When receiving the message from Xuanfu Town and Xuanda Governor Chen Xinjia and others, Emperor Chongzhen was discussing matters with Ran Shu of the Ministry of Rites, Yang Sichang, who was still in charge of the military department, and Xue Guoguan, the first assistant of the cabinet. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

Getting this news, Emperor Chongzhen was not shocked, of course, it is impossible, as early as when he appointed Wang Dou as the general of the East Road of Xuanfu Town, Emperor Chongzhen had a belief that Wang Dou would definitely firmly grasp the entire East Road, I don't know why, Emperor Chongzhen was so sure in his heart.

But I didn't expect this day to come so quickly and so suddenly. Wang Dou's fierce methods were beyond everyone's expectations. His unscrupulousness and audacity also make people very uncomfortable fighting at scholars, merchants, and warriors at the same time.

The East Road has restored order, and the evidence is conclusive, according to the usual law, that is, Wang Dou's methods are too much, and some innocents may be injured, and it is impossible for the court to punish Wang Dou for this. At this time, the Ming Dynasty sent a powerful military leader, and the imperial court was oriented to appeasement. No matter how excessive Wang Dou is, are there Zuo Liangyu, Liu Zeqing, He Renlong and others excessive?

And for Wang Dou, Emperor Chongzhen has the meaning of seeing him as another Qi Jiguang, just like Qi Shuai did back then, sweeping away the southern and northern captives, and returning the world to peace. It is even more impossible to punish him for this "small matter" and make him rebellious.

At the same time, Emperor Chongzhen was secretly a little happy in his heart, Wang Dou offended the local literati and merchants, and he could not invite people to buy people's hearts, so he could only hug the thighs of the imperial court. In the hearts of Emperor Chongzhen and others, scholars and merchants are the pillars of the country, who can succeed if they offend these people?

He sighed: "It's a good thing that Wang Hejun captured Dongnu and worked hard, but it's a pity that he is young and vigorous, this thing is ...... It's a bit inadequate. ”

"What the emperor said is extremely true."

Yang Sichang and Xue Guoguan next to him said in unison.

The person who usually doesn't deal with him speaks so neatly, the two of them look at each other, and they both turn their heads quietly.

Xue Guoguan coughed lightly, like Yang Huchang, he was just over fifty, with big ears and a rather rich face. When he was a child, someone gave him a face, saying that he was a noble person, and he would definitely be a marquis in the future.

Sure enough, what the person said back then came true, for this matter, after Xue Guoguan became the first assistant, he deliberately found this fortune teller, bought him a house, and sent silver. The fortune teller has been nearly filial piety in his years, and it is when he is poor and destitute, and he has lived a happy old age by relying on what he said back then.

After Xue Guoguan entered the cabinet, he figured out the emperor's mind and fully pursued Wen Tiren's plan, which was trusted and reused by the emperor. In the past, the only favored minister who was often summoned by the emperor was Yang Sichang, and now there is more Xue Guoguan. Its limelight is strong, and even Yang Sichang has to avoid it.

Wang Dou's matter, in fact, before Xuanfu Zhen's music was sent to Beijing, Xue Guoguan knew it in detail.

At present, the teahouses and restaurants in Beijing, before the yamen, have successively flocked to the families of the "victims" of the merchants and people on the East Road who are crying about Wang Dou's "atrocities". Those who admired Wang's actions and those who criticized them were divided into several factions, which developed from verbal battles to physical conflicts.

There are also officials who are ready to move when they hear this, and they are ready to impeach Wang Dou for disregarding human life and acting in a domineering manner.

Only Emperor Chongzhen does not know about all the things in Beijing. The current situation of the Ming Dynasty is almost always the last emperor to get the news. Just like Emperor Chongzhen in the last two years, he angrily scolded the governor of the world and even Jinyiwei for not informing him of anything, making him deaf and dumb.

After getting the news of the East Road, Xue Guoguan and Yang Sichang both stood still, first finding out the emperor's thoughts.

As soon as Emperor Chongzhen spoke, Xue Guoguan immediately had a plan, and he said with a smile: "As the emperor said, General Wang is a good thing to arrest and defend the East Road carefully. Dongnu makes the best use of the room, and all kinds of defenses are mostly spying on by it, causing me to lose a lot of cities. The east road is close to the congestion, and the negligence of the captives can be caused, and the removal of the meticulous work and the captives is also for the sake of the safety of the east road. ”

"Of course, General Wang is young after all, and he is from the military, so he is inevitably a little irritable, and the local officials will appease him with their hearts."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded slightly, this is what he is satisfied with Xue Guoguan, he is good at figuring out his own thoughts, starting from his own point of view, and will not oppose for the sake of opposition. It's different from those who invite names and sell their names.

