The letter was written in neat regular script: "Zeng Liang replied to Ye Shangshu: The purchase of bird guns mentioned is indeed appropriate, and it is for the public and for the Ming Dynasty. However, merchant ships are wandering erratically, and firearms are unusual items. Private
I'm afraid it won't last long, and it will be exhausted. If at that time, Ye Gong will ride on a tiger and threaten my household, what will happen? If the Ministry of War has no such evil intentions, please send me a memorial to explain your original intention.'
"This person is too arrogant..." Du Qing sighed, threw the letter on the table, and glanced at Ye and Cai in the tent.
"He just came here and gets along well with all the forces in the court. Who can control him?" Cai Xianqing swallowed helplessly, "Don't even think about getting involved with him... you can only stroke his hair.
"
"Forget it, I'll write to him again and ask him." Ye Yongjia couldn't hold back his anger. He immediately stood up and walked out of the camp.
In just a moment, Ye Yongjia had written the reply, but due to his haste, the handwriting became a bit sloppy: 'Going back to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Affairs: The Northern Banshee forces are at the pass. If the new army does not have sophisticated firearms, how can it defend the enemy?
When the situation is in dire straits, the Ministry of Household Affairs should provide all-out assistance, so why should we go too far? Besides, memorials are always sent only to the provincial government, so your ministry has no reason to interfere! If Xiangzhi insists on fighting, I can go up to the throne and fight with you!'
A few days after sending this aggressive letter, I received a calm reply from Zeng Liang: 'I am not afraid of fighting. I only serve the common people and cannot resort to militarism.'
The questioning failed, which made Ye Yongjia very angry, and the last hope in his heart was extinguished.
"What are you going to do?" Du Qing looked at him quietly, watching him burning the two letters on the brazier.
"I still have to go back and run back and forth several times." Ye Yongjia let go of his hand and several pieces of paper quickly shrank into a ball and became charred. "I must get the Ministry of Household Affairs to agree to the proposal to cast shotguns."
"As long as he doesn't let go, everything he does will be in vain. Why don't you give in for now and cancel your proposal," Du Qing said again.
Ye Yongjia reached for the poker: "It's not that the governor doesn't know that the old army can't fight a big battle. The key to keeping Suidi is this new army. If we really follow Zeng Liang's method, we won't build it ourselves and just wait to buy Westerners."
How long will it take for those thousand guns to be collected? If we can’t collect even a thousand guns within a year, the northern captives will be able to attack Suidi soon!”
"If we start the construction from this month, it can take as little as three months or as many as six months, and there will be no problem." He took a piece of charcoal and threw it into the brazier, and the fire burned even more intensely.
"Isn't your military book a gift from a Westerner?" Cai Xianqing suddenly asked after being silent for a while.
"Yes, his name is Jian Wensheng."
"He is here for missionary work, and he may have some dealings with those caravans," Cai Xianqing speculated. "Go back and beg him, in case the blind cat bumps into a dead mouse."
Ye Yongjia slapped his thigh: "That's the truth. Mr. Cai reminded me well! With your words, I will have to make a name for myself when I return to Beijing!"
Cai Xianqing laughed and said: "Do you really think of me as a living god? Just make a few random guesses. Don't blame me entirely when the time comes."
"Don't worry," Ye Yongjia's tone was serious, "This junior has this responsibility, and you will definitely see these thousand guns this year."
Cai Xianqing also became solemn: "Okay, Governor Du and I are waiting for your good news."
On a sunny afternoon, the crowd on Taiping Street was even larger than usual. Ye Yongjia was squeezed among them. The noisy shouts kept getting into his ears, and the air was filled with the unpleasant smell of sweat.
Everything in front of you is a colorful and prosperous place.
Wearing casual clothes, he gradually walked to the middle of the street and begged for two steamed buns. While eating, he found his way around. After walking around in the crowd for a long time, he saw the three words "Lingyuan Temple" on a large gold plaque in the distance, and he thought of Jie Wenwu Dai.
The path he took when he came.
He stopped in front of the white wall of Lingyuan Temple and watched the dignitaries wearing gold and jade being carried in one sedan after another. He couldn't help but secretly sighed: "Jie Gong, Jie Gong, you have never seen the prosperity of this place, and you thought it was all."
Isn't it sad for all the people in the world?'
After thinking about it, he had no choice but to gather his emotions and walk along the high walls to Jian Wensheng's church.
The bell rang loudly, but the falling sound continued to echo in the domed church. The colored lights on the flower windows fell one after another. Jian Wensheng had finished his prayer, and suddenly turned around and saw Ye Yongjia already at the door.
Waiting.
"Mr. Jian, I am here to visit you alone this time." Ye Yongjia made a deep bow.
"How can I bear the title of sir?" Jian Wensheng walked down and quickly returned the courtesy, "Master Ye, why didn't Minister Jie follow?"
"He..." Ye Yongjia's eyes moved hesitantly a few times, "He made a serious mistake and was hanged by the court according to his crime."
"Oh..." Jian Wensheng tugged on his beard and was a little surprised, "This gentleman still comes to talk to me often. It's a pity, it's a pity..."
"He has no pity."
"Why?"
Ye Yongjia rubbed his eyebrows, shook his head and said, "I'm sorry I can't answer. Let's talk about us."
"Then you have something to ask of me?" Seeing that no believer had come yet, Jian Wensheng sat on the bench with him.
"Since I took your military book and read it, I realized that this firearm is the foundation of the strength of the army, and it is necessary to strengthen this method to revitalize the dynasty. However, there are many officials in the court who are ignorant of the situation and are timid to oppose it.
This is my new policy. Now that the Ministry of Household Affairs refuses to allocate money to make guns, I am thinking of buying firearms from your Western maritime merchants. Sir, I am also from the sea. I wonder if I have any contact with these people?"
Jian Wensheng raised his head and thought for a while, then said slowly: "I was ordered to come here to preach. Although I have traveled across the ocean, I have never had any contact with them. Most of them have settled in Southeast Asian countries, but I have never been there.
Cross the shore."
Ye Yongjia's heart froze when he heard this cold response. He just held his hands in a daze and lowered his head, looking lonely.
"But... I came with a few priests, and I have a good relationship with them. There was a Chinese named Wu Sijing, whose courtesy name was Tongru. After meeting the emperor, he was also allowed to preach in the Celestial Dynasty. He set up a business near Beitang
Church has always been with me
Letters were exchanged. Because that place was backed by a port and was a gathering place for merchant ships, he often went there to buy and sell things. Because of the common language, he not only became very familiar with the maritime merchants, but also had a thorough understanding of their industry. You can go find
He should be effective!"
Ye Yongjia's eyes lit up again: "Thank you, Mr., for your guidance!"
"Another word of advice, if you go to see him, be careful. This person is bent on profit and is very smart. You can't follow his way."