The main hall is high, spacious and airy. Although it is summer, there is no heat at all.
The sun has never been here, let alone the darkness in the ditch.
Qian Qianyi noticed the focused gazes and couldn't help but sigh secretly and said:
"I think the word 'gong' should be used."
"Prince Gong?" Ma Shiying was stunned.
"Prince Gong!?"
Emperor Hongguang murmured. He looked at the ministers and saw everyone nodding in appreciation.
Gong, respect, listen respectfully, means to be docile and obedient.
This is exactly the opposite of the current unruly King of Hanyang.
This is not to win over, but to drive away!
"Your Majesty, what do you mean?" Ma Shiying asked hurriedly.
"Inappropriate!" Emperor Hongguang shook his head and said: "You also know the character of King Hanyang. This word of courtesy may make him dissatisfied and alienated from the court."
When the ministers heard this, they were quite surprised.
"Your Majesty, it is precisely because King Hanyang is quite unruly that he needs to be warned. The word "gong" is very appropriate."
Jiang Yueguang said hurriedly.
Other members of the Donglin Party agreed that they were extremely disdainful of such a vassal king who wandered outside the court.
However, Huguang was too far away, and Emperor Hongguang was reluctant to give up this foreign aid. He looked at Ma Shiying.
Of course Ma Shiying understood the emperor's intention, and if he could suppress the Donglin Party, the emperor's support would play a major role.
This matter can also be regarded as a good deal for the King of Hanyang.
After thinking for a while, he said: "According to the meaning of Weichen, the word 'wing' can be used, which means the wings of the Ming Dynasty."
"King of Wings?" Emperor Hongguang thought about it and smiled. This word is good.
"However, a hint must be given."
Ma Shiying said slowly: "If Zuo Mengeng is not released, then he will be Prince Gong."
"Although the methods are somewhat dirty, for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, I am willing to bear such a stigma!"
"Thank you for your hard work, Chief Assistant!"
Hongguang was quite moved: "If there is no chief assistant in this world, I don't know how to deal with it."
For a time, the monarch and his ministers got along well with each other, and the atmosphere changed suddenly.
When the Donglin Party saw this, they were extremely disgusted.
However, pinching their noses, they had to admit that this method was good.
"In addition, we have to hint to Huguang that if he is not released, Jiangxi and Lingnan will no longer sell grain to him."
Qian Qianyi stroked his beard and said in a deep voice: "The land in Huguang is almost completely white. It is a time of shortage of food. The imperial court can manipulate him."
This statement immediately gained everyone's approval.
As for the King of Hanyang, he finally had something in hand, and the threat was greatly reduced.
Emperor Hongguang, who was sitting on the dragon throne, also smiled.
In this way, internal and external balance can also be implemented again.
For a time, the atmosphere in the court was relaxed.
…
And in early July, Li Zicheng finally returned to his hometown-Chang'an.
Two hundred thousand when he left, but less than fifty thousand when he returned, which plunged the entire city of Xi'an into panic.
However, after a trip to Beijing, Li Zicheng finally became more mature.
As soon as he returned to Xi'an, he announced the abolition of the policy of "pursuing culprits to provide evidence", completely stopped the persecution of officials and gentry, and won the hearts of the people.
However, the most important thing is to resist the Manchus.
Therefore, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the Dashun imperial court issued a travel order to Shanxi and Henan provinces in the north, as well as the entire Shaanxi province, declaring that it would attack the Qing Dynasty in five directions and regain the lost territory.
In fact, it was a bluff to scare the Manchus.
At a deeper level, there are strong trunks and weak branches.
That is, Tian Jianxiu and other soldiers and horses left behind in various places were replaced by the Shun army that was defeated by the Manchu and Guan Ning cavalry.
For example, Liu Zongmin's cavalry was useless.
Most of the elite are already useless.
Bai Guangen returned to the familiar city of Xi'an. It was obviously summer, but he was faced with a desolate scene.
He admitted that he regretted it.
After a trip to Beijing, 70% of the troops and horses under his command were lost, and they lost their vitality.
Although Li Zicheng still had several provinces, he deeply understood that this energy was completely gone.
"Fear the Qing Dynasty like a tiger, of course, including me!"
Bai Guangen was riding a horse and walking on the street, his thoughts turning over and over again.
I heard that Zhu Yixi also captured Sichuan and controlled Huguang. If I had taken refuge at that time, what would happen now?
"well--"
He sighed deeply, so what if he is now an earl?
Walking slowly, he came to the former Qin Palace, now the Dashun Palace.
Since he started his career as a soldier, with a strong military and a light literary mind, the leader of the hundred officials was not Niu Jinxing, but Liu Zongmin.
However, Liu Zongmin was recovering from his injuries at this time, so the person in charge of the government was Niu Jinxing, a scholar.
At this time, although Niu Jinxing had eliminated the biggest threat, Li Yan, there was no smile on his face.
Without him, the finances will collapse.
The payment aid was stopped, but due to the implementation of the policy of exempting farmers from grain for three years, the Dashun court was like water without a source and was close to drying up.
As for the gold and silver looted from Beijing, nearly half of it was lost along the way. The Qing army was full, otherwise Wu Sangui would not give up.
"There are tens of thousands of officials and hundreds of thousands of troops, all of whom need money. Now that we can't collect taxes, it's imminent!"
Li Zicheng had a headache and rubbed his head.
If you pursue wages, you will lose the support of the people; if you do not pursue them, it will lead to mutiny.
"What suggestions does the Prime Minister have?"
"Your Majesty, after much thought, I have concluded that the defeat of Shanhaiguan lies in the loss of the gentry's heart, so it must be restored."
Niu Jinxing changed the subject.
"How can this be undone?"
Li Zicheng said curiously: "The money collected cannot be returned."
"In order to prevent these gentry from defecting to the Manchus and causing the local government to lose control, we must move them to Guanzhong."
Niu Jinxing said proudly: "In addition, when they enter Guanzhong, won't they be able to collect taxes?"
"Tax?"
Li Zicheng was shocked.
Tian Jianxiu, Gao Yigong, Song Xiance and other civil and military officials were all shocked.
"Prime Minister, I will be exempted from taxes for three years, but it has been spread for a long time. We must not break the trust of the people!"
Gu Junen single-handedly planned the strategic plan of taking Guanzhong first and then Beijing, with a long-term vision.
Hearing Niu Jinxing's words, he couldn't help but said anxiously.
If the gentry is lost and the people lose their trust, Dashun will really be doomed!
Others also understood that the reason why the Chuang army rose up was not because of the fierce fighting, but because of Li Yan's offer of "no food when King Chuang comes" and "no tax for three years".
Therefore, there is a constant flow of troops.
When Niu Jinxing heard this, he couldn't help but smile bitterly and said: "We are no longer a grassroots team. We must collect taxes and pay taxes."
"If it is not implemented within two or three months, the consequences will be disastrous."
"Then let's help with the payment!" Gao Yigong couldn't help shouting.
"Where are there so many officials to help pay? There are only a few in Guanzhong, Henan is white, and Shanxi is too far away. Instead of deposing them, it is better for us to follow the current."
Niu Jinxing said softly.
At this moment, everyone was speechless.
In this situation, the only solution is to collect taxes.
As for asking them to donate the gold and silver they looted from Beijing to Dashun, there is absolutely no way.
Li Zicheng looked at everyone's faces and said slowly: "That's all, which court doesn't collect taxes?"