Down the branch, stations are set up at strategic transportation hubs, ports, and border towns, each focusing on collecting intelligence in a certain direction.
Officials in charge of the general bureau, branch bureaus, and sites are designated as civilians, but operational and service personnel do not need to be civilian servants, but are directly transferred from the army to serve.
From top to bottom, form an independent and professional intelligence network. When conditions are ripe, overseas stations can be set up in Japan, Nanyang and other places."
Just as Lin Tailai was talking endlessly about his future blueprint, he was suddenly interrupted.
"Wait a minute!" Suddenly Yang Junmin, the right minister of household affairs, stood up and stopped Lin Tailai from thinking.
Then he questioned with reason and evidence: "You are just making assumptions, just employing people. After all, our dynasty does not lack officers and soldiers, but where does the cost come from?
You said that we need to set up a general bureau, branch bureaus, stations, and a large number of operational personnel, and we need to collect overseas intelligence.
You don’t need to think about it carefully to know that it is expensive and requires long-term investment to maintain operation.
Nowadays, Taicang's expenses are tight, and it has already started to suffer losses only half a year ago. Where does the money come from for the ideas you Lin Tailai mentioned?"
Although Yang Junmin has been Lin Tailai's rival for many years, his words are very fair.
Even if Wang Situ, the Minister of Household Affairs, stood up, he could not deny Yang Junmin's opinion.
Especially since we are about to pass through the northwest, we will not have to use troops, which is an additional expense.
From an economic point of view, there is no need to spend a lot of money to build the intelligence network that Lin Tailai mentioned, especially since it sounds like a bottomless pit of long-term investment.
Lin Tailai blinked a few times and said to Yang Junmin: "What are you anxious about, Minister of Household Affairs? When did I say that we need money from the treasury?"
Yang Junmin immediately asked in anticipation: "Do you hope to spend money from the internal treasury?"
Emperor Wanli suddenly tightened his face and stared at Lin Tailai.
If you, Lin Tailai, dare to think about using the money from the inner treasury to do your own thing, then let me first let you feel what the wrath of the king is!
Lin Tailai quickly reassured the emperor, "Impossible! It is absolutely impossible to use the internal treasury for such a trivial matter!"
Yang Junmin still asked maliciously: "Then where do your expenses come from? Is it possible that you, Lin Tailai, still want to pay for it out of your own pocket?"
Lin Tailai stopped beating around the bush, "Yang Junmin, haven't you read ancient books like Spring and Autumn Period or Warring States Period?
Since ancient times, businessmen who traveled among various countries were often tasked with gathering intelligence.
Why can't the Ming Dynasty follow the example of the ancients? Nowadays, whether exporting, going to Southeast Asia or heading to the East China Sea, the number of merchants is very large!
The court can guide and utilize these businessmen by issuing licenses, anti-smuggling, taxation and other means! Let them collect intelligence for the court!
Of course, they also organize caravans directly to collect intelligence on the one hand and earn funds on the other.
In any case, establishing an intelligence network does not require spending money on the national treasury, and at most it may only require some initial start-up funds."
Damn it! The ministers were all shocked when they heard this. Your Lin Tailai's heart is really full of twists and turns!
At first I thought you wanted to invade the company, but it turned out that you wanted to set up an intelligence network.
When I really thought you were selfless and wanted to set up an intelligence network, it turned out that you were doing it for business! Or to put it more bluntly, to monopolize smuggling!
To guide and use foreign trade merchants to collect intelligence is to use the power of the court to monopolize smuggling!
At the end of the day, it’s all about business!
After Emperor Wanli was stunned for a while, he suddenly warned the ministers with serious words: "Lin Tai is right. The court is now blind and ignorant of overseas information.
If the imperial court had been able to obtain detailed information about the West China Sea and take preventive measures against the pirates, would there have been another Taohe Incident?
Therefore, gathering intelligence is urgent and very important. The establishment of an intelligence network must be put on the agenda as soon as possible!"
After expressing his attention and determination, Emperor Wanli further instructed: "The idea of ​​using businessmen to collect intelligence is also very good, but other private businessmen may not be loyal and reliable. They can be used but cannot be completely relied on.
Therefore, we still need to have exclusive merchants, caravans, and merchant ships, and our own talents are the most reliable foundation."
Ministers: "."
So there is a legal question. If the emperor personally engages in smuggling, can it be considered smuggling?
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Chapter completed!