Da Tang: Father, can I resign?

Chapter 270: Three sticks break up the spirit of etiquette, Master Ming, I am a loyal minister

"The barbarians invaded, the snowstorms fell, Hebei was full of starving people, and no roosters crowed for thousands of miles. Are these natural disasters? No, in fact, these are all man-made disasters!

"This is all because the new lord has committed atrocities, brought disaster to the country and the people, and failed to implement benevolent policies!
"The new master used colorful pieces of paper to plunder the people's land and wealth, so much so that the gods sent down all kinds of disasters as punishment and warning!

"If the Lord does not stop and change his ways, and still insists on carrying out his absurd so-called 'reform policy', God will bring down even greater disasters, and your good days are still to come!"

In Youzhou, in front of the gate of Yuanzhou Prefecture, there was a lot of noise and excitement at this time.

A man who looked like a legal advisor was holding a manifesto in his hand and reading it in a shrill voice, his voice sounding as if his throat was pinched.

Behind the master stood a bunch of ruffians, shouting at passers-by:

"This is the etiquette and teachings of the great saint and wise teacher. You should all listen carefully!"

Needless to say, this group of idle troublemakers were hired by several big families in Hebei, headed by the Fanyang Lu family.

Standing in the front and using his own crown to test whether Li Jing's sword is sharp, this is a stupid thing that the aristocratic families would never do.

What they are fighting for is economic benefits. They cannot risk their lives. How can they make money without their lives?
In line with the spirit of "even if a friend dies, I would rather die than be poor", they spent money generously, not only gathering almost all the gangsters in Youzhou, but also sending a large number of servants to infiltrate them.

The location of the riot was also carefully selected.

Youzhou's former prefecture is in an impeccable location, located in the central business district in the city center, in a prime location with a lot of people coming and going. Making trouble here can maximize the impact.

What’s even better is that Youzhou is now under military control.

The temporary ruling body was located in Li Jing’s military camp. Youzhou Prefecture was still empty for the time being, with only a gatekeeper.

So no one will come to care if you make trouble in front of someone else's door, which is a good way to buy some time.

With all the people standing in front of the state capital, the huge open space was filled up. It was a huge scene with so many people that it looked like a real event.

The right time, right place and right people have all come together. The master feels that these ignorant people will definitely be enlightened by the master's ethics and teachings and wake up!
"What are they doing, mother?"

"Go, go, go, go quickly, don't mind your own business."

However, no one in Youzhou listened to them and completely ignored them.

People who eat the food are grateful, and those who receive the food are grateful. His Highness Li Ming fed the meat into everyone's mouths and distributed the land to everyone.

The common people have gained tangible benefits, so why should they follow these thugs and make trouble?

Should the policy be rolled back and the land that had just been allocated to them be returned to the landlords?
It's unrealistic!

The economic foundation is here, so no matter how much the aristocratic families spend on publicity, they are just performing performance art for everyone.

"Fools, so stupid! So insensitive!"

Looking at the indifferent spectators below the stage, the lawyer roared, not out of pity for their misfortune, but out of anger at their lack of resistance.

"What bullshit." A young man passing by couldn't help but mutter:
"His Highness Li Ming governs so well, how can you demons and monsters oppose him~"

When the master heard this, he immediately became excited and pointed at the passerby and cursed:
"What the hell are you talking about, you unfilial, disloyal, and unfilial person! If you like the Liaodong people's paper money so much, why don't you exchange all the copper coins in your house for paper?"

I did change it, and it doesn't affect my use. Rice shops and salt shops all accept paper money, which is very convenient... The young man looked at the gangsters behind the master and decided not to argue with that wise man, so he left quickly.

"If you like paper money, why don't you burn more for your parents during Qingming Festival!"

The lawyer chased after the passerby and cursed him until he was satisfied. Then he returned to the business and read the manifesto in his hand again, shaking his head:

"Barbarians invaded, blizzards fell from the sky..."

…………

"Your Highness, they are the newly formed Hebei Red Turban Army, all of whom are recruited from Youzhou."

