Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 268: The Taoist priest of the Great Qing Dynasty: Be ruthless, we, the horse-riding ones, even dare to burn our own rations!
Yu Yunhe had a ferocious expression and slammed the table:
"I have looked at the accounts over the years and found that there should be 4 shi of fine grain and 15 shi of coarse grain in the four official warehouses directly under the Grain Control Road Yamen."

"You are trying to resist all odds, but there is a deficit in the account?"

Seeing the chief officer being so direct, the subordinates realized that this was a very difficult time.

An old official came out of the queue, cupped his hands and said:

"Daotai, there is no supply now. Just wait for another month at most for the autumn grain to arrive in the warehouse.

"What I'm asking is why the grain stored in the Qingjiangpu granary cannot be transferred?"

The old official sighed, leaned forward and said softly:

"Come back to me, Sir, there is no food in the library now."

"What?" Yu Yunhe jumped up from the chair and grabbed the old official, "Ten tens of thousands of grains of grain were all corrupted? How many heads do you have?"

……

"I am a new officer. The worst is that the two will break up and the sky will be broken:"

……

"Prince Jia can kill all his colleagues in the Liangdao Yamen. But it's still the same when a new official takes office. Otherwise, who will make up for the shortfall? Who will distribute the blessings?"

……

"Sir, if this happens, your work this year will be in vain."

Yu Yunhe's face turned pale and he waved his hand:

Everyone was chirping:

The lobby was dead silent.

The old official rolled his eyes, stepped forward and whispered a few words.

The news of encountering a ghost while walking at night in Duliangdao Yamen spread quickly.

Yu Yunhe's eyes were red and he couldn't sleep for two consecutive nights under the pressure.

Yangzhou Prefecture's grain supervisor, surnamed Jin, was an old man who supervised grain exports.

Yu Yunhe was stunned, and suddenly he felt a cold air coming from behind.

"Master Yu is a noble son of a noble family and does not understand the operating specifications of the Yamen below. The Liangdao Yamen sells high and buys low, which is a rule passed down from the time of the Holy Ancestor."

"My lord, please calm down. The subordinates all know that you are speaking out of anger. We need to discuss this matter in detail. The Liangdao Yamen has nothing wrong at all."

There were no secrets in the officialdom of the Qing Dynasty.

"Every year when there is a lean season, the price of grain is the highest. The brothers sell the grain in the storehouse and exchange it for money. After a month or two, the autumn grain will be on the market on a large scale, and the price of grain is the lowest. At this time, if you spend money to buy grain, it will be Once you do it, you can make a lot of money out of thin air."

The undisguised disdain in the eyes of his subordinates seemed to be mocking him for being a food supervisor with his elbows turned outward.

Although the officials of the Qing Dynasty did not understand what finance was, they were truly proficient in finance.

Yu Yunhe's tone also softened a lot, and he said with a sad face:

"Then what you mean is that all the fault lies with Prince Jia?"

"Then what do you think we should do?"

"Prince Jia is urging us hard. If we can't transport even a grain of rice, we will lose our heads by then. You first use the money to redeem a batch of grain and escort it to the front line in northern Anhui to meet the urgent need."

He thought for a moment, then stepped out to dissuade him:

"Don't panic, Sir. Just listen to us on this matter. When the court's sword falls, the subordinates will go to the execution ground first."

"Yes, yes, you really can't blame the brothers. Not only our Liang Dao Yamen did this, but all the grain roads in the Qing Dynasty did this privately."

"No, no, absolutely not."

Jin Tongpan continued:

The magistrates and magistrates in charge of food supply in various prefectures came to inquire about the news one after another with evil intentions.

He pointed at these subordinates and cursed:

Everyone nodded, their stance was very clear.

What is difficult is nothing more than four words: sell high and buy low.

The entire Duliangdao Yamen is so united, shouldn't they silence themselves as the chief officer first?

"Correct."

"This money was earned openly and cleanly."

Everyone nodded like garlic.

Yu Yunhe also realized that he had offended the public.

"No matter what, you first gather 10,000 to 20,000 shi of food to stabilize the army in northern Anhui. After three to five days at night, the paper will really not be able to contain the fire."

