"What about Feng Tang's opinion?" Emperor Yonglong asked thoughtfully.
"His personal opinion is that it is best to wait for a while and wait until he stabilizes the situation before deciding how to abolish and merge." Zhang Huaichang hesitated for a while, and finally said: "Feng Tang said that he needs to evaluate the situation in the northwest, and wait until he goes to the northwest.
Later, he learned about it on the spot. He believed that there was no problem in Yulin Town, but in Ningxia and Gansu Town, there had not been much adjustment after the Ningxia Rebellion in the past few years. The resentment in the army had not been dissipated much. It was entirely dependent on the imperial court at that time to reissue food and pay for peace.
The rebellion was successfully suppressed, but in the past few years, I'm afraid..."
Zhang Huaichang also knows very well that Sanbiang and Xuanda and Jiliao are incomparable. Often the five towns in Jiliao and Xuanda have already received food and salary supplies. Sanbiang and the four towns may still be looking forward to it, plus they themselves
Transportation losses are high, the roads are long and rugged, and time-consuming, which adds to the difficulties faced by the three sides and four towns.
When these factors are combined, the soldiers in the three sides and four towns must be very dissatisfied. This can be seen from the fact that none of the generals who left Yulin and Ningxia are willing to go back to the three sides.
Emperor Yonglong smiled gloomily, "It seems that Feng Tang is not optimistic about abolition and merger either?"
"Your Majesty, how can they support the dismantling of the border troops? Feng Tang is more considerate of the overall situation, otherwise he would flatly refuse to go to the three sides." Zhang Huaichang said helplessly.
Emperor Yonglong sighed: "Why am I willing to abolish the army? But here in Huaiyang Town..."
No solution.
"How is the progress of the Jingtong II case? Feng Keng's place..." Emperor Yonglong felt that he was a little ashamed to mention this, but the situation forced him to do so.
"There has been some progress. The Ministry of Household Affairs, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the Ministry of Punishment have all been making preparations during this period. Feng Keng has a lot of ideas. His sales strategy has caused a sensation in central Beijing and Jiangnan. It is expected that there will be more progress in the future.
If you sell, you will have a good start." Zhang Huaichang said quickly.
"Then if the sales results are good, can the abolition and merger be postponed?" Emperor Yonglong asked hesitantly.
Emperor Yonglong was actually a little worried about the abolition and merging of the four northwest towns.
The Ningxia Rebellion cast a deep shadow on him. If he had not dealt with it decisively, the armies of Yulin, Shanxi, and Datong towns maintained a high level of combat effectiveness. In addition, Chai Ke, Yang He, and Feng Tang fought very well against the rebellion, and the rebels also
There was also a split, and he couldn't even imagine what would happen once Gan-Ning Town was destroyed.
But the establishment of Huaiyang Town was also a decision he had to make.
Jiangnan was already very dissatisfied with the imperial court's increase in taxes. In addition, the Japanese were wreaking havoc along the river last year, which made the entire Jiangnan people angry. If they did not give an explanation, it would be difficult to suppress this public opinion. Therefore, Ye Xianggao and Fang Congzhe both urged the formation of
Huaiyang Town to alleviate public opinion in Jiangnan.
Zhang Huaichang was stunned and said, "Your Majesty, the establishment of Huaiyang Town has begun, and the funds for the Ministry of Household Affairs have been prepared. We only have to wait for the court to confirm the candidates for the general soldiers of Huaiyang Town, and then we will officially start. If the abolition and merger are suspended, then the Ministry of Household Affairs will not have any funds at all.
The money is used to reissue the food and salary of the four northwest towns. This salary originally belonged to the four northwest towns has been allocated to Huaiyang Town. By then, I am afraid that even the troops in Yulin Town will cause trouble."
Emperor Yonglong put his hand on his forehead in pain to set up a military town, which easily cost one million taels of silver. How could Huaiyang Town be established without reducing the expenses of the four northwest towns?
"Then how much money do you plan to ask Feng Tang to bring to the northwest?" After a long time, Emperor Yonglong asked after regaining his breath.
"At least 500,000 taels. Fei Bai talked with Feng Tang today. Feng Tang's asking price is 800,000 taels upfront, and he will increase it by 400,000 to 500,000 taels after going to the northwest to understand the specific situation. Other payments will continue as planned.
Appropriation, these two amounts are reissues, but this amount is too large, and the Ministry of War dare not agree to it, otherwise the Ministry of Revenue cannot allocate it, which will be a disaster."
Zhang Huaichang's face was also bitter.
This afternoon, Feng Tang was quarreling with everyone in the Ministry of War and Wenyuan Pavilion.
There is no way, everyone knows that this is a hard job. If you go there, you will have to face the northwest soldiers who have already started a mutiny, the northwest soldiers who are about to mutiny, and the northwest soldiers who will not mutiny, but may give up the cause at any time.
Although Feng Tang's prestige and qualifications would not put his life in danger, but without money, facing the angry soldiers, he might be trapped there and become a hostage. This is why Feng Tang gritted his teeth and refused to let go.
for the sake of.
Since it can't be done well, it's better not to go. You have to be confident before going.
"Then the negotiation has not been settled? Then what are you going to do?" Emperor Yonglong knocked on the imperial court irritably and raised his voice: "You can't force Feng Tang to go, right? If you can't solve it, it's not the court's business?
"
Zhang Huaichang was not panicked by Emperor Yonglong's outburst. He had faced Emperor Yonglong's wrath frequently when he was serving as the censor of Zuodu in the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Now that he is serving as minister of the Ministry of War, he doesn't care anymore.
