My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 202 The money is worth it

"Zhu Xieyuan."

Looking at the familiar name on the memorial, Zhu Youxiao touched his chin.

The She'an Rebellion was divided into two stages.

The first stage was the She Chongming Rebellion.

She Chongming killed the governor of Sichuan and gathered troops to first fall and restart, and then besieged Chengdu, which was defended by Zhu Xieyuan, the chief envoy of Sichuan.

Then, Wang Sanshan, the newly appointed governor of Guizhou by the imperial court, joined forces with Zhu Xieyuan, the chief envoy who was promoted to governor of Sichuan. He then joined forces with the remnants of the Yiyang soldiers and Shizhu recruits who had withdrawn from Liaodong, totaling more than 20,000 people. It took three years to defeat the enemy.

But at this point in time, it was the end of the third year of Tianqi, and something happened within the Ming Dynasty - Wei Zhongxian, who was gaining momentum.

There was a dispute between the DPRK and the Central Government as to whether the southeastern region should return its native land to local rule and establish state capitals to govern the region, or whether to continue the policy of setting up chieftains to regulate the region.

Wang Sanshan, who was fighting the rebellion at the front, led the army to stay in the rebel hinterland Dafang (now northwest Guizhou) for more than 40 days. Grain and grass gradually ran out and they began to retreat.

During the retreat, they were followed and attacked by the rebels. Chinese Army Staff General Wang Jianzhong and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Qin Minping were killed in the battle.

The Ming army fought and retreated. When they retreated to Neizhuang, their retreat was blocked. Wang Sanshan returned to the army to rescue. Chen Qiyu, a general from the ethnic minority, rebelled again, resulting in Wang Sanshan's tragic death in the army.

The second stage was the rebellion between She Chongming and An Bangyan.

This time, the war lasted from the fourth year of Tianqi to the third year of Chongzhen.

But now, none of this will happen.

Because Wang Sanshan, Zhu Xieyuan, and Qin Liangyu spent 200,000 taels from the military expenditure of 500,000 taels given by the emperor to reorganize or bribe almost all the elite soldiers of the Sichuan and Chongqing chieftains.

The Ming Dynasty made the best use of the chieftain soldiers.

Wolf soldiers, local soldiers, barbarians, barbarian soldiers, etc. from various military chieftains such as the Xuanwei Division, Xuanfu Division, Appeasement Division, and Changguan Division have been mobilized to fight for the country in recent years.

Especially in Guangxi and Guizhou, as early as the ninth year of Hongzhi, Deng Tingzhan, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, reported that Guangxi had a large number of Yao children and a small number of native people. In addition, eighty-nine out of ten soldiers in the guards died. All recruitment was done by native soldiers.

Guizhou, on the other hand, is weakly armed and must rely on Shuixi for conquest.

In Sichuan, the troops in central Sichuan were weak, and only chieftains were mobilized for each expedition.

Moreover, another point is that when using the chieftain soldiers, the imperial court followed the principle of having sex for free and never paying for it, allowing these people to provide their own food and salary.

Of course, this was achieved mainly because of the restraint policy. The seal of comfort given to them would give them huge appeal.

But now, with a stroke of his pen, the emperor asked Wang Sanshan and Qin Liangyu to take away 500,000 silver coins when they went south, and asked Qin Liangyu to recruit 20,000 troops.

Then, Zhu Xieyuan, the chief envoy of Sichuan, proposed to recruit troops from various chieftains. After Wang Sanshan made the decision, and the official order was issued, Sichuan became agitated.

Silver, that's white money, money that can be used to buy things in the market.

The chieftains were extremely flattering for the military pay in Qin Liangyu's hands.

Don't dare to rob, anyone who thinks of it is crazy.

Not to mention there are more than two thousand famous stone pillar and white pole soldiers, who are also veterans.

Just the reputation of Qin Liangyu, a traditional hot girl from Sichuan, is enough to suppress many people's evil intentions.

