Chen Qianfu said: "There is no inconvenience, but seventy percent of the cultivated land under the jurisdiction of the Henan Political Envoy is under the name of the nine feudal domains such as the Fu Domain, the Zhou Domain, and the Tang Domain, if it is Juntian......"

Chongzhen said: "You just take care of Juntian, and you don't care about the rest." ”

"Command." Chen Qianfu arched his hand and said, "In this way, the ministers will be counted." ”

There must be resistance to recovering the cultivated land under the name of the vassal king, but the help is far greater than the resistance.

Because the vassal king and the emperor's relatives occupied too much arable land, the emptiness of the Ming treasury has become a broad consensus among the officials and gentlemen, and now the vast majority of the officials and gentry are in favor of recovering the land of the vassal king.

And even if someone wants to stop it, they can't find a weighty excuse.

In the past, the opposing imperial historian could still talk about the millions of acres of Huangzhuang in Gyeonggi, but now that Chongzhen has not repaid all the cultivated land of Huangzhuang to the state, what else can the imperial historian say?

For the next half a month, Chongzhen patrolled the surroundings.

Heyin, Xingyang, Mi County, and even Xinzheng counties all walked through, and it was found that there were only a few hundred households in these counties, and there were only a dozen households and dozens of people in Heyin County.

This is not a county seat at all, not even a village.

Seeing this scene, Chongzhen was naturally in a bad mood, since ancient times, Henan has been a place of ointment, the most densely populated, but now it has almost become a barren land.

Lu Jiude, who was driving on the side, said: "When Dingkou was checked in the sixth year of Wanli, there were five million 193,602 political envoys in Henan, second only to Nanzhili and Shandong and Zhejiang. ”

[Note: The statistical population of the Ming Dynasty is only counted as Ding, because Chengding needs to pay Ding Yin]

Chen Qianfu on the other side said: "But now, even if you count Liu Hongqi of Runing Mansion, Han Jiadi of Xuzhou, Li Jiyu of Yuzhou and Liu Xuan of Mosaic City, I am afraid it will not exceed 200,000 Ding!" ”

After a pause, he said: "The ancients often used the word "one out of ten" to describe the tragic loss of Dingkou, but today's Henan political envoy should not say that it is one out of ten, and even one of twenty is probably not enough." ”

Chongzhen said solemnly: "So it is even more necessary for Chen Qing to work hard to restore the population of Henan as soon as possible." ”

Chen Qianfu said: "Saint, the ministers within the duties of the minister will never shirk, clear the zhang, restore the cultivation and equalize the field, so that the people who have migrated to Henan from various provinces have their fields, this is no problem, only one thing, if the slaves or thieves come to commit a large attack, everything the minister did in Henan will be wiped out in an instant, and the people may not escape death." ”

Regarding Huang Zongxi's loan of Kaifeng Mansion to thieves, Chen Qianfu is still angry.

Chongzhen said: "There is no need to worry about the thieves in a short time, but Jiannu must not be guarded against. ”

After a pause, Chongzhen said again: "The good news is that the Jiannu army has retreated from Weihui Mansion, and only a few thousand troops have been left behind in Huaiqing Mansion and Weihui Mansion. ”

Chen Qianfu said: "Even if there are only thousands of troops, it is difficult to resist. ”

"Don't worry, I've got all the arrangements." Chongzhen's gaze turned to Gu Yinxi, "Block Qing, from today onwards, you will take on another position, supervising the military affairs of Henan and Xuzhou." ”

The eyes of the people around looked at Du Yinxi.

It is not easy to supervise the military affairs of Henan, and it is not simple to supervise the military affairs of Xuzhou.

Xuzhou is now stationed in the border army of thirty towns, let Plug Yinxi Governor Henan and Xuzhou military affairs, the meaning of the saint is to hand over the border army of Thirty Towns in Xuzhou to Plug Yinxi to command.

"This ......" Plug Yinxi was grateful and frightened.

I am grateful that Chongzhen trusts him so much.

The fear is that they will not be able to take on such a heavy responsibility.

Because Chongzhen's move is equivalent to putting the safety of the entire Ming Dynasty on him.

Gu Yinxi is just a civil official of the fourth grade at this time, and he is really worried that he will not be able to bear it.

"How?" Chongzhen said, "But Du Qing thinks that this appointment and dismissal is not from the Ministry of War, but only from my central purpose, so I feel a little unruly? ”

"Definitely." Du Yinxi shook his head and said, "The emperor originally had the power to take out the general army and supervise military affairs and other military positions. ”

After a pause, he said, "The minister is just worried that he will not be able to do it. ”

"You don't have to worry about that." Chongzhen said, "I think you can do it, and you will definitely do it." ”

Plug Yinxi shook his head to the ground and said solemnly: "In this way, the minister can only smear his liver and brain to the ground and kill himself to repay the grace of the saint." ”

"I don't want you to kill you, and I don't want you to kill in retaliation." Chongzhen said, "I just want you to hold Xuzhou, Henan and then the entire Huanghuai defense line." ”

Plug Yinxi replied angrily: "The minister's order." ”

While talking, the group had already arrived at the intersection.

