Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 269
On the second day after Beihai Town issued the first local regulations, that is, on August [-]th, Qianlong ordered the Wang ministers in Beijing to submit papers, asking for practical solutions on how to conquer Beihai Town.

After Sun Shiyi's confession arrived in Beijing in early August, the ruling and opposition parties were shaken.The Qing court did not expect that the Pearl River Estuary patrol system, which was originally regarded as impenetrable, would be so unbearable, and the officers and soldiers of the Guangdong Navy would be so cowardly and incompetent!Although Sun Shiyi's approach was a bit stern, but through this military operation, he also found out the details of the big iron boat.Just relying on a few boats that can drag the wind can't beat it at all.

In the eyes of Qianlong and other military ministers, whether Zhao Xin bombarded the British warehouses in Swallow Bay or the Portuguese forts in Macau, it had nothing to do with him, and he was happy to let them bite dogs; It's different, it belongs to Koubian.

And the ministers of the king of Beijing had surprisingly unanimous views on this matter, that is, if Zhao Ni continued to toss like this, if he went to the north today and the south tomorrow, there would be big trouble sooner or later.

The old and resolute Qianlong was determined to completely solve Zhao Xin's problem before he ascended the throne 60 years ago.So after the Mid-Autumn Festival, a series of decrees were issued one after another, making the officials dizzy.

The Beijing camp was expanded, and the quota was increased from 1 to [-].In the past, there were [-] cavalry soldiers, [-] warrior soldiers, and [-] guard soldiers from outside the nine gates of the capital to the Zhili prefecture boundary, a total of [-] people; Four thousand guards.

The old warships were abolished and Tong'an ships were built; through the Li Fan Yuan, commissioners were sent to order five British three-masted galleons from Siam, each equipped with 64 new smoothbore guns.

Fukang'an, who was dismissed from all real positions before and only retained the title of Marquis of Jiayong, was appointed as the Minister of the Guards after a period of contemplation behind closed doors. The imperial envoys went to Shandong, Henan, Zhejiang and other provinces to check the garrisons and green camps in various places. , Review the money and food, armor and equipment of soldiers and horses from all over the country, and carry out rectification.

Agui, who was in charge of river engineering in Henan, was transferred to the northwest to replace Qinggui as the acting governor of Shaanxi and Gansu.

Qing Gui, the acting governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, was appointed as the co-organizer of the university, and at the same time, he was awarded the seal of the Minister of Economics and Strategy, and managed the military affairs of Jilin and Heilongjiang.In Qinggui's first note to Qianlong, he asked to set up large camps in Hunchun and Ningguta to stabilize the situation first and ensure that Zhao Xin's plans to go west and south were blocked.After garrisoning [-] troops, the armies of the two places will fight steadily, step by step.

At this time, Qianlong also understood that the firearms equipped by Zhao Xin were really overbearing, and it was impossible to encircle and suppress them with [-] to [-] Eight Banner soldiers.Without the scale of [-] soldiers, it may be difficult to wipe out.For the current plan, the only way to do so is to contain it first.

After the First World War in Fuldan City, more than half of the artillery, shotguns and other ordnance of the Eight Banners were lost, and it would take a year or two to build them even with all their strength.According to Fukang'an's Chen Zuo in the book of confession, except for the general Yonggu cannon, the range of other small cannons is difficult to cause harm to Zhao Ni.And even if the capital and Jilin go all out to build cannons at this time, it will take several years to prepare for hundreds of general cannons.

Among the series of decrees, the most incredible one is to order the Ministry of Internal Affairs to draft drafts. Qianlong, who is more than 70 years old, still has to draft, and it is done with great fanfare, which makes the officials dumbfounded.Qingliu, headed by Dong Gao and Qian Feng, wrote to dissuade him, but was reprimanded by Qianlong.

At the beginning of this matter, only He Shen saw Qianlong's intentions, and he was also happy to see that the school was deflated.

