Chapter 415 Let the Ming Dynasty King Master be reborn
When everyone was still speechless at the fact that the Four Kingdoms were granted the title of Duke in World War I, the Emperor of Heaven said this.
And the people listening to this sentence include businessmen, what does this mean?
At this moment, Yang Shen suddenly understood why the emperor sent the King of Yue to bury Yang Yiqing's body and lived in the Duke's Mansion of Guizhou for so long.
The emperor's ambitions were so broad, how could this undisciplined statement be just to encourage his subjects?
Lords of vassals, lords of vassals... In the future, the Ming Dynasty will probably be like the early days of the Ming Dynasty, when the kings will actually seal off external vassals as a barrier.
under a new system.
If Yang Shen can think of it, Zhang Fujing and the others can naturally think of it too.
There were so many extraterritorial vassal states surrounding the Ming Dynasty that they could accommodate many princes.
The emperor only has six princes now, which is probably not enough.
Therefore, it makes sense why Prince Rui was able to gain the emperor’s attention and support.
It makes sense that the vassals were not completely confined to the capital.
In this case, the heart of the empire really needs to be carefully planned.
So during the chat during the dinner, Zhang Fujing mentioned what they had discussed outside the Meridian Gate.
"Renovate the Forbidden City?" Zhu Houcong frowned, "In order to prevent the palaces from getting flooded again, we really need to take more precautions. It's just that this project is a bit expensive, so we don't have to rush it."
I have the impression that Jiajing was full of "fire virtue", and it seems that even three major palaces were burned down during his reign.
Yang Shen finally understood why Zhang Fujing mentioned this matter today, because many wealthy businessmen from the countryside immediately "misunderstood" Zhang Fujing's meaning and enthusiastically expressed that they should do their part.
How can giving gifts to local officials be as good as giving gifts directly to the emperor?
This kind of opportunity to help the emperor build his home higher is impossible to ask for.
Jin Gaola felt even more ashamed.
He has been doing it for so many years and has raised so many people, but he just hasn't made that much money.
Fortunately, the emperor did not agree on the spot.
"Let's do this. The Ministry of Literary Affairs and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce will study it and come up with a plan and budget first. You all have your heart, and I am sincerely relieved. This time in Wanshou, there are indeed a lot more gifts in the internal transportation warehouse, and there are many rare treasures.
It's just flashy, and the palace won't use that much. You can see what you want to buy back later. There's no need to rush out the money, because in the end, this project will require a lot of purchases, right?"
Zhu Houcong looked at Yang Shen with a smile again: "The number one scholar also contributed. Those who pledged to raise national debt and respond to national policies today are also good people. It would be a good story to write some words and frame the lintel when they go back."
Yang Shen couldn't laugh or cry, but he could only reply: "I must do my best."
Immediately the guests and hosts were enjoying themselves.
For these wealthy businessmen, after meeting the emperor himself, his demeanor, style, and speaking style were really very different from what they imagined.
If I say the most different... I don't mean to look down on them, but I mean to rely on them.
Isn't this enough?
In which dynasty and generation did business profits have a close connection with such national policies?
…
So far, the three major events of the Longevity Festival have been completed: military parade and awards, internal and external birthday celebrations, and top-level deployment of economic expansion.
The next few months are preparations.
The establishment of the two Great Wall Companies is connected with the upcoming changes in household registration and the overhaul of the military system.
The household registration reform is also connected with the land distribution in the three major border areas of Qinggan, Hetao and Xuanning.
The spirit of the military affairs conference must be passed on first. This time, first the governors of the five provinces and the general soldiers of the provinces outside the border areas went to Beijing to participate in the meeting.
They are all members of the army, and they come faster than civil servants - if you can't ride a horse and can't stand the bumps, what kind of general can you be?
It would be safe for them to leave the local area, at least this winter.
The generals were rushing on the road. Envoys from many small countries in Nanyang had not yet left Beijing. The express ships that urgently wanted to report to Beijing were already sailing in Nanyang.
Last summer, Malacca was recaptured by the Ming Dynasty's navy. When the news of the defeat came back to Portugal, it was already the end of last year. At that time, a fierce battle was going on in Hetao, and Zhu Houcong was on his way to Kaiping.
Portugal then studied countermeasures and set the tone that it must give it a try.
Count Enrique led several ready-made ships to go ahead, not only to hold the Governor of India and the Governor of Malacca accountable, but also to shoulder the important task of recapturing Malacca. The Portuguese side organized more warships and merchant ships to form an expeditionary fleet, and then set off.
