In Jiangning, there is a clear pond between Chenyuan and Yuqian Street on the south bank of Zangjin Bridge. It is the clear autumn in August, and the heat in Jiangning has not subsided. The lotus flowers in the clear pond are blooming, and a faint fragrance floats into the house.
In the Fucui Pavilion in Chenyuan, Li Zhuo was wearing a green cloth shirt and holding a chess piece in his hand. He hesitated for a long time before putting it on the chessboard. He looked at the chess piece and then at the lotus pond outside the Fucui Pavilion.
, or throw the chess piece into the chess box.
"Why is Commander Li hesitating?" The middle-aged man sitting opposite Li Zhuo is nearly fifty years old. He has a dark face and a beard, and is tall. If he hadn't been wearing a Confucian shirt and a scribe's scarf on his head, others would have thought that he was a powerful general.
But he is the left minister of Jiangning's civil service, and Yu Xinyuan, the censor of Jiangning's Zuodu. Yu Xinyuan squinted at Li Zhuo and said with a smile, "The Chu party has taken over too quickly, and Li Shuai is too clumsy to deal with it?"
Yu Xinyuan and Li Zhuo were Jinshi in the same year, and they also entered the Ministry of Justice as chief officers at the same time. They worked together for ten years and then served in local governments. They had close contacts. Li Zhuoji went to Jiangxi as deputy inspector, and was later recommended by Chen Xinbo to serve as Jiangxi inspector.
Yu Xinyuan held important positions such as the Governor of Fujian, but because he belonged to the Wu Party and had a bad relationship with Chen Xinbo, he and Chen Xiyan and other Wu Party officials were kicked to Jiangning. He served as the left minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Jiangning and the censor of Jiangning Zuodu for six years.
No more moving.
Li Zhuo did not answer Yu Xinyuan's question, but took out another white piece from the chess box and dropped it on the chessboard. Speaking of another matter, he asked: "Chen Xiyan made a bad move, and the Xixi Academy didn't stop.
Would you rather be the leader of the Wu Party?"
"If you are talking about the lectures at Xixi Academy..." Yu Xinyuan chuckled, "Chen Xiyan is not in good health and has returned to his hometown to recuperate. I will reluctantly preside over Xixi Academy for him temporarily."
Gao Zongting stood aside and his eyes fell on the chess pieces.
Since the great scholar Chen Huangzhou gave lectures in Xixi Society, Xixi Society has been the most important gathering place for the Qing Dynasty scholars who stayed in Jiangning to give lectures and discuss the Qing Dynasty. Through many connections with the same year, fellow disciples, and township parties, Xixi Society has brought scholars from Wu Yue and surrounding areas to
Zi Qingliu was closely connected with the children of local aristocratic families, and the world called it Wu Party, or also known as Xixi Party.
Since Chen Huangzhou, the person who presided over the Xixi Society's lectures was none other than the leader and leader of the Wu Party. It can be said that in Jiangdong County, the leader of the Wu Party spoke more effectively than the Xuanfu envoy.
Chen Xiyan is from Jiyang County, Pingjiang Prefecture. The area around Taihu Lake is more than a thousand miles away. At this time, the rampant East China Sea bandits are causing chaos and Jiyang is not at peace. Chen Xiyan returns to Jiyang at this time, so naturally he cannot rest in peace.
After all, Chen Xiyan's reputation has plummeted due to his involvement in the Qujiatong bandit case. If he doesn't resign, there will be irreparable cracks within the Wu Party; Yu Xinyuan was pushed out to turn the tide.
The Qujiatong Bandit Case was a bad move made by Chen Xiyan, which also completely destroyed the emperor's expectations for Chen Xiyan. Compared with Chen Xiyan, Yu Xinyuan may not be slightly less capable, but his reputation and qualifications are still insufficient. The Qujiatong Bandit Case is considered
A heavy setback suffered by the Wu Party.
Li Zhuo casually played chess with Yu Xinyuan and talked, and Gao Zongting could see that there was always worry on his eyebrows.
Yu Xinyuan was also secretly observing Li Zhuo and said casually: "Gu Wuchen's disciples used refugees to build a rural camp in Chongzhou. The villagers thought this was a bad start and started talking about it. What does Li Shuai think?"
