Chongzhen Daming: Starting from Coal Mountain

Chapter 383 Transshipment of Grain
Peng Hongshu said: "But now that you have done such a thing, my Majesty, the ministers can't argue with it."

"That's right, I'm really speechless." Peng Zhuchao and more than [-] chieftains, big and small, also complained.

"Hehe, it's really my fault to say that." Chongzhen sneered, "It turns out that I wronged you?"

"My lord, that's not what I mean." Peng Hongshu said hastily, "It's a misunderstanding, this is just a misunderstanding."

"That's right, this is all a misunderstanding." Peng Zhuchao also said hastily, "I hope the Holy One can clarify it for us."

"Enough! Will you believe this kind of words?" Chongzhen said angrily, "If you want to eat soldiers' pay and blood, but also don't want to be infamous, do you really think everyone else is a fool?"

When Chongzhen got angry, Peng Hongshu immediately fell silent.

Then they suddenly remembered that the Emperor Ming was in front of them.

"Take it away!" Chongzhen said coldly, "First check their houses to see if the salary and rice for workers are still there. If they are still there, that's all. If not, let their family members take money and food to redeem them!"

"Lead the order." Xu Yingwei immediately led the new army to escort Peng Hongpeng and other chieftains away.

After a pause, Chongzhen said loudly again: "Where are the Tu Tong Zhi and Tu Tong Judgment of each department?"

Peng Tingyu and dozens of Tu Tongzhi and Tu Tongpan stepped forward to salute Chongzhen one after another.

"You guys come with me." Chongzhen said, "Agreement on the aftermath of the Baojing Xuanwei Division and the Yongshun Xuanwei Division."

Chongzhen played this trick very well. Not only did he detain more than [-] chieftains, including Peng Hongshu and Peng Zhuchao, in public, but he also did not arouse the mutiny of more than [-] local soldiers from the Yongshun Xuanwei Division and Baojing Xuanwei Division.

Not only did it not arouse the mutiny of the soldiers, but even gained a wave of gratitude.

When these local soldiers lined up to receive money and food from the Wuchang branch of the Royal Bank, they all expressed their gratitude to Chongzhen and Daming, and lamented that they had met such a good emperor.

Good emperor, give as much as you say, without any discount.

They are still in arrears, and they have also paid them the next month's food and salary in advance. Let alone such a good emperor, he has never even heard of it. This time is really a good time.

……

But Chongzhen also had regrets in his heart, because this operation was not complete.

More than [-] chieftains of Baojing and Yongshun have been detained, and it will be logical to replace them with new chieftains such as Peng Tingyu, who are relatively easy to control.

But Ran Sanniang of Shi Nan chieftain and a dozen chieftains of all sizes were unable to do anything.

"It's a pity that I didn't make it all the way." Facing Zhu Cijiong, Xu Yingwei and Yan Yingyuan, Chongzhen sighed, "I didn't expect that the little widow Ran Sanniang would have such quick wit and such prestige."

Xu Yingwei said: "It's really a pity that Ran Sanniang also deducted a lot of money, but her words calmed down the resentment of the local soldiers in the clan, and no one took the opportunity to make trouble. In contrast, Peng Hongshu, Peng Zhuchao and others are far behind, and now it is a bit tricky, I am afraid it is not very good to send Qin Wang Shizi to Shi Nan chieftain."

That's right, dividing the relationship between the chieftains and native soldiers in western Hunan and Hubei is only the first step.

The second step is to directly dispatch King Qin's sons to take over the native soldiers of the various chieftains. Of course, they will not say it clearly at the beginning, but only say that they are responsible for paying food and salaries to the native soldiers, which is equivalent to the logistics minister.

It is conceivable that when receiving the rations every month, they would receive them directly from the prince Qin. The sense of belonging to the court will be greatly improved, and the loyalty to Chongzhen will also be greatly improved.

Then, after the Shadingzhou Rebellion is settled, there is the most critical step - to reward Entian!
As soon as the fertile land by the Dongting Lake was given, the more than [-] soldiers of various chieftains in western Hunan and Hubei immediately became the most valiant Wuchang town soldiers in the Ming Dynasty, and then the chieftains in western Hunan and Hubei lost more than [-] soldiers. After a strong man, there will no longer be any resistance to subsequent reforms.

But now, a side issue has arisen.

The more than [-] native soldiers of Shi Nanxuanfu Division have not yet been divided.

Zhu Cijiong said: "Father, or else you can directly send Prince Qin's son to Chieftain Shi Nan."

"That won't work." Chongzhen said with a wave of his hand, "Have you forgotten what your father often said to you? You must obey the rules when doing things. The higher you are, the more reverent you are, and you must use power with caution."

"Ran Sanniang has done nothing wrong now, but the imperial court insists on sending Prince Qin's son to Chieftain Shi Nan. This is an abuse of power."

"If you abuse your power, sooner or later you will be backlashed by power, so those in power must use power carefully and not rely on the power in your hands to act recklessly."

Both Xu Yingwei and Yan Yingyuan looked solemn.

He said in his heart that having such an emperor in Ming Dynasty is really a blessing to all the people.

After a short pause, Chongzhen said again: "Youzhen, Huheng, first send more than [-] chieftains in Yongshun and Baojing to send Prince Qin's scholars, and each chieftain will send ten scholars."

"Moreover, the safety of the scholars must be guaranteed."

"That's why each scholar should be assigned a sentry new army as his guard."

