"Zhao Aiqing's loyalty to the country is truly an example for all officials. I am very pleased! However, when Zhao Aiqing goes to the Ministry of Household Affairs to take charge, he must pay attention to rest and must not overwork, otherwise I will also be worried..."
Emperor Deqing comforted Zhao Junchen casually with a concerned expression, and then said: "During the time when Zhao Aiqing left Beijing, there were some changes in officials in the Hubu Yamen. The newly appointed Hubu officials are all people with real talents and knowledge. They are very capable people. It is just because they are not familiar with the operation of the household department, and the tasks of the household department during this period are particularly heavy, so some chaos has occurred. I believe that Zhao Aiqing only needs to give them a few words and give them guidance. Once you get the direction, the department will be back on track soon!"
Compared with the previous words of insincere words of comfort, it is obvious that the following words were the true purpose of Emperor Deqing.
During this period of time, taking advantage of Zhao Junchen's absence from the capital, Emperor Deqing had completely purged the Household Department from beginning to end. More than half of the middle and lower-level officials in the Household Department had been dismissed or transferred.
At the same time, Emperor Deqing specially found a group of officials who were good at financial management and turnover and transferred them to the household department to replace Zhao Junchen's cronies.
Emperor Deqing's method was precisely to weaken Zhao Junchen's influence and control over the Hubu Yamen and completely reverse the court's financial dependence on Zhao Junchen.
However, Emperor Deqing's methods were still too hasty.
In the past year, under Zhao Junchen's tacit guidance, the accounting methods, operating concepts, and income and expenditure methods of the Hubu Yamen have long been a system of their own, which is very different from the financial management methods of these times.
At the same time, the Hubu Yamen also had many private channels for turnover and accounting, and these channels were also controlled by Zhao Junchen.
As a result, even if the officials recruited by Emperor Deqing had real talents and knowledge, they would definitely be confused and dark-sighted after entering the Ministry of Household Affairs.
Now, it happens to be the busiest time for the Ministry of Revenue. Not only the logistics of the Hetao War must be prepared as soon as possible, but also the storage of autumn taxes from various places, the statistical report of annual income and expenditure, and the annual salary distribution of officials and clans are all related. Important and arduous tasks.
Under such circumstances, most of the officials in the Hubu Yamen are newcomers who are not familiar with the situation, so chaos can be imagined.
Emperor Deqing's wishful thinking was very good. He asked Zhao Junchen to go to the Hubu Yamen for a period of time. On the one hand, it was so that the center of the imperial court could get over the current predicament as soon as possible. On the other hand, it was also to let those new officials who joined the Hubu Yamen. They took the opportunity to learn Zhao Junchen's various methods.
At this time, Emperor Deqing seemed to have no idea what the purge and rectification of the Hubu Yamen meant to Zhao Junchen. Instead, he looked like he was considering Zhao Junchen wholeheartedly, and said: "Speaking of which, Zhao Aiqing Now that you are a minister of the cabinet, you must focus on the overall situation and focus on the overall situation from now on... After all, the turnover of money and food is only a part of the government. With your status, you only need to pay a little attention in the future, and you must not devote yourself to it. Too much energy, otherwise it will be a waste of time!
Therefore, taking advantage of this opportunity to sit in the Ministry of Household Affairs, you should try your best to teach your methods and skills to the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs, so that they can take charge of their own affairs! In this way, you can focus on those military and national affairs in the future! With your talents If you focus most of your energy on the turnover of money and food, it would be too much of a talent."
After hearing Emperor Deqing's repeated instructions, Zhao Junchen seemed to be unalarmed and said: "Your Majesty, given my current physical condition, even if I am sitting in the Ministry of Household Affairs during this period, I will help the court to tide over the current situation."
It was a difficult time, and I had to report my illness to Your Majesty again afterwards! But Your Majesty is right, the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs should indeed take charge of their own affairs. After I go to the Ministry of Household Affairs to take charge this time, I will definitely give my best advice and never give up.
Dare to hide your secrets!"
Seeing Zhao Junchen's statement, Emperor Deqing nodded with satisfaction.
It was Emperor Deqing's imperial edict that Zhao Junchen teach his experience and skills to the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Emperor Deqing believed that even if Zhao Junchen secretly had reservations after accepting the edict, he would never dare to hide too much.
Emperor Deqing had great trust in Zhao Junchen's financial management skills. In Emperor Deqing's view, as long as the new officials of the Household Department learned half of Zhao Junchen's skills, they would be enough to maintain the operation of the Household Department in the future.
