Huangming

Chapter 467 The Ming Dynasty's Horse Administration: Undercurrents in the Inner Court

The second year of the Tianqi reign.

Early September.

Autumn is in full swing in Beijing.

Outside the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace in the Forbidden City, the leaves of several ancient sycamore trees were dyed ochre yellow by the autumn wind, and occasionally one or two would fall silently onto the white marble railing.

Inside the warm pavilion, the air was cozy and warm, with silver charcoal burning in the floor heater. It neither smoked nor made the air pungent, but rather warmed the air.

Several thick volumes of documents were spread out on the large sandalwood desk, covered with dense ink writing on gold-flecked Xuan paper, with traces of vermilion annotations still remaining at the edges.

That was a detailed report on the rectification of horse administration submitted by the Court of Imperial Stud.

Zhu Youxiao, dressed in a bright yellow casual robe with dark dragon patterns embroidered on the cuffs, was sitting upright behind a desk, flipping through documents.

His fingers were long and slender, and he turned the pages slowly, but his eyes were sharp as an eagle's. When they landed on words like "restored pastures" and "number of horses," his brows would unconsciously relax a little.

On either side of the desk stood Xue Zhen, the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud, and Zhang Jingshi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, with their hands at their sides. Both were wearing scarlet official robes, and their cuffs were slightly damp from their sweaty hands.

Since taking on the task of reforming the horse administration last year, they have been working day and night. Today, they can finally report the results in person, and they are both looking forward to it and feeling uneasy.

"Recover 100,000 hectares of grassland in Liaodong, Beizhili, and Jeju Island that were previously occupied, which can be used to graze 200,000 horses."

Zhu Youxiao's voice was not loud. He raised his head, his gaze swept over Xue Zhen and Zhang Jingshi, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"Excellent, you've handled these two tasks thoroughly."

Xue Zhen and Zhang Jingshi exchanged a glance, and their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, finally felt a little relieved.

Xue Zhen stepped forward and bowed, saying:
"Your Majesty is wise! The grasslands of Liaodong were previously mostly occupied by powerful clans. It is thanks to Your Majesty's dispatch of the Liaodong Military Commissioner to rectify officialdom that those powerful clans dared not resist."

When land was surveyed in Beizhili, local officials cooperated fully, and the boundaries of grasslands were quickly clarified.

On Jeju Island, the naval admiral sent men to guard it, preventing Japanese pirates and other piracy from causing further disturbances.

"It is all thanks to Your Majesty's power and virtue; we have only done our duty."

This statement both flattered the emperor and maintained a proper balance.

Zhu Youxiao chuckled upon hearing this.

"I have seen your hard work."

Horse administration is the foundation of the border army. If we can raise an additional 200,000 military horses, the defense of the nine border regions will be much stronger in the future.

But as he spoke, his gaze fell back to the latter half of the document, and his brows gradually furrowed.

"But what about the other places?"

Of the eight prefectures and four states under the jurisdiction of the Nanjing Imperial Stud, only 5,000 hectares of grassland have been restored.

The combined area of ​​the two Imperial Studs in Shaanxi and Gansu is only 8,000 hectares.
This is vastly different from the figures for Liaodong and Beizhili.

The atmosphere inside the warm pavilion instantly became heavy.

A bead of sweat appeared on Xue Zhen's forehead. He took a half step forward, bowing even lower, and his voice became more cautious than before:

"Your Majesty, please allow me to report that there are indeed difficulties in reforming the horse administration in Nanjing, Shaanxi, and Gansu."

In the prefectures and counties under the jurisdiction of the Nanjing Imperial Stud, there were many noble estates and pastures interspersed with those of the nobility. These nobles refused to give up their land easily, citing it as ancestral property.

In recent years, there have been many cases of migrants disturbing the grasslands in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, causing serious damage to the grassland boundaries. The investigation requires checking each household, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

We have already increased manpower, and in a while, we should be able to achieve even greater results.

"should?"

Zhu Youxiao repeated those two words, his displeasure growing stronger.

He put down the vermilion brush in his hand, leaned forward slightly, and looked at Xue Zhen.

Xue Zhen felt as if that gaze was heavy, making it hard for him to breathe, and his palms were sweating more and more.

But after a moment, Zhu Youxiao's tone softened.

He saw Xue Zhen's nervous expression and understood what was going on.

These two individuals were not negligent in their duties.

When I took over the horse administration last year, the Imperial Stud was in a complete mess. Pastures had been occupied, the number of military horses had been drastically reduced, and the border troops were even in the predicament of "one soldier with half a horse".

Xue Zhen and Zhang Jingshi's ability to restore more than 100,000 hectares of grassland within a year is already a remarkable achievement.

If it were one of those incompetent officials who only know how to shirk responsibility, they probably wouldn't even be able to do half of it.

"I know you have done your best."

Zhu Youxiao's voice became calm again.

"The nobles in Nanjing, the refugees in Shaanxi, and the border troubles in Gansu are all long-standing problems that cannot be solved overnight."

