Chapter 132: Jiangcai
The Holy Emperor was in a good mood today. After Liu and Shen had bowed, he gave them seats and gave each of them a brocade pier.
The so-called platform is not the kind of pavilion that we imagine where you can enjoy flowers and scenery or lean on railings to enjoy the wind. It is actually the corridor outside the palace. It was the practice of the Ming Dynasty that the Holy Emperor summoned his ministers alone. If it was a formal meeting or instruction, it would be held in a side hall such as Wuying Hall, while the platform summons was an informal occasion. There are no other people involved in the platform call. It is just a meeting between the monarch and his ministers. The content of the conversation will be more casual and in-depth, and there is no need to be too rigid in etiquette. Generally speaking, if it is inconvenient to speak in public, the ministers can speak freely during the platform confrontation. The Holy Emperor also hopes to hear the heartfelt words of the ministers in private.
The Holy Emperor sighed: "Just now Shen Aiqing mentioned that Qian Qianfu found out that the salt merchant had a net worth of 300,000 taels. I heard that the salt merchants of Lianghuai are the richest in the world, but I didn't expect him to be so rich."
Shen Xuan replied: "It is said that the Lan family has controlled the Lianghuai salt industry for generations and is indeed extremely wealthy. Counting the properties, shops, houses, etc., they must have amassed a lot of ill-gotten wealth. But the amount is so high. It’s so huge that I’ve never heard of it.”
Liu Zhijin hurriedly left his seat and knelt down to plead guilty: "I will die all my life. I was negligent and I have betrayed the divine grace."
The Holy Emperor waved his hand: "I have no intention of blaming Liu Aiqing. Yangzhou Mansion is under the rule of Governor Jiangning, and that guy was able to hide it from my censor and so many local officials for many years. I think he is an old treacherous person. Besides, there are also people in South Zhili. I am an official who usually submits letters of impeachment for trivial matters, but I didn't even find such a private lord under my nose. How can I blame you? Liu Aiqing, please sit down and talk."
Liu Zhijin was slightly relieved and sat back in Jindun.
The Holy Emperor said again: "I think this matter is not that simple. It is certainly true that the criminal concealed it well, but if many officials in Nanzhili are ignorant, I am not three years old either. Children. Apart from other things, can the Yangzhou prefect get away with it? How much was investigated by Guan Shengyun, four million kilograms, right? I don’t know how many ships will be loaded, but it must be a fleet! It’s thousands of miles along the way, and it has to be crossed How many prefectures and local officials have checked? The most disgusting thing is that Huainan Shuiying, they can't explain why there are people pretending to be officers and soldiers! I don't believe it. One or two people are just pretending. Dozens or hundreds of people are all pretending. ? What about the golden drum flags, uniforms and soldiers, are they all made privately?" The Holy Emperor said, getting a little angry.
Liu Zhijin and Shen Xuan were about to speak, but Emperor Sheng raised his hand to stop them: "I know that when the water is clear, there will be no fish. However, this time it is really outrageous! Although it is against the law to bring in some private goods, but after traveling thousands of miles, among them I can quite understand the ups and downs. As long as you don’t go too far, it’s understandable. But think about it, the officers and soldiers I raised were actually used by the salt lord for his own personal use! These soldiers, after all, are mine. Or is it Lan Ni? A private businessman can let my officers and soldiers use it for his own personal use. In time, the family of soldiers and bandits will be a great trouble to the country! I couldn't say more at the court just now. The Yangzhou magistrate will definitely punish him severely. ——The ancestral system of using civil servants to control military forces is to fear that the military leader will become bigger and repeat the disaster of the vassal town in the late Tang Dynasty. Will he look after my house or raise wolves for me? The Huainan water camp must also be thoroughly investigated. Everything else is a trivial matter. Military power Don't be sidelined! However, don't be too public and don't involve too many people. Nanzhili is the place where Taizu Longxing was established, so you can't mess with the foundation. But the culprit cannot be spared, and must be used as a warning! After the big plan, the officials will be responsible The state officials over there should also be adjusted. The state government is the foundation of official governance. If we can get all the people, why will the world not be in trouble?"
