Section 4 Pillars
In addition to Zhou Kaihuang, some people also believe that Jiange is very important to the security of western Sichuan. There are also a small number of officers who believe that the Ming army, as a government army, has the responsibility to regain their hometown and stick to it. Fortunately, there are not many such people, and Deng Ming can easily dispel their unrealistic ideas. If Deng Ming truly possesses millions of people, he will also try to occupy Jiange, at least establish an outpost in Jiangyou.
"Our top priority is to resume production and train soldiers as much as possible on the basis of ensuring grain production." Seeing that no one could come up with a good target, Deng Ming turned to the next topic: "I plan to set up a study day, and workers who work in the business must have a day off every five days. And on this day, the business owners still need to pay wages to the workers."
Zhu Yuanzhang, who founded the Ming Dynasty, was a workaholic and did not think that people in the world had to rest. He stipulated that except for his birthday, Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, all work must be done on other days. Although this rule was not implemented by his descendants, the rest days were limited to officials, and ordinary craftsmen still had to work day after day. In Deng Ming's view, interval rest helped improve work efficiency and was also very beneficial for him to promote national military training: "On the morning of the study day, the fellow scholars must train under the guidance of the standing army. Didn't we say that the fellow scholars are not exempted from military service? This training every five days is part of the military service. Not only workers must participate, but the boss of the business bank must also participate. The employees of the Japanese official government must also participate in military training except for the on-duty personnel."
The Qing army's green camp did not conduct training every day. The enthusiasm and food and salary levels of different generals were different. The Qing army went out to train for one morning every five days, and some were on average for one morning ten days. A famous general like Zhao Liangdong, at most, would conduct military training from heaven. The training intensity and scope were simply not comparable to that of the standing army in Chengdu.
"The military training once every five days will be based on pavilions. Each morning, the army will decide the training contents by itself. The main goal now is to enable the fellow scholars to understand military orders, understand the situation, and learn to change the queues." The officers and soldiers of the Green Camp continued the tradition of the Ming army. They may not eat well in normal times, but they will definitely be able to have a full meal on the day of training. Adequate food and salary is also an important factor restricting the training of the Qing army. When there is no war risk in the near future, generals at all levels always tend to reduce training to save expenses. Since Deng Ming wants to conduct daily training, of course, this point will not be ignored: "On the study day, we provide three meals to fellow scholars who participated in the training. Each person's quota is four kilograms of grain, and they can take it back if they can't finish it. If they are sick, they can not participate, but they need a doctor's certificate or have been inspected by non-commissioned officers. If they do not participate for no reason, they are considered to be evading military service and fined four kilograms of grain."
There are not many industrial and commercial classes in Chengdu now. Deng Ming formulated a training system for urban population to prepare for the future. More people are also engaged in agricultural production: "The scholars who farm in everything will be suspended during busy farming, but the difference must be filled in during slack farming. Every scholar under the Dufu ruled must participate in seventy days of training every year as long as they are eighteen or less than fifty years old. After reaching this number, the remaining rest days can be freely controlled."
Compared to spending a lot of food on building the Jiangyou road, Deng Ming felt that it was better to use it for military training. Since the fellow scholars were exempted from labor, Chengdu needed to pay for all construction work, and this was also a kind of training for the standing army, allowing non-commissioned officers to use it to exercise the ability to control the troops.
After the military meeting, a person from the prefect came to look for Deng Ming, saying that he had a large number of representatives who were as powerful as scholars (captives) in front of the yamen to see Deng Ming.
"Are you bullying people?" Deng Ming, who was about to take a break, immediately had this idea: "How many people are here to complain?"
"No." Liu Jinge's men quickly defended: "They are here to thank the admiral."
"What are you saying thank you?"
"Because of the admiral's benevolent government," the envoy complimented: "The admiral did not send them to the military camp, but allowed them to open up the land on their own, and gave them the power of scholars such as not being subject to corporal punishment."
Quan Ru and scholars were all people who moved from other places. This identity was only temporary. After paying taxes to the prefect's office for the first time, they automatically became a fellow scholar. Therefore, except for one name, they were no different from the fellow scholar. However, this time the Ming army sent a large number of Guizhou and Shaanxi people to Chengdu. These people were also retired soldiers, but their identities were not former Ming army auxiliary soldiers but former Qing army auxiliary soldiers. At the beginning, many of Deng Ming's subordinates wanted to formulate some discriminatory policies against them, but Deng Ming disagreed and ordered the retired soldiers of the Qing army equally under the pretext of "together for development".
