The big boss just lightly A, and Qi Yuanda, the Shandong elite monster, bottomed out.

The next move was particularly crucial, and Qi Yuanda decided to go to a negative altitude.

After the five bodies fell to the ground, Qi Yuanda said in fear: "Minister...... Everything is at Your Majesty's command......"

What else can I do? He is now in front of the emperor, with several guards inside and outside the Temple of Literature. Since you can't go to heaven, and since you don't want to go to the west sky, you can only move like this.

"The inside story of Cao Yun is clear to me. As I said, it has always been so, and it is understandable. Zhu Houxi's tone softened a little, "After I succeeded to the throne, you didn't miss the grain transportation event, which shows that you still have talent." ”

“…… The ministers were loyal and did not dare to delay the transportation of grain. Qi Yuan's loud voice came from the floor worriedly.

is still talented, and the emperor's evaluation made him really relieved: it seems that he can not only save his life, but also continue to be an official?

"Get up first, and sit down."

Only then did Qi Yuanda know that the emperor had given the throne just now, and he was afraid that he had predicted all his subsequent reactions. Now that he has been beaten and made a statement, and then he sits on the small bench given by the emperor, he can really only be obedient to everything.

What does the emperor want him to do?

Zhu Houxi listened to him thank him, watched him put his little butt on the small round stool, glanced at his legs that were a little trembling because of sitting and fear, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly: "Now let's talk about it, Shandong is going to try out the new law, what are you going to do?" ”

“…… The minister should lead by example and fully assist Zhang Dutai. ”

Zhu Houxi smiled first, and then nodded: "The three of them are here, and I have compared the total amount and growth rate of other taxes and banknote income in Linqing City over the years. Well, there is no need to check the account. Jiang Guanqing said truthfully, many merchants had to ship goods to avoid taxes, so the deed tax collected by merchants and merchants in the city of Linqing grew much faster than that of banknotes. According to the population of Linqing and the total amount of goods to and fro, Qi Yuanda, Ling estimated that the banknote customs collected about how much less tax and silver each year? ”

“…… Minister...... Minister......"

Qi Yuanda wanted to kneel again, but Zhu Houxi said: "I have already said it, it has always been like this, it is understandable that I am not trying to cure your sins. The Cao army has the difficulties of the Cao army, but what the actual situation is now, I want to be clear. ”

"The minister estimates...... When the generals of the Cao army passed the Qing Dynasty, the total amount of taxable goods and goods carried by merchants each year was ...... About 150,000 taels? Qi Yuanda gritted his teeth and said a number, and then sweated.

He was talking about all the Cao ships of the Cao Army, not just his Shandong Capital Division.

But this figure is terrifying, and if these are added, then the annual income of the Linqing Bank can be tripled.

In his apprehensive eyes, the emperor was very pleased: "In this way, the transportation capacity of the Cao army is actually quite considerable, and it is by no means limited to four million stone taxes and grain per year. ”

Driven by interests, how did Cao Jun and businessmen communicate and cooperate?

There is a limit on the "private goods" allowed to be carried by each ship, and how do the officials of the banknote customs check and dock with the Cao army transport ships after they arrive at each banknote customs?

On the surface, it is a crime, and businessmen cannot be completely cost-free, so who will collect the money they pay, and then point it to the entire chain of interests?

Seeing that Qi Yuan opened his mouth widely, Zhu Houxi began to ask him these questions seriously.

After learning more about the inside story, Zhu Houxi said coldly: "Qi Yuanda, you are the president of Shandong, how many soldiers and boats are there now?" ”

Although Qi Yuanda had been nervous, he was still tense at this time and answered the "deducible" number.

However, Zhu Houxi looked at him for a moment, and then said slowly: "Cao Jun was allowed to carry some earthen instruments, but he made such a huge profit from them every year. The imperial court opened this grace to help the Cao army maintain the Cao boats, raise the Cao soldiers, and hire the Cao Ding and Cao Gong. However, now the non-action religion is spreading more and more widely, and the believers are mostly Cao Bing, Cao Ding, and Cao Gong. The reason for this is also their poor life. ”

When the emperor suddenly said this, Qi Yuanda already understood what he meant, so his teeth began to fight slightly.

"If I acted according to the old routine before, I can not pursue it; You have earned money with your boats and soldiers, soldiers, and laborers, but you have not given them much, so it is just a matter of being more sympathetic to their difficulties in the future. Zhu Houxi calmly reminded him, "If you don't answer the truth to what I ask now, then you are bullying the king in person." ”

“…… Minister...... The minister is guilty. ”

Qi Yuanda wanted to kneel again this time, but Zhu Houxi didn't stop him.

In the case of the general manager of Shandong Dusi, nearly seventy percent of the cao boats used did not actually belong to the Cao army; On each boat, most of them are now just a flag armor, a master book, and a soldier accompanying the ship.

Of the more than 7,000 Cao troops on the register, there are actually only more than 2,000 people.

