Ming Dynasty: The Rampant Crown Prince

Zhu Cihong sat in the room and pondered for a while, the eight traitors in Shanxi are not in a hurry to do it immediately, the Manchu Qing Dynasty relies on these eight to transport supplies, if they do it now, it is estimated that they will jump over the wall in a hurry and invade on a large scale, then it will be troublesome.

Be wary of it.

Besides, if you want to do it, you have to eat a lot of money before talking.

Thinking about it, Zhu Cihong clapped his hands.

The door opened, and a brocade guard walked in, waiting for orders.

"Go to Beizhen Fusi and ask the eight major Jin merchants in Shanxi this time, when they will be out of the customs for trading."

Zhu Cihong took out a booklet from his arms, as early as a few days ago, he received information from Jinyiwei.

It is said that the eight traitors in Shanxi have recently traded with a businessman surnamed Suo, and they have been in frequent contact with this businessman for ten years.

Good fellow, isn't this Soltu, as soon as he sees this call, he can guess who it is almost instantly.

This Soltu often went to the territory of Daming as a merchant to buy supplies and inquire about intelligence along the way.

This time, let Soltu send a wave of money, and then catch all these people, and get both personal stolen goods, and both people and money!

There was a sneer on the corner of Zhu Cihong's mouth, and he began to plan the overall action in his heart.

"Your Highness."

There was a soft knock on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Yijin Yiwei held a booklet in his hand, put it on the table, and said: "Your Highness Qiqi, the eight families in Shanxi have decided to go to Zhangjiakou in ten days to trade with the merchant surnamed Suo. "

Zhangjiakou?"

Zhu Cihong recalled the geographical location of Zhangjiakou, as if it was a border pass, not far from Chengde, separated by two mountains, the Qing army often detoured to Mongolia, from Chengde into the pass to rob.

"Ordered to monitor the eight Jinyi guards in Shanxi to find out the specific terrain of Zhangjiakou."

Thinking about it, he opened his mouth and commanded, after the time, place, and terrain were clear, he could go to the ambush in advance.

"Command."

After Jin Yiwei withdrew, Zhu Cihong ordered someone to pack the dishes on this table, and he didn't eat a few bites in total, and there were more than a dozen dishes on this table, of course, they couldn't be wasted.

"Go to Beijing and send Governor Gao Yi to the outside of the city."

Stand up and let the eunuch go to the Beijing camp, there are so many victims outside the city, he must be resettled, he is now wealthy, of course he can start recruiting and training troops.

The group left Jufu Building, and at this moment the rain outside had become a lot lighter, and the sky was not so gray, but the scene outside the city was still desolate.

The light rain hit the victims' bodies wantonly, the dark clothes clinging to their bodies, and the empty bowls full of rain lined up one by one to receive porridge.

"Even if you don't starve, you will die of disease."

Zhu Cihong looked through the car window at the long queue of victims waiting outside to receive porridge, and sighed.

"Your Highness, these seven or eight porridge sheds are not enough at all."

Jiang Xuezhu also frowned, and his little face was full of worry.

"Four porridge sheds have been added, but it doesn't help."

Zhu Cihong looked at the victims outside, these people have no skills, after the fields are gone, they can only be reduced to homeless people, and the strong men can go to be soldiers, but the court has no money to recruit soldiers.

But now, he has money, of course, he wants to build an army of his own, and it is best to cultivate loyal recruits, those old oilmen themselves are corrupt, have no fighting spirit, and there are many thieves in their hearts, and they are not able to use it at all, and it is in vain to practice.

"Subordinate Gao Yi see His Royal Highness the Prince."

Outside the carriage door, Gao Yi rushed over with a team of white horses, and as soon as he saw the carriage, he hurriedly dismounted and came over to salute.

"Hold an umbrella for Gao Yi."

Zhu Cihong got out of the carriage, sat in the driver's seat, and drove the eunuch to get out of the car and take out a big umbrella for Gao Yi to support.

"How many elite soldiers can fight in the Beijing camp now?"

Zhu Cihong stopped the other party and thanked him, and asked the question he was most concerned about at present, what he could fully control at present was Gao Yi's army, of course, he had to understand the current situation.

