Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 875 When the real becomes fake, the fake becomes real.

Perhaps he had carefully studied his opponent Yang Yuan and seen the influence of his women on him.

Huang, the Vice Minister, suddenly had a brilliant idea: he would place one of the keys to solving the predicament on choosing the right woman for the emperor as a concubine.

However, he never considered that Yang Yuan was never bound to a woman or the family power behind her.

Rather, it was Yang Yuan and that force who had both recognized each other's strength and the benefits of their alliance.

This is how marriage was used to establish a bond of cooperation and strengthen the relationship between the two sides.

Vice Minister Huang has reversed cause and effect.

But the naive young emperor believed it.

Moreover, the motivation that made him believe this had nothing to do with any benefit.

He was simply attracted to the woman's beauty.

This ruler and his minister were caught up in a beautiful, self-imagined vision of the future.

……

After receiving the imperial edict, Shen Xuzhong, the Pacification Commissioner of Tongchuan Road, had no hope for the future whatsoever.

Shen Xuzhong felt that he had encountered another hurdle.

The previous hurdle was the crisis of being suspected of being a henchman of Qin Hui.

During the imperial examination in the twelfth year of the Shaoxing era, Shen Xuzhong, as an examiner, leaked the exam questions to Qin Xi in advance in order to help Qin Xi pass with high marks.

Whether Qin Hui's coercion played a role in this is unknown.

As a result, Shen Xuzhong was branded as a member of the Qin faction.

However, Qin Hui was killed too suddenly by Yang Yuan's attack at Fengbo Pavilion, where he was pierced by a thousand arrows.

At that time, Zhao Gou was also on the verge of death, and the court was in chaos. For a time, no one had time to deal with the matter of purging Qin Hui's cronies.

Shen Xuzhong was very decisive and was one of the first officials to sever ties with Qin Hui's faction and turn around to impeach Qin Hui's treacherous party.

When Zhao Yuan ascended the throne, the prime minister was Wan Qixie. With this buffer, Shen Xuzhong was able to land smoothly.

When Zhao Qi became emperor, he was transferred to a remote region as a high-ranking official.

But these good days only lasted a few days before another hurdle appeared.

The imperial court is going to send troops to Liangshan Prefecture.

However, Shen Xuzhong has been operating on Tongchuan Road for two years. Doesn't he know the current situation here better than those ministers in the imperial court who pontificate on paper?

Shen Xuzhong sighed to his advisor, "People often say, 'The common people turn to bandits because of hunger and cold; the soldiers turn to bandits because of lack of pay.'"

The mine protection soldiers of Liangshan Prefecture were brave and skilled in battle, and possessed powerful firearms. They were defeated in a single battle against a group of local people armed with bamboo bows and spears.

Don't the officials in the court want to consider the reasons behind this?

The advisor advised, "The governor has been managing Tongchuan Road for two years, and the foundation has been laid."

The imperial court has already decided to fight this battle, so we have no choice but to fight.

If they lose, given the usual practices of the officials in the court, they will inevitably shift the blame to the governor.

If they win, the future will be bright for Marshal Fu.

This is a crisis, but also an opportunity.

Shen Xuzhong was not comforted.

Fortunately, his efforts over the past two years have not been in vain; the army has also made efforts to win over some members.

He also worked diligently on Tongchuan Road, gaining the support of a group of local officials.

He also knew that the southern expedition to Liangshan Prefecture could only end in victory, not defeat.

Therefore, he dared not mobilize troops he was not confident in commanding, even with the Emperor's Sword in hand.

Shen Xuzhong personally went to the military camp stationed in Tongchuan Prefecture to inspect and conduct pre-battle mobilization.

Although Shen Xuzhong was a scholar, he had served in the Ministry of War and was therefore somewhat knowledgeable about military affairs.

On the one hand, he strictly enforced military discipline, mobilized troops, and rushed to Liangshan Prefecture; on the other hand, he intensified preparations for subsequent food and supplies.

Subsequent food and fodder supplies were the responsibility of Chengdu Prefecture, but the supplies that accompanied the army in the early stages had to be sourced from Tongchuan Prefecture's own reserves.