Youzhou Military Governor's Office, reviewing ground.

Li Ming suddenly parachuted in and specifically asked for an inspection of the soldiers from Youzhou.

Anyway, Pingzhou is only a short distance away from Youzhou, so it doesn’t take much time on the road.

Li Jing was thrown into a panic by his leader's shameless sneak attack. His clerks were urgently woken up to work overtime, and it was with great difficulty that they arranged the new recruits according to their place of origin.

"Um... Your Highness, is it necessary to make such a big scene?"

Before the military parade began, Yang Shidao, the Minister of the Central Secretariat of the Tang Dynasty and a cousin of Li Ming's mother, Yang, leaned over and whispered in Li Ming's ear.

A few months ago, under Li Ming's advance arrangement, the fourteen treacherous gang members in the court left Chang'an and fled to Liaodong. Many of them were middle-aged and elderly and went directly to Goguryeo to take charge of the situation.

Yang Shidao is one of them.

Now, after basically completing the unification of Goguryeo and starting to focus on digesting the territory of Hebei, some old ministers were transferred back to Pingzhou under Li Ming's orders.

The large army including Fang Xuanling was still on the way, but the Goguryeo city of Anshi where Yang Shidao was stationed was the closest to Yingzhou, separated only by the Liao River, so he was the first to go home.

First come, first served. Lao Yang was directly taken to the Youzhou Governor's Mansion by Li Ming to help deal with a "small incident" that had recently occurred in Youzhou City.

"Your Highness, this case is nothing more than a few rogues spreading rumors and defrauding people on the street.

"This matter can be big or small. Since they haven't caused any impact, you can just let the army disperse them. Why do you have to go there in person?"

Yang Shidao was a little puzzled.

What he was referring to was the recent incident in which hooligans gathered in front of the former Youzhou provincial government to cause trouble and publicly slandered Li Ming.

Logically speaking, this matter is not a big deal. It is just swearing, not an armed rebellion.

Moreover, facts speak louder than words. In the face of the countless practical things Li Ming has done for the people, the slanderous accusations by the villains are totally untenable and the people don't believe them at all.

Their rumors did not cause any waves. At most, they caused noise disturbance to the residents and did not even block traffic.

Such a trivial public security incident would not alarm His Highness Li Ming, who is so busy with state affairs, to come in person, right?

"Mr. Yang is right. This case can be big or small. I will make it a big one to serve as a warning to others. Otherwise, there will be endless troubles."

Li Ming replied.

This case is not as simple as it seems, it is not just a case of "hooliganism".

There is a driving force behind this.

The two cards played by the person behind the scenes happened to hit Li Ming's red line.

The first card is to question the purchasing power of paper money.

This is aimed at the weak spot of Li Ming's currency reform!
Unlike metal currency, paper money is a credit currency that is purely supported by credit and state endorsement.

Credit, credit, only with “trust” can you be “used” by others.

And "faith" is a highly subjective thing.

Now these people are shouting and yelling, but it won’t affect anything.

But if a lie is repeated ten thousand times, what if the audience takes it as the truth?
Today's paper currency is still a new thing, and the "faith" in it has not yet been rooted in the hearts of ordinary people.

If we leave negative public opinion unchecked and allow that group of loudspeakers to spread the message from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, it is hard to guarantee that it will not develop into a tsunami of public opinion that will sweep across Hebei and even the entire country, sparking widespread doubts about the credit of paper currency among the entire nation.

By then it will be too late.

The collapse of credit is like a landslide. The new paper currency system is simply unable to resist it and will inevitably collapse.

This will deal a severe blow to the national economy, thwart this round of financial reforms, and disrupt Li Ming's subsequent series of strategic deployments.

This is the first card played by the mastermind behind the scenes.

The second card is "The Connection between Heaven and Man".

On the surface, it is to turn natural phenomena such as major disasters and meteorites into a pot and put the blame on the rulers.

In fact, it was a means for the feudal scholar-official class to restrict imperial power.

Li Ming must definitely break this kind of feudal superstition.