……

The old official laughed and said:
"Don't worry, sir. The food is all there, but it's just in a different way."

"Daotai, who could have expected that this would happen suddenly?"

"Comrades, please disperse. I will think about it again."

After leaving the yamen, Tongpan Lao Jin became the backbone of everyone.

"Master Jin, what do you think we should do?"

"We all listen to you."

Lao Jin cupped his hands and said:
"Comrades, I am young and dare not take responsibility in Daotai, but I, Lao Jin, dare to do it. It is impossible for us to redeem the grain in the storehouse."

Everyone cheered.

"However, Prince Jia oversees Wanbei, if we insist on carrying it to death, many people will probably die."

……

Everyone was silent, knowing that this was the truth.

A young prince can easily be provoked into violent behavior.

Lao Jin said softly:
"Choose an escort to judge. Sacrifice him and save everyone."

"Old Wang, what do you think?"

Wang Jihuai, the general magistrate in charge of grain management in Yangzhou, turned pale, trembling all over and even couldn't stand firm.

Everyone looked at him with pity.

The imperial court has regulations:
Every year, each province selects one person from the grain management general to serve as the escort general and is responsible for transporting grain from the province to Beijing.

This is a very risky job, and if you make a mistake, you will be convicted.

Of course, the risks are high and the rewards are high.

If someone escorts grain shipments three times in a row without loss in quantity, he can be upgraded to a level immediately! Those who perform outstandingly can even get a face from heaven.

……

Wang Tongfeng escorted the grain from the three prefectures in Jiangbei last year, but 3% of it was lost on the way.

The escorting soldiers never left their posts and never encountered water thieves. But the fully loaded grain ship was inexplicably empty.

The governor of Cangchang stationed in Tongzhou was furious and did not kill him immediately. He wanted him to go back to make up for some shortcomings and then be exiled as appropriate.

Within this year,

Inquiries from all parties have yielded no results. Who plotted last year's escort is still an unsolved mystery.

He was originally chubby and became a stick.

……

Wang Jihuaai burst into tears, choked with sobs for a long time and said:

"Everyone, please don't treat my family badly."

Lao Jin nodded seriously:
"Rules are more important than heaven. Just go ahead with peace of mind."

Everyone also quickly raised their hands and saluted in unison.

On that day, the Duliang Road Yamen started to get busy.

Yu Yunhe received a written report. He stayed up all night and silently stamped and signed it the next day.

Qingjiangpu Pier,
The hard laborers carrying grain bags were busy going back and forth, and the fleet hoisted the flag of "Supervision of Grain by Order" and announced that it was setting sail with a full load.

It's just that the waterline doesn't look like it's fully loaded.

……

Wang Tongpan of Yangzhou Prefecture was relieved.

Walking briskly, his face glowing, he greeted everyone.

An insider said that Lao Wang stayed in a secret door for two days and two nights without going out!
When he boarded the ship, he brought more than a dozen jars of old wine with him. He had no official prestige. He drank heavily with the sailors and soldiers on the ship, called himself brothers, and behaved wildly.

Boat to Hongze Lake,
As usual, they anchored on the west bank. Wang Tong ordered the ships to be densely packed to guard against thieves.

A fire broke out suddenly at night, and the fire took advantage of the wind and burned the entire fleet into a fireball.

Escorting the soldiers, the sailors jumped into the water to survive.

They swam to the shore and witnessed the crazy Wang Tongpan standing on the boat shouting:

"Yangzhou Prefecture has sentenced Wang Jihuai, and he was deliberately set on fire while escorting grain and grass. I am sorry for the emperor and the court, and I have no shame in escaping."

After shouting, he opened his arms and rushed into the sea of ​​fire.

There were hundreds of witnesses at the scene.

All in all, "tens of thousands of stones of grain and grass" were burned to ashes in the fire and sank into the lake.

……

The people who reported the news were divided into two groups.

All the way to the Wanbei Army and all the way back to Huai'an Prefecture.

Afterwards, the Duliangdao Yamen reported the matter to the Chief Envoy Yamen, Jiangbei Daying, and the capital.

Because the crime occurred in Sizhou, Anhui Province.

