Chaos of Ming 1628

As these words were spoken, the military officers gradually quieted down.

Sun Qing's voice was low: "I know it's not easy for you on Pi Island."

"A thousand miles from the shore, surrounded by enemies on all sides, with strong winds and rough seas, and frequent shortages of food and supplies. You guard this place, protecting the Ming Dynasty from the Later Jin's swords. But your families back home are starving, waiting for you to send money back?"

Anger and helplessness flickered in everyone's eyes.

Sun Qing continued, "Before I came, I built a new wall outside the city of Hejian."

"Inside that wall, I built new houses for them, allocated land to them, and opened a canteen."

"Anyone fighting on the front lines who is willing to send their family to Hejian Prefecture will have food, lodging, and medical care provided. Children can go to school, and the elderly will be taken care of."

"As long as you put in the effort, you won't go hungry. You fight the enemy on the front lines, and I'll protect your home from the rear. That's what I, Sun Qing, do."

The person who had just been looking down on Sun Qing now had a completely different expression.

From disdain and contempt, it gradually turned into solemnity.

Some even scoffed, "The imperial court doesn't care about anything, so why would you?"

"Stop bragging."

Zhao Long stood beside Sun Qing, his voice trembling with emotion: "Our Lord Sun has no reason to lie."

"Because he comes from the Sun family of Gaoyang, he is the grandson of Sun Chengzong."

"You are... Marshal Sun's grandson?"

"He is the grandson of the Grand Coordinator."

"The Sun family of Gaoyang would never lie."

Sun Qing nodded.

The adjutant suddenly burst into laughter, slapping his thigh: "Old Marshal Sun's grandson, why didn't you say so earlier!"

"Back in Liaodong, Marshal Sun led us in defending Ningyuan and building fortresses. We ate from the same pot and lay in the same trench. How could his grandson be anything but excellent?"

Even Mao Wenlong's expression subtly changed, and he coughed lightly: "How is the Grand Coordinator these days?"

"He is strong and healthy, and wholeheartedly wants to serve his country." When Sun Qing mentioned Sun Chengzong, he admired him from the bottom of his heart: "If I hadn't deliberately stopped him, it would probably have been him who went to the border."

"What happened?" Mao Wenlong asked.

Sun Qing couldn't say it outright, especially not something like this; it was better to plant a seed in the other person's mind.

Hesitantly, Sun Qing finally uttered only, "My grandfather is getting old, and I can't bear to leave him."

"Is the Grand Coordinator still in Gaoyang?" Mao Wenlong pressed.

Sun Qing shook his head and smiled wryly: "I have already gone to Hejian Prefecture to take over my original position."

Sun Qing's words were all true, but Mao Wenlong's expression was much more complicated.

He nodded and said, "It seems that our Emperor is indeed exceptionally intelligent."

"Young Master Sun, we were very rude just now, please don't hold it against us."

"We'll prepare lodgings for you, young master. Please sit down, have a drink, and rest a bit."

Mao Wenlong is indeed a rough and uncultured man.

With considerable power in his hands, how difficult could it be for him to investigate what was happening in the court?

Within three days, Mao Wenlong learned the whole story and felt deep disdain for Chongzhen's actions.

As the moon rose above the branches, Sun Qing began to familiarize himself with military affairs.

Just as he was getting ready for bed, Mao Wenlong arrived at the door: "Young Master Sun, have you settled down for the night?"

"No, sir, is there something you need so late?" Sun Qing opened the door and stepped aside to let Mao Wenlong in.

Unexpectedly, Mao Wenlong had no intention of coming in at all.

He stretched out his arms and patted Sun Qing's shoulder heavily, his tone serious: "That Wang Zaijin is a scoundrel, I've disliked him for a long time."

"They have absolutely no ability in fighting or defense; all their cunning is used for partisan strife and backstabbing."

When Mao Wenlong spoke of these things, his gaze toward Sun Qing carried a hint of sympathy.

"From now on, you'll stay here. I've heard about what happened in Hejian Prefecture. I'll handle the fighting; your little body won't be on the battlefield."

"I'll leave everything else on Pi Island to you. I only have one request: make sure the soldiers have a full meal."

Sun Qing nodded solemnly.

To be fair, Mao Wenlong didn't do anything particularly wrong.

He was a local tyrant on Pi Island, and I was no different in Hejian Prefecture. It was all just a matter of being forced into it by circumstances.

If the imperial court provides enough military pay and the soldiers can have enough to eat, who would be willing to take such a risk?

"Thank you for your trust, Lord Mao!"

In just six months, Pidao Island has undergone a complete transformation.

The first thing Sun Qing did after arriving on the island was to squat down by the market and watch the passing vendors sell what they needed, what was expensive, and so on.

Originally, Pi Island's dock only had two simple berths, and unloading cargo from ships relied entirely on manual labor.

Sun Qing mobilized the idle soldiers and laborers on the island, widened the berths with the existing rocks on the island, built new piers and hoisting frames, and built a simple warehouse next to the dock to provide shelter from the rain and ventilation, so that the goods no longer had to be piled up in the open.

The efficiency of boatmen unloading and resupplying here has doubled, and the number of merchant ships docking here has increased from three to five per month to more than twenty per month.

The waters around Pi Island are shallow and sunny, making it ideal for salt production.