For a time, the roads built under Yang Yuan's supervision were bustling with mule and horse carts carrying supplies and provisions, and military post riders came and went constantly.

……

On Chengdu Fulu Road, Qiao Zhen was greatly troubled after receiving the imperial edict to cooperate in the conquest of Liangshan Prefecture.

This "non-stick pan" is actually extremely powerful. Since taking over Chengdu, it has managed the army and the people in a very orderly manner.

But he can't stop people from constantly causing trouble for him.

Of the four roads in Sichuan and Chongqing, Chengdu Fu Road is the wealthiest and most economically developed, which is the biggest source of confidence for the other three roads.

After the establishment of the Liangshan Prefecture Coinage Bureau, the situation where Sichuan was the only province in the country using iron coins was resolved.

Chengdu's economic development on Fulu Road instantly reached new heights, with taxes paid to the imperial court increasing by 20%.

For Qiao Zhen, this was an extremely brilliant political achievement.

However, the currency reform in the Sichuan-Guizhou region heavily relied on the gold and copper mine in Liangshan Prefecture.

Liangshan Prefecture is now in chaos. The Liangshan Mint is just a name now, with no more production.

Chengdu's Fulu Road area, the most economically developed part of the Sichuan-Xiamen Fourth Road region, was the first to fall into a cash crunch.

As the saying goes, "Ducks are the first to know when the river warms in spring," but who will be the first to know when a money shortage will occur?
Several large money shops along the four routes of Sichuan and the Yangtze River were the first to notice the signs.

They immediately began to buy copper coins in large quantities, and only bought them without giving them out. They tried to use gold, silver, paper money, and paper money as substitutes for lending.

Following suit, temples, pawnshops, and other shops with large volumes of currency inflows and outflows also began to follow suit.

Moreover, anyone who could open a money exchange or pawnshop was a powerful local figure.

Their behavior is perfectly acceptable and not illegal.

Although Qiao Zhen sensed something was wrong, she didn't have a better way to deal with it at the moment. At this time, even more people took advantage of the situation.

Many businesses that Xin Jin Bai Li Bing had established on Fulu Road in Chengdu over the years also began to take advantage of the situation.

Meanwhile, the powerful families of Sichuan and the Three Gorges, who once relied on and depended on Yang Yuan, are now being neglected, suppressed, and ostracized, and they have begun to retaliate.

For example, the Wu family of Pengzhou not only bought large amounts of copper coins, but also significantly reduced the amount of iron smelting.

Not to mention that the people of Sichuan and the Three Gorges, who were already used to using copper coins, would never go back to using iron coins.

Even if they were willing, the drastic reduction in iron production would mean that there was no fundamental basis for reusing iron coins.

Chengdu, the foundation of the Sichuan-Gorges region, has fallen into a war without gunpowder after the Liangshan Prefecture Rebellion: a war of money.

"If this situation continues for more than three months, my Chengdu Fulu will inevitably face major problems due to a cash shortage."

People's livelihoods are in decline, prices are rising, people are struggling to make ends meet, and small businesses that cannot withstand the storms are going bankrupt one after another..."

Qiao Zhen wasn't particularly proficient in economics, but having risen through the ranks step by step, she still had some knowledge of it.

Qiao Zhen instructed: "All prefectures, counties, and districts in Chengdu Prefecture shall immediately begin to severely crack down on those who circulate inferior currency and manufacture counterfeit currency."

"Before the news spread, we tried every means to exchange gold and silver for copper coins from other places."

We need to act quickly. Once the news spreads, other groups will turn into a pack of wolves and come to bite us.

"Furthermore, this matter should be compiled into a secret report and immediately submitted to the imperial court."

After dismissing several of her capable subordinates, Qiao Zhen glanced towards the capital, her face full of bitterness.

When gods fight, little devils suffer.

Yang Yuan, who once served as a prefectural judge under him, is now the Prince of Yan and Prime Minister, whom he can only look up to but never reach.

Prime Minister, when you were plotting against the Western Xia, I, Old Qiao, spared no effort as your logistics and supplies provider.