So this major fire case involved another unlucky guy, Sizhou Zhizhou!

The Yamen Supervising Food Road insisted that the person responsible was the escort officer!
Since Wang Jihuaai has committed suicide by throwing himself into the fire, the deceased is the most important, so it is not appropriate to pursue the case any further. After all, his attitude is very upright and he will die if he wants to.

In the Qing Dynasty, except for treason and treason, it was generally not recommended to attack the deceased!
It is easy to be criticized as: inhumane!
……

Sizhou Zhizhou was frightened.

As soon as possible, they sent out capable government officials to investigate and arrest people and look for clues.

Every chain of evidence points to the false king of Wu in Jiangnan.

There is a motive: burning food and grass indirectly supports the remnants of the religious bandits. There is a criminal record: it seems that the official warehouse in Yangzhou was burned.

Strong: No explanation.

Anyone who dares to doubt is a potential "Jiangnan element."

The Duliangdao Yamen decisively sent troops to arrest five suspects who were analyzing the strange circumstances of the case at Qingjiangpu Wharf, including a shopkeeper, a coolie, and three sailors.

After being sentenced to severe punishment, they successfully obtained a confession and physical evidence that they had "accepted black money from the Jiangnan anti-thief".

Beheaded in public parade.

……

Hu Zuoyou, the prefect of Yangzhou, sent detailed files on the "Burning of Grain Ships in Hongze Lake" incident, as well as the documents between various yamen.

The chief envoy Qian Feng read it three times but hesitated to speak.

Finally he asked:
"How's it going with Prince Jia?"

"Xingyuan Yiwen asked the Huai'an Duliangdao Yamen to transport grain and grass again, but he was declined. After all, it has been delivered once. The Duliangdao Yamen now has no surplus grain, which is reasonable."

"What about the shortage of military rations?"

"I suggest Prince Jia stop suppressing bandits, collect food on the spot, and suffer more for the people of northern Anhui."

"Have the Sizhou officials found any clues?"

"The waves in Hongze Lake were so strong that the boat sank and nothing could be found. I arrested a few fishermen and they confessed that they seemed to have seen the thief's boat. It must be the fake King of Wu."

Seeing that Qian Feng wanted to be more serious, Magistrate Hu quickly added another blow:

"There is also a history of arson."

Last year, Fukang'an inspected Yangzhou City and was attacked where he stayed. The whole city of Yangzhou heard the sound of cannon!
After taking inventory, it was found that ten or eight official warehouses were burned down in the city.

This blame must be placed on Li Yu's forehead.

……

Qian Feng sighed and closed the file silently.

Magistrate Hu also breathed a sigh of relief and left the Chief Envoy's Yamen.

The confidant suddenly said:

"Master Fu, we shouldn't have allocated the 1 shi of military rations to Jiangbei Camp last time. It's a pity to give the white rice to Qiu Ba and others. We will do the same next time~"

"Shut up."

……

Wanbei camp,

A group of generals sat in the tent depressedly, looking at the backbone of their superiors.

Prince Jia Yongyan coughed twice and said:

"I have already written to several surrounding governments, asking them to quickly support military supplies and fill the gap."

"Your Majesty, Xuzhou Town is willing to continue to pursue and annihilate the remaining enemies." Wang Shiren, the commander-in-chief of Xuzhou Town, said with cupped hands.

"But there is no extra rations in the camp."

"Go back to your lord. The autumn harvest is around the corner. Just let the war horses eat the crops along the way."

"Isn't this inappropriate?"

"Your Majesty is kind and willing to pay a small price for a greater victory."

Yongyan nodded, feeling that it made sense.

"Where are the soldiers' rations?"

"You can raise food along the way. The common people love the imperial court, and they will definitely eat pots of pulp to welcome the king."

"Wang Zongrong is loyal to state affairs, and I will ask for credit on your behalf."

"Xuzhou Town thanks the prince for his kindness. I just want to add some war horses."

"Give you 100 horses?"

"Whoo."

Wang Shiren left happily, ready to grab a few more victories.

In fact, the Shun Dao Rebellion no longer exists. Either die or escape.

However, this does not affect the suppression of bandits.

