Chapter 120: Killing the eunuch party is more important than rioting for money
"I don't ask for much. Nowadays, the wars are frequent and the soldiers are working hard. Just give me the usual silver as a tribute."

Facing the civil and military officials in Shanhaiguan City, the white-haired Zhang Ruitu directly asked for money.

The ministers of King Jinglüe could not stand it any longer. This foolish old man was in such a hurry to harm the generals in Guancheng. Was he afraid that the soldiers in Guancheng would not follow Marshal Li to demand pay?

"Please be patient. Only when Liaodong is able to plant crops next year and Liaozhen can harvest grain, the generals will have money to honor you."

Being chosen for the position of Ji-Liao Governor, Wang Zhichen was considered an honest official. Throughout the year, he just followed his colleagues in collecting the regular wages from his subordinates and never asked for more.

He would not accept any additional gifts beyond the regular silver.

"Bullshit, don't think I don't read. The garrison officer in Guangning City can get 600 taels of silver for each fort he controls. A garrison officer can manage a lot of forts, right? How much silver did he take from the people? I am doing this for the people, to get their silver back."

Even if the governor spoke for the generals of Shanhaiguan, Zhang Ruitu would never give in. When he was studying, his wife wove to earn money to support him, and they ate barley porridge every day. At that time, he made up his mind to pass the imperial examination. He became an official just to make money.

Wang Zhichen was angry, but he did not dare to openly contradict Zhang Ruitu, who wrote the inscription for the ancestral temple of Duke Wei. He only ordered the generals to return to their camps and never set foot in the Jinglüe Mansion without being summoned.

"Don't go away, I won't take your money for nothing. Give me some silver as a tribute, and I'll give you a piece of calligraphy or a painting in return. In the capital, one of my calligraphy and paintings can be sold for twenty taels of silver, so you won't lose much."

Seeing that the generals who had paid the silver were leaving one after another after paying their respects, Zhang Ruitu became anxious and promised to exchange the silver for his calligraphy and paintings.

"Let's talk about the reward for Marshal Li. How much silver and food did you bring this time?"

Wang Zhichen also realized the intention of the court officials from the official documents of the Ministry of War, which was to refuse to admit that they had defaulted on the Liao soldiers' wages and only give them rewards.

Anyway, the soldiers didn't understand the ins and outs of the matter, so they would accept it as long as they got the silver and food. After all, the court had given them an explanation.

As for the commander-in-chief Li Hao, granting him the title of hereditary marquis was enough to show sincerity, and the court could not offer a higher reward.

"The money for leaving the capital is 480,000 taels, 60,000 taels were lost on the way, and the reward for the Liao soldiers is about 400,000 taels. The country is in a difficult situation, so we will take less, and just take 20,000 taels as a token of our appreciation."

There were rules for official corruption in the late Ming Dynasty. For the salaries of the nine northern military garrisons, officials in the capital and escort officials could only take 30% to 40% of the money allocated by the Ministry of War, to ensure that 60% to 70% would remain in the hands of the governors-general, provincial governors, and military commissioners of the nine borders.

The remaining 60 to 70 percent did not all go into the mouths of civil servants and military commanders in various places. At least 30 percent had to be distributed to the soldiers. Otherwise, if the border situation became urgent, officials at all levels would be in trouble.

Of course, the three levels of civil servants, governors, governors-general and provincial governors, had to return the regular silver to the eunuchs and civil servants who delivered the military pay, as well as the major patrons in the capital.

Wang Zhichen closed his eyes tightly and leaned back in his chair. "It's all over. The soldiers under Marshal Li and those who surrendered in Ningyuan City total about 30,000 to 40,000. Each of them doesn't even have ten taels."

The city gate is actually in danger. If the Liao soldiers' riots over pay can be quickly suppressed, the soldiers of the three camps of Jizhen will be able to do their work earnestly.

If it drags on for a month or two, the soldiers in Jizhen will probably become restless. After all, everyone has seen that the crying child gets the milk, and the soldiers who make noise get the pay.

"There are still quite a few pigs, all raised by the Guanglu Temple, big and fat. There are also hundreds of thousands of dan of grain. Shuntian Prefecture Inspector Ni Wenhuan is driving the laborers to the city gate."

Zhang Ruitu didn't understand why Wang Jinglie became even more desperate after hearing the name Ni Wenhuan. Could it be that Wang Zhichen rebelled against Eunuch Wei and jumped to the Donglin side?

The body of Ji-Liao Jinglüe slid down from the chair like noodles. After Zhang Ruitu hypocritically ordered the servants to pinch him, he pretended to be barely breathing.

"I can't do it, but Shanhaiguan must be under the command of someone. Elder Zhang, either you take on this responsibility, or let Governor Yuan Chonghuan do it, but you must make Marshal Li turn back!"

After saying this, he tilted his head and pretended to be faint, as if this chaotic situation had nothing to do with him.

"How can I manage these tens of thousands of soldiers?"

Zhang Ruitu was also anxious. This Ji-Liao governor should have pretended to be sick earlier or later, but only after he arrived.

If Eunuch Wei knew about this, he might even accuse him of offending Wang Butang.

He paced back and forth in the lobby of the Governor's Mansion. After being reminded by his staff, he suddenly remembered that there was a governor in the city.

