Xiong Mingyu's angry rebuke did not panic Wu Sangui: "Master Xiong, what Wu Sangui said is the truth. The imperial army is pampered and has not fought in a long time. But we border troops are fighting bloody battles with Jin Lu every day.
He is living his life with his head in his hands. Wu Sangui boldly said that if the border army and the Imperial Forest Army were to confront each other, they would be able to overwhelm the Imperial Forest Army with a single charge!"
He originally thought that Wu Sangui's bold remarks would anger Chongzhen again, but he did not expect that Chongzhen had no intention of getting angry. Instead, he pondered for a long time and suddenly said: "Is Ding Yunyi here?"
"I'm here!" Ding Yunyi, who was standing at the end, responded.
The ministers couldn't help but notice this young man.
I had heard that the emperor had recently promoted a young man, who was originally stationed in Penghu. I did not expect that a group of high-ranking ministers were meeting today, and such a young man was also promoted by the emperor.
Chongzhen glanced at him: "Ding Yunyi, tell me honestly, are the Royal Forest Army really that vulnerable? If we fight with your soldiers, what will be the outcome?"
Ding Yunyi thought about it for a moment and then took courage: "Your Majesty, if the troops are equal, or even if the Imperial Guards are slightly superior in number, I think the outcome is the same as what Wu Sangui said. In fact, the reason is very simple, no matter the side
The army is still a soldier guarding the sea frontier. They are fighting for their lives every day. The two armies are in battle. If you can't take the enemy's life, the enemy will take your life. But what about the Royal Forest Army? They can't do this kind of life-for-life.
The courage comes."
A trace of bitterness appeared on Chongzhen's face, and he sighed: "Exchange lives for lives, exchange lives for lives. Yes, I thought the Imperial Guards were the most elite divisions in the world, but in fact they do not have such courage."
The atmosphere became awkward for a moment.
After all, it was Chongzhen who spoke first: "Xiong Mingyu, tell me first, why doesn't the Ministry of War pay the soldiers? It's half a year in arrears?"
Xiong Mingyu immediately said: "The Ministry of War is in arrears with military pay for half a year. I admit it, but the Ministry of Household Affairs has not given the Ministry of War enough money for ten months. Where can I find money to give to Liaodong?"
Upon hearing that Xiong Mingyu was directly targeting him, Hou Xun said quickly: "Since the founding of the Yuan Dynasty, we have always been unable to make ends meet. Adding up the national annual taxes, the side payments alone are not enough to cover the expenses.
Where is the money in the Ministry of Household Affairs? The Ministry of Household Affairs is so stretched that it has to dig up the east wall to make up for the west wall. There is really no way for the military expenditure, which is a huge hole."
Chongzhen also knew that he was telling the truth.
Since the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, military expenditures have continued to increase, and all annual revenue has been used for military expenditures, leaving a huge shortfall. During the Chongzhen period, the amount of military expenditures alone reached 12 million taels. The substantial increase in military pay resulted in financial insufficiency, and the people were impoverished.
Sun Yingkui, the Secretary of the Ministry of Household Affairs, talked about the financial difficulties before and after the Gengxu Revolution and said: "I have earned two million this year, but I have spent more than six million on side expenses. All methods of obtaining wealth have been exhausted."
In the sixth year of Chongzhen's reign, the national tax revenue was 11 million taels, but the border wages were as high as 12 million taels. This means that the total tax revenue of the whole country still owed more than one million taels in border wages.
Ding Yunyi knew even more clearly that in order to solve financial difficulties, the Ming government had to deal with the people. In the 30th year of Jiajing, an additional 1.2 million yuan was given to Nanji, Zhejiang and other prefectures and counties. In the middle of Wanli, Ming Shenzong Zhu Yijun implemented mining tax collection.
Three million taels were collected in eight years. In the forty-sixth year of Wanli, Emperor Hachi rebelled against the Ming Dynasty. The Ming court's Liao pay suddenly increased by three million taels.
Wan Youqi. Next year, another three and a half cents will be added. Next year, the Ministry of War and Industry will ask for an additional two cents. If the front and back are nine cents, the increase will be 1.2 million, so it will be the annual quota."
In the third year of Chongzhen's reign, the Jiuliwamu area was increased by three cents, and later "assisted rates" and "training rates" were levied. However, even if all taxes were added up, they only accounted for 20% of the people's income. Normally, the people could afford it.
Yes, but in fact, the people have indeed reached the point where they can no longer live.
The main reason is that these military expenditure burdens are placed on ordinary people, and those royal relatives, powerful bureaucrats, landlords, etc. embezzle large amounts of land for farming and pay no or very little tax, thus making it impossible for the people to live.
Therefore, the current predicament of the Ming Dynasty is one part natural disaster and nine parts **.
Chongzhen asked: "Wu Sangui, how much silver do you need?"
Wu Sangui also knew that he should not go too far: "Your Majesty, the so-called Liaodong Mutiny is actually not accurate. The mutiny mainly occurred in Ningyuan, but once the Ningyuan mutiny cannot be resolved, it is likely to cause a series of consequences. I also know that the court is in trouble, and I will not ask for it.
Immediately make up for all the military pay, and as long as I bring back 300,000, no, 200,000 taels of silver, I can temporarily overcome the difficulties!"
"Two hundred thousand, that's such a big statement." Hou Xun snorted coldly: "My household department still has a total of five hundred thousand taels of silver left, which was saved by cutting down on clothing and diet. It's rare that I only care about your Ningyuan family.
?"
"Master Hou!" Wu Sangui was a little anxious: "The Ministry of War can't waste a moment. I only need 200,000 taels, only 200,000 taels!"
Chongzhen's eyes were a little wandering: "The mutiny cannot be delayed for a moment. The soldiers fought with blood and blood but could not get paid. How can they be willing to work for the court? Let's do this. The Ministry of Revenue will come up with 150,000 taels, and I will go and talk to the queen.
, let me avoid everything this year if possible. Take 50,000 taels from the imperial silver and give them to Wu Sangui to take back."
"Your Majesty." Chongzhen's words seemed to cut out Hou Xun's heart: "The Ministry of Revenue has taken out 150,000 taels, so it is really empty. What should we do to suppress bandits in the Central Plains? What should we do with the money that each ministry needs? The imperial court can operate normally.
what to do?"
"I don't care, I can't control that much anymore!" Chongzhen suddenly became angry: "I can't control that much now. I can only treat headaches and foot pains. I even took out the imperial silver. Do you still need me to give orders?
Doesn’t the Queen want to eat?”
Seeing that the emperor was determined, Hou Xun did not dare to tell the difference.
He was extremely worried, not because of the money issue, but because of the series of reactions that followed. Ningyuan got the military pay he owed, but what about other places? If he can get money just by making a payment, will that let others
Are local governments following suit? But they absolutely dare not say this.
"I have taken out the money, but those soldiers who rebelled cannot be spared lightly." Chongzhen's tone became stern again: "I must kill a few of the soldiers who led the rebellion and tell everyone, I thought in my heart
I remember those soldiers and their merits, but we will never allow mutiny, and we will never tolerate mutiny!"
Wu Sangui breathed a long sigh of relief. The method Ding Yunyi gave him really worked. After receiving the military pay, he could just find a few people to kill. He stood up and said respectfully:
"Yes, Wu Sangui understands. Wu Sangui will definitely kill a few soldiers who took the lead in making trouble to warn everyone."