Chapter 320 Seeking for a He who is good at singing and dancing
Chapter 320 Looking for a man who is good at singing and dancing
[How can we start the war lightly? Loyalty is commendable, but our duties are more important.]
Tang Shunzhi looked at the emperor's imperial approval as if struck by thunder.
You, an emperor with thick eyebrows and big eyes, howling in the capital camp, don't actually lead the battle?
The civil and military champions jointly signed up to take charge of the battle, which indeed caused a lot of discussion in the court.
But at this moment, there were all voices of doubt.
"Recruit troops every year to prevent autumn, set up borders, set up ambushes, guest soldiers, horse supplies, shop materials prices, warehouse grain and grass. If there is not enough to make up for the new year, Taicang must prepare enough money and grain for border towns, totaling three million taels. It is strange.
!This time for the great victory in Shuozhou, more than 80,000 taels were first allocated separately, and then the generals were rewarded with silver. Your Majesty is wise! Once the war started, tens of millions of money and food were consumed. Tang Shunzhi and Yu Dayou were just like scholars.
, the bravery of a reckless man is really not worth it!"
"Now the Five Forts of Xuening are being built, masonry, transportation, recruiting, and paying troops, but they are already stretched thin! The new law has not yet been completed, and the strategy of enriching the country has not been fully effective. How can the two of them carry out such a large-scale northern expedition?
Those who arbitrarily discuss national policies should be held accountable!"
"..."
Yu Dayou was numbed by the discussion between the government and the public.
He hasn't officially become an official yet, so he has to be questioned first?
Bingxu Ke's civil and military champion made a big splash at the end of the year.
Tang Shunzhi was just dazed for a while, and then said firmly to Yu Dayou: "Don't panic! It's just that your Majesty knows that the government and the public are as afraid of fighting as tigers! Don't you see the four words 'loyalty is commendable'? It's not that we don't fight, it must be that the timing is not right."
good!"
Yu Dayou looked at him: A few days ago, you said that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With the great victory at Shuozhou, the morale of the Ming Dynasty was high, and His Majesty's prestige was unparalleled; if I were defeated for the first time, there would be unrest within the Northern Yuan Dynasty.
Tang Shunzhi said flatly: "No! It's not that the timing is bad! Is it that you and I didn't think carefully?"
Yu Dayou: ...Brother, you are really stubborn.
"These two people are actually getting together now." Zhu Houcong was laughing and crying in the imperial study room.
Wang Shenzhong rarely pretended to be transparent in the imperial study room, and whispered: "The two of them are also brave..."
"It's okay to suffer a little bit." Zhu Houcong just smiled.
Who made the two of them hit each other?
The difficulty of the Ming Dynasty lies in the countless difficulties.
Fei Hong is now in the process of recreating the yellow book in the land of Qingzhang, which is a critical stage for the implementation of the new tax law next year. Every day when he looks at it, there is a faint word on his forehead: trouble.
As a result, the top civil and military leaders jumped out to take the lead in the battle? Or did they seize the opportunity and frame the "Taolu" Kou Bian for a national war-level Northern Expedition?
Those who dare not blatantly block the new law will only vent their grievances and dissatisfaction on this small excuse - in the name of public loyalty to the country.
It can only be said that Tang Shunzhi and Yu Dayou's ideas were a bit crude, or in other words - they were not as courageous and appetite as the emperor.
Precisely because Zhu Houcong has greater courage and appetite, the punch he is going to give is by no means an indifferent punch given the current strength of Datong Town and Da Ming. How can we underestimate the enemy in the north who can confront Da Ming for so long?
?Even if Tang Shunzhi and Yu Dayou's ideas are somewhat possible, how can they defend themselves against counterattack later?
Let's wait for these two young people for a while longer.
Now, Guo Xun's apology has arrived.
Ma Lu delivered a bullet to the capital, but Zhu Houcong just wrote and asked Guo Xun: If you are in Nanjing, if you don't practice Zhenwu Camp well, why are you in charge of the affairs of the Shanxi Justice Department?
Zhu Houcong really didn't know about the famous Li Fuda case in history, let alone what the entanglement between new and old ministers would eventually evolve into during the Great Ceremony Discussion.
Anyway, you, Guo Xun, are minding your own business.
