Chapter 212 The Scholar with the Power of Two Chickens Binding His Hands
The Confucian scholars in the Imperial Academy of the Ming Dynasty made a lot of jokes when they learned arithmetic.
For example, the axiom that can be proved is that the sum of the interior angles of a triangle is 180°. As a result, people often calculate it incorrectly, and then they will say that this is just a theorem, which does not mean that it is true. Sometimes it will It is 183°; for example, when counting the number of people for military recruitment, some people do not calculate it correctly, and then they will say that people can be incomplete, such as odd households; for example, when counting years, it can be calculated that someone’s mother is 9 years old. , gave birth to an 18-year-old son. At this time, Confucian students would say that this is normal, such as a stepmother.
In order to find a variety of strange reasons for arithmetic that I cannot learn, it is in line with Zhu Yijun's stereotype of the humble Confucians. I think, therefore I am, I think that I am right, and my thinking is completely What is right and what is wrong is this world.
In non-Euclidean geometry, the sum of the interior angles of a triangle may indeed not be 180 degrees, but non-Euclidean geometry will take another 200 years to study in the fertile geometric soil of the West, until Gauss, the prince of mathematics, comes to study it.
The miscellaneous reports of the Ming Dynasty were in full swing, and at this time Wang Rulong of Daningwei received an edict from the Ming Emperor to open a mutual trade and only collect wool.
This is the result of the court discussion. Wang Chonggu’s official woolen factory has continued to expand, even borrowing money from national and internal funds to expand, but his expansion is not disorderly or uncontrolled. , but expanded bit by bit, based on production capacity, raw materials, demand, etc.
Both Antonio and Legaz expressed their strong interest in the Ming Dynasty's wool. They always hoped that the Ming Dynasty's wool could be exported. In the field of textiles, the Ming Dynasty had no rivals.
But the problem now is that Ming Dynasty does not have enough internal consumption, and export sales are a false proposition.
The expansion has caused some troubles. For example, the supply of raw materials is tight. The woolen official factory has reserved raw materials for three months. After three months of winter, it is directly cut off. After autumn, it can no longer be used. It's time to harvest the sheep, because if you dare to shear them in late autumn, the sheep will die for you.
This tribute market is scheduled for November, and Tuman Khan can sell some wool.
Wool is also used in the grassland, so there is no need to worry about running out of goods. However, the people in the grassland use fleas and dirty felt, so Daming can receive wool.
Zhou Liangyin was exiled to Daning Guard as military counselor. This time, Zhou Liangyin will serve as an envoy to the Golden Summit of Tuman Khan. He needs to perform meritorious service to be promoted, so he is really trying his best. Working on something.
Zhou Liangyin was born as a Confucian scholar. He was not good at doing things, but he was willing to learn. After he went to Zhangwu and Hou Yuzhao to exchange experiences, he secretly started farming in Daningwei.
Secretly, it is not that it is hidden from the court or the emperor, but that it is not made public. Anyway, Hou Yu Zhao is in the front, and it is Hou Yu Zhao who is scolded first, then Zhang Xueyan, the governor of Liaodong, and finally It's him Zhou Liangyin.
When someone was charging at the front, Zhou Liangyin was still willing to work quietly behind to build momentum.
His quiet work indeed hid the secrets from the officials in the court, because Hou Yuzhao attracted most of the firepower.
Zhou Liangyin secretly performed meritorious service, but the emperor discovered it. He even specifically mentioned Zhou Liangyin in the imperial edict to Wang Rulong, saying that he was still useful and that the emperor's leniency was not in vain.
"Your Majesty only gave silver but not iron pots, cloth, salt and other items?" Zhou Liangyin was stunned.
I was surprised by the generosity of the imperial court. Even the Ming Dynasty did not have enough silver. They actually settled trade directly with silver in this tribute market. Even in the tribute market in the northwest, silver was only an intermediate pricing currency. Most of the goods are priced in silver.
"Wool is also a thing that protects the grassland from the cold. This time the imperial court took away the cold thing and only gave it silver. Our Daning Guards must be ready to receive raw and cooked barbarians." Wang Rulong, the chief military officer of Daning, had a look on his face. miscellaneous.
