Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 151, Liaodong Military Situation

After another tiring day, Emperor Longqing fell into a deep sleep late at night.

In Fengzao Palace, Yuanchun was sorting the books in the palace.

Several female officials walked by, whispering.

"Look, it's her. His Majesty Fang has a backache. I heard that His Majesty doesn't dare to come to Fengzao Palace anymore..." (Fang is pronounced as Fang, a local dialect used to describe a person's fate.)
"I heard that they wanted to arrange a marriage before, and it was because of their incompatible fates..."

Yuanchun paused and tightened her grip on the book.

The next day, the topic of discussion at the court meeting was still the disaster in Shandong.

Emperor Longqing squeezed money out of his own pocket and sent people to help with the disaster relief.

However, by the time the money landed, less than 20% was left.

This is just a drop in the bucket compared to the disaster in Shandong.

Officials will not stop engaging in corruption just because the dynasty is in trouble.

On the contrary, this year's corruption is even more serious than the previous chaos in Shanxi.

The more chaotic the world is, the greater the disaster, the more serious the corruption among officials will become.

In the minds of officials, Daxi may not be able to survive for a few more years, so while they are still in office, they must desperately plunder and leave a way out for themselves in the future.

As for the court?

common people?

They don't care about that.

This has almost formed a vicious circle, and it is also the deadlock that every dynasty will face at the end of its life.

Emperor Longqing was deeply troubled by the disaster in Shandong every day.

But what he didn't know was that in addition to the disaster in Shandong, the people in the capital were not living much better.

With the destruction of Shandong's salt industry, the price of salt in the capital city skyrocketed, and the people suffered terribly. Even some wealthy families could hardly afford the high price of salt.

King Zhongshun's business increased several times in a short time, and he completely forgot about the Zheng family. Now in the eyes of King Zhongshun, Huang Wenzhou is even closer to him than his own brothers. The two of them joined forces to make money in Daxi and madly plundered the people of Daxi.

Since it was the prince's business, no one in the capital dared to offend him, and officials did not dare to participate. The common people had nowhere to turn to, but salt was a necessity. Countless families were torn apart and had to sell their children because of it.

Sometimes Huang Wenzhou himself felt scared. The white silver seemed like human marrow. What he did in Daxi caused too much public resentment. If the same thing happened in Huaizhou, it would be enough for Fang Yong to skin him ten times!

Huang Wenzhou felt that if this continued, something bad would happen sooner or later, and there was no guarantee that Fang Yong would not abandon him and use his head to appease the public anger. And even if Fang Yong did not kill him, he would inevitably suffer retribution for his serious sins.

Huang Wenzhou thought that he should step back and find someone else to step to the front to bear the sin for him.

In addition, he heard that the general was lustful, and it just so happened that his uncle had a cousin who was very beautiful and was about to reach the age of marriage. He was thinking of sending his cousin to the general's house so that she would have a guarantee in the future.

It's September.

In the direction of Datong, Wang Ziteng sent a message that he found that the grassland army was gathering in the direction of Liaodong. In addition, the army intercepted a letter from the grassland, indicating that the grassland wanted to attack Liaodong...

At the same time, in order to conceal his true plan, Kah Khan of the grassland also sent people to make the army gather in Liaodong.

When the imperial spies in the grasslands got the news, they immediately reported the situation to the imperial court.

With these two pieces of news corroborating each other, Emperor Longqing was convinced that the grasslands wanted to attack Liaodong, so he ordered Wang Ziteng's army to be dispatched to Liaodong for defense.

Previously, Wang Ziteng's army suffered a lot of losses in the battle with the Jin bandits. After defeating the Jin bandits, they gathered a lot of surrendered soldiers. Later, when they were in charge of Shanxi, there were many casualties again. Some of them were also dismissed during this period. After several increases and decreases, the current specific number of Wang Ziteng's army is about 170,000.

In the number of troops reported to Emperor Longqing, Wang Ziteng wrote more soldiers and horses, writing 200,000 people.

