Seeing that His Majesty was obviously furious, Ni Yuanlu knew that this Wang Zhang was too ignorant. The current situation simply did not allow the court to push it as slowly as before. If this were the case, I am afraid that all the provinces in the southwest would fall; and the slave capital would be established.
We are going south! Do we have to take our time then?
It is simply ridiculous to try to block tax reform based on your own personal opinions!
"Your Majesty, Wang Yushi has just been locked up in Yingtian Mansion for too long. Maybe he doesn't know much about the situation outside, so he said such childish words. I hope your Majesty will calm down and forgive him."
Wu Linzheng on the side also stepped forward to intercede for Wang Zhang, the censor. Everyone came from the capital, so at least they had some sympathy.
"Your Majesty, I beg your Majesty to forgive him for this crime. Wang Yushi also wants to make the court more favorable among businessmen, so as to facilitate the implementation of other national policies in the future. That's why he thinks so. I hope your Majesty will forgive him for the sake of serving the country.
Bar."
Hearing the two second-rank officials pleading for a little censor, Zhu Ling looked at Wang Zhang coldly: "Wang Zhang, what you said is very different from reality! Do you know how many businessmen are resisting in private?
Regarding taxation, do you know that if there is no rapid reform, the Ming Dynasty's treasury will be out of money? Without money, the national policies I mentioned before are just empty words. Let's not talk about the prosperous age of restoring the Ming Dynasty. Just regaining the mountains and rivers is probably just what I have in mind.
Got an idea!”
In fact, Zhu Ling knew that some people would object to the increase in taxes on merchants. But he did not expect that even Ni Yuanlu and others did not object, and he, a small censor, would make such a fuss. If it weren't for Wang Zhang, who has been criticized since Ma Shiying's rebellion.
Locked up, otherwise he would have thought that Wang Zhang had received favors from some businessmen.
Wang Zhang saw that his words made His Majesty so angry, and his colleagues around him also advised him not to do so. Then he knelt down in fear: "I am so frightened that I don't know that the overall situation has changed and the current situation is unpredictable. I apologize to Your Majesty for today's stupid words and deeds."
Please forgive me."
"alright!"
Zhu Ling waved his hand, unwilling to pursue the matter further: "Just treat it as if you just said the wrong thing. Remember, you have to use your brain when speaking in the future!"
After that, Zhang Xianzhong's progress in the southwest was mentioned again.
"I heard that Zhang Xianzhong has captured Chongqing, right?" Zhu Ling couldn't help but feel anxious after hearing the military reports from the southwestern provinces. According to historical records, Zhang Xianzhong only captured Chongqing in June. But he didn't.
Come to think of it, it was only in May that it fell. Could it be the consequence of my own time travel?
"I just sorted out the information submitted from various places today, and found that the generals of the Southwest Army had already sent an emergency report to Nanjing for rescue. But that was when Ma Shiying was in trouble, and he did not reply. After that, there was a lack of rescue.
That's where..." Wu Linzheng cupped his hands and said in a deep voice.
This time, Ma Shiying's chaos not only caused chaos in Yingtian's government, but also caused taxes from all parts of the south of the Yangtze River to be basically not collected. Later, the military intelligence in the southwestern provinces failed to rescue them in time, resulting in such an irreversible situation. This guy
Damn it!
"Your Majesty and all the ministers, please do not get excited. I already know where Ma Shiying is going and have sent people to chase him along the road. Ma Shiying cannot escape." At this time, Shi Bang stepped forward and said.
His news somewhat comforted the hearts of the ministers present.
If you want to annihilate Zhang Xianzhong, you must be fully prepared. None of his four adopted sons are unknown, especially Li Dingguo and Sun Kewang. Except for Qin Liangyu, there seems to be no well-known generals in that direction.
Moreover, Qin Liangyu was losing ground in front of Zhang Xianzhong.
Yan Yingyuan was in that direction, but he had already made arrangements in Zhu Ling's mind.
He seems to be a general with full skills in defending the city. Historically, his record of resisting the slave-building has been better than that of many generals in the late Ming Dynasty. If he is allowed to defend the city and provide some reinforcements, he will be very relieved. After all, this is a natural defender.
The city's general, but we don't know what his other abilities are yet.
"There are not many troops in Sichuan, but Qin Liangyu has been fighting there. I believe that among the southwestern provinces, only Qin Liangyu and Zhang Xianzhong are capable of fighting, and no one else has such ability." Wai Jinxian, a member of the Ministry of War, said this, and he was very concerned about the war.
The problem is somewhat understood. Moreover, Qin Liangyu once led troops to fight in Liaodong, and everyone knew it.
Although she is a female, she is not weaker than other men. The white-armed soldiers in her hands are the elite of the first class. If they can be developed vigorously, they will definitely become a sharp knife for the court! The white-armed soldiers are good at mountain warfare.
, completely suitable for a fierce battle with Zhang Xianzhong in the southwest. If used properly, it is estimated that it will not take a year to annihilate Zhang Xianzhong.
"And if Qin Liangyu's white-armed soldiers can be developed and strengthened, I think Zhang Xianzhong is not worth mentioning!"
