Chapter 578: Chongzhen wants to default on his debt
As the monarch of a feudal country, you are not actually required to be both civil and military, have superior intelligence, or achieve any great achievements, but at least you can provide food for your people.
But these are beyond our wildest hopes, and you can’t lead your country and nation toward destruction, leaving the people in dire straits!
Paradoxically, Chongzhen was such an emperor who thought he was wise and could revive the Ming Dynasty. His actions and character flaws pushed the Ming Dynasty into the abyss of destruction without him knowing it.
China's luck lies in Guo Dajing's time-travel possession. He tried his best to finally save the Dongjiang Army, save Mao Wenlong, and save China from the tragedy of being poisoned.
But Chongzhen didn't think so. Seeing that Ping Liao was about to complete his work, he was excited in the palace and attributed this great achievement to his own wisdom and martial arts.
This is the traditional thought of feudal society. Only with a wise emperor can there be wise ministers and famous generals. The rise and fall of the country are inseparable from the emperor.
"Break Liaoyang, behead Hauge, annihilate tens of thousands of enemies..." Chongzhen was drinking fragrant tea at this time and read Fang Zhenghua's memorial again, still unable to hide his joyful smile.
Fang Zhenghua's memorial was written in detail, unlike the rumors and speculations outside. The fact that Liaoyang was able to defeat Liaoyang in one fell swoop was due to Guo Dajing, and Mao Wenlong was just picking for nothing.
"Guo Dajing knows how to repay his kindness and knows how to advance and retreat." Chongzhen praised: "If his contribution is too great, it will really be a difficult thing for the court to do."
Wang Chengen bowed to the side and said: "Long live the wise man, Guo Dajing is indeed very wise to give up the credit."
No matter how great Mao Wenlong's contribution is, and his age is there, he can retire and take care of himself after Pingliao. Whether he retires to his hometown or is raised in the capital, it is unlikely that the imperial court will continue to give him opportunities for promotion.
On the contrary, Guo Dajing still has room for development. After all, his age is there, Dongjiang Town is there, and the court cannot find a more suitable leader than him.
In Chongzhen's view, Guo Dajing gave up the credit to avoid the trouble of having no title in the future. He was doing it for the sake of the court and repaying Mao Wenlong for his cultivation.
"I am very relieved to be able to pacify Liao this year. We should not be stingy with rewards for meritorious soldiers." Chongzhen felt that this solved his biggest worry. Although the civil unrest still caused him a headache, it would not endanger the foundation of the Ming Dynasty.
Wang Chengen complimented: "Long live rewards and punishments. The officers and soldiers of the three armies will serve with their lives. The pacification of foreign enemies and internal strife will be just around the corner."
Knowing Chongzhen, Wang Chengen knew that he was deeply dissatisfied with the Ming army in the country. He could not even wipe out the hungry people who rebelled with hoes. He was really incompetent.
But Chongzhen would not think deeply about why the domestic Ming army's combat power was weak, and why the rebellions of the people were destroyed and revolted one after another.
Or he may know the reason, but he is unable to solve it and can only deceive himself and others. He can only blame others and blame others, and shift the responsibility to the civil servants and generals below.
He would even blame the hungry people who rebelled just for food, why they could not take the overall situation into consideration. The purpose of levying Liao's salary was to pacify Liao and eliminate the captives, stabilize the country, and prevent the war from spreading to the country.
But what is the minimum requirement for ordinary people? They just want to live. Is it difficult for them to survive? How many taels of grain a day can they eat porridge without starving to death?
A reward?! After Chongzhen finished boasting, he got a headache again. He rubbed his temples and murmured: "According to the current statistics, the Dongjiang Army has beheaded more than 40,000 people. To pacify the entire Liao Dynasty, the number of heads probably exceeds 100,000."
Bar?"
The reward for meritorious service is fifty taels per head; now we owe more than two million taels. If calculated as one hundred thousand, wouldn't it cost more than five million taels?
Wang Chengen grinned secretly, knowing that according to this amount, it was indeed a huge sum of money. But if you want to calculate it carefully, the Dongjiang Army was able to pacify Liaodong, and even completed it ahead of schedule, the court still made a profit.
It's just a sudden investment. Compared with the zero investment every year, the amount does seem huge and heartbreaking.
Wang Chengen knew the emperor's difficulties, but the reward money could not be repudiated. It was real merit, different from bragging and lies on paper.
Every head was taken by the soldiers with their blood and lives.
This is different from occupying cities and seizing land. You can flexibly reward and add seals. This is also different from paying wages. If you default on deductions, you can make up for it slowly.
Especially for a major event like Ping Liao, victory must be celebrated grandly and the three armies will be rewarded. They can't even give out the reward money. Does the imperial court want other military towns to think that it is crossing the river and burning the bridge, and breaking the promise?
