Since Zhu Youjian came to the throne, whether it is a major court meeting or a small court meeting, there are very few days when the court meeting should be held, but today is obviously an exception.
Today is not the day for the big court meeting, but the cabinet bachelors and heads of the six ministries who are eligible to enter the palace and are ready to participate in the small court meeting received the notice from the palace early in the morning.
Your Majesty will not discuss anything in court this morning. No matter how important the matter is, we will discuss it tomorrow.
Except for a few big bosses who knew the news about Jiang Wan, most of them were confused. Such a decree did not seem to come from the current emperor who always strives for hard work. It was almost instantaneous.
In the meantime, all kinds of strange speculations were swirling in their minds, but no one dared to speak out their guesses.
Until they saw several small yellow men, leading a military attaché, walking past them.
No one asked or expressed surprise. Everyone looked calm and composed. Some even nodded towards the military attache with a smile to show that they knew this person and had already known that he was going to meet today.
emperor.
Anyone with the ability to reach their position would be like a city. No matter what happens, don't expect to see a look of shock on their faces. Even if there is, it is most likely that they are pretending on purpose.
Jiang Wan walked along the imperial road without squinting his eyes. He didn't recognize these officials who looked like they held great power, so naturally he couldn't see the expressions on their faces. He had some connections in Beijing, but he definitely didn't know them.
Including these top bosses in the Ming Dynasty's officialdom, and he felt that Zhu Youjian, who was waiting for him at the moment, probably didn't like to see him chatting and laughing with these bosses.
Qianqing Palace was still the same as when he last saw the palace. There were no changes or even renovations. At this moment, Jiang Wan actually believed the rumors that Zhu Youjian advocated frugality in the palace, and he felt slightly sad.
, speaking of which, this is because he, as a minister, is incompetent. The emperor of the Ming Dynasty has to practice frugality. The treasury of the Ming Dynasty has become so empty.
But Zhu Youjian actually persisted in demolishing the east wall to repair the west wall for more than five years under such circumstances.
It’s not easy!
"Your Majesty is waiting for you!"
Xu Yingyuan met him at the door and stepped aside slightly but did not lead him in. Jiang Wan glanced at him in surprise and smiled slightly.
Even people like Xu Yingyuan can't serve in the palace today. It seems that what the emperor wants to say to him today is very important to him.
Walking into the palace, he saw Zhu Youjian, and then saw Wang Chengen who was waiting behind Zhu Youjian. Apart from that, there was not even a small eunuch making decorations.
Following the etiquette, he performed the courtesy of a monarch and a minister, and Zhu Youjian accepted his worship calmly. When he stood up, they both breathed a sigh of relief almost at the same time.
It seems that the visit just now was the first step to redefine their relationship as king and minister, and now at the first step, both parties are walking smoothly.
"Give me a seat!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Yesterday when we met, it wasn't because you were right, so today when I meet you, there is no need for all the red tape!" Zhu Youjian said, "I have a lot to ask you, and you must also have a lot to ask me. I have already
I have made a decree that I will not ask about political affairs today, and no one will disturb me in the Qianqing Palace until dark, so we have plenty of time to chat slowly!"
"I will answer all my questions!" Jiang Wan smiled slightly: "Since your Majesty met with me yesterday, in my heart, your Majesty is still the same as before. Naturally, he is also your Majesty. If you have a purpose, how dare I?
Don’t obey!”
"I am afraid that what you said will be discounted if others say that I believe you!" Zhu Youjian also smiled: "I asked Yuan Chonghuan a question in the palace that day, and Yuan Chonghuan's answer was'
In the fifth year of Ping Liao's reign, as a result, in the year of Jisi, I ordered him to be executed!"
He said slowly: "There are many reasons why I executed him, so I won't go into them one by one, but there is one reason among them that you have to know!"
"I am all ears!" Jiang Wan replied seriously.
"He shouldn't have lied to me. I was asking him, a minister, as the emperor of tomorrow, and what I was asking about was the well-being and safety of the people of tomorrow. However, he didn't take it seriously, and even tried to deceive me.
I don't hesitate to use big words to make people feel ashamed. Even if they have some achievements, I still hate them!"
He looked at Jiang Wan: "I'm asking you the same question today. I hope what I hear is the truth!"
He said word for word: "When can the border pass be decided?"
Jiang Wan did not answer in a hurry. He looked at Zhu Youjian with stern eyes: "I would like to confirm, what exactly does your Majesty refer to when the border can be determined?"