Zhang Yin, the original commander of Taiyuan Left Guard, escaped first and was later captured, and there was also a lot of evidence presented by Ma Lu.
[...I was acquainted with the late emperor when he was still there. In the second year of Jiajing, he went to Beijing to visit me at his residence. At that time, I didn’t know that he had been reported. After that, I went to Nanjing and kept exchanging letters. I only listened to his letters.
It has been verified that there is no dragon-tiger shape or cinnabar character mentioned by the enemy, and no one has been released. Unexpectedly, after Ma Yushi arrived in Shanxi, the case was turned over again, and I sent a letter...]
Zhu Houcong was reading Guo Xun's letters in the imperial study, and doubts gradually appeared in his mind.
Zhu Houcong had paid little attention to "small cases" like this before.
But now it seems that Li Fuda participated in the rebellion by Wang Liang and other Maitreya cult monster thieves in the second year of Hongzhi. At that time, Li Fuda was exiled to Gansu as an accomplice and was exiled to the army.
As a result, he escaped, fled to Luochuan, was found out again, was exiled to Liaodong, and escaped again.
After escaping this time, he recruited many disciples in Shanxi and looted everywhere. In the seventh year of Zhengde, he launched the Luochuan Rebellion.
He still escaped, but this time he learned the lesson, changed his name to Zhang Yin, registered as a craftsman during the routine update of the yellow book, and got acquainted with Guo Xun. Then he "donated millet to officials" and through donations
He collected food and donated money, and eventually became an officer of the Taiyuan Left Guard Commander.
So bloody.
Now because of Guo Xun's reply, Zhu Houcong also paid attention to this case, but from a different angle.
Datong Town...yellow book...
Zhu Houcong pondered for a moment and then ordered: "Summon Fei Hong, Yang Yiqing, Cui Yuan, Wang Qiong, Wang Shouren, Zhang Zilin, Yang Tan, and also summon Gu Shilong and Li Quanli to discuss matters in the imperial study."
…
First, the top civil and military officials jointly submitted a petition to advocate for war, but the emperor rejected it.
But then, important ministers were sent to the Yangxin Hall to discuss matters.
Even if they are both counselors, there are differences. Among the counselors, only a few people are called; apart from the counselors, there are two important military officials.
This is an incredible signal.
So Fei Hong went to the imperial study room, looked at the lineup and suddenly became sad: "Your Majesty, I am waiting for the votes to be drafted, so I am not a coward. I really can't easily plan the Northern Expedition now!"
Take a look, Yang Yiqing, Wang Shouren, and Gu Shilong are all from the Military Affairs Council. After Li Quanli won the exercise, his prestige in the Beijing camp became even greater. Wang Qiong and Yang Tan were both ministers of the Ministry of Revenue... It doesn't look like they were discussing the Northern Expedition.
rhythm.
"Fei Qing is overly worried." Zhu Houcong smiled, "Today is not about this matter. I have never thought about rushing to the north. I summoned Qing and others to patrol Shanxi and record the bullets to impeach Marquis Wu Ding.
There is also the self-defense plea of Wu Dinghou. Regarding Li Fuda's case, please discuss the pros and cons of a thorough investigation."
Everyone was stunned.
Li Fuda’s case?
It is true that when Guo Xun is involved, it seems to be a big deal. But didn't the emperor say that? Guo Xun was "self-defending" and "pledging forgiveness".
It has been determined that Guo Xun is nosy.
In this case, what is there about Li Fuda's case that warrants so many important ministers coming together to discuss whether to investigate thoroughly?
Zhu Houcong looked at them: "I won't mention the old story of Li Fuda escaping twice. After escaping from causing trouble in Luochuan, how could he still enter the Yellow Book under a disguised name? How could he easily become the commander of the third-rank guard of my great Ming Dynasty?
?What I saw is shocking. How can we avoid this happening again in the future?"
After Ming Dynasty became a master, this group of people immediately understood: the emperor wanted to use this incident to do something bigger.
The target was directly aimed at the rectification of subordinate officials by clearing the land and re-creating the yellow books, which had been discussed long ago, and especially at the border towns that relied on the bandits to respect themselves.
