Liu Wenzhong had a very hard time these years, and in the eighth year of Chongzhen, the emperor dismissed the internal supervisors of the towns, and he fell out of favor when he returned to Beijing, and was driven to the Jingjun to do hard labor together with Wang Kun and Liu Yunzhong, the monitoring eunuchs of Xuanfu and Shanxi towns. At the same time, he had partnered with Wu Langha to open the Xuande Iron Works, after the accident, Wu Langha not only did not take the opportunity to swallow his shares, but also took out the annual dividends to make some connections for him, rich and easy to do, although Liu Wenzhong suffered a lot, but someone took care of him and could still eat well, and the work was not heavy, this life was finally saved, Wang Kun and Liu Yunzhong were unlucky, and later they were sent to Fengyang to take care of the imperial tomb, and lost their lives. A few days ago, he was recalled to the Qianqing Palace on an errand, the emperor comforted a few words, and then sent him to naturalization to send a letter, he knew that the 10,000 taels of shares invested in the Xuanhe Iron Factory had increased dozens of times, and the poor suddenly became rich, and the feeling of gratitude arose spontaneously, and he felt that his conscience could not get over without kowtowing.

"Li Shuai, the Bodhisattva will bless your whole family, and the emperor has also said that he will never fail you." Liu Wenzhong finished speaking with tears in his eyes, and took out the edict with both hands - he understands the rules of Fengzhou, don't even think about the kneeling ceremony, and hand it over directly is the most convenient.

The content of the edict is very simple, the emperor expressed his belief in the loyalty of the naturalized army, and is willing to regard the naturalized army as the imperial army, not to be controlled by civil ministers, and hopes that the naturalized army will immediately start to serve the king, and the required food and salary will be preferentially supplied by the state capitals in various places.

"There is a hurry in the saint, and it should be obeyed, the key is that there is no money and food, Gonggong Liu, you know the situation in Fengzhou, and the last general is also anxious!" Li Yu shook his head and sighed, Qin Wang Mingjun was still short of food and salary, he took the decree and stretched out his hand to the state capital along the way, and the ghost would pay attention to him.

Of course, Liu Wenzhong understood that the so-called preferential supply was an empty word, and tears fell in his heart: "Li Shuai, the emperor is really difficult, my brother saw it with his own eyes in the Qianqing Palace, the emperor is a vegetarian every day, and he is reluctant to eat an egg, and the two sets of dragon robes he bought when he ascended the throne have been worn until now, and they all blame the black-hearted Wenchen, stealing Daming's money, cheating Daming's money, but not doing serious things, the emperor is counting on you, don't let down the emperor." ”

Liu Zhilun's face was ugly, he glanced at Li Yu a few times, and said slowly: "The branch has calculated the accounts a few times, but I really can't get this money, so I can only borrow it again, but where can I borrow such a large amount of money?" Mr. Qishan, Mr. Wang Zheng, and Sun Qitai were anxious to ask for the council, but it was useless, and the businessmen refused to pay for it, and threatened that you could only borrow money. ”

Li Yu lowered his head and paced back and forth, and after a while, he said solemnly to Liu Wenzhong: "Please go back and tell the emperor, give me a few more days, I will borrow money and send troops immediately, and I will never break my word!" ”

The citizens of Fengzhou who want to make military merits, the immigrants who want to become citizens in advance, and the Shanxi students who have just finished brainwashing Fu Shan, Xue Zongzhou, Wang Rujin, and a group of Shanxi students gather in the Naturalization Square every day to shout and shout and kill, and it seems that their hearts are itching if they don't fight. In the council, a group of cigarette dealers led by Fan Yongdou also clamored to teach Qingguo a lesson, which made everyone upset - where does the money come from, the people in the square have no money, and the businessmen, including Fan Yongdou, are reluctant to pay for it, so it's a fart!

The Fengzhou Council of Parliament has been arguing for more than a month to prepare for the military expenses of sending troops, and has held meetings and discussions more than 10 times before and after, and each time it must go off topic and make trouble, and the Chahars, Khalkhas, Oirats, and people from the Shanxi Joint Defense Bureau on the jurors bench also followed suit, and the speaker of the parliament, Omulun, often drove the talkative jurassers out of the venue. Li Yu personally attended the meeting, and the councillors gave a face and no longer scolded and used their hands and feet, but the noise was still the same, but the opponents changed, and it used to be the Liberal Party and the Civic Party fighting, but now it has become a partnership between the two parties and Liu Zongzhou, Sun Qifeng, and a group of Ming literati.

