A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 596 Chongzhen is a Good Emperor

Wang Dou watched coldly. During the reign of Chongzhen in history, the factional struggles between officials in the north and south of Ming Dynasty were very fierce. The party, speech officials and party disputes continued.

And among the various factions, they fight each other, which is very chaotic. Perhaps, only when they deal with the military general Xungui, they will be united again. On the surface, Chen Yan makes Ni Yuanlu look bad, but in fact, why not relieve him? The idea of ​​letting the imperial court organize and train the new army is in vain?
Sure enough, the new Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs sighed: "Jiangnan has heavy taxes, and the taxes rank among the highest in the country. If there are more taxes, I am afraid that it will stir up civil uprisings."

He said: "Furthermore, just like in the north, everywhere in the south of the Yangtze River, there are also endless famines, and the people live in wailing."

He gave an example: "In spring and summer, there was a severe drought in Suzhou Prefecture, and the price of rice was four taels of silver per stone. In spring, there was a famine in Taicang Prefecture, and in summer, there was a severe drought in Huzhou Prefecture, and migratory locusts covered the sun. The seedlings and reeds gathered here When the food is exhausted, the people peel off the bark, sawdust, chaff and chaff for themselves, or dig the white mud from the mountains for food.

Having said this, his voice was choked up, and when he talked about the suffering of the elders in his hometown, he also looked excited.

Emperor Chongzhen was silent, yes, everywhere in the south of the Yangtze River, there was either a severe drought or a severe flood, and the same starved to death. The people were struggling, and the Ming Dynasty was really exhausted.

Coincidentally, none of the cabinet members talked about the taxation of wealthy families, not to mention that Yang Sichang's tax was attributed to the "powerful family", or Xue Guoguan's asking officials and wealthy businessmen to donate money and food, all proved to be unworkable. The final burden is only It will be passed on to ordinary farmers, causing more people to go bankrupt and forming a larger wave of refugees.

It is better to let them bear the final consequences, and it is better not to talk about dismissal.They didn't even dare to come to the real thing. Which of these cabinet members was not from a big landlord or a big merchant family?Is there any reason to let yourself lose your privileges and pay taxes for the country?
Chongzhen had no choice but to watch the cabinet members fight a war of words, or unanimously say the same thing, or attack each other, but there is only one thing in common, and they couldn't come up with a key and effective plan, and he felt exhausted physically and mentally.

All the newly promoted princes here are also disappointed. These literati are cursing and arguing, but they can't afford money and food. Do they have to figure out their own way to organize and train the new army?

Wang Dou also sighed. The end of the Ming Dynasty was a dead end. Big businessmen, big officials, and honorable military generals occupied [-]% of society's resources. They didn't want to contribute. Can those small people save the decline?It will only make things worse.

Finally, Chongzhen sighed: "About saving money, what's Ni Aiqing's trick?"

Regarding this point, Ni Yuanlu has also done a lot of homework. He can be highly expected by Emperor Chongzhen, and he has his own means. He respectfully said: "Return to Your Majesty, save money and money, and I have several strategies: the story, the various borders pay the secretary." The poor, my minister, please change the big one, order the nuclear army to be cleared, and those who are incompetent will be sent to replace them, with the same food and salary, you can get elite soldiers."

Emperor Chongzhen pondered for a long time, nodded slowly, and Ni Yuanlu said again: "The story, the court has repeatedly sent ministers to supervise the four directions to rent taxes. The ministers thought it would be useless to disturb the people, so they can be dismissed. Instead, they should be responsible for the supervision, so that the governors can urge themselves, and don't bother the court." Envoy. Since the rise of the army, in addition to regular offerings, there are border pay, new pay, and training pay. There are many items, and crooked officials are easy to become traitors. Please join them as one."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded again, and the rest were also in deep thought.

The previous one hurts the warriors because it reduces the space for them to eat and drink the blood of soldiers.