"Your Majesty!" Yang Yiqing immediately replied solemnly, "Datong Town's new military exploits are not big or small. They are just not enough to be promoted too much. It is better to continue to guard Datong Town. If the Li Fuda case is thoroughly investigated, not only Datong, but also
The borders are uneasy. Over the years, officials have been promoted and relocated all over the border. If Li Fuda was able to steal the command of the First Guard, the honorable ministers of the five mansions and people in the Ministry of War are inseparable from it."
"I understand." Zhu Houcong said lightly, "The gesture of thorough investigation must be made. I am extremely angry, and I want to let the government and the public know. The officers and soldiers of Datong Town should be rewarded, and let them know what proportion of this case was found.
Be restrained, you know I am making a note here, it depends on you and others. Now that the case has come to light, are there any other thieves in the provinces who are trying to naturalize people under aliases? Each county and state should at least give them a chance to handle clerkships and subordinate officials.
Self-report. If you confess now, you can be lenient; if you are found out in the future, you will be lenient."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. It was just an excuse.
The emperor was becoming more and more sophisticated and knew not to be too rough with the border town. On the surface, he rewarded and praised them, but then he used another incident to force them to restrain themselves, and even left a piece of evidence to settle accounts in the future.
As for the subordinate staff... they should have been punished long ago! Who hasn't had the experience of being manipulated by an older official when he first started his official career?
Then everyone became confused again, and Fei Hong asked: "Your Majesty, is this just this? Then there is no need to discuss the pros and cons, right?"
"Why don't we need to discuss it?" Zhu Houcong laughed, "The ministers and others hurriedly followed the imperial edict to the imperial study room, and then thoroughly investigated the case. How do the government and the public view the purpose of thoroughly investigating the case? What do Datong Town think? What do the civilian gentry think? Beibei...
…What will you think?”
Fei Hong's scalp suddenly felt numb: "...Before the case is settled, there will naturally be a lot of panic and uneasiness due to the dirty work in the Ming Dynasty. Your Majesty, do you still want to lure the Northern captives to attack again?"
Zhu Houcong nodded: "With the Ming Dynasty's current combat power, it is difficult to say that we will win against the Northern invaders, let alone the Northern Expedition. I will suffer a loss in the Tumote tribe. Wait until next year, as soon as February or March, I am afraid that we will be defeated."
We have to attack again. After discussing with the staff at the military affairs conference these days, I think this battle is inevitable. In this case, it is better to try our best to proactively plan the battle. Don't worry, this battle will not last long, but this battle
We must win a big victory so that we can create an opportunity for me to seek peace."
These important ministers outside the military affairs meeting couldn't help but confirm in a voice: "Seek peace?"
Zhu Houcong nodded: "I have been excluding tribute for decades. As long as we negotiate, even if we negotiate trade between the two countries after the victory to get more time, some people in the government and the public will naturally think that I am asking for peace. There is no need for that.
I care, besides, if you really want to restore our country and eliminate the troubles in the north, I will take this move. As the situation at the border eases a little, you can also focus on taking care of our Ming Dynasty's new military affairs."
The emperor made it clear that this was just one step in the clear strategic purpose of "recovering our mountains and rivers and eliminating the dangers from the north."
Tang Shunzhi Yu Dayou just proposed to repeat the trick, but the emperor's appetite was so big.
Fei Hong couldn't help but look at Yang Yiqing: "Ying Ning, how far did the discussions go at the military affairs meeting?"
As Prime Minister and Minister of State, according to the current division of labor, it is inappropriate for him to focus on military affairs.
But how can we not ask now?
Yang Yiqing and Wang Shouren looked at each other, and then sighed: "This is indeed a national policy. Your Majesty said it bluntly. Why should you say that today is just a discussion about whether the Li Fuda case should be thoroughly investigated? It is true that not many people know, but a century-old plan cannot just be in this matter.
Planned at the military affairs meeting. Then let’s hear what they think?”
Zhu Houcong smiled: "Yang Qing is right, but today's meeting is just trying to cover up. What the government and the public know is that the discussion involves the Li Fuda case of Marquis Wu Ding. Whether I will take the bait depends on what happens next.
It’s time to take control.”
At present, there is no guarantee of victory against the Tatars, and taking the initiative to attack is more likely to result in defeat. And there is a high probability that Anda will not be able to swallow this breath, and will soon attack his old comrade Da Mingzi, who is several years older than him.