Liu Zongzhou is the councillor designated by the Great Commander's Office, but he disdains to be in the company of profiteers and the people, and has never participated in the meetings of the Council.

"Li Nianfeng, Zhou Nangui, one of you was born in the Ming clan and the other was a Ming official, but you are so numb in the face of the national crisis, where is your conscience?" Liu Zongzhou first pulled Li Fugui and Zhou Su's pigtails as usual, and then scolded Li Jianji, "And you, Li Erzeng, the Li family has been rich and noble in Shanxi for generations, and your brother Li Jiantai is also an official in the court, and the Ming Dynasty is not thin on the Li family, so you can't bear to suffer in Jinggi but don't pull it out?" ”

"Fighting costs money like running water, and Fengzhou doesn't have this capital!" Li Fugui immediately complained.

Liu Zongzhou became even more angry: "Nonsense, there are obviously millions of silver deposits in the big treasury, how to say that there is no money, aren't you quite good at making silver money, and you will issue money if you are reluctant to silver." ”

"The indiscriminate issuance of silver money is no different from raising taxes, snatching money from the pockets of the poor, and the Civic Party will never agree to it." Wang Fang jumped up and shouted, and the opposition immediately rang out.

Zhou Yi finally grabbed Liu Wanren's handle, and immediately said with a wicked smile: "Fengzhou silver banknotes are not Ming treasure banknotes, Fengzhou will never do things to loot people's wealth, Mr. Qishan has always advocated benevolence and benevolence, not plundering people's wealth, do you want to follow the example of Sang Hongyang and Wang Anshi's disciples?" ”

"The deposit of silver in the big treasury is the share capital of the banknote bureau, and the use of deposit silver is to rob the people's wealth." Li Jianji echoed casually.

Liu Zong was stunned on Monday, glared at Zhou Yi fiercely, it was really not a taste to be caught by a villain, but he immediately thought of a new topic: "Okay, let's not talk about money first, you have paid money privately, allowed the Eastern Captives to plunder Zhili, and sold weapons and ordnance, how to calculate this account?" You are the only one who aids in abuse, incorruptibility and shame. ”

Li Fugui jumped up as if he had been stepped on by his tail and defended: "Mr. Qishan, you can't talk nonsense, Dongyu has long legs, where do they want to run, how can we stop it, what we sell to them is in tatters, and we exchange some money to supplement the military." ”

"That's it, don't sell some useless rags, where does the new guy in the hands of the battalion come from?" Zhou Yi added.

It's going to digress again, Wang Zheng waved his hand at Liu Zongzhou, and said in a choked voice: "Everyone, the people are in trouble, the loyal and righteous people all come forward, the old man just learned a bad news, the former scholar, Jiliao Governor Sun Chengzong was righteous in his hometown Gaoyang, and his children, grandchildren and more than 100 family members were killed together, Sun Gong is an old friend of the old man, seventy-six years old and still leads his children and grandchildren to defend the city and the imperial court, so that the blood of the homeland, you are also the people of the Ming Dynasty, do you refuse to pay some money?" ”

"The year before last, there was Lu Shan who succeeded his predecessors Dingxing Chengren, and now there is Sun Chengzong's predecessor Gao Yang is righteous, how bitter the people of the Ming Dynasty are, and how many martyrs of the Ming Dynasty!" Sun Qifeng looked up to the sky with red eyes and sighed.

Wang Zheng is a respected elder, and Sun Qifeng is also a virtuous teacher admired by everyone, their words still have weight, and some people even shed a few tears, but that's all, no one is stupid enough to pay for a few words.

"Two gentlemen, Fengzhou is Fengzhou, Ming Guo is Ming Kingdom, and people who die in Ming Kingdom should go to their emperor, it has nothing to do with us." The Chahar man Gunchuk said heartlessly that he had become a naturalized Fengzhou and made a fortune in business, but he couldn't forget the experience of being kicked open by his wife Princess Taisong, and he didn't want to let go when he covered his money bag.

