Traveling through the Ming Dynasty, as soon as you open your eyes, you will die

Chapter 85 Jiangnan Shock

After reading the imperial edict, Luo Binggong said with a smile: "Now, you bastards are on vacation at public expense."

Everyone burst into laughter.

"I am the one who makes the decision. This time I will go undercover to promote propaganda in various places on a voluntary basis for one year. When going to places where rogues are dangerous, each person will be given ten yuan for settlement and twenty yuan for activities. When going to the south, he will be given ten yuan for funding. All military personnel will be paid. Take it as it is. Deaths and injuries will be counted as pensions in the battle. Keep ten thousand and choose twenty thousand. It is your choice."

As a result, the next day, thousands of households signed up, and there were more than 10,000 Jin Yiwei, actively going to places where rogues were dangerous.

Nearly 10,000 people chose the safety of the south.

This is the effect of heavy rewards.

Taking the compiled declaration figures, Luo Binggong came to the household department and asked Qian Tonghe for money.

Qian Tonghe, listening to the sonorous and beautiful music of the mint machine every day, his life has never been so relaxed and nourishing as now.

I'm afraid that in the entire Ming Dynasty history, no, in the entire Chinese history, the only people who controlled the Ministry of Household Affairs were the chief officials in the Southern Song Dynasty. They were worried about how to spend money, and they were all worried about lack of money.

Now that I have come out, although I don’t worry about how to spend money, I don’t worry about running out of money either.

But the more this happened, the more cautious Qian Tonghe became about spending money. He could not let Prince Ding ruin his reputation and let the Ming Dynasty's improved finances collapse in his own hands.

Qian Tonghe did not resent Lü Mou for his disability due to violent debt collection, but he regarded it as a spur and warning to himself.

This is the effect of transformation of spirit, energy and spirit. Throw away negativity and embrace positivity.

When Luo Binggong arrived, Qian Tonghe greeted him attentively: "Old commander, what kind of wind has brought you here? Do you have anything to do when you come to my poor yamen?"

Crying about poverty is already the nature of officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs. No matter how rich you are, you always have a face that won't reveal the truth at night.

Luo Binggong joked: "When I come to the temple of the God of Wealth, you don't think I'm here to find the toilet. If you want money, I'm here to ask for money."

Qian Tonghe was puzzled: "Jinyiwei's military salary has always been good every month, and office expenses must be raised by oneself. This is the rule. What more money do you want?"

Then he looked at the list number handed over by Luo Binggong, and was shocked: "There are so many, more than half a million, what do you always want to do? This won't work, this absolutely won't work."

Luo Binggong explained the Jinyiwei's mission this time.

Qian Tonghe picked up the list and said, "I'll go to the cabinet right away and apply for you." Then he went in a hurry.

After a full hour, Qian Tonghe came back. Luo Binggong asked anxiously: "How is it? Has the cabinet approved it? How much has it been approved?"

Qian Tonghe said solemnly: "The cabinet approved it, without any discounts, and all funds were fully allocated. The cabinet elders said that this time the children went out to complete a major task and to endure hardship. We cannot suffer the children."

Luo Binggong burst into tears.

This is the first time since the establishment of the Jin Yiwei organization that officials have called Jin Yiwei this way and recognized Jin Yiwei.

After receiving enough funds, 10,000 armed workers teams rushed to various places carrying official documents printed by the cabinet and stamped with the jade seal by the emperor himself.

Jiangnan has been at peace for too long and rarely experienced wars. Since the Jin Dynasty moved south, clans began to occupy land. After not many wars, Jiangnan had a situation where "there is no leftover land in the world".

The land in the south of the Yangtze River was annexed. In the Wanli year, King Xiangyang became a vassal. There was no land to be rewarded in the south of the Yangtze River and could only be allocated in the northwest. It can be seen how far the situation has reached.

Brothers Zhang Dong and Zhang Xi entered Wangjia Town, Yangzhou as refugees from the north to conduct secret propaganda work.

After spending a silver dollar, they rented a small, independent and remote courtyard and purchased necessary daily necessities. The two of them finally settled down here. Then I thought about how to open up the situation and complete the task assigned by the prince.

The war is raging in the north, and rumors are already flying in the south.

When they saw someone coming from the north, the curious people in the town followed their usual practice and visited their new neighbors with some homely things, and also came to inquire about news from the north.

Of course, the two brothers greeted them warmly, and enthusiastically let the villagers who came to visit into the house, and also brought out dried fruits and tea to entertain them. For a time, the neighbors were extremely harmonious.

An old man surnamed Zhang put down the pound of rice he had brought, drank tea, and asked with a smile: "The two brothers come from the war-torn north. I heard that Li Chuang has invaded Zhili and is approaching the capital. Our Ming Dynasty is in danger of subjugation. , is this true?"

As soon as he asked, everyone who came would open their ears and listen.

Zhang Dong nodded: "Although it is not as evil as the rumors say, it is almost the same. Although the rogue bandits did not come to the capital city, there were two groups that broke into Zhili, and they are not far from the emperor of the capital."

People's hearts sank when they heard such accurate news. It seems that Ming Dynasty is really going to die. People felt hesitant and fearful for a while.

"But, our King Ding was born out of nowhere."