Chongzhen turned around and asked Chen Qianfu: "Chen Qing, I have seen several surrounding counties, and the situation is basically the same, where do you plan to set up your governor's line?" ”

Chen Qianfu said without thinking: "Zhongmu." ”

"Well, Zhongmu is pretty good." Chongzhen nodded and said, "Then I won't accompany you to Zhongmu, although the battle in Xuzhou was won, there are still a bunch of things waiting for me to deal with in Xuzhou, and I have to go back." ”

"Congratulations to the Holy One." Chen Qianfu and a group of subordinate officials swept to the ground.

……

When he came, he was in a hurry, and he marched 600 miles in five days.

But when I went back, I was much more calm, and I walked for almost half a month before I finally returned to Xuzhou, which was already July 15 of the eighteenth year of Chongzhen, and half of the year had passed.

Huang Degong, Lu Zhenfei and Yan Yingyuan and more than a dozen scholars have also arrived in Xuzhou.

Huang Degong and the general soldiers of the twenty towns under Lu Zhenfei, as well as those deputy generals, staff generals, guerrillas and garrison generals, are even more anxious, just waiting for Chongzhen to come back and reward their merits.

According to the convention, after winning a battle, you should be rewarded for meritorious deeds.

No matter what standard the Xuzhou War is judged by, it is undoubtedly a great victory, and the civil and military generals are added to the knighthood, and the border army and the township brave are rewarded, which is a sure result.

The border army of the town where Yang Ponu was located also followed Huang Degong to Xuzhou.

Yang Ponu has become a star, surrounded by his former bosses, colleagues and subordinates.

"Broken slaves." The general who used to call Yang Ponu a leprosy dog didn't dare to bark indiscriminately now, and began to call Yang Ponu's tuba in a proper manner, "Do you think the saint will repay the debt this time?" ”

"yes, the Holy One shouldn't be in debt, right?" Several other colleagues chimed in.

"No, you just have to keep your heart in your stomach." Yang Ponu patted his chest and said, "I dare to assure you that the Holy One will never repay the debt, if there is only one person in this world who will not repay the debt, then this person must be the Holy One, and it can only be the Holy One, in short, everyone can rest assured." ”

"Holy credit, of course, there is nothing to say." Wang honestly frowned and said, "But, don't you think the salary and reward to be distributed this time are a bit much?" Millions of taels! ”

Wang Laoshi is now also a sentry commander, in charge of a gun.

"Millions of taels?" Yang Ponu was also stunned when he heard this, "Are there so many?" ”

"That's not what happened." Another general said, "A total of 160,000 border troops, and the five months' salary alone will cost 4.8 million taels of silver, and this is not counting the bounty." ”

"We're not afraid of anything else, we're afraid of receiving white stripes."

"Ahh Now Yang Ponu is also uncertain.

At this moment, another one rushed over.

"Good news, brethren, great news."

The general beckoned Yang Ponu and dozens of other commanders and sentinels to surround him.

When everyone came around, the general manager lowered his voice and said, "Guess who I just saw?" ”

"Who's in sight?" Wang Laoshi was not honest at all, and quipped, "You are so good at kung fu, you won't fly back to Yangzhou Cuiyun Tower to meet your old look, right?" ”

"Go, go, the king of the thieves is honest."

The general laughed and scolded, and said: "Didn't I tell you before, I have a fellow villager who works as an errand in the palace?" I saw this fellow villager just now, and he told me that the Holy One might want to reward us with a gift! ”

"Enda?" Yang Laipi suddenly came to his senses, "What's the matter?" ”

"That's what happened." Put the total 1510 of the way.

……

At the same time, in the line of the emperor.

Chongzhen, who had just returned to Xuzhou, also summoned Huang Degong, Lu Zhenfei, Du Yinxi, and the commanders, deputy generals, staff generals, and garrison generals of the border army of the Thirty Towns.

More than a hundred generals filled almost the entire line.

As far as the eye can see, there are mountain armor with phoenix wing helmets, and there are old elders' tassel spears on the top of their heads.

Then, in the presence of the commander-in-chief of the Thirty Towns, adjutant generals, staff generals, guerrillas, and garrisons, it was announced that the 160,000 border troops would be retired and that they would be rewarded with a quota of grace.

The news was a bit too shocking.

Except for plugging Yinxi, it's the first time I've heard of it.

The more than 100 generals present were a little unable to come back to their senses.