"Long live, I think this reward silver may be delayed, as long as Mao Wenlong and Guo Dajing understand the difficulties of the court." Wang Chengen said tentatively: "In Liaodong, don't they always use Liao banknotes?"
Chongzhen blinked his eyes, and as if he had some realization, he said slowly: "What does Wang Ban mean, is that they should be the first to step in for the court?"
Wang Chengen smiled and said: "As long as they serve loyally, how can they not share the worries of your father?"
There was a bit of embarrassment on Chongzhen's face. This sounded nice, but he vowed that he would be generous with rewards, but he couldn't even come up with the reward money. In the end, he still didn't keep his word.
"Long live for Fang Zhenghua to negotiate with Mao Wenlong and Guo Dajing to rebuild Liaodong. They must also need the support and assistance of the imperial court. Is it acceptable to pay the reward money in installments?"
Chongzhen thought for a moment, nodded slightly, and accepted the suggestion. Talking about it through Fang Zhenghua saved him, the emperor, the embarrassment.
Furthermore, what Wang Chengen said makes sense. The reconstruction of Liaodong requires not only money, but also manpower and other resources. When the time comes, the court will just provide more convenience.
"Dongjiang Town can use Liao banknotes, but it is difficult for me in Ming Dynasty to use Bao banknotes." Chongzhen sighed in his heart, feeling very helpless.
Originally, if the government's credit was still there, issuing banknotes would be a means to alleviate the fiscal crisis.
But now the Ming Dynasty has neither enough gold and silver reserves nor enough land and food to ensure the stability of the currency value of banknotes.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! In addition, the Ming Dynasty's credibility has been ruined by the banknotes. From top to bottom, how can the social classes of the Ming Dynasty still have confidence in banknotes?
The Liao banknotes issued by Dongjiang Town have gained the trust of the military and civilians over the past few years because they are only used in Liaodong and are linked to the price of grain.
What's more, there is also the vast and fertile land in Liaodong, so even if more are issued, it will not have an impact on the currency value.
In fact, it is not that Chongzhen has not studied the governance and business model of Dongjiang Town, but the current situation in the Ming Dynasty makes it difficult to implement it.
The vassals, nobles, bureaucrats, and gentry have occupied most of the cultivated land in the Ming Dynasty, but they enjoy the treatment of not paying taxes.
The taxes imposed by the imperial court and the increased Liao wages all fell on the heads of ordinary people. Coupled with frequent disasters, farmers had no income, but they were still unable to avoid paying taxes and had no choice but to flee and abandon the land.
To create advantages and eliminate disadvantages, we must attack those vested interest groups. But Chongzhen simply did not have the courage. He could only continue to exploit the powerless farmers while being so poor that he urinated blood.
Doesn't he know that people who rebel will not have enough food to eat? Doesn't he know that as long as there is sufficient money and food and adequate relief, the rising civil unrest will be unyielding?
He knows everything, but he can't change anything. He can only deceive himself and others, blaming the officials below and the common people who ignore the overall situation and can't bear to wait for death.
"Since we have to default on the reward money, we can't be too stingy on the rewards such as official titles." Chongzhen pondered, thinking about what kind of false titles would be suitable for Mao Wenlong and Guo Dajing.
He was so poor that he only had imperial edicts and empty titles that did not cost much money. But even if it was a title, Chongzhen was not willing to part with it!
………………
Liaoyang.
Tens of thousands of militiamen worked hard for two days, finally tidying up the post-war city and starting the work of building houses.
The broken bricks and stones on the streets have been cleaned up, and the houses that were not too seriously damaged have been repaired to make them habitable, but they are still far from replicating the old appearance of this important town in Liaodong!
"Jisheng, Liaoyang has been confirmed as the center of government affairs. You will work and live here for a long time in the future." Accompanied by Mao Wenlong and Chen Jisheng, they walked casually in the Liaodong Dusi Mansion.
Chen Jisheng led a group of government officials to Liaoyang and began intense work.
A large number of soldiers and civilians will migrate here before next year's spring plowing. The survey and distribution of farmland, the construction of houses, and the establishment of villages and towns must be completed before then.
"Commander, do you want to be based in Shenyang?" Chen Jisheng asked: "Although there is river transportation support, Shenyang is still far away from the Liaonan base, and there will not be many people migrating next year."
Whether it is local output or purchases from outside, southern Liaoning is now the material base for the entire eastern Liaoning. The newly occupied area requires at least one year of production and cultivation before it can be self-sufficient.
In order to ease transportation pressure and reduce losses, in the first year, the further north you go, the fewer people will be resettled. In the second year, the number will gradually increase.
Mao Wenlong nodded and said: "If there are fewer people, just as few as possible. We should focus on military villages and try our best to place military personnel in Shenyang. From a geographical point of view, Shenyang must be the military center. How can I not be based in Shenyang?"