Zhu Houcong needed to plan a heavy blow to Beilu again, so how could he not use a plan?
Fei Hong and others gradually understood. The emperor repeatedly emphasized that today was to discuss whether the Li Fuda case should be thoroughly investigated. This was also part of the plan against the Northern prisoners.
But after listening to it later, he couldn't help but stand up: "What? Giving iron tools to Beilu? Isn't this a danger to raising tigers?"
"It's just an iron pot. Pig iron needs to be fried to make mature iron, but they can't do it. Among the northern captives, I am the only one who has captured many Han people, so I will be very jealous. And the iron pot in Mobei is used to win the hearts of the herdsmen.
Good stuff. Bodi Khan will use this iron pot to win over the people, and I will use it to smelt mature iron and cast weapons. However, the sale of ironware to Mobei has been strictly prohibited for how many years? Can it be controlled?
They went south to plunder, and their search for iron tools was more important than their search for women and gold and silver treasures."
Zhu Houcong said a fact and continued to add: "Don't worry too much. How much iron you give them, the total amount can be controlled by the Ming Dynasty, right? I am the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and when we talk about trade between countries, we naturally have to deal with the Lord of the Northern Yuan Dynasty.
Talk. But the trade route to the north must pass through the Tumut tribe. It is worth looking forward to how they will fight."
"...It is an iron tool after all."
If Tang Shunzhi were here, he would be as frightened as Fei Hong and others: Your Majesty is too courageous.
Zhu Houcong said calmly: "The confrontation between China and the Northern Barbarians has lasted for more than a thousand years. Over the years, the frontier generals of all dynasties have been armed and strong, but although the Northern Barbarians were sometimes defeated, they were never really afraid. In short,
It will reappear and become a serious problem again. To completely eliminate this trouble, it is useless to ban iron weapons. Only guns can make them good at singing and dancing."
"...The new guns and new cannons are not good enough." Wang Shouren said one thing.
Zhu Houcong's eyes flashed: "The important thing is the direction and the determination. It is the rulers and ministers of the Ming Dynasty who know how to use the bait of iron tools. The time bought by this bait is used to strengthen the troops and put pressure on the Ming Dynasty. It is used to
Come and prepare to drive out the Tartars! With a heavy reward, there will be a breakthrough. Buy me some time, and I will definitely let them sing and dance!"
Tang Shunzhi wanted to make clever use of the situation in the Northern Yuan Dynasty to contain the Tumote tribe in the direction of Datong and at the same time defeat the Ordos tribe and recapture the Hetao. He wanted to go to the border town and make meritorious deeds after winning Feng Bo, the leader of the system - this was
It was an indispensable step for him to become the most important minister of the Ming Dynasty's military in the future.
Yang Yiqing and Wang Shouren wanted to solve the hidden dangers in the border towns, still focus on defense, and win a few more victories like the Shuozhou Victory, then the northern front would be stable for a long time.
Only Zhu Houcong wanted to eliminate the troubles from the north step by step. Instead, the first step was to paralyze and divide them by throwing out a bait they could not refuse.
Use the iron tools that Bei Yuan wants to get in the "pay tribute" again and again to open the door.
Of course, this is a danger of raising tigers, but even if it is a tiger, what can it do in front of guns and cannons? Tigers squat with cannons.
The premise is that the Ming Dynasty really has new firearms that mark the complete passing of the cold weapon era.
Zhu Houcong was also unwilling to sacrifice too many soldiers' lives to win a victory, unless he could only rely on one victory to buy time.
It was time for the introduction of the spiral and other technologies that he had laid down during the development of the printing press and many other things to come into play.
At present, we first need to make all important ministers understand and support the emperor's overall strategy against the Northern Yuan Dynasty.
A few years ago, if Zhu Houcong had proposed such a big goal, the resistance would have been unimaginable.
But now, with the great victory at Shuozhou, we can only defend and win. It is an unavoidable battle, and we will definitely be able to sign a trade treaty with iron tools. This matter is indeed controllable.
There was only one thing that made everyone unsure, and that was, could the firearm that His Majesty said would really be available that would allow Beibei to sing and dance from now on?
"Telescope, Crouching Tiger Cannon, Printing Press..." Although Zhu Houcong was not sure that the breakthrough would reach that level, he knew that this was a direction proven by history.