Hearing Jin Xian's words, Zhu Ling couldn't help but shake his head and laugh. He underestimated Zhang Xianzhong too much. Although Zhang Xianzhong was a bit cunning, he was capable of surviving for so many years in the encirclement and suppression by so many troops. And he was quite capable.
His four adopted sons are all strategic and courageous.
What he said was indeed a bit laughable.
"Did you know that he has four adopted sons?"
Before Zhu Ling could say anything, Chengde, a doctor in the military department, immediately stood up and said with a smile.
"What?" Jin Xian obviously didn't react and didn't know what Cheng De meant.
"Zhang Xianzhong has four adopted sons, Sun Kewang, Li Dingguo, Liu Wenxiu and Ai Nengqi. Of these four, Sun Kewang and Li Dingguo are undoubtedly the most powerful. One has the ability to govern the country, and the other has the ability to lead troops. They are all for
Zhang Xianzhong has made great achievements. Without these few people, Zhang Xianzhong would not be able to conquer Chongqing."
After saying that, Cheng De smiled coldly, saluted Zhu Ling, and stood there.
"Then according to what you say, our Ming army has no place to survive in the southwest?" Jin Xian was suddenly dissatisfied at being attacked like this. He immediately attacked him in turn.
"No."
At this time, Shi Bang also stood up and said: "If we can subdue these four people, we will not only be able to wipe out Zhang Xianzhong, but we will also have great confidence in going north to fight fiercely with Jiannu and wipe out the intruders in the future!"
But how to conquer them is the biggest headache for everyone. Zhu Ling knows how Li Dingguo surrendered. It was because at that time, Jiannu went south and Zhang Xianzhong died in the battle. They were leaderless in Daxi, and everyone was Han, so they had to give up.
The old prejudices were organized together to resist the establishment of slavery.
However, the Jiannu have not yet gone south. Their enemy is still the Ming army, and Zhang Xianzhong is not dead. How could Li Dingguo surrender to the Ming Dynasty?
"Is there nothing you can do?"
"this……"
Faced with the questions raised by His Majesty, everyone was instantly speechless. Now Zhang Xianzhong is already unstoppable in the southwest and is making great progress. With such a huge victory, coupled with the decline of the Ming Dynasty, I am afraid that normal people will not surrender suddenly.
Those four people were certainly not fools. How could they foolishly defect to the Ming Dynasty?
"I think that even if we recruit an unknown young general from the other side, they may not be willing to agree to it. Not to mention that he is Zhang Xianzhong's adopted son, so the current plan should be to rectify Jiangnan first and let the rear be completely settled. Done.
If we reach the rear, we will send troops to the southwest in the future, and if we go north, we won’t have to worry about anything happening in the rear.”
Zhu Ling knew that thinking about this issue now was just a struggle, and he couldn't think of a solution at all. It would be better to use this energy to rectify the economy first and enrich the national treasury, which is the top priority.
"Zhang Xianzhong in the southwest mobilized all available troops from the surrounding provinces to encircle and suppress them, but he told them that if anyone sees friendly troops in trouble but does not want to save them, or puts friendly troops in trouble, all the Manchus will be killed!"
He couldn't bear the thought of someone playing tricks under such a situation. Such people didn't care about the peril of the nation and the entire Han people!
"As for those merchants who resist, send troops and horses to suppress them. Won't some people just close their doors? If they don't do it, the court will do it!"
"Feng Kaizhang!"
"I'm here!"
Feng Kaizhang immediately took the order and went out of the queue and knelt down on one knee.
"I have appointed you as the Governor of Water Transport, in charge of all the waterways in the world. Give me good control over those canal gangs, or else they will do a good job for me. If there is a strike or passive resistance, all of them will be arrested. The imperial court will hire people to do it.
!”
"I obey the decree!"
Immediately, Zhu Ling turned his attention to Ni Yuanlu and said to her: "Ni Qing."
"I'm here."
"Wouldn't those merchants simply close their doors? Give them an ultimatum. If they resist the imperial government's national policy, then their business will be handled by the imperial court. Whether it is cloth, porcelain, restaurants, inns, etc., etc.
All the businesses that can be seen in the market, the imperial court wants to open stores!"
Zhu Ling also made this determination. He had this idea before, but he never implemented it. Now facing these profit-seeking businessmen, he can no longer bear it. The worst is that the court will do it to you! I am not afraid!
"Aren't they very powerful? If they resist the imperial government's national policy by shutting down the country directly, then I will make everything much cheaper for them. I want to see how long they can persist?"
As soon as these words came out, the ministers present immediately aroused discussion, and a burst of noise immediately sounded.
And Ni Yuanlu also felt that His Majesty had gone too far. Competing for profits with the people was really not in line with the imperial court. Even if these businessmen were like this, they were still common people. If Your Majesty did this, not only would they not be obedient, but they might be chilled.
.
"Your Majesty, is this move a bit too extreme? After all, businessmen are also people, and it is really inappropriate to compete with the people for profit."
"Ni Qing."
Zhu Ling couldn't help but smile a little, "Do you think my purpose is to compete with them for profit? My intention is to let them implement national policies and not to resist or passively resist. This move is just to teach them a lesson and let them know
, the court has never been a cowardly court, if they dare to rebel, then give it a try!"