In August of the 20th year of Wanli, it was early autumn, but the weather was still very hot. The climate in these years has been abnormal. Summers are hotter and winters are colder than in the past. Floods, droughts, and locust plagues occur one after another. If the imperial court had not now had a slight surplus in the treasury, the Ministry of Household Affairs would have
More than 300,000 taels of special funds have been set aside for disaster relief. I am afraid that refugees have already spread all over the north. Regarding this, even officials from the Xinxue School cannot praise Situ.
The sun was scorching hot on that day, scorching the city of Beijing, and cicadas were chirping in the willow bushes on both sides of the streets. The courtyard of the Ministry of War Yamen was hidden in the shade of a green cloud-like tree, blocking the rays of the sun.
, looks cool, quiet, and becomes a nice place that is clean and cool.
At this moment, Song Yingchang, the right minister of the Ministry of War, was sitting in the Qianshi room, sipping tea leisurely, while the old man was browsing the official letters sent from the military towns of various parties. As usual, most of these official letters are still inseparable from requests for food.
The old routines of asking for pay and weapons, with a few differences here and there, are probably the request for credit that played a major role in the battle against Yuan Dynasty.
The former does not need to be looked at too much. The ministry has its own arrangements. Just take a quick look and see that there are no major changes in the local military town and then let it go. The latter needs to be scrutinized. After all, those who seek credit must be classified into categories, and those who are serious about fighting must be suppressed for the time being.
, the emperor will make unified arrangements after all the fighting has subsided, and merits such as guarding the border and forts, and transporting within the customs can be rewarded first depending on the situation.
However, when Song Yingchang looked at these official documents, the expression on his face was always calm. After all, although the Ministry of War can agree to rewards in these matters, its power is mainly concentrated on promotion recommendations. Regarding matters of financial and silk rewards, the Ministry of Revenue is now the one who speaks out - the specific rewards.
How many Ming Dynasty Federal Reserve small-denomination banknotes will be issued will have to wait until Gao Situ returns to Beijing to decide.
At this moment, there was a "wow" sound, and an urgent letter from the Six Hundred Miles Quick Rider with a fire seal came into his eyes. Song Yingchang's face tightened, and he put down the tea cup in his hand attentively.
I grabbed the urgent letter and opened it to read it, and I was suddenly startled: "Du Huazhong, the governor of Zhejiang and other places and also the admiral of the army, wrote a memorial to the Ryukyu Kingdom to report the unusual movements of the Japanese country."
"...Recently, according to the report sent by Shang Ning from the Ryukyu Kingdom: The merchants of our country have learned that the Japanese chiefs have purchased wood, gunpowder, iron materials and other materials for several months, and have frequently contacted the Nanman red barbarians in various ports to purchase
There are many weapons such as firecrackers and guns. There are large warships built in the military port. It is said that the Japanese covered them with iron to avoid fire arrows and iron bullets...
In Shang Ning's opinion, the move of the Japanese chieftain was very suspicious. A few days ago, Wu Xun, the manager of the Ningbo Private Port of Jinghua, claimed that Toyotomi Hideyoshi of the Japanese Kingdom built the Nagoya Castle in Matsuura County, stationed troops to accumulate grain, repaired weapons, and showed off his power, which was a vain attempt.
Waiting for an opportunity to invade North Korea, or wanting to spy on the Ming Dynasty.
The ministers and others have repeatedly verified that what they said about Ryukyu Kingdom Shangning and Ningbo Wu Xun is true. The Japanese pirates are indeed eager to show off their madness and must be on guard against it. The matter is so serious that the ministers dare not stay, so they sent an urgent delivery six hundred miles away.
Please report it immediately and ask the Ministry of War and the Cabinet to send it to His Majesty for decision."
After Song Yingchang saw it, he was naturally surprised and angry. He was a Jinshi in the 44th year of Jiajing and a disciple of Gao Gong, but at the same time he was from Zhejiang. Of course he knew who "Ningbo Wu Xun" was - the son of Wu Dui, the current incumbent
Because of his special status, it is entirely reasonable for the manager of Jinghua Ningbo Port to have information from the Japanese country.
As for Du Huazhong, the governor of Zhejiang, he was also a Jinshi in the 44th year of Jiajing. He was a student of Gao Gong's disciples. He was the same year and disciple of Song Yingchang. What he told the Ministry of War must have been carefully verified.
