First Minister of Ming Dynasty - Chapter 533

“You all speak freely and frankly. Zhang Shicheng has been in Suzhou for almost ten years, from initially joining the Yuan court to later accepting the canonization of the Ming Dynasty… How did he do, how were his subordinates, how should the coffin be concluded, and how should this be judged? Ten years!

While talking, Zhang Ximeng looked at everyone in the audience… There are many wealthy and diligent people here, there are many wealthy and wealthy families who are inclined to Daming, and there are also Shi Boren who was once ruined by Zhang Shicheng, and Gao Qi and others are the leaders. The Suzhou genius, plus some ordinary people brought by Zhou Huiniang.

With these people sitting together, it is possible to give Zhang Shicheng an evaluation.

But this topic was so heavy that no one dared to speak.

Winning the king and defeating the bandit, Zhang Shicheng has already been captured by the Ming army and speaks for him. Isn’t that a tribute to the bandits?

Do you still want to?

Of course, in the past, they were all under Zhang Shicheng’s rule. If they were just scolding, then why there was no action in the past? The question is why you don’t wear a hat, and who told you to wear a hat?

No matter how you answer, as long as you want to trouble you, don’t try to run away.

Therefore, everyone chose to remain silent.

Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: “I know what worries you guys have. In fact, you don’t have to worry about anything. Whether it’s Han Shantong, Peng Yingyu, Liu Futong, Chen Youliang, we Daming have a conclusion, whether it’s praise or criticism, for the sake of It’s just convincing.”

“Everyone, we are in a chaotic world, the world is falling apart, the war is constant, the heroes rise together, and if we can become a hegemon, at least we have done something right. At least we have a considerable amount of support, otherwise we will not be able to dominate one side, especially if we can Occupying the wealthy Suzhou for ten years, what happened to Zhang Shicheng, and the force under his command, from eighteen poles, to the dominance of one side, from the overlord of one side, to no one responding , between the ups and downs, it cannot be attributed to the destiny. Only by clarifying the truth can we provide reference for future generations and learn from it.’

Zhang Ximeng said earnestly and earnestly: “We people are responsible for taking responsibility for future generations and making things clear, so I want to ask the big guy to be responsible for the history of Qianqiu, speak for the people of the world, and judge Zhang Shicheng fairly. Please rest assured, this time. If you speak, you will never be punished for your words, and there will be no worries.’

Zhang Ximeng looked at it again, and finally smiled at Qian Yongqin: “You have a lot of contacts, and you have participated in the negotiations between the two sides. Just tell me, how is Zhang Shicheng?”

Qian Yongqin had no choice but to think carefully and said: “Zhang Xiang, Zhang Shicheng is ignorant of current affairs, greedy for money, lustful, indulging in enjoyment, and his subordinates are also a group of desperadoes. Common people, on the birthday of his mother Cao Shicheng, Zhang Shicheng opened a porridge factory and donated grain and rice. In particular, he also spent his blood to manage the Baimao River, build dams, solve flood problems, and widely plant sericulture, making the trade and goods far-reaching, it seems that it is not useless. …It’s just that Caomin is ignorant of knowledge and doesn’t know how to draw a conclusion. I’m afraid he will ask Zhang Xiang to give pointers.’

Zhang Ximeng smiled slightly. It can be said that he was not surprised by these comments, completely expected. Perhaps at this point, a comprehensive conclusion can be drawn. He has done some good things, but he is still a heinous bastard.

In other words, it would be detrimental to his integrity if he took refuge in Yuan Ting, and no matter what he did, it was not worthy of recognition.

Zhang Ximeng didn’t jump to conclusions, but asked: “Mr. Qian mentioned the Baimao River, it seems that this flood control is very important. Then I want to ask, what changes before and after the flood control?”

Qian Yongqin cheered up and immediately said: “Return to Zhang Xiang’s words, before the river was controlled, the floods flooded, and every three or two years, the fields on both sides of the river would be submerged, and the people were miserable. The mulberry fields alone have increased by 500,000 mu!”

“Is it just Sang Tian?” Zhang Ximeng asked suddenly.

Qian Yongqin was stunned for a moment and could only explain: “Zhang Xiang, this is suitable for mulberry cultivation. One mu of mulberry field can earn more money than one mu of farmland. This is also a good thing for the country and the people.”

“Really?” Zhang Ximeng asked again.

Qian Yongqin was taken aback and didn’t know how to answer, didn’t he?

At this time, Shi Boren suddenly said, “Mulberry fields make more money than farmland, but what people eat in their bowls is rice, not raw silk! After all, building river embankments and planting mulberry trees is still good for big households!”

Qian Yongqin was even more surprised, and could only say: “Cultivating mulberries, raising silkworms, reeling silk and weaving silk, of course, also uses the common people. Many people make a living from this. If it is only good for the big households, it is not necessarily true!”

The two were arguing faintly. Everyone present had different thoughts. Some agreed with Shi Boren, while others felt that Qian Yongqin was more fair.

Zhang Ximeng said: “Since you have an argument, you might as well take a look at how much manpower and material resources were used before and after the treatment of the Baimao River, how much effect was produced, how many mulberry fields after the treatment, and how the people’s livelihood was financed and taxed. Increase, whether to enrich the country and enrich the people!”

Zhang Ximeng looked around the audience and said to the big guy, “This matter is extremely important. If you know the whole truth, you can evaluate Zhang Shicheng fairly, and you can figure out what happened to Suzhou City during these years!”

