Chongzhen Chat Group

"Your Majesty, Kaihai's income tax is indeed unexpected, and it is expected that this year's income will be much higher than last year." After the military meeting, Wen Tiren met Emperor Chongzhen in the Wenhua Palace, holding a memorial in both hands and said, "Micro I have sorted out the salt tax statistics. If illegal salt can be eliminated, the court can at least double the salt tax. However, the situation is a bit complicated, please take a look at it!"

As soon as Gao Shiyue, the eunuch on duty, saw it, he walked over, took the memorial with both hands, and presented it to Emperor Chongzhen.

There was no memorial in Wen Tiren's hand. He looked at Emperor Chongzhen and immediately said: "Those who sell smuggled salt include desperadoes, serious salt merchants, noble princes, powerful officials, etc. The court wants to ban smuggled salt. It’s very difficult! But no matter how difficult it is, Wei Chen is determined to collect all the salt tax..."

For the Ming Dynasty, the salt tax was one of the largest sources of wealth for the treasury. If it can be doubled, the amount must not be underestimated. Wen Tiren said in the court meeting that one of the measures to imitate the Song Dynasty system to increase financial revenue was to reform the salt tax. Now, he is fulfilling his promise when he was elected as the chief minister.

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he glanced at him but said nothing. Then he picked up the memorial presented by Gao Shiyue and opened it to read.

"This salt tax reform is a major event for the imperial court!" Wen Tiren continued, "and the salt tax reform will damage the vested interests of countless people, which is worse than the sea ban in the previous two years. We are already prepared. , Facing the opposition of these people, I have nothing to fear!"

After all, things like opening up the sea mainly affected the southeastern coast of the Ming Dynasty, at most to the south of the Yangtze River. The salt tax reform, however, involves the entire empire. No matter north, south, east or west, all vested interests are affected. If they make trouble and fight back, it is indeed not as good as when the sea is opened.

When Wen Tiren said this, he saw Emperor Chongzhen raising his head and looking at him. He turned serious and said seriously: "Now the minister is preparing to take action on the salt tax, but your majesty wants to conquer it personally. The minister is really a little bit I'm worried that without His Majesty in charge of the capital, the salt tax reform may have to be postponed. If the matter takes a long time and the news is leaked, I'm afraid there will be many changes."

Wen Tiren has been busy with the reform of the salt tax, and now it is almost time. He originally thought that he would inform the emperor that he could start reforming the salt tax. As a result, the emperor suddenly started his personal expedition to Liaodong in advance, ruining his plan. Therefore, after the military meeting ended, he came to Emperor Chongzhen specifically to ask for an explanation on this matter.

There are many people in the cabinet, and even if there are confidentiality regulations, the salt tax reform involves the interests of many people. Therefore, this matter cannot be hidden for too long. If the New Deal hadn’t been implemented yet, everyone outside would have known about it in advance. As the saying goes, there are policies at the top and countermeasures at the bottom. If one of them fails, the new policy will turn into a bad policy, and the result will be bad.

Emperor Chongzhen had already read the memorial. Hearing Wen Tiren finish his words with a bit of complaint, he smiled, picked up the memorial, weighed it and threw it back on the imperial table before asking: "Wen Qing summarized the shortcomings of the salt policy." In detail, it can be said that the salt policy is something that goes deep into the bones of the Ming Dynasty. It affects all aspects and all kinds of people. Once the new policy harms the interests of these people, even I will have to weigh it."

Having said this, he laughed self-deprecatingly and said: "Before, I never urged Wen Qing on the salt tax. In fact, I was worried that if the implementation of the New Deal was unstable, it would cause internal strife in the Ming Dynasty, regardless of party disputes or I don’t want to see local troubles..."

When Wen Tiren heard this, he couldn't help but suddenly realized. Originally, he had always been a little strange. The emperor asked and explained the matter of opening the sea again and again, but he never mentioned the salt tax. It turned out that the emperor knew the importance of this matter.

"...As Wen Qing said, this salt involves thousands of households, and the salt has been rewarded a lot by the emperors of the past dynasties, including vassal families, hereditary princes, etc., let alone Wen Qing, even if it is me , I also find it very difficult, especially since I have only been on the throne for a few years." When Emperor Chongzhen said this, his face suddenly turned serious, and he smiled slightly, "But after I personally conquer Liaodong, I believe that I can scare many evil spirits. . Whoever dares to jump out and cause trouble, at that time, I don’t mind letting my new army go on a killing spree..."

When Wen Tiren heard this, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. The emperor's last words were full of majesty and murderous intent, and his tone was even more firm. However, when he came back to his senses, he immediately felt a little happy.