He decreed: "Since the East Road has been settled, the division will try it together, and the verdict will be heard after the conviction." The soldiers of the East Road prepared the Ma National Base, and the general Wang Dou was divided into guards, and he was rewarded.

The second official also needs to know about it, although the matter cannot be forced, he should also seek a long-term strategy and be earnest. ”

Wu Zhi, the governor of Yanqing Prefecture, invited himself to the office, checked his old experience, and did the facts. Although there are cases of negligence in the supervision of his sons and concubines, they are allowed to wear the crime and make meritorious service, and they are fined for one year and have a demerit in one demerit, but they are still absent from office".

This is Emperor Chongzhen's grace and might, rewarding Ma Guojian and Wang Dou, still balancing his civil and military forces to prevent Wang Dou's power from being too great. At the same time, Wu Zhi was retained, so that he could be grateful to Dai De and work more solidly. Let him be on the East Road, so that Wang Dou can be better monitored.

Moreover, Ma Guolei and Wu Zhi, one is inclined to Yang Sichang, the other is inclined to Xue Guoguan, and the two are left on the East Road, which also has the meaning of mutual checks and balances.

No one can dominate anywhere, this is Emperor Chongzhen's idea.

"The Emperor Shengming!"

In the praise of Yang Sichang and Xue Guoguan, the accident on the East Road came to an end.

For Emperor Chongzhen, the matter of the East Road is just a "small matter", and he has more important things to talk about.

Yes, compared to the "small matter" of the East Road, what Emperor Chongzhen talked about with Yang and Xue was the important "big thing".

This is the re-rebellion of Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai and others, on the ninth day of the first month of May, Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai rebelled again, how long did they recruit peace? It's just been a year, and I can't wait to rebel again. Also because of Zhang Xianzhong and others in front, Emperor Chongzhen did not dare to be harsh with Wang Dou, and the power of Wang Dou was not comparable to Zhang Xianzhong's generation.

In fact, there are early signs of Zhang Xianzhong's rebellion again, in April of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, Zhang Xianzhong was cared for in Gucheng, and he knelt down on the surface of Gucheng with etiquette.

He levied grain, collected taxes, and expanded troops in Gucheng, and threatened Xiong Wencan excessively. Xiong Wencan heard his evil words and ignored them, and sure enough, Zhang Xianzhong was opposed, and Ruan Zhina was killed. Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai joined forces, and the momentum was greatly boosted.

Emperor Chongzhen was extremely angry when he heard the report, and ordered Xiong Wencan to be cut down and treated as guilty. Just ten days ago, Zuo Liangyu, the chief military officer of the Chopping Army, was defeated by Zhang Xianzhong, with tens of thousands of soldiers killed and wounded, countless military funds discarded, and all military talisman seals and letters lost.

Because of Zuo Liangyu's defeat and the deterioration of the situation, Emperor Chongzhen was even more angry with Xiong Wencan, and he had sent an envoy to arrest Xiong Wencan into Beijing.

On the sixth day of October in the thirteenth year of Chongzhen in history, Xiong Wencan was beheaded and abandoned the city.

At this time, Emperor Chongzhen had already made Yang Sichang the supervisor, but he had to solve the problem of food and salary first.

In the early years, the Ming Dynasty had already levied Liao, and because Chongzhen had entered the Qing army in the eleventh year, he decided to train the elite soldiers of each town, and then levy and train the salary. The year's expropriation lasted for one year, and after one year, the rations were exhausted, and the Liukou had not been eliminated, so Emperor Chongzhen had to order half of the levy.

Now Zhang Xianzhong is opposed, the situation is dire, and if he wants to exterminate his subordinates, the amount of food and salary needed may reach an astronomical amount. A few days ago, the overseer asked for the full amount of the levy and the increase of the salary by 7.3 million taels. Combined with the three numbers of liao salary, chop salary, and training salary, a total of 16.7 million taels were added.