To only provide silver but not the necessities of life, if the Tuman Khan agreed, he would be digging his own grave. On the grassland, wool also protects against the cold.
Who cares about fleas and odor when you are about to freeze to death?
If you really only give silver, the Fanyi under the Tuman Khan's tent may have to flee into the Daning Guard.
There was a flow of people between the Ming Dynasty and the Northern Barbarians. For example, in June of the fourth year of Wanli, Shi Maohua, the governor of Shaanxi, and Dong Shiyan, the governor of Shaanxi, jointly reported that they had touched a total of 71 tribes of raw and cooked Yi people outside Taozhou. In the ancient land, Alda was afraid of his crimes and moved far away. He surrendered repeatedly and offered four heads of the thieves, including you and others. They also captured two people, Rong Bu and Ban Bu Ya, and compensated a total of 267 horses, cattle and sheep to prove their guilt. The imperial court issued an edict to behead the rebel chieftains and resettle the native and familiar barbarians outside the country.
After the resettlement, when they were all naturalized, they were all treated as Han citizens.
Similarly, the Ming Dynasty also had people who fled to the North. These people were called rebels in the North.
The reason why the Ming Dynasty did not agree with Anda's request for tribute was related to Anda's recruitment of Han traitors.
It was not until the fifth year of Longqing that Anda Khan sent nine leaders of the Han rebels, Zhao Quan, Li Zixin, Wang Tingfu, Zhang Yanwen, Liu Si, and Zhou Yuan's heads to the court, a total of ten people. Calculate peace and success.
These are all leaders of the White Lotus Sect, operating in poor border areas such as Shaanxi and Shanxi. In the 33rd year of Jiajing, when they saw that Anda Khan was able to invade the capital, they chose to flee into Anda Khan's tent. In just over ten years, a Han rebel army composed of about 50,000 Han rebels was established in the Bansheng (Hurhot) area of Fengzhou.
These people disguised themselves as monks and beggars, wandered around the country, and even entered the capital to conduct reconnaissance and spy on intelligence, causing great trouble to the Ming Dynasty.
This is also one of the reasons why the Ming Dynasty suffered repeated defeats in the northwest.
Since Anda Khan handed over Zhao Quan and others, the number of Han rebels serving Anda Khan has gradually decreased to more than 10,000 people.
These Han rebels are still the solid supporters of Anda Khan to this day.
Wang Rulong has been at the border for a long time. If the Tuman Khan really agrees to the silver settlement, the refugees will flood into Daning Guard. How to resettle these people and screen out spies has already been solved. After doing this for two hundred years, there are naturally various ways to do it.
“The imperial court will continue to fight.” Zhou Liangyin was keenly aware of the situation. The imperial court would continue to use force against the Tuman Khan and would not stop until the Tuman Khan was completely driven out of Liaodong. If he did not fight, he would not stop. Only silver should be given.
It is only reasonable to provide them with the necessities of life and let them live in peace.
"We must fight, but it is enough for our frontier troops to defend the city. If we fight, the Beijing camp will come." Wang Rulong asked Zhou Liangyin to relax. He would not let Zhou Liangyin do the job of charging into the battle and claiming credit. He was a scholar with the strength of two chickens, but he was also killed on the battlefield.
Zhou Liangyin has evolved from being a useless scholar without the power to tie a chicken to a level where he can copy two chickens with one hand.
“Whose idea is this? It’s so damaging!” The more Zhou Liangyin thought about it, the more he felt that something was wrong. This kind of idea was not something that the wise men in the court who talked about benevolence, justice, etiquette, wisdom and trust all day long could come up with!
"Censor Zhou, be careful what you say, be careful what you say." Wang Rulong reminded Zhou Liangyin with a slight embarrassment not to talk nonsense.
Wang Rulong was so cautious, Zhou Liangyin instantly realized that this bad idea came from His Majesty.
Silver cannot be eaten or drunk, let alone kept warm. Moreover, with the existence of Daning Guards and the cleanup of tribal parties in the northwest, all smuggling lines have been cut off, and there are very few goods that can be exchanged for silver.
"Ahem." Zhou Liangyin coughed twice in embarrassment, and he said doubtfully: "Tuman Khan is not stupid, can he agree?"
