At Zhao Zhilong's residence, a group of former nobles from the city gathered again.
"Master Zhao, this is not giving me a way to survive, and I am forcing you to donate again!"
"This is endless."
Xu Yunjue, Zhang Guobi, Zhang Gongri, Li Zushu, Zhang Weicheng, Tang Guozuo, Deng Wenxuan and others complained endlessly and were full of complaints.
Last time, Zhao Zhilong was persuaded to donate 200,000 taels, and Xu Yunjue was sent to donate 1 million taels. In the end, they got a 10% discount. Everyone worked hard, and each time they paid at least 10,000 taels of silver, and finally passed the test.
But it’s only been a few days and it’s happening again?
Even if you are cutting leeks, you have to cut one crop and let the second crop grow before cutting again.
Although we have been members of the great Ming Dynasty and have prospered together with our country for more than two hundred years, this money does not come from the wind.
This year has been too difficult for everyone. First, the Qing army crossed the river, and everyone was forced to surrender to the Qing Dynasty. They also paid a large sum of money to pay tribute. Later, the governor-general, governor-general, commander-in-chief, commander-in-chief Maile Zhangjing and other garrison troops were stationed. None of them were allowed to attack, and even
Even the Taoist magistrate of the feudal dynasty did not dare to offend anyone.
You must take care of yourself everywhere and be filial everywhere.
Within a few days of stability, the Qing court first began to settle the accounts. Then the Ming army resurrected and Jiangnan was corrupted. The industrial and commercial trade of everyone and even the farms and mines were greatly affected. When Jiangning was under martial law, the granary rice in their hands
Pubu Village and others were even forced to borrow materials in exchange for a pile of IOUs.
Donate big and small constantly.
"Mr. Zhao, you are well-informed. What is the situation outside now? Why is the situation so tense?" The speaker was the fifth generation Lingbi Marquis. He was the posthumous title of King Tanghe of Wuxiang in Dongou after the death of Duke Xinguo, the founder of the country.
.
At that time, Tang Hena was a fellow villager of Taizu Fengyang and an old brother who herded cattle. Like Xu Da, he was Zhu Yuanzhang's most trusted brother. Moreover, he was one of the rare heroes among the founding heroes who died well after becoming successful and famous. Although his title at the founding of the country was only
He was a Marquis, but he was not one of the six Dukes. However, he was later granted the title of Duke of Xin, and after his death, he was posthumously granted the title of King of Dongou.
However, there was a problem with the inheritance of the title of the Tang family. Tang and his five sons, the eldest son died in the battle of Yunnan in the 14th year of Hongwu. At that time, he was already the second-grade former military governor Qian Shi. Unfortunately, he died in the battle, and the third and fourth sons all died in the battle.
He died young, and the fifth son achieved the rank of Tongzhi, the commander-in-chief of the Zuo Army. Unfortunately, he also died in the battle.
Only the second son lived a long life, but after Tang He's death, according to the system, the direct eldest son should inherit the title. If the legitimate son died early, then the legitimate grandson would be the first. However, Tang He's direct grandson and the eldest direct grandson died young before they could inherit the title. This is Tang He's.
When He's great-great-grandson applied for a title from the imperial court, it was already the reign of Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty, and Tang He's title had not been succeeded by anyone for forty years.
At this time, Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty no longer cared about the love of Taizu's old brother's family, and directly dismissed Duke Xin from his title. What was even more unfortunate was that Tang He's great-great-grandson never gave birth to a son, and in the end he could only adopt one from his younger brother.
The son came here, it was Tang Shaozong.
Originally, the Tang family had been deposed from the title, but who knew that Xiaozong, when he was in power, attached great importance to the honors of those founding heroes, so he specially granted Tang Shaozong the position of commander of the Nanjing Jinyi Guards, and promised to inherit it hereditary.
During the Jiajing period, Tang Shaozong, the hereditary commander of the Jinyi Guards in Nanjing, was given the title of Marquis of Lingbi, which was passed down to Tang Guozuo for five generations.
