The Daming Palace in Chang'an was in chaos. Although Zhu Si strictly prohibited leaking information, everyone guessed that Zhu Si was going to move the capital from packing up his belongings and heading to Luoyang, or that he was abandoning Chang'an and fleeing to Luoyang.
People in the Ming Palace were in chaos, and many palace maids and eunuchs took the opportunity to steal property and escape. In just half a month, 60 to 70% of the eunuchs and palace maids escaped, and a large amount of property was stolen.
Zhu Si didn't care much about these things. He only cared about how much food could be transported, how much money could be transported, whether the army could be transferred smoothly, and 120,000 Guanzhong wealthy families also had to move to Luoyang.
Not only was the palace in chaos, but people all over Chang'an were also panicked. Officials in various places began to register and screen to determine the 120,000 wealthy households that would be relocated. This virtually gave the officials in various places the opportunity to make money. If they did not want to be selected, they had to
At a high price, almost everyone from the county magistrate to the county officials took advantage of this opportunity to extort money.
In fact, it was not the county that had the final say as to who should be moved or not, but the Ministry of Household Affairs of the imperial court. Many large households with foresight quickly transferred their children and wealth to Longyou or Guan Nei before the list was completed.
Even moved to Hanzhong.
This was the condition Zhu Si asked Guo Song to agree to. He could not accept the refugees from Guanzhong and demanded that the refugees be repatriated immediately. However, Guo Song flatly rejected his rude request.
The people were uneasy, the palace was in chaos, and government affairs had completely stopped. The officials would leave in two groups. The first group of ministers of rank five or above and their families would follow the emperor on his eastward tour, going to Luoyang first.
The second group is officials below the fifth rank. They and their families will go to Luoyang after the spring. Otherwise, all the officials will follow, and Luoyang will not be able to accommodate them.
There are still three days before the eastward inspection. In the imperial study, Prime Minister Yuan Xiu is reporting to Zhu Si on the preparations for the relocation.
"Your Majesty, the officials are ready. Now it will take some time for the 120,000 wealthy households. Firstly, they have to collect their belongings. Secondly, the 120,000 wealthy households have not yet been fully defined."
"Why hasn't it been defined yet?" Zhu Si asked, feeling a little dissatisfied.
"Your Majesty, the main reason is that the number of 120,000 households is too large. There are only 540,000 households in Guanzhong, which accounts for almost 20%. It means that middle-class families will also be merged into rich families, but the wealth of middle-class families is mainly based on
The main thing is land, the land cannot be taken away, and it cannot be sold in a short period of time, so there is no point in their going to Luoyang, it will just add to the burden."
"Then what do you think we should do?"
"Weichen considered whether we could reduce the number of households, for example, to 80,000 wealthy households. Weichen thought that would be enough."
Zhu Si shook his head, "Eighty thousand is too little, at least 100,000 households are needed. You can try to make up for it. You can do it if you are young and capable."
"I'm afraid three days are too late."
Zhu Si thought for a while and said: "Then we will set off after the New Year, but the matter cannot be delayed any longer!"
"Wei Chen, try your best!"
"It's not about trying your best, but it's about doing it!"
Before Zhu Si, he had to move 100,000 wealthy households to Luoyang, mainly because the population of Henan Prefecture, where Luoyang was located, was insufficient to support the capital.
A few years ago, when war broke out, a large number of people from Henan Prefecture fled to the Central Plains, forming refugees. As a result, Zhu Si drove them all to Hexi. Now it is discovered that he did a stupid thing at that time, but it can no longer be made up for, so the people in Guanzhong can only be moved to
Luoyang, filling the population gap.
Since the people in Guanzhong were to be relocated, of course the wealthy people had to be relocated, and thus the plan to relocate 120,000 wealthy households was conceived.
Yuan Xiu smiled bitterly, nodded in agreement, and retreated first.
Zhu Si also summoned Li Cheng, the general manager of the inner treasury, to inquire about the preparations for the relocation of the inner treasury.
Li Cheng was the former deputy general manager of the palace. He was an old eunuch in his sixties and very shrewd. Zhu Si found him more pleasing to the eye, so he made him the general manager of the palace.
"Your Majesty, a large number of eunuchs and maids have fled recently. There is no manpower for many tasks. It is really difficult for the old slave."
Before Li Cheng could finish speaking, Zhu Si interrupted him impatiently, "If the people in the palace want to leave, they can leave. If they don't leave, do they still need me to feed them? I can't take so many people away in the first place. I'm asking."
The preparations for the relocation of your internal treasury are not meant to hear you complain about the lack of manpower."
"Reporting to Your Majesty, all the small belongings have been packed into boxes. Only thousands of large utensils, porcelain, jades, bronzes, expensive furniture, etc. have not been packed yet, but they have been compiled and recorded."
“Can the packing be completed within three days?”
Li Cheng shook his head like a rattle, "Three days will definitely not be enough, it will take at least a month and 5,700 utensils!"
These large utensils were all property left behind by Li Shi in his inner treasury. The Jingyuan army could not snatch them away. Only a few hundred pieces of porcelain were destroyed. The other items were safe and intact and became Zhu Si's personal wealth.
Zhu Si thought for a while, and it was best to transport large items by boat, as it was not practical to transport them by livestock.
"Then the small items packed in boxes will be transported away first, and the large items will be transported in the second batch."
