From the conversation with Qi Yongtai, Feng Ziying roughly felt that it was a foregone conclusion that Qi Yongtai would take over as Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and whether he could join the cabinet would depend on the situation.
Similarly, another division commander, Qiao Yingjia, may also change his position, and the right deputy censor of the capital may further become the left deputy censor of the capital.
This means that the voice and influence of his two masters will be further enhanced in the court.
The mountain rain is about to come and the wind fills the building.
Feng Ziying felt that the Western Expedition and the counterinsurgency campaign had an impact on the entire court, and had even affected the stability of the entire court.
The huge money and food gap and the court's prestige have become the most superficial contradictions. The rebellion and the causes of the rebellion have endangered the stability of the court. Only by quelling the rebellion and recovering the old territory of the previous dynasty can the court's prestige and stability be maintained, and this requires a large amount of food and salary.
In order to solve this problem, the current situation of the overstretched court must be reformed and breakthroughs must be made, which in turn affects the stability of the court, which has become a deadlock in the cycle.
Any choice will have pros and cons, and now all parties are stepping up their efforts to evaluate the situation and the possible positive and negative impacts.
Emperor Yonglong was like this, northern scholars and civil servants were like this, southern civil servants who supported the comprehensive opening of the sea were like this, and so were the merchants and their spokesmen who realized that different policies for opening up the sea would have a huge impact on their own vested interests.
"Brother Zixun is here?" Feng Ziying returned home and Baoxiang had already informed him that the guest had arrived.
After more than half a year of ups and downs, Feng Ziying gave Xu Xie the impression that he had not seen her for several years. Feng Ziying's calm, cool and capable aura became stronger and stronger, which made Xu Xie quite puzzled. Could this be the case?
Is the baptism of hardship brought to people by a Western expedition and counterinsurgency so extraordinary?
This even made him regret whether he should go too.
"Ziying, have you rested enough? The next issue of "Internal Reference" will soon start selecting topics again. Isn't it time for you to shoulder the burden?"
Xu Xie sat down, his thin and clear face was much paler than Feng Ziying, who had turned dark after traveling to the west. It turned out that Xu Xie was famous for his dark face in Qingtan Academy.
After Feng Ziying left, no one was designated to take charge. Hou Xun, Xu Xie, Fan Jingwen, He Fengsheng, Fang Youdu, Wang Yingxiong and others all actively participated, so a public deliberation system was formed.
No one could ignore the growing influence of this publication within the imperial court, especially its targeted insights, which were even directly used by some officials in court reports. This subtle and penetrating influence made Hou Xun
, Xu Xie and others have already noticed it.
Feng Ziying was not sure whether this was Xu Xie's heartfelt words. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't, it was all normal.
Although "Internal Reference" was the subject and material of "Internal Reference" that was decided upon by many people, there is no doubt that Xu Xie, as the author of the book, took the initiative, especially since he was also a senior fellow at Qingtan Academy and a sage, even though he had the same
Hou Xun, who has deep connections, is even inferior to him.
According to Fang Youdu, the two men began to show signs of competing for dominance after Feng Ziying left, but they still maintained their scholarly demeanor.
In contrast, although Fan Jingwen, He Fengsheng and Fang Youdu also deliberately performed under Feng Ziying's reminder when he left, they were still unable to compete with these two.
Fang Youdu is slightly better. After all, his article in the first issue won him great influence and reputation. Even Qiao Yingjia looked at him with admiration, and several doctors within the Ministry of Punishment also admired him.
So now he is sitting on the sidelines, firmly occupying the third position among the editors of "Internal Reference", but compared with Xu Xian and Hou Xun, he is still a few points behind.
"Well, I'm afraid we have to wait a while. Brother Zi Xun, you also know the purpose of my return. Mr. Chai has high hopes, but the situation is more complicated now. I still need some time, and I also need your help." Feng Ziying was very happy.
He raised his hand calmly, signaling Xu Xie to have some tea.
After Jin Chuan'er and Yu Chuan'er brought the tea, they quietly retreated.
They rarely see Feng Ziying so serious.
After Feng Ziying came back, the number of guests in the Feng family quickly increased.
Foreigners like Mr. Liu, Mr. Lian, Mr. Xue, Han Qi, and Wei Ruolan, whom Jin Chuan'er and Yu Chuan'er had heard of before, came more frequently, and the uncle's former classmates suddenly became closer.
At first, Uncle Fang came more often, but now people like Mr. Xu, Mr. Lian, Mr. Fan, and Mr. He come more often. Especially during this period, people come to visit almost every day.
Sometimes one person has just left, and the next person comes again. In addition, I don't have much time at home now. When the post is sent, how to arrange the time to receive it all needs to be planned as a whole.
In addition, after this trip, more people came from Ningxia and Gansu to give gifts. Although most of them were for the old man, there are also some specially designated for the old man.
For example, yesterday there were several pieces of brocade sent by the Shoushan Bo He family. It is said that the He family brought back Shu brocade from Sichuan. It is beautiful in color and exquisitely woven and dyed. I am afraid that each piece is worth dozens of taels of silver.