It can be said that the Ming Dynasty was really good to the Tang family. Our ancestors were granted princely titles during their lifetime, and their descendants could renew their title to another marquis after decades.
"I paid 20,000 taels of silver last time, but I can't get it out now. Now I've even eaten one meal and not another. This Jiangning city is a city. I think we should just wait to die. I heard that Ma Guozhu is here.
He directly threatened that he would be like Zu Dashou in Dalinghe. He would eat all the edible and non-edible things. If the city was besieged and there would be no food and no reinforcements arrived, then the people in the city would be slaughtered as two-legged sheep to make military rations. From the old to the children
Eat first, then women, and lastly men..."
Zhao Zhilong looked at Tang Guozuo, who was particularly loud today, and thought that the Tang family and the Prince of Lu were relatives. The first generation of King Lu, Zhu Tan, married two princesses, both of whom were daughters of Tang He. Zhu Tan's posthumous name was Huang, and it was Zhu Yuanzhang who gave it to him.
, we can see how absurd this King Lu was, and it is said that the first Concubine Tang and King Lu Huang were both violent, brutal and absurd, so they were later sentenced to death by Zhu Yuanzhang. In order to appease Tang He, Tang He was allowed to marry a daughter.
She made Zhu Tan the princess, and also let one of Tang He's sons serve as a guard in Prince Lu's palace.
After that, there were frequent marriages between the Lu Palace and the Tang family.
When Zhu Yihai went south, King Fu succeeded him, and Zhu Yihai was sent to Taizhou, leaving his second son in Nanjing, who lived in the Tang family at that time.
Tang Guozuo also planned to betroth his legitimate daughter to the prince of Prince Lu, but later the prince died in the rebellion when the Qing army marched south.
Is this guy's voice so loud today because of this?
Zhao Zhilong thought, had he already made secret contact with King Lu?
He remained calm. Zhao Zhilong was the tenth generation of Xincheng Bo. His ancestors were ministers who followed Zhu Di in the difficult times of success. They were one level worse than the founding heroes of the Tang family. However, Zhao Zhilong was the last garrison of Nanjing after all. At that time, Emperor Hongguang was the chief
After Auxiliary Ma Shiying and others escaped, he stayed in Nanjing and finally led hundreds of officials to surrender Nanjing.
"We have to think of a way, we can't really become a two-legged sheep, right?" Tang Guozuo continued to talk.
Everyone was silent.
In the past six months, everyone has experienced the painful experience of falling from the clouds to the bottom of the earth. The former national nobles were so high up, calling the wind and rain, how majestic they were. Although the Ming Dynasty was noble in culture and military in military affairs, the family of meritorious officials was not an ordinary military attaché.
It is the top privileged family.
Just like when King Fu succeeded to the throne in Nanjing, Liu Kongzhao, the admiral of Caojiang, was even able to scold Donglin's ministers and ministers in front of the palace. Zhao Zhilong, who was guarding Nanjing, could also directly intervene in the political affairs of the court, not to mention economic privileges.
.
In the past few months, they have experienced the loss of these powers.
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality.
These honorable ministers used to be noble and wealthy, but now that they have lost the support of power, they have become cattle and sheep at the mercy of others.
Not to mention the governors and governors, the generals and scribes in the city now dare to come to your door to blackmail you.
I have endured it for a long time, and it is indeed unbearable even now.
After all, I only paid tens of thousands of taels of silver, and it was only a few days later that I asked for it again.
Furthermore, the Ming army's offensive in the past half month is really shocking, especially in the battles of Xuzhou and Zhenjiang. Even the most elite Manchu and Han Eight Banners soldiers were unable to defeat the Ming army head-on.
What does it feel like?
This made them feel restless.
When the intruders invaded Beijing, Chongzhen hanged himself, and the Qing army entered the Pass, they were also involved in supporting King Fu to proclaim himself emperor, and they also enjoyed the surge in power and wealth brought about by their support.
