Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 80 National Essence
The inspection department in the Ming and Qing Dynasties was actually a supplement to the power gap outside the county seat.

Most are located at transportation hubs.

It is similar to the township police station we are familiar with.

The responsibilities are very broad.

For example: inspecting passers-by and merchants, combating smuggling, and arresting thieves.

After Fan Jing takes office, he must take control of the Shihu Inspection Department as soon as possible.

Everyone inside and outside the inspection department needs to be replaced.

As for how to deal with the original dozen or so soldiers, he decided.

If he is an honest person, he will be given some money and sent home.

If it is a cunning and unruly person, Weigtang will take action and sink it directly into the stone lake.

Then, 20 people were selected from Weig Hall and incorporated into the inspection department.

Shihu Inspection Department is actually three shabby houses.

It is in a remote and desolate place with inconvenient transportation.

It is a magical and bad rule that officials do not build yamen.

After Fan Jing took office, he summoned all the soldiers.

Most of the soldiers were dismissed with silver taels, pretending that the imperial court was dismissing the old and weak.

I took the compensation money and quickly returned to my hometown.

There were three local soldiers who were unwilling to go home.

After all, I can still get 1.5 taels of silver a month, and occasionally get some extra money.

……

Fan Jing did not force him and kept these three people.

Then a notice was posted to recruit able-bodied soldiers.

In just three days, 20 big men came.

He quickly put on his uniform and wore his Yanling sword.

The small Inspection Department Yamen can hardly accommodate the crowds.

The original three people just thought it was weird.

But he didn't realize that a disaster was coming.

Late one night, someone suddenly struck a gong.

"The water bandits have come ashore."

Fan Jing quickly put on his official robe and came out to take a look.

Two miles away, the nearest village was ablaze.

"It is my duty to protect the country and the people. Brothers, please immediately grab your weapons and follow me to kill the thieves."

Along the way, he found an opportunity to quietly ask his subordinates:

"Is this arranged by the military advisor?"

"No, the military advisor arranged for the day after tomorrow!"

Fan Jing was speechless for a while, wondering which of these water bandits were so short-sighted.

Weigtang planned an incident in which "fake water bandits" came ashore and encountered the inspection department. During the fierce battle, three soldiers died unfortunately.

Reasonably eliminate the 3 local soldiers who are unwilling to leave.

As a result, today is ahead of schedule.

Fan Jing quietly winked at everyone.

There is no need to bother the water bandits for a while, just do yourself a favor.

When we arrived outside the village, we could already hear the cries in the village.

Fan Jing made a cutting gesture.

The three soldiers had no time to scream before they were stabbed.

In order to look more like it, I stabbed it from the front.

……

"Wait for the water bandits to come out in a while, kill a few and leave some alive."

Fan Jing thinks this is a good thing.

It's like a fake show for real.

Sure enough, when the water bandits led the cattle and carried the grain, the women came out.

The officers and soldiers of the inspection department who had been hiding in the dark fired their muskets.

In just one round, three water bandits fell, and the rest fled in confusion.

Master Fan drew out his sword with a smile:

"Don't chase the poor."

"Take away the bodies and kidnap them alive."

"Let's go into the village and show the majesty of our officers and soldiers, so that the village chief can testify in the future."

early morning.

The well-fed officers and soldiers left the village.

The chief also went to the county government office to testify about last night's battle.

Hundreds of water bandits landed and looted the village.

Mr. Fan, the new inspector of Shihu, led his troops to bravely kill thieves and rescued 3 women and 5 cattle.

However, three of his soldiers also died in the battle.

I handed over the paperwork and received a gentle verbal praise.

The families of the three local soldiers who died in the battle received pensions.

Frankly speaking, the Qing court did a better job than the Ming court in providing pensions to soldiers who died in war.

The Qing government really paid pensions to the families of the war dead, and the amount was reasonable.

In this regard, the Ming court lost its military morale.

……

At this point, the Shihu Inspection Department has completed all purifications.

Li Yu sent people to rebuild the house and repair the boats.

They also used wild goose feather knives and matchlock guns made in the fort to replace the original inferior swords and guns.

However, if a superior officer comes to inspect.

They will also use the original low-quality swords and guns to make up for it.

But the "fake water bandits" carefully prepared by Li Yu have no use.

