Sir, you have to pay more

Chapter 777

"The Qing Dynasty has been saved, Huguang has been saved, and the common people have been saved! Heaven will send great responsibility to the prince!"

Old Chen was deeply moved by Prince Rui's full sincerity. He was very moved and felt very lucky at the same time.

It used to be a road that led to darkness, but now there is an extra fork that allows him to go back to the right path, allowing him to become a loyal minister and good official of the Qing Dynasty again, so that he does not have to bear the infamy of a traitor. It is really such a bad fate. It was so turbulent, with twists and turns, but he couldn't give up, which made him love and hate at the same time.

It is certain that as long as Prince Rui's sincerity is fully fulfilled without any compromise, he, Chen Huizu, will become a strange person in Chinese history.

Where is Qi?

He was the governor of Huguang before he surrendered to the bandit army, and he was still the governor of Huguang after he surrendered. Now he is still the governor of Huguang after repenting and returning to the Qing Dynasty.

Who else in history is as bizarre as him, Old Chen?

Ups and downs are not so exciting.

Once excited, he immediately expressed his opinion: "Thank the court, thank Prince Rui, thank you, huh?"

Suddenly, I felt something was wrong, and I thought about it carefully. Didn’t the Qing government transfer the governor of Sichuan, Bo Qing’e, to be the governor of Huguang? Then what’s the matter with him as the governor of Huguang?

Could it be that Prince Rui was fooling him, turning his face and refusing to recognize anyone after he succeeded, and killing the donkey?
I couldn't help but feel a "thud" in my heart, I always felt that such a good thing fell on him so easily.

In all dynasties and dynasties, there have been no officials who have surrendered to bandits, but there have been no officials who have been reinstated. There must be a process of demoting.

Especially important ministers at the level of the governor.

Even Emperor Qin, Han Wu, Tang Zong and Song Zu couldn't be generous enough to allow a dishonest governor to stay in office.

Prince Ruorui promised him that Lao Chen would not be killed anyway, or that he would be demoted a few levels, which was true, but it seemed unreasonable to be reinstated as governor.

A little empty.

Thinking about it this way, the letter of appointment in his hand suddenly became unsatisfactory, and he always felt that this was Prince Rui's conspiracy.

It's better to be careful, don't ask Prince Rui to cheat you.

"Bo Zhitai is only here for a transition. After the chaos is settled, it will inevitably be promoted to Beijing. At that time, the position of governor must belong to the adults. After all, the adults are familiar with the situation in Huguang, and many things are difficult to handle without the adults. "

The envoy seemed to have known that Mr. Chen would have this doubt, and quickly removed Prince Rui's personal letter to the governor from the sole of the other shoe.

"Oh, Prince Rui's personal letter?"

Lao Chen quickly took it and opened it, and what caught his eyes was a line of large characters—"Can this king ask about the weight of the tripod? If I can ask, is the governor willing to help?"

This line of big characters surprised Old Chen at first, his face changed suddenly, and then he smiled as if he had taken a reassurance, and the forehead lines on his forehead lost a few lines.

"It turns out that Prince Rui is not a good bird either. I don't want the prince to have lofty aspirations and lofty aspirations. It's the luck of the Qing Dynasty, the luck of the people, and the luck of this official."

Old Chen was really happy. He thought that only people like himself would be traitors, but he never expected that Prince He Shuorui, who has thick eyebrows, big eyes, and young roots, is even worse than him, a traitor, and has the heart to usurp the throne , is really gratifying.

It's settled!

A traitor, a king of thieves, bastard against mung bean.

Prince Rui is really born in heaven, eternity is like a long night.

In an instant, Chen Huizu's miscellaneous thoughts were gone, and there was only one firm thought in his mind - to follow Prince Rui wholeheartedly, there is no mistake!

Anyway, he has no backbone to speak of.

"Thanks to the lord's perseverance, I, Chen Huizu, am willing to die for the lord, and I will die!"

In awe of righteousness, Lao Chen carefully put this letter away in his bosom, as if this letter was more valuable than the iron coupon for avoiding death.

"It's an honor to be an official to be able to die laughing for the prince!"

Putting the secret letter into his arms, Lao Chen's expression became much more relaxed. Not only was his heart hot, but he also felt extremely at ease. He warmly invited the envoy to sit down and drink tea, and politely asked his name in detail.

The etiquette is very respectful, without the slightest airs of the governor.

After all, compared with Wang Ang, the governor who wanted to overthrow the Tartars and restore China, Chen Huizu surrendered that day simply to seek a way out. Later, he had to make suggestions for the Xinghan regime in order to survive, but he still felt unwilling in his heart.

Firstly, he felt that the Xinghan Army was unlikely to overthrow the Qing Dynasty, and secondly, he also felt that even if the Xinghan Army seized the world, he, Chen Huizu, might end up like a second minister in the future.

Isn't Hong Chengchou the best example?

People need face in life, and fame in death.

Alive, his face is gone.

I can't die, but I have to recite a curse name.