"It must be done by the prefect Liu." Deng Ming immediately concluded that this was an image project planned by Liu Jinge. He said angrily: "I have been busy for a day, so how can I deal with such a waste of money? It also affects farming. They have already delayed a lot of farming time."
Although Deng Ming was a little dissatisfied, he could not refuse the request: "If I don't go to see them, these people will probably be uneasy. Forget it, I'll go there." Thinking of this, Deng Ming dressed neatly and took a few guards to the prefect's office. His original guards were all full-time to serve in the standing army, but now the guards have been replaced by people with three walls.
However, Deng Ming wrongly accused Liu Jinge. This gratitude event was indeed a spontaneous action by the people of Guizhou and Shaanxi. However, after hearing the news, Liu Jinge was very supportive and rewarded the proposer with some IOUs and sent guards to maintain order.
Tan Xiaozhuang was one of the delegations. After he was sent to Chengdu, he thought he would enter a military camp again and become an auxiliary soldier. Like other prisoners, Tan Xiaozhuang was mentally prepared for his future destiny. Anyway, he had always been this kind of life, and he believed that he could adapt well. But when he thought of the short life of self-cultivating farmers in Guizhou, Tan Xiaozhuang still had some regrets. The beautiful days were as short as a dream.
So when the Chengdu government announced their treatment, Tan Xiaozhuang was almost unable to believe that this was true. They could still own their own property, and the taxes in Chengdu were far lower than those in Guizhou. Since they did not need to bear heavy taxes on a mu, Tan Xiaozhuang also applied for ten acres of land at one time, and dreamed of opening up another ten acres of wasteland close to their own land next year.
When he saw that his neighbors were able to buy iron farm tools from the capital, Tan Xiaozhuang was still envious. He could only use wooden ones at present. As a former Qing army auxiliary soldier who did not enjoy subsidies and preferential policies, Tan Xiaozhuang borrowed food from his neighbors. Now the annual interest rate for these private loans is generally as high as 50%. The Qing army prisoners have to pay higher interest. Tan Xiaozhuang borrowed loans that doubled in a year - it was impossible to have the strength to buy iron tools.
Tan Xiaozhuang knew that he would definitely not pay off the loan he owed this year, but he felt that as long as he worked hard to farm, he could pay it a little on the basis of ensuring food and seed grains, and he would definitely not need to borrow more loans; he would definitely pay it off in two or three years. With the output of dozens of acres of his own land, Tan Xiaozhuang knew that he would sooner or later have iron tools, and he might go to Xichun Road to buy a cow in time.
"When I have a cow, someone will be willing to marry my daughter." While waiting for Deng Ming to arrive outside the prefect's office, Tan Xiaozhuang was still looking forward to life several years later: "As long as there is no war here and if the King of Pingxi and others don't fight, I will be able to have a home in a few years."
Tan Xiaozhuang does not think there is anything wrong with the loan loan that doubles in a year. The interest rate of the loan loan in Guizhou will not be lower than this. Due to the high taxes, it only takes longer to pay off the debt, so it is not uncommon to pay it back for a lifetime and then hand it over to his son to pay it back. Therefore, Tan Xiaozhuang sincerely thanks Deng Ming and hopes that western Sichuan can be peaceful.
"The Admiral is here!"
The soldiers from the prefect's office made neat shouts, pulling Tan Xiaozhuang back to reality from his fantasy.
"Admiral is long and safe!"
According to the prior discussion, a delegation of gratitude composed of hundreds of people fell to the ground and kowtowed to Deng Ming, who was riding horses. A few days ago, when Tan Xiaozhuang learned that he was selected as a member of the delegation, he was not afraid. On the contrary, he was very happy to thank Deng Ming in person. This trip, Tan Xiaozhuang also represented dozens of refugees who came from Guizhou to Sichuan. These people agreed to help Tan Xiaozhuang cook his fields. They would gather at Tan Xiaozhuang's home tonight, waiting to hear what Tan Xiaozhuang saw.
"Why did you kneel down again?" Deng Ming jumped off his horse and frowned and walked to the delegation: "Don't you know the rules of the capital? Or do you intend to insult the court's fame?"
