The next day, Zheng Sen, accompanied by his servants, returned to the capital with the Jin Yiwei.
Zheng Zhilong also showed up here, and there was an explanation from the Fujian Governor's Office. At least on the surface, he was indeed making preparations to head north.
In fact, Zheng Zhilong saw that the Central Plains was in chaos again, and he wanted to see what kind of person the emperor was. If he was frightened into obedience with just a big word, he would really be in trouble!
He had made a plan in his mind. If the emperor was actually still the emperor in his memory, then that would be the same. The thieves from the Central Plains couldn't handle it, and they still wanted to touch him. How could it be possible?
However, the news he learned again shocked him for a long time.
The emperor actually had such courage that he dared to lead a personal expedition and led the three battalions that defeated the Jianlu to annihilate the traitors personally. At the same time, food was mobilized from various places. It can be seen that the emperor knows the root cause of the turmoil in the Central Plains, and he really needs to solve the problem of bandits once and for all.
The first time he heard the news, Zheng Zhilong's mind flashed back to the emperor's words in the secret decree: There must be the flag of the Ming Navy at the end of the sea!
At this time, he suddenly believed that the emperor really had such courage! At least he believed that if he really cheated and cheated, judging from the emperor's performance in the past six months, since he had clearly said that this was the last opportunity for him, if he missed this opportunity, there would be no next opportunity.
Thinking about this matter, he sat alone for a long time, and finally called Zheng Hongkui, who was preparing the navy, and said: "I'm going to Denglai. I'll go there myself. Just help me take care of this place!"
Since we can't live without the Ming Dynasty, let's just earn a chance in the Ming Dynasty to find a wife, a wife, a marquis and a title!
As a result, the reconstruction of the Denglai Navy was finally completed quickly with a secret decree from Emperor Chongzhen. The three hundred warships led by Zheng Zhilong were enough to deal with the Manchu navy.
…………
Earlier, at the Trilateral Governor's Mansion in Guyuan, Shaanxi Province, Chen Qiyu urgently summoned Zheng Chongjian, the governor of Ningxia, and an urgent imperial edict came from eight hundred miles away from the capital, requiring both of them to come to receive the edict.
After listening to the imperial edict, Chen Qiyu immediately explained to Zheng Chongjian, and told him at the same time: "Although I don't understand why, since the emperor has already explained it, we still need to continue to prepare for the matter in the Hetao, don't delay!"
"Okay!" Zheng Chongjian didn't expect that he would become the governor of the three sides in the blink of an eye. He was excited and quickly agreed. At the same time, he also said to Chen Qiyu, "The Central Plains has been corrupted again. Your Excellency, please take care of yourself!"
"Haha!" Chen Qiyu said with a smile after hearing this, "The Emperor's imperial chariot is conducting the expedition in person, so it will be much easier for me. The three major battalions under the Yuma Supervisor can even defeat the Jianlu, and we must defeat the rogues." It must not be difficult. So what I have to do is to surround those thieves and wait for the Emperor to take control of them."
At this point, he took a notebook in his hand and said: "Look, the emperor also passed on Governor Denglai's experience in defending the city in Jinzhou. I will add some detailed rules and send them to all states and cities. I believe Another thing that gets twice the result with half the effort. This time, it should be much easier than encircling and suppressing the bandits before."
"Yes, the emperor is personally conducting this expedition and mobilizing grain from the south of the Yangtze River to transport it. He must be able to really solve this big trouble!" Zheng Chongjian agreed with a smile.
After the two talked for a while, Chen Qiyu didn't waste any more time and immediately gave up the tripartite governor's mansion and rushed to take over Xiong Wencan's duties.
After Zheng Chongjian became familiar with the duties of the governors of the three sides, he began to consider the emperor's instructions.
It can be said that he is more familiar with the Tumut tribe in the Hetao area than Chen Qiyu, and he has even fought against them several times before. Now that the emperor wants to deal with the Tumut tribe, it is exactly what he hopes, and it is a good time to make meritorious deeds.
If it were in the past, maybe I wouldn't have this ability. Because the lack of pay for various armies in Shaanxi has always been a big problem. The morale of the military is unstable and the military has huge problems.
However, there is now a solution to this matter.
When Chen Qiyu came from the capital to take office, he had already brought banknotes from the Royal Bank of the Ming Dynasty, which were intended to be used to pay the border troops' wages. It's really a long way to go, and it would be too inconvenient on the road if it's a cash escort.
As for whether the border troops and people in Shaanxi recognized the banknotes from the Ming Dynasty Royal Bank, Emperor Chongzhen was actually prepared and had a will. Chen Qiyu didn't have time to do it, so now he was the only one to do it.
