prosperous age

Chapter 940 1029 Offering prisoners?

"This memorial is just a secret that will not be passed down. It only needs to be known to you, me and the palace.

Externally, it was under the pretext of the Ministry of War ordering the Nanyang Navy to go to the island to suppress Japanese pirates, and then water forts were set up in the north and south. This could also be said to prevent the resurgence of Japanese pirates.

As for the relocation of health stations, we can plan it gradually. Zhejiang and Fujian each select one health station to move eastward, and then move one shipyard from South Zhili and Zhejiang each. I plan to complete it in five years.

By then, if His Majesty announces this matter to the world, it will be a done deal, and it will naturally be like this.

At the same time, people from all over the world can also be recruited to go to Dongfan Island to educate the people. This can be done for a period of five years. After five years, they can return to the court and make up for the appointment of high-level officials. "

Wei Guangde spoke calmly and revealed his plan.

Hearing this, Zhang Juzheng raised his brows. He had not expected that Wei Guangde had already planned to use gradual encroachment to completely bring Dongfan Island under the control of the Nanyang Navy before issuing an edict to the outside world.

By then, even if the ministers are talking about it, there should be more candidates who will choose to compete for the opportunity to go to Dongfan Island to teach.

After all, Wei Guangde meant that as long as he worked on the island for five years, he could return to the court and become an official.

In the eyes of the Jinshi masters, an official of the eighth or ninth rank is nothing, and only the seventh rank can be considered an official.

The seventh-rank official position that Jinshis started out with was an official position that many people would find difficult to achieve in their lifetime.

After Zhang Juzheng thought for a moment, he had to admit that Wei Guangde's plan had a high probability of success.

The Nanyang Navy has already established a foothold on Dongfan Island and only needs to mobilize 20,000 people from two guard posts to the island.

After these people have settled down, the shipyard will be relocated. By this time, even if they object, it will be difficult to do it because the Nanyang Navy has already been stationed on the island.

Although he didn't think there was much value in occupying Dongfan Island, according to Wei Guangde's intention, just sending out the guard post seemed to have little impact on the court.

In fact, if Wei Guangde had said from the beginning how many ordinary people would be moved there, Zhang Juzheng would definitely have objected.

Because relocating people means that many people have to leave their hometowns. This is not only the fetters of clans, but also the suffering caused by relocation, and the court also needs to prepare a lot of things.

Not only do they need to prepare supplies and transportation for immigrants along the way, but they also need to distribute rations for at least a year and prepare a large number of production tools when they arrive. This is something that the current Ming Dynasty court does not have.

Zhang Juzheng has completely mastered the household department, but precisely because he knows the real situation of the household department, Zhang Juzheng is now very hesitant about any excessive expenses.

Zhu Heng, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, has already returned from Nanzhili. It can be said that the survey of the Jia Canal has been completed.

Through this survey, Zhu Heng has determined that the Jia Canal can be built completely, and it will also play a very significant role in solving water transportation, and can effectively bypass the difficult-to-walk Xuzhou section.

However, the construction cost of this section of the canal is also very large. It is so large that the Ministry of Industry is unable to support the construction of this project, and the Ministry of Household Affairs must provide money and food.

The construction of the Jia Canal is different from Zhu Di's previous canal repair. There was a foundation for it, and it just required large-scale dredging.

Therefore, through large-scale recruitment of labor around the canal, it took some time to complete the navigation of the Grand Canal.

The Jia Canal that will be dug this time has no foundation at all before. It will be hundreds of miles long to open a new river channel.

The amount of work can be imagined.

Fortunately, according to Wei Guangde's original proposal, which was actually the intention of some people in the Ministry of Industry, that is, the excavation of the Jia Canal should not be regarded as the top priority of the court. After all, the shipping on the Grand Canal is still smooth, although there are occasional interruptions. But generally it still works.

The excavation of the Jia Canal was regarded as a backup channel, and at first it only ensured the passage of single ships. That is, at the beginning of the year, the Jia Canal was only used for northbound canal boats, and at the end of the year, it was used for southbound canal boats to return.

In this case, it can still be completed by spending several years slowly planning it and only gathering the surrounding corvee workers during the slack season.

Moreover, doing so would have the least impact on the imperial court and the local government.

Especially after the new channel is opened to navigation, it will have the greatest impact on Xuzhou.

Although the Jia Canal does not go through Xuzhou, once it opens, there will be far fewer ships going through Xuzhou.

Undoubtedly, this will have a huge economic impact on Xuzhou, a large city in the Central Plains, and will inevitably be strongly opposed by Xuzhou officials.

Taking several years to slowly change Xuzhou's economic structure can also maintain the stability of this large city in the Central Plains.

As for whether the Jia Canal will continue to be widened in the future, it can be determined based on the actual situation. The most important thing is that the water volume of the Jia River and other rivers along the way is the fundamental factor that determines whether this channel can be expanded.

Water transportation can never be bypassed.

Without sufficient water, it would be impossible to sail a boat, especially a boat loaded with grain.

This is also the reason why Zhu Heng suggested that only water boats should be allowed to pass at the beginning.