"We have all heard of the admiral's rules." The leader of the delegation was very good at speaking and did not use the "villain" as his claim. He knelt on the ground and replied: "The admiral is our reborn parents. We all thank the admiral from the bottom of our hearts."
"Get up." Deng Ming said loudly.
"Thank you, Admiral." Tan Xiaozhuang shouted according to the etiquette set during the rehearsal, and then stood up with everyone.
"The court temporarily grants you the right to be a scholar. After you get it this year, you will become fellow scholars after paying the protection fee." Deng Ming walked up to the stone steps in front of the prefect's office and gave a speech to everyone, starting with a question: "Do you have a little strange in your heart? Why did the court give you fame?"
It is not surprising that it is impossible. Tan Xiaozhuang and his companions have discussed this matter many times, but they can't figure out why Chengdu treats the people so favorably and gives the precious scholar's fame to the people as if they are given away for free.
"Because the court has high hopes for you, since ancient times, the emperor and scholars rule the world together. The court hopes that the people in the capital will not be satisfied with being a wet-man, but encourage themselves with scholars and always remember that they have fame and fortune; they can be able to see officials without worship, and can stand up straight in front of the government." Without waiting for the people below to whisper, Deng Ming said the answer loudly: "Scholars should be able to be astonished as good as evil and hate evil as hatred. Only in this way can they be worthy of the fame of the court. Those present, I hope that you will always use the standards of scholars to always demand yourself according to the standards of scholars, speak up for justice, help the strong and help the weak, and help those who need your help, become a true scholar, a pillar of the country, and a pillar of the court."
...
"I have a new decision." After sending the delegation away, Deng Ming did not return to his residence, but instead brought Li Jinge and Xiong Lan.
"I wonder what the admiral has to do?" Xiong Lan asked immediately. Deng Ming's ideas emerged one after another. He and Liu Jinge had already become accustomed to this. However, since Deng Ming called him here today, Xiong Lan suspected that the idea would be related to his bank.
"The prefect's yamen can sell bank licenses, and the capital should allow private banks to be established." Among the volunteer soldiers from Zhejiang, some of them have worked in money shops, and several have worked as shopkeepers or accounting rooms in money shops.
After meeting the bank in Chengdu, these people sent a message to Deng Ming with their connections, hoping to open a money shop in Chengdu. Deng Ming had met these people several times and discussed some money shops. After seeing how Xiong Lan trained a cashier, Deng Ming felt that it became more urgent to start a commercial bank.
However, Deng Ming was unable to make up his mind before because he had limited knowledge of finance. In his impression, if a bank had problems, it might cause a devastating blow to the social economy. Deng Ming knew nothing about how to save the financial crisis, so although he was moved, he could not make up this decision. He always felt that it was safer to control the bank in the hands of the government.
"I just asked some people that almost everyone who has arrived in Chengdu borrows loans, with double annual interest rates, and the profits are still rising!" Deng Ming said to Liu Jinge and Xiong Lan: "Such a high profit! Is this going to force someone to die?"
"Not high." Xiong Lan was a little puzzled by Deng Ming's surprise. Borrowing money for people who have nothing was going to be a very high profit, and it was the case in the whole country. However, Xiong Lan regretted it a little. He realized that Deng Ming was a royal family who had been rich and well-off since he was a child. When he grew up, he also had loyal guards around him. He had never worried about money. Naturally, he didn't understand how important this kind of loan is to poor peasants. Not to mention doubling it in a year, if necessary, people would borrow it.
"This is what Guizhou people and Shaanxi people borrowed? Yunnan people usually borrowed it from relatives and friends who redeem them. Although Sichuan people may not have relatives and friends, they only make 50% of the money for their fellow villagers." As an administrator, Liu Jinge's understanding of the people's sentiments is far higher than that of Deng Ming.
"You all know?" Seeing that Liu Jinge and Xiong Lan were not surprised at all, Deng Ming was even more surprised: "Don't you stop it?"
"Why should we stop it?" Liu Jinge showed a look of confusion on his face: "This is Zhou Yu's beating Huang Gai. One is willing to beat Huang Gai, and the other is willing to be beaten. Why should we stop it? No one has stopped it since ancient times."