Simply, use it to refine your own people.

In Lijiabao, only a few key people knew about the purification plan.

After 2 days.

While the refugee labor team was working outside the fort, the "water bandits" appeared.

They all looked fierce, their faces painted with oil paint, and their steel knives were shining brightly.

After landing from the river, he hacked a sheep to death.

The labor team suddenly exploded.

Yang Yunjiao immediately shouted:
“Gather together and pick up your farm tools.”

"The master will come to support us soon. We are not allowed to escape, otherwise we will be expelled from the labor force."

At the same time, several Lijiabao guards on horseback and carrying swords who were responsible for patrol also helped maintain order.

After a fuss and a cup of tea, the workers formed a formation like a hedgehog.

The water bandits were doing their best to scare people 50 meters away.

After a while, he held the knife and rushed forward a few steps.

After a while, he chopped the dead sheep into several pieces and threw them in front of the workers.

Sure enough, a dozen workers threw away their tools and ran away.

……

In the distance, the guards from Li Family Fort came slowly.

The "water bandits" stopped an escaped worker and hacked him to death.

Then, he boarded the ship and ran away.

Li Yu arrived on horseback and signaled to gather the workers first.

A dozen escaped workers were gathered to one side.

"Running away when something happens, disobeying orders, and ignoring your companions. Just a few thieves, why are you running away?"

"Master, I'm afraid of blood. And they really dare to kill people."

Li Yu laughed angrily, thinking that it really needed to be refined.

asked:

"They dare to kill people? Sir, I won't kill people?"

"Eating my food and living in my house, is this how you repay the master?"

Wei Xiu on the side simply added to the fire:
"Master, the most important thing our Qing Dynasty lacks is people. Let's disband the labor team and replace it with a new group of people."

"We have food to eat, housing to live in, and we can recruit as many people as we want."

Upon hearing this, more than 100 laborers were frightened.

I cursed in my heart that this girl is so cruel.

Once I lose this job, I'm afraid I won't survive for three days.

Overwhelmingly, more than 100 people knelt down, kowtowed and begged.

Li Yu was riding on the horse, looking at these people sternly without saying a word.

"What do you think we should do with these deserters?"

"Make a mistake." "No food for a day."

Suddenly, someone stood up and shouted:

"Kill them."

Li Yu stared at the man who was talking and pointed his riding whip:
"what's your name?"

"Little Liu Wu."

"Does anyone else think what Liu Wu said is right?"

"Yep."

This time, I finally got the answer I wanted.

This is voluntary for you.

……

Li Yu smiled and said:
"Since everyone thinks so, let's do it?"

Even though the weather was over 20 degrees, everyone felt the chill.

The guards of Li Family Fort had already dispersed.

He looked around at the workers in the circle with fierce eyes.

"Liu Wu, will you take the lead first?"

"Hey, good."

The man named Liu Wu picked up a hoe from the ground.

He walked over and hit a man who was kneeling down and begging hard.

His head was badly bruised, but he did not die immediately.

He raised the hoe again, but was stopped by Li Yu.

"Everyone, come together."

Time seemed to slow down as more than 100 workers holding hoes and poles silently formed a circle.

From the outside, one could only see the hoe being swung down and then raised up again.

There were screams at first, but then they stopped.

Only a dull beating sound was heard.

Yang Yunjiao glanced at the young man on the horse.

I thought to myself, this guy is really a ruthless character.

It would be great if I had never been kidnapped by the Salt Gang when I got to know him.

……

Many people threw away their hoes and knelt on the ground vomiting.

There were also some people who stood there blankly, expressionless.

These are all normal reactions.

It is impossible for people to be so calm about killing their own kind.

Unless this isn't his first time killing someone.

Li Yu called Liu Wu and asked:
"Have you ever killed anyone before?"

"Killed."

"Tell me?"

"I dare not hide it from the master. The younger one is from Linqing, Shandong Province. He was originally a carpenter."

"Linqing? I remember that the Qingshui Sect uprising was in Linqing County last year, right?"

"Yes, when I was a kid, I was making furniture in the county government office."

Li Yu smiled. Fortunately, he told the truth. "Then how did you escape?"

"The Qingshui Sect took over the county government and killed all the officials. We either joined the rebels or were hacked to death on the spot. The younger one joined the rebels and fought two battles. Later, he was defeated. The younger one was able to escape because of his good water skills. One life.”

