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

Chapter 737 The sky is about to perish!

Right now, the storytellers and theatrical troupe members in more and more places have become peripheral personnel of the shogunate's intelligence department. With a fixed salary every month, they can safely support the family. Even the better the publicity effect, the more rewards, so With full enthusiasm, they all devoted themselves to touting the cause of the shogunate.

Sometimes the rigid newspaper text, under their singing, becomes turbulent and colorful, predicting what will happen next, please listen to the next chapter to break it down, I don’t know how many listeners’ hearts are like a group of little mice scratching, itchy and hard to scratch .

Under their propaganda, not to mention the poor people in Xuanda who have no land and little land, the rich people are also moved. What they all like to see is the stability and tranquility of the Anbei Protectorate in the future.

After all, the three towns of Xuanda, except Wangdouxuanfu Town, are not rich, let alone stable.

Shanxi has always been a place with many people and little land, and the annexation is very serious. The rich have endless fields, and the poor have no land to stand on. Coupled with repeated droughts, natural disasters and man-made disasters, bandits are everywhere, especially if there are as many bandits as a cow's hair, they are richer. People, likewise, feel insecure.

In fact, there are rogues and bandits everywhere in Daming, plus the people abandoning their homes. It is impossible to say that there is no cultivated land and wasteland. Moreover, the northern land is in constant drought, and the people leave their homes. The wasteland can be reclaimed.

But, do the common people dare to farm with peace of mind?
The big ones are rampant and rampant, and the small ones are full of small robbers near the county government. Maybe before the peace is settled, some bandits and refugees will burn and kill them. If they barely accumulate a good family business, they may be ruined one day. The food in the house, chickens, ducks, cattle and sheep were all robbed.

People say that "don't worry about poverty, but worry about inequality" is terrible, but what is even more terrible is "not worry about poverty, but worry about anxiety".

Even if you are poor, a stable living environment will always give you the hope of survival, but if you are precarious and there is no tomorrow, you will be in constant fear.

The kind-hearted people who can barely survive, under threats from all sides, for the safety of their lives, finally have to abandon their homes and join the army of fleeing from famine, becoming a wave of refugees, and then destroying more homes, causing a vicious circle until the overall situation collapses.

Living in this world, the most fearful thing is that there is no sense of security, and this is something that Yongninghou Wangdou can absolutely guarantee.

Under his rule, bandits and thieves are almost extinct. As long as they obey the law and work hard, everyone can live and work in peace and contentment.

Now everywhere in Shanxi, Shanxi Town, Datong Town, and the depths of the province, after all, it is not under the jurisdiction of Wang Dou, and he does not make money from hunting bandits now. , How can we eliminate bandits?

Wang Dou suppressed the bandits at the time, but he used several measures to combine the suppression of bandits with civil affairs, and the strict local Baojia system. How could Wang Pu and the others do it?

The poor, the hungry, the refugees, staggering on the road in groups, they are driven by hunger, they are forced to survive, and they can do anything.

The bandits in the mountain nest are ready to move.

Facing the prying eyes of wolves and tigers around, there are voices of attacking and eating rich people everywhere, some wealthy people are restless, and more people form villages to protect themselves, but how can ordinary people do it?
Living under Wang Dou's rule and living a stable life has become the choice of many people. Even if some people in Xuanfu Town do not live as well as them, a stable environment is enough.

Moreover, the people of the country follow the principle of the three caves of the cunning rabbit. There are Zhuge Kongming and gold jade in front, and the sages of the Liaodong ancestors in the back. It is called blooming on all sides, blooming everywhere, and there is always a branch that is bright and lush.

What's more, the land and pastures in Monan are not expensive. The middle and low-grade fields are about one mu and one tael of silver. After a few years of cultivation, they can be passed down to the family for generations. Set up a foundation for your family?
In fact, there is no shortage of wasteland in Shanxi. Governments in various places are also encouraging land reclamation. They often promise preferential treatment such as five or ten years without paying money and grain, but to the common people, what the local governments say is false. Finally cultivated, does it belong to oneself?

In the chaotic environment, can the family wealth be kept in the end?Will there be rogue bandits coming to rob?Whether there will be wealth or life, etc., involves the consideration of various aspects such as government credit and confidence.

It's a pity that the Ming Dynasty's court credit is almost zero now. Your government says that you won't collect taxes for ten or five years, and you won't charge a penny for land reclamation. will get to this point.

Besides, your current official is okay, what should we do if the next official turns his face and denies anyone?This is called death!
For Wang Dou, many people scolded him, but they believed in his credit and confidence. In particular, Lai Mancheng discovered the gold mine in the land, and it was still his private property. The news spread, it really shocked the provinces of Ming Dynasty, and it also shocked Wang Dou. Credit is more deeply rooted in people's hearts.

