Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 192 Bizarre and Absurd Rebellion Ordered by Imperial Decree (Part 2)

Zhu Jue actually had Pan Guozhong, the second-place finisher in the martial arts imperial examination, incite his younger brother to rebel!

Such an absurd and bizarre thing could probably only be done by him.

An emperor from the Ming dynasty would never do such a thing.

In order to rapidly expand Pan Yunteng's forces, he even encouraged him to boast that joining his ranks would guarantee a life of plenty!

This is not the Three Kingdoms period.

The disaster in the Northwest was incomparable to that of the Three Kingdoms period.

Pan Guozhong even suspected that the current emperor had read too much "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," and therefore thought it was nothing to brag like Zhang Lu.

You can't just brag about something like that.

If you dare to say that you will guarantee that the disaster victims will have enough to eat, then every disaster victim who hears the news will flock to Hanzhong like crazy!

Pan Guozhong thought about it carefully and then cautiously reminded him: "Your Majesty, I dare to be bold, but the disaster in the Northwest is not just ordinary, and the number of disaster victims is also extraordinary."

If Yun Teng really dares to boast like that, then the disaster victims who hear the news will definitely flock to Hanzhong Prefecture. At that time, the number of disaster victims gathered in Hanzhong Prefecture may reach millions or even tens of millions.

Although Huguang is a land of fish and rice, the annual tax grain output is at most two to three million shi (a unit of dry measure). Even if Yun Teng provides porridge and congee to the disaster victims, it probably won't last more than three months.

If there's no food, with so many disaster victims gathered in Hanzhong Prefecture, things could get really bad.

Of course, I had already considered this long ago; a few million disaster victims are no big deal at all.

Zhu Jue shook his head slightly and said, "Don't worry, if I say you'll be full, then you'll be full."

I know that the tax grain in Huguang is not enough to feed us, but that's alright. Zixian has also planted a large amount of potatoes and sweet potatoes in Zhejiang, Zhili and Fujian, and next year he will promote them to Jiangxi, Huguang and Sichuan. At that time, Hanzhong Prefecture can also plant them.

The yield of potatoes and sweet potatoes is far superior to that of rice and wheat. High-yield varieties of these two crops have long been developed. As long as water supply is guaranteed and fertilizer is applied on time, the yield per mu is at least ten shi (a unit of dry measure), and it is possible to yield twenty or even thirty shi per mu.

Zixian has already estimated that the yield of the millions of acres of potatoes and sweet potatoes planted in Zhejiang, Fujian and Zhejiang this year should be around 20 shi (a unit of dry measure). After deducting the amount used for improving varieties and the amount for farmers' own consumption, we can purchase all of them and transport them to Hanzhong.

Six million mu, even if each mu only yields about ten shi (a unit of dry measure), that's still sixty million shi. If five million disaster victims flock to Hanzhong Prefecture, I can feed them all.

"If all else fails, we can purchase grain from Hubei and Sichuan and transport it there. Just let Yun Teng boast as much as he wants; I'll make sure you're well-fed."

Are these sweet potatoes and potatoes really that high in yield per acre?
Also, are all these things free?

Although grain was cheap in Huguang and Bashu, one tael of silver could only buy three or four shi of grain at most.

This is easily tens of millions of shi (a unit of dry measure), so that would be ten or twenty million taels!

Does the imperial court have enough money and grain for disaster relief?

This doesn't seem like something I should be worrying about.

His Majesty said it's really enough to fill you up.

You have no joke.

I can't ask if it's true or not.

Pan Guozhong was taken aback for a moment, but quickly cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "This subordinate understands."

Don't you have any questions?

Seeing this, Zhu Jue simply asked, "Guozhong, is there anything else you don't understand?"

There seems to be a lot I don't understand.

Pan Guozhong thought about it carefully, then asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, if a large number of disaster victims flock to Hanzhong, Yun Teng will probably have to occupy a large area to settle them. In that case, Yun Teng will not be able to lead all his men around like other rebels. Will he then occupy Hanyin and Xing'an Prefecture and declare himself king?"

This problem is not big.

Zhu Jue nodded slowly and said, "It's fine if you let him occupy that place and become king. Anyway, I won't send a large army to suppress him. Whether he runs away or not, it doesn't really matter. He can also encourage the disaster victims to grow more grain, potatoes, sweet potatoes and the like while he occupies that place."

Uh, what are you thinking?