After these new officials of the Ministry of Revenue learn Zhao Junchen's skills and become familiar with the environment of the Ministry of Revenue, the imperial government's finances will be completely free of dependence on Zhao Junchen, and Zhao Junchen will no longer be indispensable, and they can kick him out.
Open - when the time is right, Emperor Deqing will not have any worries when he takes action against Zhao Junchen.
After nodding with satisfaction, Emperor Deqing seemed not to notice that Zhao Junchen once again mentioned the matter of asking for resignation. He still avoided talking about it. He neither expressed his intention to stay nor made a promise, but the conversation changed to the Loop.
fighting.
When talking about the battle in the Hetao, Emperor Deqing's expression also returned to seriousness, and he said slowly: "The imperial court's plan to regain the Hetao has also encountered some twists and turns. The imperial court just received news last night that it was the main force of the Mongolian right wing.
After rushing back to the Hetao area, they quickly started a crazy counterattack. The imperial army was not good at fighting on the grassland, so they retreated steadily and suffered heavy losses. In just two or three days, they lost the Ordos tribe king's tent they had just occupied..."
Having said this, Emperor Deqing frowned, his face full of worry, and said: "Well, after receiving the news of the emergency on the front line, I didn't sleep well all night. I will discuss countermeasures with the officials today.
, and no feasible strategy was found!... Speaking of which, the imperial court's plan to regain the Hetao was originally planned and promoted by Zhao Aiqing. He had just returned to the capital from Huamachi Camp, and he knew the battle situation on the front line best. Did he have any thoughts in his heart?
Can you teach me good advice?"
Zhao Junchen had already expected this when he saw Emperor Deqing's Gu Zuojie, and did not show any dissatisfaction. He just replied directly: "Your Majesty, I believe that the difficulties in the Hetao War are only temporary! As long as the center of the imperial court
Logistics supplies can be guaranteed, and reinforcements from all walks of life can successfully arrive at the Hetao battlefield. In less than two months, the situation on the battlefield will be reversed."
Emperor Deqing nodded lightly and said: "I understand this situation! I have discussed it with the officials just now. It is already late autumn, and in two months, the grassland will enter the cold winter season.
!Under the howling cold wind, the tribes on the Mongolian right wing must not be able to persist in fighting...
But these two months are still too long! The battlefield situation is changing rapidly, and unexpected situations may occur at any time! Many troops in the imperial court lack resilience. They can fight with the wind, but it is difficult for them to win at a disadvantage.
If you insist on holding on for too long, maybe just a few local defeats on the battlefield will demoralize the entire army and lead to successive defeats. By then, the Hetao will fall into the hands of the Mongols again. All the hard work and investment of the imperial court,
It will also fall short!"
After hearing what Emperor Deqing said, Zhao Junchen nodded slightly, thinking that the Dukes of Gungun, who were at the center of the imperial court, had some knowledge. They understood the impact of the grassland climate on the war, and also understood the fact that the imperial army lacked resilience and was not good at fighting against the wind. , they also understand that the battlefield is changing rapidly and will have chain reactions, and not all of them are incompetent people who only know how to form cliques for personal gain, and are corrupt and pervert the law.
However, just as Zhao Junchen nodded lightly to express his approval, Emperor Deqing turned to look at Shen Changmao, the chief minister of the cabinet, and said: "Just now, when I was discussing with the officials, Shen Chieffu proposed It is suggested that the Guan Ning cavalry be dispatched from Liaodong to Hetao for support. It is believed that the Guan Ning cavalry is the most elite cavalry in our country and is enough to defeat the Mongolian cavalry. Jianzhou Jurchen has been quite honest in recent years, even if the Guan Ning cavalry is transferred from Shanhaiguan for a period of time There won't be any big problems...because all the officials are arguing about this matter, and I am also a little undecided, what does Zhao Aiqing think?"
After hearing Emperor Deqing's inquiry, Zhao Junchen's expression suddenly changed. He couldn't help but turn his head and glance at Shen Changmao, but he didn't expect that Shen Changmao would make such a stupid move!
At the same time, Zhao Junchen was secretly glad that he had returned to the center of the capital in time. If the imperial court listened to Shen Changmao's foolish advice and transferred Guan Ning's cavalry to Hetao for support, the danger involved would be too great.
The Guan Ning cavalry was indeed the strongest elite cavalry in the Ming Dynasty. Even the elite Jurchen army in Jianzhou would retreat when encountering this cavalry.
But it is precisely because of the existence of Guan Ning's cavalry that the Ming Dynasty's Liaodong border defense could sit back and relax! Once Guan Ning's cavalry suddenly left Shanhaiguan, who knows whether the Jianzhou Jurchens would take the risk?
