However, things are not as simple as in the Chongzhen phenomenon.

If the officials and gentry want to thoroughly implement it in the Ming Dynasty, it is not Wang Zhongying's ministers who really look at it, but the countless officials and gentry landlords who form the foundation of the Ming Dynasty's rule.

For these gentry and landlords, they don't care whether they are in power or not. In their eyes, even if they change the dynasty, they should continue to collect grain from the tenants, and they do not need to pay grain taxes, and not a single grain will be given to the court. Because, no matter which dynasty it is, it needs them, the gentry and landlords, to rule the whole country.

Therefore, they don't care whether the court has reached the point of life and death. At this moment, they only see that after the implementation of the policy of the officials and gentry paying grain in one piece, the imperial court will take away a large amount of grain from them as a grain tax during the autumn harvest every year.

Under such circumstances, how could the low-level gentry and landlords, who valued food and property as more important than their own lives, allow such a policy that might ruin their wealth to be carried out?

Therefore, the imperial court's decree that the officials and gentry planned to pay grain in one body had just reached the county level of the Ming Dynasty, and there was no way to continue to pass it on. Not only that, many low-level officials and gentry landlords even wrote directly to the court, asking the court to withdraw the holy decree.

What's more, they directly organized tenants, or united with each other, violently resisted taxes, and expressed their dissatisfaction with the latest grain payment policy of the imperial court with practical actions.

In the face of the unexpectedly strong opposition from the bottom of the Ming Dynasty and the officials and gentry and landlords at all levels, Emperor Chongzhen was directly taken aback.

However, under the decision of two factors. Emperor Chongzhen didn't intend to just stop there. Compromise......

The first factor. Not surprisingly, the silver that the imperial court lacked the most. And the official gentry paid the grain in one piece, which was the most direct and fastest way to solve the silver.

As for the second factor, that is, the conceit in Chongzhen's heart is at work. Wei Zheng, who was born as a bandit, can pay grain to the gentry in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, why can't he as the emperor?

As long as Wei Zheng can do it, he can do it as an emperor.

Under the influence of these two factors, Emperor Chongzhen directly ignored the opposition from the low-level gentry and landlords. Emperor Chongzhen, who was full of anger because of these opposing voices. Directly made the decision to use the army and forcibly enforce the integrated payment of grain by the officials and gentry in the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

However, Chongzhen was disappointed......

One month after the decree of the officials and gentry to pay grain in one piece was issued, the imperial court not only did not receive the grain tax that should be paid from the low-level officials and gentry landlords, but even the grain tax that the imperial court should collect from the hands of the common people. It has only reached less than half of previous years.

Faced with this result, Chongzhen was angry again......

Without saying a word, he directly issued an order and asked the troops to be stationed in various places to cooperate with the government. Forcibly levy grain taxes from the low-level gentry and landlords.

But what follows developments and situations. Once again, it was beyond the expectations of Emperor Chongzhen.

Because of the hereditary military system of the Ming Dynasty, the garrisons and guards in various places were all in the hands of local heroes without exception. After the two hundred years of land annexation by the Ming Dynasty, most of the local land was also concentrated in the homes of these officers. Among them, especially the Weisuo army is the most left.

In the past, there was no need to pay grain for the acres of land that they annexed, and all the harvest belonged to themselves. However, after Chongzhen implemented the integrated payment of grain by officials and gentry across the country, the situation was different.

Regardless of whether he is an officer or a strong man with an identity such as a showman, he must pay according to the rules.

Under such circumstances, how could these local tycoons and officers who held military power slap themselves in the mouth and send troops to forcibly collect grain and taxes from themselves?

However, Emperor Chongzhen's decree must be carried out.

In order to let Emperor Chongzhen completely dispel the idea of the officials and gentry receiving food in one piece, these low-level heroes and officers with difficult calculations, together with the local officials and gentry, ruthlessly defeated the imperial court and Emperor Chongzhen......

Less than two days after the imperial court issued the imperial decree that the garrisons in various places forcibly levy grain and taxes, the urgent payment of military salaries from all over the country was like snowflakes, which were continuously sent to the cabinet and to the desk of Emperor Chongzhen.

"Your Majesty, at this time, the urgent report sent by Lord He of Henan Patrol, because the officials and gentry of the imperial court paid the grain in one piece, and the local gentry and landlords organized tenants and organized the government to collect taxes...... What's more, some local tyrants and gentry and landlords have begun to gather crowds to make trouble, attack the county government, and violently resist taxes......" At the early court meeting, a minister said loudly.

As soon as the words fell, Emperor Chongzhen opened his mouth and asked, "The army, what about my army?" ”

"I spend so much money every year to support them, and at the critical moment, I have to stand up for me to ensure the stability of the Ming Dynasty......"

Just when Chongzhen was about to continue scolding, the minister who had just spoken hurriedly continued to pray: "Your Majesty, the minister's recital has not been finished yet......

