Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 364: Ming's New Northern Territory
The spring rain in the south of the Yangtze River continues, and on March 11th, good news comes again.

This good news could not dispel the dark clouds like it did in Beijing, and Jiangnan was still in this lingering, hesitant, depressing rainy day.

Li Chengliang was not used to this climate, but he came to Jiangnan to retire, so he thought he would feel much better after summer.

After all, he came, and as the Duke of Ningguo, he was appointed as the Left General of the Front Army.

He was the most meritorious general of the Ming Dynasty who had fought in battles for many years and had just made a great contribution by forcing the Tatar Khan to surrender.

His purpose in going to Nanjing was very clear. He was to say to the officials and gentry in the south of the Yangtze River on behalf of the emperor and the court: Be good.

So Jiangnan is depressed.

Taipingfang is bustling with activity. Duke Ning is happily moving into a new home. This shows that he is going to guard Nanjing for generations like Duke Wei did.

The new Ningguo Duke's Mansion is located in Bafutang and is based on the Yongkang Marquis' Mansion.

There was no large-scale construction to rebuild a new Duke's Mansion, which was naturally due to the fact that Duke Ningguo declined the emperor's grace.

In fact, under the emperor's instructions, the old meritorious officials had already used some of their properties in Nanjing as capital to invest in Changminghao.

Now, after the emperor promoted him to Duke of Ningguo and rewarded him with gold and silver, Li Chengliang bought it back from Changminghao with his own money.

Now Li Chengliang had to spend more money to renovate the mansion. His youngest son Li Ruwu was in charge of the project, while Li Chengliang was receiving visitors in the main hall which had just been cleaned up.

These were all favors, and Li Chengliang just accepted them with a smile and asked someone to record them in the gift book.

Official colleagues have already met each other, and most of them today are gentry and wealthy businessmen from the south of the Yangtze River.

After hearing them use the excuse of moving the border to learn about the situation in Liaodong, Li Chengliang smiled and said nothing.

His butler was more than capable of answering these questions.

It was inconvenient for them to speak about the issues they were concerned about. As a military official, Li Chengliang should not answer either.

He just sat there and watched the many gentry and wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan running around like headless flies, trying every way to make himself feel more at ease.

After all, after the Jinzhou border wall was breached last year, those active gentry families in Jiangnan were being tracked down and investigated by Wang Dewan.

It is certainly not a crime to be "worried about national affairs" or even to overreact, but if you look into it carefully, there will always be other problems.

The imperial court obviously wants to investigate and prosecute another group of people to get some money, but now no one thinks they can gather together to resist, it is nothing more than saving themselves.

Li Chengliang thought about these things leisurely, and then suddenly said: "Although the weather in Liaodong is cold, the land has not been cultivated carefully, but it is not without a way to make money. After the defeat of the Jiannu, the Jurchens used to look for good ginseng and sable furs to trade with the border wall, but now this business is going to be cut off. Live by the mountain, and when you are in Liaodong, you can think about this way to make money."

"But Lord Li, after the Liaoyuan Military and Civilian Office is established, the families in Shanxi and Shaanxi will go there first..."

Li Chengliang looked at the person who asked the question, thought for a while, and then smiled: "Changming went first, and the families in Shanxi and Shaanxi were willing to take risks, so they should get the lion's share. Let's not talk about other things. When the Jiannu invaded the border, Qingheyi Town outside Guangshun Pass was built with great difficulty. The Jiannu attacked Kaiyuan but failed, and burned Qingheyi Town when they retreated. How much loss was there? However, the vastness of the Northeast is unknown to you because you haven't been there. Besides, the court should only punish the chief criminals against the Jurchens, not the common people. How can the families in Shanxi and Shaanxi really fill the new border of Liaodong and use so many Jurchen common people?"

"Master Li, you should have a share in Changminghao... If you think highly of it, we..."

Li Chengliang was very happy: "Go first, go first. I have many old generals in Liaodong. If you really want to take root in Liaodong and respond to the court's call to cultivate the border and educate the foreign races, I can certainly help you a little."

Then he put away his smile and said, "This is the right way."

That’s all I have to say.

What is the right path? Of course, don't think about the land tax and the silver.

Among the various taxes imposed by the imperial court, the most strictly enforced one is the commercial tax.

