nycdaug Chapter 331: Thunderous means, lightning speed to suppress the rebellion
Chapter 331: Thunderous means, lightning speed to suppress the rebellion
The common people in the capital city had just learned from the "Beijing Evening News" read by the storyteller that wars had broken out in various parts of the Song Dynasty and several local armed forces had risen up in rebellion under the pretext of resisting the "tyranny" of the imperial court.
I also learned from the "Da Song Daily" read by the storyteller that those rebels were traitors who opposed the implementation of the New Deal reforms. There were many confused people, but there were also many wise people.
But people are all unanimous in their fear and anxiety.
The Song Dynasty was rich and the people were safe. Isn't it good to live a good life? Why did they rebel? If the imperial army could not deal with the rebels, and the foreign cavalry took the opportunity to invade, the people of the Song Dynasty would suffer from the flames of war, and the world would be in chaos!
The civil and military officials in the capital, some were angry, some were secretly delighted, some were pessimistic, and some were determined. All of them had solemn expressions as they stood in the court.
The little emperor sitting on the dragon throne showed no sign of panic, and His Royal Highness the Regent was even more calm and composed.
Prime Minister Xue Juzheng came out to make a request, "Your Majesty, Your Highness the Regent, the rebels that have occurred in various places have been causing chaos. We must quickly pacify or suppress them! Otherwise, if other rebels respond and rise up, the Song Dynasty will be in danger!"
Regent Zhao Defang remained calm and said, "No problem! It's just a rebellion started by a few families with ulterior motives. It will be quelled within half a month."
All pacified in half a month? In half a month, it would be good if the imperial army could get there. Seeing the regent sitting on the Diaoyutai, the ministers whispered.
Privy Councilor Chu Zhaofu stepped forward and asked what everyone was thinking.
"Your Highness, did you anticipate this and make arrangements? There are 60,000 imperial guards in the capital, but not a single one has been mobilized. How are you going to suppress the rebellion?"
The regent smiled slightly, as if everything was under control. "That's right! I have made preparations. No matter what I use to suppress the rebellion, it will be completely suppressed within half a month. You just wait for the news!"
The little emperor Zhao Wuji, sitting on the dragon throne, laughed secretly!
[My uncle and I know exactly when those people will start the rebellion, how many troops they have, and how they will act. Why can't we put down the rebellion quickly?
By now, the rebellion might have been completely suppressed, but the news has not yet been reported back to the capital! 】
Sure enough, two days later, at an emergency court meeting, good news came in one after another.
Of the 5,000 Feiyun cavalry stationed in Lanzhou, 2,000 returned soldiers and 10,000 cavalry from Shu were dispatched. Within two days, they put down the rebels in Shaanxi East Road and Hedong Road, killed more than 1,000 people and accepted the surrender of more than 20,000 people.
Thousands of people from the Cui and Feng families who led the rebellion were arrested and escorted back to Beijing.
Five thousand elite Moyun cavalrymen successfully suppressed the rebellion in Liangzhe Road within one day, wiped out more than 300 rebels, and captured more than 12,000 people. The Lu family who led the rebellion was arrested and brought to justice, and more than 400 people were escorted back to Beijing.
Six thousand Feiyun cavalry successfully suppressed the rebellion in Jingnan West Road within one day, wiped out more than 600 rebels, and captured more than 11,000 people. The Qiao family members who led the rebellion were arrested and brought to justice, and more than 300 people were escorted back to Beijing.
Twenty thousand Western Shu cavalrymen successfully suppressed the rebellion in the eastern part of Jiangnan within one day, wiped out more than 1,600 rebels, captured more than 13,000 people, and the Gu family who led the rebellion were arrested and brought to justice, and more than 600 people were escorted back to Beijing!
The frequent reports of good news were like thunderclaps over the sky above the hall, shocking all the civil and military officials in the hall.
This lightning-speed suppression of rebellion is truly unheard of and unexpected!
