I, Zhu Youjian: the first prodigal son of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 23 Ordinary people can't eat, why don't they let them rebel?

A few years ago, Shaanxi and Shanxi began to experience severe droughts year after year. Many places were already in chaos, and it was not uncommon for people to sell their children and women.

At the beginning of Tianqi, Wei Zhongxian also sent people to supervise the army to suppress the bandits, but they returned almost without success.

Those who rose up to rebel were all born in poverty. They were either forced to lose their way of life by the rent, or they were overwhelmed by various "exorbitant taxes" such as additional payment, suppression of payment, Liao payment, and miscellaneous items. Take the risk and start smashing and looting.

In name, it is to 'rob the rich and give to the poor', but in fact it is for a morsel of food.

Therefore, when the officers and soldiers began to encircle and suppress, they put down their crude knives, spears, sticks, etc., and began to farm honestly, so that the officers and soldiers could not find where the culprits were.

After the officers and soldiers left, they picked up weapons one after another, gathered together and started looking for a way out.

Later, the eunuch who was sent to supervise the army to suppress the bandits was so eager to do good work that he ordered the army to kill the common people...

"Have you reported this matter to the Lord Long Live?" Wei Zhongxian asked casually as he went out with a gloomy face.

"There should be no newsletter from our side," Wang Chengen paused, then said hesitantly, "However, Jin Yiwei's side might have..."

Seeing Wei Zhongxian's unfriendly expression, Wang Chengen felt uneasy, for fear of offending his immediate superior.

Since the new emperor came to the throne, Jinyiwei is still supervised by Wei Zhongxian in name, but in fact, it has long been out of control...

"Who was sent to Shaanxi and Shanxi to oversee the army? He deserves death!" Wei Zhongxian paced back and forth on the steps, almost gnashing his teeth and said, "It's all these beasts who missed me!"

"Simply a stupid pig!"

"How dare you incite the officers and soldiers to cull the civilians, are they courting death?"

"Cheng En, send me a secret order to execute the eunuch Ling Chi who committed the crime!"

"In addition, pass on my secret order. From now on, the bastards here in Dongchang, whoever dares to commit crimes against our family, will be executed regardless of their priorities!"

Wei Zhongxian handed down a series of secret orders, Wang Chengen turned pale and nodded repeatedly, but he dared not speak.

"Go now." Wei Zhongxian waved his hand irritably, sending Wang Chengen away.

Turning back and forth on the steps twice, it seemed that he had made a lot of determination, and walked quickly towards the Qianqing Palace...

……

At dawn, as soon as Zhu Youjian lay down and was about to take a nap, he went to the morning court. The commander of Jinyiwei sent someone to deliver a secret report from Feige.

"Finally rebelled."

Looking at the secret report in his hand, Zhu Youjian's face was cloudy, and he sat on the dragon couch with his head bowed in thought.

According to historical records, between the seventh year of Tianqi and the first year of Chongzhen, Monk Wang, Gao Yingxiang and others rebelled first and fled between Shaanxi and Shanxi.

Later, in order to reduce the expenditure of the imperial court, Emperor Chongzhen ordered to clean up post stations across the country, which caused Li Zicheng, who was working in the post stations, to lose his job.

Later, in order to reduce expenses, Zhang Xianzhong was forced to rebel...

Silver, after all, it is because of silver!

Do you want to continue to lose money?
Zhu Youjian began to hesitate.

But, the Invincible, what can he, a foolish emperor, do?Or, what will you do?
Compared with the original owner, Emperor Chongzhen, in terms of the so-called strategy of governing the country, infighting in the court and other aspects, he is a food delivery person, and there is no comparison at all.

"Then... continue to lose money!"

The decision was made, and the haze in Zhu Youjian's heart was swept away.

He was reclined on the dragon couch, waiting for the early morning hours after dawn, and let Wei Zhongxian and his gang do their own thing.

When he was drowsy, Wei Zhongxian came.

The treacherous officials had already prepared jackets and cotton-padded clothes for the emperor, held them with their own hands, and walked into the Qianqing Palace with small steps.

"Long Live Lord, this servant brought you a jacket. It's autumn, and it's still quite cold sooner or later."

Zhu Youjian nodded, but did not speak.

He was waiting for Wei Zhongxian to open his mouth to report the military situation in Shanxi and Shaanxi.

