"What? Because the sea sacrifice is large in scale, and two sea sacrifice temples will be built in Jiangyin and Changshu, the incense will be constantly burning, and the sea god will be worshipped continuously. The cost is huge, and the court's funding is seriously insufficient. However, Jiangnan is united, and unity can make a city strong. In order to make the sea sacrifice a success, Lord Zhao wants us to support the sea sacrifice and voluntarily pledge 1,000 taels of silver. The deadline is today to deliver it to the imperial envoy's office, no mistakes?"
The next day, just after having breakfast in the yamen, Zhu Ping'an received a shocking piece of news.
Zhu Ping'an had no doubt about the news, because it came from an official letter sent by the Imperial Commissioner's Office. Zhang Neitai gathered everyone in the office and read out its contents in public.
After hearing this, Zhu Ping'an's first reaction was disbelief. He thought it was outrageous that Zhao Wenhua had openly sent a letter to the government office demanding money.
The second reaction was that this was a disguised form of bribery, right?! Although it was disguised in the name of supporting the sea sacrifice, anyone with a discerning eye could tell what was going on! In broad daylight, an official letter demanded money. Has Zhao Wenhua been so arrogant
The others were also obviously stunned, their mouths wide open in surprise, their faces full of disbelief.
However, after careful consideration, I found that although the routine is simple, it is impeccable with the overall situation of the sea sacrifice. I am not asking for bribes, but preparing materials for the sea sacrifice and fulfilling the mission of the imperial envoy. Anyone who accuses me of asking for bribes has ulterior motives, does not support the sea sacrifice, and is criticizing the emperor. Jiangnan is united, and you are unwilling to pledge even a little money to support it. How can you say that you are loyal to the emperor and patriotic
As expected of a big shot from Beijing, this operation is really... Please accept our knees.
"I asked around, and found out that not only our Judicial and Surveillance Commissioner's Office, but other offices also shared varying amounts of silver according to their size, ranging from one hundred to one thousand taels, without exception. Even Governor Zhang's office was no exception." Zhang Neitai further said to everyone.
"Governor Zhang has also been assigned?" After hearing this, everyone was stunned, even more unbelievable than before.
Governor Zhang was higher in status and power than Zhao Wenhua, yet Zhao Wenhua dared to send a letter to Governor Zhang demanding money.
Well, maybe Zhao Wenhua symbolically distributed a few taels of silver to the governor's office as a gesture, to show that all offices were treated equally, so that all offices would obediently hand in the pledged silver on time. This was also a popular unspoken rule in the officialdom, and it was easy to explain to both the upper and lower levels.
When everyone thought so, they understood.
"Well, the governor's office is large, and he is in charge of various military affairs, so he was allocated 5,000 taels of silver..." Zhang Neitai glanced at everyone, nodded slightly, and spoke softly.
Zhang Nietai's voice was very soft, but this soft voice was like a thunder, exploding in the room.
"What? Five thousand taels?!"
Everyone couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Shouldn't they just show some appreciation? Why did they allocate the most silver
"Yes, five thousand taels." Zhang Neitai nodded, and then added, "But I heard that Governor Zhang was furious when he heard the news, and he scolded the clerk sent by Zhao Qinshi to deliver the letter, saying, 'Five thousand taels of silver, why don't you go and rob them? All the money in my office is used to support the army. I wish I could spend every penny. Go back and tell Zhao Wenhua that my office can't even spare a penny now. I hope he can support the suppression of the Japanese and voluntarily pledge ten thousand taels of silver!' After scolding the clerk, he had him driven out."
Well, this is very Zhang Jing. Zhu Pingan was not surprised when he heard this. Besides, Zhao Wenhua's behavior of asking for money was just robbery, wasn't it? !
"Governor Zhang has the right to refuse, but we cannot. We still have to pay the money on time." Zhang Neitai sighed helplessly, and then said to everyone, "Let me tell you in advance, you all have to be prepared. Since our government suddenly paid this 1,000 taels of silver, our food standards will be reduced in the future. I am afraid that all kinds of festival gifts and subsidies will be deducted this year, including me."
"Ah? The food standards are going to be lowered? There's no holiday gifts either?" Zhang Chufeng and others couldn't help but wail.
It's no wonder that everyone was wailing. Zhang Neitai had always been frugal. The food standard of the Judicial and Provincial Administration Office was already very low compared to other brother offices, even lower than the food standard of the general county office. If it drops further, I'm afraid that every meal will be cabbage, radish and tofu. It would be good to have meat once every ten days or half a month. In addition, not only the food standard was reduced, but also the festival gift allowance was deducted, which was a considerable benefit.
Although they are not short of money, they are still heartbroken to see such a large amount of welfare money that originally belonged to them flying away.
Seeing Zhang Chufeng and others wailing, Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but curl his lips. He was in the military camp, and the reduction in food standards had almost no impact on him. As for the festival gifts, they were invisible gray income, so they could be deducted.
"Ahem, Zihou, there is one more thing I need to tell you." Zhang Neitai said to Zhu Ping'an.
"Please speak, Your Excellency." Zhu Ping'an responded, with a bad feeling in his heart.
"In addition to the various government offices, the military camps were also assigned. Since your Zhejiang Army was newly established and was a militia, the silver allocated to it was the least, but it was also 200 taels of silver. This is the silver allocated to the Zhejiang Army. Our government office only paid 1,000 taels of silver, but we are unable to share more. Zihou needs to find a way to lead the Zhejiang Army."
Zhang Nietai spoke slowly to Zhu Ping'an, looking at him with some sympathy. Zhu Ping'an's Zhejiang Army's military funds were not abundant to begin with, and the Ministry of War and other officials often withheld and delayed. Now he was assigned another two hundred taels of silver, and the already scarce military funds would certainly be further aggravated.
What? The Zhejiang Army is going to allocate another 200 taels of silver for the pledge?! They even don’t let go of the militia training…
The corners of Zhu Ping'an's lips fell down in an instant, and his face became speechless.
It's really a retribution.
Now it was Zhang Chufeng and the others who curled their lips, and they all gave Zhu Ping'an sympathetic looks.
Especially Zhang Chufeng, he almost laughed out loud in gloating. It's really pitiful that Zhu Pingan has to bear these two hundred taels of silver alone, haha... I can't bear it anymore.
"Okay, I will collect the money on time." Zhu Pingan sighed...
Nowadays, the Zhejiang Army's secret knife and sore medicine business is becoming more and more prosperous, so this money is not a problem.
Just other military camps...
The other military camps were already in urgent need of food and wages. Many military camps and garrisons were unable to pay for food and wages, which resulted in desertions and disrepair of weapons and armor. Zhao Wenhua actually wanted the military camps to pay for it! Now the military camps had to deduct the soldiers' food and wages again...