The great victory in Liaodong was inspiring. The Eastern Tartars were defeated once again, and the number of enemies killed reached a new high, which indicated that Liaoxi was stable and the capital was as safe as Mount Tai.
Moreover, over the past year, the three towns of Dongjiang, Deng and Jin have coordinated their military operations and continuously won small victories, which have firmly blocked the Eastern Tartars and made them tired. The people are no longer in a state of panic or hatred as in previous years.
The royal family paid for wine to celebrate this great victory and celebrated with the people during the Lantern Festival, which further boosted the atmosphere of joy in the capital.
It was in this atmosphere and situation that the article published in "Daming Forum" caused a huge stir in the hearts of some people.
The inability to distinguish between officials and businessmen is a major political flaw; being both an official and a businessman is a major blight on the country...
The article was not secretive and directly criticized the collusion between officials and businessmen that was prevalent and common at the time.
At the time, to say that all officials were businessmen was clearly an exaggeration. However, there were quite a few officials involved in business. Conversely, to say that all businessmen were officials would be more realistic.
Not every businessman is an official, but most have connections with officials, either through bureaucratic capital or through the convenience and benefits they receive from connected officials.
Therefore, Zhu Youxiao's method of controlling the chamber of commerce and gradually eliminating officials involved in business should be an effective measure.
Trump governs the country through Twitter, while Zhu Youjian leads the way in public opinion.
The emperor's inclinations represented by "Da Ming Forum" and the direction of the court were certain, as evidenced by a year's worth of evidence.
The emperor is sharpening his knife. Almost everyone who has read and understood newspapers has such guesses and judgments.
Gentry who were in arrears with their taxes were chopped down with a single blow, powerful landlords who obstructed the clearing of the land and the payment of taxes were chopped off with a single blow, and the bad gentry and students who were causing trouble in the court were beheaded, their heads rolling like a stream...
Every single one of these incidents, without even needing to count them, would reveal the emperor's tactics. Now, officials and businessmen had been designated as the nation's greatest pests, ready to be crushed to death with a single blow or a single foot. No one questioned the power of imperial authority.
However, the panic was quietly spreading among officials, businessmen and their colluders, and did not affect the joy and excitement of the Lantern Festival.
The capital was immersed in the festive atmosphere of the Lantern Festival. Compared to the throngs of people watching the lanterns and strolling the streets on previous New Year's Eves, this year's restaurants were bustling with customers, and business was booming, both day and night.
Zhu Youxiao unwittingly popularized the idea of free drinks, a later publicity and marketing tactic. The promotion of restaurants in the capital further fueled the enthusiasm of this "giving wine to celebrate victory" event.
"Congratulations for the great victory in Liaodong, and congratulations for the Ming Dynasty!"
"Congratulations to the Great Ming, and to the Holy Emperor!"
The wine glasses clinked together, and several new students drank the wine in their glasses and laughed heartily.
Chen Zilong and others were not fond of drinking, but when they heard the exciting news of the great victory in Liaodong, they still made an appointment to go to a restaurant to celebrate.
"It is said that this great victory was entirely due to the Red Cannon?" Xu Fuyuan looked at Chen Zilong and asked as if asking something.
Chen Zilong was already a student of Xu Guangqi, and after finishing his classes at the New School, he went to Xu's residence to help compile and edit the "Book of Agriculture" that Xu Guangqi had long wanted to publish. Therefore, Xu Fuyuan felt that Chen Zilong might know more.
Chen Zilong nodded, then shook his head and said, "The Red Barbarian Cannon is extremely powerful and certainly played a significant role in this victory over the Eastern Tartars. However, to say that it was solely due to their power is inaccurate."
Xu Fuyuan smiled and added, "Of course, the commander's sound command and the soldiers' bloody battles were also indispensable."
Zhang Yitai filled the pot with wine for everyone and said, "Since the great victory in Guangning last year, the Liaodong campaign has seen a series of minor victories. I believe Liaodong's decline has been reversed, and the capital will no longer be alarmed by the alarm."
"I wasn't shocked by the warning, but I was truly disheartened and depressed by the defeat, losing interest in studying." Xia Yunyi sighed and said, "Not many people living in Jiangnan care about the Liaodong war. Some of their grandiose talk now seems unrealistic."
Chen Zilong nodded in agreement and said, "Everyone thinks the war is far away, something far away in the north. It will be over after some discussion."
With a wry smile, Chen Zilong continued, "Actually, this is a matter of the country, and of every citizen of the Ming Dynasty. But some people just don't understand, or they deliberately pretend not to understand."
Wang Jizhong blinked and asked thoughtfully, "My three friends, are you talking about the gentry who are in arrears with taxes, the merchants who evade taxes, and the officials who participate in business for personal gain?"
Chen Zilong didn't hesitate and said immediately, "Yes, who else could it be but them? The war has cost so much that the national treasury is already stretched beyond its means, yet they are simply doing such illegal things for their own selfish gain."
"Brother Chen, have you been influenced by Lord Xu?" Zhang Yita asked curiously.
Chen Zilong didn't deny it and nodded, saying, "My master did teach me, but it's all reasonable. You don't know how much the Liaodong war costs a year, right? How much more money and food will be needed to open up the Dongjiang garrison? And how many hundreds of thousands of Liao people will be resettled..."
Xia Yunyi stared blankly, looked at the expressions of others, and shook his head, saying, "We really didn't know the expenses were so huge and the court's finances were so tight."
"The taxes and levies that should have been collected by the state have all been withheld and evaded. How can this not be embarrassing?" Chen Zilong sneered. "My master told me that if the emperor hadn't dared to take the blame and raise military funds by cracking down on hypocritical corrupt officials and gentry, the situation in Liaodong and the southwest wouldn't have stabilized and improved so quickly."
"Before the troops move, the food and fodder must go first," Wang Jizhong said. "When a war breaks out, the military supplies for thousands of troops will be a small amount."
Xia Yunyi said thoughtfully: "The military expenses are sufficient without increasing taxes. Your Majesty is wise!"
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