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Part One: Penghu Storm Chapter 116 Military Pay

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    "Wu Sangui, you are so brave!"

    Xiong Mingyu's angry rebuke did not panic Wu Sangui: "Master Xiong, what Wu Sangui said is the truth. The imperial army is pampered and has not fought in a long time? But we border troops are fighting bloody battles with Jinlu every day.  Wu Sangui boldly said that if the frontier army and the Imperial Forest Army were to confront each other, they would be able to overwhelm the Imperial Forest Army with a single charge! "

    I originally thought that Wu Sangui¡¯s bold remarks would anger Chongzhen again, but I didn¡¯t expect that Chongzhen had no intention of getting angry. Instead, he pondered for a long time and suddenly said: ¡°Is Ding Yunyi here?¡±

    "I'm here!" Ding Yunyi, who was standing at the end, responded.

    Those ministers couldn't help but notice this young man.

    I had long heard that the emperor had promoted a young man, who was originally stationed in Penghu. I didn¡¯t expect that a group of high-ranking ministers were meeting today, but such a young man was also promoted by the emperor.

    Chongzhen glanced at him: "Ding Yunyi, tell me honestly, is the Royal Forest Army really that vulnerable? If we fight with your soldiers, what will be the victory or defeat?"

    Ding Yunyi thought about it for a moment, and then took the courage to say: "Your Majesty, if the troops are equal, or even the Royal Forest Army is slightly superior in number, I think the outcome is the same as what Wu Sangui said. In fact, the reason is very simple, no matter who is on the side,  The army is still a soldier guarding the sea. Every day, the two armies are fighting. If you can't take the enemy's life, the enemy will take your life. But what about the Royal Forest Army? They can't do this kind of life-for-life.  The courage comes.¡±

    Chongzhen showed a hint of bitterness on his face and sighed: "Exchange lives for lives, exchange lives for lives. Yes, I thought the Royal Forest Army was the most elite division in the world, but in fact they do not have such courage."

    The atmosphere became awkward for a moment.

    After all, it was Chongzhen who spoke first: "Xiong Mingyu, tell me first, why doesn't the Ministry of War pay the soldiers? It's half a year in arrears?"

    Xiong Mingyu immediately said: "The Ministry of War is in arrears with military pay for half a year. I admit it, but the Ministry of Household Affairs has not given the Ministry of War enough money for ten months. Where can I find money to give to Liaodong?"

    Upon hearing that Xiong Mingyu was pointing the finger directly at himself, Hou Xun said quickly: "Since the founding of the Yuan Dynasty, we have always been unable to make ends meet. Adding up the national annual taxes, the side payments alone are not enough to cover the expenses.  Where is the money in the Ministry of Finance? The Ministry of Finance is so stretched that it has to dig up the east wall to make up for the west wall. There is really no way for the military budget. "

    Chongzhen also knew that he was telling the truth.

    Since the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, military expenditures have continued to increase. All annual revenue has been used for military expenditures, and the shortfall is still large.  During the reign of Chongzhen, the number of three salaries and stipends alone reached 12 million taels.  The sharp increase in military pay resulted in financial difficulties making ends meet, and the people were destitute and exhausted their wealth.  Sun Yingkui, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, talked about the financial difficulties before and after the Gengxu Rebellion and said: "I have earned two million this year, but I have spent more than six million on side expenses. All methods of obtaining wealth have been exhausted."

    In the sixth year of Chongzhen, the national tax revenue was 11 million taels, but the border wages were as high as 12 million taels. It is equivalent to the total national tax revenue and the country still owes more than 1 million taels in border wages.