Song Yingchang did not dare to delay, so he hurriedly picked up the six-hundred-mile express letter and hurried to the review room of Zhou Yong, Minister of the Ministry of War. Unexpectedly, as soon as he rushed to the door of the review room, he saw a palace official
The chamberlain was conveying an oral message to Zhou Yong inside: "Your Majesty has a decree. The North Korean envoy Liu Mengding has come to the palace to report important matters involving the vassal state. It is urgent to announce to Zhou Yong that Song Yingchang will come to see you as soon as possible."
Song Yingchang hurriedly knelt beside the door and accepted the order with Zhou Yong. He did not dare to stop for a moment, followed the eunuch, left the hall, and waited at the door to take the sedan chair. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Song Yingchang transformed Du Hua into his hand.
The Six Hundred Miles Kuaiqi urgently submitted the report to Zhou Yong.
Seeing that he was extremely nervous, Zhou Yong knew that this submission was very important, so he took it in his hand, got into the sedan chair, sat down, and read it carefully.
At first glance, Zhou Yong's expression also changed suddenly. He opened the sedan curtain and ordered the bearers outside: "Quick! Quick! We have important matters in the palace to present to the Holy One. Don't delay!" The bearers listened to the Grand Sima.
The rush was so great that they hurriedly carried the sedan chair, and they all ran away as fast as flying.
In the eight-jeweled gold incense burner in the West Nuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, the light smoke of the best incense is curling up, floating in the air in various shapes. The Wanli Emperor Zhu Yijun is sitting solemnly on the throne.
, holding the imperial case with both hands, frowning with two thick eyebrows, a faint cloud seemed to hang over his round face, and his lips were pursed tightly.
His starry-eyed eyes shot out with a burning and compelling light, and they were fixed on a memorial made of silk on the imperial desk - it was the letter of Toyotomi Hideyoshi presented from Korea.
Chinese translation of the threatening letter.
Opposite him, sitting on the tables on both sides were the cabinet chief minister Shen Shixing, the second minister Xu Guo, the group minister Wu Dui and others. On the ink-colored marble floor in front of him, kneeling was the North Korean envoy Liu Mengding.
"Why haven't Zhou Yong and Song Yingchang arrived yet?" Zhu Yijun said solemnly.
"Your Majesty, the Chief Sima and the Young Sima should already be on their way to the palace - the Ministry of War is not as good as the Cabinet, after all, it is far away. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty." The palm print stood at the door of Xinuang Pavilion with a bow.
The great eunuch Chen Ju hurriedly responded respectfully inside: "How about I send someone to urge you..."
Before he finished speaking, there was a burst of hurried footsteps approaching outside the courtyard door, and Zhou Yong and Song Yingchang were seen flashing in. They hurried to the door, first bowed their hands to him, and then they both bowed to the ground.
Not caring to wipe off the beads of sweat on his forehead, he said in unison: "I am late to serve you, please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Zhu Yijun waved his left hand expressionlessly to make them level. Then, without saying a word, he tapped the Chinese translation of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's threatening letter on the imperial desk with the fingers of his right hand. Chen Ju
Understanding, he stepped forward and handed it to Zhou Yong, and Song Yingchang circulated it.
After Zhou Yong and Song Yingchang carefully read the translation, they were both shocked and looked at each other in astonishment: The emperor knew the news about the Japanese invaders so quickly! After thinking about it, they understood again - think
Was it brought by the North Korean envoy?
"Your Ministry of War is in charge of military affairs. I want to know now: Have you ever noticed the news sent by the Korean vassal?" Zhu Yijun said coldly: "Are the Japanese bandits already sharpening their knives?
Are you ready to make a move? Or maybe it’s just Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Japanese chieftain, who is just barking at the sun?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, regarding the Japanese chief Toyotomi Hideyoshi's attempt to invade our Ming Dynasty, I have noticed it and are about to enter the palace to report to Your Majesty." Zhou Yong heard Zhu Yijun's sharp question and hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down.
On the ground, he held the six-hundred-mile express letter from Du Huazhong in both hands and presented it. He said in a trembling voice: "This is the urgent report of the Japanese situation sent by Du Huazhong, the governor of Zhejiang. I respectfully request your Majesty to read it..."
"Oh? The ears and eyes of Zhejiang and the Ministry of War are so well-informed?" Zhu Yijun glanced at Zhou Yong in surprise, and asked as he took the six-hundred-mile express letter from Chen Ju who passed it over.
He asked a somewhat strange question and said: "Ryukyu's imperial court has always gone to Fujian, why did it go to Zhejiang this time?"
