Xiangyang.

Inside and outside the city, the population has exploded.

Because life in the countryside is not easy, especially the half-grown children in the family, although they can also do farm work, they eat a lot at the age of development.

If there was no shortage of laborers in the family, the young men went to the city to earn a living. Those who have relatives go to their relatives, and those who do not have relatives go to work, most of them will become beggars or gangsters, or they will be dragged to be thieves.

Gyeonggi, Jingdong, Jingxi, Huaidong, Huaixi, Hebei, Shaanxi...... Thieves everywhere!

To be precise, the whole country looks like this.

For example, Yue Fei is currently in Hebei Zhending to suppress thieves.

At the beginning of Tong Guan's invasion of Liao, he asked the governors of Hebei to recruit troops and recruit soldiers to resist Liao. Yue Fei not only successfully enlisted in the army, but also directly became the team leader.

Before these brave soldiers went to the front, the local thieves began to rebel, because the government was too harsh in leviing taxes.

Tao Jun, Jia Jin and the two thieves were just a small fight at first, wandering around and looting the rich families in the countryside. But it didn't come to pass, more and more people took the initiative to join the gang, and thousands of people gathered in October, defeated the official army many times, and went straight to the city.

When the news of the thief came, no one dared to fight.

Yue Fei took the initiative to ask for help and was fully responsible for the action.

He first sent someone to pretend to be a businessman, and deliberately let the thief catch the thief.

Then, Yue Fei led dozens of horsemen out of the city, attacked the thief camp and pretended to be defeated, and then killed a horse gun. The thieves were defeated and fled back to the camp, and the soldiers who had infiltrated the thieves took the opportunity to create chaos from within.

Under the cooperation of the inside and the outside, Yue Feisheng captured the thieves Tao Jun and Jia Jinhe.

This is Yue Wumu's first battle!

Around Xiangyang, there are also many thieves, and it is difficult to exterminate the roaring mountains and forests.

Zhang Bo said: "Xianggong, I'm afraid there will be many dangers along the way, and you must be well prepared." ”

"Don't be afraid, let's go to Golden State." Zhu Ming said.

"Golden State?"

The entourage and the students were surprised, they thought that Zhu Ming was going to Tokyo to knock on the que.

"Go to Golden State, I want to do something important." Zhu Ming didn't explain too much, but went straight to the inn outside Xiangyang City.

Everyone wore shirts, and if this style of clothing was strictly followed, only Jinshi, Guozi Jian students, Tai students, and state and county officials and students could wear it.

However, the management is relatively loose, and officials who live idle or are dismissed, and even ordinary officials like to wear shirts as regular clothes.

The innkeeper glanced at it, his attitude was more respectful, and said, "Please give a reason." ”

It is estimated that there are too many thieves, and the stay has become stricter, and you must register your identity first.

Zhu Ming said: "I'm looking for someone, where is Liang Yi?" ”

"It turned out to be looking for Liang Guanren, please wait a moment." The shopkeeper immediately called his fellows.

Zhu Guoxiang's eldest disciple Liang Yi left Tokyo with Zhu Ming and returned to Yangzhou halfway to report the news. Some time ago, I came to Xiangyang Inn to wait, and I have been waiting for more than a month, and I gave money to let the innkeeper help pay attention to the "distinguished guests".

Not long after, Liang Yi went downstairs with an entourage, and when he saw Zhu Ming, he immediately said, "Lang Jun is fine." ”

Zhu Ming arched his hand and asked, "Is the ship ready?" ”

"It's ready," Liang Yi turned to the shopkeeper and said, "Please settle the room payment." ”

After paying the accommodation fee, Liang Yi walked out of the inn and took Zhu Ming to the dock.

The largest ship in Daming Township is docked there, with a head and tail length of 28 meters, and some cargo has been loaded.

The delivery of goods is only incidental, in order to hide people's eyes.

On board were twenty-five people from the village, all of whom were carrying bows and arrows, although they were not wearing armor.

Propped away from the riverbank, raised the sails, and hung the big "Daming" flag.

It was a tailwind from the southeast and the sailing speed was extremely fast.

