Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

"Your Majesty, it shouldn't be that serious." Zhang Shikang, who had originally had a serious expression on his face, curled his lips.

Seeing that Brother Chongzhen looked so hopeless, Zhang Shikang not only did not feel sympathy, he even wanted to laugh, but he held it back.

The Ming Dynasty was originally a broken ship with leaks everywhere, and it had never been in good shape. So even if the bandits start making trouble again, they can't be that bad.

"Shikang, now that things have come to this, what can I do? I am confused, please tell me."

Emperor Chongzhen was not angry when Zhang Shikang teased him. He just sat on the steps and didn't get up. Perhaps he knew Zhang Shikang's character and didn't want to be tense anymore today.

Before, he always felt that Zhang Shikang spoke in a ruffian-like manner, with a hint of a playboy. But now, when Emperor Chongzhen saw this kid again and heard Zhang Shikang's nonchalant tone, he was not only not dissatisfied, but felt happy instead.

It was as if no matter how big the difficulties were, the boy in front of him didn't take them seriously. Emperor Chongzhen felt ashamed of himself for having such a mentality.

He knew in his heart that the current situation of the Ming Dynasty required such confidence in order to have a chance of survival.

"Your Majesty, don't panic. Let me help you sort it out." Zhang Shikang looked around and couldn't find a chair to sit on, so he simply sat on the steps.

Emperor Chongzhen even moved aside to make room for Zhang Shikang.

"Although the Jian Nu are brave, the generals and soldiers of my Ming Dynasty are not all fools. I had a misunderstanding before.

But I have been on the battlefield recently and have witnessed with my own eyes the performance of the grassroots soldiers on the battlefield. All the officers and soldiers, from top to bottom, hope to win the battle.

It is said that if the Eight Banners have less than 10,000 men, they are invincible. But in my opinion, the same can be said about the Ming Dynasty:

The Ming army is not fully paid, and when it is fully paid, it is invincible. "

Needless to say, the Beijing Camp, why are the morale of his brothers so high?

Of course, Zhang Shikang's personal prestige played a role here, but the military pay of the Beijing camp, as well as rewards and pensions, were always paid on schedule and were never in arrears.

To this end, Zhang Shikang even blackmailed Yang Sichang and Dorgon in order to give his subordinates the money they deserved.

It is only natural for soldiers to get paid. They are fighting for their lives. Do you expect them to generate love?

But the actual situation is really like this.

For example, Lu Xiangsheng's Tianxiong Army was actually owed money and food by the imperial court, so Lu Xiangsheng had no choice but to set up military farms in Xuanda.

To put it simply, it means taking the lead in leading the soldiers to farm so as to support themselves.

You have to know that the Tianxiong Army was not a garrison system, but a recruited army. Letting professional soldiers farm was already a helpless move, but Lu Xiangsheng did solve the basic expenses of the Tianxiong Army.

Therefore, the Tianxiong Army is very capable in fighting.

Grandpa Lu has indeed been working hard for the sake of serving his country, but Zhang Shikang also felt that Lu Xiangsheng was getting discouraged.

If it weren't for his dissuasion, Lu Xiangsheng would have even begun to consider quitting.

In addition, Zhang Shikang also observed the Qin soldiers led by Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting in the military camp. Their morale and combat effectiveness were very good, but in fact their military pay had been in arrears.

But even so, the soldiers under him fought with all their might in this confrontation with the Jiannu, and at least prevented the Jiannu from becoming unscrupulous.

To be honest, the court has let them down.

"But Shikang, if the court had money, how could I delay paying the soldiers' wages?" Emperor Chongzhen smiled bitterly.

The expenses in the palace were reduced again and again, and he could even eat meat only once every three days. He was fine, but his children were still young and growing.

"Why don't we start levying the three taxes again?" Zhang Shikang said casually.

"This... this is not good. Hasn't Shikang always been opposed to increasing salaries for the people?" Emperor Chongzhen looked at Zhang Shikang with a little surprise.

"Your Majesty also knows that I was just testing you, hehe." Zhang Shikang grinned.

Only he dared to joke like this. He just wanted to see what this brother was thinking. If there was a shortage of money, the court officials would make the people suffer as they proposed.

Then Zhang Shikang really didn't bother to make any more trouble, and just walked away, leaving Li Shizhen's three companies behind.

There is no hope, just wait for death and say goodbye.

Emperor Chongzhen was not annoyed, but motioned Zhang Shikang to continue speaking.

"At this time, the most worrying thing is to continue to put pressure on the people. Raising salaries for the people is like drinking poison to quench thirst.

I have said before that anyone who proposes to increase taxes and salaries for the people will be guilty and should be executed."

Zhang Shikang was no joke. Although Zhang Xianzhong and Li Zicheng were becoming more and more violent, it only affected the two provinces of Huguang and Sichuan.

Shanxi and Shaanxi, as traditional bases of bandits, have become much safer.

Firstly, the two places were guarded by troops led by Lu Xiangsheng, Sun Chuanting and others. Secondly, the imperial court knew that the two provinces were suffering from severe famine, so at the suggestion of Zhang Shikang, it exempted them from taxes for two years.

But if the tax continues to be increased, it is hard to say whether these people can still live in peace.

"Shikang is right. I will never impose additional taxes on the people," Emperor Chongzhen promised.

"But Your Majesty, do the soldiers on the front line deserve not to get their wages and deserve not to get any pension after their death?" Zhang Shikang looked at Emperor Chongzhen and said very seriously.

This problem seemed to be a dead end, but in fact Zhang Shikang left a loophole. He just wanted to see the old man's awareness and determination.

This won't work. Sooner or later, everyone will have to pack up and run away. Brother, you'd better think this over carefully.

After saying this, he waited calmly for Brother Chongzhen's answer.

Although he understood that this old man trusted him very much and even regarded him as a life-saving straw, he believed and did whatever he said.

But he didn't want this.

What a joke, brother, you are the emperor, you can’t let me say and do everything for you, how tired will you be if you do that?

Can you still live a happy life of eating and waiting to die?

He felt that at the appropriate time, he must enlighten this old man and make him understand how to repair the broken ship of the Ming Dynasty.

Emperor Chongzhen looked at Zhang Shikang deeply, and seemed to understand that Zhang Shikang was testing him, and a rare trace of dissatisfaction appeared on his face.

He felt that this boy must have an idea in his mind, but he refused to say it and wanted to make things difficult for him.

But he has no evidence.

Emperor Chongzhen finally got rid of his helplessness and despair, and his CPU started to work.

The Ming army is not satisfied with its pay, but it is invincible if it is fully paid.

But the imperial court had no money at all and could not impose additional taxes on the people.

If we cannot impose additional taxes on the people, then where will the money and grain come from?

No, this guy said before that the Ming Dynasty is not short of money.

But where is the silver? Of course the common people don’t have it.

Scholars, farmers, workers and merchants. Scholars, farmers, workers and merchants.

scholar……

Emperor Chongzhen's eyes suddenly brightened.

“Shikang, those people…those people!”

Zhang Shikang finally smiled.

Brother Chongzhen has finally come to his senses and learned how to answer questions quickly!

……