The fifteenth elder brother Yongyan also wanted to write a letter to persuade him, but was stopped by his teacher Zhu Gui.Zhu Gui warned Yong Yan that the emperor's real intention in the selection was to tell the world that he is not old!
However, although He Shen looked at the jokes coldly, he also had a lot of troubles.Whether it is increasing troops, expanding Hunchun City, allocating military equipment, food and grass, making artillery, or even drafting, money is needed behind it.As for Qianlong's arrangement, at least 800 million taels of silver will be spent in the early stage, which is worrying for Heshen.So when Qinggui returned to Beijing to ask Heshen for military expenses, Heshen had to advance him 50 taels from the Chongwenmen tax customs, and said that the rest of the military expenses would be allocated one after another.

Qing Gui saw that this amount of money was not enough, so she came to Heshen to complain, trying to ask for a few more 10 taels.

"Brother Zhizhai, you have been to Hunchun. There is no decent city wall at all. To build the city, the barracks, the seeds and farm tools for farming, the 50 taels are like throwing in the water."

He Shen rubbed his forehead and sighed helplessly: "Brother Shuzhai, it's difficult! The master has far-reaching considerations, and we slaves should try our best to understand and practice. But right now, money is needed everywhere, where can I get money? Not to mention anything else, the disaster situation in Henan, river engineering, water transportation, millions of taels of silver have been invested, and there is not even a splash. Let me tell you the truth today, the current household department can’t get out a single penny except for the large amount of money in the treasury. Yes. Even the daily expenses of the master, I am doing my best to maintain it."

Qing Gui was taken aback, and hurriedly said: "Brother Zhi Zhai, does the emperor know about these situations?"

He Shen shook his head expressionlessly.

Qinggui sighed: "I have been in Shaanxi and Gansu for more than a year, and I only know how difficult it is for me, but I don't know that Zhizhai is a thousand times more difficult! But to be honest, only you can bear this mountainous burden. !"

These words surprised Heshen and were extremely useful.Everyone in the court knows that Qing Gui is an extremely cautious, even almost pedantic, honest person; he doesn't say what should be said on weekdays, let alone what should not be said.It seemed that this amount of money was really not enough, and Qing Gui was forced to do nothing.

He Shen smiled and cupped his hands at Qing Gui: "Mr. Shuzhai's words, He is ashamed. How about it, give me a few more days, and I will think of a way."

"Then I will welcome the good news."

Two days later in the evening, the Zhimeizhai restaurant located in the east of Meishi Street Road outside Qianmen was booked out.When it was dark, three sedan chairs arrived one after another as promised.Among the three people who came, in addition to Lianghuai Salt Administration, there was also a committee member in charge of Yunnan copper transportation, and a committee member in charge of copper mines in Chizhou, both of whom were fifth-rank officials who returned to Beijing to report on their duties.

Now that He Shen is in power, he posts a post to invite people to dinner, and no one dares not to come.After entering the private room on the second floor and taking a seat, and the food and drinks were served, He Shen said: "The Mid-Autumn Festival is too busy, so I don't have time. I'm hosting a certain person today, so please gather here. With our friendship, there is no need to stick to etiquette. Feel free to."

"Okay!" The three present nodded in approval.

Having said that, Ke Heshen is now an extremely human minister, a person who is busy with his heels and hits the back of his head every day.He held a banquet for guests, and the three of them dared to be casual. Lianghuai Yanzheng Quande said, "I don't care about etiquette, but this first glass of wine must be toasted to Zhongtang first. Everyone knows that I wait for the three of you. They are all fat and oily errands, but this is also the errand that makes others the most jealous. Without knowing it, everyone stares at them like black-eyed chickens. It just disappeared.”

He Shen stared at Quande, and said with a smile: "I don't agree with what you say, brother. The errands of the three of you are really fat, but if you all eat vegetarian food and chant Buddha, you won't get any oily smell, even if No matter how jealous others are, how can you wait?"