Zhou Yong's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't dare to answer. He just lowered his head and remained silent. Song Yingchang couldn't stand it anymore, so he knelt down behind him and said, "I'm afraid Ryukyu has seen the seriousness of this matter, and is afraid of the mountainous terrain in Fujian.
The military plane was delayed, so it was rushed to Zhejiang by sea ship to save time."
In fact, things are obviously not like this. Ryukyu has actually known for a long time how powerful the Beijing and China fleets are, and also knows that the governor of Fujian at the time was not a member of the practical school, while the governor of Zhejiang was Du Huazhong of the practical school, so he had to ignore "etiquette"
I would like to give Du Huazhong a copy of the "first report".
Song Yingchang obviously couldn't say this directly, so he took the opportunity to find a reason for Ryukyu first. If the future mind school wanted to arrest the pigtails, since the emperor had already preconceived the idea, he wouldn't care.
When he said this, Zhu Yijun did not ask any further questions. He carefully read the urgent letter for the six-hundred-mile cavalry, closed his eyes slightly and meditated for a moment, then opened his eyes and said: "Idu Huazhong came to report, this Japanese chief Toyotomi
Hideyoshi is really ready to make a move! Humph, the great Yuan Dynasty that used to span hundreds of thousands of miles has been destroyed by my hands. How dare a small country like his own to make trouble? If Toyotomi Hideyoshi really dares to invade, I will
There will be no return for him!"
"Your Majesty's divine writings and sacred martial arts are powerful and powerful, and I am respected by all my ministers." Upon hearing this, Shen Shixing and other cabinet ministers hurriedly stood up and congratulated him.
When Liu Mengding heard Zhu Yijun's heroic words, he couldn't help but burst into tears with excitement. He kowtowed on the floor and cried: "Your Majesty is brave and brave, and his kindness has extended overseas and benefited all nations. I, the kings and ministers of the Korean vassal country, are grateful and will never forget the heaven."
The country is benevolent and virtuous.”
After hearing his sudden statement, both Zhou Yong and Song Yingchang's hearts skipped a beat, and they looked at each other in surprise: This North Korean envoy is really shrewd and tactful, and he was immediately moved by His Majesty's words.
From the perspective of protecting their country of Korea! But His Majesty said that it was the Japanese pirates who invaded our country, so the Ming Dynasty made it impossible for them to come back, but he did not say that even if the Japanese pirates invaded the vassal country of Korea, they would also send troops to help!
At this time, Zhu Yijun didn't seem to realize that Liu Mengding had taken advantage of him because of his sharp words. He just looked at him lying on the ground with an extremely grateful look, and he couldn't help but feel a little sympathy.
However, pity goes back to pity. The Ming Dynasty had just fought a war involving 600,000 troops. Although the loss of troops was not large, the consumption of materials was huge. It was better not to disturb them for the time being from North Korea.
So he waved his hand and ordered Chen Ju to help Liu Mengding up, and said slowly: "Liu Qing will return to North Korea and tell you, Your Majesty: Although our great dynasty will not sit back and watch you being invaded by the Japanese country, you must not
You can rely on this and forget the way to strengthen yourself. Moreover... your country is a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, but Japan also pays tribute to the Ming Dynasty [Note: The official trade of the Ming Dynasty is theoretically tribute], so the rights and wrongs here
, I shall argue carefully.
In addition, in my opinion, if the Japanese country is eyeing your country and waiting for an opportunity to attack, I am afraid that it will only happen in these few months! If you are not careful and vigilant, I am afraid that you will be caught off guard by then."
"Foreign ministers will remember His Majesty's Holy Instructions. After returning to North Korea, they will convey His Majesty's Holy Instructions to the king of our country verbatim." Liu Mengding nodded repeatedly and bowed in response.
"Chen Ju, please help him go down to rest..." Zhu Yijun looked at Liu Mengding and saw that Liu Mengding was hoarse from exhaustion, so he no longer allowed him to stay in Xinuan Pavilion and ordered Chen Ju to call some servants from outside the pavilion to bring him to rest.
Helped him out.
Hearing Liu Mengding's staggering footsteps gradually walking away, Zhu Yijun's resolute and calm expression changed in an instant, revealing a deeply worried look.
He raised his eyes and looked at Shen Shixing, Zhou Yong, Song Yingchang and others. His voice became lowered and he said slowly: "It was just in order to stabilize the hearts of North Korea's monarchs and ministers that I had no choice but to pretend to be heroic... As a parent
In this country, I cannot lose the majesty of the Huanghuang Celestial Dynasty!"
