"What!" Chongzhen was taken aback and stood up from the dragon chair, his face very ugly.

The ministers were also silent. The bandits in Lingchuan City, Pingyang Prefecture here are still causing a headache, and the river meanders over there have been captured by bandits again, what kind of rhythm is this?

Chongzhen discussed with the courtiers for a long time, but did not come up with a solution.

Now that the New Year is approaching, no one wants to lead the troops to the expedition, besides, the people everywhere are still in turmoil, the troops are stretched thin, and the New Year is approaching, and it is difficult to mobilize more troops and food for a while to go to the conquest.

Chongzhen was so anxious that he was bubbling on fire, scolding the ministers for being useless, but he was helpless.

A few days ago, because the Liao salary matter has been in a mess, Liaodong has been in constant war for many years, and the salary used for Liao affairs has exceeded 5.5 million taels, which is still not enough to open, and there have been Liao soldiers from time to time who have mutinies because of non-payment of wages.

Liaodong is the key to the stability of the country, and it is necessary to guard against the invasion of the Tartars at all times, and if the Liao affairs are uneven, the country will not be solid, so we have no choice but to allocate an additional 1.53 million taels of Liao, which will reach 6.8 million taels.

Where does all this money come from? Chongzhen is facing a mess left by his brother, the treasury is empty, the government is not clear, where is there any extra silver to pay silver? This salary is a sub-tax levied from the common people, also known as new salary.

At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the number of years in Zhubian was only 220,000 taels. By the time of Wanli, the annual number had increased to 3.8 million taels.

From the beginning of the Liaodong War, from April of the 46th year of Wanli to the first year of the Apocalypse, in less than four years, the silver used in Liao's salary reached 17.2 million taels, with an average annual salary of more than 4 million taels.

In the first three times, a total of 9 percent was raised, with a total of more than 24.8 million taels of silver, of which less than 3 million taels were left after deducting Beizhili and other local purposes, and Shanhaiguan alone needed 4 million taels of silver a year. Therefore, the salary of Liaoyuan has made the livelihood of the people of the whole country miserable.

As a matter of fact, it is impossible to distribute so much money to the front line, to the soldiers, and to the needs of the war. Bureaucrats and generals at all levels have embezzled and deducted money from the income and expenditure of military salaries, otherwise why would they consume so much silver?

"Liaojiao", "Xuanjiao" (used to suppress peasant uprisings) and "Lianjiao" (used to train local armed forces) are collectively referred to as the three salaries. The total amount of the three salaries was more than double that of the Ming Dynasty. The peasants were often bankrupt and could not pay these "imperial grain and national taxes."

Under these circumstances, more and more peasants lost their land, or became tenants, slaves, or homeless and hungry people, coupled with the exploitation of the government at all levels, as well as natural and man-made disasters, finally made more and more peasants desperate and began to embark on the road of uprising against the oppression of the government.

On this day, Mo Lizheng and the generals inspected the city defense, although the imperial army had retreated, but Gao Qiqian and Lin Jianyue still had nearly 10,000 horses stationed in Lin County, Lin County and Lingchuan City were not far away, and they were careless.

Cao Wenzhao, Mo Li and others stood on the tower of the North City Gate, looking into the distance, and felt a lot of emotion. The population of Lingchuan City is now about 1670,000, of which only 30,000 are the original residents, and the rest are victims from Shaanxi and Shanxi.

Today's Lingchuan City is full of construction frenzy. The victims of the disaster carried out various production and labor under the organization of the Lingchuan New County Government, and at the same time enthusiastically joined the Reconstruction Army, and in just a few days, more than 2,000 people joined the Reconstruction Army.

Cao Wenzhao entered the customs from Liaodong to Shaanxi to suppress bandits, passing through many states and counties along the way, and saw many scenes of people's livelihood withering. In contrast, the vitality of Lingchuan Castle is so prominent and impressive.

Mo Li looked at the undulating mountains in the distance and said: "General Cao, in the past two years, natural and man-made disasters have continued, and the government has paid heavy taxes, and there will be more and more desperate people. ”

Cao Wenzhao said: "What are you going to do?" ”

"General Cao, I hope you can join us and expand your influence through your prestige, so that the imperial court will pay attention to the people's livelihood and our suggestions." Mo Li said sincerely.

"Lord Mo, I am a general of the imperial court, I can't join you, I can't betray the emperor. But I can help you negotiate with the court. Cao Wenzhao said slowly.

"General Cao, are you sure? I'm afraid that when you go back, you'll be locked up immediately, after all, you lost the battle against us, and your teammates are high dives. Mo Li said with some concern.

Cao Wen Zhaoqi said: "Are you familiar with high diving? ”

"I haven't seen Gao Qiqian, but I've heard that this person has a bad reputation, and the general must be careful." Mo Li said lightly.

Gao Qiqian this person is shameless, the history books have long recorded, Chongzhen eleven years when the Qing soldiers entered the customs, he and Lu Xiangsheng supervised the enemy, because of the cowardice of the enemy did not dare to go forward, resulting in Lu Xiangsheng fighting alone, died on the battlefield, and finally shirked in every possible way, shameless.

Chongzhen treated him with all kinds of favor and trust, but he surrendered to the Qing army not long after the Qing soldiers entered the customs, which shows that this person has no temperament and no shame.

Cao Wenzhao thought for a moment, then nodded and said: "Thank you Lord Mo for reminding me, but the current predicament is that someone needs to explain the interests to the imperial court in order to break the situation, I am willing to enter Beijing to face the saint, explain the true thoughts and wishes of the Fuxing Army and Lord Mo, and try my best to promote the imperial court to send someone to negotiate." ”

Mo Li nodded and said, "Then there is General Lao Cao!" ”

Cao Wenzhao's face turned pale, and he said, "Without further ado, Lord Mo, I plan to set off here." ”

Mo Li arched his hand and said, "Okay! Now that the world is not peaceful, the general's subordinates should also escort the general with the army, and the Chinese New Year is approaching, so they must also want to go home for a small gathering. ”

Cheng Qingzhu on the side was taken aback when he heard this, and hurriedly said, "My lord, this is unacceptable......"

Mo Li waved his hand and motioned for Cheng Qingzhu not to say anything more.

Cao Wenzhao stared at Mo Li in disbelief for a while, and said slowly: "Mo Li, do you really plan to return your subordinates to me and take them away?" Aren't you afraid that I will change my mind and bring troops back to fight you? ”

Mo Li laughed, looked at Cao Wenzhao and said sincerely: "I believe in the general." ”

Cao Wenzhao's throat moved, and he didn't speak for a while, and Mo Li's words made him feel a lot of emotion. The friendship between gentlemen and the friendship is in the heart, and Mo Li is so bold and trusts him so much, which makes his heart that has been rolling in the world for a long time deeply shaken, and produces an indescribable touch.

It's worth it to be friends with a guy like this!

Cao Bianjiao looked at Cao Wenzhao and whispered, "Uncle, greet the old lady and aunt for me......

Cao Wenzhao patted Cao Bianjiao's shoulder and said loudly: "Bianjiao, follow Master Mo and do a good job!" I believe that uncle, I will soon be able to follow Lord Mo to Liaodong to kill the Tartars! ”

Mo Li and the other generals stood at the gate of the city and waved to Cao Wenzhao, and nearly 10,000 troops drove out of Lingchuan City, running straight in the direction of Jingshi, raising dust all the way......