Even though the newspapers in front of you have to buy even the barren land, you have to pay taxes in the next year...

That's right, although the Marquis of Yongning is a bit greedy, he is still a real person.

……

Wherever the newspaper went, whether it recruited officials or opened up land beyond the Great Wall, many people were moved. Of course, there are all kinds of people with different interests and different objects of concern.

The north wind is wrapped in light snow, which falls sometimes tightly and sometimes slowly, and the eaves of this guild hall are white.

The house is warm, the charcoal fire is burning red, the exquisite hot pot is boiling and steaming, and the small wine is still warmed on the copper rack next to it, keeping the temperature moderate at all times. With the steam rising, the tempting aroma of wine and vegetables It's tangy.

Wrapped in a fur coat, Wang Pu sat and ate and drank with his general Wang Zheng, and listened to Chief of Staff Tian next to him read the newspaper and comment a few words from time to time, which was very pleasant.

Wang Zhengdao: "The Marquis of Yongning openly recruits officials like this, is he not afraid of the court's suspicion? And the structure of the shogunate is also openly reported, are you not afraid of outsiders getting to know the secrets?"

Wang Pudao: "This is majestic. The Marquis of Yongning has achieved great power. What are you afraid of? The structure of the shogunate is placed in newspapers for people to read openly. There is a poem called: I don’t know the true face of Mount Lu, and I don’t understand the inner truth. In the end, it’s just imitation. ,well……"

Wang Zhengdao: "General, it's a good thing that the Protectorate's government wants to collect refugees and disaster victims in Xuanda... I'm afraid that even the tenants will run away?"

Wang Pu said: "It's okay, it's a good thing that the poor ghosts are gone. The sages said that they would not pick up the lost things, and they would not close their doors at night. Without the poor ghosts, Datong Town will have the opportunity to realize this kind of sage atmosphere..."

"The Ministry of Civil Affairs said that the Anbei Bank, which is currently established, will make the best of the strength of businessmen from the three Jin Dynasties. The capital injection will reach 1000 million taels of silver, and the maximum annual interest rate on deposits will reach three cents... This newspaper interviewed the deputy minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the bank's president Tian In Changguo, Tian Xingchang said: "If you have silver and gold, don't put them in the cellar to get moldy. Especially those who make silver winter melons are even more stupid... Don't hesitate, take them all out to save money, the highest three-point profit Every year, the interest alone is enough to eat and drink. Let me tell you a little bit, the generals of the Jingbian army, the officials of the shogunate, and at least hundreds of officials' wives have deposited their private money in the Anbei Bank. You are all shrewd I will not say more about Lao Tian...', the Ministry of Civil Affairs said that in the future, the salaries of officials will also be distributed to everyone through passbooks, so as to completely prevent embezzlement by officials!"

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Wang Pu interrupted Staff Officer Tian's reading of the newspaper. He stroked his mustache and said in thought: "Tell me, is Anbei Bank reliable? Someone has already found Technician Yang and the others. They cast silver melons. It's a must in Shanxi, it's very hard to invite you when you're free..."

Wang Zheng was also very puzzled: "It's the first time I heard that the bank has an annual interest rate, which is very good, but the Anbei Bank is not doing good things, right...how do they manage it?"

Although there were many banks in the Ming Dynasty at this time, not only did deposits have no interest, but they also had to pay storage fees, and the cashing of money was limited to the local area, and remittances in different places would not appear until at least the end of the Qing Dynasty.

If large quantities of money were transported from other places, they were all escorted by escort agencies at this time, which was one of the reasons why escort agencies flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

I heard from the newspaper that not only does saving money earn interest, but it can also be transferred in different places, which is a good thing.

It's just that he doesn't understand, if all the good things are given to the customers, how can the bank survive?

Chief of Staff Tian snickered and stroked his goatee. He claimed to be resourceful, and he really cared about this aspect of things on weekdays.

He said: "It's nothing surprising. It's easy for banks to survive, just lending money. Besides, didn't the newspapers say that? There are fees for deposits and withdrawals. Although it is not much, thousands of people come down and accumulate sand into towers. Annual profits are impressive."

He said: "The bank gives annual interest, do you think it has good intentions? I will deposit money in, and if the money is handed over to the bank for use, factories and workshops will be opened in various places. If there is insufficient money and food, I will go to the bank. Asking for a loan, how much is the annual interest? Just lending money every year, the bank can make a lot of money, don’t the money houses in various places do it like this?”

Wang Pu stroked his chin: "It makes sense."

Wang Zheng also felt relieved. In this way, Anbei Bank is still reliable. He decided to take out half of his money and deposit it in the bank. All the generals in the frontier army have saved money, so what are you afraid of?
Moreover, he understands the character of Marquis Yongning, and the bank is the property of his shogunate, so he will not lose everyone's money.