"Since Your Majesty made such heroic words, I thought that the Korean vassal country would be emboldened by this, and instead would not be vigilant, Wen Tian and Wu were playful, I am afraid that it would be inevitable in the future..." Wang Jiaping is known for his uprightness and loyalty.
Yu Chao also spoke frankly when facing Zhu Yijun.
Zhu Yijun's face darkened after hearing this, and he sat on the imperial couch without answering.
"Yes, Your Majesty, although the attack on Yuan Dynasty went smoothly this time, our army has been out for a long time. Even if it comes back victorious, it will have to rest for a while. Especially Li Rusong's troops in Liaodong. He has sent troops the farthest and has not even returned to the town yet. Liaodong
This town is really empty. If North Korea starts fighting again and asks Liaodong to come in for reinforcements, how can Liaodong have any spare strength?"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Shen Shixing said with a worried look: "Most of Liaodong's elite troops have left the fortress. According to the previous imperial meeting plan, I am afraid that some of the troops will be allocated to Daning. In this case..."
"I know this matter well." Zhu Yijun waved his hand: "The matter of garrisoning troops in the three cities of Daning or Chahar is a long-term plan, and it cannot be completed overnight. Since Liaodong may face a war, it is necessary to mobilize troops from Liaodong.
Naturally, we need to discuss it again during the war."
Zhu Yijun frowned tightly and pondered for a moment. Finally, he waved his sleeves, strengthened his tone, and said solemnly, "It seems that pragmatically returning to Beijing can no longer be postponed. He, the world's best literary and handsome man, will not be in Beijing for a day."
, there will inevitably be some clowns coming out to cause mischief!
Chen Ju, the Chief of Ceremonies will write a handwritten edict in my name to Pragmatic, asking him to hurry up and urge Hannaji, saying that there is no need to go back and forth to declare the number of people coming to Beijing for King Shunyi, and we can discuss it. You let him
Just decide for yourself.”
Hearing that Zhu Yijun had decided to hand over the matter of the number of people Han Naji brought to the capital to Gao Pangshi, Zhou Yong couldn't help being surprised: Although King Shunyi was loyal, it was a foreign vassal who came to the capital this time, not to mention that his subordinates were still
If something happens to the Mongolian cavalry, who can afford it? The emperor actually handed over such a big matter to Da Situ to decide it with just one word?
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, the number of troops that King Shunyi will lead when he comes to the capital cannot be determined by the Great Situ." Shen Shixing was really surprised and said hurriedly: "I don't believe in the Great Situ. It's because the Great Situ has not yet met you.
That is to say, the power of entrusting the territory to the ministers has not yet been handed over. How can we decide on our own the number of foreign vassals coming to Beijing?"
"Yuan Fu's words are wrong!" When Song Yingchang heard this, he hurriedly stood up and bowed to Zhu Yijun and said, "Da Situ defeated the Northern Yuan Dynasty in one battle. It can be said that the army is as powerful as a tiger, and it has also made His Majesty a powerful force in the world. This time
Although the affairs in Japan and Korea are big, can they be bigger than Situ's reputation? If Situ returns to Beijing as soon as possible, even the Ministry of War will be relieved... I ask Yuan Fu to think carefully about this matter."
"Oh?" Shen Shixing really didn't expect that Song Yingchang, the right minister of the Ministry of War, would openly speak out against his opinions at the imperial meeting. He couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and stared at Song Yingchang with some annoyance before opening his mouth to refute.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Yijun seemed to be very satisfied with Song Yingchang's words. He raised his hand slightly to stop Shen Shixing and took the words and said: "What Song Aiqing said is true. Grand Sima, your Ministry of War might as well make a plan first about the Japanese pirates peeping into North Korea.
Discuss with Da Situ immediately after he returns to Beijing!"
"I obey the order." Zhou Yong and Song Yingchang hurriedly knelt down to answer. At this moment, Zhu Yijun seemed to feel that the court affairs were over. He looked at the funnel on the side and was about to ask the ministers to retreat. Unexpectedly, Xu Guo suddenly knelt down in front of the imperial case.
The prelude said: "Your Majesty, I have something to tell you."
"Mr. Xu, please speak." Zhu Yijun endured his temper and nodded.
Xu Guo took a deep breath, took out a memorial from his arms, and said: "I beg for the bones."
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