The entire worship ceremony was both sad and tragic. Only Jiang Yuxu, the governor of Xuanfu, sighed secretly. It had been many days since he arrived at Chi Castle. Although he was accompanied by Jin Xinpeng, Yan Qingrong and others, he often walked around the castle privately. .
What was originally a small frontier fortress has become like a big city under Zhang Cheng's governance. There are more than 100,000 people living inside and outside the fort alone, not to mention the prosperity of commerce inside and outside the city.
Chi Castle was originally located in the center of Xuanfu North Road, and now it has become the political and economic center of Xuanbei. It is connected to Yunzhou Fort, Maying Fort, Dushi Fort, Zhen'an Fort, etc. to the north and to the west. Jinjiazhuang Fort, Longmen Guard and other places are connected to Longmen Suo and Changzhong Bunker to the east, and to the south are Ningyuan Fort, Dishuiya Fort and Diaohao Fort.
Nowadays, there are many merchants' workshops inside and outside the forts on the North Road. The military households and civilians are very prosperous. Especially along the line from Chi Castle to Yunzhou Fort, there are the most numerous workshops of all kinds.
Many old masters who joined the workshop in the early days even obtained licenses from Kaiping Weisi and opened some non-core manufacturing workshops of their own to provide parts for the core workshops of the Xuanfu Army.
This was Zhang Cheng's idea before he sent troops to aid Liaoning. Now it has become a reality. The soldiers and civilians on the North Road call this concept "subcontracting, collaboration and win-win".
Of course, this is also another term created by Zhang Chengxin!
As "Mencius Teng Wen Gong 1" said: "The people are governed by the Tao. Those who have permanent property have perseverance, and those who do not have perseverance. If they have no perseverance, they will ward off evil and extravagance, and do everything for their own sake."
What Mencius means is that the way to govern the people is to make them scholars and people with permanent property, so that they will have the will to keep their careers. And those who have no permanent property are the source of trouble and have no property to keep, so they will have no scruples. , do evil wantonly, only seeking self-interest, regardless of the consequences.
And when Mencius talks about constant yield, he usually refers to cultivated land!
Because merchants had the lowest status in ancient times and were still very unstable, after making money, those wealthy merchants purchased large amounts of land for cultivation and vigorously built their own homes.
After all, there are times when business fails, so how can life be everything they want, but the farmland and the big house are their final destination. Even if the business fails, they can still be wealthy landlords.
However, under the leadership of Zhang Cheng, North Road opened up a new path. In addition to farmland, shops and workshops have also become one of the permanent assets of the military and civilians, not only in the town of Xuanfu, but also in the entire Ming Dynasty and the two capitals. This is the only one in the three provinces!
The Xuanfu merchants and workshop owners were able to receive such treatment entirely due to the policies formulated by Zhang Cheng. It was precisely because of their improved status that the shops and workshops they owned became properties that could be passed down like land.
As a person from later generations, Zhang Cheng would naturally no longer be as short-sighted as the ancients. Because he was wary of businessmen, he suppressed them with all his strength and did not dare to make them stronger.
For Zhang Cheng, how to develop the North Road quickly to support his huge military business plan is the key at this stage.
As for whether merchants and workshop owners will have an impact on the political power, Zhang Cheng's power and the future of his family in the future, that is a matter of course. For now, they do not pose a threat.
It is precisely because there are many industrialists in Xuanbei and the Xuanbei army has always been well paid that they have become the main consumer force in Xuanbei's economic development. Even military stamps and silver coins benefited from this and were promoted. .
Moreover, the Xuanbei soldiers were away at war all year round. In addition to cultivating the fields, the women and children in their families could also work in the workshops of the forts to earn wages.
Even those who are inconvenient to go out to show off their work can still sign contracts with some non-core workshops and do some outsourcing work at home, and still have a stable income.
Their men go to work in workshops or help those without men cultivate the fields in exchange for payment, while women can take on some outsourced needlework and earn wages at home.
Furthermore, since Zhang Cheng took power and declared the North, he has vigorously promoted literacy education in all forts. Although it was first implemented in the military camps, the people were also affected by this, and literacy became a popular trend.
Today, there are very few illiterate soldiers and civilians in Xuanbei. Their level of education is the highest in the entire Xuanfu. In addition, they are influenced by various folk songs of loyalty and loyalty, and their support for Zhang Cheng is also the strongest and strongest.
Zhang Cheng was also pleased with this. He could not forget the light of hope in their eyes when he first rescued the refugees in Mafang, the northern suburbs of the capital. It was the first light he saw after coming to this world.
Now, on Xuanfu North Road and East Road, such hopeful eyes can be seen everywhere, and the original numb and desperate look can no longer be seen.
His own efforts can change their lives and give them hope for the future. Zhang Cheng feels a sense of accomplishment!
Nowadays, every family in Beilu has surplus grain and every household has surplus money. In addition, the banknotes, grain coupons and silver coins vigorously issued by the Wei Department have been fully accepted by the merchants and people, and they are also flowing smoothly in Xuanfu and surrounding provinces, which also makes Zhang Sincerely save a lot of money for investment in industry.