"Prince Ding? Who is Prince Ding and how old he is?"

This information is blocked to such an extent that even the dignified king doesn’t know, let alone how old he is, which is really sad. It’s no wonder that the people were like this. In this era, there were no newspapers, televisions, or mobile phones, and all news depended on notifications from officials. The officials followed the policy of deceiving the superiors and concealing the truth from the people. What can be kept from the common people must never be known; what cannot be known by the common people must not be known by the common people.

The so-called "Ming Zhao Tian Xia" means that the eunuchs stood on the Meridian Gate and tied the emperor's edict with a rope to display it. However, the Meridian Gate is a forbidden area for the royal family, and ordinary people are not allowed to approach it. If you hang up, it will be in vain. It is just a formality.

That's why there is a saying that imperial edicts do not leave the capital and government orders do not go to the countryside.

Zhang Xi's eyes were full of admiration: "King Ding is the third son today, and he is only thirteen years old this year."

Upon hearing this, the villagers' hearts sank; "It's over, according to this, there are at least three sons today." In addition to a prince, there are two more princes in the world, so everyone has to prepare land for his fiefdom. The plight of the villagers in the vassal fiefdom was extremely miserable. It seems that the little land in my hand must be donated to the old gentleman's house in the village as soon as possible, so that I can still have three or two bushels left every year. ’

Zhang Dong continued the topic: "Prince Ding stepped forward. The first thing he did was to take out the furniture and jewelry from the palace, and take the maids and eunuchs to the streets to buy and confiscate goods."

Everyone was surprised: "Is the emperor so poor?"

And the hearts of those who are interested are even more tense. ‘It’s over, maybe there will be some additional taxes. Our hard days are coming. ’

"King Ding sells stolen goods not because the emperor is poor, but to raise military expenses and train troops."

Everyone was stunned. In order to protect the country, the emperor did not share the money with the people of the world, but sold his own property himself. Does the sun rise from the west this day?

Of course, violent debt collection cannot be mentioned, as it will damage King Ding's image, and he will have to clear his name in the future.

Zhang Lao sighed: "Although King Ding is young, he knows that the people are hard-pressed. In order to reorganize the army, he would rather sell his property than ask for anything from the people. King Ding is so kind."

Everyone nodded together: "Yes, yes."

Then Zhang Xi vividly and embellishedly talked about the three battles with King Ding and the three victories, driving the bandits out of Zhili, and stabilizing the foundation of the Ming Dynasty.

At that time, the villagers were just like listening to a book. Listening to it was thrilling and their blood was gushing.

"After King Ding drove away the bandits, he immediately implemented reforms in the court."

Mr. Zhang's eyes lit up. Whenever there is a restructuring, good policies will be introduced after all. You have to listen carefully to this. This may be related to the vital interests of ordinary people like myself.

Then Zhang Xi spat: "First of all, our prince is going to do it to himself. Please don't ask for any more fiefdoms."

As soon as this statement came out, the villagers were all surprised. The old man asked again: "Do the two young princes really no longer want to fief the land?"

"Is that still false? Not only do the princes no longer want to enfeoff the land, but they have also decided that the royal family in the world will support themselves and will no longer be supported by the people of the world. Even those princes now have canceled the annual tribute from the world."

Boom, the house exploded immediately, and the neighbors were all excited. This is great, now the burden on the people is much lighter.

"And -" Then, he talked about the policy of land to the tiller, the policy of exempting three wages, the abolition of all exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes, and the abolition of all corvee policies.

Mr. Zhang was trembling with excitement: "Brother, is this true?"

Zhang Dong carefully took out the announcement printed by the cabinet and stamped with the emperor's jade seal from his arms, and handed it to the old man to read: "This is the announcement from the cabinet. This is the emperor's jade seal. Is it fake? But I Let me show you, my two brothers’ lives may be in danger.”

The old man stood up solemnly and said to the neighbors in the room: "These two foreign brothers have told us so much news for our own good. No one is allowed to tell anyone what the two foreign brothers said. . If anyone tells anyone, or informs, they will be thrown into the pig cage."

Everyone nodded.

Then the old man turned around and said, "Brothers, can you hand this announcement to me? I will risk my family's lives to keep you safe."

Zhang Dong solemnly handed the official document to the old man: "Of course, please take the old man's turn."

The old man took it, read the notice on it carefully, and looked at the seal "Treasure of the Ming Emperor" on it carefully. The bright red seal was extremely clear.

In this era, no one dares to engrave an official seal privately.

The old man raised it solemnly and said excitedly to the villagers: "The Holy Emperor has come again, the emperor's grace is so great." Then he knelt down to the north, sobbing and kowtowing, and there was a bang bang sound.

When the villagers saw this, they realized that the old man in the village was like this, and they couldn't fake it anymore.

Kneel down and kowtow together, cry and give thanks together.

The old man stood up and gave a grateful gift to the Zhang brothers: "Thank you very much, brothers. You can live here in peace. The rest will not be troublesome."

Then he waved his hand to the villagers: "Folks, go home, gather your neighbors, and let's go to the tax collector Wang's family together, show the imperial edict, and ask him to recover the three wages and exorbitant taxes he collects from us."

(End of this chapter)