Chapter 11 (10) How much is a human life?

Your Majesty, it’s not that the old officials are dark-hearted. To be honest, a mere one million taels of silver may not be enough to buy houses and land for those 3,000 people, marry the most beautiful women, and have the naughtiest children. Wu Xiang explained. Chongzhen was so angry that his eyes turned black: Wu Xiang, where is your loyalty to the emperor and patriotism?Bargaining over such a trivial matter, the lion opened his mouth, aren't you afraid that I will push you out of the Meridian Gate? Wu Xiang smiled bitterly: Your Majesty, the loyalty and patriotism of the minister is not compromised at all, it is pure gold.But when it comes to eliminating Li Zicheng's gang, it takes 3,000 lives in exchange. These 3,000 people are living well, and if you suddenly let him die, if you don't pay a decent price, will they be willing?

Speaking of this, Wu Xiang explained emotionally: Please think about it, Your Majesty, Li Zicheng started as a laid-off postman, and now he gathers hundreds of rogues, where are there so many rogues in this world?In fact, the rogues following Li Zicheng were all officers and soldiers of Ming Dynasty. But it's so good, why are all the officers and soldiers turned into bandits? It's simple, the price you offered is too low. You must know that the soldiers of Ming Dynasty had the lowest wages and salaries in the world, and they were not enough to eat at all, and they often defaulted on this.They don't even pay them their salaries, but they are sent to fight Li Zicheng. Are these soldiers so careless?

Soldiers of Ming Dynasty are not short-hearted at all. If your boss deducts salary and does not pay salary, then we will quit. You sent 5,000 people to exterminate Li Zicheng, and when they arrived at the place, the 5,000 people quit collectively. There were 5,000 fewer officers and soldiers, but 5,000 more bandits on Li Zicheng's side. If you send another 10,000 people there, another 10,000 officers and soldiers will be lost, and Li Zicheng will have another 10,000 more bandits. If you send an army of one million to fight Li Zicheng, the number of officers and soldiers will be reduced by one million, and these reduced people are the million rogues who followed Li Zicheng's ass.

Speaking of this, Wu Xiang raised her head and said loudly: Take the veteran's army outside Shanhaiguan as an example, the number of soldiers registered with the Ministry of War is 80,000, but in fact, the veteran's men are only 30,000 That's all. That is to say, the defenders at Shanhaiguan had an actual number of 30,000 people, and they had falsely received 80,000 people's salary. All right, why should I pretend to be paid?Can't you be more loyal to the king?Patriotic?Seek truth from facts?How about just receiving the salary of 30,000 people? If that was the case, Shanhaiguan would be finished, and when the Qing soldiers came, Daming would guarantee that not a single soldier would be seen.

why? Because you pay soldiers too little! 30,000 people receive 80,000 people's pay, these 30,000 people have a little bit of psychological balance, so they didn't run or leave, but if they meet the real ones, they fight with real knives and guns on the battlefield, these 30,000 people still can't count on it Go, because the money you give can at most guarantee that they will not run away, but if you want to buy their lives, it is still far from it! So how much money can buy their lives? You might as well go out, stop anyone at random and ask how much it will cost before he will give you his life.

Chongzhen said blankly: "Old Wu, don't talk about money, I think you are about to get into the eyes of money, can't we strengthen the ideological education of the soldiers, don't ask how much money Daming gave you, ask What have you done for the Son of Heaven, civil servants don't love money, military generals don't fear death, rushing up like crazy when fighting, and resolutely refuse to ask for salary... how good it would be. Wu Xiang said: "Yes, yes, but Your Majesty, please think about it, which of the troops you sent to suppress Li Zicheng's gang was not impassioned before the battle?"Who ever said that fighting for the country requires money?But why are they not afraid of death, and they don't love money, so why did they immediately jump ship and become gangsters as soon as they saw Li Zicheng?

Things in the world are just so unhappy, if you fool him, he will fool you.Let people sell you their lives cheaply with a few words of deceit?No such good thing! This... Chongzhen burst into tears: Wu Aiqing, don't you have a good way to save money? Wu Xiang shook her head: Your Majesty, it is a good way to save money, so you have to find someone else. OK!Chongzhen gritted his teeth: Wu Xiang, your grandma's is only one million taels of silver for the great Ming Dynasty?I admit it. Wu Xiang was overjoyed: the old minister thanked His Majesty Long En. Chongzhen said: "But old Wu, my money is a little tight now, can we owe your one million taels of silver first?"

Wu Xiang was also in a hurry: Your Majesty, we have nothing to say about this matter, Li Zicheng has the final say, as long as Li Zicheng doesn't come to Beijing, you can owe him as long as you want, it's up to you. Chongzhen was as cruel as ever: Come here, bring up all the 70,000 taels of silver from the state treasury, as well as the gold and silver bowls from the palace. The eunuchs brought all the gold and silver utensils from the harem and piled them all around Wu Xiang. I heard Chongzhen say: Wu Xiang, I tell you the truth, there are only 70,000 taels of silver in the treasury now, plus the gold and silver artifacts in the palace, make up two to three hundred thousand taels, and one more tael of silver , I can't get it out either.

Wu Xiang lowered her head and said in a low voice: "Think of a way, Your Majesty is wise and mighty, there will be a way, it's only one million taels of silver, and then think of a way."