At this time, in a luxurious courtyard in Cangzhou City,
The unique courtyard is equipped with a path made of exquisite bluestones, which leads to the garden. In the garden, more than a dozen trees stand gracefully around the pavilion, and several people are drinking wine and chatting in the pavilion.
matter.
One of the people, wearing a long robe and blue robe, was holding a wine bottle in his hand, with a trace of blush on his face. He was obviously a little drunk. He said to the crowd: "In my opinion, this Ming Dynasty may have run out of energy. I
You should quickly find your destination. Don't just sit here and wait, lest you miss the opportunity."
"Brother Li is anxious, isn't he?" Another man in brocade robes laughed playfully, with the Feng Chen woman around him, and said with a smile to everyone: "I see, as long as we guard this place for King Shun, we will be able to
When the king comes, wouldn't it be great if we respectfully presented Cangzhou to you? Why take the risk?"
"I also agree with what Brother Wang said. Now that Chongzhen has settled in Cangzhou, there are even 5,000 troops stationed around him. Although we have many eyes now, after all, we are not as good as Chongzhen's 5,000 troops. Now we just need to wait for an opportunity.
Yes." A handsome man in exquisite clothes said, with a hint of elegance between his brows.
"I recently received news that King Shun's army suffered a disastrous defeat in the Gyeonggi area, and he has lost 50,000 troops." The fourth middle-aged man named Gan Yangze said thoughtfully.
"So now King Shun is extremely angry. He has gathered a hundred thousand troops and ordered General Quan Gao Yigong, Guo Sheng, Zhao Yingyuan and many other generals to come to attack Shandong. When the army arrived, it was only in the past few days. Let's wait for now.
."
Everyone was silent, but they were extremely happy in their hearts. Now the trend of the Ming Dynasty's demise has become more and more obvious. When the time comes, all they have to do is offer up Cangzhou and they will definitely get an official position. If they are more lucky, they will get an official position like Shiyin.
Better. Anyway, the current Ming Dynasty will naturally no longer be loyal.
"You may not know yet, but a few days ago I sent someone to contact the Dashun army closest to us. There are more than 20,000 of them. They are now gathering in Nanpi County to the south of us. The woods there are dense and very suitable.
The army is hiding." At this time, Gan Yangze said again, and these words suddenly made the other three people's eyes light up.
"Brother Gan is really extraordinary." Wang Yangguang, who was holding the beautiful woman in his arms, was overjoyed. He immediately pushed the woman away and said happily: "If this is the case, King Shun's army does not need to go to Cangzhou in person, and we can take down Cangzhou City.
!”
"Twenty thousand people versus five thousand. Although there are still two thousand soldiers in Cangzhou City, many of them are old, weak, sick and disabled and cannot be used much. As long as there are no mistakes, we will win!"
The handsome man Ma Jingfu couldn't help but show some joy and said. Gan Yangze's approach was beyond his expectation. This move directly increased their achievements a lot.
But some people sensed something was wrong and immediately asked: "Brother Gan, are your 20,000 soldiers just relying on words to convince them? Why don't they plunder other places? After all, there are no five people in those places."
Thousands of soldiers and horses.”
Hearing this, Gan Yangze also knew that he had to tell them after all, so he couldn't help but smiled awkwardly and explained: "That's natural, and they are not fools. Although the emperor is here, it is not that easy to handle five thousand soldiers and a city.
.I have discussed with them that as long as they are willing to attack the city, the emperor will be ours and we will give them money."
After hearing this, everyone looked at each other in confusion. Sure enough, it was not free. Ma Jingfu asked: "How much silver is it?"
After the words fell, the other two people immediately turned their attention to Gan Yangze. Gan Yangze smiled again and said: "Eight hundred thousand taels."
"What!"
The other three people couldn't believe it and jumped up instantly. They dared to ask for eight hundred thousand taels of silver. Isn't this a joke? Who has so much silver?
"Brother Gan, don't be joking. None of us can get these 800,000 taels of silver." Ma Jingfu said to him quickly. Although he was Ma Kui's nephew, he also took some Cangzhou.
The treasury of the government office is not that much.
"Yes." The prodigal Wang Yangguang also quickly expressed his dissatisfaction: "In my opinion, we don't have it. Brother Gan can't afford so much money, right?"
"Brother Gan, please give us an explanation." Li Yutian also asked.
Seeing that these three people were so impatient, Gan Yangze naturally expected it. He did not look furious at all, but pretended to be calm and said: "Don't be impatient. Although none of you have the eight hundred thousand taels, but everyone
There are still some things that can be found together."
Just when the three of them were about to ask questions, he hurriedly said: "Brother Wang, although your family has lost a lot of wealth due to you, it is a big family, so it is definitely possible to spend 200,000 taels." Then he looked again.
He said to Li Yutian: "Brother Li, your family has always been in business. Although the business that has been disturbed by the slaves has been deserted in recent years, we still have a little money. Three hundred thousand taels is not too much, right?"
Finally, he turned his attention to Ma Jingfu and said: "Brother Ma, if you are really filial, you have to think about avenging your uncle who raised you from childhood, so can you contribute the remaining three hundred thousand taels? No.
Tell Xiongtai that I have no money, and you took a lot of the money from the Cangzhou government office."