The three of Quande were stunned, and smiled on their faces: "What Zhongtang said is thorough, thorough!"

He Shen continued: "But again, if you really did something indiscreet and were caught, let alone me, the Heavenly King and I will not be able to protect you. Isn't it, everyone? "

When the three of them heard this, their hearts immediately shivered. Knowing that today's topic was coming, they quickly nodded in agreement.

He Shen chuckled, picked up the wine glass and said, "Come on, let's all have a drink first. We are always taught by the emperor and his old man on weekdays, and now there is such a smell in his speech unconsciously. Don't take it to heart, I will do it first as a respect." !"

The three of Quan De hurriedly said: "Where is it, Lord Zhongtang's lesson is also for my good, it should be us respecting Zhongtang."

Liu Quan, who was waiting on the side, drooped his face, and filled the four people with wine jugs.He Shen glanced at it, and reprimanded: "It's rare to be happy today, who are you showing a bitter face to?"

Liu Quan finished pouring the wine, hugged the jug and said, "I'm full of money right now, so I'm worried for my lord!"

He Shen said: "It's your turn to worry about important national affairs, so don't mention these disappointing words!"

Liu Quandao: "So much money! I'm so worried these days that I can't sleep well every day. Can I, a slave, not be worried?"

He Shen's complexion changed when he heard the words, he put down his wine glass and sighed, "You idiot slave, you have ruined my master's elegance!"

The three people present are all people who are more delicate than monkeys, and they are all clear about the meaning of the performance of the two masters and servants.After a hasty look at each other, Quande first smiled and said: "Zhongtang doesn't have to be like this. You usually treat me with kindness and righteousness. Now that we have difficulties, we can't just stand by. Although the imperial court treats the Yanzheng and Tongzheng cards very much It's tight, but even if I pick it out from the corners and corners, I will definitely be able to scrape together some scattered silver coins in return. Zhongtang, can you give me a count?"

"Okay!" He Shen smiled, raised his hand and extended a slap.

"Hmm." Quan De frowned, and asked tentatively, "50?" He hesitated for a moment, then nodded with difficulty and said, "Okay, the Salt Administration will offer 20."

The other two also hurriedly said: "We each contributed 15 to the Tongzheng of the two places."

But after the three of them finished speaking, they saw that He Shen's slap was still stretched out.Quan De said: "Zhongtang, what do you want?"

Liu Quan on the side sneered, "500 million!"

"Ah!" The three of them were dumbfounded when they heard that.

Quande cried and begged: "500 million! Zhongtang, even if you add up all the money collected from the 27 salt roads in the world, you still can't make up so much money! If the imperial court audits the accounts, how will you explain it to me?"

The committee member of Tongling also said anxiously: "Tongling has offered 15 yuan, and the humble job is already going to be sold out. If it is paid again, the humble job will have to go to the streets to beg for food!"

The Yunnan Copper Committee member also hurriedly said: "Yes! Last time there was a disturbance in the copper mine, and all the money I saved was lost! Zhongtang, you know about this."

He Shen's complexion gradually turned cold, watching the three people opposite them perform to their heart's content.But the three of them talked, their voices became lower and lower.

"Speak, keep talking. Pretending to be poor and complaining, why don't you say anything?" He Shen continued with a sneer, "I really don't see it, all of them are pretty good at acting, and they all catch up with Shuangqing Wei Changsheng from the Ministry is born!"

With a sound of "Pa!", He Shen jumped up, startling the three of them.

"Who do you three think you are?! Huh? How dare you fool me!"

