You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 266 Provinces outwardly comply while inwardly resisting; the central government has no money to spare.

The morning court session has become a mere formality.

The civil and military officials arrived lazily at the Meridian Gate, walked lazily into the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and lazily expressed their complete agreement with all the cabinet's decisions.

None of my business?

It's none of my business!

What can I possibly manage?
All the civil and military officials in the capital were laid down, while the six cabinet members were extremely busy.

In particular, Grand Secretary Jiang Qingyun, at only 21 years old, was so exhausted from court affairs that he lost interest in even the most interesting activity like sexual intercourse.

But it's a path I chose, so I have to persevere even with tears in my eyes.

A beggar from Fengyang Prefecture once said: If you want to rule the country unilaterally, you will have endless memorials to review, endless worries, endless signatures, and endless people to kill.

A Georgian blacksmith once said: Don't be afraid of hardship, don't be afraid of fatigue. First swing the big hammer, then strike the small hammer, that's how steel is forged.

……

The season for collecting autumn taxes is more than halfway over.

While there was only good news in the capital, there was only bad news in the cabinet.

Article 1: Niangziguan was seized by troops sent by Gang Atai, the general of Xuanfu, and the government army lost the fastest route into Shanxi.

Article Two: Wu Sangui, the Prince of Pingxi, citing widespread disease and high soldier mortality in his army, arbitrarily led his troops back to Yunnan for rest and reorganization. Shang Kexi of Guangdong, citing the rampant banditry along the coast, also withdrew to Guangdong. These two clearly formed an alliance.

Zhou Shao, Minister of Revenue:

"Zhili had a bumper harvest and no tax arrears."

"Shanxi has a bumper harvest, but it owes 100% of its taxes."

"Shandong is suffering from a severe drought, resulting in 5% of its taxes and grain payments falling short."

"Anhui is suffering from a severe drought, with 6% of its taxes and grain payments owed."

"Jiangxi has a bumper harvest, but 3% of its grain and money payments are still owed."

"Hubei is suffering from a severe drought, with 7% of its taxes and grain payments owed."

"Hunan is suffering from a severe drought, resulting in 8% of its taxes and grain payments falling short."

"Zhejiang is suffering from a severe drought, resulting in 6% of taxes and grain being owed."

"Jiangsu is suffering from a severe drought, resulting in 6% of its taxes and grain payments falling short."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingyun could no longer hold back.

"A severe drought in Jiangsu? How could Jiangsu have a drought? They could have used flood as an excuse, but they've given up on pretending at all."

Everyone was silent.

Yue Le: "Damn it, it's all the fault of the Shanxi people."

Suksaha: "Yes!"

Zu Dashou: "Grand Secretary, let's fight! We have to pick a scapegoat to set an example!"

Feng Shuan: "What did Zhu Guozhi, the Governor of Jiangsu, say?"

Jiang Qingyun pulled a letter from his sleeve and tossed it onto the table.

"You'll see for yourselves."

……

Upon assuming office, I immediately began a pilot program in Taicang and Yangzhou to investigate the land holdings of large landowners in the area.

On the 6th day of the eighth month of the tenth year of the Shunzhi reign, Gan Hui, a valiant general under Zheng Sen, a pirate from Jinsha, led six large ships in a surprise attack on Chongming County. They then landed in Taicang and killed more than 500 people, including the prefect.

Gan Hui's troops ravaged Songjiang for three days, plundering countless riches before departing triumphantly. It is reported that Zhang Huangyan's troops in Zhoushan provided them with supplies. Zheng's and Zhang's troops formed a defensive alliance, keeping a watchful eye on the southeast.

At this critical juncture, the Zheng army's invasion is shrouded in mystery. I suspect that a wealthy family in Jiangnan tipped off Zheng Sen.

After it was circulated, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, feeling a chill rise from the soles of their feet.

Big trouble!

This can be seen as a signal from the wealthy families in Jiangnan: if the imperial court investigates the arrears again, Jiangnan will turn to Zheng Sen.

……

a few days later.

Jiang Qingyun visited the loyal Baoding Prefecture, and father and son met again.

"This humble official pays his respects to the Grand Secretary."

"The child pays homage to his father."

The etiquette cannot be discarded.

Jiang Zhongcheng was radiant with health, walked with his head held high, and spoke with great authority, a stark contrast to his former self as a sixth-rank cavalry officer.

Jiang Qingyun sighed inwardly, thinking that the best tonic in the world was not sea cucumber or deer antler, but power.

"Father, I'm here to check." "Everything was prepared long ago."

Jiang Qingyun lowered his head and flipped through the pages, while Jiang Zhongcheng began to explain in detail.