"Have you ever killed officers and soldiers?"

"Killed a Green Camp soldier and two gentry gentlemen in the city."

"What do you feel?"

"The first time it was so painful that I couldn't even eat. After that, it was almost like killing a pig."

……

Liu Wu was appointed deputy captain of the labor team.

He has rebelled, killed officers and soldiers, and has not lied.

Li Yu felt that this person could be used.

In one fell swoop, he extended an olive branch to the workers:

"In today's world, if you want to live well, you have to rely on yourself."

"Those who want to join the guard team, please come to Liu Wu to sign up early tomorrow morning. You will be paid 1 tael of silver per month, and you won't have to do hard work."

Lijiabao's armed forces urgently need to be expanded.

If it weren't for loyalty issues, new personnel would have been recruited.

Cowardly, numb, cowardly, ignorant, cunning, there were too many such people in the Qing Dynasty.

Some people have no tile above them and no cones below. They are beaten by tax collectors today and squeezed by squires tomorrow.

But he still held his head high and said:
"This is how life should be. The emperor is wise, but these people below are too greedy."

Li Yu was so angry that he almost jumped into the river.

As time passed, his heart became harder and harder.

Today, with the blood of more than a dozen people who escaped, hundreds of workers were able to submit their names.

In the evening, there was a sudden noise outside the castle.

After asking, Li Yu found out that they were the wives and children of the dozen or so people who had escaped.

Everyone wants to drive them away.

After hesitating for a while, he sent someone to take them to Xishan Coal Mine.

Xishan Island is surrounded by water. Without a boat, it would be an isolated island.

They probably won't survive the winter.

It's just a different way to die.

……

The next day, Liu Wu handed over a list.

A total of 83 people are willing to join the escort.

It seems that the effect yesterday was good.

Li Yu was very pleased and chatted a few words:

Do you know what I'm going to do? "

"rebel."

"Are you afraid of death? People will die if they rebel."

"Go back to the master, don't be afraid if you are young."

"Oh? Talk about it."

"Officials and soldiers surrounded me from all sides. I jumped into the canal to escape. Later I begged for food and worked as a carpenter. Several times I thought I was going to die. So I really figured it out. Even if I don't rebel, I won't survive."

This answer made Li Yu feel refreshed.

He took out an arquebus from the cupboard.

"Work hard and follow me to conquer the country. Even if you die one day, I will ensure that your descendants will have enough food and clothing for the rest of their lives."

"Thank you sir."

Liu Wu quickly knelt down and kowtowed three times.

Li Yu just sat there and accepted it calmly.

It is so unrealistic that all living beings are equal.

Even hundreds of years later, there is only relative equality.

Defeat the Qing court first, then challenge human nature.

……

The 83 people who signed up received their first month's salary one by one from Li Yu.

Real money is ten times better than painted cakes.

Next, comes rigorous training.

From lining up, forming a formation, to loading muskets, it takes at least a month to barely do it.

In 3 months, you can be generally proficient.

Compared to training an elite force of cold weapons, both the time cost and the money cost are not worth mentioning.

The shortage of laborers is easy to solve.

Just set up a stall and recruit homeless people as hired workers, as many as you want.

However, the government’s reaction must be considered.

Although, now, from the prefect to the class leader, everyone takes their own benefits.

However, they were still loyal ministers of the Qing court after all.

In the face of big right and wrong, he may not dare to help Li Yu.

This brings us back to the topic Master Hu mentioned before, the legal status of mining!

As long as the Xishan Coal Mine is not on the Ministry of Household List, the local government will not take it lightly.

After all, this is just money from you.

Once trouble occurs, the court will take their lives.

This logic is very clear.

"Am I really going to find Master Hu?"

Li Yu said to himself, very unwillingly.

Master Hu's sweet dates are big and sweet, but every time you eat one, you have to pay a lot of lives.

Boss Lei and the blood of several brothers are the best evidence.

Li Yu decided to wait.

Waiting for Liu Qian to come back from Huizhou Mansion.

Understand the situation of the bandits and Wei Jun's treatment after joining the gang.

Think again!

……

"Aren, how does Master Hu's daughter look like?"