He Shen raised his hand and pointed at Quande: "You! The official sells private salt, and the two ends collect money. In the past two years, you have collected at least 300 million taels? Don't think that I can't handle you without accounting! July 20th in Suzhou Where did the confiscated private salt go? It was you Quande who said that you would share half of it at the meeting? This sum alone is [-] taels of silver! Do you really think that this is done seamlessly?
On the 22nd of last month, you drank flower wine and slept with a whore named Ainu in Suzhou, and you spent 640 taels of silver in one night.So rich!Brother Quan, why are you pretending to be fasting with me? "

Quande broke out in a cold sweat, thinking that whether it was private salt or love slave, he thought he was doing it in an extremely secretive way, how could He Shen know about this kind of thing?

He Shen said that he was perfect, and glared at the other committee member: "There are two pieces of material from you! Partnered to privately smuggle the copper mines of the imperial court, using the copper mines of the imperial court as their own vegetable garden, and sell the radishes out when they are pulled out! Qianlong 48 What happened to the [-] catties of Yunnan copper in Jiangning Shen in [-]? Do you want me to continue talking! It’s really unscrupulous, bastards add three catties!"

He took a sip of the tea offered by Liu Quan, and said in a deep voice, "It's really cheap for the three of you to spit out 500 million taels now! We always think about being ministers of the same court and taking care of each other's face. That didn't break things apart."

He Shen slapped the table again, and the three of Quan De trembled in fright. "But today, the three of you are really shameless! Why don't you make a fuss today!"

The three of Quande knelt down on the ground in a "putong", and begged in cold sweat: "Zhongtang, don't get angry, don't get angry, don't be as knowledgeable as the little ones. Your old man knows thousands of miles, and what you say is the truth. You can't get rid of the official Lai. But whether it's the Yanzheng or the Tongzheng, it's all a mess! Zhongtang, you can't take the loss of your predecessor as a small thing."

Seeing that He Shen's face was getting colder and colder, Quan De gritted his teeth and said, "See if this works, we will pay for the money! However, even if we sell the pot and sell the property, we really can't make it up. No, would you like to make an IOU? Our Lianghuai Salt Administration gave 250 million, and the two of them each gave 120 million, do you think?"

He Shen changed his expression and said with a smile: "Success, whatever happens! As long as I can raise the money the emperor wants, let alone borrowing it, I will do it even if it is murder and arson!"

He turned to Liu Quan and said, "Quan'er, write them an IOU!"

After Liu Quan finished opening the IOU, He Shen took it, folded it with a smile and put it in his sleeve.He is in charge of the Ministry of Households himself, and the imperial court borrowed money from Lianghuai Salt and Tongzheng. For Heshen, it was just a matter of left hand and right hand.

The three of Quande were so manipulated by He Shen that their calves were twisted. Now they were kneeling on the ground with extremely ugly faces.

He Shen laughed, stepped forward to help the three of them up, and said in his mouth: "Why are you three like this? Come and drink. It's just a matter of happiness when friends are together. This is the imperial court borrowing money from you. What's so scary? of."

The three of Quande forced a smile at this time, which was uglier than crying. They raised their glasses to respect Heshen, and then drank it down.

Two days later, Qinggui received 300 million taels of military expenses from Heshen, and couldn't help feeling deeply moved.He didn't expect that He Shen could actually make money.

Seeing Qinggui's hesitant expression, He Shen didn't make it difficult for him, and said: "Brother Shuzhai, Zhao Ni is cunning, I have a deep understanding. This time you go north, you must be more careful. If you don't have enough money, just ask I!"

Qing Gui's chest felt sore, he didn't expect that the one who supported him the most was He Shen, who repeatedly bowed his hands in salutation.

A few days later, after Qinggui went north, Liu Quan went south with 20 taels of silver notes.He is going to Flower and Bird Island on this trip, and ordered another batch of pearls, large pieces of plate glass and pocket watches from Zhao Xin and the others.Speaking of which, the batch of 83 taels of silver that Ma 2 brought back last time caused a sensation in Jiangnan and the capital, and the supply exceeded demand.These products from the so-called "Ainu country" have become sought-after items for princes and ministers in Beijing and rich people from all over the country.

(End of this chapter)