The right way is to find new ways to make money starting from industry and commerce and paying more taxes to the court in accordance with the rules.

At this point, the details of the "big exam" in the ninth year of Taichang had already been announced to all prefectures and counties.

The taxation department is of utmost importance.

Everyone knew that the Jianzhou issue had been settled, and the Joseon tyrant had confessed his sins and begged for surrender. The court would then face the enormous financial pressure of rewarding the three armies.

The eastern three sides of the nine sides also need to be rebuilt.

Where don’t you spend money?

Now, the nine border areas, Chengde Prefecture and Liaoning Prefecture have all designated various places of origin as civilian registrations. The government offices there are also completely different from those in other places. Everyone understands that the other provinces will be the next step.

Before the "New Deal" was fully implemented, the emperor and the court were watching the attitudes of local officials and local gentry and wealthy families.

This attitude soon found a place to express itself.

In April, two new decrees were published in the newspaper Xueyong.

The first is an imperial decree: After the tenth year of Taichang, the criminal law does not allow redemption.

The second is to issue special border defense bonds: for a period of ten years, with an annual interest rate of 5%.

These two new decrees caused a huge stir because...it meant that redemption could only be paid this year.

The so-called ransom is the negotiation of the silver for the crime. Even if one is convicted, as long as the crime is not serious, there are always ways to reduce the punishment or even get rid of the crime, such as paying labor service or ransom.

But it will not be allowed after next year.

In the past, there was such a policy, firstly because it could make money, and secondly because it was a privilege jointly maintained by officials, gentry and wealthy families: if you wanted to pay for the ransom, you had to have silver to pay. With the ability to pay, the wealthy families would have a few more lives, so how could this be played?
Therefore, the purpose of this decree is obvious. The emperor, who has just expanded his territory, seems to be looking down on some of his subjects with pride: the lives of the common people are "cheap", and they applaud this rule, hoping that you will be severely punished if you commit a crime in the future. Now time is limited, hurry up if you want to clear your name.

And the interest rate on that special border defense debt... is really too low.

In today's market, the annual rate of private lending is usually 2 or 3 cents. Only 5 cents a year...

However, the imperial court also made it clear that after the Tongliao Alliance, trade with the various vassal states would be conducted according to the Kanhe system. Ming Dynasty business houses and merchants who were eligible to obtain Kanhe would be given priority to those who held border defense bonds.

The logic is clear: the better the court's financial resources are in managing the new border, the more honest the northern tribes will be, and the easier it will be to do business. The border trade will earn you money, and the national debt will also be charged interest.

"…Has the imperial court gone mad because of poverty?"

"...This battle is too big, and there are too many achievements... It's difficult..."

"This...if we don't buy some of these special border defense bonds, will the profits from the northern border trade be taken away by the Zongming and Changming in the future?"

Now, it is a consensus that Zongming and Changming will definitely respond to the needs of the court.

"It's not just the border trade in the north. Take another look: the trade between the various fiefdoms is also possible. This maritime trade..."

"..."

"Liaoning Province has a Lifansi, so how can we know that Zhejiang and Guangdong will not..."

"What if I don't pay it back after I borrow it, and I don't pay the interest after I pay it back..."

"...After all, it's called a national debt. It's not good to lose the support of the people, right?"

"What kind of people's will is this? Ordinary people don't have the money to buy it..."

Zhu Changluo no longer needed to care too much about the discussions going on all over the Ming Dynasty.

Now is the time for those who know the times to be outstanding. Those who have a vision and can trust the court will of course be the first to benefit. After regulating domestic and foreign trade, they will have an additional stable trade route and can manage their finances safely through national bonds that are tied to national interests.

When the time comes, the resistance will be smaller.

The officials and gentry who already control more land and manpower must be guided onto the right path. If the tax base is always placed on land and corvée labor, they will only find loopholes in these areas.

Although the taxation of industry and commerce was not a new area, he could indeed formulate new rules and had the power to interpret and revise them. Now Zhu Changluo needed to deal with three things, two of which could be combined into one.

"Bring those surrendered leaders to Shenyang first, and order Zhenyuan Hou and Weiliao Bo to attack the enemy through Tongmenhe, recover Hamgyong Province of Korea, and destroy Nurhaci's second son Daishan and the remaining rebels in the court. Order Fuguo Gong Jing Huifa to lift the siege of Ula City, destroy Nurhaci's eldest son Zhu Ying and the remaining rebels in Jianzhou."