"After all, we have to negotiate, it's nothing more than a bargain." Zhang Huaichang looked very calm, "Feng Tang also knew very well that the reason why the imperial court abolished the four northwest towns was because of insufficient financial resources to support it. If the imperial court really had sufficient financial resources,
, why is it so difficult to make such a choice?"
Emperor Yonglong stared at himself, the Minister of War, and remained silent for a long time.
He is not very satisfied with this Minister of War, who is far less considerate than the original Minister of War, Zhang Jingqiu, but there is no doubt that Zhang Huaichang can coordinate better with the cabinet, and with the support of the cabinet, he can have a greater say in these military generals.
right.
"Zhang Qing, the matter in the northwest cannot be delayed, and I am a little worried about whether the rebel generals who were recruited in the Ningxia rebellion in the past are involved in it? I have arranged for Long Jinwei to investigate. If they are causing trouble again,
You won’t be spared lightly!”
Emperor Yonglong dropped his gloomy words and walked away. Zhang Huaichang could only salute to the empty throne and then left sadly.
To put it simply, we should not be lenient. Generals like Liu Dongyang, Liu Baichuan, Tu Wenxiu and Xu Chao were core figures in the rebels back then. Later, they also made great contributions in the battles of Shazhou and Hami. Why?
Maybe it has nothing to do with this Northwest Mutiny?
Learning from the past, the imperial court was also very aware of the chronic diseases in the northwest, but it lacked financial resources. If it wanted to protect Jiliao and Xuanda first, it would naturally have to give up the interests of the three parties.
After suppressing the rebellion, Chai Ke hurriedly resigned as governor of the three sides and returned to Beijing. Didn't he realize that it was a hot potato? After staying for a few years and accumulating grievances over time, they would naturally break out. It's hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice. How do you deal with it?
Don't say you are the governor of the three sides, you are the chief minister of the cabinet. If you don't have money, you can't do anything.
What can be done? Not just to talk to Feng Tang, but also to force Feng Keng to try to get him to make more money on the sales plan, reduce the pressure on the court, and also raise more money for his father in disguise
.
Zhang Huaichang walked out of the palace gate and couldn't help but burst into laughter. It was such a coincidence that he caught up with this father and son, which was a bit interesting.
"Master Zhang?" A group of people came from outside the palace. The first person saw Zhang Huaichang from a distance and hurried over to greet him, "Zhang So has met Master Zhang."
"Oh, His Highness Prince Lu?" Zhang Huaichang returned the gesture and looked at the handsome young man, "It's so late, His Highness Prince Lu still wants to enter the palace?"
"Well, I heard that my father is in better health, so Zhang So wants to go and say hello." Zhang So said respectfully.
Zhang Huaichang nodded, "I just went to see the emperor. The emperor should go back to the palace to rest now. Your Highness should go quickly."
"My father is troubled by the rebellion in the northwest, so he invites you to discuss it?" He was about to move, but the young man suddenly stopped and bowed his head again and asked.
Zhang Huaichang was a little surprised. How old is His Royal Highness Prince Lu? Fourteen years old, right? Does he also want to participate in military affairs?
During this period, King Shou, King Fu, and King Li were very active. For example, King Shou was paying attention to the Jingcang case, King Li was following Long Jinwei to investigate the Tongcang case, and King Fu was running to the Ministry of War all day long.
Discussing the war in the southwest with the Zifangsi people, Prince Lu is now actually concerned about the situation in the northwest, which is quite interesting.
"Well, the situation in the northwest affects the overall situation, so the emperor is naturally very concerned about it." Zhang Huaichang said calmly, but did not say much.
The emperor has not established a heir yet, so in theory, several princes have a chance. King Lu was quite dazzling some time ago, but he is too young. Unless the emperor can persist for more than five years, there is no chance for this prince.
Too much hope.
"But the imperial court has money to build Huaiyang Town, so why does Guyuan Town have to be abolished? They say the border troops are elite, so why not just move Guyuan Town to Yangzhou?" King Lu said with great interest: "Is it just that?
Because you are not accustomed to the local environment? But as long as you stay in the past few years, you will gradually adapt. Besides, it is not easy to form a new army to form a combat effectiveness? How can it compare with an old army? And this northwest mutiny is not
Could it be caused by the retrenchment? Wouldn't moving the town kill two birds with one stone?"
Zhang Huaichang laughed. It seemed that Prince Lu also attended Qingtan Academy and was influenced by Qingtan Academy's atmosphere of discussing current affairs. This is not a bad thing.
"If Your Highness is interested in military affairs, you might as well go to the Ministry of War and walk around more. However, moving the town is not that simple, and the inside story is difficult to explain." Zhang Huaichang didn't have that much energy to talk to a young man, so he smiled.
: "Given time, King Lu will gradually understand. I am resigning now."
King Lu was a little disappointed, but Zhang Huaichang's words about going to the Ministry of War and walking around made him remember it.
The second brother has been hanging around the Ministry of War. He also wanted to visit the Ministry of War, but he couldn't find a suitable reason. It just so happened that even Lord Shangshu had sent an invitation, so couldn't he just follow the trend and go see it?
Under normal circumstances, it is undoubtedly appropriate to study at Qingtan Academy to raise hopes, accumulate contacts, and win the hearts of scholars. But now that King Lu thought of his mother and concubine mentioning the situation, he felt a little anxious. Sometimes he could only think more about it.