In the four provinces of Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou and Guangxi, there are many chieftains and few people, and they are less harmed by corrupt Confucianism. There are not so many restrictions on women, and there are many women who can beat them.

A good thing is to think about your own people first, and first recruited 3,000 new soldiers from Shizhu Thirty-Six Village. After gathering the total of 5,000, Qin Liangyu trained new soldiers in Chongqing with the establishment given by the emperor.

Continuing to read Wang Sanshan's memorial, Zhu Youxiao finally understood why this situation occurred.

To put it bluntly, it’s still a matter of money.

Silver is poison to the southeast.

But for the southwest, it is a treasure.

The places south of the Yangtze River are close to the sea, and there is a maritime trading port called Yuegang in Fujian to obtain silver from the sea. There is inflation in the area.

The four regions of Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou and Guangxi are extremely short of money and suffering from deflation.

For thousands of years, the local money shortage problem has not been solved.

Since the emergence of Jiaozi in the former Song Dynasty, the local money shortage problem has been alleviated to some extent.

But once the banknotes are damaged, big problems will immediately arise in the local economy.

After listening to the emperor talk about money and silver coins several times in the capital, Wang Sanshan also kept an eye on it and asked Zhu Xieyuan, the chief envoy who had been there for a long time, about the situation.

According to Zhu Xieyuan, in Sichuan and Chongqing, one tael of silver can only be exchanged for four to five hundred copper coins and seven hundred iron coins.

Although this number seems small, if you refer to another thing, well salt, you can know the extent of the local shortage of money.

Well salt in Sichuan costs five cents per pound, and grain costs four cents per stone.

What stands out is that money is expensive and things are cheap.

The purchasing power of one tael of silver in the capital can reach 30 taels in Sichuan and Chongqing.

This is the price after going through layers of scrutiny by the court and merchants.

"The shortage of money is so serious, no wonder the chieftains are flocking to it."

Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but think of the fact that many places in Sichuan had sent troops to the imperial court in history.

Starting from the late Wanli period, the imperial court began to pay the chieftain soldiers, and the enthusiasm of the people in Sichuan for serving as soldiers was very high.

After reading Wang Sanshan's memorial, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but think about it.

The She'an Rebellion that spread throughout the four provinces of Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou and Guangxi in history was caused by backward production conditions, excessive labor, and insufficient currency and goods on the market. This rebellion.

In the words of later generations, the unemployment rate is too high.

The Ming Dynasty's mutual trade with the Mongolian tribes in the north only began during the Jiajing period.

But there has never been any control over the mutual trade between the Jisi chieftains in the south.

A Shuixi chieftain could easily recruit 20,000 people and send them to Chongqing to answer the imperial conscription, although what they ended up doing was rebellion.

It can be seen from this that the two hundred years of free-stocking policy started by Zhu Yuanzhang, even if there was a wave of Ping Yang Yinglong, the power of the chieftains in the south was still excessively expanded.

"Deflation will lead to an increase in the unemployment rate. If there is a slight disturbance, the pressure cooker will explode. This money can cool down the pressure cooker."

Zhu Youxiao didn't feel angry about Wang Sanshan using Shang Fang's sword and silver in such a way. Instead, he thought about Southeast's solution.

Should we now spend money to recruit chieftains from Burma or Annan to divert the conflict?

As soon as this idea came to his mind, Zhu Youxiao quickly shook his head and shook it out.

One table of food and two tables of guests is an unacceptable idea.

"Wang Sanshan has done a good job. Regarding the issue of the southeastern chieftains, he will not fight if he can."

After slowly closing the memorial, Zhu Youxiao looked at Huang Kezhan who was still standing in the hall and said.

"Now the Ming Dynasty is already a little stretched just to stabilize Liaodong, and it has no ability to open another battlefield."

"Your Majesty, I'll see you soon."

