If it weren't for the frequent wars last year and the huge consumption of military expenditures, last year's surplus would definitely be far greater than the year before.
If this had been done a few years ago, how could the imperial court have fought so many wars, conquering Monan in the north and conquering the southwest? How could it have afforded it?
You must know that the scale of the southwestern chieftain's rebellion was no less powerful than that of Yang Yinglong.
The imperial court also mobilized the armies of Sichuan and Guizhou provinces, plus tens of thousands of Beijing troops brought by the emperor himself.
It was bigger than the Battle of Bozhou. Of course, the emperor also contributed a lot of money, but everyone knows that the emperor made a fortune by confiscating his properties.
Even Hubu also took a lot of soup to drink.
But even so, this is a fact. Last year's finances were indeed much better than in previous years. Although there were still some constraints, they were not overstretched.
After thinking of this, Cheng Guoxiang was too embarrassed to answer.
He already understood what the emperor meant, and it was nothing more than comparing it with facts.
You see, although I kill people like crazy and change officials one after another, the court has money to do things and the country's economic situation has improved.
Seeing Cheng Guoxiang speechless, Zhu Youxiao almost couldn't help but laugh.
Then he continued:
"I always think deeply and think twice before I act."
"I know what you mean, and I also know your sincere heart for serving the country, the people, and the country."
"But in extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken. The political factions of the Jiajing Dynasty must not appear in the Tianqi Dynasty."
"I also have to make up for the mistakes my grandpa made, one by one. The party struggle in the imperial court has lasted for nearly a hundred years, and it's time to come to an end."
"If the monarch and his ministers cannot unite as one and maintain the same political opinions and strategies, but instead undermine each other and attack each other, fighting overtly and secretly, how can the Ming Dynasty be revitalized or prosperous?"
Song Yingxing and Cheng Guoxiang didn't know what to say to what Zhu Youxiao said, because it was indeed the truth.
Anyway, it is a blessing for the Ming Dynasty that the emperor has such ambitions, and it is also a blessing for their ministers who are dedicated to doing what they want to do.
Even if the process is too brutal and bloody, and the means used are too cruel, the starting point is good and the result will be good.
The two people who originally thought of admonishing them even to the death were sent out of the palace by Zhu Youxiao.
After experiencing this incident, Zhu Youxiao also learned wisely. He will not meet any official again until everything is over and the dust has settled.
It's really a sour mouth.
Therefore, for nearly ten days, Zhu Youxiao never left the Qianqing Palace, and he did not even favor the concubines in the harem.
Not only do I want to have a few quiet and leisurely days, but there are too many accumulated political affairs and memorials, so I have to work overtime.
But also in these few days, the entire capital is about to be turned upside down.
The minister worked tirelessly every day and insisted on kneeling outside the Meridian Gate to remonstrate, regardless of the scorching sun.
I hope that in this way I can meet with the emperor and give him face-to-face advice.
Zhu Youxiao remained indifferent.
The only thing he cared about was how the errand he ordered was done and how much money he would get from this house raid.
Because he had to spend a lot of money again, Yuan Keli's Denglai Town, as well as the construction and scale of the navy, were completely on track.
Although the navy's fleet is not as large as that of the Yongle period, it cannot be underestimated.
There are as many as two thousand warships of various sizes.
Of course, there are only a few hundred ships capable of naval warfare, and the rest are mostly used for transporting supplies or troops.
These ships were all collected from various coastal guards by Yuan Keli with great effort, and there were also many civilian ships among them.
Although it cannot be compared with the long-distance fleets of the West, judging from the current strength, it is enough to defend this three-acre area along the coast of the Ming Dynasty.
Now that the ports, ships, sailors, officers and soldiers have been built, it is time to start building a real navy.
This is where money really needs to be spent. The hundreds of thousands of taels of silver spent in the early stage are just to lay the foundation.
If you want to form a truly qualified naval fleet with naval combat capabilities, you must have a professional instructor to provide professional training.
Westerners with rich experience in large-scale navigation and naval battles of various scales are undoubtedly the best choice.
Their use of artillery and naval battle tactics were far superior to those of the Ming Dynasty at this time.
But these Westerners are all just looking for money.
What's more, we need to develop and build larger and stronger warships, preferably ones that can replicate the treasure ships used by Zhenghe when he went to sea.
But this is obviously unrealistic, because the blueprints have long been hidden by Liu Daxia, and the craftsmanship has been lost for hundreds of years.
Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao was so angry that he immediately ordered Liu Daxia's grave to be dug up and his body whipped. The whole family was exiled to Liaodong and became slaves for generations.
Then he summoned Xu Guangqi, the deputy minister of the cabinet:
"I heard that when I was young, I once worshiped Western barbarians as my teachers and learned their culture."
"That's true. When I was in Guangxi, I accidentally saw the map of all nations. I was shocked. At that time, I made up my mind to worship the person who drew this map as my teacher."
"After several twists and turns, I finally got my wish and became a disciple of Matteo Ricci. I studied Western astronomy, geography, and mathematics with him, and translated the original mathematics of the Yi people."
Matteo Ricci and Zhu Youxiao had heard that he was an Italian and his tomb is just outside Beijing.
"I came to you today to discuss the construction and training of the Royal Navy of the Ming Dynasty. I have thought about it for a long time. You are the only one who knows the most about overseas matters in the civil and military affairs of the dynasty."
"As I often deal with Westerners, I should know that there is heaven beyond the sky, there are people beyond the world, and there are countless countries and lands beyond the sea."
"You are also someone who has seen the whole map of the world, so I won't say more to you."
"Our land of the Ming Dynasty is just a small corner in the whole world. Why do we call ourselves the lord of the world and the supreme kingdom of heaven?"
"Especially the naval warships of the Westerners, our Ming Dynasty is really beyond our reach, the gap is huge."
"Perhaps it is fortunate among misfortunes that they have not yet sailed to our country, Ming Dynasty."
"But if they don't come now, it doesn't mean they won't come in the future. Our Ming Dynasty has lagged far behind the West in terms of maritime strength. If they really come by then, how will our Ming Dynasty resist them?"
"So Ming Dynasty must seize this moment and quickly and vigorously build a strong maritime fleet to wait for my arrival. We cannot delay it any longer."
"Not to mention the proliferation of Japanese pirates along the coast of Ming Dynasty, running rampant on the sea and doing evil."
"It seriously threatens our coastal areas and people in the Ming Dynasty. Where is the majesty and credibility of the imperial court? It is really hateful."
"Only a powerful navy can completely solve this problem and keep the enemy at bay, just like our Nine-Border Military Town in the Ming Dynasty."