"It is said that he is pretty good. He is proficient in all kinds of music, chess, calligraphy and painting."

"What about age?"

"Cardamom Years."

Li Yu breathed a sigh of relief, that's good.

If it doesn't work, you can try another way of thinking.

Don't buy a ticket when you get on the bus, just let Lao Hu jump around.

In Fengqiao Town, the imperial envoy was on his way.

Zhang Youdao, the magistrate of Yuanhe County, finally got the chance to summon him.

It cost 200 taels to give to the family members of the imperial envoy.

His heart was bleeding and he couldn't bear it.

Since the last time he speculated, a ship of cotton sank in the Yangtze River, he has not regained his full health.

Now that the son-in-law has died of illness, the daughter can only come back to live.

Another extra expense is really annoying.

"Master Zhang, please."

Zhang Youdao concentrated his attention and entered the imperial envoy's room.

"The humble post Yuan and the county magistrate Zhang Youdao pay homage to the imperial envoy."

"Get up."

The imperial envoy is from Shangsan Banner, and is said to be somewhat related to Agui, the minister of military aircraft.

He looks very blessed, and his ears are especially long.

This is also what he is most proud of.

"Sir Zhang, I sent someone to check your county warehouse and the accounts. You did a good job."

"Thank you for your compliments, sir. Since I took office, I have never dared to slack off."

"Go down."

A short conversation without any nutrition.

Zhang Youdao sighed, knowing that this was actually perfunctory.

There is no backing in the court, so you are lucky that the imperial envoy can avoid causing trouble for you.

Forget it, let’s go back and sing with Mrs. Ru.

Being an official is really no different from singing.

They all appear on stage to see who is good at acting.

……

When the imperial envoy comes, the local government will naturally cooperate.

Giving porridge is the most cost-effective way.

A total of 30 porridge factories have been opened around Fengqiao Town alone.

Government offices, county offices, and gentry all responded positively, claiming to be porridge factories surrounding Suzhou City.

The old grain from the official warehouse and the old rice donated by kind people were all put to use.

The imperial envoy looked at the spectacular sight of eating porridge with great satisfaction.

I couldn't help but want to compose a poem, but as soon as I recited a sentence, I got stuck.

I had no choice but to give up, thinking that this Chinese thing is really difficult to learn.

No wonder the emperor always visited Qufu Kong Mansion every time he visited.

Today's porridge factories also use honeycomb briquettes.

The imperial envoy was amazed and even took a look at the finished product.

"Who invented this?"

"Li Yu, the president of our Firewood Chamber of Commerce, is a man who loves to do good deeds."

"Oh? Is anyone else there?"

"He is not here right now. He is giving porridge at Loumen in the east of the city. The imperial envoy wants to see him, so I will send someone to inform him immediately."

"Loumen",
On the northeast side of Fucheng, it belongs to Yuanhe County.

Li Yu and his people started serving porridge here early in the morning.

Firstly, he responded to the government's call, and secondly, he actually did some good deeds.

By the way, I want to recruit some young people without family members.

6 pots are lined up.

"It's time to give out porridge. One bowl per person, get in line!"

The guise of Weig Hall was fluttering on one side for all passersby to see.

……

The number of hungry people is really terrible.

At first, there were only 40 people waiting in line in front of each big pot, but it soon turned into a queue with no end in sight.

As soon as the news of "Porridge soup in Loumen" spread, hungry people outside the city came in droves.

At noon, the mountains and plains were already crowded with people.

Beads of sweat broke out on Li Yu's forehead. He pulled Fan Jing over:

"Go to the county government office immediately and please send a government servant to maintain order."

"I don't feel good, something will happen soon."

"Go to the grain store and bring 5 more carts of grain. We can't run out of grain."

The hungry people, covered in darkness, moving slowly and with numb expressions, were like zombies.

From time to time someone fell down and could never get up again.

On the city wall, onlookers exclaimed from time to time, their faces full of excitement.

Don’t be surprised, watching the excitement is one of the quintessences of the Chinese nation.

As long as it has nothing to do with you, you can watch the fun.

The harsh existence has caused many people to lose their empathy.

On the contrary, seeing the miserable state of similar people can become a kind of self-comfort and relieve one's own spiritual pain.

Commonly known as Ah Q’s spiritual victory method.

……

(End of this chapter)