Fu Shanhe

Chapter 478 The Situation Continues to Collapse

"My lord, the situation is not good."

You just arrived in Southern Zhili and didn't even have time to attend the banquet; the news shouldn't have spread so quickly.

If it was just a coincidence, then that's far too much of a coincidence!

Master Wen said with a solemn expression.

Organizing a riot among scholars also takes time.

The imperial envoy arrived in the morning, and trouble came knocking in the afternoon. No matter how fast they rushed, the scholars from all over Jiangnan couldn't get there in time.

It's impossible to just happen to bump into something; there aren't that many coincidences in the world.

Without someone to plan and guide them, even if the scholars gathered together, they would either cause trouble at the governor's office or go to the Six Ministries in Nanjing.

Wan Huaijin was an imperial envoy tasked with collecting taxes, not one in charge of military and political power in Jiangnan; therefore, his power was not unlimited.

For issues outside of taxation, it's more reliable to resolve them through local government offices.

"It seems someone is trying to intimidate me!"

Wan Huaijin said, feigning calmness.

Deep down, he was furious.

Throughout his life as an official, he cultivated extensive connections and had influential figures in all government departments, large and small.

He was highly regarded by both the government and the public.

The only mistake was not taking sides in time.

There is no room for sentimentality in politics. When partisan strife is at its most intense, anyone who is not one of your own is a target for attack.

By the time this was realized, it was already too late in the timeline.

Given his status and position, he should be a decision-maker in whichever party he joins.

Without a doubt, this is impossible.

Those who join later, rather than at the beginning, will find it difficult to gain trust, let alone become decision-makers.

There was only one path before him: to build his own independent faction and establish his own system within the court.

A high-ranking official of the second rank with extensive connections like him naturally possessed the qualifications to establish his own faction. This is how most of the numerous factions that emerged in the court came about.

A new political party is formed by gathering a group of people who share the same political ideals.

"Sir, since the other party has made a move, then we don't need to be polite."

Trying to get money out of someone else's pocket is bound to be anything but smooth sailing.

In regions like Jiangnan, where the gentry held considerable power, local government offices found it difficult to suppress them. The only thing that could instill fear in them was the local garrison.

Despite the relocation of many people, a military force of noble families still remained stationed in Southern Zhili.

If we can gain their support, we won't have to worry about not being able to collect the overdue taxes!

After Master Wen finished speaking, Wan Huaijin fell into deep thought.

He held a temporary post as Minister of Revenue in Nanjing, not Minister of War. Mobilizing local troops would require a significant investment of resources.

Regardless of which faction's army it is, if it stays stationed in a local area for a long time, it will more or less become involved with local forces.

To get help from local garrisons, the title of imperial envoy alone is not enough; tangible benefits must also be offered.

For the generals of the nobility, the civil officials, regardless of their faction, were essentially the same.

Without sufficient benefits, people won't get involved in this mess.

"Ok!"

"Master, could you go and sound them out for me?"

As long as the conditions aren't too unreasonable, I can agree to them for now.

Wan Huaijin nodded and said.

Reason told him that this was the only way to break the deadlock; but intuition told him that something big was about to happen.

As he was giving the order, his right eye started twitching uncontrollably.

……

Shanhaiguan.

"Brother, the rations and pay have been delayed again. It's obvious that the court is treating us like stepchildren!"
In my opinion, we should simply lead our troops to the capital, slaughter those sons of bitches in the court, and reinstate the retired emperor.

Shi Jingming said indignantly.

Military expenditures constituted the largest expense of the Great Yu Dynasty, accounting for over 80% of its fiscal revenue. When the court's finances were in dire straits, problems inevitably arose with the allocation of funds and provisions to the army.

The troops stationed in the southern provinces, being geographically close, had an advantage. Their quotas were reserved before the money and grain from various regions were transported to the capital.

After all, transporting money and grain to the capital required military protection from other countries.

If these people are not fed, it will be difficult to safely transport money and grain to the capital.

The Beijing garrison was tasked with guarding the imperial city, so logistical support was a priority.

Since the emperor was young, the ministers could not skimp on him materially in order to maintain their reputation as loyal ministers.

All expenses in the palace must be paid in full.

Prices in the north were high, so officials' salaries were paid in kind so that lower-ranking officials could support their families.

With the advent of Emperor Fu'an, the practice of delaying salary payments became a thing of the past.

Only after these rigid expenditures are met can the remaining funds and resources be allocated.

Based on the principle of prioritizing those close to the enemy, the troops of the nobility must be given priority in logistical support, and then other border troops.

Although the Liaodong Garrison was powerful, they were not well-liked in the imperial court. The civil service needed them to check the power of the nobility, but they also did not want to see them grow too powerful.

In terms of the allocation of funds and provisions, Liaodong Town has always enjoyed the same treatment as ordinary border troops.

Because of the potential for disturbances, the Ministry of Revenue lost less money and grain, and was generally able to receive about 70% of its pay.

