Chapter 111 Eight major mergers
In the sixth year of Zhengyong, October 17th.
The new army broke through Chang'an City, successfully occupied Chang'an Mansion, and recruited 300,000 rebels.
Zhengyong six years, October 20th.
Miao Xiu and Shi Heilang led their troops to join the new soldiers, with a strength of more than 100,000.
In the sixth year of Zhengyong, October 25th.
Recruiting refugees, surrendering troops and surrounding forbidden troops, the number of troops once reached 200,000.
In the sixth year of Zhengyong, October 27th.
Miao Xiu was stationed in Chang'an Mansion, and the three masters of the New Army and Shi Heilang divided their forces to wipe out the rebels.
Within half a month, we attacked more than 20 counties.
Zhengyong six years, the ninth day of the eleventh month.
The new army and the Miao Xiu coalition forces caught up with the rebel army in Chencang County, and the two sides launched a final showdown in the mountains and forests.
The battle lasted for two days and one night. In the end, most of the rebels were destroyed. The leader Li Zhishan was killed, beheaded and sent back to the capital.
Zhengyong six years, November 12th.
Qu Bo, commander of the First Division of the New Army, took out His Majesty's secret order and secretly arrested more than fifty officials in Yongzhou.
Zhengyong six years, November 18th.
The new army moved northward and successively uprooted 79 forts built by local landlords, powerful people, and aristocratic families in Yongzhou, killing more than 6,000 people.
The Yongzhou family was wiped out, but the news was released that they were killed by rebels.
The new army fought back to avenge the Yongzhou family and occupy their land.
Under Zheng Yiming's instructions, 500,000 refugees who had been recruited and surrendered were immediately stationed in Yongzhou.
He was promoted to Wang Anshi as the magistrate of Chang'an Prefecture, and went to Yongzhou to preside over land distribution matters and command Yongzhou.
In addition, the construction of the Yongzhou Grand Canal was restarted.
Yongzhou was victorious, but Shuzhou advanced slowly.
Because Shuzhou is difficult to travel, even if the new army has the advantage of firearms, it is difficult to move forward and can only advance slowly.
Zhengyong six years, the fifth day of the eleventh month.
Night.
Liu Chengen led his army to Jinyang County. After arranging for the new army to camp outside the city, Liu Chengen took several guards to the Cui Xiawu military camp.
Cui Xiawu had been stationed here for more than half a month. Since there were signs of rebels in Bingzhou, local officials tried to persuade Cui Xiawu to stay and suppress the bandits.
As for Cui Xiawu, he also stayed under Zheng Yi's order.
Wu Guo's indemnity and other materials were brought back by the imperial guards sent out.
"Master Cui!"
In the military camp, Liu Chengen, who was tired of travel, finally met Cui Xiawu, whom he had not seen for a long time.
The last time the two met was at the Enke Ceremony more than two years ago.
At that time, Cui Xiawu was the number one scholar in martial arts, and was conferred the title of general by Zheng Yi. What a great favor and power.
At that time, Liu Chengen was an old eunuch beside His Majesty.
Today, the same is true.
"Long time no see, father-in-law, how are you?"
Cui Xiawu stood up and said affectionately, and his words were extremely respectful.
Liu Chengen quietly relaxed and said, "Did you receive His Majesty's order?"
"The humble post has been received."
"Have you forgotten the great oath I swore to His Majesty on the day of the Enke Ceremony?"
Cui Xia Wu said: "Xia Wu started from a humble beginning. It is all thanks to His Majesty's trust that he is able to get to where he is today."
"My loyalty to Your Majesty based on my humble position is a lesson to the world, and I will definitely live up to Your Majesty in this life!"
"No matter what happens in Bingzhou from now on, Xia Wu will be led by His Majesty!"
"Very good."
Liu Chengen nodded slowly: "Tonight, I will inform His Majesty of all the tasks."
After the tea time, Cui Xiawu's breathing was a little short.
"Your Majesty's goal is to merge the eight major merchants, as well as the northern aristocratic families? This..."
"Why, General Cui is afraid?"
"Afraid?"
Cui Xiawu sneered: "Since the day I became the top scholar in the martial arts examination, there is nothing to be afraid of in a humble position!"
"What about the aristocratic family?"