"By imperial decree, Zhili Province has been expanded to include Shuntian Prefecture, Baoding Prefecture, Yongping Prefecture, Hejian Prefecture, Tianjin Prefecture, Zhengding Prefecture, Shunde Prefecture, Guangping Prefecture, Daming Prefecture, Xuanhua Prefecture, Chengde Prefecture, Zunhua Prefecture, Yi Prefecture, Ji Prefecture, Zhao Prefecture, Shen Prefecture, and Ding Prefecture."

"Within the province, all officials of the eighth rank and above have been replaced by our people."

"More than 2000 old and weak soldiers were dismissed from the Zhili Green Standard Army. I resettled them in various places as farm managers and mine managers. I also recruited 6000 young and strong soldiers, bringing my total number of infantry and cavalry to 22000. As you instructed, they were stationed in Baoding and Tongzhou to protect the capital."

Seeing that his father seemed hesitant to speak, Jiang Qingyun emphasized it again.

“Father, the concentrated garrison is to prevent being defeated one by one. In case of trouble, other prefectures and counties can be abandoned, but the capital must be controlled. As long as the capital exists, we exist. If the capital falls, we fall.”

Jiang Zhongcheng nodded.

"Ok."

"Father, I'm allocating all the guns and cannons manufactured by the Ministry of War this year to you. There will be ample food and pay, and sufficient weaponry. You can go ahead and train the troops."

……

"Yun'er, could you give me the unclaimed banner lands in Zhili?"

"What do you need so much land for?"

“Reclaim land and rebuild the garrison troops. Give each person ten mu of land, an ox, and a wife. I guarantee that the Zhili Green Standard Army will surpass the Shaanxi-Gansu Green Standard Army.”

“Father, I have other uses for the Zhili banner lands, so I can’t give them to you.”

What do you need so much land for?

"When the time is right, I will train a new army that is dedicated to farming."

"The new army?"

Yes, everything is new.

Jiang Zhongcheng smiled.

Jiang Qingyun smiled too.

"Yun'er, I advise you to read some military books. I read 'The Complete Military Classic' every day now, and my command skills have improved by leaps and bounds."

"Father, actually I have quite a bit of knowledge about military affairs."

Hahaha~ Jiang Zhongcheng couldn't hold back any longer and laughed loudly.

……

In November, snowflakes danced in the air.

Zhou Shao secretly visited the Chiang Kai-shek residence.

"Grand Secretary, the Ministry of Revenue is really out of money. After the first month of the lunar calendar, the salaries of officials, the monthly pay of bannermen, and the pay of the Green Standard Army will all be in arrears."

"Sit down, let's have a hot pot together."

Zhou Shao found the food unpalatable.

Seeing his gloomy face, Jiang Qingyun offered to pour him some wine.

"Don't worry about the money, I have a way."

"any solution?"

"Withholding Wu's salary can last for two months."

"What if the Prince of Pingxi gets angry?"

"Are you worried he'll rebel?"

"Yes."

"I'd like to see what he'll do when he gets angry? Will he be so furious that he'd risk everything for a woman?"

Zhou Shao was dumbfounded.

After a while~
He lowered his voice and asked, "Prime Minister, could you reveal a bit about the plan?"

"can."

Jiang Qingyun slurped down a mouthful of yellow wine.

"Frankly speaking, the current situation is somewhat different from what I planned, but since it has happened, I must accept reality. The Eight Banners suffered heavy casualties, became disloyal, and the decline of the central government was an inevitable result. The Ministry of Revenue can collect 4% of the grain this year, but next year it can only collect 3%, the year after that it will be 2%, and the year after that it may be difficult to collect even 1%."

"Finance is the lifeblood of the empire; without money, nothing can be done."

"Therefore, I have decided to take the initiative to shrink back, and the central government will relinquish some of its responsibilities, such as the Wu army's salary. This will save 400 million taels of silver a year. In any case, he has given up on suppressing the Ming army, so it is reasonable for the court to cut off his salary since he breached the contract first."

"What do you think the Prince of Pingxi's reaction will be?"

"There are only two choices: to rebel or not to rebel. If he doesn't dare to rebel, I will save 400 million taels of military expenses out of thin air. If he dares to rebel, his troops will surely enter Hunan. The governor of Hunan, Zhuo Butai, is Ao Bai's younger brother and a staunch supporter of the emperor. This year, Hunan province is in arrears of up to 8%. Zhuo Butai is not someone I can use. I don't care whether he lives or dies."

Dear readers, I, Xiaoxiaosheng, will continue to closely monitor the plot development and will refrain from spoilers. I request your support for this niche genre, which needs like-minded individuals. My motto is—"Creation is like a dream, overflowing naturally when full." Creation should be a natural process, requiring no effort, flowing freely. Please recommend!

(End of this chapter)