Zhu Youxiao was staring at a tree in a daze at this time, thinking.
"Wang Banban, how long does it take for this tree to grow from a sapling to a towering tree?"
Zhu Youxiao suddenly asked.
"Your Majesty, this may take hundreds of years!"
Zhu Youxiao asked again:
"In the same hundred years, this tree can already shelter from wind and rain. Its roots will become longer and thicker, and its branches will flourish. Why is my Ming Dynasty full of holes today?"
Wang Fuchen was about to answer when he heard Zhu Youxiao said:
"It's because the roots of my Ming Dynasty have been damaged and have been eaten by those insects. After they finish eating this tree, they will go to other trees to continue eating!"
Zhu Youxiao said angrily:
"The tree protects them from wind and rain and gives them a stable living environment. Instead of taking good care of it, they go to great lengths to eat up the tree that provides them with protection!"
"Xuancai came to Nuange to see me!"
After Zhu Youxiao said in a deep voice, he walked towards Nuange!
"I respectfully send you your holy greetings!"
The three assistant ministers of the cabinet said in unison.
"Let the three masters live in peace. Wang Banban, give the three masters a seat!"
Zhu Youxiao said calmly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Zhu Youxiao weighed the memorial in his hand and said: "This memorial in my hand is from Liaodong Economic Strategy Xiong Tingbi. It reports that the Liao army has a large food shortage. I hope the cabinet and the Ministry of Household Affairs can reissue part of it as appropriate!"
"The three masters should have already watched it, so let's watch it again!"
Zhu Youxiao handed the memorial to Wang Chaofu and handed it to the three assistant ministers.
The three of them had naturally read it a long time ago. It was because Fang Congzhe, Liu Yishui, and Han Xu had different opinions that they reported it to the emperor. Otherwise, they would have sent the memorial back long ago, and the emperor would never see it.
"A month ago, the late emperor issued two million taels of internal funds to reward the sergeants of Jiubian and Liaodong. Even if Xiang Xiang owed a lot of food over the years, the silver he distributed last time should have been enough to feed the sergeants for two months. Why now?
Is it about to start ringing? Can the three masters give me an answer?"
Zhu Youxiao looked at the three assistant ministers below and said coldly.
"Your Majesty, it seems to me that it is the officials below who have corrupted the army. I will impeach Xiong Tingbi, the Liaodong manager!"
Han Xu stepped forward and replied.
Zhu Youxiao looked at Han Xu coldly and said:
"Oh, Master Han, do you think it's Xiong Tingbi who calls out to catch the thief?"
Han Xu bowed again and said:
"Your Majesty, Xiong Tingbi has done nothing since he took office as the manager of Liaodong. It can be said that he is afraid of the enemy like a tiger, and now he is corrupting the military. Please order your Majesty to remove Xiong Tingbi, otherwise Liaodong may be in danger of a mutiny!"
Zhu Youxiao frowned and said warmly:
"If Xiong Tingbi is dismissed, will Aiqing have a strategic candidate?"
Liu Yishen knew that the opportunity had come and stepped forward and said:
"Your Majesty, Yuan Yingtai, governor of Liaodong, will definitely be qualified for the job!"
Han Xu went even further and said: "I also recommend Wang Huazhen, governor of Guangning, to take over the post of governor of Liaodong. This will ensure that Liaodong is not in danger!"
Zhu Youxiao secretly said that he was right. The goal of most ministers in the DPRK was to drive Xiong Tingbi out of Liaodong and then let their so-called Donglin important ministers take office.
In history, Emperor Tianqi was deceived by them in this way, and as a result, Nurhaci soared into the sky.
Only five months after Yuan Yingtai took office, he lost the two major military towns of Liaoyang, Shenyang, and Liaodong to Nurhaci without any effort, which provided the conditions and basic foundation for Huang Taiji to enter the customs five times and Dorgon to take control of the Central Plains.
