Begging in late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 770 The Beginning of a New Era

The frost and natural disasters of the Little Ice Age will continue to ravage the Central Plains for more than ten years, but the disasters brought about by the fall of winter, in Western religious terms, symbolize the apocalypse of war, famine, plague and death The Four Horsemen, however, were expelled from the land.

On the sixth day after the end of the Sizhou decisive battle, the fleet led by Shi Lang also successfully surrendered the capital city. Just like the fleets of the western powers approaching Songjiang, there was an early warning on land, but the Qing people on the sea did not do it at all. The iron feet that have been practiced all the year round allowed the Marine Corps to sell directly on the first day, and surrounded the capital for a little bit on the second day.

When he received the news that Dorgon's entire army was annihilated and that he himself was still alive or dead, the little emperor Shunzhi, under the leadership of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang, his mother concubine, led all the civil and military officials, surrendered in Kaesong, and ordered the garrison troops of the Eight Banners to surrender. , the local government, surrendered to the Ming Dynasty, and lasted for more than 30 years. The Qing Dynasty, which was more glorious than his ancestor Jin, seemed to be a flash in the pan, between its official demise and a long history.

But Song Yongzhong did not retire at this time.

Hu Tian had snow in August, and it was already November when the Ming Army regained Datong, Shanxi. The frost and heavy snow brought by the Little Ice Age covered the earth with a layer of white.

However, the change happened within these three months. Before the army came, the big business groups from Shanxi merchants came early. Now there is a shortage of coal everywhere in Ming Dynasty, and Shanxi is the largest coal producing area in the country. The structure was well established, and coal mining companies were set up one by one before they got ahead. Although these slick businessmen evaded a large number of company construction taxes, the local people also got benefits first.

Many people have become coal miners and got their wages first. The nature of the Chinese is fully reflected here. If you don’t have enough land, let’s build houses first!In the small village near the mine, facing the winter's Yingying Ruixue, a large group of simple men from the north pulled down the low and leaky earthen houses in full swing, and began to build a strong and strong house with blue bricks and mud. , two of them have already been built. Those simple and muddy country folks used neat big red tiles like landlords for the first time. The beautiful little houses are as warm as spring in the fierce cold wind. .

A charcoal pencil rustled. Sitting on the golden snow, Song Yongzhong was drawing seriously. There was already a thick stack in the briefcase beside him. In half a month, he traveled all over Datong. The territory of the map is to paint the most beautiful scenery here and post it to the girl in the distance.

At this time, the capital also became extremely busy.

Taking back the capital is an unprecedented event for the Ming Dynasty, especially for the Ming royal family and the old and young of the Conservative Party, it is of incomparable significance. When I heard that the capital was recovered, those who were afraid of the safety of the boat back then dared not sit on the boat. Emperor Chongzhen, who was going south on the boat, wept bitterly. After only three days of preparation this time, Emperor Chongzhen took the royal family members with him, because thousands of former princes whose back cover numbers were lifted, went northward on the royal cruise ship. Returned to the Forbidden City again, and went to the Ming Tombs of Tianshou Mountain to worship ancestors.

However, the transformation of state power is vividly reflected this time. In the past, national sacrifices were a major event in the world, and all civil and military officials needed to accompany them, and there were countless escorting troops. But this time, let alone escorting the army Even the money and food for the sacrifices were paid for by the royal family themselves, and only a few officials from the Ministry of Rites accompanied them. The rest of the bureaucracy, including Song Qingshu, the chief minister of the cabinet, and most of the members of Congress gathered in Tongzhou City. The mainstream media and newspapers of the empire are all gathered here.

The golden rails stretch out from under the platform. Under the dexterous brushwork of the big reporter Zhu Yufei, who also "forgot his ancestors", Song Qingshu, Hong Chengchou, Sun Chuanting, Zhang Huangyan and other cabinet members are holding a long red silk with smiles on their faces, and scissors in their hands. There was a clicking sound, and the red silk fell to the ground neatly, and the elderly and important people from all walks of life in the north and south couldn't help cheering loudly behind them.

On the top of the picture, Aimee Zhu emphatically added a headline, "Construction of the Beijing-Shenyang-Jingyang Railway officially started!" "

The country is a giant, so transportation is its bloodline. With the recovery of the capital, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was opened again, and there is also a strong sea transportation between Songjiang Port and Tianjin. The goods accumulated in the south for several years can be rushed into The northern market, however, in Song Qingshu's opinion, is far from enough.

If the existing transportation conditions were sufficient, during the reign of Chongzhen, there would not have been a severe drought in the north, and the land was far away, but the food and materials in the south of the Yangtze River could not be transported, and natural and man-made disasters happened one after another. It is related to the transport capacity. If Nurhachi rebelled back then, Daming would have transported the corps to Hetuala within a few days.

During this northward march, there were as many as prisoners of war captured in Jianzhou, and as many as hundreds of thousands in Mongolia and the Eight Banners of the Han Dynasty. Naturally, it is impossible to kill them all, and releasing them is even more of a disaster, especially affecting the further recovery of the slaves outside Shanhaiguan by the Ming Army. Gandusi's vast land plan happens to be all used for road construction, which can be regarded as labor reform.

More importantly, a few days ago, in less than ten days, Daming completed the great transfer of troops and horses. Song Qingshu had no plans to move the political center to the north. Express the determination of imperial rule to the northern landed gentry in the newly recovered areas.

Peace and prosperity is not just the glittering glory on the surface, but behind it there are countless games and dark things. Furthermore, Song Qingshu still doesn't know how many political enemies he wants to get rid of, so that every stubborn guy evaporates from the world , Amidst the clicking sound, Song Qingshu's scissors were extraordinarily powerful.