Now that God favors him, a huge opportunity has come to him, so he has to grasp it well.

The envoy is the representative of the prince, so to respect him is to respect the prince.

When it comes to right and wrong, he, Old Chen, is very firm.

The envoy, who called himself Ding Jiuzhen, had been running under Prince Rui's tent, and now came to Wuchang as a special commissioner under the order of the prince.

Special commissioner means special commissioner.

Don't underestimate this special commissioner, according to the Xingyuan special dispatch system, Commissioner Ding is directly responsible to Prince Rui, and is not supervised by any other unit, nor controlled by any officials.

Like Yushi Xunyan, it belongs to a small weight.

As a bridge between Prince Rui and Governor Chen, if this Commissioner Ding speaks ill of Governor Chen to Prince Rui, it will be fatal. If he fails, he will kill Governor Chen's chance to be a man again. among.

This truth, Lao Chen has been in the officialdom for many years, so he doesn't know.

After pouring a bowl of tea for Commissioner Ding very politely, Lao Chen asked energetically, "So, what does the lord want me to do?"

The enthusiasm is very high, and it can be seen that the effect of the reassuring pill has taken effect.

"If the prince wants me to deal with it immediately,"

Lao Chen said that he was absolutely willing, but he needs to give him some time to win over the old army. It is best to bring more people and territories to vote there.

But he didn't say that he could mobilize manpower to attack Marshal Gu in Wuchang City. The reason is needless to say.

Weng and son-in-law are fighting, he, an outsider, had better not make a fuss, otherwise, if Prince Rui's daughter Gu Shuai blows a pillow, he will be as good as Chen Huizu.

Commissioner Ding hurriedly explained what the prince meant.

I just hope that Mr. Chen can continue to serve here, and use his status as governor to infiltrate downwards in an all-round and three-dimensional way, and wipe out all the officials who serve the bandit army.

"Sweeping in one go" means pulling all demoted officials into the Mutual Aid Association, thereby fundamentally emptying the Xinghan regime, making it a rootless apple, and laying a solid foundation for the complete elimination of the Xinghan Army.

Commissioner Ding further explained: "Your Excellency may also know the relationship between the prince and this side, so the prince does not bear to kill each other, so he proposed the concept of a new peaceful thinking, that is, to destroy the Xinghan army without hurting the vitality of the local area. Thus realizing the final peace of Huguang."

In principle, officials above the county level must infiltrate and develop into mutual aid members, and officials below the county level should handle it according to specific circumstances.

This is also the new policy of Prince Rui's appointment as the head of the Mutual Aid Association, which is to adjust the previous high-level route to a comprehensive one.

Through the big net of the mutual aid association, all officials at all levels of the provincial capital, prefecture and county will be woven into it, and the officials who enter through these networks will make the mutual aid association bigger and stronger.

"Is it to make my mutual aid society a force that can assist the prince in his aspirations?"

This sentence was said by Lao Chen.

Obviously, the false governor of Huguang smelled political power from the prince's new policy.

Commissioner Ding nodded slightly: "My lord hopes to gain the support of all officials in the Qing Dynasty in the future."

Old Chen's face was disturbed, and he said resolutely: "Please reply to the lord, I, Chen Huizu, would like to lead all the officials in Huguang to carry the lord into the Forbidden City!"

"However, my lord has instructed otherwise,"

what instructions?
Even if Lao Chen goes offline, there are no conditions.

"Yes, of course there must be conditions, otherwise cats and dogs will get in."

Lao Chen thought it should be so, and hurriedly asked what conditions.

Commissioner Ding gave a detailed introduction to the Governor-General about the concepts of franchising that he had learned.

"Pay money to join the club in exchange for the prince's license?"

"That's what it means."

Commissioner Ding hopes that Mr. Chen can vigorously promote this franchise fee among Huguang officials, so as to raise funds for the prince's military quelling and post-disaster reconstruction.

Lao Chen murmured in his heart what kind of license fee, isn't it the redemption silver?

But I can't help feeling that Prince Rui is indeed a great hero, a great man, with strategic vision and political wisdom that ordinary people can't match.

In the face of the Qing Dynasty still having an absolute advantage, what is the most feared thing for the surrendered officials who surrendered to the Xinghan Army?
Isn't it the end of the Xinghan army, and his head fell to the ground?

It's all right now, Prince Rui thinks what they think, forgives their crimes of subjugating thieves in the name of a franchise, and gives them the opportunity to make meritorious deeds. Such a good policy does not need to be promoted by him, the governor, and will definitely win the unanimous approval of the vast number of officials. praise.

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!"

After three minutes in a row, the governor and the special commissioner began to discuss the details.

In the afternoon, a secret meeting was held in a certain room in the back of the Governor's Mansion.

In addition to Wang Wenyuan, the prefect of Wuchang, there were seven or eight officials at the government and department levels present at the meeting, all of whom were old Chen's cronies.

All of them also hold real power and are actually responsible for the money and food expenditure in the Wuchang area of ​​the Xinghan regime, including the operation of the governor's office.