The Marquis of Zhenyuan was Gu Dali, and the Earl of Weiliao was the newly appointed Deputy General of Liaodong, Sun Shoulian.

Liu Jing's circumstances were extraordinary, and he was really going to rule Liaodong forever.

The events of Jianzhou and Joseon could be the same thing.

This time, the Ming army still had the noble cause of "aiding Korea and expelling the Jin."

Zhu Changluo ordered: "Similarly, take Li Hui to Shenyang first."

The third thing is more unusual.

Zhu Changluo looked at the ministers and said, "In May, the crown prince will be enthroned. After the ceremony, I will take him on a tour of Liaodong and meet with the various tribes!"

……

The Taichang Dynasty would no longer be like the Wanli Dynasty, where the country's foundation was unstable.

Zhu Changluo's promise to the empress when he returned triumphantly to Beijing last year was steadily progressing, and the Ming Dynasty was about to confirm the crown prince.

The emperor was not even thirty years old, but he was already prepared to take the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty outside the border wall to see the country and his future foreign ministers.

Highlight the stability of inheritance and the teaching by the Holy Emperor through words and deeds.

The focus of the capital city revolves around the grand ceremony and the alliance.

The sale of national debts and the imperial examinations? Those should be handled by the Administrative Council, the Jinxian Council and the Inspection Council.

In faraway Liaodong, the death of Nurhaci brought a devastating blow to the newly born "Great Jin".

What’s more, the results of the battle were so great that a few cannon shots killed several important officials of Jianzhou, including He Heli.

With the army's morale collapsed, Manggurtai was eventually killed in the process of fighting with Sun Shoulian for his father's body.

In the city of Hetuala, those leaders who saw that the situation was hopeless and had already begun to waver immediately "revolted", but the Jianzhou headquarters or the old four banners, who were loyal to Nurhaci, would certainly not let them get their wish.

Only the chieftains of the Jianzhou barbarians will be attacked, and those who surrender will not be killed.

The Four Bordered Banners, which were formed by the flesh and blood of the original Haixi Jurchen tribes, quickly killed or captured their Jianzhou backbones, and the city of Hetuala was in chaos.

In the end, the desire to survive took over most people's minds, and at least the army in the Hetuala area suffered a crushing defeat.

Moreover, a dam had been built before to store water, and it would be even more difficult to escape as the river became wider and deeper.

The fighting continued for two more days.

First, Huerhan, who had retreated from Xianyou Palace, regrouped the 3,000 elite soldiers who had left the city the night before, preparing to return to the city to quell the rebellion first, and then find a way to break out.

But Nurhaci had previously kept many of the three tribes' dignitaries in the Khan's Palace. After the situation was hopeless, the people in the city were in a panic. The troops of the Four Bordered Banners who stayed in the city heard the cries of the chieftains of Jianzhou and quickly rescued them, taking control of the situation in the city.

Huerhan could not enter the city easily, and outside the city the four bordered banners and the four regular banners were in a panic, which showed how chaotic the war situation was.

In the end, it was Gu Dali, who was besieging the city from the south, who led the Beijing camp army to cross the narrower tributary. After Yuan Keli's central army continued to cross the river, more and more people surrendered, and Hu Erhan, with less than 6,000 loyal followers, could no longer make any waves.

After the Suzi River turned red, the dam downstream was reopened.

There were originally more than 18,000 Jurchen soldiers left in the "imperial capital", and more than 20,000 other dignitaries and civilians. In this battle, more than 7,300 Jurchens loyal to the "Great Jin" were killed, and the rest all surrendered.

At this moment, Yuan Keli had already entered Hetuala City, and all the surrendered soldiers and civilians were settled to the west of Hetuala City. The river served as a natural fence.

There is Nurhaci's "Khan Palace" and a treasury in the city.

Yuan Keli expected this when he saw the treasures in the treasury being taken away. From the confession of the surrendered Jurchen leader, he also knew that Nurhaci had been planning to break out, and the actual time was set on the day after he was killed.

The so-called Khan's Palace was actually shabby, with a pond on each side and a main hall, a side hall, and the so-called Khan's Palace Office.

The main hall was Nurhaci's bedroom, which was actually very simple and not very spacious. The side hall was where his "concubines" lived, which was even smaller.

