Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 39 In a crisis, expediency is necessary; Lord Wei goes mad.

In mid-September, the rice and wheat harvest in the Gyeonggi region also began.

These days, rice in the south can be planted twice a year, while rice and wheat in the north are basically planted once a year, and the growth cycle is mostly about five months. The earlier you plant, the earlier you can harvest.

In northern China, rice and wheat are generally planted around April, starting from the Yellow River and Huai River basins. Those planted earlier can be harvested by the end of August or the beginning of September.

This also depends on the season, because after the rice and wheat are harvested, they still need to be dried and pounded. If the harvest in the capital region starts in mid-September, it is considered late. If the rice and wheat are not dried by the time it snows in November or December, they cannot be stored for long.

While ordinary people and military households in the capital region were harvesting rice and wheat, Zhu Jue was also preparing for a major undertaking.

Early that morning, around 7 a.m., before he had even begun reviewing the memorials, he ordered someone to summon Wei Zhongxian to the Yuxi Palace.

Wei Zhongxian thought someone was impeaching him again. On the surface, he acted like a dead pig that wasn't afraid of boiling water, but he was still a little uneasy inside.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Jue didn't even let Wang Chengen read the memorial.

He even smiled and asked, "Eunuch Wei, how much money has Zhou Yingqiu paid?"

Oh, so you're asking about Zhou Yingqiu.

This guy really made a lot of money.

Wei Zhongxian cautiously said, "Your Majesty, Zhou Yingqiu has already paid 600,000 taels of silver. However, he also bought tens of thousands of acres of land. According to the market price, he should be able to sell it for another 700,000 to 800,000 taels of silver."

Hmm, not bad, you're really ruthless. You don't even show any mercy to your godson, making him sell all his land to pay off his ill-gotten gains.

Zhu Jue nodded slightly, then asked, "How much does one mu of farmland cost approximately?"

There's no certainty about that.

Wei Zhongxian thought for a moment, then explained in detail: "Your Majesty, the price of land depends on factors such as fertility, ease of irrigation, and sand content. Good land is generally over twenty taels, and the most expensive land can sell for twenty-five taels per mu. Poor land is generally over ten taels, and the worst is roughly eleven or twelve taels per mu."

So, the average price is about 20 taels per mu, right?
Currently, the imperial treasury only holds about three million taels of silver, which is simply not enough to buy such a large area of ​​land in the east of the city.

Besides, there will be many more places to spend money in the future, so we need to be careful with these three million taels.

It seems that we can only acquire some land to solve the immediate problem. As for other land, we can acquire it slowly when we have more money. Or, we can simply not acquire some land. For example, the outer city south of the inner city, apart from the Altar of Mountains and Rivers, the Altar of Heaven, the Great Parade Ground, and Liulichang, which belong to the inner palace or the outer court, is all developed by the people of the capital.

Zhu Jue thought for a moment, then said solemnly, "Eunuch Wei, I have a very important matter to entrust to you."

Very important thing?

That would be great.

I'm just afraid you won't need me to do anything for you.

Wei Zhongxian replied without hesitation, "Your Majesty, just give the order, and I will go through fire and water without hesitation."

You certainly know how to talk. I won't ask you to go through fire and water; I'm just sending you to take the blame.

You're used to taking the blame for this, so taking it a few more times won't hurt.

Zhu Jue ordered Liu Ruoyu to bring a map, spread it out on the table, and then stood up, pointing to the map and asking, "Can you understand this?"

This looks like a map, doesn't it?

It recognizes me, but I don't recognize it.

I can barely read any characters, how could I possibly understand this?

Wei Zhongxian was in an awkward position.

Do I really need to be able to read a map to do something this important?

He stared at the map for a while, but he didn't seem to see a single character for "Wei," "Zhong," or "Xian."

Then there's no way.

I can't understand it at all!
He could only shake his head helplessly and say, "Your Majesty, this servant does not understand."

What are you doing all day? Why don't you go and read some books?
If you were hopelessly stupid, that would be one thing, but the problem is you're not unintelligent; at least you can write the name Wei Zhongxian correctly. You can't even read a map, so how can I explain this to you?

Zhu Jue thought for a moment, then pointed to the map and said, "I just want you to go and acquire some land."