To be honest, Wang Ziteng's move was not excessive. He was just reporting according to routine. In Daxi, there were very few troops with less than 50% of idle pay.

However, this number is still a lot for Daxi now.

Emperor Longqing ordered the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue to jointly calculate the cost of transferring troops from Shanxi to Liaodong.

When the task was issued, the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue would naturally take their own share. So when the final result was presented, Emperor Longqing's hands were shaking as he held the memorial.

There is no money. The court really has no money.

Last year, the military pay of the Datong border troops is still in arrears. At the beginning, it was only because the Jin bandits were in turmoil and the court could not transport the money and grain. Now that the Jin bandits have been destroyed, the court really has no money.

It is already the beginning of autumn this year, and the military pay for not only Datong but also other border towns has not been settled.

How can this be good?

Emperor Longqing summoned all his ministers to discuss the matter. As expected, Yu Lian brought out his old tricks again, and added one more thing, saying that the change of the Yellow River's course was a warning from heaven and that there must be treacherous ministers at work, and demanded that Emperor Longqing conduct a thorough investigation!

The ministers were furious when they heard this. The court was full of people, so how could there be a treacherous minister?

So they refuted it one after another, and the discussion once again turned into a war of words.

Emperor Longqing watched this scene and left in annoyance.

"Don't we have any loyal officials who can do practical work?"

Just as he was thinking about it, he saw an official in a red robe striding towards him. He wore a Liang crown on his head, a leather belt around his waist, decorated with beautiful jade, and a red silk knee-covering with woven patterns on it.

He is truly handsome and awe-inspiring. He is none other than the first-rank official of Daxi, the Minister of Revenue, Cui Shu!
Cui Shu stepped forward and bowed:
"Your Highness, Cui Shu offers a suggestion!"

Emperor Longqing was delighted when he saw this and asked hurriedly:
"What's your brilliant plan, Mr. Cui?"

Cui Shu said:
"Your Majesty, the financial issue is easy to solve. All you need to do is collect taxes in advance!"

Emperor Longqing was shocked when he heard this. Collecting taxes in advance?

This is a solution, but it's too...

Cui Shu saw that Emperor Longqing was worried and asked:

"Your Majesty, are you worried that this move will cost the people money and labor, and that the people will complain?"

Emperor Longqing nodded.

"Exactly."

Cui Shu smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. This will not only ensure that the people have no complaints, but will also praise Your Majesty's kindness!"

Emperor Longqing was even more shocked. Is there such a method?

He hurriedly asked, "My dear, please teach me!"

Cui Shu said:
"This tax will not be collected compulsorily, but will be paid voluntarily by the people."

"Your Majesty can personally promise the people to pay next year's taxes in advance this year. When the court recovers next year, the taxes paid will be returned in full and no additional taxes will be collected."

"If the people can get a year of tax exemption out of thin air, won't they all praise your majesty's virtue?"

Emperor Longqing thought about it and realized that it was true.

But there are still doubts in my heart.

"If this is done, will the people really be willing to pay voluntarily?"

Cui Shu said:
"Your Majesty, rest assured. Since the implementation of the new policy, the people have been praising your majesty's kindness. The natural disasters and man-made disasters that have occurred today are not your majesty's fault. At this critical moment of life and death, as long as your majesty promises in person, the people will certainly pay taxes enthusiastically and will never let your majesty down!"

Emperor Longqing thought about it and felt that what Cui Shu said seemed to make sense.

And now he really has no other choice.

The successive rebellions of the White Lotus Sect, the Huaiyin bandits, and the Jin bandits, coupled with the unusual movements on the grassland and the floods of the Yellow River, had emptied the treasury of Daxi long ago under such natural and man-made disasters, and the army could not be delayed. Under such circumstances, Cui Shu's strategy was already the best strategy.

Anyway, the people pay voluntarily, so there's no harm in giving it a try.

(End of this chapter)