Zhejiang officials should feel fortunate that they only met Wang Yuan, and the generals in the northern border towns were really unlucky.

The closer to autumn, the stricter Zhu Houzhao's army became.

Chen Yuan, the commander of the Shaanxi Xingdu Division, was found by the henchmen sent by the emperor to inspect because he had eaten kickbacks for buying horses (tea and horse trade), and directly cut his post to the people, and recovered the stolen money!

If it was placed in the past, this would be a trivial matter of fines, and at most it would be demoted.

Zhu Houzhao was very effective in administering the army in the frontier, a large number of empty soldiers were replenished, important guards were realized to exercise every five days, and military salaries were also distributed to the soldiers to the greatest extent.

That is, there is not enough money and food......

The first thing Wang Yuan did when he returned to Beijing was not to go to see his wife and children at home, but to rush to the household yamen with a knife.

Some of this year's new science and technology scholars have already interned in the household department, and they were shocked to see this situation.

"This is Wang Shilang?"

"Who would dare to carry a knife to the household except him?"

"What kind of knife is that? It's a long time. ”

"I've seen it in the south, but I've never seen such a long sword."

"This knife is taller than people, how can it be unsheathed?"

"Hey, are you mistaken? At this time, we are also talking about knives. ”

"Otherwise, you dare to go up and block it?"

“……”

Shiji, the head of the household department, came out and ignored the wild sword in Wang Yuan's hand, and instead asked, "Why did Wang Shilang carry the sword to the household department?" ”

Wang Yuan dragged the knife away, the scabbard was abandoned on the ground, and he said as he walked: "Your Majesty has a letter, ordering me to hold the knife and ask Shi Shangshu, why hasn't the food he asked for yet arrived?" If I can't raise enough food, I will let me cut Shi Shangshu with a knife. ”

"Then you can cut it," Shi Jue stretched out his neck, "The household does not have enough money and food, and the Qiao woman is a cook without rice." ”

Wang Yuan sneered: "Since I was the governor of Hangzhou, the northern tariff silver in Zhejiang has increased tenfold, and at the end of last year, 300,000 taels of silver were transported into Beijing and put into storage. There is also Hangzhou Customs, although it is only a preliminary opening to the sea, at the end of last year, it also transported 50,000 taels of silver to the household department. These 350,000 taels of silver were all privately swallowed by Shi Shangshu? ”

Shi Jue said: "Disaster relief in various places needs silver taels. ”

Wang Yuan was so angry: "If I don't go to Zhejiang, I won't have these 350,000 taels, won't the days of the household department be over?" ”

Shi Jue sighed and said, "If there is no silver from Wang Shilang, it will be difficult to relieve the disasters in many places. ”

This Qingliu couldn't be frightened, and Wang Yuan didn't bother to pretend, he pointed to a household adjutant and said, "Pick up my scabbard." ”

The adjutant hurriedly picked up the scabbard and trotted over to hand it to Wang Yuan.

"Let's go in and talk." Wang Yuan put the knife back into its sheath.

Shi Jue led Wang Yuan back to his office, and sat there, looking like a dead pig was not afraid of boiling water.

Wang Yuan took the tea brought by the officials and chatted with Shi Jue: "Last year, a lot of silver was used to build the port, and this year, the tax silver in Beiguan, Zhejiang can be handed over to the household department at least 400,000 taels. The tax silver of Hangzhou Customs can also be handed over to the household department 200,000 taels. ”

"Really?" Shi Jue finally couldn't hold his breath.

Wang Yuan asked rhetorically: "What did I lie to you about?" ”

Shi Jue said angrily: "Successively served as the director of Beiguan, Zhejiang, but he was so corrupt that he was corrupt. In previous years, the tax was less than 30,000 taels, and as soon as Wang Shilang went to Zhejiang, he could hand over 400,000 taels! ”

Wang Yuan said with a smile: "The little Beiguan is in charge, how can one person be greedy for hundreds of thousands of taels?" From the local area to the capital, there are layers of corruption, and I don't know how many people I have offended by rectifying Beiguan this time. ”

Shi Jue actually gave up his hand and said: "Wang Shilang is dedicated to the country, and he is admired by the contemptible. ”

Wang Yuan also said: "The tax silver in Hangzhou Customs will increase a lot every year, and it is estimated that one million taels will be handed over every year within ten years. ”

"A million taels?" Shi Jue was incredulous.

Wang Yuan said: "This is still the money that will be distributed to the place, and the silver after the profit will be given to His Majesty." ”

Shi Jue is a native of Beizhili, and has always been an official in the north, and has never been to the south at all. He had nothing to do with maritime interest groups, and at this moment he asked: "There are millions of taels in one switch, why not open a few more?" ”

"Hahahaha," Wang Yuan couldn't help laughing, "Shi Shangshu, last year I only switched in Hangzhou, and you stood up against it, how can I have the ability to open a few more places?" ”

Shi Jue was a little embarrassed, he opposed the opening of the sea, he just took it for granted, thinking that all kinds of harm would be good. Now that he heard that a customs office can pay millions of taxes, and he himself is a household secretary, how can he not think otherwise?

