After Guo Linxiang pondered for a moment, he replied hesitantly: "This shows that if we cooperate with the imperial envoy, we will have meat to eat, otherwise we will not be able to drink even the clear soup and water!"
Zhao Junchen shook his head and said: "Wrong! This imperial envoy is not the key, the imperial court is the key! You are the subjects of the imperial court, and the imperial court can naturally determine your rise and fall, life and death! The Shanxi merchants are as rich as the enemy, because of the imperial court
Your support, whether it is ticket issuance, border trade, or the recent Sichuan salt development, is a privilege given to you by the imperial court, but the imperial court has given you support, and you should repay the imperial court!
Now, as the imperial envoy said just now, there are two paths before you Shanxi merchants. One is to actively repay the court's support, fully cooperate with Shanxi's border defense plan, firmly resist the invasion of the Mongolian Tatars, and mobilize all of you
Strengthen Shanxi's border defense strength. In that case, the imperial court will also give you more convenience! For example, after the "United Shipping Company", the imperial court can cooperate with your Shanxi merchants in the next step of rectifying commercial taxation...
As for the other way, it is to drift away from the imperial court, and secretly commit crimes that harm the interests of the imperial court while taking advantage of the imperial court's preferential treatment. In that case, the imperial court will take back all the privileges of Shanxi merchants! Issuance of ticket numbers, border
From now on, trade, Sichuan salt development, etc. will have no business with Shanxi merchants!"
After hearing what Zhao Junchen said, the faces of the Shanxi merchants present changed continuously. Some looked happy, while others looked panicked!
*
Prior to this, it took only one year for the Junggar Khanate to become the overlord of the grasslands. Such strong strength frightened everyone. Officials, merchants, and generals in several northwest provinces were all frightened after receiving the news.
Be timid before fighting.
During this period of time, the reason why Shanxi merchants secretly cooperated with the appeasement plan of several governors in the northwest was precisely because of their fear of the Mongols! They believed that the imperial court's border defenses could not resist the invasion of the Mongolian army. If the Mongolian army broke through
In Taiyuan City, all the Shanxi merchants were seriously injured, so the Shanxi merchants were more willing to pay a small price to let the Mongols retreat voluntarily.
Now, if Zhao Junchen wants to strengthen the determination of everyone present to resist, he must first eliminate their fear of the Mongols. Otherwise, Shanxi's border defense will not be able to hold on for too long. After Zhao Junchen leaves Shanxi for Shaanxi and Gansu, he will start to appease and seek peace.
Will be there again soon!
If you want to eliminate the fear in a person's heart, there are two most effective methods. One is to provide generous benefits to make people take risks, and the other is to create greater threats to coerce!
Of course, a sense of responsibility, mission, honor, etc. can also eliminate people's fear of enemies. Unfortunately, everyone present lacks these things.
Now, Zhao Junchen is taking a two-pronged approach! He is giving them both benefits and threats!
Shanxi merchants have the most far-reaching influence in Shanxi, and their influence is also intricate. Shanxi officialdom and nearby military towns have been infiltrated by them for many years, and Shanxi merchants are also the most likely to have the idea of appeasement and peace. Once they have the idea of appeasement,
The idea of peace will greatly affect everyone's determination to resist the enemy! On the contrary, if Shanxi merchants can strengthen their determination to resist the enemy, they can greatly stimulate Shanxi's potential and greatly enhance Shanxi's border defense strength!
Therefore, after Zhao Junchen summoned everyone, he must first strengthen the Shanxi merchants' determination to resist. As long as the Shanxi merchants strengthen their determination, the rest will naturally be twice the result with half the effort!
For businessmen, the most important thing in the world is the pursuit of profit, and the most terrifying thing is the disappearance of the way to make money!
Although businessmen are born with the defect of being weak and compromising, if great long-term interests are involved, the firmness of businessmen's stance and attitude are often beyond the imagination of most people!
And Zhao Junchen's statement is also very clear. If Shanxi merchants still maintain an appeasement attitude, they will suffer greater loss of profits and even be unable to recover from the fall. However, if they actively help the court resist the Mongolian invasion, they can get unimaginable benefits.
Huge rewards!
In this way, the Shanxi merchants' final choice can be predicted.
As Zhao Junchen finished speaking, the Shanxi merchants did not hesitate much. They all put on their firm expressions as if they were serving the country, and rushed to express their attitude.
