Begging in late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 468 Eventful Autumn
The 12th year of Chongzhen was destined to be another eventful year. This year, the peasant war that was finally extinguished was once again like a wildfire on the grassland, igniting ragingly. At the same time, peasant rebellions in Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi and other places popped up like weeds in spring. For a while, the confidantes of the Ming Empire were once again in flames of war.

Xiong Wencan, who felt that the disaster was imminent, hurriedly dispatched Zuo Liangyu to suppress it. In the battle of Dujishan, Zuo Liangyu, who was eager to advance, was unlucky enough to be ambushed. More than 1 officers and soldiers were almost wiped out, leaving him alone. More than 1000 remnants escaped, and the news spread to the capital. It is said that Emperor Chongzhen fell from his chair in shock.

However, Xiong Wencan was really unlucky in history. The furious Emperor Chongzhen ordered him to be beheaded. However, in this era with Song Qingshu, Zheng Zhilong, who had just suffered a severe defeat, did not want his tongue in the court to fall like this. It is rare to waste a lot of words. Zixiong Wencan dredged in the capital, although he was still squatting in the imperial prison, but it is estimated that Xiong Wencan's life was saved.

In mid-July, Fu Zonglong, the former governor of Sichuan, came to Beijing and took over the Minister of the Ministry of War, which was also held by Yang Sichang. Although Yang Sichang was opposed to the issue of recruiting Zhang Xianzhong, he was the one who proposed the plan to spread the net in four or six corners. However, he was also responsible for the resurgence of the rebel army, and who would dare to put the responsibility back on the emperor. For this reason, Yang Sichang wrote two memorials to plead guilty to the emperor.

Who knew that despite his twists and turns, he had no intention of personally leading troops to exterminate the peasant army, the Emperor Chongzhen gave him a review, as if he was favorably agreed to be a supervisor, and gave Shangfang a sword and a seal, allowing him to control most of the people in the Central Plains , without any preparation, Yang Sichang sent him out to supervise the teacher.

In desperation, Yang Sichang, who was unprepared, had to go to the capital in July to swear as a teacher. Fatty Yang was unlucky, so he naturally did not forget to take care of his old subordinates. When Yingtian came, Yang Sichang was one of the few cabinet ministers who knew the truth about Guangzong's first battle.

However, Song Qingshu is not interested in fighting the peasant army at all. This time he learned from Wu Xiang and returned a bill to Yang Sichang. Since Chongzhen was recruited in the ninth year of Chongzhen, he was in arrears with begging for the army's salary, and the last time he sent troops to the north, The bills spent totaled more than 200 million taels of silver and reported to Yang Sichang.

I'm a mercenary, so why fight without money?
The total military expenditure prepared by the imperial court in the early days was only about 200 million taels. Yang Sichang was naturally so angry that he scolded his mother, but he had nothing to do with Song Qingshu. The fighting power is terrifying, and now Yang Sichang himself can't wait to stir up another mutiny in Lianghuai, even Emperor Chongzhen can't protect him.

In the end, to save face for both sides, Ma Shiying, the governor of Lufeng, led his [-] standard battalion alone to set off again.

On this side, let alone not having the heart to fight Zhang Xianzhong, even if Song Qingshu wanted to serve the country loyally, he didn't have time. During this period, many major events happened in Ying Tianfu.

First of all, the Nanzhili merchant ships that went to Japan to smuggle with great fanfare in the early days. Nine out of ten did not come back.

Even if Zheng Zhilong lost two-thirds of his strength by Song Qingshu, he is still one of the best giants in the sea, and after the two joined forces, Song Qingshu sold him a large number of small and medium-sized ships. After this decisive battle, Song Qingshu has a big plan A system upgrade of his own fleet just happened to eliminate a large number of ships. Although these small ships are not powerful, they are enough to cooperate with Zheng Zhilong's pirate wolf pack tactics.

Many people have also received blackmail letters from "Japanese pirates" extorting a large amount of silver. Song Qingshu didn't discuss with Song Qingshu about the fruits of victory. When something happened, Qian Qianyi, Bao Lu and other big landlords and salt merchants came to his door, and they all demanded Song Qingshu to fight against pirates out of righteous indignation.

He didn't even refuse on the surface, Song Qingshu solemnly agreed to send troops immediately, but after the angry young man Qian Qianyi left, Song Qingshu held his stomach and laughed for a long time.

Another big event is that the Canghai travel agencies in various prefectures in Nanzhili have launched a new route. The trip to the Song Dynasty in the Song Dynasty, soaking in hot springs, watching cherry blossoms, and visiting the royal family in Kyoto. The round-trip travel fee is 500 taels.

To say that there are so many rich people in Daming, and the lower class people can’t afford to eat. It’s equivalent to 40 travel expenses and 5 yuan for insurance money in later generations. In the first phase, more than 1000 people from various prefectures signed up to join the group. 50 taels was obtained in this way, but there were too many people, so Song Qingshu was a little caught off guard, and had to allocate the squadron of the five Kunpeng ships that had just been repaired plus twenty 30-meter Gavel ships to special tourist ships.

