There have been no rules for a long time, and it is impossible to stand still.
As soon as Jing'anmin arrived, dozens of people surrounded him, making a lot of noise: "I saw eight hundred urgent envoys entering the Marshal's Mansion! There's a fight, right? Marshal Jing, it's useful." Our place!"
The elders were all very angry, until Jing Anmin led them to a side hall, where Guo Ning could vaguely hear their conversation across several high walls.
"Stop beating around the bush, you old guys, how can you end up on the battlefield? You are here just to get benefits for yourself and the people behind you, right?"
No one but Jing Anmin could still sneer and talk to those senior junior officers: "Don't hide behind! Old horse, I'm talking about you! What's the matter? The business of so many military garrison fortresses Isn’t it easy to do? Isn’t it enough for you to earn? Why are you jealous?”
The person known as "Old Ma" is Ma Bao, a confidant who once fell into the trap with the people of Jing'an and became a bandit. When he was in Haicang Town, Ma Bao served as a village guard and commander, and later served as deputy commander and military governor. Last year, After my fiftieth birthday, I retired from the army because I was old.
"Our business in the Zhou Dynasty is naturally easy to do."
Hearing the people of Jing'an scolding, Ma Bao said with a smile: "The officers and soldiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty have a much higher status than ordinary merchants and farm owners. They are respected wherever they go, their families have land, and they receive high military pay. All of them are There is no shortage of money. We people, if we sell some local products at will, even needles, threads and brains will be wiped out."
"In the past two years, the military camp has gradually produced some output, and the caravan has no time to return."
Another old man with similar qualifications to Ma Bao said with a smile: "There are almost no taxes in the forts everywhere, and there is a lot of miscellaneous grains accumulated, which is suitable for making wine. In addition, there are also excess mules, horses, cattle and sheep that can be harvested. Among the furs In the past two years, too much was collected, and the price has been falling. After the felt cloth was made into it in the past two years, it has become higher quality. Several of us have tried it. It is used to make clothes and robes, and it is no worse than the best fur. , the key is that there are many patterns and patterns, and it can be easily matched with needlework and can be sold to the Southern Dynasties!"
"Okay, okay. Very good." Jing Anmin asked with concern: "In that case, what are you doing here? Are you really planning to pick up the sword and gun again and contribute to the country?"
Having said this, he couldn't help but laugh twice, leaned back on the backrest, and said slowly: "I'm already resting! Are you still so energetic? With such benefits, you can enjoy yourself at home, and you can't endure hardships. Let the young cubs take care of things, okay?"
"this……"
Everyone was silent for a while. Ma Bao smacked his lips and sighed: "Marshal, we are also worried... we..."
Jing Anmin waved his puffed sleeves: "Stop talking nonsense. My back hurts, and I don't have the time to chat with you old guys. Tell me, what do you want to do?"
"Hehe, haha..."
Ma Bao gulped down and laughed a few times. Several old men around him also laughed a few times. Someone kicked Ma Bao lightly.
"Marshal, I mean..."
Ma Bao took two steps forward and whispered, "Gaoli?"
"You guys, you guys... His Majesty is right when he says you have dog noses." Jing Anmin raised his feet and said, "It's very hot, don't get so close, get out of the way!"
Ma Bao and others are not young at all. They were probably the first batch of retired generals in the Ding Navy. The highest-ranking ones have served as deputy commanders of troops and horses in various states and regions, and the lowest-ranking ones have also served as lieutenants. They are all generals. , showed his face in front of Guo Ning.
When Guo Ning raised his army in Tangluo, Hebei Province, he gathered many defeated soldiers, bandits, green forest heroes and the like. Many of them went through difficult tests and became the backbone of the current Zhou Dynasty army; many of them over time , slowly showing flaws in talent or character, and being unable to adapt to the requirements of the military.
The more the army is built, the more obvious their discomfort becomes. But these people are loyal to Guo Ning, and they are also a group of people who are willing to closely bind their families and descendants to the Great Zhou Dynasty. Not to mention that they are all loyal to Guo Ning. They are senior, maintaining numerous connections inside and outside the army, either through marriage or sworn sworn vows. They are closely related to each other and have the same interests.
Therefore, when Guo Ning gradually eliminated them from the army, he gave them very generous conditions, including special preferential treatment both politically and economically.
They rely on their special political background to manage logistics for the army and earn a lot of money. Of course, they are very rich. It is not easy for them to gain a foothold in Zhongdu, even compared with the well-to-do wealthy people who have been based in Zhongdu for decades or hundreds of years. , not much worse.