Wang Pu also made up his mind. When the Anbei Bank was established in Datong Town, he would save half of the silver in his cellar to the bank to earn interest. When he remembered something again, he said with a smile: "Once the bank is established, all parts of Shanxi will lend usury money." It will be miserable.”

Right now in Ming Dynasty, there are few big landlords, big officials, and big businessmen who don’t lend usury, but Wang Pu doesn’t care anymore. Usury is just one of his family’s businesses. The usury money.

Chief of Staff Tian also smiled and said: "That's right. Back then, Marquis Yongning opened a grain store and money bank on East Road, and he killed those loan sharks to death. In addition...now everyone is afraid. Anyway, big businessmen from Shanxi joined us." In the commercial bank, the rest are mostly small fish and shrimp, how can they be the opponents of the bank?"

They chatted for a few words, and stopped talking about this, but talked about the court affairs that had been explored.

The imperial envoys are about to arrive. I heard that Li Banghua, the censor of Zuodu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, is the leader and has brought a reward from the court. Wang Pu is very interested. What will the court reward him for?
On the side of Datong Town, the intelligence was also under the control of his confidant general Wang Zheng, he was a little hesitant and didn't know whether to speak or not.

When Wang Pu urged and urged, and got impatient, Wang Zheng stammered.

Wang Pu had a strange expression for a long time, Wang Zheng and Chief of Staff Tian squinted at each other, they were all peeking at Wang Pu.

After a long time, Wang Pu burst out laughing, laughing so much that tears almost came out, he stood up abruptly, and shouted: "100 taels of silver, I'm only worth 100 taels of silver?"

He sneered and said: "The imperial court is too low-end, no wonder the river is in decline!"

Wang Zheng was indignant: "Yes, the imperial court is too low-end, it is generous compared to Lord Yongning."

There was a smile on Wang Pu's face, Wang Dou really had nothing to say, when he came back from this battle, he would clear up his benefits with a few words on the way.

The distribution of gold, silver, cattle and horses, business participation is just idle, especially in the land outside the side wall, Fengzhen, and from Fengzhen to the west, until the original Yulinwei large area, let them manage by themselves, only require food or other crops Priority purchase rights.

To the west of Datong Town, the Hun River exits from Pingluwei, passes through Weiyuanwei, and now Yulinwei, exits Shahukou, goes north and then turns west, and flows into the Yellow River. When the Hunhe River reaches the side wall, Wang Dou draws it to himself , What a wide area.

Think about it, although his Wang family occupies a lot of land in Datong Town, but there is a piece of land in the east and west. How can there be such a continuous piece of land and pasture?But Marquis Yongning did not hesitate.

Wang Pu suddenly decided to deposit all the money in the cellar in the bank. There is really nothing to worry about. With Wang Dou as a person, how could he lose everyone's money?Besides, counting the money safely and enjoying the benefits, isn't it a joy?
Thinking of the future, Wang Pu got up excitedly: "By the way, what did the Lord Hou say on the way?"

Wang Zhengdao: "It seems that what the Marquis of Yongning said, what is it called? By the way, Datong Town also has advantages. It is a place with a good supply of raw materials and rough processing of products. It is said that the people of Datong Town should also have enough to eat. "

Wang Pudao: "Well, our Datong Town should indeed be prosperous and prosperous. We must have a closer connection with Xuanfu Town and Anbei Protectorate."

……

The swirling snowflakes suddenly turned into falling goose feather snow, and the guarding Zhongguan Mansion in Xuanfu Town only heard the sound of abacus like torrential rain.

A young eunuch was reading a newspaper, and the guardian eunuch Du Xun seemed to be listening, but he didn't seem to be listening.

With the ledger in front of his eyes, he turned pages from time to time with one hand, and typed non-stop in calculations with the other hand. He didn't look at the abacus at all, but he could calculate each and every data clearly, just like the computer masters of later generations. blind typing.

The sound of the little eunuch reading the newspaper beside him did not affect his settlement at all, and suddenly he screamed: "Why is there 250 taels of silver that don't match? Where did the money go?"

The accounting eunuch knelt down resolutely, but he was a young eunuch with a clever expression.

Du Xun jumped up all of a sudden, and hit him on the head. He was heartbroken: "You dare to covet even our family's money. The great Ming Dynasty is ruined by you people."

The little eunuch hugged his leg and howled: "Grandfather, please forgive me. On the younger one, there is an 80-year-old mother, and there is... If there is no... let's spare this time."

Du Xun kicked him away and said with a sneer: "There is an 80-year-old mother? You are not yet twenty, how old is your mother when you were born?"

The little eunuch fell silent for a moment, and said, "Your servant made a mistake, it's grandma."

