Zhang Fengyi's frequent contact with the general of the conquest naturally gave him more understanding and deepened his feelings.

Seeing the fierce "Red Flag Army" beating Jiannu and Tartar for thousands of miles, of course, I have a sense of identity in my heart.

He has served as an important minister of the imperial court for many years, but he doesn't know how bad the situation in the Ming Dynasty has become.

He believes that the Ming Dynasty, which is difficult to return, must carry out drastic reforms, and there must be a powerful minister like Zhang Juzheng to implement the reform.

The powerful ministers like the general of the conquest are not only talented and able to calm the people and raise the army, but also kill decisively, hold the military power without being foolish and loyal, and whether the Ming Dynasty can be rejuvenated can only be pinned on him.

Zhang Fengyi therefore vigorously supported Huang Han to crack down on Jin merchants and arrest corrupt officials for money and food, and this time he entered Beijing to face the saint to prepare to exonerate Huang Han.

Seeing the Son of Heaven asking, he hurriedly took out a confession from Fan Yongdou's father and son, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that even if the general is captured, it is not too much to exterminate those Jin merchants, and the crimes committed by these businessmen who have a black conscience are too numerous to mention.

They not only smuggled materials for profiteering, but also provided Ming intelligence for Dongnu, and even bribed Neiying to assist Dongnu to capture our Daming city, causing thousands of deaths and injuries among the people of Daming.

Zhangjiakou merchants gathered so the business prospered, the city hoarded food, goods, money and silver how much, Jiannu into the Kou several times did not attack this close to the side wall of the prosperous place, is because of the Jin merchants have a tacit understanding. ”

The emperor was stunned and said, "Is there such a thing? Does Aiqing have real evidence? ”

Zhang Fengyi said: "Your Majesty, the old minister has several court testimonies in his hand, and the culprit is the big family among the Shanxi merchants, and the old minister can read the confession of Fan Yongdou, the number one collaborator and traitor, to Your Majesty and all the adults." ”

By the time Zhang Fengyi finished reading the confession of Fan Yongdou's father and son, the grumpy Chongzhen was already furious, and he said: "Such a traitor should use three thousand six hundred knives, and those ministers kneeling outside the noon gate have lost their minds?" I can't help but cry out for such scum! ”

Zheng Guochang lost no time in saying: "Your Majesty, most of those ministers are complaining about their money bags, where is it to return the world to the world." ”

Chongzhen was so angry that he ran away, and said in his mouth: "It's hateful, it's too hateful, reverse black and white and beat a rake, I really can't bear it!" ”

At this time, Liang Tingdong decisively added to the fire and reported: "The life of collaborating with the enemy and the traitors is comparable to that of princes, and a number of rare treasures have been copied from their homes. ”

Chongzhen said: "I want to see what kind of treasures those merchants have looted, let people bring them in, and I and you Aiqing will take a good look." ”

At this time, the guards who offered treasures to the emperor were waiting outside the main hall, and the eunuchs came to pass it, and they immediately worked in pairs to carry all the things they brought to the main hall and unfolded them one by one.

After a while, the platform hall exuded a jeweled atmosphere, and the important ministers were amazed, and some handicrafts made of precious jade even Chongzhen felt ingenious.

Wen Tiren, who was old and refined, looked at the treasures in the hall, and said with a smile: "The general is so generous, how much food should I get for this shot?" There should be a saying for several adults to return to Beijing this time! ”

Zhang Fengyi said unhurriedly: "Your Majesty, the general of the conquest has gained a lot of money from the Jin merchants, and finally he can barely solve the basic survival needs of nearly four million hungry people in Shanxi and Xuanda.

Considering that there were still many hungry people in Henan who needed money and grain from the imperial court to settle them, the general squeezed out 1 million taels of silver and handed it over to the old minister to bring back to Beijing and send it to His Majesty for disposal. ”

The emperor and the important ministers all understood the meaning of Zhang Fengyi's words, and Huang Han left the benefits of copying the Jin merchants, and there was no need for the court to worry about the placement of millions of Shanxi and Xuanda soldiers and civilians.

In order to keep the emperor from delving, he gave one million taels of silver and one hundred and dozens of treasures as a hush money.

Chongzhen hesitated at this moment, and promised to accept one million taels of silver to investigate what the general had done in Shanxi, but what if he didn't approve of Huang Han's style?

Can the imperial court come up with money and grain to help millions of hungry people survive until the autumn harvest?

Jiannu ravaged the Ming Dynasty for half a year, during which the military expenses and food expenses were like flowing water, and Cheng Guoxiang, the head of the household department, was already poor and crazy, and some time ago he had to worry about how to settle the three or four million hungry people mentioned in the general of the conquest.

Although Cheng Guoxiang in history once mastered the money bag of the Ming Dynasty, he was an honest official, lived in Nanjing after becoming an official, and lived in poverty, of course, he had no half-cent relationship with the Jin merchants.

This is not a lie, you should be corrupt when you are an official in the Ming Dynasty, otherwise you will be poor and destitute if you live completely on your money, Hai Rui is the most representative example.

Cheng Guoxiang heard at this time that not only did he not need to help the hungry people in Shanxi, but he also had a million taels of silver to take, so he immediately stood up and said loudly:

"Your Majesty, the old minister thinks that the imperial court can save the people from danger if they have more money and food, and they can naturally live thousands of people.

Wen Tiren also saw that the emperor was in a dilemma, and said rightly: "Your Majesty, even if many innocent Shanxi businessmen are affected, what does it matter?

When the imperial court was in urgent need of money and food, the general decisively confiscated the property of the merchant to benefit the country and the people, and the old minister implored His Majesty not to be held accountable! ”

He Ruzhong also agreed: "Your Majesty doesn't need to worry about the excitement of the crowd, as long as the deeds of a few traitorous Jin merchants with conclusive evidence are published in the newspaper, those adults who are still trying to complain about the grievances of the Jin merchants will die down." ”

Li Ruolian sent an expectation of 500,000 taels and 1 million taels of silver. Zhang Fengyi brought another million, and the rare treasures should be able to earn no less than one million taels after being realized.

With this silver, next year's finances will be much more comfortable, Chongzhen finally chose to compromise and said:

"In that case, let's do it! You will then have to advise the hundreds of ministers who are petitioning outside the noon gate. ”

At this time, Wang Chengen, who was standing silently and listening to several important ministers playing right, spoke:

"Your Majesty, there is no need to advise the ministers, they have already dispersed at this time. They should have learned that the general had taken the ironclad evidence that the Jin merchants collaborated with the enemy and betrayed the country, and retreated in the face of difficulties. ”

What's going on? For a while, the important ministers in the hall were talking.

The officials who discuss on the platform are all old fritters who have been in the officialdom for decades and have experienced the big waves and sands, how can they not know that there are many clear streams among the ministers who petition outside the noon gate, how can they have a relationship with the Jin merchants?

Wen Tiren had nothing to do with the Jin merchants, and thought that it was unrealistic for all the ministers who petitioned outside the Forbidden City to retreat despite the difficulties.