After Wudang, the number of water bandits began to increase.

But those water bandits, when they saw the banner of the "Daming", did not dare to come and loot.

This is the smuggling fleet of Daming Village, which has made a reputation in the past few years, and the gang of water bandits within 100 people, even if they dare to rob it, they will be sent to death.

Zhang Bo and Li Bao became more and more puzzled and began to discuss the situation in private.

"What is the prime minister going to do? God is mysterious, and he doesn't say it. Zhang Bo was confused.

Li Bao also couldn't figure it out: "There is a village Yong escorting the goods on the ship, probably to guard against bandits." But how could it be such a coincidence, just happened to meet in Xiangyang? ”

Zhang Bo said: "They must have waited for the Xianggong for a long time, and they already knew that the Xianggong was going back." ”

The two still didn't think about rebellion, because it was too shocking.

Li Bao said: "I inquired in Yuezhou, and even the Yangtze River gave birth to water bandits, and all kinds of boats did not send hundreds of troops to escort them, so they did not dare to come and go on the Yangtze River at all. How did the good Song become like this? ”

Zhang Bo said without scruples: "There are traitors and traitors, corrupt officials and corrupt officials, and now the people of the world are not living, how can there be many thieves?" ”

"It's all about cutting Liao!" Li Bao was so angry that he smashed the bulkhead with his fist.

Zhang Bo shook his head: "Freezing three feet, it's not a day's cold." When Cai Jing was prime minister, he had exhausted the people's power. Otherwise, Wang Hao forcibly levied his husband's money, and it would be impossible to make thieves everywhere. ”

This is true, Cai Jing not only collapsed the finances, but also pushed hundreds of people to the brink of bankruptcy.

And Wang Hao's forcible levy of free money became the last straw that broke the camel's back. There were even small businessmen and small landlords who fled to rob their homes and took their men and tenants to raid and rob their houses.

When the number of thieves increases, the government has to requisition it.

The more thieves are levied, the heavier the taxes will be.

A vicious circle has emerged!

Even the cost of the government's transfer of finance and taxes has increased greatly, and it is necessary to send more troops to escort it.

Zhu Ming took a boat all the way back to Jinzhou City, and the summer grain in the five counties of Jinzhou has not yet been collected, and the officials of the counties are urging. There is also a difference between the money for buying money, and the money for buying and exempting the husband, and the official ships and the merchant ships that have been requisitioned have been docked at the dock and waiting.

"Zhu Taishou is back, Zhu Taishou is back!"

Before he got off the boat, some people recognized Zhu Ming and immediately cheered and shouted.

In the past ten years, only Zhu Ming presided over Jinzhou for two years, and the people had the best life. Public order is very good, prices are relatively stable, and exorbitant taxes are minimal.

People nearby flocked to greet them warmly, waving and laughing, just like the New Year.

The students were extremely shocked and admired at the same time, they didn't expect Zhu Ming to have such an official reputation.

Zhu Ming asked a street vendor: "How much is the price of grain this year?" ”

The peddler sighed bitterly, "Alas, I can't afford to eat." When Taishou was there, he encountered a famine, and the rice never rose to 1,300 Wen. This year's summer grain harvest was abundant, but the price of wheat started at 1,200 Wen, and the government forcibly requisitioned grain and said that it would be shipped out. ”

"Isn't summer grain levied on cloth?" Zhu Ming asked.

The hawker said: "This year's summer grain, silk and cloth are not needed, and the government only collects grain." It has not yet reached the autumn harvest, and Jinzhou is full of mountains, how can there be more grain to hand in? ”

Another passer-by looked at Zhu Ming with expectant eyes: "Did Zhu Taishou go back to Jinzhou to be an official?" We are all looking forward to Taishou's return. ”

"Rest assured, life will be fine." Zhu Ming reassured.

Outside the city, I chatted with the people for half an hour.

On the Han River, Liang Yi took Zhu Ming's letter, but he took a boat and went straight to Daming Village.

In the letter, Zhu Ming made an appointment with his father, and on the 30th of this month, Jinzhou and Yangzhou will raise troops at the same time. If you encounter an accident, start it early!

