"Father, the situation of the White Lotus Sect is very complicated and involves many branches and sects, but I judge that the Beizhili area and the Shandong side should be deeply connected, and the sons from Shanxi, Fengzhou Bansheng and Hetao are not the same.
I dare to assert, but we must be on guard." Feng Ziying also sighed, "It's a troubled autumn. The rebellion in Bozhou in the southwest is not over, the White Lotus Sect's internal troubles are getting worse, and the northwest army's morale is unstable. Apart from external troubles, looking at it, our internal worries during the Great Zhou Dynasty are all
So much, Father, what do you say we should do?"
Feng Tang also felt the worry and vigilance in his son's heart, but he felt quite comforted in his heart.
The son has grown up and matured. No wonder the court would put him in such a key position as Shuntian Fu Cheng. Without this vision and sense of responsibility, even people like Qi Yongtai and Qiao Yingjia would not be able to let Ziying take the position.
this location.
"Ziying, you don't have to worry too much. The soldiers will cover up the water and the earth. I think the Great Zhou Dynasty has not reached the point where it has exhausted its strength. The northwest rebellion, as a father, is still somewhat sure, whether it is Liu Dongyang or Tu Wenxiu, maybe
There is intention, but not enough weight. I also plan to go to the northwest this time to have a good talk with Liu Dongyang, Tu Wenxiu and Xu Chao. With He Shixian's Yulin Army here and Liu Baichuan in charge of Shazhou, they are ambitious.
There won’t be many troubles, it’s just a matter of putting more thought and energy into it.”
Feng Tang raised his chest slightly. He knew that he needed to cheer up his son. Young people should not be too pessimistic. It is not a good thing to get depressed when encountering setbacks.
"Since you have been thinking about the problem of the White Lotus Sect for so long, you must have some countermeasures. My father feels that even if they want to cause chaos, they can't break out together. This kind of secret society cannot be like the Jurchens in Jianzhou.
They can act in a unified manner, and there are also many internal struggles for power. If you make good use of it, I'm afraid they will start fighting among themselves before they start an incident."
Feng Tang's analysis was still very accurate, and Feng Ziying also nodded slightly in approval.
Although the White Lotus Sect on the Beizhi side should be related to the White Lotus Sect on the Shandong side, Feng Ziying did not believe in unified action orders and prohibitions.
In the absence of a unified command system, a unified organizational structure, and even unified financial and logistical support, it is easy for this kind of private secret society to cause chaos, but it is still far from being able to truly pose a challenge to the imperial court.
But Feng Ziying was not worried about the success of the White Lotus Sect's rebellion, but worried about the leaky house and the continuous rain.
If there are other unexpected situations and the White Lotus Sect takes the opportunity to launch an attack, it may be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
"Father, my son is not worried that the White Lotus Sect can succeed, but is worried that they will add fuel to the flames. The emperor is not in good health right now. This is the son's biggest worry." Feng Ziying finally expressed her biggest worry: "Prince Yi Zhong's hibernation,
The forbearance of Niu Jizong and Wang Ziteng, the preparation of momentum by the Jiangnan gentry, the son felt that this was all like a huge conspiracy brewing, and even the fight between several princes, the son felt that someone seemed to be instigating it behind the scenes...
These internal problems are not related to external enemies?"
Feng Ziying's suspicions made Feng Tang feel horrified. If they were all involved, it would be too dangerous. "Ziying, do you have any basis for these suspicions? You can't just guess out of thin air, right?"
"Father, it is because there is no basis that my son is so worried. My son has mentioned some things to the princes in the court, but they don't agree with it." Feng Ziying spread her hands helplessly, "They are also worried about the issue of the White Lotus Sect.
They all agreed that it should be seriously investigated and dealt with, but which local government seriously implemented the investigation and dealt with it? Wang Ziteng and Niu Jizong, the Ministry of War and the cabinet all found it difficult, and the emperor was not at ease, but they were all afraid of irritating the other party and causing trouble, but such appeasement methods
I thought it would only fuel their ambitions; when the Jiangnan gentry made noise, the court gave in and agreed to establish Huaiyang Town, even abolishing Guyuan and merging Ganning. Prince Yi Zhong was sometimes active and sometimes dormant, and Long Jinwei was helpless.
Raising tigers brings disaster!..."
Feng Tang was silent for a long time. His son would not be unreasonable. He dared to say this, and he said it so conclusively in front of himself. Feng Tang believed that there must be some reasons.
"Ziying, there are some things that you and I cannot decide, but my father thinks that we can make some preparations within our capabilities, and I guess you have made some preparations in advance, right?"
Based on his understanding of his son, Feng Tang believes that Feng Ziying must have started preparing for it a long time ago. Even some of the things he did in Liaodong, including leaving Zuo Liangyu and Huang Degong in Jizhen, I am afraid they were all intentional, otherwise Feng Tang would have been
Huang Degong and Zuo Liangyu intended to return to Liaodong Town, but it was Feng Ziying who persuaded them to stay in Jizhen.
"Well, father, my son has made some preparations in advance. For example, there is a severe drought in the north. My son predicts that the price of grain in the north, including Gyeonggi Province, will skyrocket this winter and next spring. Just look at the situation in Jingtong Ercang, so my cousin and I
It was also said that grain was transported by sea from Guangdong and Guangxi to Yuguan, Dagu, Beitang and Dengzhou. The Duan family grain shop and the Xue family built some new grain depots in Dagu, Yuguan and Beitang...