"Old slave, I understand."
"Keep your things in check for me. Don't let anyone steal any more, otherwise I'll take it from you!"
"I don't dare. I will do my best to protect the inner treasure, and I will never let it be lost again."
Li Cheng resigned, and Zhu Si came to the map with his hands behind his back and looked at Shangluo Road. He was quite nervous and had an ominous premonition. He didn't know whether Guo Song would attack Shangluo Road.
Yao Jin led an army of 10,000 people, and under the leadership of his old guide Yang Jin, it took him five days to cross the Funiu Mountains. The journey was very difficult and dangerous, and both the men and horses were exhausted.
The key is to find the source of Xishui, and then follow the frozen Xishui all the way south. However, it took three days to find the source of Xishui.
They created a miracle. In the cold winter, ten thousand cavalry actually passed through the vast Funiu Mountains. This was probably the first such army since the Sui and Tang Dynasties.
Across Funiu Mountain is Neixiang County. At dusk, 10,000 cavalry entered Neixiang County. There were no defenders in the city, only dozens of militia soldiers responsible for opening and closing the city.
The county magistrate's name was Zhang Pu. Hearing that the Hedong army was coming, he was so frightened that he quickly came with several officials to greet the army.
"Welcome to the superior army to settle in the small county. If you have any requirements, I will do my best to assist you."
"May I have your name?"
"The villain Zhang Pu is the magistrate of this county."
"It turns out to be County Magistrate Zhang. Don't be nervous. Our military discipline is very good and we will not disturb the people. Is there any food and grass in the official warehouse?"
"There are five thousand shi of grain, but not much fodder, only one thousand dan, but I can collect some in the county and maybe get some black beans."
Yao Jin said happily: "We have to take away the grain from the official warehouse, as well as the fodder. I would like to ask the county gentleman to collect some more fodder and black beans. We will rest overnight and set off early tomorrow morning."
The county magistrate quickly asked people to find vacant houses for the troops to rest, and also collected fodder and black beans from everywhere, barely meeting the needs of the troops.
At night, when the soldiers and horses had rested, Yao Jin sent for the county magistrate Zhang Pu and asked him with a smile: "I want to know about the situation in Wuguan. Is there anyone in the county who is familiar with Wuguan?"
"Yes! Chief Hu has just returned from Wuguan. You can ask him."
Magistrate Zhang quickly called for Hu Tong, the chief clerk, and explained the situation to him.
Hu Tong, the chief clerk, was about thirty years old and was a civil servant. At first glance, he seemed to be a very smart and capable person.
Hu Tong clasped his fists and said: "I was seconded to Wuguan to take part in the material inventory half a month ago. I just came back the day before yesterday. I really know the situation there quite well. I wonder what kind of situation the general wants to know?"
"Tell me first, how many defenders are there in Wuguan now?" Yao Jin asked with a smile.
"A thousand people!"
Hu Tong replied without hesitation: "The Wuguan garrison has always had a thousand people. It has not changed in more than ten years. Two warehouses have been built to ensure a month's supply for a thousand people in normal times. In winter, it is three months. Half a month ago
Chang'an sent winter grain and grass supplies, and I took a humble job to help with the inventory and registration."
"Wuguan's city defense is aimed at the south, but can it defend the north?"
"Actually, the north and the south are similar. The key to Wuguan is the difficult terrain. It was built on a high place. There is a gate city with towers in the north and south. It can accommodate a thousand people. It is more difficult to attack both the north and the south. The biggest flaw of Wuguan
There is no water source, so we need to store fresh water in Guancheng, but winter is better, there is an icehouse in the city, and they store a lot of ice."
Yao Jin walked a few steps with his hands behind his back. He turned back and smiled at Hu Tong: "We want to outwit Wuguan. Please ask Master Hu for help. In return, I recommend you to be the governor of Dengzhou in the future. How about that?"
Yao Jin continued: "My surname is Yao. I am the second-ranked general under the King of Jin. I am the commander of the Second Army of the Jin Army. I am the Duke of Dunhuang County. My official rank is General Yunhui of the third rank. I am currently the highest-ranking general under the King of Jin."
I have 20,000 soldiers under my command. With my position, I can recommend the chief secretary to be the governor."
Hu Tong thought for a long time. There are risks and opportunities. The risk is that after this incident is over, he will no longer be able to stay in Neixiang County. His family will also have to leave. Of course, he will no longer have the position of bookkeeper. But the opportunity is that he will no longer be able to stay in Neixiang County.
He may be able to become the governor of Dengzhou in the future. He is a civil servant. This is such an attractive opportunity for him.
Seeing that he was deep in thought and silent, Yao Jin thought that he didn't believe in him, so he added: "If the chief secretary feels that Yao's promise is a bit unreliable, or if it is done, I will reward you with a thousand taels of gold, and the chief secretary will choose it himself."
Hu Tong shook his head and said: "I don't want gold. I am willing to help General Yao. I just hope that General Yao can keep me as a civil servant in the army."
Yao Jin laughed and said, "Okay! Once this is done, you will be a soldier of our Second Army."
"I will arrange for my wife and children to leave, and then I will follow the general to Wuguan."
Yao Jin immediately took out three hundred taels of silver and gave it to Hu Tong to arrange for his family.
Before dawn the next day, they drove fifty carts, carrying hundreds of purchased fat pigs, toward Wuguan.