In the spacious lobby of the General Military Mansion, Liu Yan's generals and officials gathered together. Liu Yan was still thinking about chatting and laughing with Miao Shao and Xu Ming next to him, but everyone was not in the calm mood of Liu Yan.
Political officer Zhao Min said worriedly: "Sir, the merchants suddenly went on strike, and the scholars suddenly went on strike. There must be a conspiracy. The top priority is to let the merchants open the market immediately, otherwise prices will skyrocket, and the people will inevitably blame the general, which will damage the general's reputation. .”
Liu Yan nodded, noncommittal, didn't say anything, just frowned slightly.
Xu Ming said angrily: "These bastards only know how to make money. Asking them to pay taxes is like killing their father. Please give me an order. As long as those profiteers dare to go on strike again and those scholars dare to cause trouble again, my subordinates will lead their troops to arrest them." Catch them all.”
Liu Yan nodded again, but still did not express his opinion.
Miao Shao pondered: "But it's strange, why is there a rumor outside that the general is going to levy a business tax? It seems that your Excellency has no such plan yet, right?"
Xu Ming said loudly: "Your Excellency has already levied commercial taxes in Jimo Yingcheng. This time, we have begun to rectify the troops of the Three Guards of Qingzhou. It is obvious that we are preparing to implement the New Deal in Qin Qingzhou. It will be a matter of time to collect commercial taxes. Those merchants can't do anything." Just taking the opportunity to cause trouble."
Miao Shao nodded in agreement and said loudly: "That's right. Let's hunt rabbits with straw. Since those merchants jumped out on their own this time, let's deal with them all at once!"
At this time, Liu Yan said: "But it's good. Since those merchants jumped out on their own, it saved me a lot of things. After this incident, I started to implement the business tax policy!"
Next to them, Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming, as Liu Yan's staff, participated in the meeting for the first time. After Liu Yan finished speaking, the two looked at each other. Hu Zongming nodded slightly, and Li Jiwen clasped his fists and said: "My lord, my subordinates. I think the situation in Qingzhou is different from Jimo Yingcheng. Jimo Yingcheng is equivalent to a military state, and the people under its rule are basically military households. Your Excellency is in charge of the military and political affairs of Jimo Yingcheng, so it is natural for you to collect commercial taxes in Jimo Yingcheng. "
"But Qingzhou Prefecture is different. Although your Excellency is the chief military officer of Qinglai Town, and Qingzhou and Laizhou are both your defense areas, your Excellency is only responsible for the military affairs of Qingzhou and Laizhou. The collection of commercial taxes belongs to the civil government and is the responsibility of the prefect Wang Congyi and the prefect of Laizhou. If your Excellency collects the matter, I’m afraid some people will say that Your Excellency is overstepping your authority.”
Everyone nodded. The situation in Qingzhou Mansion was indeed different from that in Jimo Yingcheng. At this time, everyone was hesitant.
Liu Yan said with a smile: "Business tax must be collected, but the prefect Wang Congyi and the prefect of Laizhou will definitely not dare to collect it and will not be able to collect it. Since they don't collect it, then it is up to the town to collect it."
"Of course, in order to avoid people with ulterior motives taking advantage of the situation, this town will also use a different term when collecting commercial taxes."
Everyone was puzzled.
"We have a chamber of commerce in this town. After this incident subsides, we will order Wang Jing, the leader of the chamber of commerce, to lead a group of people to various places in Qingzhou and Laizhou. Merchants from all over the two states who want to do business in the territory must join the chamber of commerce and pay monthly Pay membership dues and business taxes for members of the chamber of commerce. In this way, even if this town levies business taxes, Qingzhou Prefect Wang Congyi and Laizhou Prefect will have nothing to say, and others will have nothing to say."
Hu Zongming asked doubtfully: "Sir, what if those merchants are unwilling to join the Chamber of Commerce?"
Liu Yan sneered and said: "If anyone is unwilling to join the Chamber of Commerce, then this town guarantees that in Qingzhou and Laizhou, the goods of merchants outside the Chamber of Commerce will be difficult to move, and if anything happens in the future, this town will not provide any help." !”
Everyone was awestruck. This was to force those merchants to join the Chamber of Commerce. If anyone failed to do so, it would mean that they would never want to do business in Qingzhou Prefecture or Laizhou Prefecture in the future.
At this moment, Xu Mingde, the commander of the New Army's Central Battalion, which stayed open all night, strode in, clasped his fists and said, "Report to the main town, my subordinates have been ordered to secretly investigate the situation of striking merchants and striking scholars, and found out the information about the people behind them. !”
Liu Yan frowned slightly, was there really someone behind the scenes?
As early as the first day when the merchants and scholars were making trouble, Liu Yan ordered all the battalions to conduct secret investigations at night. A large number of new troops disguised themselves and infiltrated into the merchants and scholars who were marching and causing trouble at night, and found out a lot of information. information.