"Look at this. What?" Wang Rulong popped out three coins from his money bag. The beautifully crafted silver coins rolled in a circle on the ground and lay firmly on the table, shining with silver.
Not silver, but silver coins.
This is the currency used by the Ming Dynasty this time. Silver coins are a kind of hard currency, and they are very beautifully made and are a rare good thing.
"The imperial court is minting money, but now the output and scale are very limited. Things are rare and valuable, so Tuman Khan cannot help but refuse to agree." Wang Rulong looked at the silver coins with a complex expression. He was very suspicious. Even without strong troops, the emperor could still kill the Tuman Khan.
Wang Rulong’s judgment was correct. He only knew one thing but not the other.
The greatest anti-counterfeiting feature of silver coins is to blow them, but in fact, if lead and tin are added to them, they can sound even an inch away. When the little emperor demonstrated the fake silver coins in the Wenhua Hall, he almost scared Zhang Juzheng to death.
The emperor took the lead in making counterfeit coins. This thing was completely experimental. It was said that Zhu Yijun tested whether the rolling printing machine could roll lead and tin. As a result, several lead and tin coins he made could also sound.
11% copper has been added to the imperial silver coins of the Ming Dynasty. This is because silver is very soft, and copper is added to ensure its hardness. However, what the little emperor took out was a fake silver coin that is difficult to distinguish between true and false!
Zhang Juzheng firmly opposed it. The silver content of the silver coins involves His Majesty's credibility and must not be careless.
In the end it couldn’t happen.
Zhou Liangyin set out with twenty silver coins. He was going to persuade Tuman Khan to exchange wool for silver coins. This transaction would definitely not be a loss.
When he passed by Taotu Mountain, he looked at the captives in Taotu Baitu Official Factory who were working hard before winter came, and for no reason he had the illusion that people can be domesticated. Come.
There are more than 7,000 captives in Tao Tu Mountain. Only 70 people are looking at these prisoners. If someone makes trouble in the middle and gives the Daning Guards the strategy and tactics of the center, the Daning Guards will really Can't stand it.
But these seventy people were able to see these seven thousand people. It was just a short fence, which kept these prisoners safe, and there was no trouble.
Qi Shuai’s rule for the prisoner of war camp is: Anyone who exposes one person for treason can be freed, and anyone who exposes three people for escaping can also be freed.
Just these two simple regulations directly made everyone in the Tao Tushan prisoner camp feel in danger, and they were all indicators in each other's eyes.
It is not easy for 70 people to manage these 7,000 people, so they directly let the cesspit generals and the thousands of households under the native barbarian Khan's tent manage these prisoners of war.
This is also the reason why Zhou Liangyin believes that people can be domesticated. Where can these prisoners of war go? He ran back to find Tuman Khan. Tuman Khan was still worried that they were traitors or spies, so he ran towards the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty would treat them as fugitive prisoners. If they were caught, they would die. Jianzhou was a good place to go, but they had to climb the Great Wall.
It’s good to have a head start in life.
At least Daming promised to work for five years before he could be released, or he could continue to make a living digging clay in Taotu Mountain. He could earn six to seven taels of silver a year. If he was lucky, he could also find a wife.
Whether it can be fulfilled depends on the war pressure of the Ming Army. If the pressure is relatively high, all these people will be sent to the front line to fill the line.
Zhou Liangyin looked at the houses where the prisoners lived and sighed with emotion. These people would never run away. At least they were working in Taotu Mountain and would not freeze to death. At least they did not have to face the up and down. I don’t know, but the white-haired wind can completely cover the tent.
While going to the golden-domed tent of the Tuman Khan in Quaning Guard, Zhou Liangyin couldn't help but think about what war was. Once he fell into this thinking, Zhou Liangyin began to think about it for no reason. War seemed to be the emperor, but In order to realize their ambitions, the Khans sent ordinary people to travel thousands of miles to the battlefield to kill another ordinary person.
The son of the farmer kills the son of the herdsman, or the son of the herdsman kills the son of the farmer.
As soon as this idea came up, Zhou Liangyin was frightened and sweated all over. His idea was a crime of disrespect, but he was immersed in this idea, and the more he thought about it, the more confused he became.