He crossed the ocean and first arrived in Goa, where he relieved the former Governor-General of India and escorted him back to Portugal. After spending some time to rectify the situation, he rashly went directly to negotiate.
Maybe it was the Portuguese expeditionary fleet that was approaching behind him that gave him the confidence, maybe it was Portugal's invincibility at sea over the past many years that made him overconfident, maybe the Governor of India and Juan shied away from the blame and told some news that confused him, who knows?
Many times there are stupid people who do stupid things.
But this time, Alfonso, who had evolved in the Ming Dynasty, Wang Zhi, who was already extremely shrewd, Huan, who was ambitious, and Zhao Jun, who wanted to make great achievements again, co-directed a great drama.
When they returned to Goa with Enrique's "order", part of the Portuguese expeditionary fleet, which consisted mainly of merchant ships and eleven large and small warships, sailed into the Strait of Malacca. After approaching the city of Malacca, they had already ambushed the end of the strait near the Indian Ocean.
Some of the Ming Dynasty Navy and Haimao escort warships in the island fjord, as well as other warships scattered to the east, surrounded them.
In the city of Malacca, the flag of Portugal was pretended to be real.
The captured Enrique was dressed like a human being, and being so far away, with Juan personally leading him, at least the big shots from this group of Portuguese warships and merchant ships had to go ashore to meet the new Governor-General of India who had "made great achievements".
.
The result is naturally a surprise.
After the marines on the shore and the surrounding Ming warships worked together to destroy two large and four small Portuguese warships and five merchant ships, the others gave full play to their spirit of cherishing their lives.
The play can continue.
A new Goa that can be recognized by both Portugal and Ming Dynasty can control the profits of sea routes between Asia and Europe, and merchant ship owners who can survive more do not need to think too much.
They just need to go back and control the other warships staying in Goa together.
This time it was easier. First, the fast ship went back to report that it had captured several Ming warships that were still patrolling the sea here, and took some Ming flags, armor, and weapons as evidence.
Another businessman who was most determined to work with Juan and Alfonso returned to Goa with two shiploads of goods, asking the expedition warship there not to make an empty trip and to go to Malacca to load the goods back to Portugal.
John III just made a wrong judgment and sent the wrong person, which ruined Portugal's national destiny in Asia.
Alfonso hadn't given up yet. Looking at so many Portuguese generals and soldiers who had been captured, he couldn't help but said to Zhao Jun: "Portugal must be at its weakest now! As long as they can be loyal to me and return to Portugal, I will
Can drive away Joao!”
Juan was frightened when he heard this. He didn't know why Alfonso was bolder than him.
Traveling between Malacca and Goa, and taking those people off the boat to land, gunfire roared immediately. He Juan also took a strange risk - if he ran behind Alfonso's guards who came to greet him, he would be killed from behind.
Where was the bullet hit?
And now, Alfonso really wants to replace the Portuguese royal family!
Zhao Jun shook his head: "His Majesty made it very clear in his last secret decree. Uncle Nan'ao, your side pays great attention to bloodlines. There are marriages between royal families in many countries. Portugal is not the only one with routes and interests. It can be calculated to make money.
That's enough, I can't take the navy to take risks."
He looked at these surrendered generals: "It is up to your majesty to deal with the captured battleships and these surrendered generals. As for the next step, it is better to wait until Yang Duhu and Yang Wuhou arrive. Calculating the time, Yang Wuhou will pick them up in Guangzhou
After arriving at Yang Duhu, it’s time to arrive in the next few days.”
"Why……"
Alfonso could only sigh.
Although he also knew that the emperor was telling the truth, it would be extremely satisfying for him to return to Europe in such a dazzling way.
Unfortunately, Zhao Jun refused to even go out to Goa to directly defeat the expedition fleet there. Instead, he risked being discovered and lured them into the ambush circle here in Malacca in two batches.
Alfonso knew that this Ming Dynasty Navy would be the foundation of Zhao Jun's future, so he would never give up lightly.
But if Zhao Jun still wants to bring all the captured warships back to the Ming Dynasty, then Spain may swallow Portugal, and the next time it comes to Goa may be the Spanish expedition fleet.
It was time to wait for the Emperor of Tomorrow to make a decision. Fortunately, two days later, the Maritime Bureau escort fleet led by Yangwu Marquis Xue Han finally arrived here with Yang Bo.
After seeing the city of Malacca, Yang Bo stood on the bow of the boat and just sighed at the wonder of his experience.
