I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 124: Naval Administration
Liu Tao sat in the sedan chair, occasionally lifting the curtain to look at the customs and people of the capital outside.

Having been away from Beijing for many years, he felt a little dazed when he saw these scenes again.

Liu Tao was a Jinshi in the 17th year of Jiajing, a classmate of Hu Zongxian.

He successively served as the magistrate of Jinan Prefecture, the director of the Military Affairs Department, the assistant magistrate and military supervisor of Shaanxi, and made many military achievements.

In the 32nd year of Jiajing's reign, the Japanese invasion in the southeast was rampant, and he was transferred to be the deputy envoy of the military preparations of Hangzhou, Jiaxing and Huzhou, and began a more than ten-year campaign to suppress the Japanese invasion.

This time he was summoned to Beijing to report on his work. After reporting to the Ministry of War and the Cabinet, he handed in a sign to the Western Garden, and made an exception for Emperor Jiajing to summon him to the Wanshou Palace.

Today, I am invited by Zhu Yijun to go to the Military Affairs Supervisory Office of the Beijing Camp to discuss matters.

The sedan passed through the bustling and lively East City and turned into the North City, which was obviously more desolate and deserted.

There are many military camps in the north city, and the rear army governor's office, Jinyiwei and other government offices are also here.

After crossing several streets, we stopped in front of a small courtyard.

Liu Tao got out of the sedan chair, looked up and found that this courtyard did not have the majesty of a government office at all. Instead, it looked like the head office of a large business in the southeast.

However, the entrance and the surrounding area were filled with fully armed soldiers, and the atmosphere was extremely solemn and murderous. Even across the street, no civilians passed by.

On the doorpost, there is a wooden sign hanging: "Beijing Camp Military Administration Supervisory Office".

Xu Wei and Li Zhi were waiting at the door. When they saw Liu Tao get off the sedan chair, they hurried over to greet him.

"Minister Liu, please forgive us for not coming to meet you in person."

"Mr. Wenchang, you are too polite."

"Minister Liu, this is Li Zhi, Li Zhuowu, the secretary of the Lifanyuan Office and the counselor of the Supervisory Office."

"Li Zhi has met with Minister Liu."

Zhu Yijun always liked to have people do part-time jobs, and Liu Tao was used to it.

He cupped his hands and said to Li Zhi, "I have long heard of Mr. Zhuo Wu's great name. He is a talented person in Fujian and a hero in Shitong."

"You are too polite, Minister Liu."

"Minister Liu, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is waiting inside."

"Quick, take me in."

Entering the main hall of the Supervisory Office, Zheng Luo and Wu Dui were both there, and sitting at the top was Zhu Yijun.

Liu Tao straightened his clothes, stepped forward, knelt down and saluted: "I am Liu Tao, the Minister of War, the Governor-General of the Coastal Defense of Zhili, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong, and I pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"Mr. Daichuan, please stand up!" Zhu Yijun stepped forward and helped Liu Tao up with both hands.

"It's been more than a year since we last met. Sir, you seem to be getting stronger and stronger."

"Thank you, Your Highness. I haven't seen Your Highness for more than a year, and I feel that Your Highness has grown a lot taller."

"Haha, I'm growing taller every year and every month." Zhu Yijun laughed heartily and pulled Liu Tao into the side hall.

"Let's discuss matters here instead of going through the red tape over there." Zhu Yijun pulled Liu Tao to sit in the side hall, and Xu Wei, Zheng Luo, Wu Dui, Li Zhi and others also sat down one by one.

Liu Tao took a look and saw a map hanging on the wall in front of him. It was the map of the Ming Dynasty's maritime territory. He had something on his mind about today's meeting.

After sitting down and waiting for the servant to bring the tea, Zhu Yijun went straight to the point.

"Lord Daichuan, I have invited you to discuss two matters today. The first one is, of course, the Ming Navy. I have obtained the Emperor's order to change the Ming Navy into the North Sea, East Sea, and South Sea Navy, and divide them into different camps.

The main force of the Beihai Navy is the Weihai Camp, stationed in Weihai; there is also the Jinghai Camp, stationed in Dagu.

The main force of the East China Sea Navy was the Zhenhai Camp, stationed in Wusong; the Dinghai Camp, stationed in Dinghai; and the Anhai Camp, stationed in Haizhou.

The main force of the South China Sea Navy is the Pinghai Camp, stationed in Panyu; the Ninghai Camp, stationed in Houguan; and the Guanghai Camp, stationed in Qinzhou.

In Northern Zhili, Shandong, Southern Zhili, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong, each commanding headquarters will appoint a deputy envoy for maritime patrol, stationed in Dagu, Dengzhou, Shanghai, Ningbo, Quanzhou, and Xin'an, to lead the maritime patrol camps in each place.

Liu Tao listened quietly.

"The admiral of the North Sea Navy is still Lord Lu Tong, the admiral of the East Sea Navy is General Yu Dayou, and the admiral of the South Sea Navy is General Chen Lin recommended by Lord Daichuan. For the other deputy envoys of the sea patrol, Lord Daichuan will recommend brave, resourceful, sincere and capable officials from the navy."