He said slowly: "Does it mean that the border is so impregnable that the Tartars dare not invade again, or that our Ming army swept through Liaodong and regained the lost territory!"
His eyes were burning: "Or maybe Your Majesty imitated Chengzu's martial prowess, pointing at the edge of the army, and no one else is sleeping soundly beside the couch?"
Zhu Youjian smiled, then fell silent. After a long time: "What do you think I mean?"
"If your Majesty is referring to the first situation, that our Ming border gates are impregnable and the Tartars dare not invade again, then I can't be of much help at this time. All the important towns in eastern Liaoning and northern Liaoning are in the hands of our Ming army.
There are countless elite soldiers and generals at the borders. Your Majesty should reuse good generals, pay military salaries to boost morale, and build ordnance vigorously. With the national strength of our Ming Dynasty, it is not too difficult to do this!"
"If it is the second situation, I can try my best to serve His Majesty. With the strength of our Overseas Pressure Division, I can at least reduce the pressure on Ming Dynasty by half. If there is the full support of the imperial court, within two or three years, not
Dare to say that we can sweep across Liaodong, at least to ensure that the first situation is possible, I think it can be done!"
"What about the third situation?" Zhu Youjian shook his head slightly. If possible, he would of course be willing to be in the third situation, but it is a bit unrealistic to say this at this moment.
Jiang Wan did some calculation in her mind and decided not to go too far.
"Three years!" He said: "As long as your majesty is not half-hearted and has no thoughts of reducing the prestige of our great Ming Dynasty, and gives me enough rights to self-determination, I will submit a letter of surrender to your majesty in three years' time!"
"You don't want to imitate Yuan Chonghuan!" Zhu Youjian said calmly: "I know that you have some abilities and are good at strategy, but I just said that if I am telling the truth, what I want is your specific strategy on how to defeat Liao!"
"What I said is the truth!" Jiang Wan said solemnly: "There is absolutely no lie in every word!"
"Okay!" Zhu Youjian shouted loudly: "What are you going to do? I need to know clearly what you are going to do. Only then will I believe that you are telling the truth. As long as you really have this confidence and assurance, I will
He’s not a timid person either!”
"Three words!" Jiang Wan raised three fingers: "The minister's strategy, to put it simply, is three words!"
He talked eloquently: "First of all, it is money. Only with money can we raise soldiers, and only with money can we build better weapons and armor. Your Majesty and I both know how important this money is. Our Ming Dynasty is having a hard time now, and the treasury is empty. However, the Tartars
Their lives are not much better either. If they were truly wealthy, they would not covet my Ming Dynasty all the time. Therefore, in terms of money, we ourselves should try our best to make as much money as possible, while the Tartars,
But it’s to make them even less!”
"All trade in the Nine Borders must be banned!" Jiang Wan said slowly: "From needles and threads to salt and tea, to ironware and livestock, not a single trace of the Ming Dynasty's output can be allowed to flow outside the border wall.
This requires a decree from the imperial court, and officials and generals from all over the country will strictly enforce it!"
"If there is anyone who disobeys this will, His Majesty can just go ahead and kill him. All trade can be regarded as smuggling. Killing him will result in death. I think some people in our Ming Dynasty probably don't dare to think like this anymore!"
"By banning trade, not only the Tartars were harmed, but the Ming Dynasty was also harmed!" Zhu Youjian thought for a moment, shook his head and said.
"No, no, no!" Jiang Wan shook his head: "Our Ming Dynasty can designate a place as a place for mutual trade with the Tartars. Of course, since private trade with them is prohibited and they want to obtain our things in large quantities, then they can only
We can rely on this place of mutual trade, and where we have the final say on what price to sell for. The same thing they used to be able to buy for one tael of silver, now we can sell it for ten taels. If they find it too expensive,
Then, next time I ask, it will be fifty taels!"
Jiang Wan smiled and said: "Buy it or not, we don't care about their things, they care about our things!"
"I'm afraid they won't let us slaughter them so honestly!" Zhu Youjian continued to shake his head.
"At this time, my overseas town and Fu division will come in handy!" Jiang Wan said: "Moreover, I have already thought about this place for mutual trade. It is in today's Phoenix City, which is far away from the Lonely Mountain of the Tartars.
The fort is only a few dozen miles away, and I will station a heavy army here to ensure that these expensive guys will not cause trouble!"