When Zheng Chongjian was thinking about this, his subordinate suddenly came to report that Guyuan's deputy envoy Lu Daqi wanted to see him and said he had something important to report.
When Zheng Chongjiang heard this, he did not dare to neglect and summoned him immediately.
"Sir, Chai Shihua, the commander-in-chief of Gansu Province, cannot send troops because he has no pay!" When Lu Daqi saw it, he handed over his hands and reported.
Previously, Li Zicheng jumped out of Shangluo Mountain again with great force, and the rebel team grew rapidly. Therefore, Chen Qiyu ordered the general troops from various places to immediately send troops to encircle and suppress them. However, before this matter was completed, a new decree arrived, and the matter fell on Zheng Chongjian.
He understood Chai Shihua. Upon hearing this, he immediately frowned.
This Chai Shihua was originally scheduled to go to the capital, King Qin. As a result, he turned back halfway and refused to go. Now they are refusing to send troops under the pretext of arrears of pay. Who would have dared to do this kind of thing a few years ago? But now, there are already many generals doing this kind of thing, and this sign is very bad!
While he was thinking, Lu Daqi reminded him again: "Sir, this trend cannot last long, otherwise, other generals will follow suit, and the development of the situation will be unimaginable!"
When Zheng Chongjian heard this, he raised his head and looked at him and said, "Of course I understand this. In this case, you can go there again and tell him that the capital has allocated funds and the national affairs are of paramount importance, and ordered him to send troops immediately. What happened in the past will not be the same." Let bygones be bygones!"
"Sir, are you talking about the banknotes from the Royal Bank of the Ming Dynasty?" Lu Daqi knew a little about the situation and couldn't help but said in surprise, "Isn't this difficult to use in Qin?"
"Yes!" Zheng Chongjian nodded and said, "The emperor has a decree that can resolve this matter. I will go to Prince Su's Mansion immediately."
Seeing how confident he looked, Lu Daqi said no more and left quickly.
The Ming Dynasty actually granted several vassal kings in Shaanxi, but the one closest to Guyuan was King Su in Lanzhou.
This first-generation King Su was the son of Zhu Yuanzhang. It can be seen that after so many generations, the accumulation of wealth will definitely not be small.
Zheng Chongjian worked hard all the way. Four days later, he finally arrived at Prince Su's Mansion in Lanzhou and immediately asked to see Prince Su.
This generation of King Su is named Zhu Shihong. He is thirty-five years old and has been the vassal king for eighteen years. I couldn't help but be surprised when I heard that the new governor of the three sides asked for an audience. Generally speaking, there would be no interaction between them, and it was not easy for the imperial court's feudal officials to interact with local vassal kings. Therefore, out of curiosity, he came out to meet.
Zheng Chongjian himself had just taken over as the governor of the three sides. He had too many things to do, so he stopped being polite and went straight to the point. He took out the decree given by Emperor Chongzhen and began to read it out.
Zhu Shihong didn't expect this to happen, and he was even more surprised after receiving the order. At the same time, his face looked ugly.
But Zheng Chongjian ignored this and asked his men to bring in another box. After opening it, he said to Zhu Shihong: "Your Highness, these are the silver notes and food stamps from the Royal Bank of the Ming Dynasty. Please count them and cash them as soon as possible. The current situation in Qin The trend of corruption has resumed, but there is no food and pay in the army, so please help me, Your Highness."
It turned out that Emperor Chongzhen made a request to Zhu Shihong in his decree, saying that the eight major Shanxi merchants and others who had been confiscated by the imperial court already had enough food and wages, but the cost of transporting it to Qin was too great, and the situation was urgent, so he asked Zhu Shihong to provide food for him. The country shared its worries and made a contribution to exchange the banknotes and food stamps issued by the Royal Bank of the Ming Dynasty into the corresponding silver and food. After the Shaanxi branch of the Royal Bank of the Ming Dynasty established by the imperial court was established, if Zhu Shihong did not want to hold The banknotes and food stamps of the Royal Bank of Ming Dynasty can be exchanged for silver and food.
To be honest, Zhu Shihong didn't believe it. Could the emperor really ask him to get money and food back from these papers? Even though he held beautifully printed banknotes and food stamps in his hands, he was still worried.
However, Emperor Chongzhen has made it clear in his decree that as he is a descendant of the Zhu family, the current situation is so chaotic. If he does not come up with money and food, the situation will become chaotic again. Before the emperor's imperial chariot comes to Qin, the bandits will grow stronger. , if Lanzhou is captured, will all the money and food be stolen by thieves?
