The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 214 Bullying goes too far
The Yongxing Army harbors resentment towards the Beijing Garrison, which is why Zhao Yong is ostracized in Datong. However, due to what just happened, Wei Yi has a good impression of him and has changed his attitude, becoming willing to befriend him.

Wei Yi knew Datong inside and out, while Zhao Yong was unaware of the situation in Datong.

Previously, the border trade was strictly in accordance with the requirements of the imperial court, but later it gradually lost its rules and was controlled by the local authorities. At the end of each year, a large amount of goods and gold and silver were sent to the capital to pay tribute to various families.

Previously, the military garrisons mainly paid tribute to the nobles in the capital. The Jia family naturally received tributes from various places. Although the Jia family's large mansion was a gift from the imperial court, the servants and the magnificent decorations were paid for by the Jia family themselves.

The Jia family now spends ten to twenty thousand taels a year just on the monthly wages of their servants, not to mention the expenses of the various masters and their purchases of all kinds of luxury goods during their heyday, when even a single fan could cost a thousand taels of gold.

As the nobility declined, the practice of sending tributes to the Jia family gradually subsided, leaving only a few families, such as the General of Yuehai, who still sent tributes to the capital every year, but the value of these tributes was decreasing.

The fact that tributes were no longer required to the nobility did not mean that tributes from various regions would stop; the recipients simply changed. In fact, the number of recipients did not decrease but rather increased.

Nobles were a minority, so they had to eat in a more refined manner. Later, as the number of nobles increased, their eating manners became increasingly unsightly. Then, the focus shifted to a different group, resulting in an even larger number of nobles. At that point, no one cared about manners anymore; they ate as much as they could without worrying about anything else.

"Governor Zhang, as a new official, is making his first move by sending a batch of benefits to the capital in June or July, and another batch at the end of the year. This means that benefits will be sent to the capital twice a year, doubling the amount."

When Wei Yi brought up the matter on the street, the stall owner was used to it, but Zhao Yong was taken aback.

He wasn't unaware of these rules, but after spending a year in the Hexi Camp, hearing them again felt like a lifetime had passed, leaving him utterly astonished. Wei Yi and the others, on the other hand, didn't find it strange.

Zhao Yong was stunned. Wei Yi didn't understand what he meant. After thinking for a moment, he continued, "There's only so much trade at the border. If we send twice as much to the capital, other places will have to squeeze it out. According to past practice, the military pay in various places has been reduced by 30%."

"Huh?" Zhao Yong exclaimed in surprise, "Wasn't it said that priority would be given to supplying provisions and rations to the border troops?"

When he asked the censor for grain, that's what the censor told him. He had no doubts and only guessed that the censor was stalling him. He never expected that it would be a fabricated reason.

Seeing Zhao Yong's surprised expression, Wei Yi laughed and said, "How many years can Governor Zhang stay in Datong? You're thinking too highly of him."

"It's not just that, is it?"

"Whether he can be promoted or not depends on the capital. No matter how well he manages Datong, it will take time and effort, and in the end, it will only benefit his successor. He will have to risk making more mistakes as he does more. If you were in his shoes, what would you do?"

Zhao Yong couldn't answer.

If he were in the Hexi Camp, he would definitely prioritize the Hexi Camp and not care about his own interests. But reality made him realize that the Hexi Camp was just the Hexi Camp, and the Great Zhou was still the same Great Zhou.

A year of dreamlike life almost made me forget the harsh realities of the outside world.

Thinking of this, Zhao Yong sighed inwardly, realizing that he could never learn the general's skills.

Wei Yi was quite pleased with Zhao Yong's shocked expression and became even more enthusiastic, pointing out, "The army is still relatively good, as Governor Zhang doesn't dare to completely embezzle funds. However, this year's trade market, under his indulgence, has seen merchants become audacious and reckless, actually colluding to double the price."

At this point, Wei Yi mentioned Feng Yong, "Because of you, Feng Jieshuai was forced to leave Datong. Although he reached a tacit understanding with the merchants, he would not let them run wild. He prioritized the overall situation of Datong. Now, given the governor's approach of only looking to his superiors, Datong will be plunged into turmoil in two or three years."