After leaving Qinglong Fort, Zhou Liangyin immediately felt the enthusiasm beyond the wall.
Even under the banner of dispatching envoys, many tribes did not get the news and came forward to plunder. They felt that Zhou Liangyin's convoy was a fat sheep, and they were repelled by the accompanying Daning Guards.
The first time Zhou Liangyin experienced this kind of thing, he was completely frightened. The arrows hovering above his head and the sound of nails hitting the car became his nightmare. He had never experienced anything like this before. It was like a dream. At that time, I often dreamed of that voice, and then my heart was pierced by thousands of arrows.
After more than ten confrontations, large and small, Zhou Liangyin finally arrived at Quanningwei and saw the golden-domed tent and the stretching tents.
Zhou Liangyin opened the car window and saw children one after another. It was already late autumn. These children had no shoes and were wearing unfitting thin robes. They were unkempt and unkempt around the camp. The children were piling up cow dung for the winter. ; An unpleasant smell is permeating the air, this smell is mixed with the strong smell of blood and smell of mutton.
In order to survive the winter, some sheep were killed, their fur was peeled off and smoked, and the leather was cooked, that is, the skin was soaked in a fermented golden soup with salt. The skins are tanned with blunt wooden knives. These furs can only be worn by adults, and children are not qualified at all.
Especially shoes. Women and children basically don’t know how to wear shoes. These shoes are called Baoligari. Zhou Liangyin bought a pair. They are made of sheepskin and are very warm. After meeting Tuman Khan, Zhou Liangyin was given a lamb hat made of short-haired lamb skin, and Tuman Khan also took out a gold-topped black leather hat made of bearskin, which was given to the Ming Dynasty. A gift from the emperor.
“Whenever the cold wind comes, people think of warm long woolen sheepskin robes. Whenever friends from far away come, you can hear the singing of spiritual birds. , Thank you for the angel's arrival." Tumen received Zhou Liangyin with very sincere greetings.
"This is..." Zhou Liangyin saw a woman. Looking at these clothes, it was not difficult for him to suspect that this woman was the legendary Sanniangzi.
The pictures said with smiles: "Mrs. Zhongshun, Princess Shunyi, isn't this a coincidence? The third lady came all the way to discuss the wool business with us."
"Sanniangzi came here with enough sincerity, but Andahan was too greedy."
After Zhou Liangyin chatted with the deputy envoy's other military counselor for a few words, he asked directly: " What price did Mrs. Zhongshun give Tuman Khan? The price given by Daming was six coins per bag of wool. How much did Mrs. Zhongshun give? "
In fact, Zhou Liangyin's base price was eight coins, not six coins. He just quoted a price and tested their reaction.
Even in the capital, Qi Shuai was able to make judgments about the situation on the grassland. As expected, the left and right Tatar wings did not become inseparable, but had always communicated with each other.
“Damn Daming and Anda Khan, your purchase price is obviously one silver and two cents per bag of wool, how come you only pay six cents when you get it to us! It’s half less, what’s the point? "Subahai from Khalkha Wanhu, who had a broken arm, said angrily.
Zhou Liangyin's expression remained as usual, but he also understood that Sanniangzi's price was also six cents of silver.
"Sanniang's business is very good. This resale will double the profit." Zhou Liangyin immediately started to fan the flames. This was the main purpose. Whether to buy wool or not was secondary. Anda Khan was completely incompetent. Turning wool into cloth, he will only lose money holding the wool.
Sanniang held her forehead, she broke her arm and rested well, why did she cause trouble!
"Didn't the Ming Dynasty also give the price of six coins? Let's do it to each other. The business of Daning Wei is not bad." Sanniangzi deliberately took the Daning Wei from the Ming Dynasty with these words, as if this The business is done by Ning Wei, not Ming Dynasty.
There is a difference, and the difference is huge.
Zhou Liangyin shook his head and said: "That's wrong. This is a business of the imperial court. Whether it succeeds or not is the imperial court's business. If the Daning Guard does business with the Tuman Khan, tomorrow all the officials of the Daning Guard will be pushed to Tonghui." He beheaded the Yinjie captives in public, and just beheaded more than 700 people. "
Those who were hanged on the Tonghui River and the Yinjie captives were all reselling firearms, gunpowder, and armor, not just them. They sell iron pots, salt, cloth and tea. These can be sold. I answer that after the tribute is granted, it will be legal to sell these in the northwest.