Omulun's former retainer Hang Gao is also a councilor, and he has been doing business in partnership with Gunchuk, and immediately supported his friend: "That's right, the emperor of the Ming Kingdom can't protect his subjects, and the people of the Ming State can change the emperor, and if they are willing to continue to be loyal, then they should pay the price, and we can't do anything about it." ”

Liu Zongzhou was furious when he heard this, and rushed to Gun Chuke and Hang Gao theory, and Li Yu shouted: "Shut up, this is the end of today, and I have something to say to you tomorrow." ”

Li Yu walked away, and everyone quietly began to discuss, the general did not say a word today, and there must be something important to say tomorrow. Li Jianji and Shen Shoulian looked at each other and smiled bitterly, for many years, every time Fengzhou was in trouble, they couldn't forget to play some tricks, forcing Li Yu to retreat step by step, and finally grabbed most of the power in Fengzhou, but found that they were also firmly tied to the boat of Fengzhou, and it was impossible to get out, so they could only go to the end, who was calculating whom!

Early the next morning, the councillors and jurors rushed to the council and sat in their seats and waited quietly, followed by the officials of the Consul's Office and the Prime Minister's Office, and when Li Yu entered the council hall, everyone turned their eyes to him and waited with bated breath.

Li Yu walked to the front desk, glanced at everyone and slowly spoke: "Gentlemen, I know what you are most anxious about, but I want to talk about the past first, ten years, beloved by God, Fengzhou step by step to today, every time I think of the desperate situation we rushed through, I am afraid in my heart, maybe the original thought will ruin Fengzhou, but the price we paid is huge, countless villagers died of plague, hunger, cold, countless brothers died on the battlefield to defend Fengzhou, Wang Ziyong, Zhang Miaoshou, Wuhai, Baiyintu, Manzhu, Du Hongfang, Ma Danian, Bagen, Wang Dongqiang...... What a good brother, I often dream that they come to me smiling and asking how Toyosu's life is going, and if it will be better in the future? I'm really afraid that I will hurt Toyosu by making a mistake, and I will die and have no face to see them in the future......"

Li Yu with tears in his eyes told about the war, plague, and famine, many of the people here are the elders of Fengzhou, who have experienced those hardships, and can't help crying when they hear the sadness, Liu Zhilun and Liu Zongzhou also have red circles in their eyes and sigh loudly, Fengzhou people are more bitter than Guannei people, how difficult it is to persist to this day, what qualifications do you have to discriminate against them Yi people, homeless people, horse thieves, and profiteers.

Li Yu wiped away her tears and continued: "Fengzhou chose the only suitable path for survival in a desperate situation, and walked on the blood of predecessors until today, but those villains who take pleasure in enslaving others are born with a bitter hatred for "freedom, equality, and benevolence", they will not tolerate us forever, and the future of Fengzhou must be full of hardships and dangers, which cannot be escaped. Our generation was unfortunately born in troubled times, and since we are destined to suffer, we should simply finish the battle that should be fought and shed all the blood that should be shed, so as to create a peaceful world for future generations. ”

"Willing to play for Toyosu!" The crowd was full of enthusiasm and stood up and waved their fists and shouted at the same time.

Li Yu glanced at Liu Zhilun and Liu Zongzhou and said: "The Ming State scolded us for being the Northern Prisoner and the Han Dynasty, and the Qing State also regarded us as deviant, and they all wanted to get rid of us as soon as possible and then quickly, it doesn't matter, Fengzhou has always been trying to survive in the cracks of the great power struggle, it used to be the Ming State and Chahar, and now it is the Ming State and the Qing Kingdom, we only seek to survive, and we don't want to be enemies of any big country." I can clearly tell you that Fengzhou's acquiescence to the Qing State entering the North Zhili is by no means intended to harm the Ming State, but as a last resort, Fengzhou's strength is too weak, in the North Zhili and the Qing State war, the best result is also a defeat for both sides, only when the Qing army forgets to stretch the battle line, only have the opportunity to choose a favorable battlefield to defeat them, Fengzhou does sell weapons, food, cloth to the Qing State, we think that the war is a war, business is a business, thinking that cutting off contacts and prohibiting mutual markets can bring down others is pure delusion, What if the Ming State insisted on not negotiating peace with the Qing State? The Qing State became stronger and stronger, while the Ming State became weaker and weaker. The people of Fengzhou can't learn the small family spirit of the Ming Kingdom, but they must have a broad mind like the grassland and the arrogance of the pride of the sky, and the two sides can trade if they are profitable, and what if they sell something to the Qing State, they can still defeat it. ”

There was a burst of applause and laughter in the meeting hall, and Liu Zhilun and Liu Zongzhou's faces were red, and their court seemed to have never had this kind of courage. Li Yu waved his hand to silence the hall, and spoke again with a solemn face.