"Bah!" Li Zhuo made a heavy move, and a crisp sound came from the catalpa wood chessboard. Li Zhuo took his hand and said: "The Xuanfu envoy copied a copy for me of the documents submitted by the local government. The refugees are also very good.
People who were born to be dispersed, most of the people gathered on Xisha Island are from Zhongzhou. In the whole world, no one is the land of the king, and no one on the shore of the land is the king's ministers. The people of Chongzhou are the king's ministers, so what about the people of Zhongzhou?
Not a royal minister? Furthermore, the refugees valued their land and made them live and work in peace and contentment on Xisha Island. Over time, they became the people of Chongzhou. Furthermore, Chongzhou was still a tidal flat before the founding of the People's Republic of China, and several of the people living in Chongzhou did not come from other places.
Moving in? I think this matter should be treated specially..." Afraid that Yu Xinyuan would lose face, Li Zhuo added another sentence and said, "I won't do this next time..."
Yu Xinyuan thought that when Li Zhuo was serving as the inspector in Jiangxi, the bandits were all recruited into the army as personal soldiers. Maybe he didn't have any opinion about Lin Fu setting up rural camps among the refugees, but in any case, Lin Fu was the Gu clan of the Chu party.
Li Zhuo, a disciple, had done nothing in Jiangning and was closely related to the suppression of the Chu Party. He agreed with Lin Fu's establishment of a rural camp on Xisha Island. Yu Xinyuan was still a little surprised.
Yu Xinyuan also thought to himself: In terms of local military preparations, the Inspector General has the most say. Gu Wuchen has newly become the Inspector General of Jiangdong, so it is indeed inconvenient to struggle with this issue at this time.
"It seems that this matter can only be handled in this way," Yu Xinyuan said. "In addition, there are rumors in Yanjing that Zhang Xie intends to increase city taxes to make up for the lack of national funds. What does Li Shuai think?"
Gao Zongting stood aside silently, but he could guess what Yu Xinyuan was thinking: In order to make up for the lack of national funds in the court, the Chu Party would impose municipal taxes on local governments first. Yu Xinyuan was worried that Jiangdong County would be affected by Gu Wuchen's relationship.
Bear the brunt.
Gao Zongting followed Li Zhuo to fight in Eastern Fujian for several years, and he knew that money and food were the first priority in managing the army.
Liu An'er's rebellion spread to the four prefectures of Dongyang, Huai'an, Weiyang, and Haozhou. The disaster of the She family can only be said to be slightly relieved. It is not yet known how fierce the East China Sea bandits will be. The threat of the Donghu people on the northern front is becoming increasingly serious. Huguang,
Jiangxi is experiencing another major disaster this summer. Civil unrest is like a spark. A little slack can set off a prairie fire. In troubled times, what can we do to eliminate such a huge hidden danger if the national funds are insufficient?
Raising additional taxes and plundering the common people will only make the people overwhelmed and lead to endless turmoil. The Chu Party shifted the target of widening financial resources from increasing taxes on Tianding to increasing taxes on the city, which is to reduce the burden on the common people and allow them to
The general idea is that the local aristocratic families should bear more responsibility. As the saying goes, "plucking a hair to benefit the world without doing anything", increasing municipal tax revenue affects the fundamental interests of the aristocratic families and the local area, and the resistance is unimaginable.
Gao Zongting also couldn't see what the Chu party could do in the center, but he didn't know how the commander-in-chief would respond to Yu Xinyuan's question.
Li Zhuo pressed his hands on both sides of the catalpa wood chessboard and said: "For many years, I have only cared about military matters and replenishing the national fund, but my views have been shallow. I really have no humble opinions that can be used to show shame..."
Li Zhuo was fed up with the factional strife in the imperial court but was unable to escape from it. At present, nearly half of Jiangdong County was suffering from military disasters and banditry was difficult to solve. He was willing to serve the king and do his best, even if he died, but he could only hate the central government for looking down on him.
Like a tiger locked in Jiangning, he feels at ease. In his opinion, Yu Xinyuan is not the person who can turn the tide. He has just replaced Chen Xiyan within the Wu Party. All he seeks is to restrict Gu Wuchen. Furthermore, it can be said to limit the Chu Party's influence on Jiangdong and Jiangning.
