Chapter 91 Dudu and I are good friends

Logically speaking, Chongzhen was now the most wealthy man in the Ming Dynasty, with more than 10 million taels of silver in his treasury.

Mao Wenlong just asked for money to be given to him, since he could afford it anyway.

Chongzhen thought so at first, until he opened the memorial and realized that he was still naive.

No one knew where Mao Wenlong had heard that Yuan Chonghuan was spending a lot of money in Liaodong. Perhaps he thought the court had made some kind of windfall, or perhaps he was simply jealous. He actually submitted a petition asking for one million taels of silver plus 800,000 shi of rice and beans!
Chongzhen was so angry that he wanted to strangle Mao Wenlong to death, but Mao Wenlong just kept asking for it. In the seventh year of the Tianqi reign, he personally approved the increase of the annual military pay of Dongjiang Town from 580,000 taels to 1 million taels.

Although the imperial court had allocated a high military budget to Dongjiang Town in the past, it had never paid the full amount in any year!
For example, in the seventh year of the Tianqi reign, although the salary was set at 580,000, only 330,000 was actually distributed.

It's like this every year. Why didn't you make a fuss about this when my elder brother was in power, but now that I've succeeded to the throne you're taking it seriously?

This is not giving me face!

Although Chongzhen certainly could afford it, this is not the right way to spend money, right?
Although the total assets of Huizhou salt merchants amounted to more than 38 million, the total amount of cash they had was only over 1 million.

One million this and one million that, how many can you give?

Not to mention that there is Liaodong, a money-eating beast. How can we not spend the money frugally?
Moreover, this guy was extremely annoying. He sent a memorial demanding pay almost every day, and each one of them contained extremely horrible words.

Things like people are starving to death on the island, soldiers are running away due to lack of pay, etc. What he is saying is that if you don't give me money, I'll be a hindrance in the war and you can't blame me!

Chongzhen was so angry that he planned to let Yuan Chonghuan go to the island directly with the imperial sword. However, Chongzhen still remembered that Wang An said that Mao Wenlong could not be killed easily, so he took Wang Chengen out to relax in a fit of anger... and also went to Wang An to learn from him.

When Chongzhen arrived at the door of Wang's Herbal Medicine Shop, he found it closed. Just as he was hesitating, the familiar voice of Wang An sounded behind him.

"Hey, brother, you're here?"

Chongzhen turned around and saw Wang An striding towards him, with traces of coal dust on his head, face, hands and feet.

Chongzhen frowned slightly, took out a handkerchief from his bosom, gently wiped Wang An's hair and said, "Where have you been, brother? You are so dirty."

Wang An patted the coal dust off his body and said with a smile, "Didn't Zhu Chunchen die? I went to take back the coal mine on the west mountain. I went in to take a look and got some coal dust on my body."

Chongzhen's face wrinkled even more, and he said with a rare hint of blame: "Brother, why are you so reckless? I heard that the coal mines on the West Mountain often collapse. What if something unexpected happens if you go in so carelessly?"

Wang An laughed and said perfunctorily: "I am your brother and I have good luck. How could I encounter such a bad thing?"

Chongzhen was unyielding: "In the future, brother, please do not put yourself in danger again, otherwise I will withdraw my investment!"

Wang An said helplessly: "Why did I realize today that you are like a woman? Can't I just agree to your request?"

As Wang An spoke, he opened the door and complained, "I don't know where those lazy girls Xiaowu and Xiaoliu have gone. If they were at home, they wouldn't have kept you waiting for so long."

"It's okay."

Several people entered the pharmacy and sat down as host and guest.

Wang An was about to boil some water and prepare tea when Chongzhen took out a letter and placed it on the table. "Brother, guess who wrote this letter?"

Wang An said nonchalantly: "Maybe it's my uncle, your father?"

Chongzhen was choked and immediately said with a dull tone: "This letter was written by Yuan Chonghuan, the commander-in-chief."

Wang An's eyes widened when he heard this. "Why would Yuan Chonghuan write to you? I heard from you that your family was in the medicinal materials business in Liaodong and that you had some friendship with Yuan Chonghuan, but you never said that the friendship was so deep that you actually exchanged letters privately."

Chongzhen said calmly, "Didn't I say that? Maybe I forgot to mention some minor details."

"You have a friendship with a second-rank provincial governor. Isn't that something you can brag about? You actually forgot to say it. My dear brother, you are really indifferent to fame and fortune!" Wang An said admiringly.

"Master Yuan and I just admire each other, and we have no intention of taking advantage of each other, so of course there is nothing much to say."

Chongzhen still had an indifferent expression, just like a noble monk who was not interested in power and wealth.

After chatting for a while, Chongzhen pointed at the letter and said, "Brother, aren't you curious about what Mr. Yuan will say?"

Wang An was a little curious. After all, this was the legendary Yuanchubby handwritten letter. If it were to be released three hundred years later, it would be considered a unique piece, right?

Seeing Wang An's intention, Chongzhen showed a smug smile.

The so-called handwritten letter from Yuan Chonghuan was naturally fabricated by Chongzhen.

It was just to use Yuan Chonghuan's mouth to ask the questions I wanted to ask.

After all, he is now playing the role of a businessman's son, and there are some things he should not know or ask.

But if you use the excuse of having correspondence with Yuan Chonghuan, then it would be legitimate to ask.

Seeing that Wang An had already picked up the envelope, but was still a little embarrassed and laughed, Chongzhen pretended to be generous and said: "Brother, just open it and take a look. We are all upright and there is nothing shameful."

Wang An laughed and said, "Then I won't be polite!"

As he spoke, he opened the envelope, took out two thin sheets of letter paper and began to iron them.

The content of the letter was written in Yuan Chonghuan's voice, recounting some of the troubles he encountered when he first arrived in Liaodong Town.

Putting aside the content that Chongzhen deliberately created to confuse people, the letter mainly said that Mao Wenlong, the general of Dongjiang River, actually demanded one million taels of salary and 800,000 shi of beans and rice from him.

However, before Yuan Chonghuan set out, the emperor had allocated him 780,000 taels of silver to pay off his unpaid wages.

Not to mention that there was no silver left in the Ming treasury, even if there was some, Yuan Chonghuan would be too embarrassed to ask for it.

However, Mao Wenlong was aggressive and threatened that not paying the soldiers would hinder the situation in Liaodong.

At the end of the letter, "Yuan Chonghuan" asked his friend of different ages if he had any good solution if the same thing happened to him.

The content of the letter ended here. There was no gossip that Wang An expected, so he put the letter down with some disinterest.

Wang An said boredly, "You two are really good friends. You told me such a confidential thing?"

Chongzhen's expression was slightly awkward, and he covered it up by saying, "Mr. Yuan is a man of character. If he trusts me, he will tell me anything."

Wang An nodded, thoughtfully.

There was a moment of silence, and Wang An did not make any comment or show any intention to express his opinion on the new content.

(End of this chapter)