After inquiring, Li Dingguo learned that the 8,000 soldiers led by Zhu Cijiong had not yet received their August pay.
Among these eight thousand soldiers, there were five thousand Shaanxi border troops and three thousand Mongolian cavalry.
Although the Mongolian cavalry volunteered to join the war, they were not part of the Ming official army.
Strictly speaking, there is no need to pay them wages, just provide them with sufficient food and fodder.
but......
What is worrying is not the scarcity but the inequality.
So we should treat everyone equally and give everyone money.
According to the standard of two taels of silver per person per month, Zhu Cijiong had to prepare 16,000 taels of silver.
The silver gap seems to be small.
But if the number of people increases over time, the silver gap will increase exponentially.
Zhu Cijiong explained: "The court has ordered us to prepare money and grain on our own."
Li Xianzhong was very happy.
This move meant that the court had loosened their financial power.
They have the final say on how much money and grain to collect.
If you have money, you can train your own soldiers.
The more personal soldiers you have, the stronger your combat power will be and the greater your chances of winning.
Li Dingguo was also very happy, but he was also a little worried.
This move appears to have loosened the military's financial power.
However, if a civil unrest occurs during the grain collection process, it will be very troublesome to investigate later.
Zhu Cijiong patted the two men on the shoulders and said, "Let's go into the city and discuss in detail."
When entering the city, Li Dingguo introduced Suksaha, a surrendered general of the Jiannu, to Zhu Cijiong.
Bolo, who had already surrendered to the Ming army, also came over and saluted Zhu Cijiong.
After entering the city, everyone had a simple lunch and then gathered together to discuss.
There were very few people attending the meeting.
In addition to Zhu Cixiong, Li Dingguo and Li Xianzhong, there is also Zhang Rong, the governor of the East Factory.
His main purpose here is to take the blame.
He would say what Zhu Cijiong was not convenient to say.
He does things that Zhu Cijiong is not convenient to do.
Li Dingguo and Li Xianzhong were somewhat wary of Zhang Rong's identity and became reserved in their speech.
Everyone drank tea first. After a while, Zhang Rong asked first, "How much food does Your Highness need?"
Zhu Cijiong put down his teacup and said, "Of course the more the better. We need to save enough money and food for the army before the main force of the Ping Liao army moves south."
Zhang Rong raised his head and asked Li Dingguo and Li Xianzhong: "Do you two generals have any ideas for raising money and food?"
Li Xianzhong thought for a moment and said: "Every time we go to a place, we can call on the local people and gentry to donate money and grain."
Zhang Rong smiled and shook his head.
This method does make money, but only small amounts.
Can't get big money.
The main force of the Ping Liao army numbered tens of thousands, and the monthly military pay and food wages added up to hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.
It's simply not enough.
Li Dingguo answered more straightforwardly: "No."
Zhu Cijiong also shook his head tacitly, indicating that he had no better solution.
Zhang Rong continued, "In that case, I have an idea."
"Oh?" Zhu Cijiong pretended to be surprised: "Tell me about it."
Zhang Rong raised his voice: "Everyone in the world is guilty. Choose those who disobey and punish them."
Li Xianzhong was impatient. He asked, "That sounds good, but how do we convict people? On what charges? We can't arrest and torture everyone, right?"
Zhang Rong shook his head: "Of course not!"
Li Xianzhong urged: "Admiral Zhang, stop keeping us in suspense and just speak directly."
"Haha," Zhang Rong smiled and took out a big round Ming treasure from his arms and gently placed it on the table.
The Ming Dynasty round coin made of silver made a crisp and pleasant sound when it touched the wooden table.
Under everyone's expectant gaze, Zhang Rong slowly said: "The imperial court is promoting currency reform throughout the country, which has affected the interests of many people. In order to win over the people, the rebels announced the abolition of currency reform wherever they went. We can take this opportunity to make a fuss!"
"Anyone who has silver in his home but has not exchanged it for Ming Yuanbao will be considered guilty."
Li Xianzhong asked: "What crime?"
Zhang Rong calmly replied: "The charges of resisting the new policies of the imperial court and being affiliated with the rebels!"
"In addition, according to the Jinyiwei, the rebels are also short of money and food. For this reason, every time they capture a city, they will call on local gentry and common people to donate money and food. At the same time, they will record those who donate money and food in a book to use for future tax reductions."
"This is equivalent to aiding the enemy!"
"They are charged with three crimes: resisting the new policies of the imperial court, relying on the rebels, and aiding the enemy. One of them must fit them."
"Once we have a crime, we can arrest people and force them to pay money to atone for their sins."
Zhang Rong's words were very blunt. Li Dingguo and Li Xianzhong looked at each other in surprise after hearing them.
Although they did not agree with this practice, the treasury was empty.
In order to prevent the army from mutinying due to lack of money and food, they could not directly oppose it.
Zhu Cijiong pretended to be very shocked and kept shaking his head.
"This... this... is not good..." Li Xianzhong said worriedly: "Although this move can raise money and grain, it will definitely be impeached by officials in the court and held accountable by the court afterwards."
"Yes," Li Dingguo also said, "Your Highness is a member of the royal family and a vassal king. If you use this method to raise money and food, I'm afraid you will be criticized by people all over the world."
Without waiting for Zhu Cijiong to speak, Zhang Rong snorted coldly, "Your Highness should not be allowed to do such dirty work."
Li Dingguo asked: "What does Admiral Zhang mean?"
"Let the surrendered Jiannu generals do it."
Li Dingguo and Li Xianzhong immediately understood what Zhang Rong meant.
Even if the imperial court held them accountable, the surrendered generals of the Jiannu army would take the blame.
However, Li Dingguo was still a little worried: "Your Highness is the commander-in-chief of the three armies, and I am afraid that Your Highness will be implicated by then."
Zhang Rong smiled bitterly: "Don't worry, the idea was mine, and the crime was committed by the surrendered generals of the Jiannu Army. It has nothing to do with Your Highness."
Li Dingguo frowned: "If Admiral Zhang does this, he might end up in jail."
Zhang Rong smiled bitterly again: "Anyway, there are too many lice to worry about. It doesn't matter."
In order to extend the war to Qufu, Zhang Rong arrested many officials from nearby cities.
In order to defend Jinan Prefecture, he released those people.
A joint memorial impeaching Zhang Rong, signed by Zhang Huangyan and others, had been delivered to Chongzhen.
Chongzhen sent someone to tell Zhang Rong the news.
Zhang Rong knew that Chongzhen would definitely use him as a target to calm the situation.
All he could do was to take the blame for Zhu Cijiong as much as possible.
The more blame one takes, the greater the impact on Chongzhen and Zhu Cixiong.
The greater the chance of survival.
Only worthless people will die.
Chongzhen would not be willing to kill a eunuch who was of great use.
He had no idea what the consequences would be.
Because he had no choice.
Looking at Zhang Rong's appearance, Zhu Cijiong suddenly realized that his political scheming was no match for that of his father Chongzhen.
"Ahem." He coughed lightly, interrupting everyone's thoughts: "Since Admiral Zhang has a way to solve the money and food problem, let him do it as soon as possible. The main force of the Ping Liao army will arrive soon, and we must prepare in advance."
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