Emperor Chongzhen was worried about losing his trust in the world, after all, he only levied half of the salary under his edict, and now he reinstated the full amount, and there is a hidden danger of rebellion. Just now in the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Chongzhen was discussing this issue with Yang Sichang and Xue Guoguan, but was interrupted by the newcomer from Xuanfu Town.

The matter of the East Road was decided, and the monarch continued to carry out the topic of publishing talents.

Regarding Emperor Qian's worries about the problem of dishonesty, Yang Sichang said: "There is no injury, the endowment comes from the soil, and the soil field belongs to the powerful family, and the hundred acres are given three or four dollars of silver, and the merger is slightly suppressed." ”

For example, he gave the emperor an example, and the number of acres of registered fields in the country totaled more than 7 million hectares, and the usual tax revenue only accounted for 10% of the people's output. Even if it is doubled, it is only 20% of the people's harvest, and it is by no means unacceptably heavy.

After the rogue is eliminated, these additions can be dispensed with, and the world will return to peace.

Moreover, the increase in the salary this time, as well as the full amount of the reinstatement of the salary, are mainly aimed at those landlords who are strong and strong, which will not have any impact on the ordinary people, and also have the effect of restraining land annexation and the differentiation between the rich and the poor.

Obviously, Yang Sichang ignored a problem, the land in various places is fertile and poor, the yield is different, and the uniform tax per mu will cause many tragedies. More importantly, more than half of the registered acres of land were owned by vassal kings, magnates, eunuchs, lords, warriors, literati, and merchants, who did not pay taxes or evaded taxes.

In the end, the burden will only be passed on to ordinary homesteaders, and in addition, corruption is rampant, and officials in various localities are assigned more and more than one level after the regular tax, which is often as high as dozens or hundreds of times the "secondary tax". One more increase in the three salaries will only lead to a greater wave of bankruptcies and the emergence of a larger scale of rogues.

Most of the taxes that Yang Sichang said belong to the "powerful people", which obviously does not work. ,

Emperor Chongzhen may not understand that there are so many acres of land in the register, and the burden of the people is not heavy, why do they resist or even rebel?

The emperor didn't understand this truth, but Yang Sichang could never not understand it, maybe he was pretending to be confused.

Through his analysis, Emperor Chongzhen finally made up his mind, and he sighed: "Lianbian sent an edict to levy three salaries, hoping that after the bandits and thieves are wiped out, the world will return to peace, and the people will be happy again." ”

Yang Sichang sang: "The emperor is sage! ”

Regarding the emperor's possible intention of appointing himself as the superintendent, Yang Sichang also guessed in his heart. He is ambitious, determined to exterminate the rogues, create immortal achievements, and live up to the grace of the king. However, before this incident, Yang Sichang revealed that he wanted to transfer Jiang Dou to fight with him.

Of course, Emperor Chongzhen agrees with Yang Sichang's opinion, if a fierce general like Wang Dou is not needed, who will he use?

The wolf-like target soldiers were all beaten by it, and they were just rookies, but they were not captured?

However, Wang Dou just went out to fight last year, and it was not long after he returned to Xuanfu Town this year, he was sleepy and tired, and he was newly transferred to the East Road. Looking at the situation, it seems that it has not deteriorated to that point, and ordinary officers and soldiers can deal with it. It just needs a good commander.

After Yang Sichang respectfully retreated, Xue Guoguan glanced at his back coldly, and Xue Guoguan was 10,000 jealous that Yang Sichang might be appointed as a supervisor. It's a pity that he is not as "knowledgeable" as Yang Sichang, but Xue Guoguan has his own way to win the favor of the king.

For the current financial difficulties, Xue Guoguan tried his best to come up with a wonderful method.

"Aiqing has a wonderful way, come quickly."

Emperor Chongzhen was really happy, he was worried about food all day long, any way, Emperor Chongzhen was a welcome mouth, "With the help of?" ”

The emperor was stunned.

"Exactly!"

Xue Guoguan said calmly: "There are many wealthy families in Beijing, and the Ming Dynasty has been raising scholars for hundreds of years, and when the imperial court is in danger, it is the time when the 252594234572 Shishen Hao clan serves the country." With the help of ministers, it is to issue loan bonds, so that officials and wealthy businessmen can donate money and grain to meet the urgent needs of the country. If the emperor agrees to the policy of the minister, the officials and businessmen of the outer court will all be wrapped up in the minister's body......"

He hesitated: "As for the imperial relatives."