"speak!"
"yes!"
Xu Mingde immediately reported the information he had obtained through spying. The merchants' strike was mainly caused by merchants from all over the country spontaneously, and the troubles caused by the scholars were secretly instigated by Qingzhou Xuezheng Huang Mingde.
Of course, tracing back to the source, whether it is merchants or students, the reason why everyone targets Liu Yan lies in the generals at all levels of the Qingzhou Three Guards.
Xu Mingde secretly arrested several Baihu officials and chief flag officers of the Qingzhou left guard and Qingzhou central guard. He learned that Zhao Wei, Cai Yingwen, and Pan Tu had already begun to spread the news before they were arrested, saying that Liu Yan was preparing to vigorously rectify the Qingzhou army. At the same time, we must follow the example of Jimo Yingcheng and recover the occupied farmland of military camps from Qingzhou merchants, officials, gentry, etc., and also levy commercial taxes, etc.
"Those who are fueling this strike of classes and markets are suspected by my subordinates to be Qingzhou Prefecture School Master Huang Mingde, Qingzhou Zuowei Baihuguan Wang Chuan, Chief Flag Officer Shen Kuo, Chief Flag Officer Geng Mo, Qingzhou Zhongwei Baihuguan Yao Gongli, Qingzhou Zhongwei Baihuguan Chen Jingrun, Chief Flag Officer Kuang Haidong, Chief Flag Officer Chen Erfei, Qingzhou Youwei Baihu Guan Tian Handong, Baihu Guan Wang Mingyang, Chief Flag Officer Lai Chuanshui, Chief Flag Officer Li Richuan, as well as Qingzhou Prefectural Government Office, Yiyang County County Government and other twenty-three officials Famous officials, etc."
After Xu Mingde finished speaking, everyone in the hall was moved. They did not expect that so many people would be involved. Although these people are not the masterminds behind it, they have directly or indirectly caused this farce of market strikes and school strikes, and most of them have played a role in fueling the flames. Their intentions are to be punished!
Liu Yan was already murderous at this time. The situation in Qingzhou Mansion was more serious than he expected. He must take this opportunity to clean up the officialdom of Qingzhou Mansion. Otherwise, it would be difficult to implement the New Deal in the future. He did not have time. I don't have the energy to fight with these things.
So Liu Yan said loudly: "This strike of classes and markets is led by Huang Mingde, the principal of Qingzhou Prefecture, and assisted by civil servants at all levels in Qingzhou Prefecture and generals at all levels in Qingzhou Sanwei. After detection, all the thieves and officials, slave thieves, and rogue thieves were working carefully There are many connections, providing intelligence to the slave thieves and providing money and food to the homeless thieves, the evidence is conclusive!"
Liu Yan glanced at everyone and saw that everyone was stunned for a while, and then their expressions became normal, so he continued: "Slaves are extremely cunning and are the best at crafting. When they were old slaves, they would spend a lot of money to keep spies in captivity. At first, Li Yongfang was the leader, and later his son-in-law Wu Changchun took over. His work was either a trader, a monk, a beggar, or a hundred workers. He was fine and wide, and he was pervasive. "
"Saer Hu's army first escaped during the period, and the cities of Guangning and Liaoyang fell, all of which were internal responses. In the year of Tianqi, the slave thieves bribed the rebel generals Ji Yingcheng, Zeng Yougong, Liu Bao, and Liu Boqiang, and sent General Zhang Pan and the army to Menma Shilong was defeated and died because of his spies and traitors."
"Later, Liu Bao and Wu Changchun were imprisoned by Dongchang and executed in Lingchi. This was considered revenge for General Zhang and others!"
Everyone in the hall was silent. Everyone knew in their hearts that Liu Yan was preparing to go on a killing spree. It seemed that Liu Yan was ready to cut through the mess quickly and was not prepared to make excuses with those troublemaking businessmen and the scholars who only knew how to talk.
Liu Yan said loudly: "Okay, those merchants, scholars, squires, civil and military officials are on strike again, and they are on strike. The noise is earth-shattering, but it is only for their own selfish interests, so that they can betray the country by capitalizing on the enemy."
Liu Yan said harshly: "They think this town dare not take action? This time we have no choice but to let them down!"
Liu Yan's words shocked everyone. If the method was too drastic, it would be detrimental to future governance, and even Qingzhou Magistrate Wang Congyi and others would look askance.
Political officer Zhao Min said: "My lord, in the opinion of my subordinates, it is better to punish only a few people and give the rest lenient. In this way, it will not involve too many people, and there will be room for turning around in the future. After all, the market strike and the school strike are not as good as the original ones." In front of Xiahe Village, there was a military commotion at the Thousand Households Residence."