In this regard, the Ministry of Household Affairs only needs to provide a small amount of money and food to the Ministry of Industry, and the project can start next year.

It's definitely too late this year. It's too hasty and can easily cause trouble.

Of course, it costs money to move the guard station, but the bulk of the money is not provided by the Ministry of Household Affairs, but raised by the Ministry of War. This relieves Zhang Juzheng's great pressure.

Although in the end it is actually the money of the imperial court, there is still a lot of emphasis on whose hand the money flows out.

In the government affairs of the Ming Dynasty, there was no real Ministry of Finance, which controlled the government's purse strings. The finances of the imperial court were scattered among multiple yamen.

Often, the warehouses of the Ministry of Household Affairs are all empty, but the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War actually still have more or less money, not to mention the Taipus Temple controlled by the Ministry of War. The amount of money in Chang Ying's library now has reached an unfathomable level. degree of imagination.

As for how much money Taipu Temple had at this time, the six government offices and even Tan Lun, the minister of the Ministry of War, didn't know much about it. They only knew the approximate amount.

However, the cabinet and the palace still know everything about the money deposited in Taipu Temple.

The total amount of silver deposited in Changying Treasury is already close to ten million taels of silver.

Moreover, the new horse price silver received by Taipu Temple every year is still increasing at a rate of more than 700,000 taels per year.

Taipu Temple is so rich, but why does the imperial court have no money? It's because the system is dead.

No other yamen could use the money from Taipus Temple. Unless there was a special situation like a war, Taipus Temple would take the money from Changying Treasury on the grounds of allocating money to buy horses.

Wei Guangde has actually been thinking about making money here for a long time.

Without money, the war cannot be fought.

If the money is kept in the warehouse and cannot produce offspring, it is better to use it to fight and seize some territory to benefit future generations.

However, according to the behavior of the courtiers, it is not advisable to start a war without authorization, and they will be sprayed to death, so Wei Guangde can only prepare silently through his generals.

Yes, war is not a whim decision, but the result of planning and then acting.

Emperor Yongle was so wise and powerful at the time, but he also fell into disgrace in Annan.

So this time, when Wei Guangde said that Dongfan Island should be taken over with money from the Ministry of War, Zhang Juzheng had no reason to object.

"If that's the case, I object to it."

Zhang Juzheng whispered: "However, if the order is issued from the Ministry of War, I am afraid that the DPRK will know about it soon."

At Zhang Juzheng's reminder, Wei Guangde nodded and said with a smile: "After you and I report it to the palace, we will send it directly to Yu Dayou with the imperial edict."

The edict was issued directly by the palace without going through the decree of the imperial court. Therefore, apart from him and Zhang Juzheng, only the eunuchs in the palace, Shang Baojian, knew about it.

In this way, the confidentiality level of this matter is relatively high. This is also the reason why Wei Guangde wants to get the support of Zhang Juzheng. Feng Bao in the inner palace has the final say. Now that he has some trouble with Feng Bao, he should let Zhang Juzheng deal with Feng Bao to avoid him disturbing the matter.

"can."

Zhang Juzheng thought for a while and felt that this was a good thing. It didn't cost the court a single penny, but it could still be regarded as a contribution to the expansion of territory. Although it would take a few years to calculate the credit, he was still young and could afford to wait. .

"Then shall we enter the palace now?"

Wei Guangde asked, "By the way, please report the preparations for the prisoner presentation ceremony to the palace.

Although His Majesty is young, it is beneficial for him to participate in such a big event as the prisoner presentation ceremony.

Such a grand ceremony is rare. "

Although Zhu Yuanzhang formulated the etiquette regulations of the Ming Dynasty, such a grand event as the Prisoner Presentation Ceremony has never been held since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

The prisoner presentation ceremony refers to a military etiquette in which the ancient army presented the captured enemy chiefs or heads to temples, shrines and the emperor after their triumph.

In the early Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang's military exploits were illustrious. When he was engaged in military affairs, he did not forget about civil affairs. He ordered military rituals and established a ceremony for presenting prisoners.

The emperors of Yongle, Xuande, and Zhengtong followed it and continued to develop and improve it. During the Hongzhi Dynasty, the "Huidian" was revised, and the ceremony of presenting prisoners was first recorded in the canon.

During the Zhengde and Jiajing periods, the country's military was in decline, and there were many crises on the frontiers. The emperor was idle and idle in his administration. He occasionally offered prisoners as gifts to whitewash his martial arts. Sidian evolved and also declined.

That is to say, since Wei Guangde entered the dynasty, he protected generals who could fight and the military was revitalized.

Thinking of the prisoner presentation ceremony, Wei Guangde also thought of it when he saw the report of Li Chengliang of Liaodong and captured Wang Gao and presented him as a prisoner.

"Shandai, I still feel that arresting Wang Gao and holding a prisoner presentation ceremony are a bit excessive."

Zhang Juzheng actually had some objections to Wei Guangde's proposal to use Wang Gao to hold a prisoner dedication ceremony.

