Chapter 111: Eight Mergers
The sixth year of the Zhengei era, October 17th.

The new army broke into Chang'an City, successfully occupied Chang'an Prefecture, and surrendered 300,000 rioters.

The sixth year of the Zhengei era, October 20th.

Miao Xiu and Shi Heilang led their troops to join the new recruits, with a force of over 100,000 men.

The sixth year of the Zhengei era, October 25th.

Recruiting refugees, surrendered soldiers and surrounding imperial guards, the army's strength once reached 200,000.

The sixth year of the Zhengei era, October 27th.

Miao Xiu was stationed in Chang'an Prefecture, while the three masters of the new army and Shi Heilang divided their forces to wipe out the rebels.

Within half a month, more than twenty counties were captured.

The ninth day of the eleventh month of the sixth year of Zhengei.

The new army and the Miao Xiu coalition forces caught up with the main rebel force in Chencang County, and the two sides engaged in a final showdown in the mountains.

The battle lasted for two days and one night. In the end, most of the rebels were wiped out and the leader Li Zhishan was killed. His head was cut off and sent back to the capital.

November 12, the sixth year of the Zhengei era.

Qu Bo, commander of the First Division of the New Army, took out the secret decree from His Majesty and secretly arrested more than fifty officials in Yongzhou.

The sixth year of the Zhengei era, November 18th.

The new army marched northward, successively capturing 79 forts built by local landlords, powerful people, and aristocratic families in Yongzhou, killing more than 6,000 people.

The Yongzhou noble families were wiped out, but the news released to the outside world showed that they were killed by the rebels.

The new army fought back, avenged the Yongzhou nobles, and occupied their land.

Under Zheng Yi's order, the 500,000 refugees who had surrendered were immediately stationed in Yongzhou.

Wang Anshi was promoted to be the prefect of Chang'an Prefecture, and went to Yongzhou to preside over the land distribution and take charge of Yongzhou.

In addition, the construction of the Yongzhou Grand Canal was restarted.

Yongzhou won a great victory, but Shuzhou's progress was slow.

Because Shuzhou was difficult to travel, even with the advantage of firearms, the new army still had a hard time and could only advance slowly.

The fifth day of the eleventh month in the sixth year of Zhengei.

Night.

Liu Chengen led his army to Jinyang County. After arranging for the new army to set up camp outside the city, Liu Chengen brought several guards to Cui Xiawu's camp.

Cui Xiawu has been stationed here for more than half a month. Because there were signs of rebellion in Bingzhou, local officials urged Cui Xiawu to stay and suppress the bandits.

As for Cui Xiawu, he also stayed under Zheng Yi's order.

The compensation from the State of Wu and other supplies were to be brought back by the imperial guards who were sent out.

"Master Cui!"

In the military camp, the dusty Liu Chengen finally met Cui Xiawu, whom he had not seen for a long time.

The last time the two met was at the Enke Ceremony more than two years ago.

At that time, Cui Xiawu was the top scorer in the military examination, and was appointed a general by Zheng Yi at a word. What a great favor and what a powerful position he had.

At that time, Liu Chengen was an old eunuch serving His Majesty.

The same is true today.

"Long time no see, how is your health, father-in-law?"

Cui Xiawu stood up and spoke warmly, his words also extremely respectful.

Liu Chengen felt relieved and asked, "Did you receive the order from His Majesty?"

"I have received it."

"Have you forgotten the great oath you swore for His Majesty on the day of the Enke Ceremony?"

Cui Xiawu said: "Xiawu rose from humble beginnings, and it is only thanks to your majesty's trust that I have come this far."

"Therefore, my loyalty to Your Majesty is evident to all heaven and earth, and I will never let Your Majesty down in my lifetime!"

"From now on in Bingzhou, no matter what happens, Xia Wu will follow your majesty's lead!"

"very good."

Liu Chengen nodded slowly: "Then tonight, I will inform your majesty of all the tasks."

After a cup of tea, Cui Xiawu's breathing became a little rapid.

"Your Majesty's goal is to merge the eight major merchants and the northern noble families? This..."

"Why, General Cui is scared?"

"afraid?"