It was his so-called Khan's Palace, an octagonal pavilion-like building with a throne, a screen and a "dragon desk". There were four flags next to the throne.

Yuan Keli was quite sad. No matter what, he was also a hero who aspired to establish a country.

It’s a pity that he just wanted to rebel against the Ming Dynasty and his appetite was too big.

When they arrived outside the gate of the Khan's palace, they stood on a stone platform. Below them was a row of people, each holding a box with a head in it.

At this moment, Nurhaci's head had been dealt with, as well as those of other important Jurchen leaders such as He Heli and Huerhan...

Yuan Keli waved his hand and said, "Send it to Shenyang first. After the emperor leaves Beijing, he will go through Chengde Prefecture, Daning, and Guangning to Shenyang first."

After this group of people left, he walked down the stairs and came to another group of people.

These are the many leaders of the Haixi Jurchen tribes who surrendered to Nurhaci and survived here.

Everyone is feeling uneasy at this moment.

"The grace of heaven is great. I said that we are only going to kill the chieftain of Jianzhou, so your lives will be saved."

After Yuan Keli finished speaking, many people breathed a sigh of relief.

"However, since last year, you have rebelled against the Ming, invaded the border, and burned down Qingheyi Town. I am still asking for your approval on how to deal with you." Yuan Keli's eyes were sharp. "Although the city of Hetuala has been captured by the heavenly soldiers, there are still many remnants of Jianzhou, and there are still many rebel leaders and people from your Haixi tribes. If you want to be rich and prosperous in the future, you must convince this governor today that you have the ability to make up for your crimes!"

"The governor ordered, and that's it..."

Yuan Keli naturally wanted to make the best use of it: "Lead the way! Comfort the people! Lead the servants and soldiers to help the heavenly soldiers to fight against the remnants and recruit the surrendered people from the various tribes in Haixi."

He paused and then tempted them: "I am not afraid to tell you that His Majesty originally intended to stop the fighting among the Jurchen tribes, one for Lingnan Jurchen and the other for Bohai Jurchen. As long as the borders of the Ming Dynasty are stable, you can't go back to Jianzhou and the old lands of your Haixi tribes. But the Bohai Jurchens must have a ruler and subjects. On August 11, His Majesty will hold a meeting with the tribes in Tongliao. If you can help the heavenly soldiers quickly pacify the northeast, the ruler of the Bohai Jurchens will probably be among you."

Many people's eyes lit up and they quickly said, "We are willing to obey the orders of the country!"

Yuan Keli nodded with satisfaction.

Easy to use.

At this moment, from Ordos, Tumed to Chahar, Khorchin, from Yehe Jurchen to these people, and then to Korea, the envoys or border officials of the Ming Dynasty had already transmitted the news to them.

The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty personally came to Tongliao, and all those who came to the meeting had to be the leader of this moment.

Lindan Batur remained silent in his tent, wondering if this was not the Kurultai assembly that only a true Khan could summon?

As for North Korea, there is no one left.

Tao Chongdao reminded Jin Jingrui again: "General Jin, His Royal Highness Prince Lu has been providing relief to refugees in Yizhou, and his reputation for benevolence has spread far and wide. Considering the people of Korea, is it so difficult to quickly invite Prince Lu to Seoul? Are you still thinking of the Li family's kindness? Even if there is some kindness, you have fought for the country for many years and killed enemies, and you have repaid it!"

Jin Jingrui looked at him helplessly.

Tao Chongdao said earnestly and seriously: "Thousands of years later, history will give you justice! The people of Korea will also be grateful for your decision for generations because you can serve the people of the superior country! With your talent as a general, you should serve a wise master! Ningyuan Marquis, Jingyi Marquis, Zhangyong Marquis... who was not made a duke after a battle? If you stay in Korea, you will be a pillar of the country! If you are willing to go to Beijing, haven't you heard that the Yongwei Battalion of His Majesty's personal army uses brave generals who surrendered to you?"

Jin Jingrui thought about the still messy North Korea and sighed: "Forget it..."

Even Li Hui's father had requested to surrender to the country, so why should he carry such a heavy psychological burden alone?
Tao Chongdao was overjoyed: "Come here, please ask Gwanghaegun to draft the edict!"

(End of this chapter)