And the last one, if it is done, will benefit both the army and the people. It's just that the treacherous officials of the local rich and powerful families are afraid of disapproval, so they deceive their subordinates and conceal their superiors.

Finally, Ni Yuanlu said: "I would like to discuss the strategy of farming."

He glanced at Wang Dou, smiled and said, "This is also the spiritual thought I got from Yongning Hou."

When everyone was puzzled and Emperor Chongzhen's face changed slightly, he said slowly: "The minister's performance of Chen Tuntian's eight things."

"One is the military settlement. Now the army buys the official settlement, and the civilians occupy the military land. It is passed down from generation to generation, so there is no need to inquire about it, but the book report is for the collection, that is, the collection is changed from the color to the true color."

"The second is the people's village. Where there is idle land that can be cultivated, if you show it to recruit soldiers, civilians and merchants, if you are willing to donate money to cultivate it, then you will be given a permanent job."

"Three are military garrison. Use soldiers to fight when there is something to do, and use soldiers to cultivate when there is nothing to do. Seven points are still used to defend the city and three points are used to farm."

"The fourth is commercial settlements, which are awarded titles according to the amount of land cultivated. The fifth is water settlements, where southerners who study water conservancy are recruited to save their original land, so that there will be no open land and no leftover benefits from the water. The department will start after three years. The sixth is land Tun, choose a barren land, grow mulberry jujubes, do whatever you want, and never grow up."

"Seventh is the crime of abolishing the opening of the village. The eighth is the establishment of officials. The special minister is dedicated to the affairs of the village, and the officials are set up to separate the management. It is lenient to discuss with the officials, and it is delayed by the years to make it easy to act."

Emperor Chongzhen followed his advice, and Wang Dou thought about it carefully. If Ni Yuanlu's strategy is popularized, it will indeed be a great benefit for the country, but it is difficult to make it effective.

Seeing Ni Yuanlu, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, talking about money, Emperor Chongzhen nodded from time to time, Longyan was very happy, Chen Xinjia couldn't help but stare, and said: "About increasing income and reducing expenditure, I also think of a strategy."

After listening to Ni Yuanlu's strategy, Emperor Chongzhen felt a lot better. He smiled and said, "I know that Chen Aiqing knows about military affairs, but also knows about financial affairs when I don't know? Come quickly and let me listen."

Amidst the echoing laughter from the crowd, Chen Xinjia cheered up and hurriedly said, "My minister obeys the order."

He was impassioned: "The minister sees the opportunity to defend against the bandits now, and cares about the wealth and safety of the people!"

He said: "In my humble opinion, every time the governor marches, he must fake a sharp handle. The minister thinks that all the affairs of casting and swans can be heard cheaply. He said that if he spends all his money, he will win."

"In the Song Dynasty, all the family members of the border generals were fed by the county magistrate, and the city rent was negotiated and taxed, and they were all donated to them. Every general had a gold medalist, a master of cattle and wine manuscripts. In the end of the Song Dynasty, there were like clouds of famous generals. This is the reason for this. The method of generalization makes it difficult to be valuable and easy to be rich. It is also said that if you are extremely expensive, you will be arrogant, and if you are extremely rich, you will be brave.

Emperor Chongzhen held back his anger and listened, his expression was not good. At this time, Daming was not the old Song Dynasty, and his control over the governor of Bianzhen was greatly weakened.

When Chen Xinjia made this strategy, didn't he turn the local area into a warlord?The so-called city rent tax was donated. This is a fact at this time, but it is carried out secretly everywhere. The imperial court still enjoys the righteousness. Let them be made public. How will the imperial court control it in the future?

Wang Dou is a typical representative of the City Rent Discussion Tax, donated to it, do you still want to see another Wang Dou in Ming Dynasty?
But looking at Chen Xinjia's look of anticipation, waiting for his praise, Emperor Chongzhen knew that he was doing bad things with good intentions. It is indeed a good strategy, and I will definitely think about it.”

