weaving

"Mr. Bian, there is one more thing that needs to be decided in advance."

"Oh……"

Bian Yongqing, the eunuch of the Supervisory Army, was stunned when he heard this. He didn't know what Zhang Cheng had yet to resolve and still needed to discuss it with him. However, although he had doubts in his heart, his expression remained as usual and said: "Uncle Yong Ning should also know. Our family has come to Xuanzang Town on the orders of the Emperor to supervise the army, but we don’t care about arresting people and ransacking their homes."

Bian Yongqing was not sure how far the Yongyi Army's arrest and house confiscation would eventually develop. What's more, Emperor Chongzhen had already hinted that Zhang Cheng would be left to fend for himself and he was strictly prohibited from directly participating in it.

…………

Emperor Chongzhen appeared to be very smart in handling this matter. He completely stayed out of the matter and allowed Zhang Cheng to mess with it on his own.

If Zhang Cheng's side finally gains the upper hand, it will not only dampen the arrogance and morale of the Donglin Party members, but also make them restrain themselves and not go against him everywhere.

Moreover, although most of the gold and silver confiscated from the Xuan Mansion will be put into the external treasury to make up for the court's shortfalls over the years, some of it will always go to its own internal funds.

Looking at it from the other side, even if Zhang Cheng was liquidated by the Donglin Party afterwards, Emperor Chongzhen would definitely save him at the last moment. After all, the rogue bandits were not wiped out, and the country still needed generals like Zhang Cheng.

In this way, Zhang Cheng's hand was used to alleviate the country's financial crisis, and Dong Lin's hand was used to defeat Zhang Cheng. In the end, he showed his kindness to Zhang Cheng and completely subdued his heart.

It can be seen that no matter how educated you are before sitting on the throne, once you sit in this position for a few years, you can gain some wisdom. After all, you are playing with your life!
…………

"Mr. Bian, don't misunderstand me."

Zhang Cheng explained with a smile, and then continued: "How dare you bother Mr. Fei to worry about things like dancing with a knife and a stick."

When he said this, he waved his hand and signaled Zhang Mingyuan who was waiting nearby to leave. After he and Bian Yongqing were the only ones left in the Xihua Hall, he spoke again: "Zhang Cheng wanted to discuss with Mr. Bian and confiscated it." How should the profiteers’ wealth, gold and silver, be distributed?”

Bian Yongqing smiled secretly in his heart when he heard this, and said seriously: "A traitorous merchant, a traitor to the country, a slave and a traitor, a man who has forgotten his ancestors, is a heinous crime, and cannot be redeemed by death. However, there is one thing that our family is not very clear about, and I need to ask Uncle Yongning to clear up my doubts." "

"Mr. Bian, please speak."

"I dare to ask Uncle Yongning, if all the proceeds from the seizure should not be collected into the national treasury, what is there to talk about?"

Bian Yongqing's reaction was beyond Zhang Cheng's expectation. He laughed and cursed in his heart: "What an old sly guy!"

Since ancient times, confiscation of homes has always been a bad thing, and the secret here is nothing more than the word "profit." Even in peacetime, there is still serious corruption.

For example, in Mr. Jin Yong's "The Deer and the Cauldron", when Ao Bai's house was raided, Wei Xiaobao and Suo'etu subtracted 100 million taels of silver from their books, and each of them received 50 taels of silver.

Naturally, the topic of "dividing the spoils" cannot be avoided when inspecting the properties of profiteers this time!

"The wealth of profiteers is all obtained through smuggling and enslavement. Naturally, it is taken from the people and returned to the country."

After Zhang Cheng set the tone first, he continued: "However, the Yongyi Army is about to move out to assist Henan in suppressing the bandits, but the court cannot allocate the 'departure silver' for the moment, and the official treasury of the Xuanfu is also empty. I am really in trouble."

"If not..."

