"This time, do you know how many horses Uncle Dingyuan got? There are a hundred thousand war horses, and there are countless horses and stallions in captivity. This is what I know. There must be much more than this in the century." Master Xiao said softly.
The three of them looked at each other in surprise. The Ming Dynasty is really short of horses. A good war horse can be sold for fifty taels or even more than one hundred taels. One hundred thousand horses, how much is this, at least five million taels.
Master Xiao said mysteriously: "But do you know where all these horses have gone?"
All three of them immediately pricked up their ears. This was a lot of money.
"They were all sold privately by Uncle Dingyuan and Zhang Shize. Only 23,000 horses were paid as tribute to His Majesty. The rest were auctioned in some way. More than ten taels and twenty taels of war horses worth fifty taels were sold."
The three of them looked at each other. It was no wonder that Uncle Dingyuan had enough money to repay the arrears to Jingying. The 20,000 people in the four towns were also paid back their wages. This is an astronomical amount of money.
Almost every soldier in the Beijing camp was assigned more than fifty taels. The officers received more, and they, the civilian officials who were on official business, received a total of more than 200 taels.
"The ministers in the imperial court are very dissatisfied. It is said that as a rule, 30% of the military pay will be lost as soon as it leaves the household. This time the Beijing camp went to the west, the treasury of the household had no money at all, and the money was all from your majesty's internal funds. Let's go. The exchange at Xinghe Bank never went through the Household Department, and everyone in the Household Department was very dissatisfied." Xiao Zhubo said.
Wang Daxing thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty received 23,000 war horses, which are also worth two million taels of silver. It can be regarded as recouping the military expenses. Your Majesty will not be at a loss."
Chen Liu said: "I have also heard some rumors. Your Majesty is very unhappy that Uncle Dingyuan gave the money to the officers and soldiers of the Beijing Camp and the Four Towns to make up for the shortfall and unpaid wages. He thinks that the current government finances are so tight that the money should be given to your Majesty's internal funds." . Let’s do something more valuable. Good steel should be spent on steel blades.”
Ma Haogu said: "I have also heard that your majesty is very unhappy about this matter. Originally, Dingyuan Bo regained Guihua City and made an imperial edict to reward his merits and make him a marquis. But in the end, he was not allowed to do anything. Now The explanation is to ask Uncle Dingyuan to defeat the Mongolian tribes in the desert."
Xiao Zhubo said: "I heard about it too. The people who benefited from this auction were all the noble disciples, and those of us who followed the army also got the news immediately and notified our own papers. Especially Dong Lin didn't catch a single hair, and his eyes were red with hatred. He was studying day and night to put a stumbling block behind Uncle Yuan's back."
Ma Haogu was the head of the Ministry of War. He continued: "I heard that Governor Yuan was also very angry. Your Majesty also stopped the money that Guan Ningjun gave them every year to buy horses from Lin Danhan. After all, Yang Fan has cheaper prices here. It’s a horse, isn’t it?”
Xiao Zhubo sneered: "Master Yuan's play is too outrageous. Every year, the money is collected, but not a single horse is bought. Accounts are made according to the cavalry. But the cavalry without horses are paid according to the infantry. The cavalry is paid. It's seven or eight times worse than the infantry. I don't know where all the money went. Others were living on empty wages, but he was lucky. He didn't lack any personnel, and ended up eating 80% of the money. It's really high. All of us at Taipu Temple are all paying for it. I’m convinced.”
Wang Daxing said: "To be honest, I am grateful to Uncle Dingyuan in my heart. For so many years in the Ministry of Household Affairs, apart from working, I have not gained anything. If it were not for following the army on this expedition and getting hundreds of taels of silver, I would have given The family found some business selling cattle, sheep and horses. Life was miserable."
Chen Liu is from the Chu Party, and he is also very dissatisfied with Dong Lin.
"Dong Lin has been causing trouble to Uncle Ding Yuan all these years. This time the army went on an expedition and he didn't take any money from them. Why should he pay tribute to them? Everyone really doesn't know how much he weighs."
Xiao Zhubo took a sip of rice wine and said: "The words are like this, and the reason is also like this, but how can anyone be reasonable nowadays? The court is all about strength. Who can reason with you if you have strength? Just watch. Soon they will have to start regulating Uncle Yuan."
Chen Liu said: "I heard that Li Biao and Qian Longxi wrote to His Majesty several times, requesting that the Ministry of Household Affairs be responsible for the military pay and food in the Beijing camp. Your Majesty has never agreed. In fact, Your Majesty also wants the Ministry of Household Affairs to pay. Mr. Your Majesty is not willing to use the internal funds."
"It seems that Your Majesty will also give Uncle Dingyuan a beating this time. It is estimated that in all likelihood, the military supplies for the northwest will be handed over to the Ministry of War."
Ma Haogu looked around and whispered: "There are rumors in the Ministry of War that as soon as the Oirat people retreat, Uncle Dingyuan will hand over the errands of the Beijing camp. I am afraid that he will hang up in the future. It will be difficult to control the army. .”
Wang Daxing asked in surprise: "Uncle Dingyuan's contribution must be rewarded with a title of marquis. No matter how dissatisfied His Majesty is, he will just delay it. Once the matter in the northwest is resolved, Uncle Dingyuan is now the second-rank official, and he is expected to be appointed as the Governor of the Fifth Army." The title of Governor has been changed. He is a first-class military attache. He has handed over the military affairs of the Governor's camp in Beijing, where to put them. How to put them."
[In view of the general environment,
Ma Haogu sneered and said: "Your Majesty is killing the donkey. I heard that Monan was divided into two provinces, Suiyuan and Rehe. The Suiyuan capital was handed over to Uncle Dingyuan. The Rehe capital was handed over to Governor Yuan. people."
Chen Liu said: "It's been a long time since I've seen you. Uncle Dingyuan captured Monan and gave half of it to Donglin. What do you say?"
Xiao Zhubo curled his lips and said: "Return to Liao in five years, that's what I said."
Everyone sneered for a moment. None of them are from Donglin. At this time, Donglin was so powerful that it suppressed other factions. Now, various factions have a tendency to unite to overthrow Donglin.
The key is that people like Dong Lin not only engage in unilateralism, but also live alone.
The train ran across the wilderness. Although it entered the border of Beizhili, the farmland along the way was barren. Drought continues this year. Most of the seeds planted did not germinate.
At this time, Qian Longxi and Li Biao were in a study room in Wenyuan Pavilion, studying strategies to deal with Uncle Dingyuan.
"This time, Yang Fan has made a huge fortune. War horses, camels, plus cattle and sheep. It is estimated to be worth tens of millions of taels. In addition to the ones given to His Majesty, and the replacement of arrears to win people's hearts. At least he has some money in his hand. There are four to five million," Qian Longxi said.
Li Biao's cheeks suddenly turned red with anger. He scolded: "This fool, the national finances are so difficult, how can he have the nerve to enrich himself? This is the tax revenue for the next year. How many important national affairs can he do. No, he must be made to spit it out."
Qian Longxi looked at Li Biao and said, "It's not like you don't know that that guy has always clearly separated the emperor's money, the court's money, and his own money. I'm afraid it won't be easy to take food from him." ah."
Li Biao's eyes flashed gloomily, and he said bitterly: "Your Majesty has already planned to transfer the food and salary from the northwest to the cabinet. Cut off his food, grass and military salary. Let's see if he is convinced."