Cui Xiawu sneered: "Since the day I became the top scorer in the martial arts exam, I have nothing to fear!"

"So what if they are from aristocratic families?"

"Although Cui was born into a noble family, he has no connection with them."

"Whether it's the Cui family or the Wang family, as long as your majesty orders me to do so, I will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Liu Chengen smiled and said, "It's not as serious as General Cui thinks. They are just a group of merchants who are collaborating with the enemy and selling out their country."

"What are you going to do, father-in-law?"

"Come closer, we are ready..."

The next day.

Many officials and big businessmen in Jinyang County received a visiting card.

Liu Chengen, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department and a popular figure around the current emperor, actually came to Jinyang County on official business and hosted a banquet to entertain many gentry and officials in the county.

After receiving the visiting invitation, countless officials, gentry, and big businessmen were overjoyed and immediately sent their families out to buy a large number of gifts and pay a visit.

A month ago, Cui Xiawu, a border soldier, passed through Jinyang and accidentally encountered a rebel army. He suppressed the rebellion on the spot and then took charge of Bingzhou.

From then on, many Bingzhou officials and businessmen came to visit Cui Xiawu, trying to win him over.

Unfortunately, Cui Xiawu was unmoved and only met officials with whom he had official dealings.

The rest of the people disappeared without a trace, which caused great trouble to many local officials, businessmen and wealthy families in Bingzhou.

And now, the most popular person around His Majesty has come, and he is a eunuch...

That night, Liu Chengen invited many officials and businessmen to talk about the majesty's power and the affairs of the court, and repeatedly stated that the rebels would definitely be defeated.

Under the constant toasts from many officials, gentry, noble families and big businessmen, I became drunk and was taken away by several maids arranged by the Jinyang County Magistrate.

It is said that Liu Chengen had a great time touching several maids that night. Unfortunately, he was a eunuch and could only touch them and then fall asleep.

After hearing this news, the prefect of Jinyang County and many aristocratic families and big businessmen became more reassured.

"He's just a lecherous eunuch. How difficult is that?"

"That's strange. The Imperial Household Department is an institution that holds great power, just like the Cabinet. Why did he come to our Jinyang County?"

"Hehehe, so what if Liu Chengen is a big shot around His Majesty? He has been guarding the deep palace for so many years. Where did he have the time to make money? Now he has seized a good opportunity!"

"What does Brother Wang mean?"

"It's very simple! Liu Chengen must be using the opportunity to suppress the rebels to ask us to raise military funds!"

"I see!"

"I wonder what a eunuch is doing in this remote place like ours?"

"Everyone, this is a good opportunity! If we can please Liu Chengen, our future business..."

"Tsk tsk tsk, I was afraid that our connection with the Wu Kingdom would be discovered, but now it seems that His Majesty can't do without us either!"

"Just wait and see. Within three days, Liu Chengen will reveal his true colors!"

The officials, noble families, businessmen, etc. in Jinyang County still thought highly of Liu Chengen.

At the banquet the next day, Liu Chengen began to show his "fox tail".

Raise military funds!

"My fellow countrymen, you are all capable people of our country. Today, our Great Yu is in turmoil, and the civil unrest in the north has lasted for five years!"

"Your Majesty has been so worried about suppressing the rebellion that his hair has turned white. I have seen it with my own eyes and I am worried about it in my heart!"

"The most important thing is that the court is short of money!"

"When the army sets out, the cost of food and clothing for the soldiers and horses is huge. Now the national treasury is empty..."

While Liu Chengen was crying, the local noble families and merchants of Jinyang County were sitting upright and communicating with each other through their eyes.

Before he finished speaking, someone at the table stood up and said, "Eunuch Liu is righteous, and we admire him very much."

"Well, on behalf of my Wang family, I am willing to provide you with 20,000 taels of silver. How do you think?"

As soon as the words fell, there was a commotion from the people around.

"Brother Wang is so righteous! Then I am also willing to donate 10,000 taels of silver!"

"I'll pay five thousand taels!"

"I'll pay eight thousand taels!"

"I am just a small businessman. I can only donate 2,000 taels. I hope you brothers will not laugh at me..."

Many merchants, wealthy families, and landlords contributed money in groups of two or three, and the military funds soon exceeded 50,000 taels.