I've done you a lot, even if I haven't done anything particularly good for you!
When you get into a fight with someone, can you please consider this old man who is almost fifty?
Please stop messing with me.
At this moment, an advisor rushed over: "Governor, the amount of grain and fodder that Tongchuan Prefecture needs us to procure, as well as the amount to be supplied in batches, has been delivered. Please give your instructions, Governor."

"Alright, leave it there. I will arrange for its collection as soon as possible."

The advisor agreed and placed the official letter from Tongchuan Prefecture on Qiao Zhen's desk.

Lady Tian Tian brought in a bowl of "Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup".

Actually, Mr. Qiao Zhen is in quite good health. He's almost fifty years old, but still healthy and handsome.

However, Mrs. Tian Tian was in the prime of her life, and naturally still felt it wasn't enough.

She overheard Qiao Zhen's conversation with the clerk.

After the advisor left, Qiao Zhen picked up the official letter and placed it under a stack of official letters.

Madam Tian Tian asked in surprise, "Isn't the master going to deal with this important matter of military supplies as soon as possible?"

Qiao Zhen smiled slightly and waved her hand, saying, "No need to do anything."

Madam Tian placed the nourishing soup on the table and said softly, "Master, please drink it while it's hot."

Qiao Zhen picked up the soup bowl, brought it to her lips to test the temperature, and then took a small sip.

Tian Tian asked curiously, "Master, you are always cautious in your work. Why don't you handle important matters involving military supplies?"

The advisors were all privately hired by the person in charge and were considered absolute confidants.

Even so, the ever-cautious Qiao Zhen did not reveal any of her true thoughts to her staff.

But Tian was different after all; she was his wife, and she had given him a big, healthy son.

Qiao Zhen finished the last sip of the tonic soup, took the handkerchief Tian Tian handed her, wiped the medicine stains from the corner of her lips, and then smiled faintly, saying:
"Shen Taixu (Shen Xuzhong) has no need for the grain and fodder transported from Chengdu Prefecture."

Transporting it away and then transporting it back is a waste of manpower and resources.

Chengdu's Fulu district is on the verge of economic chaos. How can the people survive if we do something so disastrous?

Madam Tian only half understood what she was hearing, her beautiful eyes filled with doubt.

She still didn't understand how it could be transported away and then transported back.

……

In Xuzhou, deep in the mountains, at the research and development base of the Stone City, which was converted from the vanished Mahu Man old village, "Chief Engineer" Xiao Qianyue has recently handed over the research and development and production of firearms to several deputies.

He and his eldest son, Xiao Yan, stayed in their own courtyard, not leaving the house, and no one knew what they were busy with.

"Son, take these and burn them," Xiao Qianyue ordered without looking up as she flipped through a pile of ancient books.

Xiao Qianyue has already made a lot of clay and wooden models, repeatedly pondering, comparing and studying them.

After using them, he would destroy these discarded molds on the spot.

There was a pile of clay powder in the corner, which was from the clay mold that his son had smashed and then pounded into fine powder with a stone mortar.

A stove was still burning inside the house, with charcoal burning brightly.

The eldest son of the Xiao family threw several wooden molds into the charcoal fire, then sat down beside them and watched, making sure they were all burned to ashes before he could leave.

A wooden mold lay supine on the charcoal fire, the flames scorching the writing on it.

"If you receive orders from Heaven, you will live forever!"

The wooden seal wasn't very big, about the size of a small hamburger.

But the eight seal script characters above are of immense weight.

Xiao Yan, holding an iron rod, poked at the wooden molds to make them burn faster, and said to Xiao Qianyue with some confusion:

"Dad, can this thing really be mistaken for the real thing?"

"What is false? What is true?"

Xiao Qianyue raised her head, a half-smile on her face: "Do you think that the so-called Imperial Seal of the State that Sun Jian obtained from a dry well in the slums south of Luoyang is necessarily real?"
Truth and falsehood intertwine; who can truly tell the difference?

Xiao Qianyue picked up another wooden model, examined it closely, and said softly, "Son, your father has been making fakes his whole life."

This time, it's for real. It must be real, it has to be real!

(End of this chapter)