"After receiving His Majesty's decree asking the local garrison to cooperate with the collection of grain and taxes, the Henan Patrol has already dispatched the local garrison according to the request, quelled the disturbance, and forcibly levied taxes and grain. However, these local garrisons actually disrespected the order and refused to send troops......"

According to the report of the Henan Patrol, the families of the officers stationed in these places have countless acres of land. They are also the targets of grain taxation for the official gentry to pay grain in one piece...... The violent resistance to taxes in many places was caused by these people. ”

In addition, they also took this opportunity to ask the imperial court for the food and salary that the imperial court had not allocated to them in recent years. If the court does not make up their salaries, they will definitely not send troops......"

"Bold...... Arrogant...... How dare you threaten me...... I should kill them all...... Destroy their nine tribes...... Let them know that I am still the Son of Heaven of the Ming Dynasty, and they have no room for bargaining with me......" As soon as the minister finished speaking, Emperor Chongzhen, who was angry, began to scold in the court......

Of course, scolding and scolding, Emperor Chongzhen did not forget what he should do now.

After taking a deep breath, he asked the minister in front of him: "If such a big thing happens, does the governor of Henan have a specific solution....If something happens in the local area, it must be solved by the imperial court and me, then what is the use of me asking him to be the governor of Henan." ”

The minister nodded and affirmed: "There is indeed a solution in the compromise.....it's just that in the end, this solution still needs to be solved by the imperial court." ”

Emperor Chongzhen's brows furrowed, and he asked, "What way..."

The minister replied: "The governor's method is to make up for the money and food owed by the imperial court to all the garrisons and guards in Henan... As long as the imperial court made up for these rations, the governor of Henan had the means to ensure the stability of Henan. ”

"According to statistics, in the past three years, the imperial court owes a total of 50,000 local garrisons in Henan a total of 320,000 taels of silver. In terms of food, a total of 80,000 guards and troops are owed a total of 150,000 quintals of food..."

"How can there be so many?" Hearing this number, Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but let out an exclamation.

At this time, the newly appointed military department Shangshu stood up and affirmed to Emperor Chongzhen.

"Your Majesty, as far as Wei Chen knows, what the governor of Henan said in the recital is all true, and there is nothing false..."

"In the past three years, because most of the imperial court's military expenses have been allocated to the border army, there are almost no local garrisons that have fought too much, so there is not much military expenditure..."

"According to the usual practice, the salaries issued by the imperial court to the local garrisons are distributed according to eighty percent of the total salary....As for the guards, only sixty percent of the total amount is paid less than ......."

"Three years have passed, and it is natural that 320,000 taels of silver and 150,000 quintals of grain are owed."

Three hundred and twenty thousand taels of silver, for the current Emperor Chongzhen, is not a lot. However, 150,000 quintals of grain is a very big burden.

According to the current price of grain, 150,000 quintals of grain, if purchased at market price, will cost at least 600,000 taels of silver.

Add 320,000 taels of silver to it, and that's more than 900,000 taels.

Nine hundred thousand taels of silver is definitely a very big burden for Emperor Chongzhen, who has not yet collected the grain tax.

Just when Chongzhen's face became more and more gloomy because of this, another minister stood up close behind.

He shouted to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, Weichen has something to play...."

"Weichen also has a piece of money here, which is from the governor of Shandong...."

"Since the decree of the officials and gentry to pay grain in one piece was issued, the governor of Shandong has also faced the same problem as the governor of Henan."

"The lowest level of the gentry and landlords united with each other, organized tenants, and violently resisted taxes...."

"What's more, they have also begun to refuse to pay taxes that should have been paid to the imperial court."

In addition, the local garrison in Shandong also faced the same problems as the local garrison in Henan. If the imperial court did not immediately issue the unpaid salaries owed by the imperial court, the local garrisons in these places might riot against the imperial court's policy of paying grain to the gentry. ”

"According to the latest statistics of the governor of Shandong, within three years, the imperial court owed a total of 380,000 taels of silver to all the garrisons in Shandong Province."

"In terms of food, because the number of guards in Shandong is more than twice that of the governor of Henan. Therefore, the imperial court owes a total of 320,000 quintals of grain to all the guards in Shandong..."

"Hiss..." As soon as the minister's words were finished, a sound of inhalation sounded in the court.

For all the grain and silver were taken together, and it was a whole one and a half thousand taels.

As far as the current Ming court is concerned, even if the entire palace is sold, it will not be able to buy a total of 2.5 million taels of silver.

More importantly, this is only the food and salary owed by the imperial court to the garrisons of the two provinces. If you add up the entire Ming Dynasty, you dare not imagine how much silver there will be.

As for Emperor Chongzhen, who was sitting on the dragon chair, the anger on his face had disappeared unconsciously, and was covered by a trace of loss and despair. (To be continued......)