Instead of doing this, it is better to use money and food to contribute to the court, so that Emperor Chongzhen can also be anxious for his country. There will be a reward in the future; if he refuses to hand over the money and food, when the emperor arrives in Qin, he will definitely check his money and food. If he has it but refuses to give it, then it means that he is responsible for the unworthy descendants of the Zhu family and the national crisis. Still like an iron rooster. That would be embarrassing, he would be very angry. Zhu Shihong had to figure out some things by himself.
It can be said that Emperor Chongzhen discussed almost every aspect in his decree to Zhu Shihong. At least from the decree, it can be seen that the imperial court will not default on its debts. It has money and food, but it is temporarily unable to transport it to Qin. This is The first is; the second is to persuade and analyze the situation carefully; the third is to threaten. The hereditary succession of vassal kings requires the emperor's permission. Even if he does not take the initiative to move him, if he delays the hereditary succession, Zhu Shihong's lineage will be very uncomfortable. What's more, as an emperor, if it really comes to that, he has the means to deal with the vassal king.
In fact, Zhu Shihong himself also knew the situation in Qin. To this end, he wrote to the emperor to allow him to expand the palace guard.
At this time, under Zheng Chongjian's gaze, his expression changed many times, and finally he let out a sigh of relief and said: "The emperor has an edict, how can I resist and disobey it!"
Hearing this, Zheng Chongjian couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. With the emperor's decree, the problem of money and food that troubled him most was solved in an instant, and the next thing would be much smoother.
However, Zhu Shihong still asked: "I wonder when the Shaanxi branch of the Royal Bank of Ming Dynasty was established?"
"The emperor has already decreed the establishment of branches in two capitals and thirteen provinces." Zheng Chongjian knew what he was worried about, so he explained to him, "It's just that these things still take time, and now that thieves have begun to wreak havoc again, I'm afraid it will be even more... It will be a little later. But the emperor has already marched in person, and the thieves will definitely be eliminated this time. It probably won’t take long for the branch to be established!"
Hearing this, it was somewhat of a consolation. Zhu Shihong thought for a while and then asked: "I wonder if the other vassal princes' palaces in Qin have His Majesty's decree, regarding this..."
Before he finished speaking, Zheng Chongjian understood what he wanted to ask, and replied with a smile: "Of course there is, but Lanzhou is close, so I came here first; Your Highness can see that I brought it There are actually not many food stamps and banknotes. Just these are not enough to pay the wages of the frontier troops in Qin and distribute food; more will be landed in other vassal princes' palaces."
As the ancients said, we should not worry about scarcity but inequality. Zhu Shihong is no exception to this point. When he heard that the other vassal princes' palaces in Qin were going to be like this, he felt a little more balanced, so he went to arrange the matter without further delay.
Since there is already a Royal Bank of Ming Dynasty in the capital, and a clear decree has been made to establish branches in the two capitals and thirteen provinces, there should be no problem. What's more, even if he was in Qin, he had heard about the three battalions inspecting Shanxi merchants in Jin next door. Of course, the most important thing is that Emperor Chongzhen's implicit threat forced him to make the choice the emperor wanted.
Zheng Chongjian was very happy about this and immediately sent an order for nearby border troops to gather in Lanzhou to prepare for the payment of money and grain owed by the imperial court. I believe this good news will definitely boost the morale of Qin's border troops.
However, what he didn't expect was that Lu Daqi hurriedly came to see him again and reported to him that Chai Shihua, the commander-in-chief of Gansu Province, was arrogant and still refused to send troops. And there are various signs that he has a disobedient heart.
In the past, Chai Shihua turned back privately and refused to go to the king. This was actually a big sin. Now he has repeatedly refused orders from the Governor's Office. Zheng Chongjian also became angry at such a thing, which was a challenge to his authority.
At this time, he had confidence in his heart. How could he tolerate it? He asked Lu Daqi: "This matter must not be tolerated. We must kill him as a warning. But he refused to come out. If we send troops over, it is easy to directly force him to rebel. How many times have you I’m familiar with it there in the past, but is there anything I can do?”
Not to mention, Lu Daqi just had an idea. After hearing this, he immediately reported: "My lord, please give a secret order and ask his deputy Wang Shichong to arrest Chai Shihua and bring him to justice. We will definitely succeed!"
After finishing speaking, he introduced Wang Shichong as he was brave, resourceful and loyal to the court, so there would definitely be no problem. The most important thing is that now that we have money and food, we don't have to worry about military morale.
After hearing this, Zheng Chongjian agreed to this approach.
Sure enough, that Wang Shichong was indeed loyal to the court as Lu Daqi thought. However, after all, he was on Chai Shihua's territory. He learned the news and fled to the west overnight, unable to catch up.
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