Zhao Yong frowned and said sullenly, "If you're so capable, then don't buy our Great Zhou's goods. If you can't afford them, then don't buy them."

Wei Yi laughed and said, "You're just saying that out of anger. If they don't have our products, they can't even make a living. They can't survive anyway, so why would they just wait to die?" "You're being unreasonable, aren't you?"

"Why should the Hu people talk about reason? They don't read books, so they don't have the idea of ​​reasoning in their minds. Only if you and I are educated, or have a certain status, can we sit down and talk about reason instead of resorting to fists."

These words sounded like something the general had said before, so Zhao Yong didn't argue further.

Wei Yi persuaded Zhao Yong, but he did not feel joy. Instead, he felt depressed. Thinking about the future of Datong, he felt only resentment. These officials from other places only saw Datong as a place to be exploited, and they wanted to squeeze it dry.

No one has ever cared about the future of Datong. Others may not care, but what about the locals?

Some people, having made their fortune, have long since spread their lineage elsewhere. Unfortunately, Wei Yi thought of his humble origins; if it weren't for Marshal Feng, no matter how capable he was, he would have remained just a poor, struggling soldier.

Thinking of this, Wei Yi couldn't help but feel hatred for the Beijing garrison at Yanmen Pass again. If they hadn't forced the military commander to leave, and if the military commander hadn't left Datong, Datong military town would have had a future. Although it would have been tough, they could have survived.

"Keeping the chickens alive and collecting their eggs daily would be a more long-term benefit, but what does that have to do with the governor? Killing the egg-laying chickens would be the greatest benefit to him. As for what to do with this place in the future, he would surely be thinking about leaving it to future generations to solve. Anyway, it's none of his business."

Wei Yi said sarcastically, revealing a hostile look in his eyes.

Zhao Yong couldn't help but swallow hard. Yongxing Army did indeed have talented people. If Feng Yong hadn't chosen to return to the capital but instead gathered a crowd to rebel, it could be seen from this man's attitude that many people in Datong still supported Feng Yong.

So, between Feng Yong, who chose to return to the capital, and Zhang Wenjin, who came from the Datong scholars, who is the good guy and who is the bad guy?

Were warlords bad, or were intellectuals bad?

Zhao Yong felt confused. Was the idea of ​​"using civil officials to control military forces" just a deceptive slogan used by scholars?

Suddenly, the sound of hooves approached, and two riders, shouting as they spurred their horses on, galloped along the fast road toward the city, attracting the attention of the two men.
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Dai Quan unfolded the memorial presented by the Ministry of War. On the other side of the desk was the memorial sent by the Censorate. The Emperor Emeritus held a magnifying glass with a gold ring and inlaid with crystal. He had already finished reading the Censorate's memorial. After reading the one from the Ministry of War, the Emperor Emeritus smiled silently.

Zhou Daofeng stood quietly, head bowed, without saying a word.

The Emperor Emeritus looked at Zhou Daofeng with mixed feelings and couldn't help but ask, "Are you really not going to say anything?"

Upon hearing the Emperor Emeritus's words, Zhou Daofeng raised his head with a bewildered look. At this moment, Zhou Daofeng did not look any younger than the Emperor Emeritus; anyone who did not know would have thought that Zhou Daofeng and the Emperor Emeritus were of the same generation.

The retired emperor stared at Zhou Daofeng, who thought for a while and then suddenly realized what was going on. He said, "They are right. The root cause of the rebellion in the Hetao region is Feng Yong and Wang Xin."

The retired emperor put down the gold-rimmed crystal pendant in his hand and ignored the memorials on the table.

Zhou Daofeng followed the Emperor Emeritus and continued, "Feng Yong has been in charge of Datong for more than ten years, leaving behind many hidden dangers. Coupled with Wang Xin's rampant misdeeds outside the pass, which seemed to be killing everyone, he was actually like a fuse that ignited the powder keg in Datong."

The retired emperor turned around and looked at Zhou Daofeng again.

At this moment, the retired emperor realized that he could no longer see through Zhou Daofeng. Was he really senile, or was he doing this on purpose?

(End of this chapter)