The four hundred and sixtieth chapters of the battle to suppress the focus
While the rich wine and meat smell, the road with frozen bone.
Even in peaceful times, winter is still the enemy of the poor. For beggars, refugees, and homeless people, cold and hunger are the most deadly.
The Ming Dynasty had a territory of thousands of miles and billions of people. It was obviously too harsh to want everyone to have a house to live in and food to eat.
But it cannot be denied that in the late Ming Dynasty, relief from the court and local officials was absent, and the emperor and bureaucrats had an indifferent attitude towards the victims.
If it is all blamed on the lack of money and food in the court, it is obviously biased. Analyzing it on a class level is relatively accurate.
Because it is not that there are no good strategies to save the country and the people, but it is just that the interests of the powerful officials, gentry and landlords conflict, so they cannot be implemented, or they are abandoned halfway due to heavy resistance.
As for Chongzhen, he was a member of the ruling class and was surrounded by interest groups. How could he be so cruel as to swing a knife at himself?
In fact, Chongzhen and the bureaucrats couldn't understand why the people who threatened their rule were those mud-legged people with hoes and sticks?
They were contemptuous and contemptuous from beginning to end, and until the peasant soldiers came to the capital, I am afraid they have not changed their mentality, or it is too late to change.
For Guo Dajing, he certainly has the mentality of cherishing human life from later generations, and he also has plans and assumptions for the future.
After Ping Liao, the most important factor in maintaining long-term peace and stability is population. Only when the population increases can various management and development measures be effective more quickly.
Similarly, only if the Han people have an absolute numerical advantage in Liaodong and maintain a martial style, they will not be afraid of foreign enemies and internal rebellions of alien races.
At present, it seems that rescuing refugees is a loss-making business. But looking further, the value created by these refugees in Liaodong is a hundred-fold and a thousand-fold return.
Of course, few people can take such a long-term view. Especially when refugees who narrowly escape death are rescued by Dongjiang Town, they feel grateful. This is also very beneficial to future management.
The next morning, Gao Jialiang, his wife and daughter met again in the cafeteria. After sleeping on the hot kang overnight, the refugees, including them, saw a visible improvement in their spirits and complexions.
The sadness on my face is gone, and the sadness and hesitation that enveloped my heart are gone. Although there is still a long way to go before arriving in Liaodong, my heart has already settled a lot.
Breakfast is still thick porridge. For people who have been hungry for too long, it is the best protection for their bodies. Moreover, being able to eat enough is a blessing that they have never dreamed of.
"Xiao Ni slept soundly, she should be fine." The wife told her husband when they met to reassure him, "Look, she is quite energetic."
Gao Jialiang smiled. He saw that his daughter did not look sick. She was looking around with a smile on her face.
"Have a good rest for a day, and we will give us dry food tomorrow, so we can leave here." Gao Jialiang filled the porridge, served it to his wife and daughter, and told them the news he had learned.
The wife looked at her husband, waiting for him to continue talking, but Xiaoni just immersed herself in eating porridge.
In the child's mind, it was good to stay here, not cold or hungry. Last night, she had the most comfortable and sweet sleep in a long time.
Gao Jialiang continued while eating porridge: "There is another resettlement site less than thirty miles away. With the number plate, you can eat and stay there."
"Thirty miles?" The wife thought for a moment and said, "We set out in the morning, but we didn't even make it in one day."
Gao Jialiang naturally had no problem, and he felt relieved when he saw that his wife was not in trouble.
If it were a normal environment and a normal body, it would only take five or six hours to hike thirty miles. However, considering the physical condition of the refugees, some people would find it difficult to endure the thirty miles.
However, these resettlement sites have been established. If we want to build more and shorten the distance, it is already difficult to do this in winter. We can only wait until next spring when the flowers bloom.
"If you feel bad, you can stay here for one or two more days." Gao Jialiang added with concern: "You are not bedridden, but you can stay here for three days at most."
The wife nodded and said, "Let's go tomorrow! I also heard something. Here we only eat porridge. When we get to the next resettlement site, those with a number plate will be able to eat pancakes."
Xiao Ni immediately raised her head, her big eyes suddenly opened, looking at her parents expectantly.
Seeing his daughter's expression, Gao Jialiang laughed, stretched out his hand to touch her little head, and said, "Let's go tomorrow to eat pancakes!"
Yeah, yeah! Xiaoni nodded vigorously, grinned and said, "I'm energetic again and can walk on my own."
The wife looked at her daughter lovingly, with a long-lost smile on her face.
It's been a long time since I escaped from my hometown, and I haven't seen the smiles of my wife and children again.
Gao Jialiang was a little absent-minded for a moment. Thinking of all the hardships on the road, his eyes were a little sore. He quickly lowered his head and drank porridge to cover up the past.
………………
Capital City, Imperial Palace.
Emperor Chongzhen, who slept later than a dog and woke up earlier than a chicken, was already sitting in the Qianqing Palace and began to review memorials and title books.
In terms of diligence, Chongzhen was definitely one of the best among ancient emperors. It can be said that he stayed up late at night and forgot to eat and sleep.
