.A group, from a family, from a country, the most important thing is #7 to have power but no wealth. This right is like a castle built on a beach, and it will collapse when the wind and waves hit; having money but no power is like a child in a downtown city holding a golden doll, which will only cause disaster.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the court had power but no wealth. Before Li Zicheng's millions of troops entered the capital, Chongzhen searched the inner treasury and could not even get the cost of hundreds of thousands of taels of troops. He could only watch the bandits approaching, but there was money but no power on the outside. For the Manchus, the authority of the Ming Dynasty had long collapsed, but the people were very rich. Every time they grabbed it, they could get millions of taels of silver, which was more than the income of their entire clan's annual farming. As a result, the people's appetite became bigger and bigger.

If Le Zhen knew that the small imperial emperor, who was only half of the country behind him, could earn five million taels of silver in more than a year, he would probably have his eyes open, but Wang Fu knew that the income of both customs and banks was far from the peak. During the Southern Song Dynasty, he was also half-avoided. The annual income of the court was more than 80 million jin, and the tax revenue of the Ming Dynasty was only 33 million jin even at its highest. This was obtained during the Yongle period, and the situation became worse and worse.

It is a bit incredible to say that the economy in the Southern Song Dynasty was even more developed than the Ming Dynasty. Even in the early days, it would not be impossible to catch up with the Song Dynasty that was four or five hundred years in the late Ming Dynasty. However, with the growth of the economy, the Ming Dynasty's tax revenue became less and less. It can only be said that there was a problem with the country's tax policy.

In the early Ming Dynasty, in addition to the regular tax revenue, the monopoly of tea, salt, iron, porcelain and silk was also a major input. These five items combined can often be equivalent to the regular tax. However, with the administration of officials, the monopoly became the tool for officials to make money. Land tax almost became the only source of income for the court. The tax revenue became narrower and narrower, and the tax collected naturally became less and less.

It was precisely because of the commercial tax that the Southern Song Dynasty's tax revenue was much higher than that of the Ming Dynasty. Poor Ming's commercial tax was only thirty-one tax. Even so, there was an income of 700,000 or 800,000 taels of silver a year. By the time of Lezhen, the emperor was fooled and even 300,000 taels of tax were exempted. The hundreds of thousands of taels of silver were ruined. As a result, in order to save 200,000 taels of silver a year, the emperor had to cut off postmen, which caused Li Zicheng to be unemployed and became his own gravedigger.

If we can clarify the government, tea, salt, iron, porcelain, and silk, re-establish the monopoly, expand the commercial tax to one ten tax, plus Shanghai customs, banks, and the court's tax revenue per year is over 100 million taels, Wang Fu would not be surprised. Unfortunately, there are too many people involved in the first three items, and rash actions will only cause chaos in the local area. Before defeating Manchus and reunifying the country, Wang Fu will not do it, but can only think about it in his heart. Even this idea will not be revealed.

Three days after the birth of the emperor's eldest son, the news that the bandits in Yulin were wiped out by the Qing army finally reached Wang Fu's desk. When this news arrived, almost at the same time, another news, Ding Mingwu, Zhou Kuixuan and Zhang Zhong, captured several county towns, was also sent to Wang Fu's desk.

These two news were both happy and sad. Strictly speaking, the strength of the rebel army did not weaken. Ding Mingwu and the other two were obviously more enterprising than Ren Qi and Zhang Qi, and they also agreed with the court more. However, tens of thousands of people were slaughtered like this. Wang Fu felt a little frustrated in his heart and couldn't help but use a pen to mark a fork on Zhang Cunren's name.

Zhang Cunren did not know that he had been sentenced to death by the Emperor of Ming Dynasty and wiped out the Yulin thieves, he couldn't help but feel a little proud. However, Ding Mingwu's uprising was equivalent to slapping Zhang Cunren in the face. Zhang Cunren was furious. Just after the New Year, he immediately led the victorious army withdrawn from Yulin to Mengyin occupied by Ding Mingwu, Zhou Kuixuan, and Zhang Yaozhong, and Shouzhang counties.

Ding Mingwu did not fight head-on with Zhang Cunren. Speaking of which, the troops of both sides were similar, but Zhang Cunren not only had more than a thousand people to help, but also had formal official troops. Among Ding Mingwu's tens of thousands of rebels, only the first four hundred horses and two thousand infantry were elite. Even these people were quite inferior to the Qing army. The rest were peasants who had just put down their hoes. The quality of the army was far inferior to the Qing army, and the weapons were all kinds of, and it was difficult to defend even if they were defending the city. At He Chao's suggestion, the three of them gave up the county town and led their troops into Mengshan.

Dongmeng is a branch of the Taishan Mountains. It spans the four counties of Pingyi, Mengyin, Feixian and Nanshi. The main peak is more than 1,000 meters high. The mountain peaks are deep valleys and steep streams. It is known as "seventy-two main peaks and thirty-six caves." There are thousands of people who can't find them at all. Zhang Cunren could only look at the mountain and sigh. He kept the roads down the mountain steadily. He wanted to trap Ding Mingwu and others in the mountains.

However, the entire mountain stretched for hundreds of miles. With Zhang Cunren's troops, it was impossible to defend all the exits of Mengshan. Relying on Mengshan, Ding Mingwu, Zhou Kuixuan, and Zhang Yaozhong led the army to attack frequently, making Zhang Cunren's subordinates exhausted and complained.