You don't need to rush things; just report the progress of the investigation and any difficulties you encounter truthfully.

Xue Zhen and Zhang Jingshi finally breathed a sigh of relief, and both bowed simultaneously:
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty! We will certainly do our utmost to clarify the pastures in all areas as soon as possible, and will never fail Your Majesty's trust!"

Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly, his gaze returning to the document, but in his mind he was pondering a deeper matter.

Why did the horse administration reform in Liaodong, Beizhili, and Jeju Island proceed so smoothly?
Ultimately, it was because the imperial power had a deep enough hold on these places.

After Xiong Tingbi's reforms, Liaodong became a place of clean governance, with local officials obeying the emperor's orders without question.

Beizhili was the area surrounding the capital. When the land was surveyed, he sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard to supervise it, and the powerful local magnates dared not cause trouble.

Jeju Island is directly under the jurisdiction of the navy, which has absolute authority over it.

But what about Nanjing?

That place was a gathering place for nobles, with deep-rooted connections, even the Six Ministries were hindered there.

Shaanxi and Gansu are located in remote areas, and border troubles and displaced people are intertwined. Local officials inevitably have to compromise on the instructions of the central government.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his thoughts drifting further away.

If the chaos in Liaodong hadn't been quelled first, and the powerful clans in Beizhili hadn't been dealt with, perhaps even these 100,000 hectares of grassland wouldn't have been recovered.

Politics is always interconnected; without strong control over local areas, there can be no smooth progress in the overall situation.

The same applies to horse administration, border troop reorganization, and future fiscal reforms and official reforms.

but
Although the grasslands have been restored, there is still a significant shortage of military horses. Without enough horses, it is impossible for the cavalry of these nine border regions to revitalize.

He looked up at Xue Zhen and Zhang Jingshi below the steps. The two were holding their breath and waiting, their sleeves creased with tension, clearly aware of the crux of the horse administration problem.

"You have done a good job; I will reward you."

"But the number of warhorses is still far from my expectations."

"The root cause of the corruption in horse administration since the Wanli era—I ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate for a year; you should all listen to their findings."

He picked up a stack of secret reports from the table and slowly said:

“Yuanma Temple in Shaanxi had 130,000 hectares of grassland during the Yongle period, but now only less than 50,000 hectares remain.”

Those members of the royal family, gentry, and eunuchs enclosed pastures as private estates, planted crops and collected rent, and occupied all the land for raising horses. Where were the horses to be put?
The desertion rate among the garrison troops in Yansui was 60%, and those who remained were listless and disengaged. The official garrison system was practically paralyzed.

Xue Zhen broke out in a sweat, and Zhang Jingshi also lowered his head slightly.

They had heard about these matters, but the drawbacks affected too many members of the imperial family and nobles, and were beyond the ability of the two officials to resolve.

Even if they knew, what could they do?

Seeing their bowed heads, Zhu Youxiao gave a soft snort and continued:

"In Beizhili, five able-bodied men in a household raise one stallion horse. If the horse dies, the household has to pay thirty taels of silver, which is equivalent to two or three years' harvest for an ordinary farmer!"
How many families in Shandong and Henan have been forced to sell their children and die simply because they couldn't afford to pay for the horses?

And those officials, they charge five taels when inspecting a horse, and ten taels when branding it. The hardship of raising horses is heavier than paying taxes!

Finally, he slammed the secret report onto the table, the sound startling both of them:
"The Northwest Tea Horse Bureau is even more absurd!"
Private tea accounted for 70% of the market. Gentry and merchants passed off rotten tea leaves as official tea, and the Tibetans simply did not exchange them. As a result, the annual number of horses traded dropped from 20,000 to 3,000!

Without good horses, how can the border troops fight against the Mongol cavalry?

Xue Zhen and Zhang Jingshi listened with grave expressions. Only now did they truly understand that what His Majesty wanted to rectify was not a simple problem of "horse shortage," but a deep-seated problem that had persisted for decades.

Just as the two were pondering how to respond, Zhu Youxiao had already suppressed his anger and slowly revealed the countermeasure he had already planned:
"I have already thought of a solution. Please give me your advice, my two ministers."

"Firstly, in Gansu and Ningxia, the imperial garden system of the Yongle era was restored."

Each guard post was set up with five gardens, each with 2,000 horses, totaling 10,000 horses. The soldiers of the garrison were responsible for herding the horses, and their rations and pay were allocated from special funds from the Court of Imperial Stud, with no delays allowed.

Then, open a horse market in Liaodong to trade with the Kharachin and Tumed tribes, exchanging Songjiang cloth and Zunhua ironware for their fine horses, paying the full price, but with rules in place prohibiting the substitution of inferior goods.

He paused, then looked at the two of them:
"The policy of 'selling all the stallions' implemented in the ninth year of the Wanli Emperor's reign has been abolished!"
Households that adopt breeding horses are exempt from paying fifty shi of grain.

