren couldn't believe it, but when he looked at Emperor Chongzhen and saw his confident look, he couldn't help being very curious, wondering if the emperor's mind, which always had weird things, came up with it. What kind of idea?
He felt that it was impossible to have such a good solution, so he really wanted to ask the emperor, what kind of new policy has so many benefits?
However, the emperor did not say, could it be that the new policy cannot be announced in advance, after all, it will be a few months before His Majesty returns from the conquest.It is not good if the news is leaked beforehand and causes bad changes.

Thinking of this, Wen Tiren suppressed his curiosity and did not ask further questions.He immediately bowed and said: "Since Your Majesty has made a decision, I will go to prepare for the royal expedition to Liaodong."

Emperor Chongzhen listened and nodded with a smile, that's all right!
After Wen Tiren left, he also left the Wenhua Palace and went to the War Bureau and Weapons Bureau respectively to check the production of flintlock guns and cannons, as well as the configuration and storage of gunpowder.He checked all these things himself.

Although Emperor Chongzhen has a chat group system, he is suspected to be the protagonist, but after all, he is a personal conquest, and his life is related to him. He is only allowed to succeed and not to fail. This logistical matter must not be ignored.

On the other side of the Beijing camp, the third batch of new troops is mainly the fusiliers and the artillery battalion, and they have almost trained.On this day, Xi Mao Yuanyi, the chief instructor of the new army, rushed to the Hall of Martial Arts to meet him.

After the ceremony was over, Emperor Chongzhen asked him with a smile: "According to the plan, the third batch of new troops will be assessed tomorrow, right?"

"Return to Your Majesty, the assessment is tomorrow, and those who meet the standard can fight against the Manchus!" Mao Yuanyi hurriedly replied after hearing this.

Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said: "Okay, then tomorrow I will go to watch the assessment in person!"

After hearing this, Mao Yuanyi looked a little hesitant. Seeing that the emperor seemed to be smiling, he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, the last general has been in the capital for a long time. If this continues, his bones will rot. Let the army go to Liaodong to repay your favor!"

Listening to the new army he trained, he won battle after battle.He understood that Jianlu was at the end of his battle. If he didn't go to Liaodong to make contributions, he might not have a chance in the future.Therefore, taking advantage of this opportunity, he challenged Emperor Chongzhen to fight.

The matter of the imperial conquest scheduled for next month has not yet spread, so Emperor Chongzhen naturally understood that Mao Yuanyi didn't know about it either, so he smiled slightly and said, "Yes, Mao Qing is ready to go and set off with me at the beginning of next month."

Mao Yuanyi was taken aback for a moment when he heard this, and then he understood that the emperor decided to go to Liaodong in person at the beginning of next month, and he could accompany him there.Immediately, he was overjoyed and quickly agreed.

As the preparations for the imperial conquest proceeded, the news that he was about to personally conquer Liaodong finally spread in the capital.Afterwards, Rongzu Dashou, the acting chief of the Beijing Camp, asked to see him. Like Mao Yuanyi, he asked to accompany him to Liaodong.

Regarding Zu Dashou's request, Emperor Chongzhen shook his head and refused: "I have no intention of taking away the Jingying this time, Zu Qing is the general army of the Jingying, and the Jingshi can't leave."

The meaning is very clear, Zu Dashou still has to stay in the capital, which made him very disappointed, so he proposed to resign from the post of the general army of the Beijing camp, even if he was a soldier, he was willing to fight for the emperor.

However, Emperor Chongzhen still refused.Zu Dashou, just stay in the capital.

What Emperor Chongzhen didn't expect was that after Zu Dashou was sent away, another military general, Xungui, came to ask for a fight. They all expressed their opinions impassionedly. .

This time, Emperor Chongzhen was surprised.

Back then, when Jianlu invaded the capital and besieged the capital, few of these generals were as impassioned as they are today, and even many of them were unwilling to pay others, so he had to use them. factory guard.Even so, some people even instigated Queen Zhou's father to make trouble.How come everyone has changed their temperaments now, so that "generals are not afraid of death"?

If it is said that victory can affect people's hearts, Emperor Chongzhen believed it.At least the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty in Liaodong now have no fear in their hearts when facing the soldiers of the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, and no longer have the fear of the past.

But if it is said that this victory can also affect the bravery of the military generals in the capital, the Chongzhen Emperor would not believe it.It's a joke for these wastes who are used to enjoying themselves in the capital, who have never even been on the battlefield even though they have the name of a general, to return their corpses in horse leather!

But the fact is before our eyes, among these noble generals, quite a few have never been to the battlefield.Among these people, there are not only hereditary lords who are over sixty years old, but also middle-aged sons who have just taken over the position of generals, or dudes who are famous in the capital's fireworks.Just these people, why do they all want to go to the Liaodong battlefield one by one?

Seeing Emperor Chongzhen's confused look, Fang Zhenghua, who had been accompanying him all the time, reminded the emperor about the intentions of these generals.

　Thanks Ziqing Yurong for the reward!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)