Chen Jisheng pondered for a moment and said: "Although Liaodong has been pacified, the reconstruction work is very arduous. I wonder how much support the imperial court can give, or will it just give up?"
Mao Wenlong smiled and said: "It's better not to worry about the court for now. Let's rely on our own efforts and do as many things as we have the ability to do!"
Mao Wenlong did not have too many extravagant hopes for the imperial court. As long as he did not interfere blindly and let Dongjiang Town be governed according to existing policies and methods, he would be quite satisfied.
"The civil unrest in the northwest has spread, and it will be difficult to quell it without a few years of efforts." Mao Wenlong shook his head and said: "Although the rebels have been hit repeatedly and suffered heavy losses, they have become smarter as they learn. Today, the rebels The various ministries were interspersed between Henan, Chu, Sichuan and Shaanxi. The officers and soldiers were exhausted in pursuit and suppression, and the battle front was too long, so they were very passive!"
Chen Jisheng smiled bitterly and said: "There are different powers, the government and the army are watching each other, and the court does not have enough money and food to provide relief. The people are in chaos and then rebel again. This is a vicious cycle that is difficult to change at its root."
"Some officials in the court still want to wait for the Liao Dynasty to be mobilized to move the Dongjiang Army into the Pass to quell the rebellion!" Mao Wenlong showed a somewhat sarcastic smile and said: "I have discussed this matter with Dajing and both think it is not possible for the time being."
Chen Jisheng said: "If there is still a threat from the remnants of Jianlu, our army's defense line in Liaodong is lengthened, and it is really not appropriate to mobilize too many troops."
Mao Wenlong shook his head and said: "It's not all because of Jianlu, but also because of Dajing's intention. In the two or three years after Ping Liao, we should first defeat the enemies in the north."
"Two or three years?" Chen Jisheng thought for a while and said, "Isn't it a little hasty?"
Mao Wenlong smiled and said: "It's just a plan, it still depends on the specific situation of Liaodong's reconstruction and recovery. As long as we have enough troops and food, there is no need to worry about anything else."
Chen Jisheng said no more, and he and Mao Wenlong entered the hall, sat down to drink tea, rest, and continued chatting.
"Five years is not a long time. I wonder if the imperial court will give Dongjiang Town more time so that the soldiers and civilians can enjoy a few more years of happiness." Chen Jisheng sighed: "Liao people have suffered too much in more than ten years of war. So much suffering.”
Mao Wenlong drank tea and said: "When the time comes, I will start working again. The reasons can still be found."
Mao Wenlong was not too worried about this. He believed that Guo Dajing would have a way to prevent the imperial court from intervening. What's more, Liaodong was run like an iron barrel, and even if the imperial court wanted to intervene, it would not be able to do so.
Just as he was talking, the soldiers hurried over to report and presented Guo Dajing's letter.
Mao Wenlong hurriedly opened it and took a look, then handed the letter to Chen Jisheng and said with a smile: "The Jianlu have completely retreated. I think Shenyang is about to fall, and there will be no fierce fighting."
Chen Jisheng read the letter and smiled cheerfully, saying: "Jianlu still knows his chance. If he continues to fight to the death, even a horse may not be able to escape from Liaodong."
Mao Wenlong was deeply convinced and said: "After all, there are at most 30,000 Jianlu troops, which is difficult to compete with our army. If we want to defend such a large territory, we are even more stretched and constrained everywhere. It is wise to retreat at this time."
"It's a pity that we can't annihilate the Jianlu, and there may be trouble from border invaders in the future." Chen Jisheng felt a little regretful and said, "However, this is good. It can be used as an excuse to prevent the imperial court from sending troops into the pass."
Mao Wenlong tilted his head slightly, but did not correct Chen Jisheng's assumption.
In his discussions and plans with Guo Dajing, after Liaodong was recovered, the use of troops in the north would never stop, even if Liaodong was rebuilt and restored.
To put it bluntly, the strategy in Liaodong is no longer the original border defense, let alone the passive defense of building the Liaodong Great Wall like before.
Attack, attack, attack! The Dongjiang Army still needs to maintain an active combat posture and continuously move the battlefield to the north.
It not only forces the remnants of the built-up barbarians to continue to flee north, consumes their strength, and worsens their living environment; it also creates a sufficient buffer zone for Liaodong so that the soldiers and civilians of Liaodong no longer have to suffer from border troubles.
"It seems that I have no leisure time again and will leave for Shenyang soon!" Mao Wenlong seemed to be complaining, but there was a cheerful look on his face.
Chen Jisheng said: "Commander, there is no need to worry. It will not be too late to go north when there is news from Dajing."
Although Mao Wenlong was happy, he still had a guess in his heart: Shenyang City would be severely damaged, and Jianlu would not leave the city intact.