"Although Choi comes from a noble family, he has no connection with the noble family."
"Whether it is the Cui family or the Wang family, as long as His Majesty orders it, Cui will go through fire and water without hesitation."
Liu Chengen smiled and said: "It's not as serious as General Cui thought. It's just a group of businessmen who collaborate with the enemy and betray the country."
"What are you going to do, father-in-law?"
"Come here, our family is ready..."
The next day.
Many officials and big businessmen in Jinyang County received a greeting invitation.
The celebrity around the current emperor, Liu Chengen, the eunuch in charge of the ceremonial department, actually came to Jinyang County on official business and held a banquet in honor of many gentry officials in Jinyang County.
After receiving the invitation, countless officials, squires, and big businessmen were overjoyed and quickly sent their families out to buy a large number of gifts to pay them a visit.
A few months ago, the frontier army Cui Xiawu passed through Jinyang and encountered a rebel army by chance. He suppressed it on the spot and then took charge of Bingzhou.
From that time on, many Bingzhou officials and businessmen went to visit him, hoping to win over Cui Xiawu.
It's a pity that Cui Xiawu didn't have access to oil and salt, so he only saw officials who had official dealings with him.
The rest of the people were all missing, which made many local officials, businessmen, and aristocratic families in Bingzhou very troubled.
But now, the famous man beside His Majesty is here, and he is still a eunuch...
That night, Liu Chengen met with many officials and businessmen to talk about His Majesty's power and the important affairs of the court, and repeatedly stated that the rebels would be defeated.
Under the continuous toasts of many officials, squires, aristocratic families, and big businessmen, I became extremely drunk and was taken away by several maids arranged by the Jinyang County Sheriff.
I heard that that night, Liu Chengen touched several maids and was very happy. It's a pity that he is a eunuch, so he can only touch it and then fall asleep.
After receiving this news, the governor of Jinyang County and many aristocratic families and big businessmen became more determined.
"It's just a lustful eunuch, what's so difficult to deal with?"
"It's strange. The Supervisor of Ceremonies is an organization with the same power as the cabinet. Why did he come to our Jinyang County?"
"Hehehehe, so what if Liu Chengen is a famous figure next to His Majesty? He has been staying in the palace for so many years. Where did he find the time to make money? Now he has caught a good opportunity!"
"What does Brother Wang mean?"
"It's very simple! Liu Chengen must have taken advantage of the opportunity to suppress the rebels and came to us to raise military funds!"
"That's it!"
"Say, what is a big eunuch doing here in a remote place like ours?"
"Everyone, this is a good opportunity! If Liu Chengen can be coaxed, I will wait for future business..."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, before I was afraid that our contact with the Wu Kingdom would be discovered, but now it seems that His Majesty cannot do without me!"
"Look, within three days, Liu Chengen will show his fox tail!"
Jinyang County officials, aristocratic families, businessmen, etc. still think highly of Liu Chengen.
At the banquet the next day, Liu Chengen began to show his "fox tail."
Raise military spending!
"Gentlemen and lords, you are all the talents of the country. Now our country is in turmoil, and the civil unrest in the north has been going on for five years!"
"Your Majesty has turned his hair gray because of the efforts to suppress the rebel army. I see this in my eyes and am anxious in my heart!"
"The most important thing is that the court is short of money!"
"When the army sets off, it's like a man eating a horse's chew. It consumes a lot of money. Now the treasury is empty..."
Liu Chengen was crying from above, but the local aristocratic family and businessmen from Jinyang County below were sitting upright, their eyes constantly communicating.
Before he finished speaking, someone stood up at the table and said, "Eunuch Liu is a righteous man, and we admire him very much."
"How about, on behalf of my Wang family, I am willing to support my father-in-law with twenty thousand taels of silver?"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a burst of noise from the people around him.
"Brother Wang is very righteous! I am also willing to support you with 10,000 taels of silver!"
"I will pay five thousand taels!"
"I'll pay eight thousand taels!"
"Brother, I'm just a small businessman. I can only support two thousand taels. I hope you guys won't laugh at me..."
Many businessmen, aristocratic families, and landowners chipped in money, and the military resources soon exceeded 50,000 taels.
Although Liu Chengen was smiling on his face, he was constantly cursing secretly in his heart.