Hearing this, Wang Sanshan raised his hands and agreed.

"Now all the elite troops of Sichuan's capital division are in Liaodong. If the southeast is no longer stable, I'm afraid the Sichuan soldiers will not be willing to fight."

"Yes."

Sighing, Zhu Youxiao looked at Huang Kezhan and asked.

"Has my order for Tong Zhongkui to lead the Sichuan troops back to Shu arrived in Liaodong?"

"Back to the emperor, I came today to talk about this matter."

Hearing the emperor talking about Tong Zhongkui's Sichuan soldiers, Huang Kezhan quickly took out another memorial and said.

"Liaodong Economic Strategy Xiong Tingbi reported that the situation in Liaodong has changed. Please postpone the return of Sichuan troops."

"What kind of change happened?" Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao was shocked and asked sharply.

"Is it possible that Liao Chen lost it?"

He beheaded two censors alive to support Xiong Tingbi.

If Xiong Tingbi loses Liao Chen after repelling Nuerhachi head-on, then he, the emperor, will become passive in the capital.

"Back to the emperor, Governor Sun is stationed in Liaodong. His reward is now tentatively in the hearts of the people of Liaoshen. There is no danger of losing the land."

Seeing the emperor's serious expression, Huang Kezhan said quickly.

"It's about Kaiyuan and Tieling."

"tell me the story."

Seeing this, Zhu Youxiao motioned to the eunuch to bring up the memorial.

"Since the second month of February when Xiong Jingluo annihilated the two white banners of Jiannu and forced the bandit chiefs to retreat, the bandit chiefs had the desire to give in and wanted to send Kaiyuan, Tieling and the northern city passes to the Khalkha tribes in Inner Mongolia."

"Nekalkha?"

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao quickly took out the map from the drawer and looked at it.

The Ming Dynasty's territory in Liaodong was centered on Liaoshen, and then there was a protrusion to the north - Kaiyuan and Tieling.

This protruding part is bounded by Horqin in the north, Yehe Jurchen in the east, and the Inner Khalkha tribes in the west.

Kaiyuan is the trading place of Yehe, and Tieling is the trading place of Inner Khalkha.

Yes, there is no Horqin tribe.

The Ming Dynasty's policy towards Mongolia was to support one faction and fight another, and Horqin was the one who was beaten.

Now, if Jiannu gives Kaiyuan and Tieling to Inner Khalkha, and if the other side accepts it, then the Ming Dynasty and Mongolia will definitely start a fight.

Because behind Inner Khalkha is Lin Dan Khan, a representative figure who is a descendant of the Mongolian Golden Family, with a heart as high as the sky and a life as thin as paper.

"Your Majesty, according to Xiong Jinglue's report, ever since Zaisai was released and Jian Nu sent a letter to give the two lands to the Inner Khalkha tribes, the five Inner Khalkha tribes are still arguing."

Seeing the emperor starting to read the memorial, Huang Kezhan said in time.

"Xiong Jinglue is worried about arousing the fear of the tribes in Inner Khalkha, so he has not yet sent troops to regain Kaiyuan and Tieling."

"When you fight a wolf with a straw, you are afraid of both sides."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao put down Xiong Tingbi's memorial, shook his head and said.

"Xiong Tingbi was afraid that sending troops would arouse the fear of the tribes in Inner Khalkha, and the Inner Khalkha was also afraid of causing dissatisfaction with the Ming Dynasty."

"In the past, Mu Zong decided that Tieling would be the location for their mutual trade in Inner Khalkha. This is why Zasai sent troops to ambush Jiannu.

"Let Xiong Tingbi do it boldly, they will not dare to accept this gift."

"But if there are people in the Inner Khalkha tribes who are dissatisfied."

After hearing the emperor's words, Huang Kezhan slightly disagreed.

"Even if Kaiyuan Tieling is recaptured, it will still be a situation where two enemies are facing each other. One careless move and the whole game will be lost."