You traitors aren't even planning to send a large army to suppress them!
Upon hearing this, Pan Guozhong pondered and said, "Your Majesty, do you mean you want Yun Teng to occupy a territory, recruit and train troops, and then lead the army to quell those rebels?" That depends on his abilities.

Zhu Jue nodded slightly and said, "If Yun Teng can wipe out the other rebels, that would be the best. If he can't, it's not a big problem. He just needs to find a way to weaken the other rebels."

Tell him to pay special attention to the rebel groups of Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong. If these two rebel groups want to annex other rebel groups, he should lead his troops to seize their manpower.

In short, any rebel group should ideally not exceed 300,000 in size, especially Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong; keep a close eye on them, and if they can't keep an eye on things, you should do so for them.

I've become a scout for the rebels!

It seems Yun Teng is about to face a series of battles with Gao Yingxiang and Zhang Xianzhong.

Once this great war breaks out, who knows how many people will die.

It shouldn't matter if Yun Teng kills the rebels; His Majesty sent him to suppress them. The problem is what to do with the local officials.

Pan Guozhong nodded solemnly and asked, "Your Majesty, what should be done with the officials in these places? Yun Teng can't just kill them, can he?"

It doesn't matter if corrupt officials are killed.

Zhu Jue pondered, "If Yun Teng doesn't dare to kill any officials, then it's too fake. This rebel king will naturally dare to kill officials. You should tell Yun Teng that it's okay to kill corrupt officials, but if you catch a truly honest official, then release him."

It seems that Yun Teng really has to kill the local officials. If he doesn't even dare to kill the officials, how can he be considered a rebel king?
The question is, if officials are all killed, is there any chance of reversal?

Upon hearing this, Pan Guozhong cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, what will be the final outcome of Yun Teng's rebellion?"

I ordered him to rebel, so why would I kill him?

Zhu Jue replied without hesitation, "When the rebels are almost quelled, I will send someone to offer them amnesty. They just need to pretend to accept the amnesty. Then, based on the number of men under their command, I will grant them a title and a noble rank."

This could even lead to being granted a noble title and a high rank!

Pan Guozhong repeatedly clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Don't be in a hurry to thank me yet.

How this move will ultimately turn out depends on the abilities of you two brothers.

Zhu Jue thought about it carefully, and then solemnly said, "Guozhong, I have entrusted you brothers with the important task of suppressing the rebels. Putting aside whether you can wipe out other rebels, at the very least, you must curb the rebels' crazy expansion."

You've given us so much money and supplies; if we still can't make it, then we'll have no choice but to offer our heads.

Pan Guozhong nodded repeatedly and said, "This humble general understands. This humble general and Yun Teng will risk our lives to stop the rebels' rampant expansion."

I hope you brothers can do it.

Zhu Jue nodded slowly, then carefully instructed, "Tell Yun Teng not to follow the example of other rebels and loot everywhere. Anyway, there is plenty of food, so he doesn't need to rob everywhere."

He had better manage his territory well, so that the former disaster victims wouldn't starve or freeze to death. By the way, there seem to be a lot of mountains in Hanzhong. I can order my son to send people there with potato and sweet potato seedlings to plant.

The yields of these two crops are ridiculously high. You could even have Yun Teng, also known as Zhang Yun, the King of Hanzhong, exaggerate these outrageous yields as a miracle, which would further reduce any doubts about his identity.

Uh, does rebellion really have to rely on bragging?

Forget it, don't overthink it. If His Majesty says it's over, then it's over!
Pan Guozhong was taken aback for a moment, then quickly cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Zhu Jue thought about it carefully again, and then solemnly said: "Guozhong, you must remember that you brothers must keep it a secret. Yun Teng must not reveal that he is your brother, and you must not reveal that you are secretly supporting Yun Teng."

Therefore, you must employ absolutely reliable confidants to handle the delivery of pig iron and grain to Yunteng, and the people on Yunteng's side responsible for receiving and transferring these supplies must also be absolutely trustworthy.

Maintaining this confidentiality is indeed of paramount importance.

Pan Guozhong nodded repeatedly and said, "This subordinate will remember it."

Simply memorizing these things isn't enough.

Zhu Jue thought for a moment, then simply beckoned and said, "Guozhong, come closer."

Is there any secret that can't be known by others?
Upon hearing this, Pan Guozhong quickly and carefully leaned closer to listen.

Zhu Jue whispered something in his ear, his eyes bulging bigger and bigger, almost popping out!
(End of this chapter)