Jiajing Chengming

Chapter 324 Jiajing sets his sights on Iwami Ginzan and attacks Japan in the name of inspection!
After the midday court session at Zuo Shunmen ended, Zhu Houcong asked the ministers of the Imperial Study to come to the Imperial Study and mentioned to them his plan to have the inner court inject capital and allow the imperial physicians to open an official clinic to provide medical treatment to the public.

The ministers in the Imperial Study naturally echoed and said that the emperor was wise.

After all, this will not only help improve the level of imperial physicians, but also enable the people to receive better diagnosis and treatment.

However, these ministers began to argue about where the imperial physicians should open their clinics, and they all believed that it would be better to open the government-run clinics near where they lived.

Zhu Houcong simply said that the dispute should be put aside for the time being and the matter would be discussed again after investigation.

then.

Zhu Houcong brought up the issue of banning or opening the sea that was discussed at today's court meeting.

In front of the ministers in the Imperial Study, Zhu Houcong naturally no longer had to hide his views or act mysterious, and he spoke directly from his heart:
"Most court officials still advocate a ban on sea voyages. This shows that the coastal smugglers have not been completely hurt. I know what they rely on. They simply think that I am afraid of chaos in the southeast."

"I am not afraid of chaos in the southeast."

"Of course, I will also try my best to prevent chaos in the southeast."

"To keep the southeast from being in chaos, we need to cut off its roots, and the roots are in Japan. Without the large number of vicious bandits that have emerged from years of war in Japan, the big coastal towns wouldn't be able to stir up any trouble!"

"So, it is necessary to use the name of inspecting the East Ocean to actually launch a large-scale military campaign!"

"At the same time, it is also the premise for establishing official trade, developing foreign mines to help the national treasury, and destroying the kingly spirit of the barbarians!"

At this time, Zhu Houcong also talked about sending troops to Japan.

This was something he and the ministers of the Imperial Study had already discussed. They knew that if they strictly banned maritime operations in the southeast, they would inevitably have to deal with the situation where wealthy families along the coast would collude with the Japanese pirates and then hire a large number of lawless criminals in the name of the Japanese pirates to disrupt the southeast.

In order to avoid this, the first thing to do is to suppress Japan and make the big coastal households lose the help of the real Japanese with rich practical experience. At the same time, establish official trade, open mines and make money, so that the big coastal households will completely lose the source of profit from maritime trade.

That's why Zhu Houcong brought it up at this time.

Wang Qiong followed up and said, "Your Majesty is right. This is just like how the big families in the north threatened the imperial court by using the power of the bandits. The bandits in the north are also very vicious because of their wars with each other. Therefore, they are often lured and colluded by the big families in the north. If we want to stabilize the southeast now, we must first show our power to Japan."

"Wang's family of Yuyao, Zhang's family of Yongjia, Liang's family of Shunde, have you collected all the ships, hired workers, and goods for these three imperial merchants? When can you set sail with the inspecting minister to Japan?"

Zhu Houcong asked at this time.

Fei Hong, who was in charge of this matter, stood up and replied, "Your Majesty, they have already purchased everything. We are just waiting for Your Majesty to confirm the envoys and the envoys' guard camp."

"For the inspection, we will promote Huo Tao, the doctor of the Ministry of Revenue, to the position of Right Assistant Censor-in-Chief of Nanjing, and use this position to lead the inspection of Japan; and for the deputy envoy, we will let Zhang Tong, the assistant commander of the Jinyiwei, to patrol Japan together and control the guard camp, and the guard camp will be transferred from Yu Dayou's troops under Wang Hong."

Huo Tao did a good job in mining in Donglai, and Zhu Houcong intended to send him to Japan to handle the Iwami Silver Mine, so naturally he was made the chief inspector. However, Zhang Tong had already exposed his undercover identity because of misleading the civil servants of the outer court, so he was only suitable to go overseas to make achievements.

Therefore, Zhu Houcong had already decided to let these two people go, and brought it up at this time.

"According to the order!"

Zhu Houcong continued: "To stabilize the southeast, in addition to cutting off its roots, we must also focus on internal defense."

"Where are the Jinwu Guards transferred to the south now?"

Zhu Houcong then asked Wang Qionglai, who was in charge of internal troop mobilization, military defense and public security management.

Wang Qiong has always had experience in this area. Whether it was suppressing the Liu Liu and Liu Qi uprisings during the Zhengde period, or suppressing the Ning Wang rebellion, he responded appropriately and performed outstandingly.

