weaving

In the capital of the Ming Dynasty, in the warm pavilion of the Wenhua Palace in the imperial city, Emperor Chongzhen still felt a little uneasy. He seemed to be resting with his eyes closed, but actually his mind was running fast.

After a while, Emperor Chongzhen sighed suddenly, and said: "As a minister, Xie Sheng vented the matter of appeasement to the imperial court, which caused criticism from the officials. Just cut him off."

When he said this, he fixed his eyes on Chen Xinjia, and then said: "At that time, Ai Qing secretly talked with him about Donglu's appeasement, and it was too inappropriate.

However, I still have high hopes for Ai Qing's kindness as before.Don't blame the past, but you must be more cautious in the future! "

The words of Emperor Chongzhen were really aimed at beating Chen Xinjia, so that he could learn from the past and avoid making the same mistakes again.

Here, as soon as Chen Xinjia heard that Emperor Chongzhen brought up the old story of Xie Sheng again, he immediately knelt down on the ground again, kowtowing, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

He is very clear about Emperor Chongzhen's suspicious, fickle, irritable and vicious nature. Although he has gained the emperor's reliance and trust, he is always worried that disaster will happen to his armpits. All efforts were in vain.

Naturally, he also understood very clearly in his heart what the emperor meant by mentioning Xie Sheng to him at this time, he couldn't help but feel a chill running down his spine, and said repeatedly while kowtowing: "I am really guilty of Xie Sheng's matter.

Fortunately, the emperor was kind and generous, and he did not severely punish him. He still made his ministers treat the crime center, and did the work of dogs and horses.

How important is it to send Ma Shaoyu out of the customs to discuss appeasement, don't you know?
I will never dare to reveal a single word, Your Majesty Fuqi can rest assured! "

Seeing that the goal of knocking the mountain and shaking the tiger was achieved, the Emperor Chongzhen felt a little satisfied, but he didn't ask Chen Xinjia to get up immediately, but asked him lightly: "Every time I give you an edict, you must follow the order. Was it burned immediately?"

Chen Xinjia, who was still kneeling on the ground, only felt that his heart was in his throat. He forced himself to be calm, and replied: "Every time I kneel down to read His Majesty's edict, I will burn it with my own hands immediately. Words dare not remain in the world."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded in satisfaction, and then told him softly: "If you don't talk about the greenhouse tree, it's the style of the ancient minister. You should be careful!"

After beating, he ordered Chen Xinjia to stand up and answer, and then asked: "According to Aiqing, will Ma Shaoyu's trip to Shenyang go smoothly?"

Chen Xinjia didn't dare to sit down at this moment, but stood in front of the chair, bowed and replied: "In my humble opinion, although the captive's tone is tough, they are already strong outsiders and capable insiders, and there will be no excessive demands. Ma Shaoyu's trip will be very satisfying." smoothly."

Emperor Chongzhen also thought so, but he still felt uneasy in his heart, so he said: "As long as the eastern captives are willing to obey and sincerely caress, the soldiers and people in Liaodong can be temporarily peaceful. Gold and silver rewards.

You can secretly tell Ma Shaoyu to know this meaning! "

Chen Xinjia hurriedly said: "Yes, yes. My minister, I would like to obey the imperial edict."

Emperor Chongzhen asked again about the situation in the Central Plains: "The second attack against Kaifeng failed, and the troops were led back. How is the situation in Yu Province?"

Chen Xinjia hurriedly replied: "Gao Mingheng of Yufu defended Kaifeng effectively, and the situation in the Central Plains eased a bit. However, although Chuangni withdrew his troops from outside Kaifeng, he turned to attack the surrounding state capitals.

More than a dozen cities including Xuzhou, Tongxu, Weishi, Weichuan, Yanling, Linying, Changge, Xinzheng, and Sishui have all fallen into the hands of thieves, and there is no pure land around Kaifeng. Difficult to defend. "

"Wang Qiaonian, where are you now?"

Emperor Chongzhen continued to ask in a deep voice: "Zuo Liangyu, where is it?"

Chen Xinjia tremblingly replied: "Wang Qiaonian led the army east out of Tongguan last year. The last Tang Bao reported that he had arrived in Luoyang and was about to join Zuo Liangyu's troops in Kaifeng City to fight against the bandits.

However, before the army of Wang Qiaonian and Zuo Liangyu arrived, the thieves had retreated first. Wang Qiaonian reported that he wanted to join Zuo Liangyu in the city to fight against the rebellion.There are no new reports from the pond yet. "

"I heard that Wang Qiaonian dug Chuangni's ancestral grave?"

Hearing Emperor Chongzhen's question, Chen Xinjia's heart was also moved. It was rumored that Emperor Chongzhen had issued a secret decree to Wang Qiaonian, asking him to dig the ancestral grave of the traitor Li Zicheng in order to destroy his dragon spirit and make it impossible for him to do anything.

However, all these must be private rumors in the market, and they cannot be taken as true at all, and Chen Xinjia knew very well in his heart that even if this rumor was true, Emperor Chongzhen would never admit it.