All the trusted officials were unfamiliar with Commissioner Ding sitting next to the Governor, and they couldn't help showing puzzled eyes.

Wang Wenyuan, the prefect of Wuchang, asked cautiously, "My lord, who is this?"

Old Chen hurriedly got up and introduced to everyone: "This is Mr. Ding, Prince Rui's special commissioner."

"Commissioner?"

Officials expressed confusion about the position.

Old Chen further explained that he is the emissary of Prince Rui, who is directly responsible for colluding with Prince Rui on his side's affairs.

"Oh?"

Prefect Wang's eyes lit up, he hurried forward to salute, and called out very politely: "Your official, Wang Wenyuan, see Commissioner Ding!"

When the others saw this, none of them were surprised that Prince Qingrui's envoy appeared at the governor's secret meeting. Instead, they followed Wang Wenyuan's example and stepped forward to salute Commissioner Ding.

The expression on his face is both solemn and attentive.

Commissioner Ding did not put on airs, and returned the salute one by one and said: "My lords, there is no need to be like this. Ding's visit this time is purely for official business, and he will return to Xingyuan when it is over."

"Sit, all sit."

Chen Huizu smiled and motioned Commissioner Ding and his cronies to sit down, and then proudly expressed that he, Prince Mengrui, has a discerning eye and has turned to the light, and became a member of the Qing Dynasty again, and presided over the affairs of the Huguang branch of the Mutual Aid Society under the respect of Prince Rui.

Wang Zhifu got up and briefly introduced the Mutual Aid Association to everyone.

Hearing that the Qing Dynasty actually had a governor-level secret society organization, and that Prince Rui was in charge of it, all the officials couldn't help but envy, and regretted that they were not high enough to join the organization to learn and progress.

Waiting for the Governor to say that the Huguang Branch of the Mutual Aid Association, as Prince Rui's pilot, will fully accept officials at all levels to join, all the officials can't help but feel refreshed and feel very honored.

"You are people who are highly respected by your own organs and confidantes. The expansion of the Mutual Aid Association will start with you."

Old Chen coughed lightly, glanced at Commissioner Ding, and told the franchise fee after the other party nodded slightly.

Of course, more euphemistic.

The main reason is to hope that everyone can share the worries and problems of Prince Rui.

When they heard that only by paying money to join the club can they get forgiveness from Prince Rui, several officials couldn't help showing embarrassment.

It's not that he refuses to pay, but that he doesn't know how much to pay.

"Everyone,"

Commissioner Ding got up, "As the special representative of the prince, I hope you can understand the fact that such a good policy was won by the prince under great pressure, and it is also an unprecedented innovation, so I hope you will definitely Cherish this opportunity and never go further down the wrong path.”

According to the franchising regulations, the franchise fee for provincial officials is 15 taels; the prefecture-level official franchise fee is 10 taels; and the county-level official franchise fee is 5 taels.

The unified standard for officials below the county level is 3000 taels.

This is for the civil servants, and the military officer will handle it according to the regulations.

"so much?"

Hearing that government-level officials had to pay 10 taels at a time to join the membership, Shi Chaoxuan, the governor of Hubei Province, couldn't help showing distress. He was promoted from Zhizhou to be a member of the right three years ago. Chaos, so I didn't make much money from participating in politics, and even all the income from the past was only 10,000+ taels.

It is really unacceptable psychologically to take out 10 taels to join the club all at once.

After hesitating again and again, he still bit the bullet and got up weakly, and asked Commissioner Ding if the franchise fee could be reduced appropriately.

"You all know what's going on now. To be honest, it's difficult for the court, and it's even more difficult for Prince Rui. However, the prince knows that you are also difficult. That's why I have won such a good policy for you, giving you a new life." Opportunity
Personally, as the special representative of the prince, I must resolutely implement the instructions of the prince. For this, I can only say that I hope that you can understand the difficulties of the prince, and can actively share the worries and problems for the prince. In this way, the high expectations of the prince are not in vain. "

Commissioner Ding obviously does not agree with the reduction or exemption.

The payment of the franchise fee was researched by Director Xingyuanji based on market conditions, and it was basically in line with the income of officials in the Qing Dynasty, that is, most of these demoted officials could be paid out.

Distressed is distressed, but compared to organization and life, it is better to think again.

At this time, I saw that the prefect Wang of Wuchang was not happy, and he got up and said angrily, "Master Shi, what are you doing? Why don't you know how to cherish such a good opportunity! You don't want to hand it in, but I am willing!"

After finishing speaking, he bowed to the governor and Commissioner Ding: "I don't read many books, but I understand a truth, that is, as long as you gather your will, defend Prince Rui, and solve problems for Prince Rui wholeheartedly, the heaven of the Qing Dynasty It won't fall down!"

After saying that, he subconsciously wanted to shake his braids, but found that the back of his head was empty.

Only then did he realize that he was now a fake official.

The braid was cut early.

(End of this chapter)