"The affairs of Liaodong should not just focus on the Inner Khalkha tribes and Jiannu."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and motioned Huang Kezhan to come forward to his desk.

"Kaiyuan and Tieling are not facing enemies on two sides, but are surrounded by enemies on three sides. The Inner Khalkha tribes are in the west, Horqin is in the north, and Yehe is in the east."

"Now Ye He has been destroyed by Jiannu, and the relationship between Horqin and our Ming Dynasty has always been extremely bad. I read the Jinyiwei secret report and found that some of the leaders of Jiannu married Horqin women. As time goes by, I am worried that Horqin will turn to Jiannu. .”

"Your Majesty wants to..."

After hearing the emperor's words, Huang Kezhan raised his head and said incredulously.

"Winning over Horqin?"

"good."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao narrowed his eyes.

"Tell me, if I let Horqin trade in Tieling, would they start a fight with Nei Khalkha?"

"this."

Hearing this, Huang Kezhan touched his long beard and carefully thought about the possibilities in the emperor's words.

"It's not impossible. The relationship between the Mongols is complicated, and I'm afraid they can't tell the difference themselves. Among the five Inner Khalkha tribes, Horqin was separated, but the relationship between the two parties is not very close."

"If Qi Shaobao or Li Chengliang were around, the Ming Dynasty would have had a strong military and could suppress the barbarians. If the two sides had conflicts in Tieling over the trade of tribute and trade, the fight would probably be bloody."

With that said, Huang Kezhan changed the subject.

"But now there are many things going on in Liaodong and our troops are weak. I'm afraid both sides will try to take advantage of each other and instead join forces with each other."

After listening to Huang Kezhan's words, Zhu Youxiao thought for a moment, shook his head and said.

"No matter how much you and I talk here, it's useless. Let Xiong Tingbi take back Tieling first and see what the attitude of the five Nei Khalka troops is."

"If the recovery of Tieling goes smoothly, we will wait for an opportunity to recover Kaiyuan."

"But if this happens, will it undermine the prestige of our Ming Dynasty?"

After hearing the emperor's strategy, Huang Kezhan asked hesitantly.

The Ming court had a strong character.

Although there is a famous emperor.

In other words, precisely because of the emergence of a famous emperor, Ming Dynasty was quite opposed to making peace with the enemy.

During the Gengxu Rebellion, Mongolia besieged the capital for eight days, which forced Ming and Mongolia to trade with each other.

Although it was embarrassing, he killed Ding Rukui, the Minister of War, to worship heaven.

But at that time, Jiajing was busy quelling the Japanese chaos along the coast and could not take care of them.

Sixteen years later, when the Japanese rebellion was almost over, Jiajing kicked off his legs and saw Taizu.

Then, in less than a year, Qi Jiguang led his army northward and began the sixteen-year feat of defeating Mongolia.

"Food must be eaten one bite at a time. Now the imperial court's biggest enemy is Jiannu. We can no longer quarrel with Mongolia."

Seeing the incomprehension in Huang Kezhan's eyes, Zhu Youxiao explained.

"It's better to be cautious."

"But."

Although the emperor's caution was correct, Huang Kezhan still felt a little aggrieved.

After all, the two white flags who had just reorganized the establishment and completely annihilated the establishment slaves still adopted a conservative strategy.

"Five years, not even five years."

Seeing Huang Kezhan's frustration, Zhu Youxiao tapped his finger on the map.

"I will tell the Mongols that the Ming Dynasty is still the Ming Dynasty they cannot afford to offend."

"What Ming Dynasty once gave to them, I will take back doubled in the future."

"I understand."

Looking at the place the emperor clicked on the map, Huang Kezhan instantly understood the emperor's ambition and immediately bowed.

The name written on the map of the Ming Dynasty for the place the emperor pointed to was - Daningwei.

(End of this chapter)