Beiyang new warlord

But before Zhang Jinyan could finish speaking, Fang Yuegong, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, had already jumped out and smashed his head on the ground with a bang.

"Your Majesty, there is no silver in the household!"

"The Central Plains fell! The taxes in Shaanxi and Jin have not arrived for three years, and the taxes in central Sichuan have also been cut off for four years. Huguang taxed and supported Zuo Liangyu's 30 troops. Not to mention, the imperial court has to support the army's salary. Only Jiangsu and Zhejiang taxes support the court. Adding the Yangzhou salt tax, excluding the palace expenses, and paying the Guanning army's military salary, even the salaries of the officials in the capital are not enough, your majesty, how did the household department get the money!"

Come on, the imperial court’s self-rescue plan has not yet started. The two big bosses asked for money on the left and no money on the right, which directly caused Chongzhen’s enthusiasm to die. After a total of five minutes of silence towards the top elites, Chongzhen finally waved his hand wearily.

"Retreat!"

"The emperor has a decree! Retire from the court!!!"

Wang Chengen raised his whisk, and in the sharp and uncomfortable voice, a group of ministers kowtowed respectfully and fiercely as if they had been pardoned.

"Long live the emperor, long live, long live!"

Don't look at Chongzhen's diligence, but if he encountered such a difficult problem before, he would probably put it aside and boil the courtiers first. Once the courtiers can't hold back and jump out, someone will take the blame, but This time, he had really felt the breath of subjugation, and the fear in his heart made him breathless. He was bored in the palace for a whole afternoon, and in the evening, another imperial decree was delivered.

"Call Wu Xiang for an audience!"

Perhaps I have failed too many times on the platform, and I also feel that this place is unlucky. Perhaps it is to express fierceness. This time, Chongzhen's summoning location was directly set in the Imperial Study Room in front of the palace. For so many years in the Ming Dynasty, he was received in the Imperial Study Room There are really not many ministers, and it is really an honor.

But this honor made the old Liaozhen officer feel only apprehensive. When he entered the palace in the evening and led by Wang Chengen, he entered the imperial study room. Wu Xiang didn't even dare to lift his head, and directly kowtowed heavily and knelt down on the ground.

"Minister Wu Xiang, long live long live Your Majesty!"

"Ai Qing, please get up quickly! Companion, give me a seat! Come, serve tea!"

With a smile on his face, Wang Chengen moved the stool, and Wang Chengen bowed almost fawningly. Amidst Wu Xiang's apprehension, the daughter of the palace served the fragrant Jiangnan tribute tea. The atmosphere was almost ready, and Emperor Chongzhen coughed lightly.

"Now that the capital is in crisis, I want to deploy your father and son to guard the capital, how about it?"

"Your Majesty, the land of our ancestors must not be abandoned!"

Immediately stood up abruptly, Wu Xiang knelt on the ground fiercely with fists in his arms, knocking his head with a bang, looking like a big loyal minister.

Emperor Chongzhen's complexion also turned ugly. Once upon a time, the Ming Empire, which called for wind and rain, now even had to discuss with its courtiers about the deployment of troops. The decline of the empire can be seen.

"The thieves are approaching the capital, and I have no choice but to transfer the Guan Ning army. Besides, the slaves outside the Guan have died, and the Liao Kingdom is also a vassal of the Ming Dynasty. The ancestor Yongle once said, in my hands, in the other's rule, there is no other, Guan Ning Letting the land of the Liao King take care of it is not considered abandoning the land! I have made up my mind, how much will the soldiers of Ningyuan need to enter the pass!"

"Your Majesty, one million taels!"

Wu Xiang's asking price brought the negotiation to a stalemate in an instant, his face turned pale, Chongzhen suddenly stood up, and asked in astonishment.

"How many?"

"Return to Your Majesty, a million taels!"

I really didn't expect that Guan Ningjun's asking price was so ruthless. Emperor Chongzhen shook his eyes with black eyes, fearing that he would not believe it, Wu Xiang, who kowtowed his head, even counted with his fingers.

"The Guanning army has [-] soldiers. According to the rules of the Ministry of War, if you deploy troops to fight to the death, you need to pay ten taels of housing expenses. Otherwise, Daliao will take over Ningyuan, and the sergeant's family will have nowhere to go. Even if they arrive in the capital, they will not want to fight. , the cost of armaments and war horses, one million taels is already the lowest, Your Majesty!"

The ears were ringing for a long time, and his face was extremely ugly, but Emperor Chongzhen was surprisingly not angry, instead he was shy and embarrassed, and said hesitatingly.

"There is only 20 taels of silver in the inner treasury, and the collection of gold and silver wares in the palace, and even [-] taels of silver, love you"

"Your Majesty, the military salary of one million is really indispensable! Otherwise, the morale of the army will fluctuate. Once the robbers approach the city and make a mistake, Your Majesty might as well kill the old minister now!"