But now Zhu Youxiao will no longer be fooled by these civil servants.
And judging from today's simple report, Liu Yishui and Han Xu were obviously well prepared, but Fang Congzhe, the leader of the Qi, Chu, and Zhejiang parties, was obviously caught off guard.
The cabinet also needs a major change!
"I understand, three masters, please go back!"
Liu Yishen and Han Xu were obviously unwilling to give up, so they stepped forward together and said:
"Your Majesty, Xiong Tingbi should be replaced as soon as possible, otherwise Shenyang will be in danger!"
Zhu Youxiao replied with a very bad expression:
"I understand, go back!"
The two of them were about to get angry when they saw the emperor, so they had no choice but to leave!
Zhu Youxiao said calmly!
"Announce that the Duke of England has come to see me!"
…
Liaodong
Shenyang
There are many generals in the Jinglue Mansion, and Xiong Tingbi, who is sitting at the top, is deep in thought. The generals below are all talking and laughing, but Xiong Tingbi is having a hard time.
Since the last large-scale Nurhachi attack, Xiong Tingbi personally led the army to rescue Shenyang and has stayed here since then.
The two million taels issued by the late emperor were not even enough for one hundred thousand taels. Liaodong's hundreds of thousands of troops were not even enough for one tael per person, and Liaodong had been in debt since the Wanli period.
Xiong Tingbi had to guard against Nurhachi, prevent the ministers from the DPRK and China from plotting against him, and also appease the mood and morale of the army. He was under great pressure.
"Tai Tai, is there any news about the food incident?" He Shixian, the chief military officer of Shenyang, said, cupping his fists.
Xiong Tingbi's memorial to report the grain supply was submitted to the capital on the 10th of last month. It has been almost a month now, and it seems that there is no hope.
But Xiong Tingbi couldn't tell them the truth, so he only said:
"I'm afraid the memorial is still in the cabinet. After all, the money was only distributed last time, but Yuan Fu has already written to me, and he will help us try our best to get it!"
"In my opinion, there is no hope for this amount of money, and the court will not be able to pay it back!"
A guerrilla general below said bitterly.
The other generals actually knew it well, but it was difficult for them to point it out.
But Xiong Tingbi only stared at the guerrilla general. The guerrilla general was so frightened by the stare that he shrank his head and retreated behind the others.
"Don't worry, everyone, your Majesty will not ignore me in Liaodong. Please wait patiently!"
Xiong Tingbi stood up and said.
Liaoyang
At the Liaodong Governor's Office, Yuan Yingtai was discussing with several Donglin Party members.
"This time Xiong Tingbi must be driven out of Liaodong. Most of the ministers in the DPRK and Central Government support Governor Yuan. All we have to do is wait for a letter from the two assistant ministers."
One of the senators said.
"Xiong Tingbi fears the enemy like a tiger and will only waste money and food from the state treasury. If Governor Yuan presides over it, Nurhachi will have been driven back to his hometown in Jianzhou long ago!"
Another official echoed.
"This world needs to be governed by me, Dong Lin Qingliu. People like Xiong Tingbi are not qualified to preside over major military and political affairs in Liaodong!"
Yuan Yingtai, governor of Liaodong, finally spoke out.
"After I have wiped out the slaves, I can return to the capital to report to His Majesty!"
"I am waiting patiently for this day to come. Governor Yuan has a bright future."
The ability of officials to flatter is truly the best in the world!
…
Nuan Pavilion
"I respectfully send you your holy greetings!"
British Duke Zhang Weixian knelt and said.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me for doing this. I'm old, so I won't do this for you from now on!"
Zhu Youxiao personally helped the British Duke up.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Zhang Weixian bowed and said:
"I wonder what your Majesty's ministers are here for?"
Zhu Youxiao looked at the eunuchs and maids on both sides.
"You all retreat, no one is allowed to come in without my order, Wang Banpan, guard the door for me!"