My power as Your Highness is unlimited!

If you have any opinions about me, there are various anonymous and real-name complaint channels. You are welcome to appeal and reflect the problems!
If you have any opinions, just raise them openly. Don't use natural disasters as an excuse. Don't say it in person, but talk about it behind people's backs. Don't say it in a meeting, but talk about it after the meeting!

“That group of troublemakers challenged my economic and financial policies while directly challenging my authority.

"If we don't strike hard at those insects and shut them up physically, there will be endless troubles."

Li Ming said angrily:

"Instead of trying to turn the tide, it is better to nip it in the bud. What do you think, Lord Yang?"

"Whatever His Highness says, that's what it is." The good-natured Yang Shidao said on the spot that we must execute whether we understand or not, and deepen our understanding through execution.

At this time, Li Jing interrupted the topic at the right time:
"Your Highness, the new recruits from Youzhou have lined up to accept your inspection!"

"Then let's get started."

Li Ming, with his hands behind his back and his belly bulging, walked between Li Jing and Yang Shidao, reviewing the troops in a dignified manner, commenting from time to time:
"Well, not bad, very energetic."

Li Jing is worthy of being Li Jing. He has good ways of managing the army and enforces discipline. The new recruits' appearance and military training are first-class and their formations are very neat.

It's just that these new recruits encountered an unexpected challenge.

That is, His Highness Li Ming himself.

His Highness is well-known, and the new recruits have long heard of his great name.

But when I saw him in person today, he was a cute little fat boy.

A strong contrast

Moreover, His Highness Li Ming was too small, and he could only look up at the tall athletes from Hebei all the way. Coupled with the serious words "very energetic", his funny appearance made people laugh.

If you happen to meet this cute little kid imitating adults while buying vegetables in the market, the aunties will come up to him and pinch his face.

However, in the military camp, this became a kind of devilish training.

The soldiers being reviewed had a hard time trying to hold back their laughter.

They are all professionally trained and will not laugh easily unless they can't help it.

If I laugh in front of the famous His Highness Li Ming and the strict General Li Jing, my military career will be over...

Under the armor, everyone's bodies were extremely tense and trembling slightly.

Li Ming also sensed this subtle atmosphere and asked with a smile:
"Is the food in the barracks okay?"

"Okay!" the recruits answered in unison.

Li Ming: "Are you still attending the evening literacy class?"

Soldiers: “Yes!”

After some interaction, the tense atmosphere suddenly relaxed.

The new recruits from Hebei were delighted to find that the new leader was not the naughty child as rumored, but was actually quite friendly.

"Everyone present, listen carefully." Li Ming changed the subject.

Everyone subconsciously stood up straight. "The fact that you have passed the screening and successfully joined the Red Scarf Army shows that you are all talented and hardworking. If you had been able to attend a private school since childhood, you would have easily passed the examination to become a scholar, right?"

Li Ming regained his serious expression:

"But because my family was poor and powerless, and I couldn't read a single word, I could only join the Red Scarf Army, which provided me with food and lodging, and learn a few words when I had time.

"Why don't you study and become officials? Isn't it because those old rickshaws who inherited the land are blocking the way ahead and occupying all the channels for advancement?"

The whole place was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

"Today, I have driven away those old rickshaws called 'aristocratic families' for you, allowing them to take out some of the benefits that originally belonged to you from their bulging pockets.

"But they are not reconciled to their defeat and are causing trouble in front of the Youzhou government gate, spreading rumors and misleading the people, hoping to force me to reverse history and make you suffer twice."

Li Ming's voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone.

The atmosphere changed subtly.

"Now, it's time to act. Do you have the ability to defend me, the country, and your own interests?"

"can!"

It was like a tsunami, deafening.

…………

Looking at the Hebei Red Turban Army marching away, Yang Shidao, a descendant of a prominent family, still felt a lingering fear.

"Your Highness, you are really... amazing."

He gave a thumbs up.

With just a few words, he mobilized the fighting spirit of all the soldiers.