Liu Zhijin responded hurriedly: "I obey your order."
Shengtianzi continued: "I just mentioned that it was Guan Shengyun who checked the blue criminal. Well, you see, so many water camps along the river have turned a blind eye, but it was him! I had never heard of him having a water camp before... ?”
Shen Xuan tentatively asked: "Could it be that Jian Fu and Hu Guang helped him get the boat together?"
"I think it must be! Someone from Dongchang in Huguang reported to me that his boats are very scrawled. They look very new, but they are deformed and leaking. They are obviously built in a hurry. Jian Jingneng can only manage De'an Mansion, and then It was inconvenient to reach out to the east, and Li Linyang and Teng Shiheng couldn't easily break up with Nanzhili. It happened to be about a guy like Sheng Yun. I think they were trapped by their words of guilt and meritorious service. Coupled with their lawless nature, they gave He got a few boats, and he just rushed on them! Then... he made a great contribution!" At this point, the Holy Emperor smiled bitterly.
"My Holy Emperor!" Liu and Shen both said in unison.
"In the final analysis, it's Jian, Li, Teng, well, Kou Shiyi, too. These people have lived up to me. They still know how to use people. Although Guan Guan is stubborn and violent in nature, if he uses it properly, he also has some usefulness."
"Then... Jian Fu will have the first priority in the big plans for next year. However, if it is customary, the local governor will have the first priority in the big plans, and usually he returns to the capital to join the cabinet..."
"How can that work!" Before Liu Zhijin could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Emperor Sheng, "How can the great situation that has just been opened be wasted! Think about it, pensions for fallen officers and soldiers, rewards for meritorious soldiers, recruitment and training of new recruits... these will always require Tens of thousands taels, right? There are over ten thousand taels to appease the refugees. We don’t go into detail about the cattle, farm tools, houses, and seeds. It’s calculated based on the recruitment of soldiers: the settlement fee is 5 taels per person, and the soldiers’ food, clothing, and armor are at least 5 taels. This is another More than 100,000 taels of silver. Moreover, after recruiting soldiers, the Ministry of Household Affairs will also allocate salaries and grain to support them all the way! And what about the refugees? Farming can produce grain! Sichuan private inspections have 20 million jins, and Huai private inspections have also found 400 taels of silver. Thousands of catties, and those private goods, the total of these items is almost hundreds of thousands taels, right? Jane Aiqing takes what she wants and uses it for what she wants, without asking the court for a penny or a grain of rice! What is this called? This is Call him a capable minister! If you change people at this time, everything might be ruined. People can’t move places. You can think of ways to deal with honorary titles. You can bestow (living) gifts to (dead) ancestors, and you can be your wife and your son. It’s all accurate!”
"I obey the decree. My emperor is wise." Liu Zhijin secretly looked at Shen Xuan and thanked him again.
"The previous Yun Fus always asked me for money. I didn't find much illegal salt... The most I can remember was less than one million catties a year, right? Five thousand taels of silver a year, and it's all day long. How many people have died today and how many people will die tomorrow? Just for the pension, the Ministry of Household Affairs will allocate 10,000 taels of money. But also to calm down the refugees? Press one end, and another one will pop up over there. The north is in chaos from Shaanxi Province and the south is running to Yunnan and Guizhou! I'm not saying that they are not good, they are all working hard. However, Jian Aiqing is much better than them. She really lives up to my expectations and can be regarded as a talented person."
"I would like to congratulate Your Majesty." Seeing that the anger on the face of the Holy Emperor had been replaced by joy, the two people hurriedly exchanged words of praise.
"Is there any news from various governments in Huguang?" Shengtianzi asked Shen Xuan.
"Your Majesty, all the governments in Huguang have reported. They are all asking for credit for Lords Li and Teng. Basically, they say that the weather will be good this year, and the grain and silver are fully guaranteed."
"Very good. By the way, dear dears, how much secret love do you think can be found out from Jane Aiqing?"