After winning the imperial examination, he first witnessed the invasion of the northern barbarians from the south in the sixth year of Jiajing, and fought to the death with Yu Dayou at Huangya Mountain. After passing the imperial examination, he sent Yang Yiqing to his burial with the King of Yue. He also experienced the Outer Yunnan War in the rear, and even accompanied him on the Northern Expedition last year.
, and went to Nanyang again this year.
Fortunately, he is young and in good health.
But now, he has a new identity, and this identity will definitely stay with him for a long time.
After arriving at the pier and meeting Zhao Jun, Alfonso and others, Yang Bo was a little surprised by the local people who came to greet him: "Admiral Zhao, are there so many Han faces in Nanyang?"
Zhao Jun smiled: "Yang Duhu didn't know something. Over the past thousands of years, countless people from the Fujian and Guangdong frontiers, as well as survivors from the Zhao and Song Dynasties, went to Southeast Asia."
"That's true..." What Yang Bo lamented was just the proportion. "In the past, Srivijaya was also a descendant of the Han people. In this way, it would be easier for me to serve as an official here."
Weng Wanda had already set the general order here that day.
The Ming Dynasty only wanted the city of Malacca and a large area around it, and gradually built it into a fortress and a prosperous port city. In other places, small countries drew national boundaries and respected the Ming Dynasty. In this Southeast Asia, Malacca directly belonged to the Ming Dynasty.
The city is the center.
Therefore, Yang Bo's work is simple, after all, he only manages one city.
But to say it is complicated is too complicated.
The first thing is very complicated.
After listening to their introduction of the latest situation, Yang Bo looked at Alfonso strangely.
In the end, he just said: "This place is further away from Europe. The war situation is fast and slow. I won't be in a hurry for a while. On the contrary, Goa needs to go back faster. If the Portuguese leader sends an envoy to ask about the situation of the war, the secret cannot be revealed.
.”
Juan was waiting for this. He was still a prisoner, but relatively free, fighting for Ming's plot and his own ambitions.
If he returns to Goa, no one can stop him, the first person under the former Viceroy of India.
"The merchant ships are all loaded with goods and can go to Goa, but they cannot set sail back immediately." Yang Bo looked at Alfonso meaningfully, "As you have said before, Portugal cannot bear the consequences of losing this trade route.
Now that the warships that can be dispatched are here, the Portuguese monarch must bow his head even if he does not. Your Majesty wants to recapture Malacca for the benefit of maritime trade, and you cannot put the cart before the horse."
"But……"
Yang Bo looked at Xue Han again: "Your Majesty not only sent Marquis Yangwu here, but also took up a post in the Nan'ao Maritime Trading Company, so he has other arrangements for Uncle Nan'ao. I am here with the order to convey this to Uncle Nan'ao.
Arranged.”
Xue Han never caught up with this opportunity to make a meritorious service, and he felt regretful.
Malacca is alone overseas. At this moment, although he and Zhao Jun are the nobles and leading generals, they must be controlled by Yang Bo.
Alfonso looked at Xue Han and could only sigh in his heart.
Although he is a foreigner, he has done everything the emperor asked him to do before leaving Beijing. Doesn't he still have the ability to prove his loyalty?
Carolina is still in the palace, and his grandson is still in the palace.
Now when he heard this, he just made a big salute first, which is how he received the order: "Is this the way to ask for the Holy Annals?"
Yang Bo stood up and said, "Holy greetings."
Then he solemnly said: "His Majesty said: Alfonso, you are too courageous. But if what you planned can come true, why don't you go back to Portugal with the remaining military strength and just be an important minister? Many families in Europe are fighting, do you want to sit on it?
It is easier said than done to stabilize the position. First, use the profits from sea trade to raise a private army and cultivate strength, and then have a son. Since I want João to compensate, he must send the money."
Alfonso was overjoyed. Was he allowed to do so? Moreover, he was allowed to take back all the captured warships and generals.
"I can help you do this, but I will only help you here. If any warships and generals are captured, I will lend them to you. When you arrive in Portugal, if João does not bow his head, you can snatch the things back, Governor of India
Adding together the savings of the government over the years, I can barely make up for the loss. If he bows his head, then two large merchant ships will be exchanged for one warship. In the future, I will only recognize you for trade with Portugal. Whether you can rely on this to regain a foothold in Portugal depends on you.
It’s up to you.”
After Yang Bo finished narrating, he smiled at Alfonso and said, "Uncle Nan'ao, do you understand?"
"I understand!" Alfonso seemed to be rejuvenated. "You really can't be in a hurry, you have to wait for the opportunity. Now, we can't let Portugal really be in chaos. If it is swallowed up by Spain, they will definitely come to fight for it, and Malacca will not be able to
peaceful."