Look, this is the Tonghui River, which is the canal from the Datong Bridge wharf outside Dongbianmen all the way to Tongzhou. You can take over all the farmland and houses within about a mile of the north bank of the Tonghui River and charge them the market price.

After the fields are harvested, tell them to finish harvesting this year's grain as soon as possible. After the houses are taken over, tell them to move all their belongings to their relatives' homes for a while. I will build them new houses.

Furthermore, you shall also seize the land along the west bank of the Chaobai River, roughly eleven li north of Tongzhou, extending for about two li. And you shall also seize the land extending for one li from this point along the Chaobai River to the northeast corner of the inner city.

You want me to collect the land?

Wei Zhongxian was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Your Majesty, do you mean to pay the market price?"

Of course, do you think I'm asking you to rob someone?
You can't steal this.

Zhu Jue nodded slightly and said, "Yes, we'll pay, at the market price."

I never pay for the land I acquire, so why are you paying me?
Did this money just fall from the sky?
no.

The money in the inner treasury was stolen by me for you.

I've already taken care of several godsons, and it wasn't easy for me to get this little bit of money for you. You can't spend it like this, can you?
The problem is, once you've spent it all, I'll have to go and steal it for you!

Wei Zhongxian hesitated for a moment, then cautiously reminded him, "Your Majesty, all land under heaven belongs to the emperor. If you want land, you don't need to pay. Just take it directly."

This is wrong.

Zhu Jue shook his head slightly, then instructed, "Eunuch Wei, there is a saying that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. The common people and the garrison troops of the capital rely on this land to make a living. Cutting off their livelihood is just forcing them to rebel."
You've seen the rebellion of disaster victims in the Northwest. The common people there rebelled because of years of severe drought, which caused their fields to fail and their livelihoods to be cut off. The imperial court not only failed to allocate funds and grain for disaster relief but also forcibly levied taxes, which is why they rebelled.

Remember, this kind of thing is unacceptable. You can deal with corrupt officials, but never arbitrarily target ordinary citizens who haven't committed any crimes.

What do ordinary people have to be afraid of?

Okay, I'll do whatever you say.

Wei Zhongxian's eyes darted around, and he quickly nodded, saying, "This servant will remember."

Okay, that's good.

Zhu Jue then instructed in detail: "You should order someone to summon the magistrate of Daxing County and have him lead the way to gather the village heads and chiefs of this area. Then, take the fish-scale map and calculate how much this area of ​​land will cost. After that, have the Embroidered Uniform Guard withdraw silver from the Imperial Treasury to sell the land."

"You must handle this matter for me quickly. Complete the acquisition of this entire area within three days. Is that alright?"

Three days!

How many Imperial Guards would we have to send?
Can I say there's a problem?
This decision cannot be revealed. If it is, you will never entrust me with any important matters in the future.

If you don't delegate anything to me, then I'm useless. If I'm useless, then it's all over!
Wei Zhongxian's eyes darted around for a moment, then he gritted his teeth and nodded, saying, "No problem."

If there are no problems, then get on it quickly; I urgently need the land.

This kind of thing can only be handled quickly by Wei Zhongxian, because this guy has a notorious reputation. Everyone knows that if you piss him off, you'll either die or suffer a lot.

If it were handed over to someone else, it might not even be completed in three months, let alone three days.

Zhu Jue nodded slightly, then waved his hand and said, "Alright, hurry up and get on with it. Remember, three days."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhongxian quickly bowed and took his leave.

Immediately afterwards, as if he had gone mad, he led a group of palace confidants to the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters, mustered his men, and began to fight!
The capital was thrown into chaos by war.

The Imperial Guards actually rushed straight to the Daxing County government office, grabbed the Daxing County Magistrate from his horse, and dragged him away!

The squads of Imperial Guards, as if possessed, surged out from Chaoyang Gate, Dongzhi Gate, and Dongbian Gate on the east side, rushing headlong towards the Chaobai River.

The common people east of the capital were so frightened that they hurriedly closed their doors and windows, fearing that the Embroidered Uniform Guard would arrest them.

The Donglin and Qi-Chu-Zhe factions in the court were also wondering what Wei Zhongxian had gone mad about this time.
(End of this chapter)