An opening ceremony lasted until the afternoon. On that day, the "railway workers" transported by Huaiyang started sweating construction work under the guard of the army. Those social celebrities also took their own carriages and scattered home. But almost everyone was immersed in excitement.

The construction of railways requires iron and steel, which can drive the prosperity of northern iron and steel factories. It requires a large amount of wood and coal. These fields can also be exchanged for silver coins. There are also hundreds of thousands of railway workers and their families for food, clothing and housing. Shops along the railway, infrastructure construction, an unprecedented opportunity is in front of people, it depends on whether the big guys can seize it, a new era is in sight.

However, Song Qingshu's carriage seemed a little dull.

"Marshal, Brother Song's resignation and retirement announcement has been officially approved by the Secretary of the Ministry of War, Lord Sun!"

Wearing the uniform of the general of the third-rank Xuanfeng Army, Xiaobao was a little nervous and embarrassed. He lowered his head and said dryly. When he mentioned this, Song Qingshu couldn't help but let out an annoyed hum. Song Yongzhong is definitely a general, calm and decisive. It's time to be cold-blooded No kindness. Although the northern part of the empire has been recovered, there are still many problems to be solved in Liaodong, Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Tibet. He is still needed in many battlefields. Unfortunately, this general is dead.

Ever since he was taken in by Song Qingshu, Song Yongzhong was born and died for him, and almost died a few times. He no longer owes himself anything. Although Song Qingshu felt sorry for his departure, he really couldn't do much to keep him. What he cherished the most was to let him go. After leaving, he could only let him go. With a sigh, Song Qingshu suddenly hated iron and steel, and pushed Xiaobao's forehead up.

"Hold your head high and hold your chest high! From now on, you will also be selected as a third-rank general by the empire, and as a military officer for foreign affairs and espionage in the forward army. How decent is it to look so useless!"

"The last will obey!"

He hurriedly came over and sat upright, Xiaobao's waist was also standing upright, but after only a moment, this guy showed a bitter face again.

"But commander, other generals have surnames, but Xiaobao doesn't. When we arrive at the place, when we introduce ourselves to our subordinates, the last general can't say his own name, Xiaobao, right?"

This is really a problem. When Xiaobao and Qiaoer were taken in, they didn't know their parents' surnames for a long time. After living with Song Qingshu's family for so many years, they didn't need to think about it. Now, Xiaobao and Qiaoer On the household registration, the names written are Xiaobao and Qiao'er, you can't let his surname be Xiao?

A man with a small surname hurts a man's self-esteem too much.

"Your brother-in-law's surname is Wei, otherwise you should have the surname Wei too!"

The year before last, Qiaoer hadn't waited for Song Qingshu's favor after all. He had already owed too much beauties, and he really didn't want to mess with the world. Finally, with a lot of resentment, Qiaoer came together with a judge of the Ministry of Justice surnamed Wei. Holding his chin, Song Qingshu tentatively asked, who knew Xiaobao immediately shook his head like a rattle.

"My sister is married, and she is not the last general to marry, so where is the majesty?"

From the bottom of his heart, Xiaobao looked down on his brother-in-law, who is actually a conservative!He's so genteel, Xiao Bao, a crappy soldier, looks too much like a girl, what's his surname?What are you kidding.

"Then what do you want your last name to be?"

Song Qingshu was also at a loss, and asked impatiently. When this was mentioned, Xiaobao's eyes couldn't help flashing a look of caution and anticipation.

"Although the last general's surname is Song, I wonder if it's okay?"

"It's up to you, I don't care!"

"Thank you, Marshal, for giving me your surname!"

Lao Gao, who was jumping, was afraid that Song Qingshu would regret it, so Xiaobao stopped the carriage immediately, and rode off to take office. Looking at his back, Song Qingshu shook his head helplessly, but just as he closed the car door, he lowered his head and muttered something. , His face suddenly became strange.

"Xiaobao! Song Xiaobao! Why is this name so awkward?"

…………

The new official took office three fires, Song Xiaobao and Mr. Song rushed to the temporary secret office of the selection front army in the capital with a full stomach, but what made him annoyed and helpless was that as many as half of the selection front army officers were absent.

In the port of Tianjin, under the bitter cold wind, under the amazed attention of people passing by, three or four hundred officers and soldiers stood neatly at the pier and stood at attention in salute. On a large merchant ship bound for the New World, a lonely figure looked out Watching this scene, I remained silent for a long time.

A few months later, on the other side of the earth, in the British Isles, in the Camberlet Barracks, the girl was amazed and delighted to look at the pictures, there were people, there were scenery, and there were cheerful smiling faces.

"What are you looking at, Yu'er?"

In more than half a year, Little William has also changed a lot. The swinger in a tuxedo is gone. He wears a white curly wig, grows a beard, and wears a woolen robe. He has begun to have the appearance of an English king. image, but for Yu'er, this guy hasn't changed much, he is always so playful and smiling.

"My hometown!"

The sadness was deeply buried in the deepest part of her eyes, and with a smile on her face, Yu'er gently spread out the paintings one by one on the table.

"This is Datong City. This is the most majestic city I have ever seen when I was young. This is Qingquanji. When I was young, I was most happy to go to the market with my father. I didn't expect it to become so big now. And here, this is Yuhe..."

Suddenly, Yu'er's words stopped. In a newly built village, a chubby little girl with braids, wearing a thick cotton padded coat, and holding candied haws was deeply reflected in her eyes. The bouncing direction is hidden under the layers of mountains and trees. The lonely painter holds a pen and is still looking at it deeply.

"what happened?"

"So much like me."

(End of this chapter)