In addition to commercial activities, during the period from May to August in the military, the begging army hibernates. After all, they have just gone through a big battle, and even Song Qingshu has to spend some time licking his wounds.

Today, the largest shipbuilding base in Northeast Asia is in the hands of the Qihuo Army. Even the Nanhui Zhongwei Office in Songjiang has been taken over by Song Qingshu as a shipyard. From Yingtian's Longjiang Shipyard to Songjiang's Sixth Shipyard, only shipbuilding In terms of industry, Jiaduobao has already invested tens of millions of taels, and has more than 20 workers. In three months, in addition to the old fleet being repaired, more than 100 new ships of all sizes have been launched.

In the last war, the Haiquan, which was riddled with holes, is now moored in the Jiangwan in good spirits. The sides that have been beaten and can see holes on both sides have been replaced with new ones. Wood, and compared to the last time the sails were cut off lazily, three sails were specially reinforced this time, and the bottom was covered with a ring of steel skin for nearly one meter.

However, Song Qingshu's plan to hang the iron armor on the ship failed. On the one hand, the anti-corrosion is not in place. In the humid and hot marine environment, today's steel is easy to rust. It will not take a few months. Another point is the load capacity. Originally, Song Qingshu insisted on equipping the battleship with heavy cannons, which already took up a lot of load. If another ship with iron armor was replaced, the speed Song Qingshu requested was almost completely offset.

Not only did the ship get new ones, but the crew also got new ones. Thanks to the increase in wages this time, millions of Jiangnan people went bankrupt, which provided a lot of cheap labor for the emerging bourgeoisie. The sailors of the water have recruited [-] in the past three months, and the original three divisions of the Songjiang Navy have now been supplemented by four divisions. Bombarded Zheng Zhilong's treasure ship and forced back Zhao Pu, the leader of Zheng Zhilong's squadron.

In the loud and clear password, on the deck of the Haiquan, the densely lined sailors quickly assembled under the officer's order, lined up to stand at attention, and after walking through the formation, they rested in front of the deck with their hands behind their backs. The sunburn caused the faces of all the newly recruited sailors to explode, but none of them dared to complain and dare to move. They all stood upright. These days, opportunities to work are so rare. Only some people serve in the army. The family members of the Jiaduobao Company will be absorbed by the factories under the Jiaduobao Company, and no one dares to make fun of the family members.

This is also the reason why soldiers from all walks of life like to use bachelors these days, but Song Qingshu prefers to use families with a relatively complete family. The sense of responsibility of the family turned into combat effectiveness is definitely higher than that of desperate ones.

This is the military posture that Song Qingshu hated the most during military training when he was a student, but until now, he has not realized the good intentions of this military posture. This is the most test of discipline and obedience. If they don't come down, how will these people face the rain of guns and guns in the fierce battle at sea in the future?
These can be regarded as his own private army. Looking at them from a distance, Song Qingshu felt extraordinarily relaxed and happy. Unfortunately, before his good mood lasted long, he soon became depressed again. A pair of parasols was also strolling around the Longjiang Shipyard, but Song Qingshu was not happy about the two big flies beside her.

The Zheng Sen on the left is okay, he is wearing a samurai-like Jinhaori, with a long Japanese sword on his back, and his long hair is tied up. If he doesn't look too young, he really looks like a swordsman. He followed Yu'er with his arms crossed, and followed like a bored gourd.

He is not bad, at least he is a future hero, but the little yellow-haired William next to him makes Song Qingshu depressed. Song Qingshu still doesn't know what this guy's status is in the British East India Company, but this guy has everything. He showed the feeling of a playboy. In the past three months, he has not missed every concert of Yu'er, and he has sent flowers and cakes. This product also promotes the further cooperation between old William and his Jiaduobao company. He can be called a prodigal son. He took out the blueprints of the new British cannons and Galen ships and gave them to himself.

This method is simply a typical playboy in love!

But Yu'er is quite interested in his Shakespeare works, such as The Merchant of Venice, King Lear.

But now it is considered to be cooperation with the East India Company, and Song Qingshu really has nothing to do with this special commissioner.

But when Song Qingshu put down the binoculars angrily, Li Xiangjun, the female secretary of the shipyard office, hurried over and whispered the report in Song Qingshu's ear.

"Master, here we come!"

After all, Yingtian is the accompanying capital of Ming Dynasty, even Song Qingshu didn't dare to set up troops here with great fanfare, but to fight against the Dutch, the army is indispensable, Qihuo Seventh Division, Eighth Division, and Fengyang Third Division were successively taken by him Secretly transferred to Longjiang Shipyard, today is the last part of Qihuo Seventh Division.

Master Li Dingguo personally entered the palace.

"Uncle, Dingguo is here to give orders!"

Dressed in a neat military uniform, Li Dingguo was obviously more mature and stable. As soon as he got off the boat, he immediately reported to Song Qingshu. Who knew that when he saw him, Song Qingshu turned around and went straight to the seaside with a gritted face.

"See your sister? Find a way for me to drive those two flies away! Especially that bastard!"

(End of this chapter)