In addition to profiting from his involvement in smuggling, he was able to live a comfortable life.

Smuggling trade has also been impacted by rising prices in the north.

The Northern slaves' money was stolen, not blown away by the wind; they also had to consider the cost-effectiveness.

Given that procuring supplies from Dayu is too costly, they now go directly to Goguryeo for food.

With the decline in border trade, life in Liaodong Town became increasingly difficult. The government's stipends and allowances suddenly became extremely important.

"Third Brother, there are some things you can't say carelessly."

The imperial court is currently facing difficulties, and we are not the only ones whose military pay is in arrears. The troops in the nine border regions have all been affected to varying degrees.

Similar things have happened before. Let's all weather this storm together; once the court pulls through the crisis, the situation will naturally improve.

Shi Jinglin hurriedly tried to persuade him.

If storming the capital were that easy, someone would have done it long ago.

The main reason why no border generals have rebelled and caused a major disturbance in the many years since the establishment of the Great Yu Dynasty is due to institutional restrictions.

Liaodong Town was freed from the restrictions of local government, but it could not escape the checks and balances within the army.

While the Shi family may have been dominant in the military, it didn't mean there weren't other powerful military families. No matter how large the Shi family was, they couldn't possibly monopolize all positions of real power.

His ability to command the entire army stemmed from the network of relationships built up through generations of intermarriage.

When these people were advocating for the interests of Liaodong Town, their interests aligned with those of the Shi family, so naturally no problems arose.

But if it were to start a rebellion, it's hard to say how many people would be willing to follow.

After all, their Liaodong Town was a formidable force, and the nobility were no pushovers either.

Although the Beijing garrison is slightly weaker in combat, it is still capable of defending the city. If the capital cannot be captured quickly, and reinforcements from all over the country arrive, it will be a tragedy.

In other matters, there is room for maneuver, but in rebellion there is no room for compromise.

The Shi family was not one to go broke; their vast fortune allowed them to enjoy wealth and luxury, which also diminished their entrepreneurial spirit.

"We understand the court's situation, but who will understand our situation?"
The current deterioration of the situation is all thanks to those scoundrels in the government who have acted recklessly and caused chaos!
If the imperial court had handled the situation properly and promptly transferred supplies from the south, the situation in the north would not have remained turbulent.

With a bunch of incompetent people in charge of the government, the situation will only get worse and there will never be a day when it gets better.

Fifth brother, you're still too timid.

"Those scoundrels in the court, even if word gets out today, what can they do to me!"

Shi Jingming said with a disdainful look.

To dare to be so arrogant, one must have the capital to back it up.

The situation in Dayu continues to deteriorate, not only severely impacting people's livelihoods and the economy, but also causing the military to lick its wounds.

Constrained by financial resources, the noble faction has yet to recover from the losses suffered in the previous war.

Even the compensation for fallen soldiers was only partially paid. As a result, frontline generals in the army developed strong resentment towards those in power in the court.

The high-ranking officials in the court did try to solve the problem, but wanting to solve a problem does not mean that they can solve it.

In fact, after the war ended, the imperial court took immediate measures to raise funds for the fallen soldiers.

Unfortunately, the losses in the last major battle were too severe, and the compensation that the imperial court needed to pay was a huge sum.

The one-time payment exceeded the limits of the imperial treasury's financial capacity, so a partial payment was made upfront, with subsequent payments to be made in installments over several years.

The plan was flawless, but when it came to execution, things changed.

The north was plagued by natural and man-made disasters, and the imperial court had many places where it needed to spend money.

The funds that should have been allocated were temporarily borrowed by the Ministry of Revenue to cover its own expenses time and time again.

If the tax revenue from the southern provinces did not decrease significantly last year, it is estimated that a portion can still be refunded.

There are no "what ifs" in reality. The imperial court was severely strained financially and simply could not afford to care for the families of the fallen soldiers.

This wasn't the first time the Great Yu Dynasty had engaged in similar practices.

In the last hundred years, only during the few years when the nobility held power were they able to provide their own elite troops with full pensions.

Such behavior will undoubtedly dampen the morale of the troops.

While the officials in the court might not feel it, the generals on the front lines experienced it firsthand.

The generals, especially those who were doing hard work on the front lines in the north, were particularly dissatisfied with the imperial court.

"Shut up!"

"Third brother, will keeping these words to yourself cost you a piece of your flesh?"

"You're all so old, how come you're still like a child, without any cunning or shrewdness?"

You should know that most things in this world go wrong because of what you say.

Don't think that just because you've led troops for a few days, you're invincible.

"If you're really that powerful, then you should lead your troops and wipe out the Northern barbarians first. I won't interfere with what you do after that!"

Seeing that Shi Jingming was going too far, Shi Jingfeng immediately reprimanded him.

If we only consider the issues within Dayu territory, Liaodong Town, with its strength, certainly has the opportunity to pull off a big heist.

The problem is that in the far south, there's a tiger lurking there.