"Fengzhou respects the Great Tomorrow, but I hate the Ming very much, it is a country that is maintained by violence and lies, and the villains standing in the court can rob and enslave their subjects with dignity, and it is also a sin for hungry people to flee the famine and beg for food, fuck it, this is not our country. I honor the Son of Heaven, but I want to build a new kind of country—a nation that is freely constituted by the common approval of the people, in which the great government and the law must be subject to public consultation, and harsh government and slavery must be abolished, and all officials must be elected by the public, and the wise will govern, and the righteous will judge, and everyone can say, 'Get out' of corrupt officials; In this country, the people are free to do business, move freely, and engage in business freely, without being constrained to display their strengths, and have private wealth to be protected, talents and virtues to be appointed, meritorious deeds to be rewarded, and grievances to be judged. In this country, no one is allowed to expropriate in the name of national justice, but to make the people rich for the country, and the people for the country's strength, the country loves all the people, and all the people also serve the country. ”

"This is my Fengzhou, a country voluntarily formed by people of different ethnic groups and different beliefs based on the consensus of 'freedom, equality, and benevolence', and practicing citizen ownership, citizen co-governance, and citizen sharing, a country that is kind to its neighbors, peace-loving, and accepts all those who yearn for freedom to join, whether they are Ming, Khalkha, Oirat, Chahar or even Qing, all are welcome." Li Yu talked endlessly, as if he had returned to Wula Mountain, that almost primitive but warm small tribe, the people in the hall were dumbfounded, looking at him like a fool, but Li Yu was full of confidence, waved his hand and said loudly: "But I still need time to make this new country stronger, the current status quo is that before we obtain enough self-protection ability, one of the two big countries of the Ming and Qing dynasties cannot fall, so I decided to send troops to aid Ming, are you willing to help me?" ”

Liu Zhilun and Liu Zongzhou were shocked when they heard it, but no matter how out of line Li Yu said, now is not the time to pour cold water, but Sun Qifeng stood up excitedly and shouted: "Hanmin, the new country you are talking about is the world of Datong, there is great benevolence and great governance, the old man trusts you, let it go!" ”

Li Jianji was still in a daze, Zhou Yi quietly turned behind him and twisted it, and whispered in his ear, "I got everything I deserved, hurry up and end it, don't let the Great Commander be really stupid", Li Jianji suddenly realized, rubbed out a few tears, got up and shouted: "What the Great Commander said is our Fengzhou dream, isn't such a country worthy of our service?" ”

"The Liberal Party proposes to issue 300,000 taels, no, 400,000 taels of cash bonds, and drive the Dongyu out of the customs!" Shen Shoulian shouted not to be left behind, and the bosses of the Liberal Party responded in unison - Li Yu was just despising the imperial court, but the businessmen were really afraid of the imperial court, and "respecting the Son of Heaven and building another country" went further than "one emperor and two imperial courts", which was definitely a major benefit.

Zhang Daojun arrived at naturalization with more than a dozen wealthy Jin businessmen last night, and was sitting on the side seat at this time, and hurriedly shouted: "The new country has our share, and we must also contribute to the country. ”

"The Chahars are willing to follow Dajinon."

"The Khalkha cavalry battalion is willing to follow Hutuktu Batulu."

"The Oirat cavalry battalion is willing to follow Hutuktu Baturu."

The voice of the plea for war continued to be heard from the jury seat, the meeting hall became more and more lively, the businessmen of the Liberal Party patted their chests and shouted loudly to subscribe for debt tickets, the Civic Party was very disappointed, and after several leaders urgently discussed, Wang Fang loudly announced that although the Civic Party was poor, it would also contribute to the country and would send capable party members to participate in the war as volunteers.

Everyone hugged Li Yu out of the council, and Chang Shu excitedly shouted to the square: "Citizens, we will have our own country, this country loves each of us, and we will serve this country." ”

On this day, the people of Toyosu fall into a carnival and celebrate having their own country.

On this day, the Commander's Office announced that the Fengzhou Army had entered the customs to aid the Ming Dynasty, and Li Yu rushed to the Manhan Mountain camp overnight.

On this day, the Prime Minister's Office announced the sale of 400,000 taels of bonds for the south, and the bosses of the banknote bureau and the banknote shops urgently issued instructions to the money banks and account bureaus in the customs to deliver cash to the nearby Toyosu army.