Zhang Cunren comforted that the official army recovered Mengyin and Shouzhang and two cities without any effort. This was a powerful indicator for other rebels. For a moment, rebels from all over Shandong were dormant. On the surface, Shandong became much calmer. But in fact, as long as the Qing Dynasty's policy of exploiting Shandong remains unchanged, this kind of dormant is only temporary. Once it breaks out, it will be a

It was even more violent.

Fourteen cannons under the city of Laizhou were making a roar like a shock. The shells hit the city wall from time to time. Each strike was like a shaking mountain. The sound of bricks and stones shattering from time to time came from time to time on the city wall. The bricks and stones bounced up and flew into the air and smashed them down. The rebels near the city were bleeding. Some even died on the spot.

The rebels were lying under the battlements, gasping for breath. Every round of artillery attacks of the Qing army would make the rebels on the city wall frightened. Although the Qing army did not have many artillery artillery, they could suppress the four old-fashioned bronze artillery at the top of the city. The city walls were full of potholes and bumps. There were already many cracks in many places, which were shocking.

Although there were firearm troops in the teams of Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming, all their cannons were given to Duoduo. After Duoduo was defeated, these cannons became the spoils of the Ming Dynasty. Even Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming, the two princes who first brought firearms to Manchus, did not even have a cannon in the army of the princes.

The fourteen artillery brought by Hong Chengchou was almost the largest number that Dorgon could find. Each artillery was cast by the looted craftsmen through hard work. The quality was not only inferior to the previous Red and Barbarian cannons, but also the artillery cast by the Ming Dynasty. However, it was an amazing weapon for the rebels who had rarely seen artillery. When the Qing army was bombarded the first day, many people ran away on the city wall. If Xie Qian had not suppressed the bullet quickly, the people on the city wall would have run away.

This made Xie Qian very angry. In the eyes of Xie Qian and others, Laizhou had sufficient soldiers and food. No matter how many Qing troops came, it would be fine if they were to stay for a year or two. Especially after Hong Chengchou arrived, the two successful attacks of the rebels strengthened the reflection of Xie Qian and the other generals. Hong Chengchou was actually nothing special. Even though the special forces and the rebels in the city were dispatched several times, they were useless and did not change everyone's views.

But unexpectedly, the rebels made this omission on the first day of the Qing army's attack, and the city almost made the Qing army defeat themselves without attack. Afterwards, Xie Qian killed more than ten rebels who took the lead in escape, and announced that if someone escaped, they would be killed without mercy, so that they could stabilize the morale of the army.

The so-called "Not-Wu Soldiers under the reputation" are obviously more organized and patient than Kong Youde, Geng Zhongminglai, and Hong Chengchou's attacks are obviously more organized and patient. The cannons have been bombarded continuously for ten days, but they still did not send troops to attack the city. They are just behind the cannons, and countless Qing troops carrying ladders and pushing various siege vehicles are standing, as if they will rush to the city wall at any time, which makes the rebels have to endure the bombardment of Qing army cannons on the city wall every day. Although more than ten cannons have limited killing, this situation of fighting back only makes the rebels' morale depressed.

Hong Chengchou stood on the built high platform and squinted his eyes at the Laizhou City in front. Lai Kui, Yangliang, Yi Yonggui, Gaodi, Kong Xigui and other generals surrounded Hong Chengchou like stars. Kong Youde and Geng Zhongming took their subordinates a little far away, and they also silently looked at the Laizhou City in front.

The city of Laizhou in the distance seemed to be trembling under the attack of Qing army artillery. Gao Di couldn't help but say, "Governor General is really smart. The cannons are attacked for ten days, and the bandits in the city are already scared."

This Gao Di was not Gao Di, who served as the Minister of War and was in charge of Liaodong, but was the former general of Henan in the Ming Dynasty and served under Hong Chengchou's account, so he regarded himself as Hong Chengchou's confidant.

"Shapeful." Kong Long couldn't help but contempt in his heart. If Uncle's red-clothed cannon was not handed over to Duoduo, this Laizhou City had long been taken down. Who wouldn't use the cannon?

Hong Chengchou ignored Gao Di's flattery and asked Yangliang: "General, how many shells are left in our army now?"

"Returning to the Governor, less than 30% of it is." Yangliang replied.

Chengchou nodded and turned to the rest of the people: "Generals, whether you can take Laizhou depends on your actions today. You will be able to attack with all your might today. If you fail to do so, no one will be allowed to withdraw his troops without authorization. Otherwise, don't blame me for the sharp sword."

"Yes, Governor" everyone clasped their fists together. The plan for the attack today was decided a few days ago, and everyone's faces were without surprise.

"King of Congratulations."

"Xiao Wang is here." Kong Youde felt extremely awkward in his heart, but he had to respond.

"Your unit is the forward and starts the attack."

"Yes, Xiao Wang obeys the order." Kong Youde greeted the female relatives in Hong Chengchou's family in his heart, and waved his right hand and exhaled loudly: "Siege the city!"

Kong Youde had the least subordinates, and of course he was unwilling to be in front of him, but now he was under the jurisdiction of Hong Chengchou and had to fight the front. With Kong Youde's order to attack the city, the Qing army's formation was loud and drums were heard. The Qing army, who had been standing for ten days, had not moved, moved. Countless people carried the ladder and pushed various siege vehicles toward Laizhou City.

……………………………………
Chapter completed!