The Ming Dynasty and Mongolia have been at war for two hundred years. It is impossible to calculate how much hatred they have accumulated. Perhaps in the minds of most Ming people, Mongolia is an old enemy and a mortal enemy. Their hatred is so deep that the Mongols will be exterminated unless they are defeated.
It's not over yet - even if the people who think this way are actually living in the mainland, they have never seen half a Mongolian in their life.
This is the inertia of thinking caused by two hundred years of hostility.
But in fact, in the border areas that are really bordering the Mongols, both the people and the officials and the border troops are tired of the endless war. If it is not due to inertia, unless they are the kind of people who really have a blood feud with the Mongols.
, otherwise few people would be willing to keep playing.
It was just that the imperial court kept insisting on fighting, and the Mongols were not honest and always came to rob them from time to time. They had no choice but to fight back.
This is the truth that Gao Pragmatic recently learned from ordinary people in Datong and Deshengbao.
For Gao Pragmatic, a person who has too many memories of his past life, war or peace is not a problem, the only question is which one is more beneficial.
The war can keep the border troops on thousands of miles of border lines from Jiliao, Xuanfu, Datong to Shaanxi in a continuous state of alert, thereby maintaining better war literacy. In case of police in other parts of the country, whether it is
If the Boar Skin rises or rogue bandits appear, this large number of border troops can be mobilized at any time, and their combat effectiveness is relatively guaranteed.
Harmony can ease the national finances and help ensure the smooth advancement of various reforms; it can also prevent border provinces from war, restore vitality and achieve development.
According to Gao's pragmatic view, war is like treating the symptoms, and peace is like treating the root cause. One is to treat the problem, and the other is to consolidate the physical foundation to prevent the disease from happening.
This choice is not difficult for Gao Pragmatic, just like the story of the three Bian Que brothers.
According to "He Guanzi Shixian No. 16": Wei Wenhou asked Bian Que for advice and asked him who among his three brothers had the best medical skills. Bian Que answered truthfully, saying that among his three brothers, the eldest brother had the best medical skills.
Well, the second brother's medical skills are second best, and his medical skills are the worst.
Wei Wenhou was puzzled and asked why you think you are the worst in medical skills, but your reputation is famous all over the world, while your two brothers are unknown?
Bian Que replied: "My eldest brother treated the disease and eradicated the root cause of the disease before the disease occurred. His superb medical skills are not known to outsiders, only his family knows it, so he is not famous; my second brother treated the disease at the beginning of the disease."
He started to treat the symptoms when they were superficial. Although the medicine cured the disease, the villagers thought he was just a doctor who could treat minor illnesses, so his reputation was not great. But when I treat patients, I always treat them when they are in critical condition and in extreme pain.
Treatment, using acupuncture, internal and external medicines, and even surgery, can turn the condition into a peaceful one and gradually make the patient recover. Therefore, everyone thinks that my medical skills are miraculous, so I am famous all over the world."
Traditional Chinese medicine has been adhering to the idea of "treating the disease before it's too late" for thousands of years. It believes that "the superior doctor treats the disease before it's already there, the traditional Chinese medicine treats the disease of desire, and the inferior doctor treats the disease already." This may be where it comes from.
It is certainly a good thing to always maintain a frontier army with combat experience, but compared with strengthening the internal governance of the regime, making the people rich and financially healthy, it is actually not that important, at least not so critical.
In particular, after all, it is still the Longqing Dynasty. It is not the end of Chongzhen, the bandits have not entered Beijing, and the wild boar skin can only "defend the border for the country" under the rule of the Ming Dynasty.
But this truth is meaningless if Gao Pragmatic talks to Huang Mengyu. For a person of Huang Mengyu's level and status, only the emperor's attitude is crucial, and everything else is just a cloud.
Because he is just a servant of the emperor.
So Gao Pragmatic laughed, and said with a hint of mystery: "The late emperor did say, 'Anyone who repeats the horse market will be judged for death.' However, the time of the late emperor was very different from today's world, and it cannot be generalized."