At this point, these three people lost their temper. Who made Gan Yangze know everything about their family background? Besides, as a counselor under King Shun, if he wanted to find a career in Dashun Dynasty in the future,
I must rely on him for every official position, so even if I feel so oppressed today, there is nothing I can do.
"Okay everyone, the four of you and I will work together to overthrow the Ming Dynasty and build the Great Shun. Let's raise a toast!"
After everyone dispersed and saw Gan Yangze leaving, the prodigal Wang Yangguang immediately went to Ma Jingfu privately and said urgently: "Brother Ma, I have something important to discuss with you."
Ma Jingfu felt strange that Wang Yangguang didn't have much contact with him, and they only met him after their fathers often interacted with each other. Besides, he himself didn't want to have a relationship with him, so he was so proactive today.
"Why are you so anxious?"
"To be honest, Brother Ma, I don't have much money left at home, only fifty thousand taels." After saying this, he looked embarrassed.
"No, Brother Wang." Hearing this, Ma Jingfu was a little amused: "Your family used to be richer than ours. Even if your father passed away, you wouldn't be left with just this if you didn't take care of it."
Right?" In fact, saying he doesn't know how to take care of it is still giving him face. In the past few years, less than three years after his father passed away, he had sold or mortgaged several large houses in other places at a low price, and he had been scolded for a long time.
.
"That's true, Brother Ma." Wang Yangguang was a little embarrassed when he said this. "See if you can lend me some more money. When I get an official position in the future, I can take out some oil and water from it and return it to you. You can
Do you think it’s feasible?”
"Brother Wang, it's not that I don't want to lend you money, it's just that I don't have much left in my house. Now according to what Gan Yangze said, if I take out 300,000 taels, I only have less than 30,000 taels left. How can I pay for it?
Is there any money that I borrowed from you?" Ma Jingfu is not a fool. If it were someone else, forget it, maybe he could borrow some. But Wang Yangguang was not willing to do so. This person has a bad reputation. If Gan Yangze hadn't contacted him, he would have borrowed some money.
I won't deal with him.
Hearing what Ma Jingfu said, Wang Yangguang was too embarrassed to say anything. He could only say: "Well, since Brother Wang has no money, I can't continue to ask."
After saying that, the two of them left. Until Wang Yangguang was in despair and was about to return home, he accidentally heard a few people talking in a corner: "Today, Wang Yangguang wanted to borrow money from me, but I lied and refused. This person's character is so bad."
No, no matter how much money I have, I will never lend it to him."
"I wouldn't know how to do it if it were me. Just one less person and more credit."
In the end, only a few laughs were heard from the two of them. This conversation instantly made Wang Yangguang furious. He was so angry that he hammered the wall, not afraid of the pain, and gritted his teeth and said: "You Ma Jingfu, just wait for me! I have no way to survive."
, you don’t want to live any more!”
…
The lobby of Cangzhou Mansion at this time
"Your Majesty, you must not do it! It would be fine if I waited, but what's the point of you going here? Isn't this sending you into the tiger's mouth?" Wang Jiayan was now earnestly trying to dissuade Zhu Ling.
Don't go to Yanzhou Mansion, a face full of vicissitudes of life is full of worry and helplessness.
"Your Majesty, I also think that this move is inappropriate. Not to mention King Lu's attitude, there are a lot of thieves on the way to Yanzhou Mansion. Once they encounter them and find out that it is you, wouldn't it be a big disaster?
As a minister, it is absolutely impossible for you to put your monarch in that danger!"
Huang Bodang was as stubborn as ever. He also knelt beside Wang Jiayan and firmly advised Zhu Ling not to go to Yanzhou Mansion. He knew that there was no money in the bank now, but compared to money, Your Majesty is the most important.
.If we don’t have an army, we can recruit more. But if you don’t have His Majesty, it will be a big deal.
"You keep telling me not to go to Yanzhou, but you can't think of a way to make money!" Zhu Ling was really angry. These ministers made him extremely angry. "I have told you that I will be careful and bring more money with you.
Then some guards went by the waterway, what I brought back was silver, something that can revive the Ming Dynasty, not a plaything!"
"Then I won't let Your Majesty go there even if I die!"
Wang Jiayan said even more forcefully, without flinching at all.
"It seems that I don't need to talk to you anymore. I will leave in a moment and won't waste any time. You can discuss the important matter of defending against the enemy here while I go to get money for you!"
After that, Zhu Ling wanted to get up and leave, but Wang Jiayan knelt directly in front of him, blocking his way.
"Wang Jiayan!"
"A king's journey is no child's play! Your Majesty has been the emperor for so many years, so you don't understand this little bit of truth?"
"Your Majesty, just listen to our advice and let the soldiers suffer for a few days. It won't be too late to get the money after the enemy is retreated." Huang Bodang pleaded with tears in his eyes.
Just as everyone was arguing, a guard in uniform suddenly broke in without knowing it. When he saw this scene, he was so frightened that he knelt on the ground and said, "I really don't know. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
"It doesn't matter." Zhu Ling returned to his original position in desperation. Seeing that His Majesty no longer insisted on leaving, Wang Jiayan and Huang Bodang also got up together.
"Tell me, what's the matter?"
"Reporting to your majesty, there is a person outside the government office who wants to meet your majesty. He said that he can bring money to your majesty. He also asked your majesty to see him no matter what."
"Let her come in. I haven't had any contact with the local people in Cangzhou yet."