Several court officials who came from aristocratic families were first shivered by the thunder, and then they secretly rejoiced in their hearts.
Fortunately, the head of the family was wise and steady, and did not be instigated to rise up in rebellion against the new policy, otherwise, the family would have ended up in a tragic end of destruction.
The court officials who had been praying for peace in the Song Dynasty were stunned for a moment, and then they were overjoyed and celebrated!
The young Emperor Zhao Wuji looked at the reactions of his ministers, pursed his lips and smiled secretly, praising himself in his heart, "This is a good idea of mine. Let the messengers who report the victory wait outside the city gate and enter the city together. One after another, they will go into the palace to report the victory, making thunders explode over the heads of the civil and military officials in the Daqing Palace, shocking them.
The emperor's uncle was too soft-hearted and merciful. He deliberately ordered the elite soldiers to kill chickens with butcher knives in order to deter the rebels and kill fewer people and capture more prisoners. 】
Regent Zhao Defang glanced at the ministers, observing the reactions of each official. The generals were mostly excited and ready to fight, feeling proud of themselves, only a few had panic in their eyes.
Some of the civil servants were genuinely happy, but some looked dazed and at a loss, while others tried hard to hide their resentment and hatred.
When a person is suddenly stunned by a series of thunder bombs, his mind will be blank one after another, and the emotional reaction at this time is the most real. Zhao Defang's lips curled up with a cunning smile, "This king's eyes are as sharp as torches, and the effect of finding hidden enemies is no worse than the tracking and monitoring of the Supervisory Department."
After a light cough, Regent Zhao Defang said in a domineering tone, "I still have more than 100,000 trained Shu Army reserves in my hands. The Han people in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun have also organized 100,000 Yan Army reserves, who are currently receiving training. We will never be short of troops.
I want to see who wants to wash their neck clean and then bump it into the knife edge?"
Another thunder exploded in the hall, shocking all the civil and military officials.
The total number of combat-capable regular troops of the Song Dynasty was less than 300,000. Except for the 120,000 imperial guards stationed near the capital, the rest of the imperial guards and garrison troops were scattered across the country or at the border.
The regent not only holds the military power of the whole country, but also has two elite personal soldiers, the Moyun Cavalry and the Feiyun Cavalry, and has secretly formed two large armies in Shu and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun. Who dares to incite the militia and the Xiang army to revolt? Isn't that just washing your neck clean and bumping into the edge of a knife, looking for death?
The Regent has his own troops and has formed a huge army. What does he want to do? Is he trying to rebel and usurp the throne?
No, if the regent wants to become the emperor, it is just a matter of saying a word, and the little emperor will have to give up the throne obediently.
Could it be that wasting huge amounts of money to build a large army was just to force the new policy?
However, some generals clenched their fists in excitement. His Royal Highness the Regent was a man of great strategy and foresight. Was he going to conquer the world and expand the territory?
No matter what they think, after intimidating those with ulterior motives, Regent Zhao Defang smiled gently and said, "Next, let's discuss the government affairs of increasing commercial taxes.
This king and the cabinet have discussed a plan to increase the commercial tax to over 30%, and to establish a special taxation bureau. All commercial taxes will be collected by the taxation bureau and paid into the national treasury. Other government offices are not allowed to collect any other exorbitant taxes from merchants.
The tax amount for small vendors remains unchanged, and taxes will only be increased for transactions exceeding 1,000 taels of silver.
The businesses run by the prince and the princess have already paid this month's taxes in accordance with the new tax law yesterday. I hope no one will take the lead in resisting taxes, as that is a capital crime.
All right, my dear ministers, let's start the discussion!"
Discuss? Discuss what? You have already paid your taxes. Can the new tax law still be changed?
The ministers secretly cursed the tyrannical Regent Zhao Defang and their thoughts of inciting rebellion against the new policy were extinguished by today's series of thunderclaps.