Wang Shiren can point to the sun and swear:

"The number of beheadings I will be planning on this trip depends on how many people I can see in my sight."

Yongyan is still too young and doesn’t understand the rules here. During this time, he has identified the leaders of more than 4 level bandits.

He was regarded as a money-spreading boy by the Qiu Ba below!

It wasn't until the Ministry of War forwarded Qianlong's handwriting that he suddenly realized what he was doing.

……

Anhui, 150 miles west of Chizhou Prefecture, Huangshiji.

The four five-star bastions have been completed.

Among them, there are three forts that are at the corners of each other, distributed in an equilateral triangle, and are 3 miles apart.

The other fort exists alone, 1 miles away from the fort group.

Miao Youlin stood at the corner of this lonely fortress, holding up a telescope.

"The view is really good, you can see everything at a glance."

"There is such a mound within a radius of dozens of miles. The Qing army will definitely attack here."

"Old Zhang, you are a staff officer. You don't need to accompany me here. I will send a few cavalry to take you back."

Zhang Changguang didn't say a word, his fear was real.

But he wants to be an official even more!
Miao Youlin seemed to be able to read minds. He turned his back to him and said:
"Wealth is found in danger!"

"Ah."

……

There is a forest 1 mile away,

The soldiers took turns to cut down all the trees, and the trunks were brought back and tied into wooden rafts and erected on the outer wall, with square shooting holes dug in the middle.

If you don't chop it now, the enemy will use it to make shields, siege equipment, ladders, etc. when they come.

Even if you can't spare the manpower to cut it down, you still have to set it on fire.

In war, everything must be done by any means necessary.

Late in the evening, before the sun fades away.

The fort again drew water from a nearby river, boiled it and allowed it to cool before allowing the soldiers to fill their skins.

"Master Miao, will there be a shortage of water?"

"It's not a big problem. The groundwater level in the areas along the river is high." Miao Youlin poked the ground with his sword. "I estimate that we can dig out water by at most 2 feet."

Zhang Changguang followed behind, thoughtfully.

People who come out of the General Staff Headquarters have certain fixed thinking patterns:

For example, before a defensive war, first consider fortifications, firearm arrangements, and ammunition, and then consider troop strength, food, fresh water, and weather.

……

At night, there was dead silence.

Wooden poles were erected on the plank road of the bastion, with more than a dozen air-dead wind lanterns hung on them, and sentries were placed at each corner.

At the end of summer, the temperature is not too cold.

In the middle of the night, a dozing sentry got up to put out water and looked up in a daze.

Not a single light can be seen around!

The hair all over his body stood up instantly!
I rubbed my eyes hard, but still couldn't see anything.

He immediately kicked his sleeping companion:
"Get up, something's wrong."

"Enemy attack?" His companion immediately jumped up and grabbed the gong to warn him.

"Wait a moment."

The two of them calmed down, and there seemed to be no sign of enemy attack? It was very quiet inside the castle, and one could still hear the snoring one after another.

There was also dead silence outside the castle.

……

The two of them walked along the plank road for more than ten feet, and finally saw the dim light of the angry wind lantern hanging on the pole.

He poked his head out of the low wall again and suddenly realized something.

They all said in unison: "It's foggy."

Gan Changsheng, the star officer on duty at night, also discovered the abnormality in the weather.
He walked over holding the hilt of the sword, moving forward and backward repeatedly to observe the visible distance of the lamp.

Finally, he took a breath:
"The visibility is less than 5 feet."

"Quick, wake up all the sentries immediately and get to their posts. I'll report to the deputy commander."

Gan Changsheng jumped off the plank road and ran to Miao Youlin's house.

He banged on the door and shouted through the wooden window:

"Deputy Commander-in-Chief, we have urgent matters."

Miao Youlin was wearing single clothes, grabbed his sword and musket and rushed out.

As soon as he looked up, he understood what was going on.

There was tension in his tone:

"Such a heavy fog? Something happened!"

"Bing the gong."

It was quiet late at night, the gongs sounded harsh, and the sleeping soldiers woke up from their sleep and rushed out of the house.

Many people didn't have time to wear their military uniforms, but they didn't forget to pick up their weapons!

……

(End of this chapter)