The example given by the emperor... is very convincing... Your Majesty cannot look at it with common sense.
"...Then His Majesty's imperial approval of Tang Shunzhi Yu Dayou..."
Zhu Houcong said seriously: "Since I ask for peace, how can I not pave the way? How much more to use iron tools to ask for peace after victory? I only hope that the monarchs and ministers will be united and move forward from now on. Throughout my life, what will be written in the history books in the future is that you will assist me in my request."
What comes is the northern barbarian who is good at conquering and fighting, and from now on he is good at singing and dancing!"
The Military Council's strategy on how to regain Jiaozhi has not yet been completed, but the plan for the Northern Lu, a serious concern that is highly recognized by the Ming emperors and ministers, can arouse even more interest.
What's more, when it comes to money, food, and future governance and education, Ming Dynasty's foreign strategy is inherently integrated.
Fei Hong knew that it would be a scene that he would not see in an unknown number of years, and the generation here would probably have to bear the reputation of "raising tigers for trouble, and seeking perfection through humiliation".
The glory of the future belongs to those who are still very young at this moment. But in the future, those people will thank their predecessors for their efforts in front of the Ancestral Temple and the Heaven and Earth Sheji, right?
At this moment, Tang Shunzhi was still thinking hard: Where did I fail to think carefully?
The important officials of the Ming Dynasty were suddenly ordered to go to the Yangxin Hall. No one knew what they were discussing after staying there for so long.
In the last court meeting before the end of the year, the emperor was furious at the rebel leader who turned into a high-ranking general of the Ming Dynasty, and was punished by punishing Guo Xun for meddling in his own affairs by giving him a three-year salary - and he had actually been punished long ago.
There has been a downgrade and substitution that has not been announced. Under the current system of downgrade and substitution that is already ineffective, it would be a Marquis becoming a County Lord.
The punishment was shocking, but Guo Xun only helped to intercede.
Guo Xun, who was far away in Nanjing, had naturally received the reply. He could only sigh: the debts were too heavy to bear. Anyway, as the local staff officer of the Military Affairs Council, he knew what the big plans were now.
He looked at Xu Pengju: "Although Qiu Luan was defeated, it can still be considered as a meritorious service. You two young people are in Nanjing, so you can train hard. If there is a situation, fight hard. Expect to be leisurely and leisurely, and wait for your descendants to be unfilial to you in the future.
.”
"...Do you really want to invite yourself to Datong Town?"
"Otherwise? If I don't serve my crime, what will I do if my county prince's son doesn't be filial to me when I get old?"
"..."
Guo Xun has already asked himself to serve as a border guard, and Qiu Luan wants to bring his experience in training at the Beijing Camp to replace him and continue training at the Nanjing Zhenwu Camp.
At the end of this year, Yu Dayou also asked himself to guard the border.
Ma Lu has been ordered to thoroughly investigate the Li Fuda case, but at this time Guo Xun is going to Datong Town to serve as the chief military officer.
"You are coming here with bad intentions! General, if you go to the former military governor's mansion, what will we do?"
"...With this merit, it is not enough to be promoted to the governor and magistrate of the former military governor's office." Zhu Zhen, the current chief military officer of Datong Town, had mixed emotions, "But Wu Dinghou wants to ask for border guards on his own. When he comes to Datong Town, he can still be ranked as the commander-in-chief."
Under the rank of military officer? The commander-in-chief knows the same thing, that’s from the first rank!”
Zhu Zhen is not the kind of person who is a first-class military general and is appointed to be the chief military officer of this town. If he can be promoted to the level of a first-class military general, he will be at the pinnacle of his life, unless he has made immortal contributions and been awarded the title of earl or above.
But he doesn't want to make such a big contribution. Wouldn't it be good to be the leader of the generals in Datong Town, which is like a backyard?
But if Guo Xun comes, he will have to move.
If you are rewarded for your merits, why should you refuse?
But if there had not been a thorough investigation into the Li Fuda case, no one would be so worried.
"No hurry!" Zhu Zhen's eyes flashed, "Wu Dinghou has to go back to Beijing to see his Majesty first, and then he has to choose his own soldiers, and then he will come to Datong. Let's take a look first!"