"Of course we will follow the imperial envoy and contribute our best to the imperial court's border defense plan!"
"If you have money, give money! If you have power, give strength!"
"Please rest assured, your Majesty the Imperial Envoy, as long as I and the Shanxi merchants are still there, Shanxi's border defense will definitely persist until the end!"
"Don't worry, Imperial Envoy, we will mobilize all our forces to resist the Mongolian Tatars right away!"
After seeing the change in attitude of the Shanxi merchants, Zhao Junchen nodded with satisfaction, and after a few words of praise, he asked all the Shanxi merchants present to leave.
After the Shanxi merchants left, only the local officials and leading generals of the imperial court were left in the hall.
Zhao Junchen looked around at everyone again and said: "Now, all the Shanxi merchants have left. Everyone present is an official and general of the imperial court. There are many things that were inconvenient to say just now, but now there is no need for any scruples...
...I am already aware of the fact that you secretly withheld money and food provided by the imperial court for disaster relief, arrested people fleeing famine everywhere, and also planned to send these money, food and victims to the Mongols, and the court and your majesty will soon know too! Our majesty’s
Temperament, you should have heard of it. What you hate the most is the deception of the emperor by his ministers. Now you have violated His Majesty's taboo. Your future consequences are really worrying. Not only are your lives in danger, but your relatives will also be affected.
Tired!"
After seeing everyone's faces turned pale, Zhao Junchen said again: "However, like those Shanxi merchants, this imperial envoy also gives you two choices! The first way is to stand against the wall, burn everything, and try to survive this year's border defense.
If you establish meritorious deeds during the war, then the merits and demerits can be offset, and everyone can be safe and sound. This matter will be completely solved! This imperial envoy will not only cover up your crimes personally, but will also ask the imperial court to take credit for you!
As for the second way, it is even simpler: do nothing, sit back and wait for punishment from the court, and let your descendants be implicated, that's all!"
After speaking, Zhao Junchen asked slowly: "How do you plan to choose between these two paths?"
There is no need for any tacit understanding, everyone said in unison: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Envoy knows clearly, we will choose the first path!"
This is a natural decision. After Zhao Junchen nodded lightly, he said: "Since you chose the first path, I will issue some regulations related to the rewards and punishments of this year's border defense. I hope you can listen carefully and strictly abide by it!"
Having said this, Zhao Junchen's expression became much more serious, and he announced to everyone: "First, in previous years, the frontier army would be rewarded three taels of silver for beheading Mongolian Tatars. From now on, it will be upgraded to ten taels of silver!"
At the same time, those who behead innocent people to make up for their crimes will be killed without mercy! Those who deprive soldiers of rewards will be killed without mercy! Those who report can get their rewards! Everyone can supervise!"
"Second, if the Mongolian army attacks the city and the city is defended for two days, the officials and generals in the city will be credited with merit once, and there is no limit to the number of merits! All soldiers in the city who bravely defend the city will receive five times their military pay! In addition,
At the same time, anyone who falsely reports war achievements and invites rewards will be killed without mercy! Anyone who deducts soldiers’ pay will be killed without mercy! Reporters can get their rewards! Everyone can supervise it!"
"Third, for all soldiers who were injured in the war, the imperial court would provide money to recuperate, and depending on the severity of the injury, the imperial court would subsidize between three and thirty taels of silver! All soldiers who died in the war would have tax-free food at home for five years.
, and the court will provide a one-time subsidy of fifty taels of silver! At the same time, anyone who falsely reports the death or injury will be killed without mercy! The reporter can get his reward! Everyone can supervise it!"
"Fourth, when the Mongolian army invades, all generals and soldiers who encounter the enemy in the wild and bravely participate in the battle will be rewarded double! Anyone who defends the city but escapes will be punished double!"
"fifth……"
In the end, Zhao Junchen issued a total of twelve regulations on rewards and punishments, including Shanxi Province's civil servants, military generals, and ordinary soldiers.
After hearing Zhao Junchen's announcement, everyone present was stunned!
Such a reward is really generous!
Compared to previous years, the rewards have increased at least three to five times!
And because of a series of "kill without mercy", these rewards can be guaranteed to a large extent!
With such generous rewards and such severe punishments, wouldn't every one of the frontier soldiers have to fight to the death?
For a time, all the civil and military officials in the lobby were greatly confident!