This Qingliu, if he has been the head of the household department, it is estimated that he will become a firm open-sea faction!

Wang Yuan suddenly changed the topic and asked, "Shi Shangshu has delayed the payment of salaries, is he trying to force His Majesty to return to Beijing?" ”

Shi Jue didn't speak, which was a tacit acquiescence.

This bad idea was collectively conceived by the ministers.

Didn't the emperor want to take the royal conquest in person? The food is not enough, it depends on how you do the levy, and you will have to come back obediently when the time comes.

Wang Yuan asked again: "Shi Shangshu, with Your Majesty's character, will he give up fighting because of insufficient food and grass?" If it's useless, why should we withhold our salaries? If because Shi Shangshu did not pay food, His Majesty was defeated in the conquest, and there was another change in the civil fort, would Shi Shangshu be worthy of this sinner? ”

Shi Jue's forehead began to sweat, and the phrase "the change of the civil fort" was too penetrating.

Historically, Shi Jue originally planned not to pay a penny of food, but he was repeatedly urged by Zhu Houzhao, and he couldn't resist the pressure and only paid half of it. And Zhu Houzhao used this half of the grain and grass to personally open a scoop with the little Mongolian prince, and also won a big victory.

Fortunately, he won the battle at that time, and Zhu Houzhao was in a happy mood and did not pursue it, otherwise Shi Tie would definitely lose his official position and go to prison.

"Alas," Shi Jue also opened the skylight and said brightly, sighing, "Your Majesty wants too much, and it is a million taels of silver when you open your mouth." I sent half of it, and I have already done my best, if it were not for the 350,000 taels of tax silver that Wang Shilang obtained, the household department would not be able to open the pot now. ”

Wang Yuan said: "Shi Shangshu has patrolled the border towns, so he naturally knows how much erosion has fallen. Your Majesty wants to rectify the border army in a year, can you not spend much money? ”

Shi Jue smiled bitterly: "Then allocate another 200,000 taels, there is no more possibility." If Your Majesty and the King are not satisfied, they will hack me to death. ”

"200,000 taels is fine," Wang Yuan said, "I will lead 6,000 soldiers to the expedition in half a month, and Shi Shangshu will help me raise some grain and grass." ”

"Is there really going to be a war?" Shi Jue is colorful.

Wang Yuan said: "Whether or not there is a war depends on whether the little Mongolian prince will invade the south." He invaded the south once the year before last, and last year he did nothing, and this year he is likely to go south again. If the little Mongolian prince is coming, it must be in the autumn, at the earliest in September, and at the latest in October. ”

Shi Jue said worriedly: "Your Majesty has never fought, he ...... Can you handle it? ”

"I don't know," Wang Yuan said, "I guess Your Majesty doesn't know the bottom of his own heart, so he wrote many times to urge me to go north." His Majesty personally led more than 10,000 soldiers (Leopard House Border Army), Zhang Yong controlled more than 10,000 border troops, I will bring 6,000 people over, and the local guard can also produce tens of thousands, and the Ming army will be at least 50,000 or 60,000. If you don't take the enemy lightly, defend the city and wait for the fighters, plus Your Majesty's personal conquest, no military general dares to neglect his duties, and he can still fight when he encounters the little Mongolian prince. ”

Shi Jue asked, "What if the Tatar army is more than 100,000?" ”

"Then defend the city with peace of mind," Wang Yuan said with a smile: "If Your Majesty is not here, I dare to take risks." Your Majesty personally marched, I didn't dare to mess around, so I could only defend the city, looking for fighters to eat a small force of the enemy. ”

Shi Jue thought of Wang Yuan's previous achievements, and said with emotion: "With Wang Shilang here, I feel a little more down-to-earth." If there is no Wang Shilang, I really don't know how His Majesty will fight, his actions are about to scare the Manchu Dynasty to death. ”

Wang Yuan got up and said, "Shi Shangshu, the grain and grass of the six thousand soldiers, please leave it to Your Excellency." I only have half a month to prepare, my son was born, and I haven't seen it yet, and I want to go back to Beijing as soon as possible to spend a comfortable life with my wife and children. ”

Shi Jue said: "The grain and grass of the 6,000-strong army are wrapped in me, and the matter of the war will be entrusted to the king's servant, and you must protect Your Majesty's integrity." ”

"Just do your best." Wang Yuan took his leave.

Shi Jue personally sent Wang Yuan out of the household yamen, and this change stunned everyone, and they didn't know how the two of them reconciled.

How to reconcile?

Silver!

Last year, there were 35 taels of extra tax silver in the household department, and Wang Yuan also promised that this year there will be 250,000 taels more, and the tax silver seems to be increasing year by year. As a poor household secretary, Shi Jue must have a good relationship with Wang Yuan, this is the God of Wealth!