Kowtowing his head, Wu Xiang kept begging for mercy, but Emperor Chongzhen didn't hear what he said next, and sat down heavily on the dragon chair, his eyes straightened, and he kept shaking his head.

"Millions! Millions!"

The rich Ming Empire, the first dynasty in the East, is in a critical situation because it can't afford millions of military pay to defend its capital! The atmosphere of strangers is so desolate.

After sending Wu Xiang away, Emperor Chongzhen stayed in the imperial study all night like an ant on a hot pot. However, looking at the piles of memorials, he couldn't read any of them, and kept muttering dully. Millions, millions, in the middle of the night, he wanted to go to Concubine Tian's place to take a nap, but just after he walked out of the imperial study, he suddenly realized that even the woman he loved the most died of illness more than a year ago.

It is also because of the military salary. In the 15th year of Chongzhen, he ordered hundreds of officials to help the salary, but no one responded. Sincere uncles, the desperate Xungui bribed the old maid in the palace to pretend to be a ghost, pretending to be the soul possessed by the Empress Dowager Xian De'an, and angrily reprimanded Chongzhen for treating Xungui harshly. As a result, he frightened the youngest son of Concubine Tian, ​​the seventh son of the emperor who was only two or three years old. die.

Concubine Tian's four sons all died in infancy except Yongwang Zhu Cihuan. One can imagine the blow that the death of the youngest brought to this mother. The door thanked the emperor, and died of illness within a month.

However, I have to praise Concubine Tian for her cleverness. Since she was ill, she never saw Chongzhen again. Even when she was dying, Chongzhen did not see his most beloved woman. His face is sickly, decadent, and he must love him less. After she dies, the emperor will not miss her. It is better to keep the best side of himself in Chongzhen's heart. Only in this way, the emperor can continue to take care of Tian's family when he occasionally thinks of her. .

However, this virtuous housemate of Chongzhen before his death also helped his husband in the end. He held the porch and cried a few times. Just shouted.

"Come on!"

A familiar edict was issued from the palace. Although he did not receive a good royal education in his childhood, Emperor Chongzhen was a hard-working person. The edict was beautifully symmetrical, catchy, and quoted from classics. It's the top three points of each head, and there is no one else. The content of the edict is the same as before, calling on everyone to help pay.

The empire was in decline, and even the eunuchs lost their prestige, feeling ashamed of the matter, Chongzhen did not come, and Wang Chengen, who had summoned the big guy to the inner palace, nodded and bowed with a smile.

"My lords, the empire is facing hardships, and the emperor and his elders have no other choice. As long as you support us for a while, and repel the invading army, this year's autumn tax will be harvested, and it will be returned to you in double!"

These words were already heartfelt, but in exchange for the sympathy of the noble clan.

No one is willing. Now that the empire is declining, once the dynasty changes, the old privileges will no longer exist. They still want to live on this worth, not to mention that the credit of the court has gone bankrupt. If they donate today, the emperor who sees the money will be addicted what to do?

He was silent and did not speak. For a moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on Jiading Bo Zhou Kui, the father of the empress.

Zhou Kui lived up to expectations, trembling for a long time before showing three fingers.

"Eunuch Wang, I am willing to donate 30 taels of silver!"

The majestic ruler of the Ming Empire, at the request of the emperor, is willing to donate 30 taels of silver!!!

He has set an example, and the rest of the nobles will be clear in their hearts. This one donated ten taels, that one made a big effort to donate 50 taels, dozens of people added it, and they donated two to 3000 taels. Listening to the count, Wang Chengen's face turned green.

After holding back for a long time, the loose muscles on his face twitched, and Wang Chengen bowed heavily again.

"Old man, it's too little. You should donate at least 1 taels! The emperor rewarded you with tens of thousands of taels every year. Now that the empire is in trouble, you are the leader of the nobles. How can you not set an example? "

"Don't talk nonsense, father-in-law! How did this old man have so much silver?"

Immediately, as if he stepped on his tail, the dozens-year-old guy jumped up and screamed, baring his teeth.

"My father-in-law doesn't know! The old man's house has a large population! Susukita really can't afford it! For the 30 taels, I have to go back and pawn the set of flower porcelain bowls awarded by the emperor, so that I can get it out!"

"Yes! Yes! Father-in-law, it is really difficult in my house! Please learn from me!"

"I'll have to sell the maid next time I go back, so I can make up the money!"

"Eunuch!"

The absurd donation meeting ended with this embarrassing result. Not only Wang Chengen was stunned, but even Emperor Chongzhen was stunned when he saw the relatives of the emperor kneeling on the ground.

"Two thousand 600 taels? 30 taels!"