When Zhang Cheng said this, he pondered for a while, and then continued: "Soldiers are bloody on the battlefield, it is not good to chill the hearts of the generals."

After hearing this, Bian Yongqing secretly laughed in his heart: "No matter how beautiful the words are, isn't it just for the money stolen from the house?"

However, he did say: "Yongning Bo's words are right. Before our family came to the Xuan Mansion, the emperor specially called me and said to me, 'The country is asking for money everywhere, and the court's financial resources have been exhausted. Although it is willing to reward The loyal and brave soldiers of Xuanzhen succeeded in relieving Jinwei, but they were determined but unable to do so.'

If you really have no money, you can only remember this matter for now, and then reward a group of meritorious soldiers when the government's finances are not so tight in the future.

But now that the house of the unscrupulous merchant has been confiscated, the money has gone into the official treasury, that is, it belongs to the imperial court, and can be used as "kaibabayin" for the soldiers to aid Henan, so why not?

What's more, the generals of the Yongyi Army did a great job in arresting profiteers and searching for profiteers this time. Naturally, they should be rewarded. Otherwise, the loyalty of the soldiers will be chilled! "

After he finished speaking, he deliberately asked: "What do you think Uncle Yongning thinks?"

"That's what I mean"

Knowing that Bian Yongqing did not object to Yongyi's army intercepting part of the money confiscated from the house and using it as military expenses, Zhang Cheng smiled with satisfaction and said: "In addition to the gold and silver, the houses and shops were also confiscated this time. , goods together, a rough estimate is that there are nearly tens of millions of assets.

However, the houses, shops, and goods here account for the majority. It is a bit difficult to realize such huge assets. I am afraid that not many big players will come out to take over.

And when it is realized, there will be some discrepancies in it. "

"It's true. The profiteers live deep in the compound, and it's hard to find a buyer for a while."

"Mr. Bian, that's what I think."

Zhang Cheng looked at Bian Yongqing affectionately and continued: "In Zhangjiakou, countless grains, iron materials, salt, and cloth have been copied. They are all goods that the imperial court has strictly prohibited from trading with each other. But now they are hoarded in Zhangjiakou in large quantities. It can be seen that they are all prepared by profiteers to transport them out of the country and sell them privately to build slaves.

In the battle of Jinzhou, the Jiannu soldiers were defeated and retreated. They did not gain any benefit. They lost troops and generals, wasted money and food, and their national power was obviously weaker than ours. After this battle, their national power will not be restored for several years, and they will no longer be able to commit crimes. I am Jinzhou.

However, this group of profiteers have no conscience and smuggle grain, iron materials, and cloth out of their mouths. In the name of mutual trade, they are smuggling and capitalizing on the enemy. Even if they are cut to pieces, it will not be enough to comfort our soldiers who died in the Liaodong War. .

The seizure of these prohibited items in Zhangjiakou is one of the evidences of traitorous merchants and slaves. Naturally, they must be registered one by one to report to the court. "

"The treacherous merchants are complicit in the slave trade and are traitors to the enemy and the country. Our family secretly reported to the emperor yesterday."

Bian Yongqing then comforted Zhang Cheng and said: "Although Uncle Yongning obeyed the authority in an urgent matter, the evidence is so irrefutable that the court will naturally not blame him. What's more... Your Majesty hates traitors who collaborate with the enemy and betray the country the most. He will not blame Uncle Yongning for killing him first and then reporting him." Maybe there will be some protection for the matter."

Zhang Cheng nodded when he heard this, knowing in his heart what Bian Yongqing meant to him. Emperor Chongzhen would not punish him for this matter.

"However, the grains, iron materials, cloth and other items confiscated in Zhangjiakou and other places are exactly the military supplies needed by our brave army to aid Henan..."

When Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng said this, he paused slightly, but saw Bian Yongqing stroking his hairless chin, looking at him with the same expression on his face, no change.