Benefiting from this, there are many mines, forest farms, and pastures in Xuanbei and Xuandong areas, and mineral deposits such as silver, iron, tin, and lead are mined, providing sufficient guarantee for Zhang Cheng to cast ordnance.
A large number of pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese and other livestock and poultry are also raised in pastures in various places. In cooperation with forest farms, the pastures have a tendency to expand further, providing sufficient supplies for the Xuanfu army officers and people. sources of meat.
Especially aquaculture, thanks to the continuous efforts of the people in Xuanbei, has made great progress, making fresh fish one of the dishes that often appears on the tables of officials, gentry, soldiers and civilians in Xuanbei.
Of course, all this development is inseparable from Zhang Cheng's support. In addition to the industries directly controlled by Wei Si, the development of private industries has benefited from Wei Si Bank's policies to encourage investment and the assistance of low-interest lending.
In particular, Yunzhou Fort's military industry has now continued to spread to the surrounding areas, especially the north and south sides are developing in the direction of Dushi Fort and Chi Castle respectively.
Due to the development of the breeding industry and fishery, in addition to catering to the dining tables of the officials, gentry, soldiers and civilians on Beilu, a large amount of bacon, bacon, ham, salted eggs were also produced by various meat workshops, and even various types of cans.
It is said that the technology of ancient times should not be underestimated. When the social environment allows it, the majority of businessmen and people will inspire the greatest enthusiasm for inventions, and canned food is one of them.
However, in the Ming Dynasty, this thing was not called a can, but a "meat porcelain jar"!
According to "Qi Min Yao Shu": "Cut the livestock meat into pieces, add salt and wheat flour, mix well, mix well, and seal the head with mud inside the porcelain."
This is the canned food of ancient times, which can also preserve food for a long time. With Xuanfujun as a big customer, the bacon, bacon, ham, salted eggs, etc. produced by various meat workshops in Xuanbei will naturally not worry about selling. If you don’t go out, let alone the porcelain meat jar!
The most feared thing when operating a livestock and poultry farm is all kinds of plagues, so local veterinarians in Xuanbei are extremely popular. Many veterinarians are licensed to practice, and they also recruit a large number of apprentices to maximize their profits.
During the three years of apprenticeship, they are equivalent to the master's slaves. However, those who work for the master for free are not paid a penny. Even if they complete their studies and become apprentices, they must pay a certain amount to the master every year based on their income for that year. money.
Therefore, the more apprentices these teachers have, the greater their future profits will be, and the quality of their apprentices' learning has also become a major issue affecting their profits.
Therefore, teachers almost always just sit back and collect money. The more apprentices they teach, the more money they receive. In order to collect more dividends from their apprentices in the future, they can only work hard to teach all their skills.
Zhang Cheng is naturally happy about this. The more prosperous the government is, the better. Anyway, he has already begun to collect business taxes under the government. The more prosperous the business is, the better his income will be.
If the tax system is good and commerce is developed, it is a virtuous circle. On the contrary, if commerce is prosperous but taxes cannot be collected, it is abnormal prosperity, which is completely unhelpful to the country, just like the situation in Jiangnan in the Ming Dynasty at the moment.
…………
But Jiang Yuxu, the governor of Xuanfu, didn't think so. He knew Xuanbei far better than others, but what surprised him was not the superficial appearance that everyone could see.
Through observation, Jiang Yuxu found that both the merchants in the neighborhood and the diners in restaurants and tea shops all admired Zhang Cheng extremely. He only mentioned the general in his words, but did not mention the court or the emperor at all.
Seeing that the hearts and minds of the army and the people of the Northern Route were united, their hearts were not towards the imperial court, but towards Uncle Yongning. I don’t know whether this situation is a blessing or a curse for the country!
However, no matter what, he was powerless at this moment.
Despite his official position as governor of Xuanfu, he has a great official reputation, but that was in the early Ming Dynasty when the court still had prestige. Now its actual jurisdiction only includes Yanqing, Baoan Prefecture, and Weizhou in Shanxi Province. Wait for a few places.
Most of the other places in Xuanfu Town are solid military bases. Now that the imperial court is declining, even the power of the governor of Xuanfu is gradually losing, and the area under his jurisdiction has been greatly reduced.
Of course, all this still depends on what kind of person the general of the Xuanfu is. If he is a mediocre person, I am afraid that the governor will be more powerful. Even though there are many general families, they are not twisted into one.
But Jiang Yuxu looked at the newly appointed Xuanfu Commander-in-Chief, Zhenshuo General, and Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng sitting at the top, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. With Zhang Cheng's current official position and reputation, it would be even harder for him to become the governor. Got it!
"This is a misfortune for the country. Your Majesty, I am so ashamed that I may not be able to teach the people of Xuan Mansion to love the imperial court."
However, Zhang Fuzhen, the governor of Xuanda, did not share his general view. In Zhang Fuzhen's eyes, it was the support and love of Yongning Bo by the soldiers and civilians on the North Road that allowed them to let him drive and fight bravely on the battlefield.