But since ancient times, people have been suffering from poverty, so they have to return to Shu. They have earned hard money by supplying fortresses and military camps in various parts of the north. The imperial court has strict regulations on the sales and purchase prices of various materials. No overstepping of the rules is allowed. The real big boss is in the hands of the large trading houses directly controlled by the left and right departments, so it is not their turn to intervene.
Ordinary small and medium-sized businessmen probably wouldn't feel much about this. They were originally supposed to share the profits of the big trading houses after they were full, and they wouldn't complain too much about not being able to eat a big piece of meat. Besides, big businessmen wouldn't complain too much. The Zhou Dynasty established the country with force and strict laws. If it is not accurate, it is really inaccurate.
But this is not the case for these young nobles who retired from the army.
They retreated one after another, but not necessarily willingly. Some of them formed an alliance with their colleagues and tried to push their children and nephews to inherit the power in the army; some relied on their status as military households to interact with local officials, and in their hometowns Expanding the family foundation cannot be achieved without the support of a large amount of money.
Where does that money come from?
The table in the north only had a few side dishes left for them; the table in the south was set, but the people responsible for dividing the food included people from the Southern Dynasty and Song Dynasty, and there was no room left for them.
But they have unique conditions, that is, they have a better grasp of the court's trends than others, and they have been united for a long time, and their mobility is first-rate.
The only reason why they came here now is that they know that there have been no military operations in all directions recently, and only the Korean side seems to be gaining something; the only motivation is that they feel that they can be at this newly opened dining table as soon as possible Take a seat, at least you can have some food and wine.
"Most of the Han merchants in Licheng Port were originally from the Song Dynasty and Shandong people in the Southern Dynasty. If Yin Chang reaches out, there will be people from the old Red Coat Army and Kaifeng Prefecture in Nanjing. Of course, we people can't compete with Licheng. The original group of people in Hong Kong were competing for speed, but they could not outdo the old Red Coat Army and the Han merchants from Kaifeng Prefecture."
"Many people on Nanjing Road are staring at the Southern Song Dynasty with salivation, but they don't know what to say, so your majesty has asked Yin Chang to take charge, and is waiting for them to be allowed to go to Haidong to have a little show and have a few mouthfuls of food. What, what do you think?
To make His Majesty break his word?"
"How dare you! After all, Goryeo is a big country in the east of the sea. We are just cutting off bits and pieces..."
"Is the boat ready?" Jing Anmin interrupted Ma Bao's explanation.
"Ready, twenty ships! Used by our own reliable people!"
"Where's the cargo?"
"I didn't bring any items that were taboo, and I didn't bring any bulk supplies that the court wanted to keep an eye on. I just brought a batch of gold and silver jewelry, silk and the like, as well as some of the four treasures of the top-grade study."
Jing Anmin glanced at Ma Bao: "If I weren't familiar with your details, I would believe you!"
"Ahem..."
Jing Anmin said again: "According to my wishes, I would have beaten you out a long time ago, but your Majesty is so merciful and has already ordered you."
"What do you say, Your Majesty? I know that Your Majesty is our caring person!" Ma Bao and others were delighted and took half a step forward.
"The situation in Goryeo will inevitably be chaotic for a while. When you get there, don't conflict with the Khitans, and don't get involved in the Khitans' internal struggles. However, the Khitans belong to the Yelu Jinshan faction and have private relations with our Prime Minister.
The contact is ours. Just understand it."
"well!"
"Although the leaders of Goryeo's military nobles have gone, the remaining troops are still scattered in various places. Although the King of Goryeo is weak, he has been the king for many years, and he may want to gather their power for his own use. How can these things be reliable? Sooner or later, they will be in serious trouble!
Yin Chang wants to put on a show, but it's better not to be too ruthless. Bring enough manpower, and when necessary, show off the spirit of a military man to eliminate future troubles for the king."
"Understood!" Ma Bao thumped his chest: "Our old brothers are the best at this kind of thing!"
"One more thing..."
Jing Anmin's expression turned serious, and he beckoned everyone to gather together and listen carefully: "There will be no benefit in this matter in the short term, and it will be very hard. But His Majesty said that you are all his confidants, and he believes that you will
Work hard and do it with all your strength. If this thing is done well, Your Majesty will be satisfied. If it is not done well, you will all go to Gaoliang and settle down, and never return to the Central Plains again!"
His Majesty still regards us as his confidants! His Majesty still has use for us!
Everyone was in great spirits: "Marshal, tell me quickly, what's going on?"
"The imperial court will not make any big moves in Goryeo, but you people need to make a strong impression in China before and after setting off, showing that the imperial court is interested in the sea, and will build ships on a large scale in Goryeo, gathering tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of people.
Come with the appearance of the Japanese country. Do it in a decent way so that everyone can believe it!"
"This...how much publicity does Your Majesty want?"