Selling firearms, gunpowder, and armor is an act of traitor to the Han people.
Zhou Liangyin is not going to be fooled by Sanniangzi. There are some things that must be made clear. Tuman Khan can't even think about paying attention to bribery. There is no chance at all.
“I will sell to the one who bids more,” Tumen said cheerfully. The third wife can’t make double the profit, and there is still travel expenses.
Zhou Liangyin looked at the pictures and said calmly: "We have this price, six yuan, whether you like it or not."
Sanniangzi felt a familiar feeling, he looked at it Zhou Liangyin's tone, movements, and style of doing things made him vaguely see a person, Wang Chonggu.
That’s right, it’s Wang Chonggu.
When Sanniangzi negotiated with Wang Chonggu and Wan Shihe twice, she had this feeling. People in the Ming Dynasty are always so arrogant, as if buying your things is a gift.
"Tuman Khan, you must have thought clearly. You sold it to Sanniangzi. She will then sell you other things, with a little extra money. This money, after going around and around, still fell into her pocket, Daming The one given here is silver." Zhou Liangyin took out a silver coin and kept playing with it.
Zhou Liangyin held a boomerang and hit the third lady on the body.
This was said by Sanniangzi when she was meeting the saint. Sanniangzi did not ask for an increase in the price of wool, because she knew that as much as the price of wool increased, the goods in Ming Dynasty would increase. Now Zhou Liangyin returned these words. Gave it to the third lady.
“You!” Sanniang stood up suddenly, pointed at Zhou Liangyin, and stamped her feet angrily!
The Ming Dynasty was so good in the past. There were cheap Confucians everywhere, who were ashamed of speaking and making money. They looked sanctimonious all day long and did not talk about business. Even if the love was enough, the business would be rewarded to you. Not trying to make money or not.
Now there are fewer cheap scholars in the Ming Dynasty. They are all Xunli, all of them have sharp teeth and sharp tongues, and all of them are eloquent, and all of them are amassing profits.
“Isn’t what I told the truth?” Zhou Liangyin looked at Sanniangzi and said in surprise: “I told you what was on your mind and you became angry because of shame?”
“What kind of skill is it to quarrel with a woman? !" Sanniangzi sat down again and looked at Zhou Liangyin and said angrily.
Zhou Liangyin said happily: "The third lady is talking more and more like the literati in the court, and she talks nonsense."
"First of all, you are here on behalf of An Dahan. I am here on behalf of the Ming Dynasty. Secondly, I am a scholar, but I can’t beat you, a woman who is skilled in bow and horse. Talking about things is talking about things. Don’t do this.”
Whether it’s business or peace, if it’s peace. Like Wu Dui, if you despise the other person because you think he is a woman, you will suffer a big loss.
The third lady forced Anda Khan to hand over his savior Zhao Quan and facilitated peace talks, which was not an easy matter.
Zhao Quan betrayed the Ming Dynasty and entered the grassland, saving Anda Khan's life. Anda Khan and Zhao Quan were Anda, which means sworn brothers. In the end, Zhao Quan was sent to the capital to be beheaded in public. .
Ada Khan gave his half-brother a knife and sent Zhao Quan directly to the guillotine.
"The Ming Dynasty will not raise another cent of silver, but the Ming Dynasty can pay with silver. This is the condition of the Ming Dynasty." Zhou Liangyin threw the silver coins to Tumen, stood up and left, walking to the big tent door. At that time, Zhou Liangyin said with a smile: "Tuman Khan has thought clearly and sent someone to find me. We will discuss the time, location and regulations of the tribute market."
"If you refuse, forget it."
Zhou Liangyin left the golden-domed tent. He took a coin and kept tossing it around. He looked outside the tent where he stayed, waiting for Tuman Khan's decision. He actually didn't care whether the wool business could succeed. After the negotiation was completed, the main task of the court subcontract was to sow discord.
With one silver coin, you can completely interrupt the trend of the left and right wings converging, and you can't make more money.