"Admiral, you have an order that you can only give loans to fellow Juren." Xiong Lan did not rush to speak, but contacted Deng Ming's preface and thought for a while. Deng Ming's words just now allowed private banks to give Xiong Lan some tips. He hurriedly defended: "The bank only provides low-interest loans to retired soldiers, which is also to thank them for their years of service for the country."
"Well, I understand." Deng Ming nodded. He finally realized that in this era, he was the only one who would be angry about it. When the victims of usury just talked about this, they looked natural and had no intention of complaining to him. They were just very ordinary people's livelihood issues. Their tone of talking about usury and when talking about the growth of crops was no different.
"The capital will set up a group of private banks. After they are established, your bank will no longer provide loan business, and all the loans will be handed over to them. Your job is to provide loans to these private banks to ensure that they can operate smoothly. The money you lend to these banks is not subject to interest, but they have to accept your account check, and each loan needs to comply with the rules we set." Deng Ming plans to summon Zhejiang people who have opened money shops and Xiong Lan's accountants to formulate a review system; Deng Ming is still the same.
I am not at ease with private banks, so these commercial banks must disclose their accounts to the government. What they can do for the time being is deposit and loan business: "Open a few more companies at once, so that they will compete with each other and will not lend usury... Well, no, they may not join forces to monopolize them, and set rules. The annual interest rate of loans with collateral should not exceed 10%; if there is no collateral, as long as it is given to farmers, the mining should not exceed 20%; as for those who are given to fellow juren, interest is not allowed, and the prefectural government will guarantee it and pay them 10% of the interest on their behalf."
"We won't lend money in the future?" Xiong Lan seemed a little unwilling to accept it after hearing Deng Ming's words: "This may be a profitable thing."
"In addition to ensuring the stability of prices, your future work is to ensure that private banks can continue to operate, allow them to lend to those in need, and at the same time strictly check their accounts. As for the profits they collect, of course I have to draw taxes, and this is not grain production or mining. I will impose very high taxes, which are higher than opening a commercial bank."
...
At this time, a distinguished guest came to the Yanping County Prince's Mansion in Xiamen, and Zheng Chenggong personally stood at the door to greet the guest.
"Shangshu Zhang is here." Zheng Chenggong said politely to Zhang Huangyan.
But Zhang Huangyan's return of the gift seemed a little sloppy and his face was obviously a little unkind.
"Please ask for it." Zheng Chenggong sighed in his heart, but his face did not show it. Instead, he politely asked Zhang Huangyan to enter and discuss it privately in his study.
Dasu had already rescued Hangzhou, and Zhang Huangyan had no intention of fighting with Shandong and Henan Green Camp, while Ma Fengzhi could not defeat him. Thanks to Deng Ming's help, Zhang Huangyan's power was far stronger than another universe, and the navy was quite considerable. After the Qing army forced Ma Fengzhi and Zhang Huangyan's coalition to the sea, Zhang Huangyan began to organize a retreat and transported all the more than 100,000 troops brought by Ma Fengzhi to Zhoushan.
Deng Ming gave Zhang Huangyan a lot of grain and silver under the city of Nanjing. Ma Fengzhi plundered Zhang Huangyan again. Zhoushan had no problems at the moment, but he could not persist for a long time. For the same reason, Zhang Huangyan of this universe did not firmly oppose Zheng Chenggong's plan to expedition to Taiwan. After retreating to Zhoushan, Zhang Huangyan also sent a letter to Xiamen, asking Zheng Chenggong about Taiwan's specific geography and possible arable land area - Ma Fengzhi hopes to get a share in the future and establish a military garrison in Taiwan to solve the military ration and population problems in Zhoushan.
Zheng Chenggong knew that Zhang Huangyan had this intention, so he quickly replied to a letter, telling Zhoushan that Taiwan welcomed every auxiliary soldier who could farm. Of course, immigration work had to wait until he was ready for war against the Dutch and could only start after landing in Taiwan. Originally, the relationship between Fujian and Zhejiang Ming army was good. When he was under the city of Nanjing, Deng Ming tried his best to narrow the distance between the leaders of the two Ming army. The last time Zheng Chenggong's friendly reply made the relationship between Zhoushan and Xiamen more harmonious.
At this time, Zhang Huangyan suddenly rushed to Xiamen from Zhoushan, and Zheng Chenggong knew that there was only one reason.
Chapter completed!