I couldn't help but sigh in my heart: "It's really not easy to be able to fight among thousands of internal prisoners in the palace and sit in this position."

Although Bian Yongqing did not answer, Zhang Cheng had to say: "What I mean is that the materials obtained from this inspection will be directly priced and converted into the military supplies needed by the Yongyi Army to aid Henan, so as not to cause this incident due to insufficient food and fodder." The efforts to aid Henan in suppressing bandits fell short!"

"Well..." Bian Yongqing finally said: "Our family has no objection to what Uncle Yongning said. However, these confiscated proceeds will be put into the imperial treasury. I'm afraid Jiang Yuxu and everyone will have to deal with this matter." It will be easier to handle if the Taiwan Prime Minister agrees."

Seeing that he had no objections, Zhang Cheng suddenly felt relaxed and said with a smile: "As long as I have my father-in-law and me, we can settle this matter."

He continued: "The cash that was confiscated is estimated to be at least several million taels. What I mean is, add two to one and make five, and put half of it into the official treasury to seal the mouth of the imperial court.

And the remaining half, we intercepted and used it as military expenses for our Xuanda official army to aid Henan Province, and as the departure silver for the officers and soldiers of the three armies.

Of course, 'leaving silver' is just a name!

Fifty percent of this money will be used by the officials and troops of Xuan Da San Town to assist Henan. The remaining fifty percent will be secretly escorted to the capital by our Yongyi Army after sealing the box to assist Henan.

It can be said that Mr. Bian and I are filial to the emperor. What does Mr. Bian think? "

"This... this is..."

Zhang Cheng couldn't understand Bian Yongqing's vague look. He smiled and poured tea for Bian Yongqing, and then lowered his voice and said to him: "I will use [-]% of the withheld military expenses as a reward." Zhang Cheng was particularly filial to his father-in-law.

Although it only accounts for less than 50% of the stolen cash, it is almost [-], so please don't be dissatisfied and accept it generously. "

"This……"

Bian Yongqing had a soothing expression on his face, and his originally smooth and fat face almost wrinkled with laughter: "I'm afraid this is not good."

"Hey……"

Zhang Cheng gently pushed the filled tea cup to Bian Yongqing and said with a smile: "Since these silvers have been allocated to my Yongyi Army to be used for military expenses, they are no longer official silver of the imperial court. Bian Gong does not need to have any money." No worries."

As he spoke, he filled the tea cup in front of him with tea again, and continued: "By the emperor's order, the Duke of the border supervised my Yongyi army. He ate, lived and drilled with my Xuanfu soldiers in the bitter cold and wild borderland of Xuanfu. , how hard it is, this can be seen by all.

Now, my Yongyi Army is well-fed and has sufficient military resources. How can I see the border master working hard for my Yongyi Army but getting nothing in return? If it spreads, it can teach Zhang Cheng how to be a man! "

Since ancient times, there has been a proverb, "Wild dogs don't bite those who poop, and masters don't bite those who give gifts." This shows how common and important gift-giving is, and the highest level of gift-giving is to not show the word "send" at all, but rather to It was like begging people to accept it sincerely, and Zhang Cheng did it.

This is a total of 50 taels of silver!

Let me ask you, who wouldn’t be moved when they heard someone else giving them so much money?
What's more, Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng has also made it clear that once the confiscated money is transferred from the official treasury to the Yongyi Army, it will be the military expenditure of the Yongyi Army and has nothing to do with the imperial government. He, Zhang Cheng, has full authority to control it. .

Furthermore, these 50 taels of silver are the hard work of all the officers and soldiers of the Yongyi Army. They are given to them by the supervisor of the army. It is equivalent to the salary paid by the Yongyi Army to their supervisor. What is the problem with this?

"In this case, if we don't accept him, I'm afraid it will weaken the hearts of the tens of thousands of loyal and brave soldiers of the Yongyi Army?"

"That's what it means."