But in the face of natural and man-made disasters and years of war, no matter how diligent Chongzhen was, he took the wrong approach, and the country's power declined day by day, and things got worse and worse.
The civil unrest in the northwest became serious again. Wang Jiayin proclaimed himself king, appointed officials, and his troops grew to more than 30,000 people. They fought in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Gansu and other places with great momentum.
At this point, Yang He, the governor of the three sides, failed in his suppression strategy and was convicted and imprisoned. Hong Chengchou, the governor of Yansui, took over the task of quelling the rebellion, implemented Chongzhen's intention of quickly suppressing the rebellion, and began to suppress it mainly by means of suppression.
"In June of the third year, Wang Jiayin fell into Huangpuchuan, and the Qingshui Second Battalion defended Fugu. Hong Chengchou and Du Wenhuan surrounded it and defeated Wang Jiayin."
"In August of the third year, Hong Chengchou and Du Wenhuan defeated Wang Jiayin in Gushan Fort."
"In September of the third year of Chongzhen, Hong Chengchou and Shaanxi governor Li Yingqi made a plan to kill Wang Zuogui and his men who had surrendered."
It can be seen that Hong Chengchou's strategy for suppressing thieves is very different from Yang He's. Regarding the surrender of generals and troops, the decision of whether to retain or kill will be made based on the specific circumstances.
At the same time, Cao Wenzhao, who had been transferred to the pass, was named the deputy commander-in-chief of Yansui East Road, and led his troops to the northwest to obey Hong Chengchou's orders and kill the rebels.
Chongzhen looked at the memorial, which was written by Liu Yingyu, who participated in the political affairs of Shaanxi Province. In response to the emperor's inquiry about killing and surrendering, "Wang Zuo's coat was still looted even though he surrendered, so he had no choice but to kill him as a warning..."
After pondering for a long time, Chongzhen picked up the ink pen and replied: "
When thieves are rampant, it is wrong to appease them, but it is good to kill them."
From focusing on appeasement to killing, Chongzhen's attitude has changed significantly.
The reason for this was of course the expansion and spread of civil unrest, which made it extremely annoying. It was also because Shen Yikui, who had been appeased by Yang He, continued to loot as before, and even surrendered and rebelled again, which was capricious and angered the emperor.
In fact, Yang He's focus on recruiting was not considered a misstep at a time when the peasant uprising army had not yet grown strong.
The main reason for the surrender and revolt was that the Ming Dynasty was unable to afford the huge amount of money for the aftermath, and the people did not have enough to eat, so they had no choice but to revolt again, which led to the complete failure of the appeasement strategy.
In the final analysis, it is still a matter of money and food. With money and food, the people will not rebel; with money and food, the rebels who have been surrendered will not rebel again.
Chongzhen picked up Hong Chengchou's memorial again, read it, and frowned.
"...The great famine has lasted for three years. Bandits have arisen. The defense camps and border counties are suffering from hunger and cold to the bones. They want to change. The situation has never been more critical. The ministers united the hearts of the people and attacked the army for the first time, but they are really in dire straits...
…”
Hong Chengchou complained and asked for money, but he still promised to go all out to suppress the bandits and asked the emperor for temporary leniency.
When it comes to money, it is the most sensitive and difficult thing in Chongzhen's heart.
Chongzhen frowned and thought for a long time, then wrote a reply to Hong Chengchou, promising to transfer a batch of food and salary. As for whether it was enough, he had no choice.
The additional levy of Liao's salary has been decided, but collecting it will not be a matter of time. Chongzhen was helpless about this.
Fortunately, there is Dongjiang Town on the other side of Liaodong, which has suppressed the Jianlu. Pingliao is just around the corner, and this serious trouble will finally be eliminated.
The following memorial was submitted by a group of ministers. After Yang He was convicted, all the ministers reported the shortcomings of the governor. Even Hong Chengchou was uneasy, fearing that he would "make a mistake in suppressing the governor" and follow in his footsteps.
The court has not yet made a final decision on whether to focus on suppression, or to give equal emphasis to suppression, or to suppress first and then appease. In fact, this issue still depends on the specific situation of the rebel army it faces and how to use it flexibly.
Wu Sheng, the imperial censor, reported: "The disadvantages of recruiting peace are recorded in the annals of history. Today, it is advisable to suppress first and then appease as the final policy. If you surrender to war and abandon your armor, you can also appease during the suppression. If you try cunningly again and gather together to plunder, you will not disperse."
Then when you caress it, it will also be used to suppress it."
Xiong Ming, the minister of the Ministry of War, encountered the enemy and reported: "All the bandits in the Qin Dynasty have made it clear to the emperor that they should suppress and suppress them in parallel. It is said that they will suppress their leaders and pacify their subordinates. I will surrender to my husband, the leader of Ququ, and I will obey him, and I will obey him if he threatens his subordinates."
Suppress it."
