When Hunjun begins to make elixirs

Chapter 425 Reward
In the summer of the seventh year of Shengtong, food was in short supply in various parts of Dayin, and famine was gradually emerging. Li Shun sent Minister of Household Affairs Xiang Minghui to preside over a national industrial and commercial conference in Longdu Mansion. In addition to announcing the latest commercial tax law, he also requested that it be controlled by the imperial court. Grain prices prohibit grain merchants from hoarding.

It has to be said that human potential is endless. After Li Shun repeatedly rejected the reform of the commercial tax law by the Cabinet and the Privy Council, it was finally completed.

In the newly built Great Hall of Longdu Mansion, Xiang Minghui, dressed in a red official suit, spoke to the big businessmen from the north and south.

"The emperor has worked hard, and all the ministers have been working hard and night, and finally re-enacted the new commercial tax law, in order to make all our businesses in Dayin prosper. The national crisis is imminent, and the world is difficult. We should work together to overcome the difficulties."

"As the old saying goes, food is the most important thing for the people! Eating food is the top priority for the people. Dayin has been war-torn for years, the land is barren, the population has dropped sharply, and food is in short supply. In some places, people have begun to The bark is chewed, but some people’s warehouses are overflowing with food.”

"This is an attempt to enrich the country, which is in dire straits!"

"Your Majesty knows that many of you colluded with the Shenmu Cult in the rebellion war and betrayed the country and supported the enemy. However, there are also some who stick to their loyalty and would rather die than sell a grain of rice or a foot of cloth to the enemy. They are worthy of our dynasty. Business model."

"According to the emperor's decree, I hereby commend you..."

Xiang Minghui read out a large list of people who had fled, and told their deeds and actions one by one. They were all given plaques of righteous businessmen. As for those whose names were not called, they were already sweating profusely.

They were frightened and anxious, and the description to Minghui was too detailed, as if they had witnessed it with their own eyes. So were the things they did also controlled by the court? What does the imperial court want to do with itself?

Xiang Minghui glanced around and said with a half-smile: "Okay, everyone should follow the example of these righteous merchants, work hard, and be loyal to the emperor. Now there is an opportunity to serve Dayin. I wonder if you are interested? "

"You are all big families in the local area and have a lot of wealth. Now Dayin is in ruins and waiting to be revitalized. However, the treasury is empty and many measures of the court cannot be implemented. I wonder if you have any solutions?"

The merchants looked at each other, were they ready to beat them? But they had just recovered from the war. Although some of them did business with the Shenmu Sect, they didn't make much money. The Shenmu Sect is not easy to deal with either. In addition, those who really made a fortune for the country were executed by the government long after they regained their lost land and had no chance to attend this meeting.

These people, whether they are fish that slipped through the net or small fish and shrimps, have not committed any major sins.

Someone said cautiously: "Sir, do you want us to donate?"

Xiang Minghui chuckled and said: "Don't talk nonsense. I am not a person who steals and plunders, and the court is not a place where bones are broken and marrow is sucked out. Everyone, please follow me to this place."

Xiang Minghui stood up, and the merchants followed him doubtfully.

At Longdu West Station, all the merchants were amazed when they saw the train running.

Xiang Minghui said: "The emperor wants to build a railway between the north and the south for transportation between the north and the south. What do you think?"

All the merchants were overjoyed: "Good thing! If there is this thing, trade between the north and the south will be very smooth."

Xiang Minghui said again: "In that case, how about using the railway's ten-year operating income as a guarantee for the imperial court to borrow money from you?"

The businessmen were shocked: "Huh? The court wants to borrow money from us?"

They would rather donate and contribute a small amount of money than lend money to the court. Credit is important when borrowing money, but how can the court have any credibility with them?

Those officials hold power, but if they don't get ahead, it's easy to kill them for any reason. In the past, it was not uncommon for the court to borrow money from businessmen. At first, everyone thought they could get benefits, but in the end, each ended up worse than the other. Seeing their hesitation, Xiang Minghui thought to himself: "They are all a bunch of people who don't eat and drink fine wine when toasting." He shook his sleeves: "The construction of the railway will benefit the country and the people, and it will be more beneficial to you businessmen. If you are willing to contribute, , It’s built and convenient for use. If you don’t, merchants will be charged heavy taxes when using trains! After all, commercial and civilian use are two different concepts.”

All the merchants raised their heads and looked at Xiang Minghui, thinking: "This is the true face of these evil wolves that eat people without spitting out their bones."

Xiang Minghui said coldly: "Everyone, please think clearly."

Xiang Minghui understands very well that these businessmen are afraid of power but not virtue, and they think you are weak and can be bullied.

The meeting lasted for three days. Three days later, Xiang Minghui returned to the capital with the signed agreement. This time, the imperial court borrowed a total of 23 million taels from the participating merchants, exceeding the task assigned by the emperor.

With this money, construction of the North-South Railway could begin soon.

At the same time, Li Shun also issued orders to the various military armament areas on army reorganization and disarmament.

With the establishment of the Southern Arms District and the formation of the New Army in the South, streamlining and selecting the army has become a top priority. Adding the old army and the new northern army together, the daily consumption of more than one million soldiers is astronomical, and it is still increasing.

Long-term pain is worse than short-term pain, so Li Shun decided to lay off half of the army in one breath. The total strength of the country was maintained at about one million, with half of the quota allocated to the north and the south.

From this, a vigorous parallel movement of military reorganization and disarmament began.

Of course, these things have nothing to do with Yan Dahu and others. They, the army commanders and generals, were all recalled to the capital. Li Shun held a special awards ceremony to promote meritorious ministers.

Above the court, thirty-eight army generals represented by Yan Dahu, Feng Man, Chen Luo, etc. were all awarded titles.

"The emperor was entrusted with the destiny of heaven, and the edict said: General Jianwei Yan Dahu, who is loyal and brave, has good command, and has meritorious service in battles, is specially promoted to General Xuanwei, and is given the title of First-class Marquis of Wu Zhong, a reward of ten thousand taels of gold, and the third grade of Wuling Pavilion. The first of the eighteen generals."

Yan Dahu stepped forward to hand back the military talisman, knelt down and thanked him: "I thank the emperor for your kindness, long live my emperor." Then, including Feng Man and Chen Luo, they all advanced to the first level and were given titles and rewards.

After the reward was awarded, Li Shun looked at Feng Man, who had actually lost an arm, and comforted him: "Feng Aiqing was injured for the country, and my heart aches."

Feng Man smiled helplessly. He escaped from the beauties and spells of the Shenmu Sect, but was injured by a hidden arrow when he was annihilating the rebel king. It was really hard to accept.

Feng Man said: "I thank the emperor for your concern."

Li Shundao: "Don't worry, my dear, I will ask the Shenji Manufacturing Office to find a way to refine a prosthetic arm for you, and keep it the same as a real arm. You can still serve me."

Feng Manque said: "Your Majesty, I am nearly fifty years old and my body is getting weaker and weaker. Please allow me to retire and return to my hometown."

How could Li Shun be willing to let him go? He said directly: "Ai Qing is in the prime of life and shows no sign of aging. How can you come up with the idea of ​​​​retiring?"

Feng Man also wanted to fight for himself: "Your Majesty, minister..."

(End of this chapter)