"General Jiang, the imperial court issued an order the day before yesterday to mobilize a large number of troops to Taiyuan to suppress the bandits. I wonder if the troops have been mobilized at this time?" After the courtesy, and after three drinks, Wu Mengming, who had already been hinted by Chang Yu, began to talk about more serious matters.
It was unprecedented for the commander of the Jinyiwei Guards to personally escort him with wages. How could Jiang Guan not have any plans in his mind? His heart was definitely not as simple as paying wages. He might have come to urge the deployment of troops and investigate military matters.
"Master Wu," Jiang Quan cleared his throat: "The last general just received the order from Governor Wang to mobilize troops the day before yesterday, and is in the process of mobilizing troops, but now there is a big difficulty."
"What's the difficulty?" Wu Mengming squinted his eyes.
"The imperial court owes Taiyuan Mansion more than half a year's wages. The morale is not high at the moment, and many soldiers are complaining." Jiang Quan said with a pretentious sigh.
Wu Mengming smiled slightly: "I am here to resolve this matter. Mr. Jiang, how many troops are there in Taiyuan Prefecture? How much is the total salary owed?"
"There are more than 100,000 troops stationed in Taiyuan Prefecture, and the annual pay for each soldier is calculated as ten taels. At this time, the salary owed is more than 500,000." Jiang Quan said with a long sigh and looked at Wu Mengming sideways.
Wu Mengming was startled, but Chang Yu, who had been silent next to him, almost spat out!
He knew that Taiyuan was heavily garrisoned at the moment, but the water content of a hundred thousand people was frightening. If the actual amount could exceed 80,000 or even 70,000, he would write it backwards. As for the salary, he would calculate it based on the per capita annual salary of eight taels. It's extremely shameless.
In the Ming Dynasty, soldiers' salaries were not uniform, and there were regional differences. For example, the northern frontier troops received higher salaries than those in the south, and mobile troops received higher salaries than local conventional troops. For example, when Qi Jiguang recruited troops on the southeast coast, his salary was ten taels per year, and when he went to Ji Town in the north to guard the border, his salary was ten taels per year. The annual salary of local soldiers at this time is as shown in "Wujin County Chronicle": "One cent of Japanese silver" is only four taels, which is not enough. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, the people were displaced and had no food to rely on. After joining the army, they at least had food. It is very easy to recruit soldiers for food, and the annual salary is never more than four taels.
Therefore, even for soldiers in an important town like Datong, there would never be as many as ten taels. Five or six taels was the actual price, which could not last more than eighty taels of silver. Jiang Quan said that greed had reached the point of shamelessness.
"So many?" Wu Mengming raised his eyebrows
"Isn't that right? The court has been without pay for half a year, and the accumulation is getting bigger and bigger. Soldiers also have to support their families. To be honest, not only are they owed pay, but they are also short on food and grass. They have to live on gruel every day. How can the military morale be so unstable? He is determined to go out and kill the enemy, so it is difficult to mobilize his troops!" Han Lin took over the conversation and said with a sad look on his face.
Oh, Wu Mengming looked slightly embarrassed: "The matter of food and grass has been handed over to Governor Wang. As for the salary, hasn't it been delivered? It's just..."
"Just what?" Han Lin narrowed his eyes and looked at Wu Mengming.
"Due to the emergency of the war, the imperial court could not raise much money at the moment. Only more than 300,000 yuan was sent this time, but the difference will be sent soon."
"That's it. I'm afraid it's still difficult to stabilize the morale of the army. To be honest, the imperial court has been giving me free speeches more than once or twice. The soldiers have long lost their confidence." Han Lin said and glanced at Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu and others quickly agreed.
Wu Mengming looked embarrassed and glanced sideways at Chang Yu.
"General Jiang, Datong has 100,000 troops and 500,000 silver dollars, isn't it too much?" Chang Yu didn't drink, so he took a sip of tea and looked at Jiang Qian with squinting eyes, half-smiling but not smiling.
In an instant, the scene fell silent, and everyone had different expressions. It is said that there are some things that cannot be revealed after seeing through them. Chang Yu's words were actually equivalent to popping a bubble of unspoken rules.
