I

An additional Chao Pass was set up in Nanchang, which was set up privately by the governor and chief secretary of Jiangxi without the permission of the imperial court.

Of course the name is to raise money to suppress bandits, but I don’t know where the money was raised.

Ding Kuichu stood on the Nanchang city tower, pretending to inspect the city defenses, but in fact he felt extremely miserable. He is the newly appointed political envoy of Zuobu in Jiangxi. It seems that he has been promoted to a higher level, but in fact his financial path has been cut off.

This guy was originally serving as the right minister of the Ministry of War. After Fu Zonglong, the governor of Jiliao, was dismissed from office, he was also responsible for the affairs of the acting governor of Jiliao.

Acting Governor Ji Liao, why was he sent to Jiangxi to be the chief envoy?

Although this position is high-risk, he could follow Yuan Chonghuan accidentally. But high risk means high reward, and the money is rolling in, and you can't spend it all in ten lifetimes.

How much money did Ding Kuichu make in history?

After the Qing troops went south, they used the warships of the Southern Ming Dynasty to transport away more than 200,000 taels of gold and more than 2 million taels of silver. Seventeen maids were also dispatched to serve the officers responsible for transporting silver day and night. After the defeat in Haikou, Qu Shichun donated 5,000 taels to help recruit troops and asked Ding Kuichu to donate some, but Ding Kuichu didn't give a penny.

Finally captured by Qing general Li Chengdong, Ding Kuichu wanted to surrender. But with so much money in his hand, how could Li Chengdong be willing to surrender? The whole family was immediately killed, and the property was missing.

Governor Ding Kuichu and Governor Ji Liao dare to be corrupt, but they are facing the Tatars directly. The rebels in Jiangxi are nothing!

On the eighth day after arriving in Nanchang, Ding Kuichu set up a bank checkpoint to collect customs duties from passing ships. Of course Li Maofang was willing to cooperate, and the two put aside their factional disputes and quickly hooked up.

As for the commander-in-chief Yang Jiamo, he was completely ignored by them. A general was nothing. If he wanted the money, he would take it himself.

The passenger ship Fei Yinghuan was on was stuck two miles south of Nanchang City, and he was slowly waiting in line to pay taxes and pass customs.

"How come the tariffs are so high? This business is out of business!"

"Jiujiang will be conquered once, and Nanchang will be conquered again. After this time, I will not go to Ganzhou, but will go to the Hekou side from now on."

"I have seen eunuchs setting up cards, and I have seen vassal kings setting up cards. I have been in business for 20 years, and this is the first time I have encountered governors and chief envoys setting up cards!"

"My second master, who is also an official in the court, will definitely impeach these two bastards!"

"These two stupid officials are worse than rebels. In Linjiang Prefecture and Ji'an Prefecture, rebels don't have cards. They only charge berth tax at the wharf."

"..."

Fei Yinghuan stood on the deck, and there were comments in his ears from time to time. All the businessmen were furious.

It was really outrageous for a civil servant to set up a banknote checkpoint privately. Fei Yinghuan thought that he was not that bold.

This customs money can be earned very quickly. Some people get one for thirty, some get one for twenty, and some get one for ten. There is an official banknote checkpoint in Jiujiang, and now there is a banknote checkpoint in Nanchang. Merchant ships coming in from the Yangtze River basically have no profit at all once they pass through the two banknote checkpoints.

Even losing money!

Fei Yinghuan felt that Jiangxi was doomed. If Zhao Han could not be wiped out quickly, this approach would make the people's livelihood miserable.

The people were really in dire straits, and Zhao Han also had a headache.

Jiangxi itself does not produce salt, Guangyan salt was cut off by the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, and Huaiyan salt had to pass two banknotes. Nowadays, the price of salt in Linjiang Prefecture and Ji'an Prefecture has doubled compared to last year. This is because the General Military Mansion provides subsidies and orders salt merchants not to increase prices indiscriminately, otherwise the price of salt may triple to five times.