His Highness Li Ming's ability to incite is truly extraordinary. If he were in the late Sui Dynasty, he would have been a warlord... Well, although he is still a warlord now in reality.

“I can’t help it. If I mobilize the Liaodong Red Turban Army, I won’t need such motivation.

"If the people of Youzhou cause trouble, we must use the local people of Youzhou to deal with it, so as not to give people the excuse that 'people from Liaodong are bullying people from Hebei'."

Li Ming smiled bitterly.

Hebei has just been pacified, but the deep-rooted regional conflicts cannot be dissipated with just a breath.

You must proceed step by step and handle things carefully, so as not to refrain from exacerbating the conflicts that you have managed to suppress with your own charm, thus digging a hole for yourself.

"Of course, it's not enough to just give soldiers a boost, we have to give them real monetary benefits."

Li Ming ordered:
"Let the treasury prepare it. Everyone who participates this time will receive three months' salary."

Yang Shidao smiled and said:
"You are used to bribing the soldiers in Xiazhou camp, right? Now you are giving red envelopes to the Red Scarf officers and soldiers to do things for you?"

Li Ming also laughed and shook his head:
"A red envelope given only to officers is called a red envelope, but one given to ordinary soldiers is called an allowance."

"The allowance has thickness, and the swing of the stick has force."

What...Yang Shidao didn’t understand what Li Ming meant.

It didn't matter, he soon understood.

…………

In front of the Youzhou provincial government.

As usual, the lawyer was reading the script in the old place, and the scoundrels were posing in the back as usual.

It costs a lot of money to invite so many people to perform.

But it doesn’t matter, they have plenty of money behind them.

With such a large group of people tirelessly using loudspeakers in downtown areas every day, it is impossible to say that there is no effect at all.

There are all kinds of birds in the forest, and their strange ideas have indeed attracted some supporters.

There are conservatives who are not used to new payment methods and like the heavy feel of heavy metal, there are lower-class gentry who were "divided into land", and there are also people who are born to be fun-loving and oppose everything.

No matter how many people there are, no matter what kind of people they are, just tell me whether there are listeners or not.

People naturally love to watch the fun, and when a certain number of spectators gather below, other passers-by can't help but stop and listen to what the guy above is talking about.

Finally, he was no longer talking nonsense to the air. The master became more and more excited as he spoke. He felt a sense of satisfaction as if he was writing a book and promoting the teachings of his ancestors.

"Scatter, spread out, don't block the road!"

Veteran policeman Su Dingfang used his traditional skills to temporarily take charge of the security of Youzhou City, and led the newly joined Youzhou local Red Scarf Army to disperse the rioting crowd.

When the master heard his Chang'an accent, he immediately became excited and shouted in a shrill voice:
"What's the trouble? What's the trouble? I'm promoting ethics! Do you Guanzhong farmers understand?"

A face that looks like it deserves a beating.

I'm from Hebei too, a native of Jizhou. I just stayed in Chang'an for a few more years... Su Dingfang was spitted in the face, but he didn't get angry. He just left with his men.

Tsk, you boring coward, you were planning to make a fuss about that Guanzhong guy's identity... The master arrogantly spat at Su Dingfang's back and continued to spread his set of "etiquette" -

It was nothing more than that paper money was a scam, Li Ming had angered everyone and heaven and earth, and so on, and it was repeated over and over again.

After Su Dingfang left, he did not leave the scene, but gave orders from the side.

His Youzhou Red Scarf Army began to persuade the masses who did not know the truth to leave:

"Hey, the government-run rice shop over there is offering 20% ​​off on rice. The supply is limited, hurry up and grab it!"

Most of the audience came to watch the fun and were not interested in what the master was saying about "the connection between heaven and man".

When I heard that the rice next door was on sale, I didn't care what the guy said and rushed over to get a bargain.

This made more than half of the onlookers leave.

The rest were just some spectators with bad intentions. The Red Scarf Army was not so polite to them and started to push them around violently:

"Go, go! If you don't go, you will be sent to the detention room!"