Jiang Quan's heart sank, and he knew why the commander of the Jinyi Guards was going to take action in person. Sure enough, it was clear that the commander was secretly rectifying the military affairs.
"What is your name for this gentleman?"
Jiang Yu looked at Chang Yu, always thinking that he was just Wu Mengming's subordinate, so even though he was introduced before, he didn't take it to heart, but now it doesn't look like this guy is a follower.
"We are not grown-ups." Chang Yu smiled slightly.
"Oh, this is Eunuch Chang from Dongchang." Wu Mengming suddenly didn't know what to think and actually took the initiative to put a tiger skin on Chang Yu.
Dongchang!
As expected, the expressions of Jiang Yu, Han Lin and others changed greatly, and they even greeted the woman from Wu Mengming's family in their hearts. Now they asked why they only introduced her by name.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Chang, you were so rude just now." Jiang Quan and others quickly stood up and saluted Chang Yu, but their faces were extremely depressed. They secretly thought that the imperial court sent the commander of the Jin Yiwei and another Dongchang to come, how could it be such a small thing.
"There is no need to be polite, General Jiang. Let's continue the conversation." Chang Yu sat carelessly and did not get up to return the courtesy because he felt that Jiang Yu was not worthy.
Being so shameless and speaking straight to the point made Jiang Yan feel embarrassed, and he already had hatred in his heart, but he was a veteran in officialdom, so naturally he was not like Chang Yu, who showed all his emotions and anger on his face.
"There are more than 100,000 people. We have been mobilized for many years. It is inevitable that there will be some errors. However, the amount of pay and silver has been calculated and released in this way over the years. I don't know what Eunuch Chang means by this?" Jiang Quan looked like you are trying to frame me but you can't.
Chang Yu smiled: "Since the military strength is wrong, it needs to be verified. As for the amount of pay and silver, it should also be slightly adjusted from time to time."
"Eunuch Chang is the one who decides the salary?" Han Lin put a big hat on Chang Yu. The implication is, what right do you, a dead eunuch, have to set the price? You are really old and spicy.
Chang Yu secretly scolded the old dog for being cunning. He knew he couldn't do it now, but he was very unwilling to do so.
"This is not the case for our family." Chang Yu sneered: "Governor Wang will come to Datong soon. His duty is to announce the general affairs of the governor, including food, wages, and military affairs. Naturally, it will be left to him to handle it. Our family is just a sideline sent by the emperor, so what? Dare to get involved."
The big hat was not stuck, which made Han Lin a little disappointed, but he was slightly relieved after hearing Chang Yu's words. He understood what he meant. He was not supervising military affairs personally, but left it to Wang Jimo. Then the matter would be easy to handle. If there are too many, just go through the formalities when the time comes.
"It's easy to verify the soldiers and approve their pay, but I'm afraid that even if Governor Wang comes in person, it will be difficult for a clever woman to provide food for her." Han Lin cleverly changed the topic after getting the information he wanted. The implication is that food and grass are difficult to raise. This is also The fact is that due to natural and man-made disasters year after year, food harvests have been lost, and sometimes even money cannot buy food.
"This matter will be discussed after Governor Wang arrives. The top priority right now is to mobilize troops to Taiyuan. The day before yesterday, Xuanfu has more than 10,000 elite troops. They are on the way now. The fastest is to reach Datong at noon tomorrow, and the slowest is midnight. Mr. Jiang, you will arrive tomorrow When troops are needed, there will be no less than 20,000 troops." Chang Yu looked at Jiang Yu and said seriously.
Just as Jiang Yan was about to answer, Han Lin interrupted him, "Eunuch Chang, I'm afraid this isn't possible?"
"Why can't it be done?" Chang Yu frowned, with anger already on his face. There are so many things to do about deploying troops these days. There are all kinds of excuses. Thinking about history, on March 6th, the bandit army broke the Xuanfu imperial court's order. Tang Tong, the commander-in-chief of Jizhen, Wu Sangui, the commander-in-chief of Liaodong, and Liu Zeqing, the commander-in-chief of Shandong, immediately came to help. However, it was not until March 30, two days before the rebel army broke through Juyong Pass, that Wu Sangui entered the pass. As soon as Tang Tong arrived in the capital, Liu Zeqing did not arrive at all. Come.