"If the canal is caressed to suppress threats, and the canal is caressed after the rebellion has been subdued, and the canal is caressed when the yang is subdued and the yin is rebellious, then caressing will be fun, but suppression will not be powerful, and the thieves will be wiped out forever..."
What these two ministers said is very pertinent. Even though Yang He failed in his care, he should not use care to abolish the annihilation. But he should not go to the extreme and completely abolish the means of care.
The leaders of thieves who beg to surrender can be appeased, but the stubborn followers should be resolutely eradicated, and those who surrender and rebel again cannot be appeased.
Only by combining suppression and appeasement can civil unrest be quelled more quickly. If you are too tough and kill them all, the bandits will have no way of survival and will be trapped in a desperate fight, which is not conducive to quelling the civil unrest.
Chongzhen thought for a long time, then took Hong Chengchou's memorial and read it carefully.
Reading carefully again, Chongzhen also sensed the profound meaning from Hong Chengchou's wording. Hong Chengchou's toughness was because he was afraid of following in the footsteps of Yang He, but he also euphemistically proposed that force should be used to contain support, but in fact it meant to suppress strong support.
"After all, it was still difficult to determine whether the imperial court should focus on suppression or pacification. It was only because Yang He was convicted that Hong Chengchou blindly suppressed him, fearing to follow in his footsteps."
Chongzhen understood and knew that his attitude should be clear before the frontline generals could implement it.
After thinking for a long time, Chongzhen added after his original reply: "The governor Hong Chengchou can make announcements from far and near, so that the fallen city can be recovered quickly. The leader of the famous thief will be killed, and the rest of the party can kill the thief and commit suicide or die naked.
If you are, you may still be able to survive."
To deal with the rebels, the measures taken were still to combine suppression and appeasement, and Chongzhen finally set a relatively clear policy for the frontline generals.
Despite this, Chongzhen had no intention of forgiving Yang He. But it seems inappropriate to deal with him harshly now, giving people the impression that he was guilty of rape.
Put him in jail first and talk about it later!
A chill flashed through Chongzhen's eyes. He hated his ministers who failed him more and more since Yuan Chonghuan.
"Your Majesty, it's time for breakfast." Wang Chengen took advantage of Chongzhen's pause to step forward and bow.
Chongzhen shook off his thoughts, nodded, stood up and walked to the table next to him. Looking at the food on the table, his face could not help but darken.
Wang Cheng'en was so smart that he guessed the truth right away and hurriedly explained: "Queen Chitose said that the emperor is diligent in government affairs, the dragon body is important, and the concubines in the harem can just reduce their meals."
Chongzhen was not only diligent in government, but also very frugal, all because of lack of money. He had stopped weaving in the south of the Yangtze River, and wanted to cut back on food and entertainment, and asked all his officials to be diligent and thrifty.
According to Ming history, Chongzhen often wore patched clothes, which can be said to be "three years inside, three years outside, and three years more mending."
But frugality could not save the Ming Dynasty. Chongzhen still didn't understand that if the people had something to eat, even if they ate braised vegetables, they would not rise up. They would not care about whether the emperor was spending too much money and extravagantly.
"At that time, the people should not suffer from horizontal conquests and make empty promises without any concrete evidence. The court likes to blame others. If it is urgent, it will take the blame, and if it is slow, it will cause trouble. Fools know this from habit..."
"Guo Que" talks about Qian and Chongzhen, and thinks that Chongzhen's reduction of food and music, "screening of gold and silver, using copper and tin wooden utensils", and "ordering civil and military ministers to make appointments with each province" were purely to gain fame and reputation.
Judging from the contents of Chongzhen's several guilty edicts, it can be said that he has a clear understanding of the suffering of the people and the reasons why the people revolted, but he did not improve the policies to benefit the people.
To be precise, Chongzhen clearly knew what was wrong and what was wrong, but he did not have the courage to promote the advantages and eliminate the disadvantages. He could only verbally express his love for the people and his regrets.
Is it useful? It is really useless at all. The more profound the self-criticism is, the more it shows that Chongzhen is indifferent and callous to the suffering of the people.
Hearing that it was the Queen's arrangement, Chongzhen's face brightened slightly, he waved his hand and said, "Even if the Queen decides, meal reduction cannot be changed. Let's give it up for today and start from tomorrow!"
"My slave obeys the order." Wang Chengen bowed helplessly and responded.
Chongzhen sat down to eat, but he was still a little distracted. He told Wang Chengen: "If there is military situation in Liaodong, report it immediately without delay."
Fang Zhenghua has reported to the emperor the information that Jianlu may launch a war.
The threat of Jianlu was definitely greater than that of rebels and bandits. Chongzhen had always thought so. Therefore, he was very concerned about it and did not want any accidents to happen in the three years of Pingliao.
Chongzhen didn't know it yet, but while he was eating, the latest enemy information had just been delivered to Guo Dajing, and a war had begun.
For the Dongjiang Army, which has three years to pacify the Liao Dynasty, the impact is there. But it is not negative, but a good opportunity to speed up the process.
See\change the light\against the sky\just\remember\domain\name\:\\ This chapter has been completed!