Huang Mengyu was stunned for a moment, showing an apologetic expression, but hesitantly asked: "This... I, Old Huang, don't have much knowledge, so I would like to ask Gao Shi to read the instructions clearly."
Gao pragmatically looked helpless and said: "During the late Emperor's time, the Northern Captives were strong, and our dynasty encountered Japanese pirates who were plundering, so it was difficult to concentrate our strength to fight against the Northern Captives. If we showed even a little timidity towards the Northern Captives, the Northern Captives would definitely not be satisfied.
In exchange of tribute and trade, if one thing goes wrong, they can only sign an alliance under the city. Huang Zhenshou, think about it, given the temperament of the late emperor, do you think he can accept it? Of course not! So he can only show strength and insist on it.
If you are willing to reconcile with the Beilu, the Beilu will not know what is true or false in our court, and they will only see that I am of the same mind, so naturally they will not dare to make mistakes, at least they will not dare to press too hard, right?"
In order to sell his views to Huang Da, Gao Shidu could find such a good reason for Jiajing's mentally retarded diplomacy, which is rare.
"Oh..." Huang Mengyu suddenly realized, and asked: "So what now?"
"Now, after Jinshang succeeded to the throne, the Japanese pirates are gradually embarrassed. Although they still invade occasionally, they are no longer a serious problem. Qi Nantang has even been transferred to Jiliao to guard the border. It can be seen that the focus of our country has shifted to the northern border.
.As for the Northern Barbarians, they have suffered from disasters for many years and their strength has been greatly reduced. Look at the current situation, not to mention another Gengshu Incident, the Northern Barbarians have rarely succeeded in plundering, and this time they were even beaten on the flanks by Ma Zongrong.
Collapse...it can be seen that Beilu and I have exchanged offense and defense."
Huang Mengyu was surprised and said: "In that case, why do we still want to negotiate peace with him?"
Gao Pragmatic smiled bitterly and said: "Could it be that Huang Zhenshou didn't know that Mongolia is no more easy to defeat than other countries, but it is difficult to destroy it. Even if our country turns from defense to attack, it will be difficult to defeat them. In this case, my Ming Dynasty has been tired all year round.
What’s the point of using all the strength of the country to maintain the northern frontier?”
"This..." Huang Mengyu scratched his head: "It makes sense."
Seeing that he was still hesitant, Gao Pangshi added: "What's more, if you guard against thieves for a thousand days, it is always difficult to be foolproof. If the Northern Captives attack the pass again, no matter the frontier army or the princes in the court, there will be no guarantee."
Is there anyone responsible for this? For example, you, Huang Zhengshou, can you guarantee that the defense of Datong is really impregnable, and even if we attack with all our strength without warning, nothing will go wrong?"
"This... it still depends on the ministers and generals. How can I, Old Huang, take care of it?" Huang Mengyu shook his head and said.
"That's it." Gao Pingshi said seductively: "Look, if the situation just mentioned happens, although the primary responsibility lies with the border ministers and generals, you, Huang Zhenshou, are the eunuchs guarding Datong after all, and you were all beaten by the Beibei.
When we arrive outside Datong City, of course there will always be someone from the border ministers and generals who comes out to take the knife, but don’t you Huang Zhenshou also have to take the knife? Are you unjust? "
Huang Zhenshou was shocked: "Oh, that's so unfair! You can't blame me if the battle doesn't go well..."
"I can't blame you, but you are the eunuch guarding Datong. If the governor, governor and the generals are all convicted, can you run away?"
Huang Zhenshou suddenly felt horrified, and his spine went cold. He gasped: "Then... it's better to make peace, it's better to make peace!"
It’s a joke, I’m just a supervisor. I just watch these people not to do stupid things, and I don’t care how they fight. If something happens, I will suffer with them. Of course, it’s best not to have such unfortunate things happen.
.
Gao pragmatically nodded and said: "So, only if the peace talks are successful and the Ming and Mongolian sides exchange tribute and trade, and Huang Zhen guards your position, can you truly be considered as safe as Mount Tai - the northern captives dare not invade the south, and you Huang Zhen guard