The two looked at each other again, and Liu Zhijin replied cautiously: "I thought that Jian Fu, who had been following the steps for more than a year, must have prepared everything quietly, and then suddenly launched a thunderous strike, supplemented by a plan to appease the refugees. The plan, a two-pronged approach, should destroy more than half of the foundation of Sichuan Xiao's operation for many years in one fell swoop. Now it is more than 20 million jins. If we continue to sweep holes in Liting, there will be about 10 million jins. If given time, peace can be expected at the junction of several provinces on that side."
"I second the proposal." Shen Xuan immediately answered.
"Liu Aiqing said it well!" Shengtianzi thought for a moment, "If there is another ten million kilograms, then it is fifty thousand taels. Tell Jian Aiqing, no matter how much is confiscated, I don't want it! There is no need to send it to the Ministry of Revenue, let him use it Assist the people and organize the army. Let him serve one more time and take care of the place for me. When he returns to the court, I will personally go to the Meridian Gate to welcome him!"
…
In fact, Emperor Sheng made a mistake in his calculation: he calculated it based on the official price of the Ministry of Household Affairs. In fact, the price of salt in Huguang is more than double, almost one cent, one cent or two cents of silver per catty. Even so, the people in various prefectures were still happy and grateful to the court and the local nobles. Just over half a year ago, the price of official salt at its cheapest was more than two cents of silver, and it was also mixed with soil. , where can I find such good salt that is as white as snow and as fine as sand?
As for local officials, ranging from magistrates such as Feng Zhen and Song Shiyong to county magistrates like Jiang Zhonggang, the Qingtian lords are also happy: In the past, they privately accepted benefits from salt merchants, and the price of salt was very high, but it is mixed with dirt. The common people couldn't afford the salt, and the money that fell into their pockets was not even 30% of what it is today! Of course, they will not understand that as long as productivity is fully released and the economy can operate in an orderly manner, the people will naturally create more wealth. As holders of enormous power, they certainly benefit the most. However, they don't need to understand. They just need to follow the path planned by Military Advisor Luo, who is the deputy general of Xiangyang Pass. In fact, Military Advisor Luo doesn't understand this. He just vaguely follows it. The book knows that as long as the corvee is light and the taxes are light, and the government does not interfere excessively and oppress the people, the country will naturally become rich and the people strong: Wen and Jing's rule imposed a tax of thirty to one. With such a low tax, do you think the country suffered a loss? Over the past few years, the new grain in the treasury was used to hold down the old grain, and the ropes through which the money was threaded rotted away, and rusty lumps of copper coins piled up like mountains!
Military Advisor Luo's son, the handsome young military advisor, often took the speedboat newly replaced by General You Shen to visit various prefectures. Now he has become friends with many prefects, and sometimes even rides directly to the water camp of the government and army. Ships come and go. General You Shen had a lot of money in his pocket, and with the help of the young military advisor, he became good friends with the water camp generals of several prefectures. As a result, the clippers in the water camps were scrapped in batches, and General You Shen's two water camps Then they all changed to the Clippers.
Jian Jinneng, Li, Teng, and Kou gained even more. In addition to the free money, they also received various awards and promotions from the court: Jian Jingneng was awarded the title of Prince Shaofu, and his two sons were awarded the hereditary three-generation Jinyiwei commander Qianshi and Li. , the second son of the Teng family was awarded the title of Jinyiwei Zhenfu Envoy, and even Kou Shiyi's eldest son was awarded the military position of Jinyiwei Qianhu*, which can be used for a generation. As for the deputy general of Xiangyang, Guan Shengyun, the governor of Yunyang conveyed the verbal praise from the Holy Emperor, and, well, there was also a purse given by the emperor. According to Jian Jingneng's recollection, after hearing this, Guan Shengyun was so excited that he wilted on the ground, howled and exchanged tears. He couldn't get up for a long time - the adults were so moved that they almost thought about sparing his life in the future... Of course. This thought just passed by for a moment.
