In order to fight this war without gunpowder in Shaanxi, Chongzhen made a very complicated and bold plan.

He first asked Li Xingzhong and Liu Zhaoji to formulate a military plan and prepare to go north to the grasslands to fight the Mongols.

War requires food and fodder, so he ordered the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War to prepare the food and fodder needed for the border troops.

(Soldiers need to eat double rations when fighting. For example, they eat one and a half kilograms of food a day in normal times, but three kilograms in wartime, otherwise their physical strength will not be able to keep up.)

As expected, Zhou Kui took on part of the grain transportation task relying on his own abilities.

After Zhou Kui obtained official passes from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue, Chongzhen took money from the treasury and allowed Zhou Kui to buy an additional 600,000 shi of grain.

In the eyes of others, these foods are military rations.

It needs to be transported to the border to be fed to the border troops.

In fact, these grains were all to be transferred to Guanzhong to stabilize grain prices, but they were disguised as military rations.

The main reason why Chongzhen did this was to cover up his tracks.

Especially those who oppose currency reform!

Once they get the news, the gentry and merchants in Shaanxi will also get the information and change their strategies, making it impossible for Chongzhen to reap the benefits.

Chongzhen's currency reform had two purposes.

The short-term goal is to reap the benefits.

The long-term goal is related to taxation.

He can't tolerate others disrupting his plans!

and.

Most of these grains and fodder were purchased from Fujian and transported to Tianjin by Zheng Zhilong's ships.

Purchasing grain from Fujian, a destination far away from home, is part of Fujian's business war!

That is to say.

This war without gunpowder has formed a closed loop!

If the 600,000 shi of grain purchased by Chongzhen could stabilize the grain price in Shaanxi, Chongzhen would let Li Xingzhong and Liu Zhaoji conquer the Western Tumed tribe according to the plan.

If he could not stabilize the grain prices in Shaanxi, he would order a temporary suspension of the expedition against the Xitumed tribe, and put all the grain and fodder for the expedition into the Shaanxi market, driving the local grain prices to the lowest level!

He is not afraid of losing money.

So what if I lose a million taels of silver?

As long as Wang Zhixin runs the mine seriously, he can earn back the money in two to three months at the longest, or one to two months at the shortest.

This is the Ming Dynasty’s strategy of making up for the loss in the north with the loss in the south!

(Losing the north and the south was the strategy of Jin Xuanzong Wanyan Xun. At that time, the Jin Dynasty lost cities and territories under the attack of the Mongols. In order to make up for the losses and divert the contradictions, Jin Xuanzong decided to attack the Southern Song Dynasty, which was a soft persimmon. Unfortunately, they encountered the famous Southern Song general Meng Gong...)

"Your Majesty," Zhou Kui said mysteriously, "The 200,000 dan of military rations that the court ordered me to transport have all arrived in Shuozhou. Eighty percent of the 600,000 dan of grain Your Majesty needs have been transported to Pianguan Town, and the remaining 20 percent is expected to arrive in Pingyang Prefecture, Shanxi (now Linfen) in ten days."

"Okay," Chongzhen felt confident.

Food is the key to reaping the benefits from Shaanxi gentry and merchants, and must not be lost.

"I will send someone to take over these grains, and the father-in-law's people must cooperate well." Chongzhen instructed.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I have no complaints!"

What could Zhou Kui complain about? As long as he could make money, that was enough!

In order to conceal his tracks, Chongzhen deliberately took a detour when transporting the grain, and Zhou Kui made a lot of extra money!

He wished Chongzhen would go around in another circle!

On the twelfth day of the first lunar month, Wang Zhong, a captain of the Imperial Guard, set out from Beijing with dozens of Imperial Guards.

After leaving Beijing, they split into two groups.

Go all the way to Shanxi to mobilize grain stored in Pingyang Prefecture and Shuozhou.

Another group went straight to Xi'an, Shaanxi, to prepare to harvest leeks!

Not long after the Jinyiwei set out, several inconspicuous people also set out from the capital to Shaanxi.

They were servants of ministers in the court, and they all conveyed the same message: the court had no plans to transfer grain to Guanzhong in the near future.

On the afternoon of the 27th day of the first lunar month, Wang Zhong, a captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, dragged his tired body to the outskirts of Xi'an.

He rode on the horse, looked at the towering city walls and stretched.

"Captain Qianhu, let's go into the city!" said a Jinyiwei next to him.

"Of course we have to go into the city," Wang Zhong sneered, "Come, take out our regular clothes and put them on."

Um?

A dozen Jinyiwei were stunned.

Although they did not understand what Wang Zhong meant by this, they quickly took out their casual clothes and found a house on the side of the road to change into them.

After washing their faces with cold water, everyone felt refreshed.

They mounted their horses and walked into the city with pride.

Lu Daqi got the news immediately. He grabbed the shoulder of his personal guard and asked, "Are you sure it's the Jinyiwei?"

"Yes, they are wearing the uniforms of the Jinyiwei and have embroidered spring swords hanging from their waists."

"Where are the people? Take me to see them!" Lu Daqi no longer cared about his identity.

During the Zhengdan Festival (Spring Festival), the price of grain in Xi'an Prefecture had risen from 2.5 liang to 2.9 liang.

Only one step away from three or two!

Not to mention ordinary people, even small vendors can hardly bear it.

If this continues, civil unrest is just a matter of time!

Outside the Shaanxi branch of Daming Money House, Lu Daqi met Wang Zhong.

After greeting each other, Lu Daqi asked directly: "Is Captain Wang here to replace Cao Huachun?"

Lu Daqi hated Cao Huachun so much that he called him by his name no matter what the occasion.

Wang Zhong hesitated for a moment and said, "No, I came here for another reason."

"Would you mind telling me?"

"It's convenient. Your Majesty heard that the grain price in Shaanxi has risen sharply and the people are suffering! He urgently transferred 100,000 shi of military rations from Shanxi and ordered me to transport them to Shaanxi to stabilize the grain price."

Lu Daqi's pupils shrank suddenly: "Are you serious?"

Wang Zhong asked back: "How dare you take this matter lightly?"

"That's great!" Lu Daqi was as happy as a three-year-old child, "The court is finally willing to transfer grain."

etc...

Lu Daqi suddenly realized something. He stared at Wang Zhong's face and asked, "Captain Wang said that Your Majesty transferred grain from Shanxi, not from the court?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Wang Zhong emphasized.

Lu Daqi was shocked and suddenly moved.

Only now did he realize that the person who had always stood with him was the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

"Excuse me, Captain Wang, when will the 100,000 dan of grain arrive?"

"At least half a month! Lord Lu should make arrangements in advance and put the grain on the market as soon as it arrives."

"Okay!" Lu Daqi bowed to Wang Zhong, turned and left.

What’s interesting is that the moment Lu Daqi turned around, Wang Zhong also revealed an intriguing smile.

After Wang Zhong sent Lu Daqi away, he walked into the Shaanxi branch of Daming Money House.

Seeing this, the Jinyiwei inside stood up and saluted, "Greetings, Captain Wang!"

"Greetings, Master Qianhu!"

"Yes." Wang Zhong nodded and asked, "Where is Lord Cao?"

"Lord Cao is taking a nap."

"Hmm..." Wang Zhong hesitated, "When Lord Cao wakes up, tell him that His Majesty is closing in."

"How about you, my Lord?"

"I have to meet some acquaintances and ask them for a favor."