The generals in the nearby border towns, who had a high level of education, such as Wu Sangui and others, understood Chen Xinjia's words and couldn't help but feel good about him, while Wang Dou shook his head inwardly. , uttering inappropriate words.

In the end, there was a long dispute, and there was no way to talk about the food and pay for the new army. Now that the new army is going south to suppress the thieves, the money and food needed have to be thought out in many ways. .

Fortunately, during the Battle of Jinzhou, both the Ming and Qing Dynasties needed to rest, and the side troubles would not resume in a short period of time, so Emperor Chongzhen felt at ease. Taking this opportunity, he hoped to wipe out the bandits as soon as possible.

He looked at Wang Dou who didn't say a word, a complex expression flashed in his eyes, he forced a smile again, raised his glass and said, "Drink to your heart's content."

Under the surprised eyes of everyone, he put down his cup and said, "The Marquis of Yongning will follow me."

……

Wang Dou followed Emperor Chongzhen and some confidant guards and eunuchs, through an exquisite hanging flower gate, and came to another pavilion.

Entering the pavilion courtyard, the cold air invades, and you can see the rockery pool in the courtyard, a wide pavilion built on several layers of bluestone steps, with several plum trees in full bloom beside it, and in the pool below, there are blossoming lotus leaves.

It's just that the buildings and plants seem to be in decline.

In the pavilion, there are only two cases facing each other. On the front side, there is wine and water on it. They are not far away. Among them, next to the imperial seat, there are big eunuchs Wang Dehua and Wang Chengen. Behind them, there are also several small eunuchs.

Among them, Wang Desheng, a young eunuch whom Wang Dou had seen, also stood respectfully behind Wang Chengen, seeing Wang Dou coming with Emperor Chongzhen, with a surprised expression on his face.

It was the first time for Wang Dou to have such a private conversation between monarchs and ministers. He secretly guessed in his heart, and glanced at a small pavilion not far from the pavilion. I don't know who it is.

Before arriving at the case, Emperor Chongzhen smiled and said, "Marquis Yongning, please take a seat."

Wang Dou first apologized: "I am guilty of death. I went out of the fortress without the permission of the Holy Majesty, and because of rumors... I am guilty. Please punish me by the Holy Majesty."

Emperor Chongzhen's face softened, his heart warmed up, and he sighed: "I don't blame Aiqing. I know about the affairs of the court. If I inform you in advance, I will definitely leak the war situation and make the eastern captives take precautions. Change."

This time in the Liaodong incident, the Jingbian Army Grassland Front Army was indeed the last straw that broke the camel's back. Chongzhen's words to prevent the leak of the war situation were also to give Wang Dou a step down.

Wang Dou bowed again, and took a seat under the guidance of an eunuch. He felt that several eyes were on him in the attic opposite, and it was difficult to look up.

Emperor Chongzhen stared at Wang Dou. When he first heard Wang Dou's name, he was just a mere defender. After a few years, his contribution became more and more important. exist.

As long as he is on the battlefield, he will create miracles, and no means can stop him from making great achievements.

At this time, the sky was getting dark, and the two monarchs and ministers were talking. Emperor Chongzhen first opened his mouth to gossip, talking about his son and daughter in a fatherly tone, with expectations and anger in his heart.Wang Chengen and others behind him all smiled, and it was rare to see such a gentle and friendly side of the emperor.

The little eunuchs who stood there watched Wang Dou secretly with admiration.

Wang Dou also talked about some interesting things about his sons and daughters. For example, his daughter Wang Yao likes to climb up and down on her body, using herself as a tree, and the eldest son Wang Zheng, when he was young, he often sneaked on the maid's ass to make himself angry Very.

Wang Dou's words caused Emperor Chongzhen to burst into laughter from time to time, making the atmosphere of the meeting between the monarch and his ministers very relaxed.

In the attic opposite, there were bursts of snickering from time to time, and the voice seemed to be a woman.

(End of this chapter)