Every day at the court meeting, reports of rampant banditry in various places continued. In many places, there was complete collusion between soldiers and bandits, working together to plunder private wealth.
Why? The military government has no pay. The court owes too much money and cannot pay it. However, the government has a lot of public land. It can only support the people in the yamen, but not the people in the military government.
So the yamen could only turn a blind eye.
The Sui Dynasty was a military system. During the war, soldiers were soldiers, and during leisure time, they were farmers. Now in the leisure time, there were actually not many people in the military government. Most of them went home to farm. Logically speaking, there should not be such chaos.
However, isn’t this Yu Wenshu’s conscription?
Once the army is drafted, farmers serving in the military can go to the military government to collect the equipment they have stored there. With equipment, people have more ideas.
When the imperial court did not recruit troops, the military government issued weapons without authorization and killed those who did so, so no one dared to take this risk. However, after recruiting troops, the distribution of weapons was a matter of course.
Then the hussar generals in the military government will feel that there are so many poor people under me who are making trouble with military pay every day, and I can't control it. What should I do? Take them to get some money and stabilize them first.
Bandits are like combs, and soldiers are like grates. Soldiers are much more ruthless than bandits in killing people and stealing goods.
"At this juncture, we can only turn a blind eye to such things. If we really send people to investigate strictly, the recruitment matter will be affected. Your Majesty will not be able to explain it," Yang Gongren said at the court meeting.
The conscription had just begun, and problems emerged one after another. Just like the expedition to Goguryeo, the number of deserters was so terrifying that it could not be suppressed.
Cui Zhongfang said with a gloomy expression: "All the food originally used for disaster relief in Jingzhou has been transferred to Luoyang. Civil unrest has broken out in Jiangxia County and Yong'an County, and the guards of the military government have been drafted away. It can be said that the chaos in the two counties has
Now that there is no one to control it, sooner or later it will wreak havoc in the surrounding areas."
Lu Chu said: "The news has come from Jiangdu. Jiangnan's taxes for next year have been expropriated. All budgets need to be abolished and reorganized."
........
When you say something, when I say something, Yang Ming's head gets dizzy when he hears it.
It was originally a good start, but due to Dad's expedition to the north, it was instantly messed up. Don't even think about the money promised to Hebei. If Hebei is not comforted, big trouble will happen.
Yang Ming sat back in his chair, closed his eyes and meditated, as if he was deaf to the sounds in the court.
Nowadays, few people have the courage to confront Yang Guang directly, because Comrade Yang Guang has said long ago: I don’t like people’s advice.
Wei Zheng has this intention, but he doesn't have the courage at the moment, because the prince's power has been transferred to others, and he has no support, so he doesn't dare to take this risk.
Yu Wenshu said in a deep voice: "You still have to think of ways to minimize the impact of the Northern Expedition on the administration and civil affairs. The prince once said that there are always more ways than difficulties. Big things can be reduced to trivial matters, and small things can be eliminated invisible. This is what we, as ministers, have done
duty.”
"You said it lightly," Cui Zhongfang said: "It's an understatement in one sentence. National affairs and people's feelings are as important as a mountain. It can't be done with just a few strokes of a pen. In Tianshui County, the Zhao family has killed more than 400 people.
, has the civil unrest stopped? This is still in Guanzhong, and it is even more conceivable in other places."
After saying that, Cui Zhongfang looked at Yang Ming and begged: "Prince, please advise His Majesty. It is not appropriate to mobilize troops and mobilize people next year, for fear of causing chaos in the world."
"Nonsense!" Yang Yue frowned and said, "I'm telling Mr. Cui, you can't talk nonsense. Why is the world in chaos? Besides, we are ministers, how can you embarrass the prince? The prince is your majesty's son, you can't do this kind of thing
You can do it, but you can’t let the prince do it.”
Cui Zhongfang shook his head helplessly, and Yu Wenshu quickly comforted him:
"Mr. Cui is concerned about national affairs, and he is an example for us. However, things have priorities. Local difficulties are difficult to deal with in a short period of time. The troubles in the north are a heartache. The long-term pain is not as good as the short-term pain. After the Eastern Turks are defeated next year, we will
If there are no more external troubles, we can focus on civil affairs, govern the local area, and heal the hearts of the people."
Cui Zhongfang grinned: "How about the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Duke Xu Guo do it?"
"Okay," Yang Ming said suddenly.
Cui Zhongfang was stunned, and the others looked at Yang Ming in disbelief.
Yang Ming slowly sat up and said, "Of course Cui Gong will still have to work hard, but Xu Guogong can serve as Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. This will make it easier for him to recruit large armies and logistical personnel. That's it."
Yu Wenshu twitched the corner of his mouth. He guessed that the prince was offloading Cui Zhongfang's burden, but you can't put it on me? If you cause trouble in the future, I will bear all the infamy?
The greater the power, the greater the responsibility. Although Yu Wenshu knew that if he could serve as Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he would save a lot of trouble, but he also knew that this burden could not be taken on because it was too heavy.
So he hurriedly said: "I don't have this ability. I still need Mr. Cui to work harder."
Cui Zhongfang hurriedly said: "Of course I will help from the side, but the important matter still needs to be decided by Duke Xu. After all, His Majesty has entrusted it to you."
He also took advantage of every opportunity and quickly threw away the burden, because Cui Zhongfang knew that troubles in various places in the future were inevitable, and he could not bear such a big responsibility.
Because the Ministry of Civil Affairs is in charge of money, everyone in the world will just ask him for money. If Yu Wenshu can act as Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Cui Zhongfang can easily pass the blame.
It’s not that I didn’t give you the money, but Xu Guogong took it away.