Although Zhu Youjian is determined to continue to prodigal, he still doesn't want his previous efforts to be in vain, and hopes that Wei Zhongxian can become "one of his own".

"Long Live Lord, the slaves have received a secret report from Dongchang that the thieves such as Monk Wang and Gao Yingxiang in Shanxi and Shaanxi have rebelled and captured seven counties, and they are about to become powerful."

Wei Zhongxian said very worriedly while helping Zhu Youjian change his clothes.

Zhu Youjian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

In any case, this Wei Zhongxian is not confused about major matters for the time being.

"The common people have no food to eat, so they will definitely rebel." Zhu Youjian said indifferently: "On the first day I took the throne, I asked you to go to Shanxi and Shaanxi to repair bridges, repair roads, and dredge rivers. You shirk and say that you have no money.

It's all right now, and I feel at ease when I spend at least three times the money to suppress the bandits? "

Zhu Youjian couldn't help complaining a few words, shook his head and smiled bitterly, and said, "What should we do now? Continue to suppress the bandits?"

Wei Zhongxian thought: If you don't continue to suppress the bandits, why don't you just ignore them?
However, this kind of words can only be thought in the stomach, how dare to say it.

"Long live, if this servant recommends one person, he will be able to successfully suppress the bandits!" Wei Zhongxian tentatively said, "The Daming Academy has not yet opened, why not... Let Yuan Chonghuan be the governor of Shaanxi and Gansu?"

It has to be said that although Wei Zhongxian has various shortcomings, he is really good at the government affairs of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Youjian thought for a long time, shook his head, and said, "There is no need to suppress the bandits."

"A group of rabble, just like wild wolves, hungry for food, what's so scary?"

"I recommend someone to guarantee that the medicine will cure the disease."

What Zhu Youjian said was so sure that Wei Zhongxian almost believed it...

However, after thinking about it, the idiot emperor was joking, right?

He guessed that Zhu Youjian probably wanted to use "appeasement" to exchange money and food for temporary stability, and when the food was eaten, he would still rebel.

For Wei Zhongxian, the experience and experience in this area are too rich, and he can tell with his feet that the method of recruiting is after all just a stinky move.

"Long Live Lord wants to appease the thieves like Monk Wang and Gao Yingxiang? May I ask who do you recommend?"

Zhu Youjian smiled, pointed at Wei Zhongxian's nose, and said, "I recommend you Wei Zhongxian, do you have the guts to go?"

Wei Zhongxian: "..."

What kind of trick is this?Could it be that we want to pay our family to the capital and then stab a knife in the back?
"The servant girl is a dog under the command of the Long Live Lord, whoever the Long Live Lord wants the slave servant to bite, he can bite!"

"It's just Long Live Lord. Appeasement to the thief will only increase his arrogance. From the perspective of slaves, it is better to kill them directly!"

Wei Zhongxian's words were very soft, but his attitude was very tough, and he basically didn't save Zhu Youjian any face.

However, Zhu Youjian was not angry but happy.

As a prodigal little expert, if you blindly flatter but have no skills, then you might as well have nothing.

"Zhongxian, who said that you are going to recruit him?" Zhu Youjian said with a smile: "I don't need to pay attention to this kind of small-time rebel.

You immediately prepare money and food, and appoint a person who can do things and spend money to go to Shaanxi and Gansu to build bridges and roads, dredge rivers, and build water conservancy, so as to ensure that those rebels will come back! "

Wei Zhongxian finally realized what the emperor meant.

Is this for work relief?
It is indeed a good "smelly chess".

Because, a minister once proposed such a proposal, and after deliberation by the cabinet, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Household Affairs, it was directly rejected.

The national treasury was already empty, as if it had been licked by a big wolf dog. What kind of "relief with work" is needed to prepare money and food?
"Long Live Lord, I think it's more cost-effective to kill them!" Wei Zhongxian insisted: "Although it is a good way to provide relief with work, we really don't have any extra money in the treasury of the Ming Dynasty!"

"Silver? What do you want money for? We keep all the silver from the Ming Dynasty, so that I can slowly lose...

Cough, Zhongxian, you won't change your mind?
Don't take money with you, just bring enough food. "

Wei Zhongxian: "..."

What kind of money-for-work is this?
Without money, what can I use to build bridges and roads, dredge rivers, and build water conservancy?
(End of this chapter)