Zhu Houxi nodded: "Shandong bandits, the Cao army and both sides of the canal have contributed a lot." Qi Yuanda, you didn't do a good job of suppressing the bandits, and the Cao army didn't manage it well. After being in Shandong for so long, you have earned a lot of money. ”

“…… The offender is disposed of. ”

Mood swings are great, back and forth, and you still have to go over old accounts.

"Three things."

"Listen to the oracle!"

"First, since the date of the revision of the "Daming Statute", after the payment of your arrears of military rations and salaries is completed, the rest of the profits will be doubled and handed over to Gao Zhong."

Qi Yuanda was very painful, but his heart began to loosen again: "The minister obeys the order!" ”

"Second, find out the entrances of the various Cao Ding Cao workers in Linqing, who is the leader and who is under his command. They depend on the canal for their livelihood, and you still use them this year to transport grain. ”

"Yes!"

"Three." Zhu Houxi paused before saying, "Shandong is trying to implement the new law, and the general manager of the Shandong Capital Division of the Caojun Army will inevitably attract much attention." I want you to find out all the affairs of the general affairs in the Cao army, including the big business families and the gentry who cooperate closely with the general affairs. ”

Qi Yuanda's heart trembled, this was to ask him to take the opportunity that he was still the first general of the Cao army, and the other generals would come to ask him about the situation, to find out all the actual situation of the Cao army now.

Including the counts, including all those involved in the interests of Caoyun.

Looking at the emperor's sharp eyes, Qi Yuanda knocked his head heavily: "The minister obeys the order!" After the minister went back, he did it one by one, and he also tried to suppress the bandits! ”

Dead friends do not die poor. His Majesty came to Linqing to do this, and it was also his own opportunity.

When he is on the job, the Cao army is bound to change greatly.

Now that you have paid the "money of indulgence" and have not been deposed, you will have a chance. If you grasp it well, you may have a bright future.

Is this the time to gamble on the success of the rebellious thieves?

When Qi Yuanda walked out sweating, Li Yi and Yang Tingyi came out of the next room.

When he came out, he pleaded guilty: "There are so many short boats, and the ministers are not effective, and the branches of Yangzhou, Qingjiangpu, Linqing, Jining, Xuzhou, Xiazhen, and Nanwang are probably all blinded by the same heart." ”

"It's normal, I know what I know, let's check what should be checked."

"The ...... of the Ministry of War" is now very entangled in Yang Tingyi, who still serves as the left attendant of the Ministry of War in order to avoid suspicion, "There is a lot of shortage in the guard, and Caobing's registration in the original guard is even more complicated." ”

"There's no urgency." Zhu Houxi said lightly, "When the Huguang side drove the rebels to the border between Fujian and Jiangxi, and ordered the guards to dispatch elite troops to take turns to suppress them, the problems of the guards could no longer be covered." At that time, the general trend of rebellion will be certain, and there is no need to worry about another big chaos in Zhuwei. ”

……

As soon as the emperor arrived in Shandong, it caused a huge shock, but this shock was only transmitted to the north and south along the canal for the time being, affecting new interests.

On the side of Hengyang City, the army has completely formed a three-sided siege.

In addition to the Huiyan Peak in the south of the city and the large camp on the shore of the Leishui in the southeast of the city, Hengyang City has been across the river from the army of the northern and eastern imperial courts.

In the west of the city, Zhu Qi mound soil for the mountain.

Seeing the earth mountains that are getting higher and approaching day by day, this is obviously a posture to transfer big guns and build equipment to attack the city.

For Pu Zitong, the good news is mainly three points: there is no shortage of water, no shortage of food for the time being, and safety on the back road.

"Gu Shilong can't afford to lose!" Pu Zitong firmly believes in this, and boosts morale every day, "The siege has been so long, and he still doesn't dare to cross the river to attack." The west of the city only holds on to one side, so what is there to fear? and expect us to abandon the city and flee south, but I am not Tang Peiyu! ”

Zhan Huabi was silent.

The west of the city was guarded by the original Chang Dewei he brought, and if the focus of the enemy's attack was only on the west of the city, then Zhan Huabi's people would be the most consumed.

He didn't want to fight with Pu Zi for anything, but he didn't understand why Gu Shilong was so conservative.

Crossing the river and attacking the city will indeed cause heavy damage, but if you don't cut off the retreat of the Hengyang defenders in the south, and don't put more pressure on you, do you have to give the credit to Zhu Qi like this?

The problem was that Zhu Qi in the west only had 5,000 troops.

The defenders of Hengyang still have the land of several counties in the south from Leishui to Chenzhou Mansion, and it is not a problem to defend this whole winter.

It's time to finish the autumn grain harvest, right? In the disaster-stricken places in Nanzhili, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Huguang and other places, problems should be brewing and erupting, and the pressure on the imperial court should be very great.

"Governor Zhan, the western city wall is entrusted to you. Now that the enemy army has not yet attacked, the trenches outside the city walls need to be built urgently. Yan Shen General! ”

"The last general!"