With unified planning of the depth of the salt ponds and drainage ditches, in less than three months, Pi Island's sea salt went from being self-sufficient to being exported. The salt was white, clean, and dry, and merchant ships would always take a few bags with them when they returned.

The waters around Pi Island are teeming with fish, but the island lacks preservation methods, and the catch will smell bad within half a day after it is brought ashore.

He had several large stone troughs built by the dock, filled with seawater, and used the coarse salt abundant on the island to pickle the fish, making salted fish and dried fish.

By the fifth month, the salted fish from Pi Island had been sold to Dengzhou and Tianjin, and the silver brought back was enough to support the army for three months.

Once trade flourishes, the people on the island come alive.

Soldiers who used to live solely on military pay can now do odd jobs unloading cargo at the docks or earn extra wages at the salt fields.

During the off-season, the laborers who worked in the military farms would run short-distance transport with merchant ships, and when they returned to the camp at night, they would have copper coins in their pockets.

The once lifeless Pi Island now has a bustling harbor that is active day and night.

In six months, Pidao's foreign trade revenue tripled, and the surplus on the books was so large that Mao Wenlong had to confirm it countless times before he could believe it when he first saw it.

From that day on, Mao Wenlong stopped calling him "General Sun".

When he'd had a few drinks and was in a good mood, he'd pat Sun Qing on the shoulder and shout to the people around him with a smile, "This is our Pi Island's God of Wealth!"

Once this title was coined, everyone on Pi Island began calling Sun Qing "Sun the God of Wealth."

Beijing.

In the main hall, Emperor Chongzhen's face was gloomy.

Today's memorial is good news.

The smuggling operation on Pied Island was discontinued, and all taxes were paid in full.

The problem that had been troubling Emperor Chongzhen for so long has finally been resolved.

Even the court officials couldn't help but praise, "Lord Sun may be young, but he is truly capable."

"Now Hejian Prefecture is as peaceful as ever, and can even accept a lot of refugees, which has saved our Great Ming a lot of trouble."

"Yes, Pi Island was originally a headache. We could only turn a blind eye to Mao Wenlong's actions. Unexpectedly, Pi Island has now become a source of revenue for the national treasury."

The officials in the Ministry of Revenue couldn't help but beam with joy when this was mentioned.

Everywhere, people were asking the Ministry of Revenue for money. Even Emperor Chongzhen, whenever he mentioned the Ministry of Revenue, couldn't stop talking about silver. Who cared that when disaster struck, even constantly increasing taxes was just a drop in the ocean?

When someone goes to that place, that place becomes a source of income; who wouldn't like that?

Praises rose and fell.

Emperor Chongzhen sat above, without uttering a word.

Another urgent report arrived.

Yuan Chonghuan repeatedly urged for military pay, but mutinies were occurring everywhere. If military pay was not provided soon, the situation would be difficult to control.

Furthermore, there is restless activity outside Shanhaiguan Pass, and a fierce battle may be imminent.

Yuan Chonghuan pleaded again, asking His Majesty to raise 300,000 taels of silver for military expenses as soon as possible.

Another 300,000 taels.

The weight of this number weighed heavily on everyone in the court, making it hard for them to breathe.

Even emptying the national treasury to provide 50,000 taels was merely a drop in the ocean. Now, another 300,000 taels—how can they possibly come up with that?

Bi Ziyan, as the Minister of Revenue, was already exhausted.

Before Chongzhen could speak, someone stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue is truly out of money. Disasters are raging everywhere, and relief grain is needed everywhere."

"With taxes paid by Hejian Prefecture and Pi Island, plus taxes from various other places, the Ministry of Revenue finally managed to collect 60,000 taels of silver."

"Give all of that to Yuan Chonghuan," Chongzhen said coldly.

Bi Ziyan looked shocked: "What must the people of the Ming Dynasty be like?"

"Apart from Governor Yuan, the military pay in various places has also been in arrears for a long time. Not to mention paying taxes, I'm afraid they won't even be able to eat."

"How can an army afford to run out of supplies during a campaign?"

Bi Ziyan's tone was agitated.

Yuan Chonghuan frowned. Without money and food, even the most powerful emperor was helpless.

The officials below sighed repeatedly:

"There's a real difference between Grand Secretary Sun's students and his own grandson."

"Someone who only talks about money and supplies when it comes to military campaigns is not as worry-free as Lord Sun."

"Lord Sun is the one who truly benefits the people."

"If only Lord Sun had been the one to be the rightful governor back then."

Although the discussions were quiet, every word reached Chongzhen's ears.

Chongzhen's hand, resting on the dragon throne, clenched silently, and the coldness in his eyes was hard to conceal.

His voice suddenly sharpened, and he roared, "I have already promised Yuan Chonghuan to guard the border and will fully support him."

"Some people only care about what's in front of them, but Yuan Chonghuan was the one who fought for the country for me."

"Your Majesty," Bi Ziyan knelt down first, "if you give them all away, what will become of the other soldiers?"

"Bi Ziyan, I think you're getting senile." Emperor Chongzhen's eyes sharpened. "You are the Minister of Revenue. Do I need to teach you how to replenish the national treasury?"

After he finished speaking, Chongzhen didn't even bother to look at him again and left the court.