Xu Yingwei said: "Your Majesty, are you going to be transferred from a thousand leading soldiers, or from Xuzhou scholars?"

Du Yinxi had already brought back [-] town soldiers from Xuzhou and Guide, but only half of the [-] scholars who followed him to the south went back, and the other half stayed.

This was planned by Chongzhen long ago.

The 750 Qin Wang Shizi who were originally left in Xuzhou will serve as officers in the four towns, namely Xuzhou, Guide, Wuchang and Yunnan, with [-] Qin Wang Shizi left in each town.

"Just transfer from Xuzhou scholars." Chongzhen said.

"Just take this opportunity to let them get acquainted with the soldiers."

Yan Yingyuan said: "How to deal with Peng Hongpeng and other chieftains?"

"Close it first." Chongzhen said in a deep voice, "We'll talk about it when we get back."

As soon as Xu Yingwei and Yan Yingyuan left, Gao Qiqian came in behind.

"Long Live Lord." Gao Qiqian said with a wry smile, "Uncle Guo and the others are here."

"Kang Wanwan and the others have finally arrived." Chongzhen was overjoyed immediately, "Please invite them in quickly."

Gao Qiqian received the order, and soon led Kang Wanwan into the Xingyuan. Two plainly dressed young men came in with Kang Wanwan, but they looked shrewd.

After seeing the ceremony, the monarchs and ministers exchanged a few greetings as usual.

"Dear-in-law, how is the princess's health recently?"

The Crown Princess is pregnant with the grandson of the Zhu family, so naturally she has to take care of her.

"Hui Sheng said, the princess is in good health, she can eat and sleep." Kang Wanwan replied respectfully.

"That's good." Chongzhen nodded with a smile, then pointed to the two young men and asked, "In-law, is this the grain merchant you are looking for?"

"Returning to the Holy One, that's right." Kang Wanwan pointed to the two young people and introduced, "This is Wang Pingshan from Xiuning, and this is Hu Renzhi from Shexian County. Although they are young, they have taken over the family business for many years. .”

"What route do you usually take?" Chongzhen asked directly, "Have you ever sold food in Yunnan?"

"Returning to the Holy Lord, the Caomin once went to Yunnan, but not to sell grain." Wang Pingshan said, "It was to sell tea. The Caomin first bought tea from Fujian, kneaded it into tea bricks, and then took a big boat to Wuchang by water. Then change to a small boat and take the waterway to Tongguwei in Guizhou, and then you can only enter Yunnan by land via Pu'anwei. From Fujian to Yunnan, the waterway and the dry road are six to seven thousand miles. It takes at least half a year to travel, and it is also possible to count from Wuchang. It takes about three months to travel more than three thousand miles."

Hu Renzhi went on to say: "Caomin once went to Yunnan to sell wine, but they took the sea route. First, they took a big boat to Guangzhou and changed to a small boat, then went back to the Xijiang (Pearl River) to Anlongsi, and finally went to Kunming by dry road. , It takes at least four months to travel from Nanjing to Kunming by waterway and dry road for more than [-] miles, and the wind must be favorable."

Chongzhen said: "In other words, it takes at least four months to transport grain from Nanjing to Kunming, and about three months to transport grain from Wuhan to Kunming. Is that what you mean?"

Wang Pingshan and Hu Renzhi nodded at the same time: "That's what they mean."

"Three months is acceptable." Chongzhen said, "But the total amount of food is too much!"

Wang Pingshan and Hu Renzhi looked at each other, and then asked: "Dare to ask the Holy One, how much grain do you need to transfer to Kunming?"

"You don't need to go to Kunming, you just need to transfer to Pu'an Prefecture." Chongzhen said, "It's the end of May now, and you only need to transport 60 shi of military rations to Pu'an Prefecture before the end of August."

The 60 shi army rations can guarantee the consumption of 20 troops in nine months. The more than 10 local soldiers of the chieftains in western Hunan and Hubei, plus 10 Guangxi wolf soldiers, can quell the Shadingzhou Rebellion within three months. .

After three months of fighting and three months of marching, the rebellion should be put down in six months.

The reason why the military rations for nine months had to be transferred was to leave enough margin.

The soldiers are fierce and the battle is dangerous. If you don't leave enough margin, it will be too late to think of a solution when the situation comes to an end.

Throughout the ages, how many wars have been lost because of logistical support?

Chengzuwen Emperor Zhu Di's first northern expedition to Mongolia almost failed because of the shortage of food.

"Ah, 60 shi?" Wang Pingshan and Hu Renzhi were dumbfounded. Obviously, this figure has exceeded the limit of their imagination. They used to sell tea or wine with only a few thousand shi.

60 stone grain, how many grain ships and trackers will be used?
"Too much?" Chongzhen frowned and asked, "Can you take it?"

Wang Pingshan couldn't help but met Hu Renzhi's eyes. Both of them could see the seriousness in each other's eyes, but they also had uncontrollable excitement. Obviously, both of them had a premonition that this was not only for the two of them, but also for Hugh. The Ningwang family and the Hu family in She County are also a huge opportunity. Once this opportunity is seized, the two families will be able to take advantage of the wind.

"Caomin can take it!" Wang Pingshan and Hu Renzhi agreed without hesitation.

Taking over this business may bring catastrophe to the family because of the missed date.

But if they don't take this business, their whole life will be spent in regret.

(End of this chapter)