Although Liu Chengen had a smile on his face, he was cursing in his heart.

This bunch of damn aristocratic businessmen, any one of them could have a fortune of hundreds of thousands or even millions of taels.

Now they are only willing to give out a few thousand taels as military supplies. This is just like treating beggars badly!

Seeing this, Liu Chengen slapped the table with a 'slap' sound and gritted his teeth and said:
"I won't beat around the bush with you. I have signed a military order with your Majesty. We must raise 10 million taels of silver for this trip to Bingzhou!"

"Without ten million, my family won't be able to live well, and neither will you!"

what?
Ten million taels!
Many officials, noble families, and businessmen were all stunned. How could there be such a high cost for military expenditure?
The young man named Wang who stood up first was anxious: "Eunuch Liu, we can still get together tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of taels."

"But this 10 million taels is simply going to cost us our lives!"

Liu Chengen sneered, "You are... Wang Yilong, right? You come from the Wang family of Datong. The Censor Wang Ze should be your grandfather, right?"

The young man said proudly: "My Lord, thank you. I am just a commoner. Now I am just looking after a few shops for my master. I am not worthy of being a member of the Wang family."

"As for the Censor Wang Ze you mentioned, he is indeed my grandfather..."

"Humph!"

Liu Chengen sneered: "Even if Wang Ze was in front of us, he wouldn't dare to talk to us like this, who do you think you are!"

As he said this, he picked up the wine jug on the table and smashed it hard on Wang Yilong's forehead, and blood gushed out immediately.

Zhao Kezhi, the governor of Jinyang County, quickly stopped Liu Chengen and said, "Eunuch, calm down, Eunuch, calm down. We are all family here, why bother to start a war?"

"Wang Yilong! Kneel down quickly! Apologize to the eunuch, you are just a commoner...!"

At Zhao Kezhi's reminder, Wang Yilong suddenly started and then reacted.

Although this is Jinyang County, their Wang family is the most powerful here.

Normally, he could look down on everyone, even the county magistrate had to give him some respect.

But now, he was facing the emperor's favorite and the eunuch who held the seal of the Imperial Household Department, and those people did not take him seriously at all.

Even if the Censor Wang Ze came here, he would have to pay his respects to Liu Chengen first!

Thinking of this, Wang Yilong was immediately frightened and quickly knelt on the ground: "Eunuch, calm down. It was I who was bewitched. I hope you can be magnanimous..."

"Humph!"

Liu Chengen snorted coldly and said, "For the sake of Lord Wang Ze, I will spare you this time."

"If there is a next time, we will never let you off easily, do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand, I understand!"

"besides!"

Liu Chengen continued, "The ten million taels of silver must be collected within half a month. Otherwise, your Majesty will punish you, and you will not be able to have an easy life!"

Everyone present was silent, no one dared to speak, and they all looked at Zhao Kezhi frantically.

Zhao Kezhi hastily toasted him with a glass of wine and said, "Eunuch Liu, our Jinyang County is only a small place after all. I'm afraid that many noble families and merchants can't come up with so much silver in a short period of time."

"Who said that only Jinyang County will pay?"

Liu Chengen rolled his eyes at him and said, "I've heard that the merchants in Bingzhou are the richest in the world, especially the eight major merchants in Bingzhou, who are well-connected from north to south. Today, our military funds worth 10 million taels of silver have fallen into their hands."

"Except for Jinyang County, the gentry, noble families, and merchants in the rest of Quanyang County, Yanshan County, Beihe County, and Yuanping County must contribute money."

"Ten million taels of silver is our family's bottom line."

"Don't worry, our family won't let you spend money in vain."

Liu Chengen sneered and said, "Your Majesty is now in charge of the construction of the Yongzhou Grand Canal, and even the Jing'an Grand Canal has been started."

"By then, there will be countless positions and opportunities on these two canals, enough for you to earn back your money!"

"As long as we can collect 10 million taels of silver, we will leave immediately, hahahahahahaha..."

　Asking for a monthly ticket~
　　Asking for a monthly ticket~
　　Asking for a monthly ticket~
　　Asking for a monthly ticket~
　　Asking for a monthly ticket~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)