The Rise of Ming Dynasty 1646

Chapter 694 Money is a problem
After a long time, Zhang Jiayu stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the last general thinks that with the morale and combat power of the captives, even if there are [-] to [-] troops, it will not be difficult to deal with."

Indeed, Duoduo brought all the elites of the Qing Dynasty to the south of the Yangtze River, and Haoran's 15 troops were defeated in less than half a month.Now there are only [-] to [-] Qing troops, and the generals of the Ming army present really looked down on them.

Zhang Jiayu continued: "The key to this campaign is the delivery of grain, grass, and supplies. As long as the Huaihe River has more than a month's supply of grain, rice, and fodder, and ammunition, clothing, and military tents are available, we will be able to defeat the enemy in one fell swoop!
"At present, Yangzhou and other places have become ruins and scorched earth. If we want to ensure sufficient food, grass and luggage, we have to set up temporary warehouses along the way and guard them. Then, a large number of civilians carry hands between the warehouses and transport them day and night. .”

Zhu Linming looked down and thought, what Zhang Jiayu meant was to form a "human wall" between Jiangnan and the Huaihe River, build a large number of temporary rest and storage bases, and use a large number of manpower to force out logistics supplies.

Only in this way, the cost must be extremely astonishing.

He has been advocating the use of a small number of elite troops in the combat method, just to avoid falling into the terrible logistical consumption.The number of Dragon Guards did not even exceed 1 for a long time. Coupled with the commercial and flexible logistics strategy, Ming's lack of finances would not be overwhelmed.

He took a deep breath, and said to Zhang Jiayu: "How many people need to transport food and grass for the [-] soldiers on the front line?"

Zhang Jiayu is no stranger to this primitive logistics method. After all, this method was still widely used by the Ming army before Zhu Linmi took charge of the army.

Zhang Jiayu made some calculations, cupped his hands and said, "To return to the emperor, at least 25 civilian husbands need to be conscripted."

The 7 Ming army is Zhu Linmi's bottom line to ensure that Dorgon's nearly [-] troops are defeated. After all, there is still the natural danger of the Huaihe River there.

According to Zhang Jiayu, there are 28 soldiers and civilians combined.You know, although the more than 20 civilians don't need to kill the enemy in front of the battle, their food and clothing consumption will not be much less than that of the army. At least grain, rice, winter clothes, etc. must be provided, otherwise these people will be chaotic faster than the army. .

But this seems to be the only solution at hand.

Yang Tinglin immediately shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, the previous army fought fiercely with more than 20 captives in Doduo, and the cost is already huge. Now there are only more than 30 taels in the treasury... I am afraid it will be difficult to cope with nearly [-] people." Consume."

Zhu Linmi frowned, "28 people, how much food, rice and money will it cost in one and a half months?"

Yang Tinglin said: "Going back to the emperor will cost about 20 shi. In addition to the subsequent Northern Expedition, you must prepare 30 shi. As for the money, if you don't count the salary, you need 10 taels to buy clothes and utensils." carry on."

Zhang Jiayu and others on the side also nodded. It seems that the number is basically not bad.

30 shi of grain costs more than 60 taels of silver, which is still the market price, and if a large amount is purchased in a short period of time, the price will definitely increase.Zhu Linmi pondered for a moment, then asked Yang Tinglin, "Mr. Yang Ge, I allocated 60 taels of silver to you, plus the silver in the national inventory. How long will it take you to complete the recruitment of the people and the purchase of grain and rice?"

Yang Tinglin immediately said seriously: "Within a month, I will definitely finish everything!"

Zhu Linmi shook her head and said, "It's too slow. I'll give you half a month to complete the recruitment of civilian husbands first. Prepare 15 shi for grain and rice first, and then gradually collect the rest."

Yang Tinglin gritted his teeth, cupped his hands and said, "Minister, obey the order!" After thinking for a while, he said, "Your Majesty, it's just this money...where did it come from?"

"Looking at the time, the ocean-going caravan should be back soon. With six big ships, a surplus of 70 million taels will never be a problem."

Zhu Linming is still counting in the small amount. Those escorting warships can actually carry a lot of cargo, and this trip can even earn more than 80 taels.

He added: "Even if the ocean caravan misses its schedule, I still have other ways to make up the money. Mr. Yang Ge doesn't need to worry." For the sake of the millions of people in Yangzhou and southern Shaanxi, he has already prepared the money under his name. Preparations for all mortgages on the property.In addition, the two natal families in his harem also have some financial resources, so it shouldn't be a big problem to borrow two to three hundred thousand taels together.

Yang Tinglin then nodded and remained silent, but Zhang Canghai, the new Minister of Household Affairs, cupped his hands hesitantly and said, "Your Majesty, the area around Nanzhili has been plagued by war for a long time, and the place is full of devastation. It is time for the people to recuperate... If such a large-scale Confiscating the people's strength may seriously harm the people..."

Zhu Linmei nodded secretly. This sea is sympathetic to the people. The 20 people confiscated this time must be able-bodied, most of whom are the pillars of a family. Therefore, the lives of people whose lives will be affected are more than a million?

In order to save the people, we must first hurt the people...

He sighed helplessly, "How about this, all the folks will be given a tael of silver every month to supplement their livelihood."

Zhang Canghai said with emotion: "Your Majesty loves the people like a child, the people of the world are lucky! This one or two silver per month is enough for their family."

At the current price, one tael of silver is enough for three people to eat for a month.Moreover, these folks were provided with food and lodging during the period of helping the Ming army to transport food, that is to say, after this hard work, most of them still had some surplus.

Only in this way, there will be an additional expense of nearly 40 taels.

Now that the emperor had set the tone, everyone in the Wenhua Palace discussed many implementation details together until Youshi.

"That's basically the case." Zhu Linmi finally concluded: "On February [-]th, the soldiers sent troops to the north of the Yangtze River, and without giving the captives a chance to breathe, they went straight to the Huaihe River!"

"Sir, obey the order!"

After all the officials left, Yang Tinglin remained in the hall with a serious expression on his face.

Zhu Linming looked at him and said, "Is there anything Elder Yang Ge wants to say?"

"Your Majesty," Yang Tinglin took a few steps forward and said, "The imperial court spent a lot of money on this Northern Expedition, and the treasury was completely empty. However, after the army conquered the Huaihe River, we will have to help the millions of victims of the captives." , the silver required may not be in the minority.

"Although I don't act as an agent of the household department, I still know a thing or two about the taxation of the Ming Dynasty. At that time, the household department will not be able to provide enough relief money. The victims on the north bank of the Huaihe River are still without livelihood..."

Zhu Linmei's heart also sank, yes, just laying down the Huaihe River still can't completely solve the problem.After all, to save these millions of people, what is needed is a large sum of money.

Yang Tinglin glanced at his face, and said cautiously: "Your Majesty, according to my opinion, the only way to solve the urgent need is to levy 'Ji Huai Yin'..."

Zhu Linmi narrowed her eyes, "Taxation?"

"Yes, it's distributed to the ten provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, but each household can't pay much... and it's just a temporary increase."

Zhu Linming stared at him and said, "Tax increase, whose tax will be collected?"

Yang Tinglin felt that the atmosphere was not right, he hesitated and said: "This, of course, is the people of Ming Dynasty..."

Zhu Linmei turned around with a sullen face and left, leaving the senior scholar Yang standing alone in the hall, quite anxious in her heart.

(End of this chapter)