He understood what the emperor meant.

Emperor Chongzhen temporarily ascended the throne from a vassal to an emperor. He had never been a prince, so he had no old people to use in the prince's mansion, that is, he did not have his own imperial team. Becoming emperor at the age of seventeen did not have much prestige in the eyes of the civil and military officials of the dynasty.

Although Wei Zhongxian was later eliminated, Wen Tiren understood that it was not so much that Emperor Chongzhen brought down Wei Zhongxian, but rather that the foundation for Wei Zhongxian's power was gone. In this case, any emperor can oust Wei Zhongxian. This matter will only be praised verbally by civil and military officials. I am afraid that only a few people will really admire it from the bottom of their hearts.

However, later on, Emperor Chongzhen used himself as a bait, and finally forced the Jianlu to withdraw from the capital early. Qiankun acted arbitrarily, organized and trained the new army, promoted Lu Xiangsheng, and won one victory after another in the war against the Jianlu. , also wiped out the rogue bandits, designated the Hetao as the territory of the Ming Dynasty, etc. These things made the emperor's power grow day by day. If it were a normal matter, it is estimated that the emperor's prestige at this time would indeed be able to frighten evil spirits.

But the salt tax is different. It really involves all kinds of people in the Ming Dynasty. Even in the military, such as Zu Dashou, and in the court, such as ministers of various ministries, etc., they may all have interests involved. After all, the emperor is not the founding emperor. His prestige is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and he raises the butcher's knife as soon as he raises it. If you don't have any prestige, that is, if you don't have the confidants you have cultivated from scratch, you don't know who will fall on the butcher's knife!

However, as the emperor said, if the imperial commander personally conquered, recovered all the land in Liaodong that was lost during the Wanli period, and eliminated the arrogant Jianlu, this would be a great achievement. Although the emperor's martial arts skills are not as good as those of Gaozu Chengzu, they are comparable. The other former emperors were infinitely stronger. Coupled with those other deeds, the emperor's power will surely be at its peak. Moreover, in this kind of war to destroy the country, the emperor will definitely be able to promote a lot of upstarts from the Ming Dynasty. With the support of these upstarts, even if they are vassals, clans, hereditary princes, who dares to rebel against the emperor's will?

Thinking of this, Wen Tiren's eyes lit up!

Emperor Chongzhen noticed this change in him and smiled slightly in his heart, knowing that Wen Tiren finally understood the importance of his personal expedition. If he could just threaten a few factory guard leaders like later generations, and then have people kill him to establish his authority, this emperor would be too good to be king.

In fact, being an emperor is definitely the most difficult subject in the world. It's not good to be one person. Several of the previous emperors of the Ming Dynasty died under mysterious circumstances, which is an example of this. Emperor Chongzhen was cautious about matters involving great interests. Especially this salt policy. He even decided to take action after regaining Liaodong. Only then would he be more confident.

These thoughts flashed through Emperor Chongzhen's mind, and then he smiled confidently and said to Wen Tiren: "I have already made a decision in my mind regarding the salt policy. When I come back from the expedition in person, I will implement the new policy. No need to By taking care of the troubles of all kinds of people and treating them with one approach, we will definitely make them unable to object, and at the same time, the people of Ming Dynasty can truly enjoy the benefits of the New Deal, and the revenue of the national treasury will also be greatly increased!"

When Wen Tiren heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then he felt 10,000 disbeliefs in his heart. You know, after he investigated the situation of Yanzheng, his head was so painful that it became a paste. This situation is too complicated. It is necessary to implement the New Deal to increase the revenue of the treasury and to reduce the obstacles to innovation as much as possible. To be honest, he has lost sleep thinking about this many nights.

But in Emperor Chongzhen's case, he said that it would be a one-size-fits-all approach, which would make it impossible for anyone to object. Not only would the revenue of the treasury be greatly increased, but the people of the Ming Dynasty would also be able to enjoy the benefits of the New Deal. Is there such a way?

Wen Tiren couldn't believe it when he thought this, but when he looked at Emperor Chongzhen and saw how confident he was, he couldn't help but be very curious. He didn't know what the emperor had come up with in his mind that always had weird ideas. What kind of idea?

He felt that there was no such good solution, so he really wanted to ask the emperor, what kind of new deal has so many benefits?

However, the emperor did not say anything. Could it be that this new policy cannot be announced in advance? After all, it will be several months before His Majesty returns from the expedition in person. It would be bad if the news is leaked in advance and causes bad changes.

Thinking of this, Wen Tiren suppressed his curiosity and did not ask further questions. He immediately bowed and said: "Now that Your Majesty has made a decision, I will go and prepare for the emperor's personal expedition to Liaodong."

