"To report to your Majesty, the Ministry of War believes that this group of rebels must be suppressed and eliminated in Guangdong. They must not be allowed to flee to other provinces, especially the land of money and food for the Jiangnan court." Fu Sen replied with a bow.
"Well, that's right. Does the Ministry of War have any plans to send troops to deal with it?" Qianlong asked.
"The Ministry of War is preparing to mobilize 50,000 troops from Hunan, Jiangxi, and Fujian provinces each, totaling 15 armies, and move southward in three routes. Then it will mobilize 10,000 troops from Guangxi to march eastward to surround Guangdong in order to achieve a unified attack. Eliminate this traitor," Fu Sen replied.
"With such a large mobilization, have you calculated the military expenditure required for this encirclement and suppression?" Qianlong asked with concern.
After all, it took money into account, so he had to ask. As the new year is approaching, the palace will naturally spend a lot of money. Moreover, the Old Summer Palace is still under construction, which also costs a lot of money.
"Yes, the Ministry of War has calculated it. In addition to the departure silver, food and salary, and various expenses for the army on the way, this dispatch of the troops will cost about four million taels of silver." Fu Sen calculated one by one.
"So much?" Qianlong couldn't help but feel distressed after hearing that it would cost so much.
You must know that the Qing Dynasty's annual tax revenue is about 50 million taels, and after excluding national operating expenses and military expenditures, there is only about 700 to 8 million taels left. The budget for this battle has exceeded four million taels before it even started, and there may be more in the future.
"Yes, Your Majesty. This is calculated by the Ministry of War based on the lowest military expenditure. You must know that when going on an expedition, the Eight Banners disciples all carry double bells. Other expenses cannot be predicted." Fu Sen lowered his head and said.
"All the troop deployment documents from the Ministry of War have been prepared. Now we are just waiting for the emperor to select the commander-in-chief, the Ministry of Revenue to allocate the money, and the Ministry of Rites to choose the date."
"Okay, war is like putting out a fire. The Ministry of Husbandry and the Ministry of Rites will solve this problem for me immediately after returning." Qianlong ordered.
"The servant (minister) takes the order."
The Minister of Hubu and the Minister of Rites came out and knelt down to answer.
"Fu Heng, although you have just come back, I think you will be in charge of this expedition! Be sure to behead the traitor Zhang Rui and bring him back to the capital." Qianlong said loudly and energetically.
After all, Yongzheng had just passed and the treasury had plenty of money. Don't say four million taels, it's okay to add another four million taels. If there is not enough money, it is just a matter of adding more taxes or killing a few wealthy businessmen.
"Hey, this slave has received the order." Not long after his triumphant return from Yili, he was named First-class Duke Fu Heng by Qianlong and once again received the order and went south to quell the rebellion.
………
Guangdong Luofu Mountain
Inside the Zhuming Cave of Chongxu Ancient Temple
In the twelfth lunar month, although it is difficult to see snow here all year round, it is still cold.
An old Taoist priest in the cave had already put on thick old cotton clothes and was meditating in front of the statue of Sanqing.
Although people are monks and cultivators, they are only mortal bodies after all. Taoists pay attention to the Tao but not the Tao. When hunger and cold come, we have to eat ordinary food to satisfy our hunger and wear clothes to keep out the cold.
"master."
At this time, a Taoist priest in his twenties came out of the cave. After bowing to the back of the old Taoist priest who was meditating in the cave, he shouted softly.
After hearing the young Taoist priest's voice, the old Taoist priest slowly opened his closed eyes. Then he slowly turned his head to the young Taoist priest behind him and asked: "Yi Cheng! What's the matter? But are you having a meal?"
"Yes, Master." The Taoist priest named Yicheng bowed again and said, but there seemed to be something else to say in his words.
The old Taoist priest looked at the appearance of Taoist Cheng and continued to ask: "Is there anything else?"
"Yes, Master. There is almost no rice in this temple. I may need to go down the mountain to beg for alms for a few days. I guess I won't be able to take care of Master for a few days." Taoist Cheng Cheng is no longer hiding.
"Oh, that's it! It's okay. Master has hands and feet, so you don't need to take care of him. Besides, you still have your junior brother here." The old Taoist priest replied
"Yes, master. The disciple went down the mountain after eating for a while." Taoist priest Yi Cheng said
"Okay." The old Taoist priest slowly stood up from the mat, came to Taoist Cheng Yicheng and said
"Yicheng. I have been observing the sky at night recently and discovered that there are strange phenomena in the sky. The emperor star belonging to my Chinese Han family has been shining faintly for these days."
"Although this emperor's star is not yet obvious in the barbarian's emperor's star, the conflict between the two kings will cause chaos in the world." The old Taoist priest said with some worry.
"What do you mean, master?" Yi Cheng asked, somewhat confused.
"Originally, we outside Taoists should not care about such mundane matters, but before we became monks, we were still descendants of the Han family. Now that the Emperor Star has finally appeared, we still have to contribute to the continuation of the Han family." The old Taoist priest said with a little excitement on his face
"Yes, Master. The Manchu and Qing Dynasties have also been suppressing us Taoists. It is not easy to beg for alms now. We will be questioned in various ways when we go out. No matter how long it goes, I think there will be no Taoists anymore." Yi Cheng recalled what happened when he went down the mountain to beg for alms. Scene, he replied with some sighs
"This is also the reason. Therefore, my teacher hopes that you will go down the mountain to find the location of this emperor star. If this person is worthy of the world's important tasks, use what you have learned to help him." The old Taoist priest replied.
"But, Master. If I leave, who will take care of you?" Yi Cheng looked at his appearance as a master and said worriedly.
"Master, I don't need you to take care of me. Besides, I will go down the mountain even if I have no choice but to do my best for the world." The old Taoist priest persuaded Yicheng.
"But, what about the cultivation matter?" Yi Cheng still refused to give up and wanted to use the cultivation matter to stay with his master and take care of him.
"You! Since ancient times, Taoists have emphasized going down the mountain to experience. How can you enter the Tao without going out? How can you understand the Tao without experience? As long as your heart is there, the Tao will always be there. I need you to teach this emperor star to do good and not to kill too much. This is the true avenue, and it is also the avenue that will make you successful." The old Taoist priest looked like he was revealing his secret.
"Yes, Master." Yicheng said to the old Taoist priest, some of whom he could understand, some of whom he couldn't.
However, Taoism emphasizes that Tao follows nature and does not force it. If you don’t understand it, you can understand it later!
"Well, after you finish your meal, pack up and go down the mountain! You have to be more careful when you are alone outside. Although you are a kind person, there is nothing wrong with being more cautious." The old Taoist priest gave instructions one by one. Although the two are master and apprentice, they are no different from father and son.
"Yes, Master. I often go down the mountain to beg for alms, so I will pay more attention." Regarding the old Taoist priest's words, Yi Cheng felt very warm in his heart. Since he was a child without both parents, his master has taken care of him. If it weren't for his master, he might have turned into bones.
"Well...the world is unkind and treats all things as stupid dogs. With your knowledge, you can handle it easily. Just pay more attention to everything." The old Taoist priest replied
"yes."
After the meal, Taoist Cheng Cheng simply packed up his few clothes and went down the mountain to look for the Emperor Star.