He is also someone who has led an army in battle, so he naturally knows the importance of unity in an army. An excellent general must be supported by his soldiers.
Only in this way can we command the battle as we please on the battlefield, and by working together with the soldiers, we can be invincible and invincible!
Sure enough, when he opened his mouth, he affirmed Zhang Cheng: "It's so prosperous under Uncle Yongning's rule, it's really beyond my expectation!"
Zhang Fuzhen did not call Zhang Cheng in front of everyone, but called him with the title of Yongning Bo. This move gave Zhang Cheng enough face, and he called himself "I am old man" in front of Zhang Cheng with the dignity of Governor Xuan. It was a surprise to the governor Jiang Yuxu and other civil officials.
But he behaved very naturally, and he continued: "In just three years, I managed this remote border fortress city like a state capital in the mainland.
From this point of view, Uncle Yongning is not only capable in running the army and fighting, but also has considerable expertise in supporting the people and administering politics. He can be called a versatile man in both civil and military affairs. It is a great blessing for our emperor and our country to have Uncle Yongning in our Ming Dynasty. ah! "
After his words of praise, all the officials and generals in the hall immediately responded. Voices of praise filled every corner of the hall. Only Governor Jiang Yuxu remained silent with a slightly ugly face.
Wang Pu, the commander-in-chief of Datong, was the most excited. He was chatting enthusiastically with Guo Yingxian and Zhang Guangda beside him. He was full of praise for Yong Ningbo. Even he wanted to make friends with General Guo Yingxian and guerrilla Zhang Guangda.
Suddenly, when he raised his head, he saw that Governor Jiang Yuxu seemed to have something wrong. He asked with great concern, "What's wrong with Jiang Futai?"
Although Wang Pu's voice was not loud, every word fell into Jiang Yuxu's ears like thunder.
He suddenly remembered that today everyone gathered at the Admiral's Office on Chicheng North Road. In addition to paying homage to the fallen soldiers, they also congratulated Zhang Cheng on being awarded the title of Yongning Bo. However, the worried look he had just shown seemed to be out of tune with the enthusiasm of everyone in the hall. .
Jiang Yuxu knew he had lost his composure, so he hurriedly borrowed the donkey's mouth from down the slope and said, "Oh, I have been very tired these past few days. I just paid tribute to the souls of the fallen soldiers of Xuanfu, and the sadness in my heart increased, so that I was in a bad mood, so I told Mr. Wang The soldiers are laughing."
Wang Pu said to him with a smile: "If Futai is unwell, he should pay more attention to rest. Don't work too hard and cause loss of vitality. If this affects his ability to serve the emperor, wouldn't it be bad?"
Zhang Cheng also noticed something strange about Jiang Yuxu, but he never thought that he had so many suspicions about him in his heart. He just said lightly: "If Jiang Futai is ill, he can go down to rest early. There is no need to force himself here." Hold on, and keep a useful body to repay the Emperor's kindness."
Jiang Yuxu, courtesy name Zhongping, was born in Qixian County, Kaifeng Prefecture, Henan Province. He was born as a Jinshi in the fourth year of Chongzhen's reign. He was first promoted to an official position in Xiangyang Prefecture, Huguang. At that time, rogue bandits were rampant. He led the subordinate cities and set up defenses with meritorious service, and was promoted to Qian. He is the censor of the capital and the governor of Xuanfu.
At this time, the rogue bandits were powerful and wreaking havoc in Zhongzhou. He reported to the court that "the city of his ministers was alone in misery", and the taxes in Qixian County were exempted by Emperor Chongzhen. However, he was impeached by the officials because of this, and was dismissed from his post and returned home to live idle.
After that, when the Qing army entered the pass and became powerful, he threw himself into the arms of the Qing state. With the title of Minister of War, he went to Huguang to appease the generals of the Southern Ming Dynasty. After he arrived, he used both kindness and power, and the Chu territory became peaceful.
However, although Jiang Yuxu later joined the Qing Dynasty, at this moment his heart was still with the Ming Dynasty and he had no plans to become a slave. Naturally, he always had plans for the court and was worried about Zhang Cheng's growing reputation in Xuanbei.
But for the sake of the Xuanfu civil and military unity, he couldn't say what he was thinking. Seeing Zhang Cheng say this, he could only reply: "It doesn't matter, just take a rest for a while."
He then clasped his fists in salute and said to Zhang Cheng, "Yu Xu hasn't congratulated Uncle Yong Ning yet, but he is so concerned by Uncle Yong Ning. He is truly moved in his heart."
Zhang Cheng also smiled and said, "You're welcome, Futai."
As this episode passed, they began to talk freely with each other again. Wang Pu and Li Fuming were all focused on making friends with Zhang Cheng's generals.
Zhang Cheng and Governor Zhang Fuzhen kept talking about the military and political affairs of the Xuanfu. Governor Jiang Yuxu also adjusted his mentality in time and kept talking beside him.
(End of chapter)