"Then let's go to the port to see how many warships there are that can return to Portugal. Admiral Zhao said that there are many captured, and I think not all of them will be used by Nan'ao. On His Majesty's Longevity Day, the war in the Nanyang Protectorate is still going on.
I haven’t even congratulated you yet. Jing Haibo is still showing off his victory, and it would be better to have a bigger formation, Admiral Zhao, is that the reason?"
Zhao Jun had a smile on his face: "Exactly!"
How could you come back empty-handed?
With the mentality of giving it a try, Zhu Houcong asked Alfonso to do it.
But it must not be to oust the Portuguese royal family violently, otherwise it will not be able to sit still.
On the contrary, if João III did not bow his head, sea trade with Portugal would be temporarily cut off, leaving him to struggle to support himself. Juan would not be able to accept this.
The best outcome is that Joao III bows his head, Juan can be recognized by both parties, and Ming Dynasty has driven a nail into Portugal.
If Alfonso wants to slowly realize his ideal, he can only rely on Daming's support behind him.
He opened the way, and Nan'ao Sea Trading Company followed, and its tentacles would slowly reach there.
The situation at sea has completely changed, and military officials from the two provinces in the hinterland have also gathered in Beijing.
The time has come to October, and the atmosphere in Wuying Palace is very serious today.
Participating in the meeting were not only Xia Yan, the military general staff officer, but also the Minister of State in charge of national defense affairs, as well as Gu Dingchen, the minister of the Ministry of National Defense, Zhai Luan, the minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and Yang Shen, the minister of the Ministry of Finance and Taxation.
The commanders of the provinces, including Yan Chunsheng, the admiral of the three battalions, the governors of the five prefectures, Guo Xun, Li Quanli, Zhu Qi, Nanjing garrison Wei Guogong Xu Pengju, and the admiral of Nanjing Zhenwu Camp, Song Liangchen, the Marquis of Xining, all sat down first, waiting.
The emperor comes.
There was a booklet placed in front of them.
That was the Ming Dynasty’s military reform draft that was about to be officially launched.
The waiting time was also the time for them to read through the top-secret draft that they had just received in front of them.
Everyone's expressions were solemn.
In general, the Ming Dynasty wanted to determine the military system and military system, and go in the direction of elite soldiers without giving up the public security management of the huge territory.
From the perspective of positioning, the official army of the Ming Dynasty will be divided into three categories: border defense army, territorial army and mobile army from the defense area.
The four military-civilian border areas of the Border Defense Army, Qinggan, Hetao, Xuanning and Jiliao, needless to say, Yunnan and Guangxi have also been transformed into border areas in terms of military affairs, while the two military-civilian border areas of Taiwan and Hainan are adjacent to Fujian and Guangdong.
In terms of military affairs, the navy will be the main focus.
The territorial army is naturally the rest of the hinterland provinces. Except for the two capitals, the hinterland provinces are included in the daily jurisdiction of the five prefectures.
From the direction of division, the five major military regions represented by these five prefectures are: the former military governor's office governs two island border areas, the right military governor's office governs two border areas in Yunnan and Guangxi that are not directly called border areas, and the Chinese military governor's office governs the Xuanning border area
, the Zuojun Dudufu governs the Jiliao Border Region, and the Houjun Dudufu governs the Hetao and Qinggan Border Regions.
However, the Governor's Office of the Five Armed Forces cannot have the final say on matters in the border areas, both in peacetime and in wartime. It depends on the emperor's decree and the military affairs meeting.
The mobile army is very simple: the three major battalions in Beijing, the Zhenwu Camp in Nanjing and the Yangtze River Navy.
In addition to these formal troops, there are the special forces directly under the emperor under the Imperial Guard, the security forces under the General Department of Public Security system, and the escort forces of several special enterprises under the Huangming Assets Bureau.
From the perspective of the military system, this has the greatest impact. In the past, the guard system and the recruitment system were based on military status in parallel, but from now on, it will be changed to voluntary recruitment and compulsory recruitment.
Elite soldiers, that is, the future border guards, territorial armies, and mobile armies will all adopt the method of voluntary recruitment, including other military forces. Volunteer recruits have contracts, a fixed term, and long-term dedicated service.
In addition, unless there is a large-scale national war and the existing troops are no longer enough, compulsory recruitment will begin. Compulsory recruitment will no longer distinguish between military and civilian status, but will only be based on age. In the same way,
Military status no longer has the shackles of having to serve in the army for generations.
There have also been changes in terms of military merits, armaments, pay and ranks.