Hey, hey, hey, you bunch of Liaodong guys, stop touching us... The bored spectators were about to launch a regional attack, but were surprised to find that those soldiers also spoke authentic Youzhou accent. They were all local guys.

The most powerful skill was banned, and the spectators lost their temper and could only be driven away obediently.

The crowd was quickly dispersed and the area around the state capital was cleared.

In front of the huge mansion gate, only the Red Turban Army and the troublemakers were left.

The hooligans who were in charge of the atmosphere were still making noises, but the master was the first to notice that something was wrong. He paused the repetition and shouted at the "Guanzhong farmer" he mentioned:
"I'm here to spread the teachings of ethics, what are you doing?"

Su Dingfang, who was "imprisoned", didn't bother to pay attention to him at all and continued to command his men:
"Block the road."

The Youzhou Red Turban Army worked very efficiently. They immediately put up iron chains at both ends of the street, set up sentries, and directed passers-by to other roads.

The rioters watched the Red Turban Army's swift and efficient clearing of the area, and gradually quieted down.

Even the most reckless scoundrel knows that this situation is not good.

"Report to the General, the scene has been cleared and blocked, please give the order!"

The Red Turban Army reported with great enthusiasm.

Su Dingfang glanced at his master, whose face was as pale as a grave, and waved his hand nonchalantly:

"Do it."

The Red Turban Army quickly formed into several columns, took up short sticks, and surrounded the troublemakers.

The master is still stubborn:

"What... do you want to do? What law have we broken? Is it against the law to promote ethics? In broad daylight, how dare you soldiers beat up ordinary people for no reason? You are from Youzhou, right? How dare you be dogs for the Guanzhong guys and beat up your fellow countrymen!"

However, the Red Scarf Army ignored him, said nothing, and approached them silently, forcing the group into a corner.

"But...can we reconcile?" Faced with the high-raised stick, the lawyer finally gave in.

His answer was a blow to the head.

The master's eyebrow bone was broken immediately and he fell to the ground holding his bloody head.

The other thugs soon received their own sticks and were beaten until their heads were bleeding and they ran around screaming.

However, in front of the Red Turban Army’s strict formation, how could the unorganized and undisciplined thugs escape?

They were dragged back one by one to continue their re-education under the iron fist of dictatorship.

After Li Ming's mobilization, the Red Turban Army became fully angry and vented all the injustices they had suffered throughout their lives on this bunch of lackeys.

These lackeys are so despicable that they actually slander His Highness Li Ming behind his back!

If it weren't for His Highness who came from heaven, how would the common people have a chance to turn things around?
Any attempt to allow the landlords and powerful to make a comeback and enslave the people again is wishful thinking!

With infinite gratitude to His Majesty Li Ming, the soldiers were full of fighting spirit and swung the sticks in their hands to create afterimages.

"Help! The Liaodong guys are beating people up!"

At the beginning, the troublemakers still had the energy to run around and scream like pigs being slaughtered.

After a few blows of the stick, they immediately became quiet and fell asleep with their heads held high.

Those who were not asleep lay curled up on the ground, groaning.

Everyone was beaten so badly that even my mother couldn't recognize them.

The soldiers were still not satisfied and continued to beat the fallen dog, swinging their sticks vigorously.

Seeing that someone was about to die, Su Dingfang called a halt in time:

"Stop!"

The soldiers then reluctantly put down their sticks and kicked the opponent a few more times to vent their anger.

Su Dingfang walked up to the master and kicked him on the head with his toes:

"Who ordered you to do this? Tell the truth, or I'll throw you all into the Haihe River."

The master twitched and did not answer.

Su Dingfang frowned and bent down to take a look.

The master who had been so arrogant just now was now completely unrecognizable after being beaten. He was breathing out but not in, and looked like he was about to die.

Tsk...Su Dingfang smacked his lips, but he was not annoyed.

He had no intention of interrogating her, and he asked this question purely out of professional habit.

Because, His Highness Li Ming actually already knew clearly who was the mastermind behind these troublemakers.

(End of this chapter)