Crazy at the end of the Ming Dynasty

() In the face of Wu Shigong's visit, Wan Wendong and the gentry had already made preparations. Wan Wendong even brought a few gentry to the camp of Dahuai Village early in the morning to accompany Wu Shigong all the way to the county seat.

There is no word on this road.After arriving at the county seat, Li Lu personally welcomed Wu Shigong and his party at the gate of the yamen, and there were also local gentry standing behind Li Lu, and most of these gentry were owners of private mines.

After Li Lu and Wan Wendong returned to the county seat yesterday, the owners of the private mines already knew the content of the agreement reached with Wu Shigong.Compared with the iron mines that have already been taken back, they also think that Wu Shigong's conditions are not high at all.

Of course, no one would try to tear up the agreement because the process of retaking the iron ore was too easy. After all, they also saw Wu Shigong's formidable force.

Today, the reason why these private mine owners want to meet with Wu Shigong is nothing more than to confirm the content of the agreement, and they are afraid that Wu Shigong will add more conditions.

So when the guests and hosts were seated, Li Lu introduced everyone to Wu Shigong. After greetings, Li Lu said to Wu Shigong: "Today, all the elders came to see my brother-in-law to see his majestic appearance. I’ve said it here, I’m going to be drunk tonight!”

Everyone in the hall applauded loudly: "This time, it's all thanks to Wu Shoubei's action!" There was a sound of gratitude and flattery in the hall.

When the voices in the hall gradually became quieter, Wan Wendong felt that all the bosses of the private mine present were looking at him, and Wan Wendong could only cough a few times helplessly, feeling that Wu Shigong's gaze was also turned to him, So Wan Wendong asked: "General, how will we arrange this iron mine in the future?"

Wu Shigong raised his eyebrows and said, "Isn't there an agreement? Let's follow this agreement!"

Wu Shigong's words stunned all the private mine bosses present.In their minds, Wu Shigong would put forward some additional requirements, but Wu Shigong acted as if he abided by the contract, which made these private mine owners a little at a loss.

Wan Wendong had no choice but to continue to ask: "General, your soldiers have worked hard this time. We village elders have to show our hearts. The general will just say a number, let us prepare as well."

"No need! I can take as much as I should, and I don't bother you about the military expenses." For Wu Shigong now, he has already got two mining areas, and the two county salts of Li Lu in the future. Since Wu Shigong felt that he had earned enough, he didn't want to act like he was greedy.

However, Wu Shigong's statement made Wan Wendong and other private mine owners even more worried.They worried that this was just Wu Shigong's pretentious gesture, but they actually wanted to make a lot of money.If they really follow Wu Shigong's words and don't pay any labor expenses, then Wu Shigong will have to intensify his efforts to get back the iron mine income?

It can be seen from this that the insatiable image of officials in the Ming Dynasty is unforgettable in the eyes of the gentry in these places.But this is also because people like Wan Wendong don't know much about Wu Shigong's nature. If they meet those gentry like Yao Yuanwai of Guide Mansion who are used to dealing with Wu Shigong and know that Wu Shigong must do what he says, they will definitely not hesitate. Save such a sum of money.

No way, who told the agreement between Wan Wendong and Wu Shigong at that time.So Wan Wendong could only bite the bullet and continue to ask: "General, can you say a number at least!"

Wu Shigong laughed out loud after hearing this.Could it be that this solar term is wrong, there are still people who are eager to give themselves money, and they are not happy if they can't send it out?But at this time, Wu Shigong also vaguely understood the thoughts of private mine owners like Wan Wendong.After laughing for a while, Wu Shigong said: "You guys! You are all from the folks and elders, and you are worried that what I say will not count! That's it, take 3000 taels of silver. This time, dozens of my soldiers were also killed or injured. Take this silver as a pension for those soldiers."

Seeing that Wu Shigong finally offered the conditions, and hearing what Wu Shigong said, the owners of the private mines all laughed.There are more than a dozen private mine owners here, and for the 3000 taels of silver, each of them only needs to pay more than 200 taels, which is completely acceptable.

The atmosphere suddenly relaxed, but Wu Shigong went on to say: "This time we will rebuild a large iron mine and build a saltpeter mine. This official is short of manpower! If you have any children, you can Join the army here with me and Li Shoubei. As long as you dare to fight hard, you will have no problem fighting for your future."

"Also, there is still a shortage of literate people here. This official document and chores also need manpower, and I also need the help of all the villagers."

Wu Shigong's words made the scene lively.Wu Shigong's actions gave the children of those local gentry a way out.Although this is not the right way, but after all, there is hope of becoming an official.