Liu Yan waved his hand and said: "Zhao Tongzhi is overly concerned. This town is not even afraid of the army of slave thieves and Zhang Xianzhong, so why is it afraid of a few clowns?"
I saw Liu Yan slowly looking around at the crowd and said: "How can you show your bodhisattva's heart if you don't resort to thunderbolts? From the strikes on classes and markets, it seems that Qingzhou's military and political affairs have been suffering for a long time. Only with the power of thunder can we return the glory of Qingzhou." Qiankun can also deter the unscrupulous people in Laizhou Prefecture."
"If you want to kill, pick the one with the most powerful merchants to kill! If you want to kill, pick the one with the most reputation among the literati! If you want to kill, pick the one with the most martial arts! This town wants to show all the soldiers and civilians of Qingzhou Prefecture. If you dare to go against my General Military Mansion, what will happen to you!"
Liu Yan's words made everyone's blood boil. Wang Bo said loudly: "Our new army needs troops to suppress it, and we need to be famous."
Liu Yan said: "Those who go on strike from classes and markets will be treated as traitors and traitors!"
Then Liu Yan shouted loudly: "This town's order: Shen Tuo, the commander of the new army's central camp, led his troops to arrest Dongnu for details, and recorded the interrogation, which is considered to be irrefutable evidence of adultery! Anyone who finds out the evidence will be imprisoned and awaiting trial. All his family property will be confiscated, and all the officials involved will be expelled and imprisoned!"
"Government Officer Zhao Min immediately issued a notice. Therefore, those who went on strike to harass the public and humiliate the official are committing a heinous crime. They must surrender to the General Military Mansion within two days, otherwise they will be punished with double punishment. All stores under his name will be opened immediately. In order to make up for the consequences of the strike. For the losses caused to the people, all merchants in Qingzhou Prefecture will have to reduce their sales prices by 70% within half a month. Anyone who fails to surrender after the expiration date will be severely punished!"
"Order Yue Ming, the money and grain officer, to immediately transport grain and rice from all parts of Jimo Ying City. Four days later, he will start selling it at low prices in Qingzhou Prefecture to meet the needs of the people. At that time, Zhongying will need to send troops to provide protection for various grain stores. If there is any unforeseen situation, Anyone who dares to attack a grain store will be shot without mercy!"
Liu Yan passed down the orders one by one, and the order was clear, which showed that he had thought it over carefully. Everyone in the hall listened attentively, and those who received the order loudly accepted it.
"The remaining battalions defend the city defense of Qingzhou Fucheng, guard the military camps, arsenals, treasury, various government offices and other places in the city, and be prepared to counter the rebellion. If the situation does not subside after two days, the middle battalion will take the lead, and all battalions will coordinate to start Clear the streets!"
Everyone in the hall accepted the order in unison.
Two days later, as soon as the commander-in-chief Liu Yan started to take action, everyone was stunned. Instead of compromising, he issued an order ordering all those who went on strike to resume the market immediately, and all the scholars who went on strike to report immediately to the official school. Wait for disposal, otherwise you will be severely punished.
At the same time, Qingzhou Fuxuezheng Huang Mingde, Qingzhou Zuowei Hundred Household Officer Wang Chuan, Chief Flag Officer Shen Kuo, Chief Flag Officer Geng Mo, Qingzhou Zhongwei Hundred Household Officer Yao Gongli, Hundred Household Officer Chen Jingrun, Chief Flag Officer Kuang Haidong, Chief Flag Officer Official Chen Erfei, Qingzhou Youwei Baihu Guan Tian Handong, Baihu Guan Wang Mingyang, Chief Flag Officer Lai Chuanshui, Chief Flag Officer Li Richuan, as well as 23 officials from the Qingzhou Prefecture Yamen and Yiyang County County Yamen were all recorded in the arrest On the list, the commander of the central camp, Shen Tuo, assigned his men and prepared to start arresting people.
At this time, Wang Congyi, Guo Mintai, Han Jinchu and others, as well as many people who participated in the school and market strikes, all thought of Liu Yan's past behavior and felt fear in their hearts.
As Liu Yan issued orders and the New Army officers and soldiers were frequently dispatched, Qingzhou's school strikes and market strikes were likely to collapse. However, there was also a part in Liu Yan's order that made all the merchants extremely angry: not only should the market be reopened immediately and surrender to the General Military Mansion, but within half a month after the market opened, all merchants would also have to reduce their prices by 70%... How could this make everyone Bear? 33
Therefore, although the school and market strikes in Qingzhou Prefecture have gradually cooled down at this time, they are still continuing. Each family also sent a large number of clerks, domestic slaves, and tenants, plus those scholars to march together, creating a huge crowd of petitioners in Qingzhou Prefecture. More majestic. They either listened quietly, or gathered around various government offices and cried. There were even many gangsters who took the opportunity to rise up, and the scene was chaotic.
Some people died, but not completely...