Zhang Cheng also knew that this kind of matter was over and should not be entangled too much, so when he saw Bian Yongqing, he no longer refused, and continued the topic: "There are also many unscrupulous merchants' houses and shops that have been raided, and they are distributed in Xuan. There are some things that are difficult to deal with in the various castles in Dashan Town."

"Uncle Yong Ning's intention..."

"What I mean is that this piece can be handed over to the officials in various places and sold on the spot under the supervision of my Yongyi Army."

Zhang Cheng took a sip of tea and continued: "This part of the proceeds from the sale can be used to offset this year's taxes for the Xuan Mansion, Datong, and Shanxi Futai Yamen, and the excess can be put into the arsenal of the Governor's Yamen to be used to rectify Xuan's junior year. Put the town on defense to prevent the Tatar bandits from attacking our border wall and taking revenge!

Mr. Bian, what do you think? "

"Uncle Yongning has thought carefully, and our family has no objections."

Bian Yongqing said and added: "It's just that this matter needs the approval of Jiang Yuxu and the three ministers before it can be done!"

"It's natural."

Zhang Cheng said with a smile: "No matter what, we must first negotiate with the border officer. As for Jiang Governor and the three Futai, I have my own way to make them agree."

The expression on his face began to solidify, and he said coldly: "My Yongyi Army bears such a huge responsibility and single-handedly wiped out the profiteers who committed slavery and betrayed the country. We also uncovered several imperial officials who colluded with the profiteers in the third town of Xuanda. Rebellious minister.

Now that they have made such a great contribution in vain, and even helped him solve the tax money that has not been paid to the court in recent years, what can they say? "

"Yes. Having said that, I'm afraid it won't go too smoothly. Besides, the two princes are very angry. Uncle Yongning must be careful when dealing with it."

After hearing this, Zhang Cheng pondered for a moment and said: "The soldiers will block it, and the water will cover it. The two princes are relatives of the emperor and the same country. Naturally, they will not ruin the plan of suppressing thieves over such trivial matters.

Besides, how noble are the two princes, how can they argue with Zhang Cheng, a warrior! "

In this regard, Bian Yongqing did not answer, he just smiled lightly. Now that the division of the stolen goods was generally finalized, he stood up and left.

Zhang Cheng escorted Bian Yongqing out of the gate of Zhenshuo Mansion. He looked at the sedan chair going away and said silently in his heart: "I hope these 50 taels of white silver can enable you to 'say good things to God' for me." .”

However, he didn't know that in the sedan chair that was going away, the eunuch Bian Yongqing was closing his eyes and thinking: "This Zhang Cheng is really not simple!"

…………

Yongning Bo Zhang Cheng resolutely carried out military operations to arrest slave traders and confiscate adulterous property, which affected the minds of officials, gentry, officials, merchants and other people in Xuandasan Town.

They each sent people to find ways to find out all the information about such incidents.

The officials and generals in the three towns are now also afraid that they will be involved. From their opposition and obstruction at the beginning, to their panic now, it is obvious that the thunderous methods of the Yongyi Army have frightened them.

What is even more anxious are the other major businesses in the three towns that have not been affected for the time being. Although it is rumored that Yongningbo is only arresting slave traders this time and has nothing to do with other businesses that are doing normal business, there is no need to panic.

But everyone knew the principle of "no eggs are left unbroken after the nest is overturned". They were not sure for a while whether Uncle Yongning was really arresting the traitorous traders, or whether he wanted to take the opportunity to plunder the accumulated wealth of their various businesses. fiscal?
After all, in today's world, they have seen too many such things!

Even the governor of Xuanda, Jiang Yuxu, the governor of Xuanfu Zhu Zhifeng, the governor of Datong Wei Jingyuan, the governor of Shanxi Cai Maode, and other feudal governors rushed over and gathered in the town of Xuanfu.

Many people are waiting for the progress and results of the matter... (End of chapter)