Crazy at the end of the Ming Dynasty

() Master Ling came to Runing Prefecture quietly.For negotiating with Wu Shigong, a small garrison, the governor of Henan will definitely not make a big fuss, and he can't afford to lose this person.

Wu Shigong didn't make things difficult for Master Ling.Knowing Master Ling's arrival, Wu Shigong also rushed to the garrison yamen immediately, and met Master Ling immediately.

It is impossible for Wu Shigong to lead Master Ling to his own residence in the Runing camp.After all, there are more than 2000 soldiers of Wu Shigong in the big camp of Runing Battalion. It is always a prudent approach to keep the outside world from knowing his true strength.

After meeting and exchanging pleasantries, Master Ling started an old friendship with Wu Shigong: "Students haven't seen Wu Shoubei for many years. I didn't expect Wu Shoubei to be so spirited!"

Wu Shigong replied with a smile: "It's nothing more than gold and jade, but it's nothing more than failure. The body is very weak, and I have been tired from fighting for many years, and I have been sick in the bed. It's just that I learned that an old friend is visiting today, so I muster up my spirits to meet Mr. Ling!"

Master Ling looked at Wu Shigong with a red face, couldn't help but shook his head with a smile and said, "I didn't realize that Wu Shoubei was brave in battle, and he was so eloquent. He doesn't tell lies in front of real people. This time, the student's visit is to ask Wu Shoubei to go to the army." Yes. And before the students came, the Governor also knew about Wu Shoubei’s suffering, so as long as the Runing Battalion goes out this time, it is understandable that some requests are made to the Governor.”

"Oh? Then what condition does the Governor give us to go to the Runing Camp?"

"That's wrong." Master Ling smiled and shook his head again, "The governor will not be blackmailed by the Runing camp to meet Wu Shoubei's request. The governor just cherishes his subordinates and doesn't want to see the expeditionary soldiers suffer."

Master Ling's words made Wu Shigong laugh out loud.This was an obvious act of buying him into the Runing camp, but in Master Ling's mouth, it was a different way of saying it.This literati really wants to save face!

Wu Shigong didn't want to expose Master Ling's statement, and then asked: "Then Mr. Ling, can you tell me?"

"This time when the students came to the Runing Mansion, the governor also said that the military pay of the Runing Camp is relatively low, and the food and silver tax of the Guidewei is also a bit high. When this natural disaster comes, no one will have a good life. The governor is merciful, starting from next year, the military pay of the Runing Battalion will take [-]% of the rated rate, and the grain and silver tax of Guidewei will be paid [-]% of this year's."

As soon as Master Ling came up, he gave Wu Shigong a hollow glutinous rice ball to eat.This condition seems to have given Wu Shigong some benefits, but if all goes well next year, the governor of Henan will be transferred to the capital as a servant. This account must be settled by Wu Shigong and the new governor of Henan. Why is the current governor of Henan going to Cao Cao?

But the Governor of Henan and Master Ling didn't know, they thought it was the chief assistant Zhou Yanru's idea to mobilize Wu Shigong's Runing Camp, they didn't even know that Yangzhou's salt transport envoy Guan Yin and Yangzhou salt merchant Qijia were behind it play tricks. <>

So the Governor of Henan and Master Ling just think that this time they just mobilized the Runing Battalion to fight in Liaodong.They didn't know at all that no matter whether Wu Shigong's Runing Camp was defeated or defeated, the chief assistant Zhou Yanru would not allow Wu Shigong's Runing Camp to return to Henan.

But Wu Shigong passed Guo Zeng'an's informant and knew the whole story, so Wu Shigong immediately heard that Master Ling was eating hollow glutinous rice balls for himself.Wu Shigong's reason was somewhat different from Master Ling's. He believed that he would basically not be able to return to Henan, so whether it was increasing military pay or reducing or exempting food and silver taxes next year, it was simply a promise made in the sky.

Therefore, for Wu Shigong now, it is the best choice to catch the cash and put it in his pocket.But hearing Master Ling's conditions was too insincere, Wu Shigong was still going to let Master Ling hang out first.

So Wu Shigong raised the teacup and said: "Mr. Ling is tired from the journey, so I'd better go back and have a rest. I'm not feeling well now. This time, Mr. Ling's visit to Runing Mansion will come to an end."

Wu Shigong's categorical refusal surprised Master Ling.He hurriedly asked: "Wu Shoubei can say whatever he wants! Some things are not difficult to talk about."

Wu Shigong smiled slightly, and said: "Mr. Ling is too unhappy. He keeps everything under wraps, but he doesn't want to tell the truth to this officer. It's just a waste of time to talk like this."

"How can you say that? Didn't the student's condition just now give Wu Shoubei a lot of benefits?"

"What's the advantage of what you said? We should get [-]% of the military salary of the Runing Battalion. The food and silver tax that belongs to the German Guards is also the most paid. Next year, we will pay [-]% of this year's, which is still higher than other taxes. There are many guards here. How does this show Mr. Ling's sincerity?"

"What does Wu Shoubei mean?" Master Ling breathed a sigh of relief.As long as the additions and subtractions are still made in these two places, it will still have no effect on the current governor of Henan, so Master Ling decided that if Wu Shigong's conditions are not excessive, he is ready to agree immediately.

"Runing Battalion will get [-]% of the military salary for next year. I am not a dark-hearted person, and I don't want to take advantage of other colleagues. As for Guidewei's food and silver tax, I will pay [-]% of this year's."