He was very clear about Emperor Chongzhen's character, but after careful consideration, he decided to play it truthfully, and just listened to him: "Wang Qiaonian played it, and before he left Tongguan in the east, he secretly ordered the border guards in Mizhi County to slow down. He asked him to dig Li Ni's ancestral grave to break his foundation and defeat his ancestral virtue.

Bian Daxuan did his job sincerely. He personally led the county government officials to visit the ancestral graves of the rebels in secret. He dug a total of 16 places before and after, and finally wiped out the ancestral graves of the rebels. "

Wang Qiaonian excavated Li Zicheng's ancestral grave. There are many records about this matter, and it is not bad. However, there are different opinions on whether it was followed by the secret decree of Emperor Chongzhen.

According to legend, after Bian Daxuan, the magistrate of Mizhi County, received an order from Wang Qiaonian, the governor of the three sides, he immediately found a man named Ai Zhao, who was also a surname near Shuangquanbao, and asked him to secretly visit the burial place of the ancestors of the Li family.

But that is the grave of King Li Chuang's father and grandfather after all!
Everyone in Li Jiqian's village refused to reveal the location of King Li Chuang's ancestral grave. Bian Daxuan and Ai Zhao also searched for some relatives of the Li family, but they still found nothing.

In desperation, I had no choice but to dig around around the approximate location that I searched for. Regardless of whether it is Li Jiazu's grave or not, I would not leave any of them anyway, and I would rather dig the wrong one than let it go.

In the end, sixteen graves were excavated in succession, and only one ancestral tomb of the Li family was found. According to the local people, it was an ancestor of the Li family. Throw it all over the floor.

Later, it was said that there was still an iron lamp in the tomb of the ancestors of the Li family.

Mizhi County Magistrate Bian Daxu hastily blew out the lamp.

There is also a legend that after the lid of the coffin in the tomb of the ancestor of the Li family was pried open, everyone saw long yellow hair all over the body of the body.

There is also a small hole at the back of his skull, which is as big as a copper coin, and inside is coiled a small red snake, about three or four inches long, with two horns, and it flew straight into the sky about a foot high, facing the sun. He stuck out his tongue several times before falling down and dying on the ground.

The county magistrate Bian Daxuan found the snake's body, and after having the wax dried, it was sent to Xi'an along with the skull of the ancestors of the Li family.

The bones in the other graves were all scattered around, some were burned, and some were sprinkled with filth such as dog blood and chicken blood, and then discarded far away.

Of course, these are just folk rumors, not recorded in historical materials, and they are completely untrue. The reason why people are so far-fetched is nothing more than hoping to add some feudal superstition to Li Zicheng.

After the summoning of the Wenhua Palace, Chen Xinjia, Minister of the Ministry of War of the Ming Dynasty, walked out of the Wenhua Gate, but his heart was still fluttering and uneasy.

He deeply knew that Emperor Chongzhen was very anxious about the peace talks between the Eastern Captives. Although it seemed that Ming had the upper hand at the moment, even so, he still couldn't predict whether there would be any changes in the middle of the peace talks this time.

Suddenly, he seemed to hear the worried words of Emperor Chongzhen again: "Try to make peace with the Eastern Captives...Kaifeng can't afford to lose..."

…………

On February 23, in Qi County, Shanxi, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the gate tower at the top of the city. It seemed that the coldness of the past was no longer there, and it was really time for the earth to return to spring.

Qi County, known as "Zhaoyu" in ancient times, is located in the central part of Shanxi Province and is under the jurisdiction of Taiyuan Prefecture.

It borders Taigu County to the east, Pingyao County to the west, Qinzhou to the south, Qingyuan County to the north, Yushe County to the southeast, and Wenshui County to the northwest across the river.

More than half of the land in Qixian County is mountainous and hilly, which is not suitable for farming. In addition, this place has been the "Throughfare of Sichuan and Shaanxi" since ancient times. Therefore, there are many merchants in the county, and there are many businesses in the county. The economy is very prosperous.

The ancestral home of Wang Dayu, who is also one of the Eight Great Families of Zhangjiakou, is in Qi County. In addition, Qu Shikai, a member of the Qu family who participated in a secret meeting in Zhangjiakou a few days ago, also has his ancestral home in Qi County.

Although their Qu family is not as rich and powerful as Wang Dayu, the Changyuanhou, Changyuanchuan, and Changshunchuan they run are also well-known firms in Shanxi.

In particular, Changyuanhou's bank business is famous for benefiting Shanxi merchants, which saved Shanxi merchants from the danger of carrying money for long distances.

On this day, in a five-entry deep house compound in Xicheng, Qixian County, a father and son were quietly discussing privately, and there was not even a single domestic slave in the room, which showed how obscure the content of their discussion was.

"Father, the child thought that he should not be an enemy of Uncle Yongning!"

The speaker was none other than Shanxi Ruichangtai's young boss Wang Muchen, the eldest son of Shanxi merchant Wang Dayu, and his default successor to the next head of the family.

Looking at Yushu facing the wind, and very calm and capable son, Wang Dayu's heart was also ups and downs, and it was difficult to make a final decision.