Soon, the opinions of the Southern Zhili officialdom, drafted by the Ministry of Personnel, drafted by the cabinet, and approved by the Holy Emperor, were also issued: Governor Qian Qianfu of Jiangning was transferred to the governor of Shandong, and the chief envoy of Southern Zhili was fined one year, and the inspector was fined In addition, he was dismissed from office and retained in office. Yue Qi, the prefect of Yangzhou, was involved in corruption and was sent to the Ministry of Punishment for questioning (soon "died suddenly due to illness" on the way). Hong Yongtu, the deputy magistrate of Yangzhou Prefecture, and Bai Hanzhang, the general prosecutor of Yangzhou Prefecture, colluded with salt lords and committed suicide in fear of crime. His home was confiscated and his family members were exiled. Li Wei, the registered commander-in-chief of the water camp in Sanqianli and Huainan, was tired of playing dirty, so he decided to kill him and sent his family to Yunnan to join the army...
Of course, except for a few unlucky ones who were the top bosses, all the adults who were swindled by Guan Shengyun actually not only lost no money, but also made a fortune - the Lan family was completely destroyed, eradicated, and the real property confiscated There are a million taels, but only more than 300,000 taels were sent to the warehouse. Ready-made negative teaching materials were laid out bloody, and other salt merchants took the initiative to report, adding up to another 300,000 taels...
In Huai'an Prefecture, Yangzhou Prefecture, Luzhou Prefecture, Anqing Prefecture and other areas along the river, the prefects also changed one after another. It is worth mentioning that Song Mingyi, the head of the Sichuan Officials Department of the Ministry of Household Affairs, was released from the Ministry of Household Affairs, the prefect of Luzhou, for his excellent performance as a first-class official in Beijing (integrity, talent, diligence, and youth and strength, etc.) In the Thirteenth Qing Dynasty, "all the affairs of the prefectures, prefectures, guards, and offices in southern Zhili were under the leadership of the Sichuan Division." When they were transferred to Luzhou, they were familiar with the people and the roads, so it was logical. The adults in the court were all whispering that the Song magistrate was previously a county magistrate released by Hanlin, and then passed the judge, and the plan was to join the household department. This time he was released as a magistrate. If he made some achievements and returned to the court, his future would be in jeopardy. Limited edition!
The Du family in Daning was organizing production in full swing, Wu Pi and Cheng Haer were carrying out water and land transportation in a grand manner, and the army would easily "intercept" a batch every ten days and a half, and then load them on the spot and wait for them. The official ships of various states are sailing around, and the business of official villages in various prefectures and counties is booming... The private villages that used to secretly sell Sichuan salt had to change their businesses, and the gangs that escorted smuggling in various places have also disappeared. The security of the entire Huguang has improved. The child is getting better.
Each prefecture had money, so they began to build official roads and build new ships. With the great assistance of Du Yuanwai, who was newly awarded the title of scholar, Jian Jingneng widened the mountain roads from Daning and Dachang to Jingzhou Prefecture and Yunyang Prefecture. Several "fortresses" were really built along the way - it's just that during the construction process of these fortresses, they seemed to have never considered the military purpose of being easy to defend and difficult to attack, especially the entrances and exits, which were all made convenient - so they looked more like It’s a super large-scale inn! Each "fortress" had many empty rooms pre-built. The military division arranged the disabled officers and soldiers in the army to live in the empty rooms, and each of them was matched with a few refugees as helpers. Soon, there were teahouses, wine shops, bookstores, grocery stores, and blacksmiths. The workshops for mending baskets, making poles and selling hemp rope... all opened. At the beginning, the main customers were Cheng Haer's endless transportation team. Later, during the dry season of the Yangtze River and the flood season when it was difficult to sail, many merchants also came. The inn, oh, that's right, the fortress, like a magnet, gathered all the refugees scattered in the surrounding mountains to open up wasteland nearby. Finally, several prosperous towns miraculously appeared among the barren mountains and ridges. Daning and Dachang are also undergoing earth-shaking changes at a speed visible to the naked eye, and their excitement is as lively as any other city!