Yang Ming said: "Xu Guogong is responsible for coordinating all matters of the Northern Expedition. I still want to make it as convenient as possible for you. Don't refuse. Otherwise, you will not be able to take charge of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and delay the important events of the Northern Expedition. His Majesty may blame you."
What else could Yu Wenshu say? What the prince said was true. During this period, he asked the Ministry of Civil Affairs for money. Cui Zhongfang delayed it for various reasons. He took the initiative to go to the prince and asked him to help.
Deal with it.
But he didn't expect that the prince would let him directly intervene in the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Being the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs is equivalent to temporarily serving as the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, which does not conflict with Cui Zhongfang's actual position, and Cui Zhongfang is still the main one.
But he knew that in the future, Cui Zhongfang would leave it to him to make decisions on anything he did.
"The prince has an order, but I dare not refuse, so I can only do it reluctantly," Yu Wenshu nodded.
Yang Ming continued: "For this Northern Expedition, His Majesty's decree is to recruit 500,000 troops, of which 200,000 are cavalry, and another 1.2 million civilians will be recruited to be responsible for logistics support. Each county chief officer will be mobilized after three years.
Let’s pause for a moment. In an emergency, let them support us again, and send an order to Shanxi, Guanzhong, Hebei, Henan, and Shandong to recruit mules and horses for transportation.”
Yang Guang's Northern Expedition started from Luoyang. The troops were divided into three routes, one going to Yulin, one passing Jinyang, and all the way to Zhuojun. The three marching generals were Yu Zhongwen on the west, Yuwenshu on the middle, and Lai on the east.
To protect the children, Yang Guang himself was the marching marshal.
Among them, Yu Zhongwen’s general manager Shi is Yu Shiji, deputy general manager Wei Xuan, Yu Wenshu’s general manager Shi is Yang Yue, deputy general manager Yu Juluo, Lainuer’s general manager Shi is Pei Ju, and deputy general manager Zhang Jin.
It can be said to be an ace lineup.
With this lineup, as long as nothing happens at the rear, the victory is 100% guaranteed, but there is a surprise.
Yang Ming himself did not expect that Yang Xuangan would be responsible for the general dispatch of Luoyang's grain and grass. Isn't this the same position as Xuangan's position during the rebellion in history?
What did their uncle and nephew do behind their backs to make Yang Guang arrange this?
Yang Ming didn't have time to ask them yet.
After the court meeting, Yang Ming specially called his uncle and nephew.
"Xuangan will find a way to reject the matter of arranging grain and fodder in Luoyang. Don't go and let Dugu Zuan do it," Yang Ming said in a deep voice.
Yang Xuangan was stunned: "This is His Majesty's will. If I refuse, Your Majesty will not spare me."
"What on earth do you want to do?" Yang Ming slammed the table and said, "I'm warning you two, don't mess around."
Yang Yue smiled and said: "Your Highness, don't worry, we will never do anything random. Your Highness is really worried too much."
Yang Ming narrowed his eyes, looked at their uncle and nephew, and said coldly: "I have told you that you should always consider Yin Jiang in everything. Your family will have to count on Ying's return in the future."
Yang Yue nodded and said: "I never dare to forget for a moment, let alone do anything that involves Yin Jiang. Your Highness, you know me. I never do anything I am not sure of."
Yang Ming had a look of helplessness on his face: "Be careful with the Ten Thousand Year Ship. If you dare to mess around, I will kill you first."
"What did His Highness say?" Yang Xuangan said with a surprised look on his face: "I am a grain officer, what can I do? I don't want to go, but I dare not resist His Majesty's decree."
It seems that Xuangan probably doesn't know yet, so Yang Yue, an old boy, arranged all this behind his back.
Given Yang Yue's character, he was unwilling to join the army after Yang Su's death, and Yang Guang didn't like using Yang Yue either. The arrangement this time was so abrupt, which shows that there are a lot of tricks in it.
However, Yang Ming is still reassured by Yang Yue's caution. This old boy is very stable and will definitely not act recklessly if there is no chance.
"Your concubine's daughter is about to give birth. You should go and visit her," Yang Ming made an excuse and sent Yang Xuangan away.
Yang Yinjiang's dowry girl, Yang Yuru, was Xuangan's concubine.
When only Yang Ming and Yang Yue were left, Yang Yue took the initiative and said:
"Looking at the current situation, I think there may be a major chaos next year. When Dugu Gong was still alive, he once said that if your Majesty abuses the power of the people again and again, the disaster of the Sui Dynasty is not far away. Hebei and Shandong cannot withstand another trouble.
, if it happens again, it will definitely be like a prairie fire, so Your Highness must be prepared in advance."
Yang Ming admired Yang Yue's vision. He nodded when he heard this and said: "If we cannot support the logistics and force the northern expedition, there will inevitably be a fire in the backyard. I just don't know how big the fire will be. Follow Yu Wenshu and don't be constrained by foreign wars."
You must win but not lose, otherwise the consequences will be even more disastrous."
Yang Yue nodded and said: "Your Highness, don't worry. Please remember that if there is civil unrest in the future, you must not leave Guanzhong. I asked Xuangan to go to Dongdu to ensure that Luoyang is not lost. As long as the capital and Dongdu are safe, the world can be safe."
Certainly."
Civil turmoil is almost a certainty. After the expedition to Goguryeo, the food supply was sufficient, but Shandong and Hebei are still rebelling. What is happening now? If there is leakage of wind and rain, it will be a ghost if there is no trouble.
Yang Ming let out a long sigh: "You are too old, be careful to die on the way."
Yang Yue laughed: "Even if my life is about to expire, I will still hold my breath and rush back to the capital to see His Highness for the last time."