After all, the choice this time is not the same as before. Once a decision is made, the bet is the wealth and life of the entire family, not the loss of money and wealth.

Regarding the future of the family, Wang Dayu did not dare to make hasty decisions, so after the Zhangjiakou secret meeting ended, he did not delay at all, but returned to Shanxi under the pretext of arranging to contact Wang Pu, the commander-in-chief, and hurried back in a hurry.

When Wang Muchen was married to Zhang Cheng, Qin Zichen, who had been with Datong Qiandeji, accompanied Wang Pu, the general soldier, to Xuanzhen North Road to attend the wedding banquet, and presented a congratulatory gift of 5000 taels.

Of course, his actions were not his own arbitrariness, but he was recognized by his family, and was personally recommended by Datong General Soldier Wang Pu. It was precisely because of this that Ruichangtai also obtained the right to open a business on North Road.

However, because of the face of the Eight Great Families in Zhangjiakou, their Wang family did not come forward directly, but cooperated with the Qin family of Datong to open up the market on Beilu under the name of Gandeji.

Merchants have always put their interests first. Although there are many businessmen who have a family and a country in their hearts, in the troubled times of the late Ming Dynasty, even living a good life has become very luxurious, so there is no need to talk about family and country feelings.

The reason why Wang Dayu wanted to do this was to reserve a way out for himself. After all, the foundation of the Wang family was in Xuanda Sanzhen. For every newly promoted general, he would collect information and try to establish a relationship so that Prepare for a rainy day.

Now, having just returned from Zhangjiakou, he couldn't wait to call his son Wang Muchen to discuss what to do next.

I just heard Wang Muchen continue to say: "Father did not go north personally, nor did he have much contact with Yongningbo. It is understandable that he did not know Yongningbo's ability, but father did not know Yongningbo's power, but he couldn't justify it!"

Wang Dayu didn't take offense at his son's tone. After all, he was the successor he had single-handedly trained. He didn't want Wang Muchen to be a submissive person, but he really hoped that he could have his own judgment.

"Father, Uncle Yongning was just a guerrilla general, he followed Governor Lu to fight fiercely with the slaves in Julu, and after that he killed General Yue Tuo, who built slaves and Yangwu in the Jibei formation, and he rose to prominence because of this.

And after he was promoted to be a general, he first led the troops to aid Henan, and defeated the intruders, and then led the army into the Liao Aid Jin, and once again beheaded Duduo, the Prince of Jiannurui, who belonged to Dorgon, the Prince of Jiannurui. He kissed his younger brother, and then repelled Jiannu and relieved Jinwei.

Now, he is the majestic Emperor Yongning, the general of Xuanfu Town, the general of Zhenshuo, and tens of thousands of loyal and brave soldiers under his command. How can he be defeated by a mere group of businessmen and gentry? "

Seeing that his father seemed to be thinking, Wang Muchen knew that he had initially persuaded his father, so he continued: "Father has never been to the North Road, so he doesn't know the real situation there, how can he believe it just based on the rumors from their mouths?
Mu Chen has personally experienced how North Road is. Although Yongning Bo collects commercial tax, it does not mean that we don't want to make a living for our merchants. The ministers in North Road feel that collecting commercial tax is still a great thing. "

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Wang Dayu was also quite moved, and even a little surprised. He couldn't figure it out anyway. How could it be a good thing to collect business taxes to pay out?
Previously, although he sent his son to accompany Wang Pu to the North Road to congratulate Zhang Cheng on his new marriage, he originally wanted to make a good relationship and didn't pay much attention to it. Even though Zhang Cheng had a rising trend later, he just told Wang Muchen not to break it. I didn't invest too much in this thread.

He said with a questioning expression on his face: "Come on, tell Weifu, why is it a good thing for our business to collect business taxes?"

"Father has been in the mall for a long time. You should know that it is not easy for us to do business. Not only are the roads dangerous, but the checkpoints are also severely exploited. Although there is no business tax paid, the expenses for management still account for a large part of the profit.

However, under the rule of Yongning Bo, although the merchant tax was levied, other than that, there was no need to deal with various government agents, and there was no exploitation at all checkpoints. As long as they did not carry prohibited goods, they would be released directly. "

In Wang Dayu's surprised eyes, Wang Muchen continued: "And as long as the merchants on the North Road complete the tax declaration and payment according to the type and quantity of the goods they operate, Yongningbo's soldiers will provide escorts. Even if they go to other places, they only need to pay extra. For a minimal fee.

My father also knows that the warriors under Uncle Yongning's command are all brave, not to mention the bandits and bandits, but the guards everywhere in Xuan Town. . "

"Anything like this?"

"More than that."

Wang Muchen looked at his old father, and said to him: "Father doesn't know the truth, he only listens to rumors from the outside world. In fact, under Yongningbo's rule, not all goods were taxed, and many goods with low profits were needed by the people. As long as the goods do not reach a certain amount, they are completely exempted from commercial tax."

He then added: "Uncle Yongning's move shows his love for the people and respect for business!" (End of this chapter)