Therefore, Zhu Houcong still let him be in charge of military affairs.

Wang Qiong stood up and replied, "Your Majesty, the Jinwu Guards are almost in Liangzhe, but the expenses for the march to prepare for the Japanese invasion are still being raised by the various provincial governments along the coast."

"Before the troops move, the food and fodder must be sent first. To accomplish anything, it all comes down to having enough money."

"This time, we are ensuring the stability of the southeast and strengthening the internal security. Let the Ministry of War borrow 3 million silver dollars from the internal treasury as a special fund for maintaining stability in the southeast. It will not only be used for the Jinwu Guard, but also for the local guards, patrol offices, and patrol stations of each provincial government. We must let them exert their full strength, and we must also provide them with enough money and food, and provide pensions. We can't just rely on the local treasury to keep it."

Zhu Houcong said. At this time.

After hearing this, all the ministers were shocked.

Because they really don’t want to owe debts to the foreign court anymore!

Fei Hong gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, if you allow the foreign court to borrow so much again, the court and the people will be in an uproar! It doesn't matter if we are accused of being incompetent in governing the country, but it will affect your own reputation!"

"Yes, Your Majesty. If the central government is so considerate, it will make the local governments feel more confident and bold in their greed!"

Wang Ao also spoke solemnly at this time.

Zhu Houcong said: "I know! But you don't have to worry about not being able to pay back the money. When we return from this tour to Japan, the court will receive a large amount of mineral income. By then, it will naturally calm the people in the country who are uneasy because the national treasury is seriously insufficient to cover its expenditures."

Fei Hong, Wang Ao and others looked at each other.

Japan's mineral income is too illusory for them!

Although, they knew that this was the exact news brought back by the Jinyiwei.

But they were still worried that this was fake news. The story about the large silver mountain might have been deliberately exaggerated by the Jinyiwei in order to please the emperor.

Seeing that they were still nervous, Zhu Houcong knew that if he did not give them some reassurance, it would inevitably cause unrest in the southeast and the center as well.

In order to stabilize the central government first, Zhu Houcong said at this time: "How about this, if no large silver mines are found during the tour of Japan, I will forgive the principal and interest of the 3 million Southeast Stability Fund this time. This will calm the hearts of people inside and outside the country, right?"

Fei Hong and the others looked at each other, feeling overjoyed, and hurriedly said, "Of course, we can. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding!"

Zhu Houcong smiled slightly. He knew that Fei Hong and other civil officials would rather believe that he, the emperor, would forgive the debt than believe that what the Jinyiwei reported about the Iwami silver mine was true.

Next.

Zhu Houcong added: "As for the fact that the bureaucrats of various departments along the coast will be corrupt because of this, I am not afraid of their greed, but I am afraid that they will not do anything. If they are afraid of the enemy like a tiger, flee in the face of the enemy, or even help the Japanese pirates to sell out their country when the Japanese pirates really plunder the southeast, then I will punish them for several crimes and make them spit out twice what they have swallowed. This is also said to you, no matter whether it is Chinese or foreign, whoever ruins the overall situation will bear double the punishment!"

All the ministers promised solemnly, and they all understood that the money could not be withheld.

"In addition, I have sent Zhu San to the south to investigate the case of the extermination of the Xie family, and to strengthen the investigation of officials and gentry in the southeast coastal areas."

"In short, I have invested a large sum of money this time, sent many people, and arranged for officers and soldiers to patrol Japan. If the southeast is still in chaos, it will not be as simple as the outer court doubting whether you are competent and loyal."

After Zhu Houcong said this, his expression became serious.

"Your Majesty has considered everything. We, the ministers, will not dare to be careless or lazy. We will definitely do our best. If there are any omissions, we are willing to accept the punishment first!"

The ministers replied at this time.

Zhu Houcong nodded.

Let’s talk.

After Lu Bing arrived in Liangzhe, he followed the emperor's instructions and worked with Zhu Wu to develop more spies.

From peddlers to gentry and bureaucrats, there are people who have secret communications with them.

This is naturally because Lu Bing spent more money.

For example, they would specifically pay some common people to carry goods and sell them on the main roads, or they would hire some elderly people to clean the roads in various towns.

Therefore, when Irita Chikomasa, Xu Zhen and others sent people to Liangzhe to frequently inquire about Wang Yangming's whereabouts, a spy from the Jinyiwei informed Lu Bing of this.

When Lu Bing learned that someone was frequently inquiring about Wang Yangming's whereabouts, he became alert and immediately went to see Wang Yangming first.

(End of this chapter)