"The subordinates checked the roster, and said that there were 100,000 people on the register, but the actual number of officers and men was less than 50,000, and now many weak and small people who could not withstand training have been eliminated, and at present there are less than 30,000 who can fight."

"The exact number of people."

Zhu Cihong frowned, the gap between before and after was too big, he knew that Jingying was very wasteful, but this was also a little too wasteful.

"Twenty-six thousand."

Gao Yi's expression was also a little unnatural, and he said that there would be at least sixty or seventy thousand people to remove the empty salary, but now after cleaning up the weak ones, there are only twenty-six thousand left.

"Where's the elite soldiers?"

Zhu Cihong asked again.

"Eight thousand."

Gao Yi said a little weakly.

"By the way, how is the firearms training of the Shenji Battalion?"

Zhu Cihong didn't blame Gao Yi, he was able to train 8,000 elite soldiers in just one or two months, which was already very strong.

"The subordinates have formed a musket team of 100 people, and the Shenji Battalion currently has 5,000 people, most of whom are already familiar with the use of flintlock muskets, 20 Hongyi cannons, 200 tiger squat cannons, 20,000 armaments, and the War Bureau has been sent to the Beijing camp."

"The Hongyi Cannon and the Tiger Squat Artillery Shenji Battalion are also training one after another."

Gao Yi said truthfully, he himself has been Xi practicing this firearm for a long time with the craftsmen of the War Bureau, and after mastering the firearm, he felt the horror of this firearm.

"That's good."

Zhu Cihong nodded, looked at the victims in the distance, and said, "You go to recruit soldiers and pick some men who can be used."

"Forget it, I'll say it myself."

After thinking about it, he personally drove towards the victims, and Gao Yi and the others hurriedly followed.

The luxurious and huge carriage was parked in an open place, and many victims of the disaster came over one after another, looking at the back door, and the officers and soldiers were all frightened and retreated.

"Zhang Huaibin, pass the word for me."

"Gao Yi, maintain order."

Zhu Cihong's voice was not loud enough to shout, so he could only find Zhang Huaibin to take the message.

"The imperial court recruits soldiers, and the monthly salary is one or two silver, which can accommodate their families, and those who are not sick can sign up."

"Pass it to the back."

Zhu Cihong pointed to the distance, where there were more victims, and then pointed to the officials who were giving porridge, signaling that they did not need to come and salute.

"Get on the horse."

Zhang Huaibin commanded more than a dozen people, got on his horse and ran towards the crowd of victims, shouting loudly as he ran.

"The imperial court recruits soldiers, and one or two pieces of silver are given every month, and the family can be placed, and those who are not sick can sign up in front!"

Dozens of people, shuttling through the crowd of victims, galloping fast, shouting loudly.

When the victims heard this, they were all stunned in place, and they couldn't believe it was true for the first time, there have been disasters everywhere and famine for so long, and there are very few people who recruit soldiers from the imperial court.

Unexpectedly, when they heard this here, they would not only have one or two pieces of silver, but also settle their families, and these conditions could be described as extremely generous in this place where there was a shortage of soldiers and disasters everywhere.

After Zhang Huaibin and others shouted a few times again, the victims excitedly discussed, and whoever had a man rushed forward.

And if there is no man, they will all shout, and they will get married on the spot.

Hundreds of victims poured forward, and the noble Hakumayi began to maintain order.

"Line up, come one by one, if anyone is in trouble, they will be disqualified immediately!"

Gao Yiqi was on his horse, driving forward, shouting loudly.

Then a group of officers and soldiers, as soon as the tent was set up and the table was set up, began to record.

"Your Highness, how do you arrange the recruited soldiers?"

Gao Yi came to the side of the carriage, and his Beijing camp could not arrange the families of the soldiers, so he came to ask.

"Send it to the Department of Agriculture and work for Song Yingxing."

Zhu Cihong has already thought about it, these family members have hands and feet, these are all labor, and it is much more cost-effective than spending money to recruit workers.

"Gao Yi, how many people have been recruited at that time, and how much will be spent, you can make an account report."

After Zhu Cihong finished speaking, he turned around and walked into the car.