"That's him. This cabinet recommends that Governor Yuan temporarily lead the military affairs at Shanhaiguan."

……

Xifengkou, eastern section of the Yanshan Mountains.

Shanhaiguan was in chaos because of Zhang Ge Lao's disturbance, and Xifengkou, 300 miles to the west, was also not peaceful.

Three thousand elite troops, with their own horses for replacement and pack horses, formed a marching formation, ready to enter the pass. Their commander was negotiating with the guerrillas at Xifengkou.

"Marshal Li, please don't make things difficult for our brothers. This Marshal outside the Great Wall can come and go as he pleases. If we enter the Great Wall, the lives of my entire family will be in danger."

On the top of the Xifengkou Pass, Zhou Yuji tried to dissuade his former superior with a bitter face. Most of his servants had seen the bravery of the general outside the city, and the soldiers on the city had no fighting spirit at all. They only hoped that Marshal Li could lead his troops back, or that their superior Zhou Youji would open the city gate and let these thousands of Liao soldiers pass.

In short, just don't get into conflict with Marshal Li.

"I have fought for four hundred miles, and you want me to go back? How about we fight? If I win, I will spare your life, and you can follow me into the pass to demand payment. If I lose, I will take a detour to enter the pass."

Li Hao had no intention of going back quietly to wait for the court's reward. On the way, he discussed the subsequent development of events with his godsons. Those who were born in Dongjiang believed that their godfather should be the dominant force in the area, and the reason for the uprising changed from rioting over pay to killing the eunuchs.

The reason for killing the eunuchs is more just than rioting for pay. After all, the people of the world have suffered from the eunuchs for a long time.

Marshal Li also agreed with the idea of ​​starting an uprising by exterminating the eunuchs. He would not only torture them severely but also exterminate all nine clans of the eunuchs.

Of course, in a narrow sense, the eunuchs could not make up the nine clans, but this group of androgynous people often adopted many officials as their godsons, and kept concubines in their private residences. By picking up and piecing together, they could indeed make up the nine clans.

"Bring me the bow!"

Seeing no movement on the top of the city wall, Li Hao shouted loudly.

Ever since he was reminded that carrying so many weapons was not dignified enough, he specially set up a weapons bureau to deliver various weapons and armor to him.

Among the Shang brothers, Shang Keai is the captain of the weapons bureau. He is a burly man with a donkey face and small eyes. Like his brother Shang Kexi, he is loyal to Marshal Li, who avenged their father and mother's murder.

"Wait, Marshal, let me discuss this with my brothers."

Seeing that the general of Liaodong Vanguard Town under the city was serious about its attack, Zhou Yuji immediately broke out in a cold sweat. He could neither fight nor escape, and the only strategy he could think of was to let Marshal Li go first.

"What else is there to discuss? Send someone to open the city gate, and follow me to Beijing to collect my salary."

After taking the large bow and quiver handed over by the Weapons Bureau, Li Hao threatened while test shooting.

"Open the city gates and send people to arrest the Jinyiwei."

Zhou Yuji issued two orders in succession. The Xifengkou Pass, which did not even have a city wall, could not stop the 3,000 cavalry outside. Even if Marshal Li did not take action, hundreds of soldiers could dig open the Great Wall in an hour or two to allow the cavalry to pass.

The situation inside and outside the Great Wall was very different. Because of the war, there were basically no Jinyiwei stationed in the cities of Liaodong.

Although the areas within the Great Wall had not been ravaged by war, every city had the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The thirteen provincial governments had thousand-household offices, and each prefecture basically had a hundred-household office. Every county town had a flag chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

In a strategic pass like Xifengkou, the size of the Jinyiwei was similar to that of a county town, with a flag chief and dozens of men under him. The emperor, who lived deep in the palace, would sometimes rely on the 70,000 to 80,000 Jinyiwei stationed abroad to understand the actual situation in various places.

After opening the city gate, Zhou Yuji led the servants to welcome them out, and at the same time pushed dozens of Jinyiwei in the city in front of Marshal Li.

"Commander, I..."

The young guerrilla didn't know what to say. It was necessary to detain the Jinyiwei. If the news got out, his entire family's lives would be in danger.

"I understand what you mean, Boss Shang. You led people to do these Jinyiwei."

Li Hao issued a military order.

The eldest of the Shang brothers, Shang Kejin, was about to take action with his soldiers, but the flag officer of the Jinyiwei cried out in surprise.

"Marshal Li, I am just trying to make a living. If you spare my life, I will lead the way for you and serve you and the brothers in Liaodong like a slave."

The rest of the Jinyiwei also begged for mercy. Although this was the first time Marshal Li appeared in front of them, they had already heard the Marshal's name so many times over the past year that their ears were already callused.

"Well, find some horses for them, and let them follow me to the outskirts of Beijing, just like Zhou Yuji."

The Xifengkou guerrilla had no choice but to accept it. He asked cautiously, "What will happen after receiving the salary? Will the Marshal return to Liaodong?"

He was afraid that neither side would recognize him and would just lead him astray.

"After receiving the salary, I will kill the eunuchs. Who is Wei Zhongxian? Is his cousin's daughter worthy of my escort?"

After reaching the outskirts of Beijing, Li Hao was ready to demand that the court hand over Wei Zhongxian, as he wanted to skin the dead eunuch alive.

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(End of this chapter)