In addition, since Wu Shigong absorbed the children of those gentry, it proved that Wu Shigong really wanted to cooperate with these gentry.So I immediately got the enthusiastic support of those gentry.

Among those present, Li Lu was the only one who felt a little uncomfortable.Wu Shigong and Li Lu are at the same level, but after seeing today's conversation and the behavior of those gentry, Li Lu found that he and Wu Shigong had become a subordinate relationship without knowing it.

But Li Lu changed his mind: "I'm just a cripple, and my future in the officialdom is gone, so why not let go of grabbing power? Grabbing more money and returning to the capital for retirement, this is a serious matter!"

Without mentioning Li Lu's psychological activities, Wu Shigong then talked with those private mine owners about the construction of these two mining areas.But to talk about the details in detail, we will have to wait until Wu Shigong sent Yuan Xingshan, Yang Goudan and others to Nanyang Mansion, and then let them have a detailed discussion with these private mine owners.

But at the end, Wu Shigong solemnly exhorted: "We are a family behind closed doors, so I just said some harsh words. The reason for the chaos in the mines this time was the instigation of those horse bandits, but The official also knows that the life of those miners was too bitter."

"We want to expand these two mines and earn more silver. There is nothing wrong with that. But squeezing those skilled miners too tightly is not beneficial."

"Don't mention that those miners may rebel again in the future, it means that the income of those miners going down the mine is not enough to feed their families. They don't have the energy to work, and the loss is not ourselves; if they can't live on and die, the new recruits The old miners are not as good as those old miners."

"I just thought about improving the treatment of these miners. At least it should be higher than that given to them by the horse bandits. In this way, our mining area can also produce with peace of mind, and it will earn more money than before."

Wu Shigong's idea of ​​improving the treatment of miners is not only based on modern people's consideration of improving labor interests and increasing productivity, but also Wu Shigong regards those miners as a source of future soldiers, thinking of using these methods to buy these miners popular.

But Wu Shigong's proposal made the scene cold.After all, those private mine bosses do not have the ideas and concepts of modern capitalists. They just think that miners are consumables, and if they die, they can be replaced. There is no need to improve the treatment of miners.But because it was proposed by Wu Shigong, those private mine owners were unwilling to raise objections at this time.

Wu Shigong looked at the scene, and then said with a smile: "Villagers, please rest assured. After I do this, if the income of the villagers does not reach the previous income, then I will take it out of my share Silver, make up for the old folks. How about doing this?"

All the owners of private mines immediately breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they don't reduce their income, where will Wu Shigong cause trouble in these two mining areas?Anyway, this agreement also stipulates that in the future, people sent by Wu Shigong will manage the two mining areas.

After talking about all this, everyone began to chat easily and romantically.Soon, it was time for the dinner party.There is no need for a detailed list of this feast of fish and meat.But when the gentry arranged for local celebrities to enter the venue to accompany them, the military officers under Wu Shigong stopped drinking, looked at Wu Shigong, and waited for Wu Shigong's decision.

Wu Shigong's military regulations are very strict. When he goes out to fight, he is not allowed to touch women casually.But Wu Shigong took these military officers to relax today, and of course he would not do such a disappointing thing.

So Wu Shigong ordered: "What are you doing foolishly waiting? One person chooses one!"

Those military officers suddenly smiled.Wan Wendong and the gentry made careful arrangements. They arranged for Wu Shigong a leading figure in the county town, and even arranged for Li Lu to be accompanied by a good local family.It seems that Li Lu's special hobby is notorious.

Only the actions of He Fei and Shu Mo made Wu Shigong feel ashamed.

Both of them fell in love with a flower card, and He Fei started to talk about the reason: "Master Shu, brother, my ears are hurt, so let me give this woman to brother, so that I can cheer up my spirits! "

"Don't do this, I cried for you at that time. This brotherly love should be you who let me!"

"Pull it down! Who doesn't know that you were afraid and cried by yourself? Maybe you peed your pants at that time."

"You just peed your pants! No matter what, brother, this woman will definitely not let you go. What are you talking to me about? Sit down!"

……

After the dinner party, Wu Shigong entered the arranged bedroom with the card in his arms.Wu Shigong thought triumphantly: "This may be the dividend of war!"

But Wu Shigong didn't know that Genghis Khan once said before: the greatest happiness of mankind lies in victory!Conquer your enemies, chase them, seize their possessions, make their lovers cry, ride their horses, embrace their wives and daughters.

So it is equivalent to Genghis Khan's sleeping with other people's wives and daughters, and Wu Shigong sleeping with the top card in a county, that level is obviously not enough!