The Jianzhou Jurchens are a greater threat than the Mongolian right wing!
With the current situation of the Ming Dynasty, it is completely unable to bear the risk of the Jurchens from Jianzhou entering the customs!
Therefore, Zhao Junchen quickly objected firmly: "Your Majesty, I think this strategy is absolutely impossible! I believe that the Jianzhou Jurchens have been low-key and honest in these years, not because they have lost their covetousness, but because they have lost their The coveted power! Since the death of the crown prince in the late emperor's personal expedition, the Jianzhou Jurchens have experienced years of internal strife. Hauge, Dorgon, Obai and others have usurped power. The Jianzhou Jurchens' senior leaders are focused on Fighting for power internally will not only leave you no time to expand outwards, but your strength will also be seriously depleted!
But since Xuan Ye came to power, the situation has been gradually stabilized and the vitality has gradually been restored. It is only because of the existence of Guan Ning Cavalry and Shanhaiguan that there has been no action, but their wolf ambitions are still there!
Once the imperial court transferred the Guan Ning cavalry from Shanhaiguan and the Jianzhou Jurchens sensed the opportunity, Liaodong would be in chaos again before the war in the Hetao ended! Maybe the Guan Ning cavalry had not arrived at the Hetao battlefield. Return to Shanhaiguan urgently for support! In this way, the imperial court's troop deployment is not only ineffective and wastes the energy of the soldiers, but also increases risks and troubles for no reason! Therefore, this strategy is absolutely not feasible!"
If Zhao Junchen's calculation is correct, Shen Changmao, the chief minister of the cabinet, will soon step down! Today's central court is in a troubled time. Shen Changmao's ability is completely unable to control the situation, and it will only become chaos in the temple. Scapegoat - If nothing else happens, the position of chief minister of the cabinet will soon return to Zhou Shangjing's hands, and only Zhou Shangjing has the ability and prestige to stabilize the situation in the temple.
At this time, after hearing Zhao Junchen's firm objection, Emperor Deqing was not surprised at all. He just nodded slightly, looked at Zhou Shangjing thoughtfully, and said, "What Zhao Aiqing said is consistent with Zhou Ge's statement.
We have the same view! I also feel that if the situation in Liaodong changes, the imperial court will indeed not be able to cope with two wars at the same time, so it will be hesitant. But the changes in the situation in the Hetao War really worry me..."
After Zhao Junchen pondered for a moment, he said: "If your Majesty hopes to end the war in Hetao as soon as possible, I have a plan here... This method also has something to do with Jianzhou Jurchen! At the same time, your Majesty also needs to make up his mind."
Emperor Deqing raised his brows, a hint of joy flashed across his expression, and asked, "Oh? What does Zhao Aiqing think?"
Zhao Junchen said slowly: "Your Majesty, the crazy offensives of the Mongolian right-wing tribes during this period are probably due to three reasons. One is out of the friendship between the tribes and they want to help the Ordos tribe retake the Hetao Plain.
The second reason is that after our army captured the royal tent of the Ordos tribe, they also captured several leaders of the Mongolian right-wing tribes. After these Mongolian right-wing tribes saw their leaders captured by our army, they would also find ways to seek revenge.
"The third is that they have received a promise from the Ordos tribe that when they help the Ordos tribe regain the Hetao Plain, they will be repaid by the Ordos tribe."
After hearing what Zhao Junchen said, not only Emperor Deqing nodded slightly in agreement, but all the officials in the Hall of Supreme Harmony also nodded in agreement.
After the Shaanxi-Gansu War, everyone in the imperial court had completely recognized Zhao Junchen's knowledge and ability, but no one would regard Zhao Junchen as an ordinary jester and corrupt official anymore. When Zhao Junchen expressed his
During the discussion, even Emperor Deqing, Zhou Shangjing, Shen Changmao and others would show concentration and listen carefully.
After Zhao Junchen paused, he continued: "So, my suggestion mainly focuses on three aspects!
First, instruct the armies in Hetao to concentrate their efforts on killing the troops from the Ordos tribe when fighting the Mongolian right-wing army, in order to weaken the Ordos tribe's voice and influence on the Mongolian right-wing army;
Secondly, all the materials harvested by the Ordos captured by our army from the Hetao Grassland must be transported to the hinterland of the country as soon as possible, making the entire Hetao Plain unprofitable;
Finally, your Majesty needs to personally issue an order to mercifully release the captured Mongolian right-wing tribal leaders back to the grassland... Before letting them go back, you must also tell them one piece of news, that is, Jianzhou
The Jurchens will send troops to attack them soon!"