"It can be made according to the rituals of the prisoner presentation ceremony, but it should be done under the prisoner ceremony. After all, Wang Gao is not the enemy royal family, he is the right guard commander of Jianzhou."

Zhang Juzheng said.

"Wang Gao was nominally the governor of Jianzhou Right Guards granted by the imperial court, but in fact he did not regard himself as an official of the imperial court at all. He was the so-called 'Khan' of the Jurchens. Not only Wang Gao, but also Wangtai."

Wei Guangde said.

Wan Khan's situation is actually the same as Wang Gao's. Both were appointed governors of the Jurchen tribe by the imperial court, but they all called themselves Khan internally and were completely independent.

Wei Guangde emphasized this point, which actually meant to put gold on his face.

In fact, not only Zhang Juzheng had different opinions, but Zhu Heng and Tan Lun also approached him privately and suggested not to use the name of the prisoner presentation ceremony.

The ceremony can be performed, but externally it can only be said to be a prisoner sacrifice.

"I still feel something is wrong. Wang Gao does not have a gold book. If he had a gold book, he would be recognized by the court as a vassal state, but he is not."

Zhang Juzheng said.

Although Zhang Juzheng could also gain great benefits from this matter, he was a little thin-skinned and worried about criticism from scholars.

This is not the first time Zhang Juzheng has told him this in private. In Wei Guangde's mind, this is the third time.

One pass, two pass, but no three. With Zhang Juzheng's expression, Wei Guangde had to seriously consider it.

Wei Guangde actually didn't care about the criticism from scholars. He didn't rely on literary talents to make a living.

Along the way, he relied on luck and being on the right team. In addition, because of the perspective of later generations, he was still able to do things and was able to secure his current position.

But seeing Zhang Juzheng's hesitation, Wei Guangde had to think more.

"Let me think about this again."

Wei Guangde did not reject Zhang Juzheng's proposal this time, but said that he would carefully consider the pros and cons.

In this regard, Zhang Juzheng would not say more. The relationship between him and Wei Guangde is relatively good now. At least they are not in conflict with each other. In many cases, everyone's interests are actually the same.

"There's one more thing you might want to think about."

Zhang Juzheng suddenly said again: "This time Li Chengliang comes to Beijing, you plan to directly appoint or remove him to take charge of the Right Army Governor's Mansion. Will this worry the Liaodong generals?"

This time, Wei Guangde's reply to Liaodong asked Li Chengliang to escort Wang Gao to Beijing. The purpose was self-evident, which was to transfer Li Chengliang away from Liaodong.

In his impression, the generals of Liaodong did not listen to propaganda.

Being able to transfer generals from Liaodong to the capital is an opportunity not to be missed.

He did not realize that it was at the end of the Ming Dynasty that he listened to the tune but not the announcement. The Ming Dynasty was weak and surrounded by powerful enemies. Naturally, the Liaodong generals did not pay attention to the imperial court.

At this time, Liaodong generals actually did not dare to make mistakes, but Wei Guangde made simple things complicated.

"From the Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong to the Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army, couldn't he be neglected?"

Wei Guangde frowned slightly and asked, "Speaking of which, it should be the favor of the imperial court that he was promoted from Right Commander-in-Chief to Left Commander-in-Chief and transferred to the Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army this time."

"Shandai, it's okay for you to say these things to others, but if you say the same thing to me, that would be boring."

Zhang Juzheng replied angrily.

The two of them have known each other for more than ten years. Zhang Juzheng knows Wei Guangde very well.

Which of the generals he valued was transferred back to the capital and entered the Fifth Army Commander's Mansion?

In fact, Zhang Juzheng knew very well that no general wanted to go to the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion. After all, what was the good of an empty, idle yamen.

The generals of the Ming Dynasty all wanted to lead troops abroad. This can be seen from the fact that even Ma Fang, who was in his sixties, was unwilling to return to the capital and wanted to stay in the border town.

Seeing that Zhang Juzheng had noticed, Wei Guangde's expression immediately changed and he said with a smile: "Uncle, I really don't have any other intention. I just think that the court should keep a few generals who are good at fighting. The court can mobilize them at any time if something happens.

You know the people in the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion. If there is a war, the court will not dare to send them, and they will have to mobilize generals outside. This will be detrimental to the court in the long run. "

"Then if you keep Li Chengliang in Beijing, where do you plan to send him?"

Zhang Juzheng was not stupid and continued to ask.

Zhang Juzheng would not feel at ease unless he understood Wei Guangde's plan.

He was in charge of conquest, which was the tacit agreement the two of them had reached in private before.

As a soldier, major affairs of the country must be carefully monitored. He was worried that Wei Guangde would create a big trap and affect him.

"Brother Uncle, you still remember that a few years ago, Burma rose up and invaded neighboring areas such as Mubang and Mengmi. They repeatedly requested the imperial court to have a happy life, awarded gold-lettered red cards, and sent envoys to mediate disputes."

Wei Guangde's words stunned Zhang Juzheng. It happened in the second or third year of Longqing, but it has not been reported again in these years.

(End of this chapter)