Wang Chaofu knew that there was something important to discuss, so he quickly withdrew.
Only Zhu Youxiao and Zhang Weixian were left in the Waiting Pavilion. Zhu Youxiao said:
"I intend to form a palace forbidden army, and I want the old Duke to select loyal and reliable soldiers for me from the Beijing camp. Does the old Duke have any questions?"
After hearing this, Zhang Weixian felt nervous. What is Your Majesty going to do?
"Your Majesty, I will obey you!"
Zhu Youxiao smiled and said:
"The old Duke is worthy of being an important minister of the country. I think the soldiers that the old Duke led that day can be part of the forbidden army. Is the old Duke willing to bear the pain and part with me?"
Zhang Weixian hurriedly said: "The Beijing camp is your Majesty's army, and I should be your Majesty's leader. I am just your Majesty's steward!"
"Why did the old Duke say this? I heard that the old Duke has an eldest grandson who is already in his early twenties? Is he willing to join the palace and become a member of the imperial army?"
Zhang Weixian was overjoyed: "I will obey the Holy Will carefully!"
"Okay, old Duke, please remember that you must be loyal and reliable, have a clean background, be brave and good at fighting. Let's set the quota at 7,000 people. If the capital camp is not enough, we will recruit soldiers from the private sector. I will personally inspect them in three days!"
Zhu Youxiao turned around again and said:
"In addition, pick two good horses for me to bring into the palace!"
…
After Zhang Weixian left, Zhu Youxiao opened the booklet. There were not many names on it, but they were all loyal and capable ministers he could rely on in the future:
"Civil officials include Xiong Tingbi, Sun Chuanting, Hong Chengchou, Wang Zaijin, Zhao Nanxing, Yuan Keli, Xu Guangqi, Cui Chengxiu, Tian Ji, Wei Guangwei, Ni Wenhuan, Wu Chunfu, Song Yingxing, and Bi Maokang!"
The ministers are: "Wei Zhongxian, Wang Tiqian, Wang Chengen, Xu Xianchun, Tian Ergeng, Cui Yingyuan, Yang Huan, and Sun Yunhe!"
As for the candidates for military generals, although I know those people are worthy of use, I still have to slowly discover and train such generals in the future.
Zhang Shize, the grandson of the British Duke, could be the commander of the imperial army.
Then he wrote two edicts himself and said to the door: "King Xuan Tiqian comes to see me!"
…
"Slave, please see your Majesty!"
Wang Tiqian knelt on the ground!
Zhu Youxiao observed it carefully and said:
"I have two edicts here. You first go to Beizhen Fusi to deliver the edict to Tian Ergen, and then you and he quickly go to Nanjing to deliver the edict. Once this is done, you will be the eunuch Bingbi, the eunuch of the ceremonial department!"
"In addition, pass on my oral instructions to him. The capital will be handed over to Xu Xianchun, and Nanjing will be handed over to him. Don't let me down, keep an eye on those ghosts and snake gods in Nanjing!"
…
Beizhen Fusi
"Quickly send word that Tian Ergen has come to see our family!"
Wang Tiqian stood at the door holding an order and giving instructions.
After waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour, Wang Tiqian saw Tian Ergeng who was covered in sweat.
"What do you want, father-in-law?"
Tian Ergeng ran all the way here.
Wang Tiqian handed the order to Tian Ergen. After Tian Ergen read it, he glanced at the eunuch in front of him, and Wang Tiqian gave Zhu Youxiao's oral instructions.
After hearing this, Tian Ergen immediately understood what the emperor meant and said to the people around him:
"Hurry and gather my own Tiqi!"
That night, hundreds of royal guards and one eunuch rode out of the city quickly and headed south!
The British Duke Zhang Weixian also told his son Zhang Zhiji and grandson Zhang Shize about today's entry into the palace to meet the saints. They had hope of rebuilding the Zhang family's glory.