This group of businessmen from aristocratic families, any one of them can have hundreds of thousands of taels, or even millions of taels of property.
Now he is only willing to give out a few thousand taels as military supplies. This is really just giving away the beggars!
Seeing this scene, Liu Chengen slapped the table with a 'pop' sound, gritted his teeth and said:
"We don't want to talk to you anymore. We have issued a military order beside His Majesty. We must raise 10 million taels of silver for this trip to Bingzhou!"
"If we don't have ten million left, our family will not be able to live well, and we can't even think about living well!"
What?
Ten million taels!
Many officials, aristocratic families, and businessmen were all stunned. Is there such a huge military expenditure?
The young man surnamed Wang who stood up first became anxious: "Eunuch Liu, if we scrape together tens of thousands taels or one hundred thousand taels, we can still make it together."
"But these ten million taels will cost us our lives!"
Liu Chengen sneered: "You are... Wang Yilong, right? You are from the Wang family of Datong. Wang Ze, the supervisory censor, should be your grandfather, right?"
The young man said to himself: "My father-in-law Liao Zan, I am just a commoner in white clothes. Now I am just looking after a few shops for my master. I cannot be a descendant of the Wang family."
"As for Wang Ze, the supervisory censor you mentioned, he is indeed the grandfather of the grassroots..."
"Hmph!"
Liu Chengen sneered and said: "Even if Wang Ze is in front of our family, he would not dare to talk to us like this. Who do you think you are!"
As he spoke, he picked up the wine bottle on the table and slammed it on Wang Yilong's forehead, causing blood to flow out immediately.
Zhao Kezhi, the governor of Jinyang County on the side, quickly grabbed Liu Chengen and said: "My father-in-law, calm down, my father-in-law, please calm down. We are all members of our own family here, why bother to get into such a big fight."
"Wang Yilong! Kneel down quickly! Make amends to my father-in-law, you are just a white man...!"
At Zhao Kezhi's reminder, Wang Yilong suddenly reacted.
Although this is Jinyang County, the Wang family's power here is considered number one.
On weekdays, he can be looked down upon by everyone, even the county guard has to give him three points.
But now, he is facing the famous person next to His Majesty, the eunuch who is the chief of etiquette, and they don't take him seriously at all.
Even if Wang Ze, the supervisory censor, comes here, he must be the first to salute Liu Chengen!
Thinking of this, Wang Yilong immediately became afraid and quickly knelt down on the ground: "My father-in-law, please calm down. It's a villain who is obsessed with ghosts. I hope that my father-in-law will have more..."
"Hmph!"
Liu Chengen snorted coldly and said: "For the sake of Lord Wang Ze, I will spare you this time."
"If there is a next time, our family will never be lenient, do you understand?"
"Yes, the villain understands, the villain understands!"
"And!"
Liu Chengen continued: "Ten million taels of silver must be collected within half a month, otherwise, if your Majesty is convicted, you will not have an easy life!"
Everyone present was silent, no one dared to speak, and they winked at Zhao Kezhi crazily.
Zhao Kezhi quickly toasted with another glass of wine and said: "Eunuch Liu, our Jinyang County is only a small place after all. Many aristocratic families and businessmen may not be able to come up with so much money in a short time."
"Who said only Jinyang County should pay?"
Liu Chengen rolled his eyes at him and said: "My family has heard that the merchants of Bingzhou are the richest in the world, especially the eight major merchants, who span the north and south. Today, our family's military assets of 10 million taels of silver are still in their hands."
"Except Jinyang County, the other gentry, aristocratic families, and businessmen in Quanyang County, Yanshan County, Beihe County, and Yuanping County have to pay."
"Ten million taels of silver is our family's bottom line."
"Don't worry, our family won't let you spend money in vain."
Liu Chengen sneered: "Now His Majesty is presiding over the construction of the Yongzhou Grand Canal, and even the Jing'an Grand Canal has been started."
"There will be countless positions and opportunities on these two major canals, enough for you to earn back!"
"As long as we can collect 10 million taels of silver, our family will leave immediately, cluck, cluck, cluck..."
Asking for a monthly ticket~
Asking for a monthly ticket~
Asking for a monthly ticket~
Asking for a monthly ticket~
Asking for a monthly ticket~
(End of chapter)