"However, the power of this strategy will not be apparent until at least half a year. The Tartars will not feel the hardship of material shortage for at least a short time. Therefore, the imperial court's order must be implemented long-term and thoroughly.
But we can't do it half-heartedly. Once the Tartars can obtain smuggled goods from other places, then this strategy of the minister will be completely meaningless!"
"Don't worry, I can still afford to wait for a year and a half!" Zhu Youjian snorted softly: "Besides, I am very poor, so poor that my eyes are glowing green. I can put those unscrupulous and profiteers in our Ming Dynasty.
The money earned by drawing blood and marrow from the body has become the pure money of the imperial court. I think, not only I want to do it, but also these ministers in the imperial court, they will be happy to do it!
"
"Second is the ground!"
Jiang Wan said calmly: "Originally, this money and food can be regarded as one thing, but since I have introduced some new crops from overseas, food in Liaodong should no longer be a problem. With more food, we can naturally raise more food."
With more soldiers, Liaodong is likely to be in a situation where there is no shortage of money and food, but a shortage of soldiers. However, Liaodong is a vast territory with few people, and the minister's Overseas Prosecution Department has only three heads and six arms, and it will not be able to defend all the places for the imperial court. In this case
, we need a large number of people and soldiers to come to Liaodong!"
"Isn't your majesty's treasury short of money? Therefore, I plan to sell land in Liaodong. Moreover, I will only sell land to officials with official positions and wealthy households. For the fertile land around the capital, I pay four taels of silver per acre. My Liaodong
The fertile farmland can be sold to them for one tael of silver per acre, and the price of one sale is three to five hundred acres. I even plan to invite some officials and wealthy households in the capital to go to Liaodong for a walk when the new crops are harvested.
Let’s have some fun and let them see how much food can be produced from one acre of land in Liaodong and how much money they can make!”
Zhu Youjian's brows wrinkled slightly. He didn't think this was a good strategy.
"Of course, I won't get a penny from the land sale. All of it will be dedicated to Your Majesty. This is Your Majesty's land, and naturally the money also belongs to Your Majesty!" Jiang Wan said: "As long as these lands are sold, look at these officials.
Rich households will send people to farm the land to make money for them, and Liaodong is not a stable place. These farming people must at least have the ability to protect themselves. Then they have to build villages and train guards.
People occupy these lands. If someone wants to rob the land they bought with money to make money for them, please tell me, Your Majesty, whether they will fight each other desperately!"
He smiled and said: "Liaodong is originally a sparsely populated area, and I don't have enough manpower for the Overseas Administrative Department. If these people want to defend their place, they can only recruit people from all over the Ming Dynasty. In this way, it won't cost the court a penny, or even
We can also make a lot of money for the court, and we will have land and people!"
"Liao people guard Liao soil?"
"No, it was the people of Liao who guarded the land of Liao in the past, but now it is the people of Ming who guard the land of Ming!" Jiang Wan said: "At least with the existence of these people, there will be a lot more soldiers in Liaodong. By then, our Ming will have money, food and soldiers.
, how to fight, that’s what we’re considering!”
"You seem to have forgotten to talk about taxes!" Zhu Youjian slowly thought about Jiang Wan's words, suddenly raised his head and asked with a smile.
"Of course the taxes are collected by the Overseas Zhenfu Division on behalf of the imperial court. After all, the Overseas Zhenfu Division still donates 600,000 yuan in silver every year!"
After saying this, Jiang Wan had a pained expression on her face: "Your Majesty, all the ministers have given in. You can't make me unable to drink any soup. I have to support so many people!"
"Hahahaha!" Zhu Youjian laughed, feeling very happy.
When Jiang Wan talked about his strategy, he was clear and well-considered. It was obviously not something he thought of in a hurry. He must have thought about these things for a long time, and only today did he have the opportunity to tell him in person.
come out.
"Go on, I remember you just said three words, money is one word, land is one word, what is the last word?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Jiang Wan said softly: "To complete the above two points and maintain the implementation of these two points without being interrupted by the Tartars, then we need strong force to support us. The elite soldiers of Liaodong are force, and the minister's overseas support is
The army is also a force. I want power, and my officers and men also want power. Your Majesty must clearly declare to the world the power of our overseas control department. Your majesty wants every officer and soldier of the overseas control department to know that they are here.
By fighting for the Ming Dynasty, they can be promoted, make a fortune, and be loyal to the emperor and serve the country. They need a clear path for advancement and have righteousness in hand, and only your majesty can give them this, no one else can, not even me!"