This was true for such an urgent situation that day. Now these people are even more unhurried. No wonder Chang Yu is angry.
His trip to the capital was called paying, but he was actually the eyes and ears of Chongzhen. The so-called "acting according to the situation" certainly included the intention of conducting overt and secret visits to urge the dispatch of troops.
"If the issue of military pay is not resolved, I'm afraid the soldiers will..."
As soon as Han Lin opened his mouth, Chang Yu couldn't hold back his anger and shouted: "Soldiers can make the decision, so why do you want a general? If a general can't even control the army, how can he be a general?"
As soon as the words came out, everyone was shocked. Chang Yu's words were too serious, which made Jiang Yu and others' faces extremely dull, and it was even a direct slap in the face. But there was no way that Eunuch Chang was such a straight-headed person. Although he knew it was not good, he still couldn't help it. Yi couldn't hold back her emotions.
"Eunuch Chang, Eunuch Chang, sit down and talk, sit down, why are you so angry?" When Wu Mengming saw the faces of Jiang Yu and others, the situation was so embarrassing, and he quickly got together to smooth things over.
Chang Yuyan said it but also regretted it a little. After all, Datong was Jiang Yu's territory. He was so aggressive that he would not be able to step down. He might be in trouble. At this moment, the generals outside were no longer loyal to the court and no longer fearful. Because everyone knows that in this turbulent era, they are the favorites of various forces, and under normal circumstances, the court will not show their displeasure easily.
"Eunuch Chang's words are very true. If the army fails to obey, the general will be incompetent, but it is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice. Therefore, the food still needs to be eaten and the salary still needs to be paid. If this matter is not resolved, no matter how great the general is, he will not be able to give it to you. If you make a pot of hot porridge, you won't kill all your men." Although Jiang Yan was filled with anger, he was a first-rate actor, otherwise he would not have framed Wei Jingyuan as a collaborator so easily and ultimately committed suicide. At this time, after seeing Chang Yu sitting down, he smiled and said half-jokingly. .
Chang Yu calmed down a little after Wu Mengming mentioned it, and nodded gently after hearing the words: "If you have to eat, you will also be given money, but extraordinary things are done in extraordinary times. Determining the strength, food, and pay of the troops is not a matter of a day, but the army must not delay." Tomorrow General Jiang will mobilize 20,000 troops to go ahead. How about the rations for the 20,000 horses and horses according to what you said? As for the rest, we will wait until Governor Wang arrives to decide. Of course, our family will send someone to know about this immediately. Imperial Court".
These words are undoubtedly a step back, and they also discourage Jiang Yu from pushing forward.
Hearing this, Jiang Qian and Han Lin looked at each other, then they lowered their heads and whispered a few words, and then said: "This matter should be feasible, but we still need to discuss it with my subordinates. How about giving Eunuch Chang a confirmation letter tomorrow morning?"
It's so fucking shameless, Chang Yu's hot temper came back again. Adjusting 20,000 yuan to settle the salary of 20,000 people, and still push back and forth. No matter how stupid Chang Yu is, he knows that Jiang Yu can only use this to make him take another step back, such as turning a blind eye to checking the vacant salary and leaving. Just a cutscene.
In fact, if he didn't do this, Chang Yu would have turned a blind eye, but this angered him, and he stood up after hearing this: "If we don't see the soldiers tomorrow, then don't blame our family for doing business!"
After saying that, he snorted coldly and left the table.
Chang Yu walked away with his sleeves, making the scene awkward again. Everyone behaved differently. Wu Mengming said Chang Yu was leaving and stood up to say goodbye. Jiang Yu allowed him to leave with only a brief attempt to persuade him to stay. After instructing his servant to entertain him, he and Han Lin Wait for the confidants to enter the study to discuss secretly.
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