In addition, in April and May, before the uncle came back, there were new teas sent by the Fujian Guild Hall, and rouge rice sent by the Shanshan Guild Hall, etc., which amazed Jin Chuaner and Yun Shang.
But this has never happened before. Even if there are gifts, they are all for the master. Now that the master has not officially retired, people are actually coming to give gifts. Moreover, such rare things that are commonly used in daily life but rarely seen can actually be used.
It explains many problems.
Seeing that the door was quietly closed, Xu Xicai asked in a deep voice: "What does Ziying mean by this?"
"Brother Zixun, Mr. Chai has submitted the strategy of opening the sea to the cabinet and the emperor, but the chief assistant and Mr. Fang Ge have doubts. Let's not mention Mr. Fang Ge for now. I estimate that no matter what kind of strategy it is and how to adjust it,
He will not support it, but the attitude of the chief assistant directly determines the progress and intensity of the sea-opening strategy."
Xu Xie was surprised, "Mr. Ye Ge? Progress and intensity?"
"Well, the Chief Assistant may have his own considerations, but the Western Expedition and Counter-Rebellion Army cannot wait. It must be finalized as soon as possible to allow Liu Dongyang's troops to go west." Feng Ziying said bluntly: "Brother Zi Xun, I I won’t hide it from you. I went to Master Qi and Master Qiao to discuss the pros and cons of opening the sea. They are also considering it. You also know that the northern scholars in the imperial court have always been hostile to the opening of the sea. The current Western Expedition to suppress the rebellion also affects the entire Nine Borders. Strategic security, so it may have touched them. If we cannot take this opportunity to impress them, I am afraid that it will be slim to find such opportunities in the future.”
Feng Ziying's straightforward words made Xu Xie frown and then feel relieved. Why are you still worrying about this at this time?
Feng Ziying's intention is very clear, that is, to take this opportunity to promote the full opening of the sea. The attitude of the northern scholars has been shaken due to the rebellion and the nine-sided strategy. If they cannot take this opportunity to finalize it, I am afraid that if they miss this opportunity, they will lose it. I know if it will work again in the future.
Now we must take advantage of the wavering attitude of the northern scholars to quickly mobilize all forces and make this strategy a national policy. There will be some objections in the future, but the deal is done. It is too late to object again, at least until the opening of the sea is achieved. Only after the results come out will we know.
"Then Ziying, what do you think are the reasons that might make Mr. Shouxian hesitant at the moment?"
Xu Xie finally understood that this might involve the distribution and exchange of interests, and he felt excited.
I finally have the opportunity to become a participant in such a grand plan of the imperial court. Isn't this what all scholars dream of?
"First, it may involve your merchants in Fujian and Zhejiang who have already participated in maritime trade. If not handled properly, either they may be targeted by the Metropolitan Procuratorate, or they may make waves in the Zhongxing movement and obstruct the promotion. But I I think that if Fujian and Zhejiang can see the situation clearly and can estimate the overall situation, they should not be so narrow-minded. The prospects for sea trade are extremely promising. After the court strategy is finalized, there will no longer be any restrictions and worries, and there will definitely be a round of war. If an outbreak occurs, the original beneficiaries may benefit more, but they cannot prevent other beneficiaries from coming in. After all, the more beneficiaries, the more benefits the court can gain..."
Feng Ziying had already revealed some ideas in this regard to Xu Xie before. It is estimated that Huang Ruliang had already discussed it with Xu Xie and had some considerations.
"What else?" Xu Xie knew that this was not the main thing. In fact, Mr. Huang and Mr. Chief Assistant should have communicated before, but there must be other reasons for the delay.
"The rest is mainly about the distribution of profits, which must be used for nine-sided defense."
This is the bottom line for northern scholars. Qi Yongtai, Qiao Yingjia and Feng Ziying all raised this point without a doubt in their conversations.
The security of the Nine Borders directly endangers the interests of the entire northern scholars. Whether it is Liaodong, Xuanda, or the Three Borders, Shanshan, Beizhi, Shandong and Liaodong, these are the core areas of the North, all in Tatar. Under the threat of the Jurchens and the Jurchens, if these benefits cannot be used to stabilize the nine-border defense line, I am afraid that the strategy of opening up the sea will definitely not gain their support.
"Ziying, I'm afraid this point needs to be discussed." Xu Xie didn't hide it, "Japanese pirates have never stopped harassing coastal areas, from Nanzhi, Fujian and Zhejiang to Guangdong and Guangxi. Even Shandong has suffered from this disaster.
It is definitely important to use it for nine sides, but I’m afraid we also need to consider maritime defense..."
Feng Ziying and Xu Xie finally understood the crux of the matter. Everything was for profit.
After the strategy of opening up the sea is determined, borrowing is only a matter of specific means. Everyone has already focused on this money. How to use it, who will use it, and who will control it, this is the key, and it is also the central goal that everyone is focused on and will not let go.