"
Feng Ziying left this matter to Duan Xigui and Xue Biao. In the early stage, Duan Xigui was mainly responsible for the operation.
Xue Biao's fleet in Denglai is still slightly smaller, and the tonnage is not large enough. However, in the second half of the year, Xue Biao also has two or three ships that start running this line, mainly to transfer grain from Ningbo and Songjiang to Yuguan and Dagu.
With Dengzhou, Feng Ziying also asked Zhuang Limin to help allocate some ships from Zhuang Kee's fleet to help transport grain, and these working capital were borrowed from Haitong Bank.
Feng Tang couldn't help but frown after hearing Feng Ziying's introduction: "Ziying, is it really possible that the price of food in the North has risen so much? Didn't it mean that the food in Jingtong's second warehouse has begun to be replenished?"
Feng Ziying smiled bitterly: "The Ministry of Revenue has placed an order with Huguang, but the money to be recovered from sales here has not been seen yet, and I estimate that the actual start of shipment will have to wait until at least August or September, or even October.
Large-scale transportation to the north will be possible after that, but in three or four months, who knows..."
Feng Tang still felt that his son was too pessimistic and unfounded. What could happen in just three or four months?
The emperor dies, or does Prince Yohitada raise the banner of rebellion, or does Jiangnan want to rule across the river from the capital? Or is there a great rebellion by the White Lotus Sect in the north?
How can it be?
However, Feng Tang did not dampen his son's enthusiasm. It is a good thing for his son to be prepared for danger in times of peace. He should be prepared for everything and fail if he is not prepared. He should also do everything cautiously and carefully. If something happens, he will be able to deal with it more calmly.
"Then Ziying, what do you think you need to do as a father?"
Feng Tang's question brought Feng Ziying back from her thoughts. After thinking for a while, Feng Ziying said: "Father, the three sides may be more important than we thought. In addition to the border troops in the three sides and four towns, there is a severe drought in the North."
, Shaanxi is particularly serious. In addition, the land of northern Shaanxi is bitterly cold and the folk customs are fierce. If the imperial court insists on forcing the abolition of Guyuan and the merger of Ganning and the dismissal of soldiers to return to their hometowns, I am worried that there will be another severe drought. The people in the countryside will have difficulty in feeding themselves and the soldiers who return home will be resentful.
It's so big that it's like withered grass that catches a spark and ignites immediately, then it's really out of control."
Feng Tang thought for a while and nodded: "Ziying, your worries are justified. When my father was in Yulin, he knew that the harvest there depends on the weather. This year's drought is far worse than in previous years. If this soldier is dismissed and returns home, he will see
It’s hard to live with old friends and relatives, which may ignite the resentment in your heart, but how should you deal with your father’s departure?”
"From now on, we will start purchasing grain. We will buy grain from Huguang, Henan and even Shanxi and transport it to Yulin and Lanzhou. We will suspend the abolition of Guyuan Town and merge it with Ganning Town. We will delay it for a while and wait for a while to see how the situation changes." Feng Ziying said every word.
typical.
Feng Tang pondered and said: "Then how do you explain it to the court? You took the money but didn't send it away..."
"Does the father still need his son to teach him such coping strategies?" Feng Ziying glanced at her father with a half-smile, "Don't the military generals have countless ways to deal with the imperial court?"
Feng Tang laughed at himself: "Hey, Ziying, are you using the tone of a civil servant to talk to your father?"
"Father, this is all tacitly understood. As long as everyone does not go too far, the court will not do anything. Of course, it must be abolished, but how to operate it is not the power of my father, the governor of the three sides?" Feng Ziying
The old god said: "My son is afraid that the court may not allow you, father, to abolish the company in three to five months."
Feng Tang frowned, "Ziying, you are exaggerating, as if this week is really about to face chaos."
"I hope that as my father said, everything is just unfounded." Feng Ziying's mouth moved slightly, "It's a pity that Murphy's Law has already determined it..."
"What?" Feng Tang asked, not hearing clearly.
"Father, there is a saying that if something is likely to happen, even if the possibility is very small, if it happens it is a good thing, then it will not happen, if it happens it is a bad thing, then it will definitely happen,...
…”
Feng Ziying changed Murphy's Law. After Feng Tang listened, he chewed on it for a long time before silently nodding: "Ziying, what you said seems to be quite accurate. My father reviewed his own experiences over the years.
Many things happen, the more you hope that bad things will not happen, they will happen sooner or later. Just like the Fushun Fort Incident, my father has long known that Nurhachi and some generals in Liaodong Town have unclear things.
relationship, but my father always felt that he would treat all the generals well after he left. Even the rest of Li Chengliang's troops were transferred as peacefully as possible, and all parties were handled fairly safely, so he took a chance.
But the result was that Li Yongfang stabbed his father in the back..."
"So father, then abandon your illusions and prepare to fight." Feng Ziying stood still and said firmly: "The sooner we buy and transport food, the better. If the court doesn't do it, we, father and son, have to do it first, and we will count as much as we can do.