Yan Chunsheng, who is known as Yan Da Niu, has already recovered from his injuries, and when he heard the words, he hugged his fists, and his spirit seemed very full.

"You are good at serving the people, and you are brave in the city, so you will be in command, and you will go out of the city every day to build trenches and forts!"

"The last general commands!"

This is a life-fighting job, digging trenches and arranging fortifications outside the western city wall under the noses of the enemy army in the west of the city.

There is a mound of dirt over there, and trenches are being dug here. One for easier offense, one for better defense.

Yan Daniu's original subordinates have been dispersed, and they are all temporarily arranged to defend at various gates, and they are deployed outside the city wall. If the enemy could not break through the line of defense close to the wall, they would not be able to enter the city.

First, there are limited places in the city, and it will be too crowded when you come in. Second, it will dramatically increase the consumption and instability of supplies in the city - now at least they can get water on the spot outside the city.

And after Yan Daniu recovered from his injury, he was sent to one of the hardest errands until today.

How many people are willing to be recruited to be brave and to go out of the city to do hard work under the noses of the enemy?

The prefect of Nabu is responsible for this.

At the moment when the army has besieged the city, the prefect of Bu can't manage so much. In the city and outside the city, whether it was sending soldiers to serve or allowing food and salary while limiting supplies, more than 2,000 people were recruited anyway.

Yan Daniu once again had a team that was sparse, listless, and panicked.

"What's your name? What did you do in the first place? ”

After inspecting the team, Yan Daniu pointed to a strong man and asked.

“…… Dashuai, my name is Cai Jia, who originally killed pigs and sold meat. ”

"Look, there's a lot of strength! The handsome man listens strangely and comfortably, you come to be the flag chief of the first battalion. ”

Yan Daniu said while patrolling around the team and ordering some people: "What are you afraid of? It is to go out of the city to do masonry and carpentry. You've never seen a war, it's not that easy! There are a lot of sentries, and if you move over there, you will know here. Follow me, and I'll take you back to the city first. You don't know how to fight, but defending the city requires a lot of hard work! ”

He pointed out many people in his special way, arranged for them one by one, and learned about their family situation as if they were a family.

"Lao Tzu killed the original Changsha Wei commander Tang Peiyu in the Haoyang camp, and he was the first to look at the governor of the capital! In addition to your life, the promised rations and wages, Lao Tzu will give you back. However, if you want to listen to Lao Tzu, you must sell all your strength outside the city! ”

"Dashuai said this, I was relieved!" Cai Jia, who has just become the head of the flag, seems to have become a loyal subordinate.

In this way, after a little training, Yan Daniu took more than 2,000 sparse people out of the city bravely, and came to a place a hundred steps away from the west of the city and began to get busy.

Here, less than two miles from the enemy's army.

Outside the city walls, within a hundred paces, there were already temporary camps.

Before the enemy approaches, the defenders in the camp can consume them for a round. After retreating into the city, the destroyed camp will become a barrier again. If the enemy army does not clean up, it will not be able to attack the city easily. If you want to clean up, you will have to face the slaughter of the defenders on the city walls.

Zhan Huabi and Pu Zitong stood on the city wall and looked at the people who had begun to work in the distance, and their mood was a lot more relaxed.

"If you want to attack in the west of the city, you have to fill in at least 10,000 lives here!" Pu Zitong patted him on the shoulder with certainty, "If you can dig another trench several zhang wide outside the camp, if it were you, would you be daunted?" ”

Zhan Huabi nodded, squinting his eyes at the shadow in armor patrolling back and forth in the distance: "He is dressed so brightly, he is not afraid that Zhu Qi will send someone to arrest him." ”

Pu Zitong laughed: "With the arrow in his hand, I hope that Zhu Qi will personally lead someone to capture him." Behind him is the camp, and it is safe for him to escape by himself, just leaving some people behind. ”

Zhan Huabi looked back to the east, then frowned again and said, "What are they waiting for?" That's it, how to break through Hengyang City? ”

Pu Zitong is full of confidence: "If you want to cross the river, you must first prepare for more than 10,000 casualties." To attack the west of the city, you only need to defend one side. Attacking the Leishui camp, 5,000 strong soldiers over there can resist for a few days. Back to Yanfeng, there is one of your most elite thousand households. What they are waiting for, we don't care. I only know that the Ming Dynasty has not yet been able to break through the city by hundreds of zhang. It's going to be flooded, there is a big drought this year, and winter is coming soon! ”

Zhan Huabi didn't say anything more, but still squinted his eyes and looked at Yan Daniu's figure.

Common sense, yes.

Now such a Hengyang City, it is indeed too difficult and difficult to attack from the outside.

But what if it's broken from within?

I don't know why, Zhan Huabi has always been a little wary of Yan Chunsheng.

Even if he is now taking risks to strengthen the defense capabilities of Hengyang City.

In the distance, Yan Chunsheng turned his head and looked at Hengyang City.

I don't know where Commander Luo and the second brother are now.

(End of chapter)