Emperor Chongzhen listened and nodded with a smile, "This is good!"

After Wen Tiren left, he also left the Wenhua Palace and went to the Military War Bureau and Ordnance Bureau respectively to check the manufacturing status of flintlocks and artillery, as well as the configuration and storage of gunpowder. He personally checked all these things.

Although Emperor Chongzhen has a chat group system and is suspected to be the protagonist, after all, he is personally conducting the expedition. His own life is at stake. He can only succeed but not fail. This logistical aspect cannot be ignored.

Over at the Beijing Camp, the third batch of new troops were mainly fusiliers and artillery battalions, and they were almost fully trained. On this day, Mao Yuanyi, the chief instructor of the New Army, rushed to Wuying Hall to meet him.

After the ceremony was over, Emperor Chongzhen asked him with a smile: "According to the plan, the third batch of new troops will be assessed tomorrow, right?"

"Your Majesty, there will be an assessment tomorrow. Those who meet the standard can fight against the Manchus!" Mao Yuanyi heard this and quickly replied.

Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said: "Okay, then I will go to watch the assessment in person tomorrow!"

After hearing this, Mao Yuanyi looked a little hesitant. Seeing that the emperor seemed to be smiling, he gritted his teeth and said: "Your Majesty, I have been in the capital for a long time. If I continue like this, my body and bones will rot. I am willing to take over these new batches of new ones." The army goes out to Liaodong to repay your kindness!"

Listen to the new army he trained and win battle after battle. He understood that Jianlu was at the end of his strength. If he didn't go to Liaodong to make contributions, he might not have a chance in the future. Therefore, taking this opportunity, he asked Emperor Chongzhen for a battle.

The personal expedition scheduled for next month had not spread yet. Emperor Chongzhen naturally understood that Mao Yuanyi did not know either, so he smiled slightly and said: "Okay, Mao Qing is ready to set off with me at the beginning of next month."

Mao Yuanyi was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and then realized that the emperor had decided to go to Liaodong in person at the beginning of next month, and he could accompany him there. Suddenly, he was overjoyed and quickly agreed.

As preparations for Yujia's personal expedition were progressing, word of his upcoming personal expedition to Liaodong finally spread in the capital. Then, Rong Zu Dashou, the temporary commander-in-chief of the Beijing camp, asked to see him. Like Mao Yuanyi, he made a request to accompany him on the expedition to Liaodong.

Regarding Zu Dashou's request, Emperor Chongzhen shook his head and refused: "I have no intention of taking away the capital this time. Zu Qing is the commander-in-chief of the capital, and the capital cannot leave."

The meaning was very clear. Zu Dashou had to stay in the capital, which made him very disappointed, so he proposed to resign as the commander-in-chief of the capital camp. Even if he was a small soldier, he was willing to fight on the battlefield for the emperor.

However, Emperor Chongzhen still refused. Zu Dashou, just stay in the capital.

What Emperor Chongzhen didn't expect was that after sending Zu Dashou away, more military officers and nobles came to ask for a battle. Each one of them made an impassioned statement that they would throw their heads and blood for the emperor and the Ming Dynasty, kill the enemy bravely, and return with their bodies wrapped in horse leather. .

At this time, Emperor Chongzhen was surprised.

I think back then, when Jianlu invaded the capital and surrounded the capital, few of these military commanders and nobles were as impassioned as they are today. Even many of them were unwilling to provide money, and he had to use it. Factory guard. Even so, some people still instigated Queen Zhou's father to cause trouble. Why have everyone changed their tempers now, and are they so "general unafraid of death"?

If victory can influence people's hearts, Emperor Chongzhen believed it. At least now, when the Ming soldiers in Liaodong faced the Manchu and Qing soldiers, they no longer had any fear in their hearts, and no longer had the fear of the past.

But to say that this victory can affect the bravery of the generals and nobles in the capital, Emperor Chongzhen would not believe it even if he killed him. It is a joke for these trash who are used to enjoying themselves in the capital. Although they have the name of military generals, they have never even been on the battlefield, and they are still wrapped in horse leather!

However, the facts are before our eyes. Many of these military officers and nobles have never been on the battlefield. Among these people, there were not only hereditary lords who were over sixty years old, but also young men who had just taken over the position of generals, or dandies who were famous in the land of fireworks in the capital. Why do these people want to go to the Liaodong battlefield one by one?

Seeing that Emperor Chongzhen looked a little confused, Fang Zhenghua, who had been accompanying him, reminded the emperor about the intentions of these noble generals.

Thanks to Ziqing Yurong for the reward!