Penetration and control in the two Zhejiang regions.
This meeting could not be regarded as a pleasant conversation. After a game of chess was played and there was still a game left, Yu Xinyuan took his leave.
After sending Yu Xinyuan to the mansion, Li Zhuo and Gao Zongting said: "There is still the end of the game, you accompany me to finish it."
Gao Zongting accompanied Li Zhuo back to Fucui Pavilion and said, "How about we clean up and start the next game again? There will be no urgent business to deal with today?"
"How can I put the fallen chess pieces back into the chess box?" Li Zhuo sighed.
Gao Zongting was slightly startled, knowing that Li Zhuo was concerned about national affairs. Just as Li Zhuo said, it would be much easier if the world could be overthrown and reorganized, so he grabbed the chess pieces and played with them.
"I'm worried about the direction of Haozhou," Li Zhuo held the chess piece in his hand without making a move, and said to Gao Zongting, who had followed him for many years. "Liu An'er's troops have been dormant in Hongzepu for more than two months. In such an emergency, the Changhuai Town Army has no money."
We are all underpaid. Although there are good news from Zuo Shangrong from time to time, the longer time passes, the more worried I am about the direction of Haozhou. If Haozhou is lost, the Hongzepu bandits will be connected with Huaishang and Zhongzhou. What we have achieved this spring
However, the achievements of the Qing bandits were ruined in one fell swoop. The horse thieves and rogue bandits who had been dormant or retreated into the mountains and forests due to the Qing bandits in Huaishang, Zhongzhou and other places will become active again, and may even twist into a tighter force. The situation in the hinterland of the Central Plains may be more severe than before.
ten times……"
"The East China Sea bandits also have to worry about it," Gao Zongting said, "At this time, I hope Ninghai Town will suffer a big defeat..."
"Do you think the imperial court will use me if the Ninghai Navy is defeated?" Li Zhuo asked Gao Zongting. He looked at Gao Zongting for a moment, then shook his head and said, "If the Ninghai Navy is defeated, it will only further prove that the Zhenjun has been corrupted and cannot be used anymore."
, the imperial court will naturally not take risks with the Jiangning Navy. When Gu Wuchen is in Jiangdong, he will suggest that the imperial court increase the scale of training Xiangyong... I think his idea is still feasible. The key is to find the right people. The Battle of the Bayou
, you have seen with your own eyes how good Lin Fu is at training soldiers?"
"Gu Wuchen used Lin Fu as a swordsman, so he might not feel comfortable using him. After all, Lin Fu is too sharp," Gao Zongting said. "After the Hekou incident, Lin Fu went to Xisha Island to provide disaster relief, went to Taihu Lake to raise food, and participated in Taihu Lake
To suppress the banditry, they set up a rural camp on Xisha Island without permission. Although it was temporarily suppressed, nothing was done according to the rules..."
"We just followed the rules too much..." Li Zhuo sighed, tapping the chessboard lightly with the chess pieces.
Gao Zongting knew that Li Zhuo regretted handing over all his military power. He was like a tiger locked in a cage in Jiangning. No matter how powerful he was, he could not do anything to deal with the crisis Jiangdong County was facing at this time. Besides, the Chu Party could not give Li Zhuo a raise.
He sighed slightly and said: "Lin Fu should be chosen to govern the army. Although this person is very ambitious, he is basically concerned with settling people's livelihood. He secretly conflicts with the She family in many matters. He is available, but he has qualifications.
It's too shallow. If we just lift him up in secret, I'm afraid it won't have much effect."
"It may not work, the key depends on how to raise it," Li Zhuo said, "Now that Gu Wuchen has become the inspector, how long do you think he will endure before he formally petitions to open a prison city in Jiangdong?"
"Prison city?" Gao Zongting's eyes lit up and he said with a smile, "Jiang is still old and hot. I really didn't expect to be able to take the wrong edge with the sword and make dangerous moves with the soldiers."
Lin Fu took up the post of jailer on Jinchuan Prison Island. If Gu Wuchen opened the prison city, the chief officer of the prison city would be Lin Fu.
Li Zhuo smiled slightly and said: "This strategy is feasible, but it can only bring some peace to the east, and only if Lin Fu is really available..."