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Text Chapter 579: Navy Governor

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    Time entered the second year of Chongzhen, and the emperor's eldest son Zhu Cixiang was born. The clouds in the capital did not dissipate because of this good news. On the contrary, the situation in the world was deteriorating rapidly.  Last year, 200,000 rogue bandits entered Shanxi. Although Cao Wenzhao, the commander-in-chief, tried his best to temporarily defeat the bandits, a total of more than 20 generals from the deputy general Hou Liangzhu down were killed in the battle. The local prefects, county magistrates, and military preparations  , and even more dead.  Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi and other places were all in chaos, and even spread to Sichuan and Henan. The Central Plains was in danger of collapse.  Compared with the rogue bandits, what worried Chongzhen more was the financial pressure.  Having just eradicated Wei Zhongxian, Chongzhen suddenly became the sage emperor praised by everyone. In order to show compassion for the people, he ordered the reduction and exemption of commercial taxes, the exemption of salt taxes, and the exemption of land taxes in several provinces.  It was a stroke of the pen at that time, not to mention how refreshing it was, but in the next few months, Chongzhen was dumbfounded. In less than half a year, all the dirty money collected from eradicating the eunuchs was spent, and soon he became  pauper.  When Tianqi was in power, in addition to the normal annual income, the financial backbone was the Royal Bank managed by the old eunuch Zhang Ye, which could get more than one million taels from overseas trade every year.  After Tianqi died, Zhang Ke swallowed up the Royal Bank members very unceremoniously.  ¡°Then there are the tax supervisors and mine supervisors set up by Wei Zhongxian, and the tax card shops, weaving bureaus, tea and horse companies, etc. all over the country can also supply two to three million taels every year.  There is also the Shipping Department, which also sends two million taels of customs silver to the capital every year.  The total added up to five to six million taels. Although it was still not enough, the money was sent directly to the palace and was used by the emperor alone.  Having money makes it easier to do things, so although Tianqi's reputation is not good, Zhang Ke did not dare to disobey the emperor's orders and could only play some small tricks.  As soon as Chongzhen came to power, in order to reverse the situation of eunuchs interfering in politics, it was stipulated that middle-ranking officials were not allowed to leave the capital unless ordered by the emperor.  Okay.  With this order, the eunuch never interfered again, including the bank and the shipping department.  All the ways to get money from the Weaving Bureau and so on were ruined.  ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????: Commercial taxes and salt taxes were also reduced, and no money was left except some land tax money.  What can you do!  However, floods and droughts continued in the Central Plains, and refugees were everywhere. A single spark could cause a catastrophic disaster. From all directions, open swords and hidden arrows were pointed at Chongzhen. The little emperor finally learned what it meant to be alone.  It was another sleepless night. Chongzhen leaned on the dragon chair and kept reading the book, either asking for money or food.  Or he has lost his city and territory, the veins on his forehead keep beating, and his body keeps sweating.  "What happened to the world of the Ming Dynasty? I am so ungrateful, how could God treat me like this!" Listening to the cry like a wounded beast, Wang Chengen walked quickly to the Long Bookcase and delivered a bowl of ginseng soup to Chongzhen.  With a sour nose, he said: "Your Majesty, please drink some ginseng soup." Chongzhen was noncommittal, and Wang Chengen's face became increasingly miserable: "Long live my master, you have worked hard day and night, and the dragon body is important. The country of the Ming Dynasty, and the people of all corners of the country.  The people are pointing at you, drink it while it's hot." He took it and said, "Ginseng is too expensive. Just change it to lotus seed and red date soup tomorrow." When Wang Chengen heard this, his legs softened and he lay on the ground, crying.  Can't stand it anymore.  "Your Majesty, even if you risk losing your head, this old slave has something to say!" "Say it." "Yes, Your Majesty, Eunuch Zhang went to Nanjing to guard Taizu's mausoleum. Before leaving, he told this slave  The emperor is kind and thrifty, and is unique among emperors in the past. However, there are two ways to get money: to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. Just reducing expenditure is not enough even if there are one hundred thousand people in the palace without food or drink. "Wang Chengen didn't want to say this at first.  Yes, but he also has a lot of eunuchs under his command. Since Chongzhen came to the throne, not only have they not been able to achieve success, but their lives have become more and more difficult. The people below have complained, and some people have even stolen things from the palace and sold them.  Stealing things from the palace is of course a serious crime, but eunuchs like Wang Chengen could only turn a blind eye and hide it from Chongzhen. Without extra money, life would be difficult for the eunuchs, and their ancestors had to be unkind.  .  Hearing Wang Chengen¡¯s words, Chongzhen frowned, clenched and then unclenched his fists.  "Wang Banban, the country must be governed in the right way. Brother Huang has gone too far in crooked ways, which is why treacherous sycophants like Wei Zhongxian have been given the opportunity to sneak in. I have already issued decrees to Tingtui, Zhou Tingru, He Ruchong, Qian Xiangkun, etc.  Three people want to be added to the cabinet. They are all friends and they can come up with something. " Dream on!  Wang Chengen knew very well that the flowers and flowers these people talked about were of no use at all.  If he wanted to make money, the most capable person was Zhang Ke. He even thought of suggesting that Zhang Ke be transferred to the capital, but looking at the emperor's attitude, there was no chance at all, so he simply shut up.    "Okay, Wang Banban, I will read the book for a while and then go to rest." Chongzhen said, casually picked up a book from the Ministry of Etiquette, looked through it, and suddenly became happy.  "Okay, great!" What news could make Chongzhen so excited? The King of Ryukyu personally came to pay tribute with five ships of tribute. He had already arrived in Songjiang and was waiting for the emperor's decree.  The presence of vassal states paying tribute proved that the power of the Celestial Empire was still undiminished. When faced with internal and external difficulties, news that boosted morale was needed. When Chongzhen saw it, he could not be unhappy.  There was just one thing that made Chongzhen a little puzzled and his brows were furrowed.  "Wang Banban, it says thank you to the Celestial Empire for severely inflicting a heavy blow on the Japanese pirates and saving Ryukyu from fire and water. The whole feudal country is grateful for its holy virtue When did you send troops to fight against the Japanese pirates?" Wang Chengen was stunned and shook his head: "I'm guilty, old slave.  I really don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Hurry up and ask, let me find out.¡± Wang Chengen turned around and hurried down, and soon ran back out of breath.  "My lord, yes, it's King Andong. He has sent troops." "What?" Chongzhen was stunned for a moment, then his anger flashed across his face. He asked Zhang Ke to send troops to deal with the rogues. If Zhang Ke didn't take action, how could he have the ability to fight the Japanese pirates?  , This is simply unreasonable!  "Your Majesty, here are the discounts that were just sent eight hundred miles away." Chongzhen took it and unfolded it. After taking a closer look, his anger subsided a lot.  It turns out that it said that the Jinzhou Navy was ordered to patrol the sea area, and was attacked by Japanese pirates. They chased them all the way and even reached the Japanese island.  The Japanese defenders were unable to fight, and were massacred by thousands of people by the navy. Their own losses were only over a hundred.  It turned out to be an unintentional move, but the Japanese pirates were too weak, right?  Decades ago, they were running rampant in the southeast, killing without calculation, how could they turn into chickens and dogs!  "Wang Banban, what do you think?" The time has come for the battle of character. Wang Chengen smiled and said: "Your Majesty, I think the Jinzhou Navy is the most powerful. If they hadn't won this great victory, where would Ryukyu be?"  Come to the court and pay tribute!" An understatement dispelled Chongzhen's doubts.  Chongzhen became happy and said with a smile: "Then King Anton also proposed to set up a governor of the East China Sea, how should we deal with it?" (To be continued.)
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