"I obey your orders."

Zhu Yijun continued, "The issue of naval patrols is of great importance. The navies of Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong in the Ming Dynasty were planned and established by Dai Chuangong, who also led them.

I have heard that in the past two years, Daichuan Gong has traveled by sea to Dengzhou in the north and Xuwen and Qiongzhou in the south. He has inspected and stopped at all 174 coastal defense posts and 49 water forts of the Ming Dynasty. "I dare not slack off in my duties."

"If all the officials in the world were as diligent as Lord Daichuan, there would be no need to worry about the Ming Dynasty not being able to prosper."

"I thank your highness for the compliment."

"Mr. Daichuan, you are sixty-five this year?"

"In reply to your Highness, I was born in the seventh year of Zhengde, and I am sixty-five years old this year."

"Daichuan worked hard for the Ming Dynasty, especially for the restoration of the Ming Dynasty navy. He worked hard and made great contributions. Now the Ming Dynasty navy is at peace in the world, and millions of people along the coast are all blessed by Daichuan.

On behalf of the Emperor, the Ming Dynasty, and the people along the coast of the Ming Dynasty, I would like to thank Lord Daichuan!"

Zhu Yijun stood up, took two steps back, bowed deeply, and saluted deeply.

Liu Tao's eyes were filled with tears. He stood up tremblingly and said in a hoarse voice: "Your Majesty, your Majesty, I am unworthy of this position!"

Everyone watched quietly, with mixed feelings in their hearts.

Especially the old ministers like Zheng Luo who had spent some time in the Jiajing Dynasty had extremely complicated feelings.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is as cunning and scheming as the Emperor, and his determination is so strong that no one can take it away.

But what makes him admirable is that he is very humane.

Yan Shifan's crimes were extremely heinous, and he was unceremoniously executed at the Meridian Gate by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who was behind the scenes.

Yan Song was released and sent back home.

The crown prince bought 3,000 acres of paddy fields for the Yan family through a business, and registered them in the name of the Yan family ancestral hall, ensuring that the Yan family, young and old, would have no worries about food and clothing.

This matter has spread throughout the government and the country.

Yan Song served Emperor Jiajing for more than 20 years. He was guilty of some crimes, for which his property was confiscated and his son took the blame. He also had some merits, for he ensured that his old and young were safe and had no worries about food and clothing. He could be considered to have had a good end.

There is also Hu Zongxian, the "notorious" core member of the Yan Party. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said he would protect him, so he must be protected.

Xu Jie and Gao Gong dared to reach out and carried him up directly.

When Xu Jie engaged in a literary dispute, the Crown Prince dismissed four cabinet ministers in a bid to intimidate him.

Gao Gong was fighting a war, stripping away the skin and bones. The Crown Prince simply tore the Jin Party and the Jin merchants apart, skin and bones.

The main point is, no one is allowed to touch my people. If they stick out their hands, I’ll chop them off. If they stick out their heads, I’ll chop them off!
When it comes to winning over subordinates, everyone in the court and the public agrees that the Crown Prince is indeed better than the Emperor.

Therefore, all the civil and military officials in the court knew that the previous Prince's Party and now the Grandson's Party were the most united and loyal.

Zhu Yijun helped Liu Tao sit down and continued.

"Mr. Daichuan has made great contributions and is over 60 years old. Grandpa Emperor and I cannot bear to see you continue to be exposed to the wind and sun and drifting on the sea, so we would like to invite you to Beijing to take charge of the supervision office and preside over the affairs of the Navy Bureau."

Liu Tao was stunned, and so were everyone else, except Xu Wei who knew what was going on.

"Navy Bureau?"

"It is responsible for maritime military operations. The navies of the North Sea, East Sea, and South China Sea, as well as the various patrol camps, are all under the jurisdiction and command of the Navy Bureau."

Liu Tao asked hesitantly, "What about the Ministry of War?"

"I have requested the Emperor's order to promote Lord Daichuan to the position of Minister of War. The Minister of War is in charge of the Navy Bureau, which means the Ministry of War is in charge of the Navy Bureau, right?"

Zhu Yijun's words left everyone speechless.

As the Minister of War, Hu Zongxian was the governor of Shanxi, Xuanfu and Datong, which meant that the Ministry of War was directly in charge of the military affairs of the three towns.

As the Minister of War, Liu Tao was the Governor of the Naval Bureau, in charge of the three navies and the various coastal patrol camps. Doesn't that mean the Ministry of War was directly in charge of the navy and the coastal patrol camps?

Liu Tao thought about it, had nothing to say, and accepted it with pleasure.

"Mr. Daichuan, you are in charge of the Navy Bureau. In addition to organizing and training the three naval battalions and the various patrol battalions, there is another very important matter that needs your supervision."

"Excuse me, Your Highness, what is the matter?"

"Reopening the sea!"

(End of this chapter)