"That's a bit too much!" Master Ling pretended to think about it, and then said, "The student also took this risk and agreed to Wu Shoubei. But, about the expedition of the Runing Battalion...?"

"I haven't finished my conditions yet." Wu Shigong immediately interjected, "This year, for no apparent reason, I was deducted more than 3000 taels of military pay by Li Bingbei, and the governor must give me justice for this matter. .”

Master Ling frowned when he heard that.Master Ling also knew about this matter, but this matter involved his colleagues in the Henan officialdom, which made Master Ling a little embarrassed.This blocked Li Bingbei's way of making money for no reason, and this kind of thing is also a big taboo in the officialdom.

So Master Ling discussed with Wu Shigong: "It's approaching the end of the new year, and all government expenses have been written off. Wu Shoubei needs money, so he has to wait until next year." Seeing the anger on Wu Shigong's face, Master Ling Quickly continued, "Wu Shoubei, don't worry! You can see if this works. This time the Runing Battalion is going on an expedition, the supply of food and grass will be more for the Runing Battalion, and then it will be transferred to Wu Shoubei from the Hyogo and the governor's standard battalion. These horses are top-ranked, the students promise, they will never let Wu Shoubei suffer."

After hearing this, Wu Shigong's expression softened.He was also in the mood to joke with Master Ling: "I don't dare to rest assured about your guarantee. I also suffered a loss from you once."

Hearing Wu Shigong mention the matter of Wu Shigong giving money to the army last time, Master Ling quickly explained: "This is a misunderstanding of the students. Last time, the students did their best to accomplish Wu Shigong's matter. But the students also explained it in advance. , the arrangement of the Ministry of Officials, our Lord Governor can't do anything!"

"Okay! Alright!" Wu Shigong said with a smile and waved his hands, "I don't mean to blame you. Let's stop talking about the past. But this time, I hope Mr. Ling will keep his promise!"

"That's for sure! For sure!"

Next, Wu Shigong reached a detailed agreement with Master Ling.In addition to the military salary of the Runing Camp and the grain and silver tax of Guidewei, the governor of Henan will also allocate Wu Shigong [-] shi of grain and [-] horses, as well as some armor, weapons and bows and arrows for Wu Shigong's expedition.Although Wu Shigong's army did not often use bows and arrows, it was worthwhile to get bows and arrows.

Wu Shigong did a mental calculation, and the value of these things was about the same as 3000 taels of silver.The main purpose of my own disturbance this time was to test the bottom line of the civil servants, not to completely tear myself apart with the civil servants.Now that the benefits have been obtained, let's accept it as soon as it is good.

In addition, Wu Shigong proposed that this time the Runing Battalion will march northward along the canal.Although it is already winter and the water in the canal is frozen, it is impossible to sail boats, but because there are official warehouses on both sides of the canal to provide food for the army, Wu Shigong's dilemma of having no food for King Qin last time will not happen again.

Of course, Wu Shigong would not explain to Master Ling that this time the Runing Battalion will go out and run away as soon as they see something is wrong.

Wu Shigong's Runing Battalion was not familiar with the terrain of Liaodong at all, and without a map of Liaodong, they had no idea how long it was from Shanhaiguan to Dalinghe City.Therefore, Wu Shigong was always on the army's cart, carrying the army's grain and grass for a month.In case of escape, within a month, he could escape from Dalinghe City and return to Shanhaiguan.Otherwise, even if the army could escape, it would starve to death due to lack of food and grass.

For Wu Shigong's request, Master Ling also agreed without hesitation.The last time Wu Shigong went north to King Qin, there was a huge disturbance in Beizhili because of food and grass.

Until now, some state capitals in Beizhili are still wrangling lawsuits with the governor of Henan over the issue of food and grass.Although it was Wu Shigong's rascal behavior that embarrassed the officials in Beizhili at that time, most of those officials finally charged the account to the governor of Henan.

Although the governor of Henan is not afraid of these low-level officials, it is always a troublesome matter, so this time Wu Shigong marched along the canal and did not cause trouble for the governor of Henan.How could Master Ling disapprove of such a thing?

After negotiating all this, Master Ling left a few followers in the city of Runing Prefecture to urge the troops of the Runing Battalion to send out troops.I immediately returned to Kaifeng City and reported to the Governor of Henan.Wu Shigong also arranged for some soldiers to follow Master Ling to Kaifeng City to receive the food, horses, armor and weapons that Master Ling promised to the Runing Camp.

After Master Ling left, Zhang Xuebin asked Wu Shigong: "My lord, you didn't sign any written documents when Mr. Ling left this time. What if they regret it later?"

"Is the written document useful?" Wu Shigong asked back, "Even if there is a document, the governor will regret it at that time, so why don't I take this document and go to court with him?"

Zhang Xuebin thought it was right when he heard it, but he continued to ask: "Then the lord should also give Mr. Ling some souvenirs, so that he will return empty-handed. This is also a lack of etiquette."

"No need! This time, the governor can put down his dignity to talk with me, and he is asking me to go to war. As long as my Runing Battalion goes to war, it will be the best gift for the governor. Besides, the governor repeatedly Letting my official’s Runing Battalion fight, I don’t want to see this official anymore, so giving gifts will not make up for the relationship between this official and the governor, it’s still refreshing to pay the money and deliver the goods!”

So in the end, Master Ling quietly left Runing Mansion City, and he didn't take a cloud with him when he left!