Even when lying down, a tiger is still a tiger; a short rest is for a better hunt.

Despite not having done anything outrageous over the years, Li Mu seemed determined to manage the southern border region.

When it comes to the struggle for power in chaotic times, no one dares to ignore this top general of the Great Yu Dynasty.

In addition, the neighboring Northern Barbarians were also a serious threat.

With powerful enemies in both the north and south, it is hardly the act of a wise person to be the first to step forward at this time.

Even if the plan proceeds smoothly, and they forcibly enter the capital and take control of the court, they will still not be able to control the entire country.

Neither the nobility nor the civil service would willingly submit to them.

If the Shi family dares to take this step, they will face enemies from all over the world.

"Brother, it's not as serious as you make it out to be."

Everyone here is family; the news won't get out.

If we were outside, I wouldn't dare to open up.

No matter what, the imperial court's arrears in taxes and provisions are getting worse, and business on the border is not doing well either.

If this continues, how will the military cover its deficits?

Shi Jingming couldn't help but complain.

The resentment in his tone betrayed his deep-seated anxiety.

The fact that even their own family doesn't support it is enough to prove how unreliable this plan is.

The plan to purge the emperor's inner circle and seize power failed, but the army still needed to find a way to make up for the shortfall in funds and supplies.

The main reason why the officers and soldiers below were willing to risk their lives for them was that they could bring money and food to the army.

If there are problems with money and supplies, the Shi family's prestige can be used to suppress the situation in the short term, but in the long run, it will inevitably affect people's morale.

For warlords who have formed substantial separatist regimes, once the hearts of the people are scattered, they can no longer lead their troops.

“Summon all the generals in the army, and they jointly submit a memorial to the court requesting funds.”

If the funds and provisions are delayed, then contact the border generals of the nine border regions and put pressure on the imperial court together.

On this issue, including a group of noble generals, everyone shares the same stance.

Tell everyone below to behave themselves. We're just protesting for pay, not plotting a rebellion!

Shi Jingfeng hardened his heart and said.

You can't stay still; in the Great Yu Dynasty, only the most demanding children get fed.

If it were a short-term problem, it wouldn't hurt to cover the costs ourselves. But given the current situation in the north, it doesn't seem like things will be peaceful anytime soon.

The locust plague has ravaged the northern lands, and the autumn taxes in the affected provinces can be declared nonexistent before they even begin to be collected.

If the imperial court can provide timely relief, that's fine; but if it's unable to provide relief, war will inevitably break out again.

Rebellions fueled by hunger are the most difficult to quell.

Defeating the rebels is useless; without food, the routed soldiers will continue to rebel.

Either solve the food shortage, or kill until there is enough food to eat.

Regardless of the outcome, the imperial court's finances will become increasingly strained going forward.

If Liaodong Garrison wanted to protect its own interests, it had to make a fuss in advance to let the imperial court know that their money and grain could not be delayed.

……

Even late at night, the beautiful Qinhuai River remains brightly lit.

Countless literati and wealthy merchants sought pleasure here.

This stands in stark contrast to the widespread famine in the north.

"Brother Qian, the imperial envoy has refused our invitation. It may not be so easy to get through this."

Yan Mingyu said with a worried expression.

To avoid being defeated one by one by the imperial envoy, gentry and powerful families from all over Jiangnan sent representatives to Nanjing.

Officials' power came from both imperial authority and the support of their subordinates.

Even the best policies need someone to implement them.

Once the gentry and powerful families banded together, the local government offices that had originally supported the imperial envoy instantly came to a standstill.

The imperial commissioner's order to collect the debts became nothing more than a piece of waste paper.

"Ha ha……"

"Brother Yan, you're overthinking it."

The Imperial Envoy Wan was oblivious to the suffering of the common people, out of touch with reality, and only knew how to relentlessly demand taxes.

Little did he know that without our cooperation, he would find it impossible to move an inch in the Jiangnan region.

Once he realizes that how much tax he can collect depends entirely on our attitude, he will naturally accept our goodwill.

Perhaps he had already realized this, but he had just been given a rude awakening and was feeling a bit embarrassed.

However, it doesn't matter; his absence won't affect the welcoming banquet proceeding as planned.

If we've done everything we could, and then cause any trouble later, then it's his fault.

As soon as Qian Yanfeng finished speaking, he was immediately echoed by a group of gentry.

The dark ages are over, and the imperial court is powerless to deal with the united gentry of Jiangnan.

From the moment he stepped into Southern Zhili, Wan Huaijin became engrossed in their design.

At this point, no matter what Wan Huaijin does, he cannot escape their eyes and ears.

There is a possibility of success only if everyone is willing to let him succeed.

The fact that everyone gathered together to welcome him was not out of respect for Wan Huaijin, but out of respect for the imperial power he represented.

But that's all.

The increasingly weakened imperial power could no longer command obedience; it was time to re-evaluate the distribution of benefits.

……

(End of this chapter)