Of course, Wang Chonggu also wrote a special letter, asking Zhou Liangyin to make sure the negotiation was completed. After all, having another source of wool would be conducive to the adjustment of supply and demand, and would also be conducive to the expansion of the Daming Woolen Official Factory.
Zhou Liangyin threw the silver coin high again, then caught it with his hand, opened it and saw a smile, it was the front.
A timid big man walked into the camp and said in a muffled voice: "The Great Khan invites you!"
Zhou Liangyin walked into the golden-domed tent with great strides. The third wife had already left, and only Tumanhan's people were left in the tent. It seemed that they were not having a pleasant conversation.
Zhou Liangyin said with a bright smile: "Tuman Khan made a wise choice."
"Compared with Anda Khan who went back on his words, I believe in the credibility of the court more." Tuman Khan made a wise choice. Manhan was silent for a moment and said.
Andahan has a very bad reputation in the grasslands, especially in business. The price will rise if someone changes hands. The problem Zhou Liangyin talked about is not whether it is possible, but how much to increase. It may not be the same as When I do business, I still have to pay compensation.
"Actually, I would rather have iron pots, salt, tea and cloth for trade." Tuman Khan wanted goods more. As for silver, as a khan, he still knew that silver cannot be eaten or worn. For the barren tribes, the most important thing is the pot.
Yes, there are no pots on the grassland.
One hundred and twenty kilograms of wool can be exchanged for a three to four kilogram iron pot. Even so, Tuman Khan also wanted to exchange for the iron pot.
Zhou Liangyin frowned. As soon as Tuman Khan said these words, the expressions of the ten thousand households in the big tent immediately changed. It was obvious that this was Tuman Khan's decision, not what the ten thousand households thought. .
"This is different from what we agreed." Zhou Liangyin shook his head and said: "The third lady hasn't gone far yet, you can chase her back, we only have silver."
Tuman Khan But he shook his head and said: "But when the silver is distributed to the leaders of the various ministries, they will only hide the silver instead of exchanging it for goods."
"The problems faced by the Ming Dynasty and the grassland seem to be somewhat similar." Zhou Liangyin looked at the tens of thousands of households in the account and said with emotion. Sure enough, as he guessed, Tuman Khan still wanted the goods, but the households didn't think so. They were more interested in the shiny silver coins.
Meat eaters are despicable and fail to plan far ahead.
As expected, it’s the same everywhere.
"Then let's use silver. The Ming Dynasty's official roads and post roads have not been repaired. It's okay to transport silver, but it's not a good road to transport goods, right?" Su Bahai immediately spoke after hearing Zhou Liangyin's insistence. said.
"Yes, we have silver in our hands, so don't we buy whatever we want? Khan, let's go with silver."
"The Ming Dynasty also has the difficulties of the Ming Dynasty. Even the Ning Guards are not enough. Use it and sell it. How do the soldiers of Daning Guard feel? The emperor of Ming Dynasty can't do this."
"Just take the silver this year and exchange it for some goods at the tribute market next year. It's just useless wool."
......
Thousands of households tried to persuade Tumen, but Tumen waved his hands slightly dejectedly and said, "Angel, agree on a time and date. The location, when the time comes, the money and goods will be settled.”
Tuman Khan finally chose to compromise.
Zhou Liangyin stayed in Quaning Guard for three days and met with several thousands of households. He said openly and secretly that if the households wanted to bypass Tuman Khan and do business with the Ming Dynasty, they could just send envoys to Qinglong Fort.
Zhou Liangyin does not have any burden of conscience regarding infighting and sowing discord. This is what he is here to do. If he can divide, he will divide!
When Zhou Liangyin returned to the Daning Guard, Wang Rulong, the commander-in-chief of the Daning Guard, after hearing the details of Zhou Liangyin’s mission, looked at Zhou Liangyin up and down, and couldn’t help but said: “You scholars should really be heartbroken. Dig it out and see if it’s black!”
“Counsellor Zhou, are you secretly looking at the contradiction?”
Zhou Liangyin replied angrily: “It’s already gone. If you don’t look at the contradictions, are you waiting for your majesty to take off my head and go to the underworld to look at the contradictions?”
Wang Rulong’s evaluation, as a scholar, sounds like a curse.
Please give me a monthly ticket, wow! !
(End of this chapter)