Zhao Han's finances are almost at the end of his rope, and he is looking to buy private salt from Huguang and transport it via the sweeper's territory.

After waiting for half a day, Fei Yinghuan finally passed the test.

Not long after walking, I saw hundreds of cavalry, forming a long line, standing stupidly on the river beach.

Yang Jiamo, the commander-in-chief of Jiangxi Province, wanted to cry when he looked at the endless paddy fields. He went to his post with hundreds of servants, all of whom were armored cavalry. Today he led the troops to familiarize themselves with the terrain, so they had to dismount and lead them all the way.

It was either paddy fields or mountains. Let alone a cavalry charge, it was impossible to even form a formation.

When Li Maofang and Li Ruolian escaped on horseback, they rode for ten days, less than two hundred miles away. At that time, Zhao Han captured several officers and generals who fled on horseback. The reason is very simple. Some horses stepped on the paddy fields and could not be pulled out, and some accidentally fell down while running on the field ridges.

"well!"

Yang Jiamo shot his gun into the mud, feeling like a tiger in a cage and unable to move with all his strength. He would rather fight the bandits in the north than come here to fight the rebels. Most of his hundreds of servants were destroyed.

Fei Yinghuan looked at the cavalry in the distance and couldn't help laughing.

Wei Jianxiong said: "Cavalry is still useful. During the decisive battle, they can be transported by ship to the battlefield. If there are not many paddy fields, they can take the opportunity to charge into the formation. The Jiangxi soldiers who have never seen cavalry will definitely collapse."

"Using cavalry in Jiangxi, the terrain is too harsh." Fei Yinghuan shook his head repeatedly.

The passenger ship arrived at Linjiang Mansion in a blink of an eye. Fei Yinghuan was very surprised. The city was still prosperous and it didn't look like it was occupied by rebels.

When we arrived at a restaurant, the waiter hurriedly said, "What do you guys want to eat?"

"Let's just have some specialties and don't drink." Fei Yinghuan came here for inspection. He didn't want to expose himself and was afraid that drinking would cause trouble.

The food was served, and after just two bites, a beggar appeared in front of the restaurant.

He was said to be a beggar, but he didn't look like it, because his clothes were not shabby. He is said to be a monk who makes alms, but he doesn't wear monk's robes, he just has a bald head.

Suddenly, a policeman appeared, caught the bald beggar and left.

Fei Yinghuan was surprised by what he saw, so he called the store clerk and asked, "Are those monks? Why were they captured by the officials?"

The shop clerk laughed and said: "That's a fake monk who didn't pay the ultimatum. After General Zhao took over Linjiang Mansion, he saw that there were too many temples in and outside the city, so he sent people to clean up the ultimatum. Guess what? More than a thousand were arrested. There are only more than thirty fake monks and Taoist priests who are real monks. Those temples are now given to the poor, and the largest temple has been converted into a charity home."

Fei Yinghuan asked curiously: "The expelled fake Taoist priests and fake monks can't even beg for food?"

The shop clerk replied: "Alchemy is okay, but you have to pay a certain amount, otherwise you will be regarded as a beggar. Mr. Zhao is not allowed to have beggars under his rule."

"This is strange." Fei Yinghuan suddenly remembered that he had never seen a beggar when he came from the pier, so he couldn't help but ask, "Where have all the beggars gone?"

The store clerk said: "Anyone with full hands and feet can sign up to work. The young people are sent to apprenticeships in porcelain kilns and weapons workshops, and the older ones are sent to work as helpers in various construction sites. Those who are really too old or physically disabled can just Send them to almshouses to sew clothes and make shoes for the officers and soldiers. Mr. Zhao said, if you work hard, you will get food, but if you don’t work, you won’t get food."

Fei Yinghuan waved the clerk away and sighed: "Brother Han always does things unexpectedly."