    Ding Yunyi is even more aware that in order to solve financial difficulties, the Ming government had to start from the people.  In the 30th year of Jiajing's reign, an additional 1.2 million yuan was given to Nanji, Zhejiang and other prefectures and counties.  In the middle of Wanli period, Ming Shenzong Zhu Yijun implemented mining tax collection, and collected 3 million taels in eight years.  In the forty-sixth year of Wanli, Emperor Hachi rebelled against the Ming Dynasty. The Ming court's Liao pay increased sharply by three million taels. The Ming court tax "increased by three cents and five cents per mu, and the world's tax increased by two million. It is strange that it will be increased by another three cents next year."  Five cents. Next year, please ask the Ministry of War and Industry to add another two cents to the front and back, and the increase will be 1.2 million, which will be the annual quota."

    In the third year of Chongzhen, the area outside Jiuli was increased by three cents, and later "assistance rates" and "training rates" were levied.  But even if all the taxes are added up, they only account for 20% of the people's income. Normally, the people can afford it, but in fact, the people have indeed reached the point where they cannot live.

    The main reason is that these military expenditure burdens are placed on ordinary people, and those royal relatives, powerful bureaucrats, landlords, etc. embezzle large amounts of land for farming and do not pay taxes or pay very little tax, thus making it impossible for the people to live.

    Therefore, Ming Dynasty¡¯s current predicament is one part natural disaster and nine parts disaster.

    Chongzhen asked: "Wu Sangui, how much silver do you need?"

    Wu Sangui also knew that he should not go too far: "Your Majesty, the so-called Liaodong mutiny is actually not accurate. The mutiny mainly occurred in Ningyuan, but once the Ningyuan mutiny cannot be resolved, it is likely to cause a series of consequences. I also know that the court is in trouble, and I will not ask for it.  Immediately make up for all the military pay, and as long as I bring back 300,000, no, 200,000 taels of silver, I can temporarily overcome the difficulties!"

    "Two hundred thousand, what a big statement." Hou Xun snorted coldly: "My household department still has a total of five hundred thousand taels of silver left. That was saved with great effort by cutting down on clothing and dieting. It's rare that I just focus on?The Ningyuan family?  "

    "Master Hou!" Wu Sangui was a little anxious: "The Ministry of War can't waste a moment. I only need 200,000 taels, only 200,000 taels!"

    Chongzhen's eyes were a little wandering: "The mutiny cannot be delayed for a moment. The soldiers fought with blood and blood but could not get any pay. How can they be willing to work for the court? Let's do this. The Ministry of Revenue will come up with 150,000 taels, and I will go talk to the queen.  , If you can avoid everything this year, take 50,000 taels from the imperial silver and give it to Wu Sangui to take back. "

    "Your Majesty." Chongzhen's words seemed to cut out Hou Xun's heart: "The Ministry of Revenue has taken out 150,000 taels, so it is really empty. What should we do to suppress the bandits in the Central Plains? What should we do with the money that each ministry needs? The imperial court can operate normally.  what to do?"

    "I don't care, I can't control that much anymore!" Chongzhen suddenly became angry: "I can't control that much now. I can only treat my head and feet for pain. I even took out the imperial silver. Do you still need me to give orders?  The queen doesn¡¯t want to eat?¡±

    Seeing that the emperor was determined, Hou Xun did not dare to tell the difference.

    He was extremely worried, not because of the money issue, but because of the series of reactions that followed.  Ningyuan has received the arrears of military pay, but what about other places?  If you can get money just by paying, will other places follow suit?  But I absolutely dare not say these words.

    "I have taken out the money, but those soldiers who rebelled must not be spared lightly." Chongzhen's tone became stern again: "I must kill a few of the soldiers who led the rebellion and tell everyone, I thought in my heart  I remember those soldiers and their merits, but we will never allow mutiny, and we will never tolerate mutiny!¡±

    Wu Sangui breathed a long sigh of relief. The method Ding Yunyi gave him really worked. After receiving the military pay, he could just find a few people to kill. He stood up and said respectfully:

    "Yes, Wu Sangui understands. Wu Sangui will definitely kill a few soldiers who are leading the trouble to warn everyone."
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