When Zhu Ming entered the city, more people rushed to hear the news.

And I don't know who spread the rumor that the emperor transferred Zhu Ming back and wanted to be the governor of Jinzhou again.

This is really not Zhu Ming's self-directed and self-acting, it represents a desire of the people. So many people believed it and rushed to tell each other, and even the gentry and businessmen were overjoyed.

There were also nearly 100 Jinzhou scholars, all of whom had listened to Zhu Ming's lectures and were the first batch of readers to study "University Chapters and Sentences".

"How many were you admitted last year?" Zhu Ming asked.

Scholar Dai Chengsi shook his head: "There is not a single Jinshi in Jinzhou, and since the founding of the Great Song Dynasty, I don't know which one can break the ground." ”

Zhu Ming didn't teach them Bagu Wen, and the Jinzhou scholars were too thin, and they couldn't be improved overnight.

Last year's champion He Lian is the grandson of former Prime Minister He Zhizhong.

The name of the list is Wang Juzheng, who was born as a student, and followed Chen Dong to beat the drum and knock on the que.

Awarded the official Anren County Cheng, Wang Juzheng did not accept it.

He was reappointed as the principal of Jingzhou Prefecture, but Wang Juzheng still refused.

Bangyan did not accept the official position, and soon Song Huizong knew about it.

The emperor personally ordered Wang Juzheng to be the head of the Daimyo's Mansion and Zhenjiang Mansion at the same time. As the principal of the two provinces, this kind of appointment is unprecedented, and it will definitely rise even faster in the future.

Wang Juzheng still refused to confer an official position and was given the opportunity to face the saint.

He told Song Huizong that the six thieves were in trouble, and the country was tired, so it was necessary to rectify the rule of officials, promote virtuous ministers, and recuperate. There should be no more requisitions, and Zhu Mian must be recalled. Although Zhu Ming's words were excessive, he was loyal to the country and should be recalled to the court to take up important positions.

Song Huizong was furious and told Wang Juzheng to get out!

Wang Juzheng sought benevolence, went back to his hometown in Yangzhou to live in seclusion, and created a wonderful story of being a hermit in the new science list. (This old man, who was a squire of the Southern Song Dynasty military department in history, was thrown to Hainan Island by Qin Hui because he advocated anti-Jin.) ）

The scholars were still chatting here, and the Jinzhou businessmen came again, and they asked if Zhu Ming would come back to be the Taishou.

Zhu Ming arranged the students in the inn and went to visit Zhang Gen alone: "Mount Tai is on top, please accept the worship of the son-in-law!" ”

Zhang Gen sighed and said, "You are too impatient, you shouldn't be so fierce when you go up." ”

Zhu Ming said with a smile: "Isn't my father-in-law demoted to Jinzhou as the deputy envoy of the regimental training also due to his fierce rhetoric?" ”

Zhang Gen laughed when he heard this: "It's not a family, if you don't enter a family, you can't choose the wrong son-in-law." ”

"But even my father-in-law has not been able to reinstate." Zhu Ming said.

Zhang Gen asked, "Why did you come back?" Could it be that the emperor was gracious and pardoned Ling's crimes? ”

Zhu Ming said: "Go back to your hometown to visit relatives. ”

"Alas, the Golden State has been in the past two years...... Don't mention it, it's like this all over the world," Zhang Gen shook his head and sighed, "Unfortunately, it was said that the emperor was really determined to join forces with Jin to fight Liao." Now that thieves are rampant, food prices have skyrocketed, and there will be chaos next year! Especially in Shandong and Hebei, the burden is the heaviest, and I don't know how many more Song Jiang and Fang La will emerge. ”

Zhu Ming asked: "Father-in-law thinks that this Great Song Dynasty can wait until the day when the crown prince ascends the throne?" ”

Zhang Gen sneered and mocked: "It depends on how long the emperor can live." If he lives for another twenty years, I am afraid that everything at home and abroad will be reversed, and he will show the image of the chaotic times at the end of the Sui Dynasty. ”

This is to compare Song Huizong to Emperor Yang of Sui, and he does not save face at all.

(End of chapter)