Du Xun squinted at him: "Grandma? Grandma's age is wrong, right?"

The little eunuch was dumb again, just begging hard.

Du Xun walked in the hall with his hands behind his back: "I didn't say anything, this kind of evil spirit must be severely punished! You go back immediately and pay our family a fine of [-] silver dollars, one less. Carefully, our family peeled your skin !"

The little eunuch screamed even more, and everyone around him took pleasure in other people's misfortune. This little eunuch relied on his father-in-law's doting and domineering, is he suffering now?
At the same time, they were also terrified. Eunuch Du has become addicted to fines recently, so be careful that he will be fined someday.

After driving the little eunuch out, Du Xun ordered his subordinates: "Immediately, deposit all the silver that our family puts in the cellar in the bank!"

Everyone around was stunned: "All?"

Although some of them were tempted and planned to save a little for a try, they were shocked by Eunuch Du's decisiveness.

Du Xun squinted at his followers, and said with a sneer, "Look at you poor countrymen, you don't know the beauty of this bank... I think you have been with our family for many years, I advise you to wait, there is a If you save money, hurry up and deposit it, the sooner you deposit, the more you deposit, the higher the annual interest rate, it is much better than opening a shop with your hard work... Forget it, I am too lazy to talk to you, if you understand the truth of this , and it’s not our family’s turn to sit in this military supervisor’s seat.”

Everyone around me is just obsequious, some people are tempted, some people don't think so, the money is stored in that bank, and if you hand over your lifeline to others, how can you put it in the cellar and hide it tightly? Peace of mind?
Seeing the expressions of these people, Du Xun sneered: "A bunch of pig heads are wasting our tongue."

He sat down again, looked at the ledger and thought, Wang Dou finally gave the money he had promised, but now the horse that promised him is dragging around again, this despicable person will be sloppy to himself, I really hate it.

……

The snowflakes fell bigger and bigger, covering the majestic General's Mansion in a blink of an eye. Wen Daxing hurried forward with the documents in his right hand. He didn't seem to notice the large strands of snowflakes fluttering outside the corridor. From time to time along the way, soldiers from the guard battalion in bright armor could be seen. Only stand in the cold wind.

After returning from Liaodong, this fierce man who does not accept him at night, his expression turned more cold and solemn. This time the shogunate was reorganized, he is still the head of the intelligence department. The general does not mind his physical disability, and even takes care of him. In short, Wen Daxing devoted himself to intelligence work with greater enthusiasm.

He strode forward, nodded slightly at the door, and entered one of the huge halls. He saw the general with his hands behind his back, meditating on a huge map of Monan on the wall. detail map.

The map of Ming Dynasty, because China is respected, coupled with the influence of the unity of man and nature, and the orientation of yin and yang, is actually a depiction method that goes up south and down north, that is, the north is down and the south is up, which is completely reversed from later generations.

Wang Dou wasn't used to it at first, but he gradually got used to it. In fact, many things are just a matter of habit. For example, at this time, books are read from top to bottom, right to left, and the opposite is true for later generations. Just get used to it.

Seeing Wen Daxing coming in, everyone in the hall turned their heads to look at him. They included Han Chao, Sun Sanjie, Qi Tianliang, Lin Daofu from the Military and Political Department, and Wen Fangliang, Zhong Xiancai, Zhong Tiaoyang, Gao Shiyin from the Central Military Department. , Huang Shibian and others, as well as Ye Xizhi from the Shogunate Secretary Office were in charge of taking notes.

Wen Daxing can feel that these auras are different. Although influenced by Wang Dou, most of them have their own ideals and goals, but they can have higher official positions and greater power. Isn't this a good thing?A lot of people have high-spirited expressions on their faces.

Wen Fangliang nodded slightly to Wen Daxing. Wen Daxing was originally his servant. After returning from Liaodong, Wen Daxing had a disabled arm. Isn't Wen Fangliang worried?Seeing that he is still in a high position and is in charge of the affairs of the intelligence department, isn't Wen Fangliang happy in his heart?
It's just that he is a smart person, but he is lukewarm towards Wen Daxing.

Hearing the footsteps, Wang Dou turned his head and saw that it was Wen Daxing. He smiled and said, "Brother Wen is here? It's getting cold, please sit down and warm up and have a cup of hot tea."

Wen Daxing said: "General Xie, the last general is not in a hurry, this is the information that just arrived."

Pass the document in hand to Wang Dou.

When Wang Dou took it, he was taken aback for a moment, with a strange expression on his face, and finally let out a long laugh: "Xuantong? Dorgon got a good year name."

He laughed loudly, threw the document on the table for the last time, and said with a sneer: "The sky is about to perish, and Dorgon will perish himself!"

(End of this chapter)