The most conspicuous point is that the title is decoupled from the military rank. The title is a reflection of the merits of the ancestors and oneself. The military rank is the basis for truly determining which level of general he can serve from now on.
It can be seen that the Ming Dynasty is gradually stripping away the color of many official positions and official titles inherited from the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty.
In addition to general officers, ordinary volunteer soldiers will also have sergeant ranks, corresponding to different military pay, pensions, rewards and retirement benefits.
All armaments are coordinated by the General Armament Department of the Military Affairs Council.
According to the new draft, the Ming Dynasty will reduce the number of standing formal troops to 600,000.
According to the so-called data on the Ming Dynasty roster, the Ming Dynasty should have more than two million generals. But on the one hand, most of them are stationed troops, and the other part of the data is also very watery. In actual situation, the real combat strength should be only close to one million.
, the mobilizable mobile force is difficult to exceed 300,000.
However, these forces have to be distributed across the vast Ming Dynasty, and there are very few that actually use more than 100,000 troops at a time.
Now, these 600,000 people will be organized into 60,000 naval divisions and naval divisions. The mobile military strength of the Jinyiwei system is 20,000 soldiers, the three major battalions in Beijing are 150,000, the Zhenwu camp in Nanjing is 20,000, and the remaining 350,000 soldiers are
There are also a total of 250,000 distributed in the four major border areas in the north and Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Fujian. The remaining twelve provinces have less than 10,000 each.
The rest will be converted to citizenship, or go to the Public Security Department system, or sign contracts to become corporate bodyguards.
In the event of a large-scale national war, there is also a compulsory reserve system, and the total force size can be temporarily expanded to three times, to one hundred and eight hundred thousand.
Recruitment and conscription, troop source matters, and roster and rank management are matters for the Ministry of National Defense in the future.
Those who were the first to read it couldn't help but look at Xia Yan.
Is this really good? A total of 600,000 standing formal military strength is enough?
Xia Yan did not answer. After Zhu Houcong arrived at Wuying Palace and accepted the ceremony, he said: "Have you finished reading it? Soldiers are more expensive than more. An ordinary soldier will be paid three to five taels of silver a year, plus military provisions.
Barracks training, the Ming Dynasty’s annual military expenditure is not a small amount."
After the changes, almost all the salary for recruiting soldiers can be saved. When in the army, food, clothing and housing are all borne by the military.
Yang Shen is indeed under a lot of pressure.
Does the Ming Dynasty now have the financial conditions to fully implement the recruitment of standing troops? That depends on the actual situation of tax collection this year after the great victory of the Northern Expedition last year and the emperor's prestige reached a new height.
But the emperor has made up his mind and will definitely change in this direction now.
Many people still have many questions. At this meeting to "clarify the spiritual purpose", Zhu Houcong answered all questions.
As Yang Shen listened, it was a huge flow of money from enterprises in the military system that supplied daily rations, uniforms, and weapons. It only flowed within the system of the Huangming Assets Bureau, the General Armament Department, the Daming Bank, and the national treasury. In fact, there were many
Military expenditures are still provided in kind.
The contract for recruiting soldiers is on file with the Ministry of National Defense. It is signed with the Ming Dynasty, not with the private soldiers of generals at all levels.
What generals hope for is the multiple incomes and benefits brought by military ranks, titles, and military positions. Don't think about becoming a "local king" by drinking the blood of soldiers, serving in the army, and invading military villages as in the past.
Zhu Houcong returned with the prestige of a great victory and a group of newly awarded honorary ministers and brave generals. He resolutely pointed at this stubborn problem that the Ming Dynasty monarchs and ministers had been worried about for many years. In these years, small-scale border town military settlements were tried and reformed, and the local security department was established.
After the changes.
Correspondingly, after this change, the model barracks of the governors of the hinterland provinces will no longer be under the control of the governor. To grasp the direction well is to grasp the direction well - the excessive power of local officials that some people worried about before will also be taken back here.
Foreshadowing.
Those who are literary should return to literature, and those who are martial should return to martial arts.
But civil and military affairs, including money, all belong to the emperor.
In the eyes of Yang Shen with complicated emotions, Zhu Houcong calmly ordered: "Have a few more meetings in the capital to understand thoroughly and think clearly. Continue to sit in the army, or go to the Great Wall Company or the Public Security Department to calm down.
The military reform is not because the world is at peace, but for the future. There will still be opportunities to make meritorious deeds. Let the Ming Dynasty King's Division be reborn first! Whether it is to defend the country and go on an expedition, or to provide disaster relief, the merit in my eyes is not just on the battlefield!"