With Zhang Ximeng’s words, both sides moved.

Compared with Qian Yongqin, Shi Boren has followed Zhang Ximeng for so many years, and he has also learned a lot of skills from the Ming army. What’s more, for his own hatred, he has to figure out this matter, so as not to be a fool!

With Shi Boren going down to visit, Gao Qi and the others were not idle either.

In addition, Wu Datou, and Zhou Huiniang, all arranged their own people, or visited in person… Gradually, a terrible truth surfaced.

After Zhang Shicheng entered Suzhou, the inside and outside of Suzhou were completely two worlds.

Especially in the last few years, when the city of Suzhou went bankrupt, the countryside went bankrupt, the peasants fled, and there were 100,000 people who went to the Ming army alone!

This does not include those people who arrived at Taihu Lake and became pirates, or went out to sea with the fleet and became pirates.

Sang Mian eats people, and the people don’t have enough clothes and food. This is the reality of Suzhou villages!

“Zhang Xiang, Zhang Shicheng wanted to enjoy and support his troops. Earlier, he also supplied food to Dadu, all of which fell on the heads of the people of Suzhou. In order to satisfy his own desires, Zhang Shicheng condoned the big households, annexed land, and changed to plant mulberry and cotton. earn more.

Shi Boren spoke loudly and introduced the situation to Zhang Ximeng.

Silk cotton is indeed more profitable than grain, but will the common people benefit more from it?

Apparently not.

First of all, for the sake of a variety of mulberry trees and silk production, the big households wantonly annexed the land, turned the common people into tenant farmers, planted mulberry and raised silkworms for them, most of the income fell into the hands of the large households, and the common people got only a small part.

It doesn’t matter, because mulberry trees are planted, rations must be purchased, but the rations are also in the hands of the big households… The land plus the rations, a cow has been skinned twice!

The outcome is predictable.

Those people who have not been robbed of their land and are still farming, can they sit back and relax?

What are you thinking!

The land has been merged, but the tax cannot be avoided!

Not only could they not escape, but they also fell on the heads of ordinary people.

After years of hard work, deducting taxes, calculating carefully, and talking

There is not enough food.

Three hundred and sixty days, there are three hundred days to drink water, or simply starve.

Some people who are even more miserable, really can’t survive, and simply sell their fields to big households, turning from self-cultivation farmers to tenant farmers.

“Zhang Xiang, to control the Baimao River, used 20,000 civilians before and after, and no less than 300 people died of exhaustion. After the control, more than 500,000 mu of fertile land were added, all of which were occupied by large households, and the adjacent fields were also They were taken away by all means. To control floods and build dams, the people not only did not get any benefits, but on the contrary, their families were destroyed. This is Zhang Shicheng’s work in flood control!’

When Shi Boren said this, he was already gnashing his teeth.

credit

fart!

Whoever says Zhang Shicheng has meritorious deeds without conscience, then his brain is broken!

When they got together again, Shi Boren told everyone this truth, Qian Yongqin was obviously startled, he really didn’t expect it.”

“It’s not always like this in water control in all dynasties. The disadvantages are in the contemporary era, and the merits are in the future. If it wasn’t for some merits, the people would not approve of water control!”

Shi Boren laughed, “If you say that, Emperor Yang of Sui is also a sage of the ages!”

Qian Yongqin said with a sullen face: “I didn’t mean it that way, why do you want to add a crime!”

Shi Boren was not afraid, and said sternly: “The common people agree with the water control, but they do not agree with this kind of water control only for the convenience of the wealthy! Before and after the water control, the common people’s wives and ions were separated~www.mtlnovel.com~ They ran to death… Where can they still have a chance? It’s not all a big family who has benefited from talking, shaking their lips and arguing for Zhang Shicheng. If this continues, I’m afraid it won’t be long before Zhang Shicheng becomes a model of loving the people like a son. Instead, I am a thief!”

Qian Yongqin’s face changed again and again, and the rest of the big households were also uncomfortable, as if hundreds of insects were crawling on their bodies. They put their eyes on Zhang Ximeng together, begging Zhang Xiang to speak justice for them.

At this time, Zhang Ximeng finally showed a gratifying smile.

“Everyone, it is the most important thing to clarify right and wrong. We have conquered the city and conquered a lot of territory, among which is the horse farm built by the Yuan court. I am a great soldier and horse, and I was able to prepare a cavalry. In previous battles, we have made contributions Not small… As we all know, the Song Dynasty has been suffering from lack of horses and has been bullied. Now that there are horses, can it be considered a credit to the Yuan court?”

“I’m afraid it can’t be! They occupy land, build horse farms, **** the people’s land, and breed horses in the Central Plains, and the killing is useless. What they did is not to leave hundreds of thousands of war horses for the Central Plains. The same reason, Zhang Shicheng. The construction of the Baimao River embankment was not for the benefit of the people in Suzhou, but to put it more simply, it was just to make it easier to cut flesh from the people.”

“This is my conclusion… Might as well transcribe this passage and give it to Zhang Shicheng, so that he can take a good look too!”

After receiving these words, Zhang Shicheng was furious, and then burst into tears. This last bit of face was also torn off by Zhang Ximeng.

Why didn’t you kill me sooner?

Zhang Shicheng is like a wounded wolf, dying and wailing!