Wei Jianxiong joked: "My brother and sister are beggars. I heard that they were bullied by evil beggars. I think that is why they cannot tolerate beggars under their rule."

"What you said is interesting." Fei Yinghuan couldn't help laughing.

By the way, many of the fake Taoist priests who were purged by Zhao Han changed careers to tell fortunes.

There were also a small number of people who were not only literate but also knew how to make alchemy and were taken to weapons factories to make gunpowder. The recipe process was guided by Song Yingxing, and these Taoist priests learned it very quickly.

After eating and drinking, Fei Yinghuan continued to wander around. When he walked towards the west gate, the street suddenly became noisy and noisy.

But he saw pedestrians ducking to the side one after another, and a group of soldiers came with weapons in hand.

When these soldiers ran past, the people were curious about what happened, so they swarmed after them to watch the fun.

Fei Yinghuan quickly followed and ran for half a street before the soldiers in front finally stopped.

Li Zheng yelled: "Surround us and don't let anyone go!"

The two-story building was quickly surrounded by soldiers. Suddenly, someone jumped out of the second-story window on the side, limping and trying to escape into the crowd.

"Catch him!"

Unfortunately, he ran slowly and was caught after only ten steps.

The soldiers broke open the door and rushed in. The cries and screams inside, begging for mercy, were mixed together and spread to the streets.

Li Zheng stood at the door and said to the people watching: "From now on, it is forbidden to open casinos. If you find more than five people gathering to gamble, you can all report it to the government, and half of the seized gambling funds will be given to the reporter!"

As soon as this statement came out, there was an instant sensation.

On the spot, some people shouted: "I am reporting that there is a casino on Dongyuan Street!"

Li Zheng smiled and said, "Troops have been sent over there."

Another passerby dressed in luxurious clothes asked: "Master Jun, can't you play games at home?"

Li Zheng explained: "If you are entertaining guests, you can also have a little gambling at home. Don't think about taking advantage of any loopholes. It will be clear when you check whether you are entertaining guests or gathering people to gamble!"

Gamblers were caught one by one and spanked in the street.

Zhao Han made a rule: Don't hit the back with the board, and don't hit the bones to avoid crippling the person. But spanking is allowed, and the pants must be taken off. It is not very harmful, but very humiliating.

"ah!"

The older girls and younger wives who came to watch the excitement turned around because a row of white buttocks was exposed at the entrance of the casino.

"Well done!"

"Isn't that Chen Laosi? He's really embarrassed this time."

"Deng Jiu is here too. Hey, Deng Jiu, the hairpin you pawned last month has not been redeemed yet. What kind of jewelry did you pawn this time? If you continue to bet, my wife will run away with others!"

"..."

The gamblers all covered their faces, ignoring the pain and just wanted to finish their spanking and go home as soon as possible.

Not only were gambling funds confiscated, but even the gamblers' money was searched and taken away by the soldiers.

Then these gamblers can go out. Those who were then escorted out were all casino employees, all tied up and sent to the mountains to mine.

One guy dared to build a relationship and flattered him in a low voice: "Boss Li, my uncle works as an errand in the county government. He cooperated with the land distribution a while ago, and the governor personally commended him. You see, we are all our own people. The water has washed away the Dragon King Temple. As long as Mr. Li releases me, I will definitely be rewarded."

"What's your uncle's name?" Li Zheng said with a smile.

The man replied: "My uncle's name is Huang Zhi. He is a scholar and works as a clerk in the county government."

Li Zhengxiao asked: "Does he have a share in this casino?"

"Yes, there are several big families in the city," the man said. "The gentlemen were discussing a few days ago, saying that every month they would give a filial piety money to the governor, the county chief, and Mr. Li. "

Li Zheng smiled even more happily: "Very good. Here comes someone. Go contact Yuan Zhixian and ask him to arrest Huang Zhi for interrogation!"

The man was speechless for a moment and looked at Li Zheng stupidly.