But later, the Qing army moved south with overwhelming force. Zuo Liangyu of Xiangyang even led his troops south to the side of the Qing emperor. Then the Qing army attacked Huaihe, the four towns were defeated, the emperor fled, and they also experienced helpless surrender.
Now that Lu Jianguo is so strong and has become the leader of the ZTE Ming Dynasty, everyone can't help but start to feel shaken again.
It's really hard to be a slave to the subjugation of the country, let alone from a noble minister to a leek.
Everyone was restless, but still hesitant and hesitant. No one dared to take the first step rashly.
Zhao Zhilong sighed, "The situation is very bad."
"The 2,580 banners led by Melezhang Jingbashan were all defeated in Zhenjiang and were completely annihilated. It is said that among the eight banners of Manchuria who were brave and capable, 13 of them knelt down and begged to surrender. They marched ten miles on their knees.
They asked King Lu to surrender, but in the end they had their pigtails cut off, and even their scalps were shaved off. Their thumbs, middle fingers and big toes on both hands were also shaved off. Then they were named Baylor, and eight of them were designated as Eight Banners.
host·····"
"Admiral Cao Jiang, Governor Chen Jin of Anhui, Governor of Water Transport and River Channel, Salt Transport Envoy and Governor of Huaiyang Chen Tai, and Governor of Jiangning Zhang Dayou also died in Zhenjiang."
"Both Jiangzhou Water Camp and Zhenjiang Water Camp rebelled. The Ming army captured thousands of war horses, tens of thousands of horses and mules, thousands of armors, countless swords and guns, dozens of red cannons, and countless gunpowder of various types...
"
"Currently, Jiangning City only has eight thousand soldiers, three thousand scripture bids, three thousand governor bids, plus more than two thousand national treasures and Fu bids."
"In addition to the two naval battalions of Zhenjiang and Jiangzhou, there were also two naval battalions and the first battalion of Tibiao. They were all defeated or captured."
Following Zhao Zhilong's news, all the former Ming Dynasty ministers' faces turned red and their breathing became rapid. They were better informed than ordinary people, and they were among the few who knew that the Eight Banners only had 200,000 soldiers.
We also know that after the Eight Banners entered the customs, their forces were dispersed, and that Jiangxi, Hanzhong, Huguang, Jiangnan, Shandong and other places were corrupted.
Especially the deaths of Shang Kexi, Chen Jin, Bashan and others in the battle, as well as the Green Camp rebellions that broke out all over the south of the Yangtze River, made them understand that things seemed to be changing.
"Governor Ma said that we must hold on to Jiangning, and the city will live or die with it!"
······
Tang Guozuo blushed and said, "The current situation in Jiangning is not as good as it was in Xia Shi."
He was talking about the situation after the Qing army crossed the river and captured Zhenjiang.
While he was talking, a military flag official came with several pacesetters to deliver the order. After coming in, his eyes scanned everyone's faces, and then he smiled and said, "So you are all here, so that saves my legs and feet.
It just so happens that I had to go to your house originally, but now it saves trouble."
"Everyone, the situation is difficult. Ming thieves are invading. I have been given an order. The city has the money and strength to contribute. Time is urgent. So I will donate another amount based on the last donation amount. In addition, Yan Jinglue will lend you another loan.
One stroke."
"This is an order, please give me your money."
With that said, he gave Zhao Zhilong two bills. One was a donation bill with the same amount of 20,000 taels of silver as last time, and the other was an IOU, borrowing 20,000 taels of silver.
It is said to be an IOU, but there is neither the borrower's name nor the guarantor's witness on it, nor does it specify the repayment time, interest, etc.
This kind of IOU is simply deceiving people.
"Please also ask Mr. Zhao to get the money quickly. I am pressed for time and have to go to the next house."
"Gold and copper coins can also be converted into silver."