Master Jian Jinneng personally acted as a matchmaker, and the young military advisor married Du Yuanwai's daughter. The wedding was extremely lively. The adults in the government who were friends with the young military advisor came to congratulate them in person. The people from other places were at least acquaintances. Even the adults from the Third Division of Huguang gave heavy gifts, so that Daning, Dachang and Gu Several county magistrates in the city could only drink wedding wine in the open air in the courtyard. Du Da Chong, who is known as the best drinker in Daning, blocked the drink for his brother-in-law, the young military advisor, and then slept for three full days - even Du Duan and Aunt Du were drunk unconscious by the amiable adults... From then on , everyone became a family completely, and Guan Shengyun's army firmly established itself at the junction of Sichuan and Hubei.
The one who gained the most was naturally Guan Shengyun. Nearly 50 million kilograms of Sichuan salt, excluding the portion distributed to you adults, and deducting Du Yuan's production and transportation costs, there is a net profit of more than 100,000 taels. In addition, Zhang Ding and You Futian, a pair of living treasure enemies, used the confiscated income from selling goods on the two Huai-Cao ships and the taxes from several "fortresses", and they had an income of nearly 300,000 taels in the first year!
However, the money, together with the capture of Guan Shengyun, was quickly spent like water. Under Luo Yonghao's ambitious plan, 30% was used to build and open the salt transportation channel between Sichuan, Hubei and Shaanxi, while the rest was spent on armaments.
According to Guan Shengyun's order, most of the auxiliary soldiers were re-registered as civilians in the name of Xinfu refugees with the help of local governments. Each of them was allocated twenty acres of wasteland, and those who were unable or unwilling to farm were also given severance pay. , all settled down. At the same time, each battalion carried out an unprecedented expansion: the specially retained elite auxiliary soldiers with combat experience were converted into combat soldiers on the spot, and the army suddenly expanded from the original size of 6,000 to more than 10,000. In order to prevent the tree from attracting trouble, 600 people were stationed in Yunyang Mansion in the name of Jian Jingneng Fubiao, and more than 3,000 elite veterans were selected to guard the nest in Daning. Five thousand new auxiliary soldiers were recruited from the refugees - the temporarily settled troops' dependence on the auxiliary soldiers has been greatly reduced. These five thousand auxiliary soldiers are more than enough to serve more than 6,000 combat soldiers (Daning and Yunyang are composed of Provide local auxiliary or civilian support). The selected refugees were overjoyed: not only did they eat better than ordinary soldiers in the army, but everyone also saw with their own eyes how Marshal Guan settled his retired brothers, while those who were not selected lingered outside the camp for a long time, unwilling to leave.
A few months later, Emperor Sheng received a memorial from Jian Jingneng. In addition to expressing his deep desire to go to Beijing to pay homage to the Holy Emperor, Master Jian also painfully reported to the Holy Emperor that he was infected by the miasma in the barren mountains and dense forests while supervising the construction of the fortress and became ill due to overwork. During the consultation, the doctors unanimously concluded that the continuation of life can only rely on a poisonous mushroom parasitic on thousand-year-old vines in the local forest as a medicine introduction - unfortunately, this mushroom will turn into black water six hours after being picked. The poisonous medicine has no effect at all... In other words, letting Master Jian leave will cost his life! Therefore, I begged the Holy Emperor to show mercy, allow his family to come and take care of him, and die for him. Lord Jian himself has made up his mind to fight for the Holy Emperor until the last moment of his life... Well, strictly speaking, Lord Jian cannot be counted as lying. ——As long as there is another person, the truth will be revealed immediately. Not to mention Mrs. Jian herself, no one in the whole family will survive! So I can only make up my mind that since I have boarded Guan Shengyun's ship, I have no choice but to go all the way to darkness.
Not only the officials, but also almost all the officials in the capital received heavy gifts from the adults in Huguang in private. Even the most powerful and picky censors changed their targets and began to scold other provinces. Even if someone doesn't buy it, the weak voice will be quickly drowned in the snow-like praises - Needless to say, taking Caoliang as an example, the provinces with 80% actual settlement of the household department are rated as excellent, while Huguang has the lowest The completion rate is also over 90%!
*In the Ming Dynasty, from the Jingtai period, Yinxu, a civil servant and military official, gradually became a system and became the highest level of commendation as a recommendation for special military merit.
[No more updates on the 6th. Readers, please share. Thank you. 】