After a long time, Lu Zhenfei said: "Holy Lord, isn't it too hasty to let all the 160,000 border troops in Thirty Towns retire?" How could the Huanghuai defense line not be garrisoned by border troops? ”

Chongzhen sighed: "I'm afraid it won't work if you don't retire, the imperial court can't afford to pay the border army anymore." ”

Lu Zhenfei immediately fell silent, four million and eight hundred thousand silver, this figure is indeed a bit scary.

Chongzhen said again: "What's more, these 160,000 border troops are only retired, and they have not left the Huanghuai defense line, they still belong to the militia under the account of the governor of Xuzhou. ”

"Holy One, what about us?"

Finally, a lieutenant general mustered up the courage to ask.

The border troops of the thirty towns have all retired, won't we be barebones?

Chongzhen said: "The soldiers are scattered in the mansion, and they will return to the court, and you generals will naturally return to Nanjing with me." ”

After a pause, Chongzhen said again: "Once the slaves or thieves invade the territory, the Xuzhou Admiral Office will not have so many military commanders to lead these militias, and you will still have to come over at that time." ”

"That's fine." The lieutenant breathed a sigh of relief.

Other lieutenants, generals, guerrillas, and garrisons also breathed a sigh of relief.

They are actually used to being deprived of military rights or something, but if they are not allowed to lead troops to fight, then won't they, the generals, become wasters? It doesn't work.

But where do these generals know?

After going back to Nanjing this time, it will be difficult to come up with it again.

Seriously, Chongzhen has long had enough of these runaway generals in the border towns.

You can't charge into battle, the first place to escape from the battle, the Ming army is so crotch-pulling in the field, it is the pot of these border town generals, forced by the previous situation, Chongzhen can only endure it.

Because at that time it was really unavailable.

But now that the situation has finally eased, Chongzhen doesn't want to endure it anymore.

And in the long run, it can't be endured anymore, because with these border town generals who habitually run away, the Ming army will never have the courage to fight with Jiannu.

After all, it will be the soul of a soldier!

What is the combat effectiveness of an army with such a weak soul?

But do things in a way that doesn't be too rough.

After all, these border town generals also have merit, so they have to retain their dignity.

This dignity is to grant them the corresponding titles and keep them in captivity in Nanjing.

Gu Yinxi immediately said: "Shengshang, this time I was able to defeat Jiannu and hold the Huanghuai defense line, the border troops of each town and the township of Huai'an Mansion have made great contributions, and the minister thinks that the imperial court should be rewarded." ”

"Naturally, there must be a reward." Chongzhen smiled and said, "I have already planned it. ”

"The first one is Jingnan Marquis Huang Degong, who worked hard and made great contributions in this battle, and he was promoted to a duke in terms of merit, and was promoted from a marquis to a duke!"

"The flood land of Jingnanhou is Xia Town."

"Therefore, he was promoted to the title of Xia Guogong."

After a pause, Chongzhen said with a smile: "Xia Guogong, the canonical edict will be made up when I return to Nanjing." ”

Huang Degong was really a little surprised by this, and hurriedly said: "Shengshang, this is a bit too much, the marquis is still honestly afraid, and the duke really doesn't dare to accept it, please take back the sincerity of the saint." ”

"You don't have jokes, how can there be any reason to take it back."

"Besides, Aiqing, you deserve to be crowned the Duke of the Kingdom."

Speaking of this, Chongzhen looked around again and said, "What are you still doing in a daze, why don't you hurry up and congratulate Xia Guogong?" ”

Jin Shenghuan, Wang Zuntan, Ma Huabao, Zuo Mengeng and other thirty town commanders, as well as those deputy generals, staff generals, guerrillas and garrisons, all congratulated Huang Degong.

"Congratulations to Xia Guogong."

Now Huang Degong can't refuse.

Because Chongzhen's meaning has been clearly revealed.

If you Huang Degong resigned from the national government and did not accept it, where would the general soldiers, deputy generals, staff generals, guerrillas, and garrisons under you have the face to receive knighthoods? You can't stop others from being rich.

After a pause, Chongzhen turned his gaze to Zuo Mengeng again.

"Zuo Qing." Chongzhen said in a somewhat heavy tone, "You know about Ling Zun, right?" ”

"Back to the saint, the minister already knows." Zuo Mengeng wiped away his tears and said, "As a son of man, it is really unfilial to not be able to see the last face of my father." ”

"Let's mourn." Chongzhen sighed and said, "Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been difficult to achieve, since you have promised the country with this body, you can't take care of the small family, but I won't let you heroes pay in vain." ”

"The Duke of Chu spent his life as a horse for the Ming Dynasty, and finally died of exhaustion in office."

After waiting for a while, he said with a clear conscience: "Such a loyal minister should have some mourning after his death, and I decided to posthumously present the Duke of Chu as the king of Wuchang and deserve to enjoy the Taimiao." ”

(End of chapter)