In Beizhili, if five able-bodied men support one horse, the five men will be exempt from paying grain rations.

In addition, a "horse price silver" reserve was set up, with money allocated from the confiscated property of corrupt officials. If a horse died of illness, compensation would be paid from this reserve, so that ordinary people would not have to pay out of their own pockets.

Furthermore, the system of "baojia" (a system of mutual responsibility among households) for raising horses was implemented, with ten households forming a bao and sharing one official horse. If the horse died, the cost was shared equally among the bao, thus preventing individual households from going bankrupt.

When the topic of the tea-horse trade came up, a sharp glint flashed in Zhu Youxiao's eyes:

"The golden token of the Tea Horse Road trade must be reforged!"
During the Hongwu era, a gold medal could be exchanged for thirty fine horses, and the same thing is still done now.

Tibetan tribal leaders used gold tokens for transactions and did not accept any other credentials.

In Sichuan and Shaanxi, tea bureaus were established, and every batch of tea had to be stamped with an official seal. Anyone who illegally exported tea, regardless of who was involved, would be executed!
"Official tea bureaus were established in Southern Zhili and Zhejiang, accepting only the finest tea. Each horse had to be exchanged for at least fifty catties of good tea before the Tibetans would be willing to trade with us."

Finally, he added:

"The Imperial Stud has a Horse Administration and Martial Arts Academy under its jurisdiction, which teaches veterinarians and horse trainers. After three years of training, they are sent to the Nine Border Regions."

Each town set up a horse hospital and dispensed traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions.

Prepare medicines for treating equine disease and hoof diseases.

in addition"

Xue Zhen and Zhang Jingshi listened with shining eyes. His Majesty's countermeasures were all to the point, including both the restoration of existing systems and innovations, far more comprehensive than they had previously thought.

The two immediately bowed, their voices filled with barely suppressed excitement:
"Your Majesty, we humbly obey your holy name and will do our utmost to revitalize the horse administration of the Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Youxiao looked at the two of them, and the corners of his mouth slightly turned up:

"If we can restore the level of the Hongwu era, with 400,000 military horses and 200,000 civilian horses, or even more, then both of you will have made a great contribution."

He softened his tone and said in a meaningful, low voice:
"At that time, it's not impossible for him to join the cabinet."

These words struck them like a thunderbolt.

Xue Zhen and Zhang Jingshi exchanged a glance and both swallowed hard.

Entering the cabinet to assist in governance was the highest aspiration for officials in the Ming Dynasty, and His Majesty's words undoubtedly gave them the most practical encouragement.

"We, your humble servants, would gladly die for Your Majesty! We will certainly not fail in your trust!"

The two responded in unison, their voices several times louder than before.

Zhu Youxiao nodded, quite satisfied with their reactions.

With this grand promise made, there's no need to worry about these two not working their ass off.

But actually...
If these two can truly resolve the issues related to horse racing, would it be excessive to offer them a cabinet position based on this merit?
Not too much at all!
Horse administration is the backbone of the Nine Garrisons; only when the backbone is firmly established can we talk about expelling the Mongols.

Only when the Ming Dynasty possessed a massive number of warhorses could it have the capability to deploy troops over long distances.

Only then could they manage to reach further afield, including the Russian Tsarist Empire, the Safavid Dynasty of Persia, the Mughal Empire, and the Ottoman Empire.

Completely control the Silk Road.

Zhu Youxiao's vision never extended beyond the two capitals and thirteen provinces.

Just as the emperor was contemplating the future, Xue Zhen and Zhang Jingshi immediately rose, bowed to Zhu Youxiao, and said:
"Your Majesty, please leave!"

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

"Do your job well."

"Yes!"

Xue Zhen and Zhang Jingshi slowly took their leave.

After the two left the East Warm Pavilion, Zhu Youxiao stretched.

His joints made a slight "clicking" sound, and the seriousness between his brows gradually dissipated.

"Always buried in memorials, your bones are going to rust. Wei Dadang, prepare the carriage, let's go to the inner training ground!"

Wei Chao was standing at the foot of the steps with his hands at his sides. Upon hearing this, he quickly bowed and replied:

"The slaves obey the orders!"

He quickly withdrew to deliver the imperial decree, and soon after, the bright yellow imperial carriage drove out from the side gate of the Qianqing Palace and slowly moved forward along the stone-paved road of the West Garden.

The autumn sun shone through the branches of the ancient locust trees along the road, casting dappled light and shadow on the imperial carriage. The breeze carried the crisp fragrance of chrysanthemums, dispelling the gloom brought on by government affairs.

Zhu Youxiao lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked at the shimmering Taiye Pond in the distance, feeling a pang of nostalgia for the feeling of galloping on horseback.

Not long after.

The imperial carriage arrived at the inner training ground.

Fang Zhenghua, a eunuch from the Imperial Horse Administration, was already waiting at the door with several junior eunuchs.

He wore a blue python-patterned lining and held a snow-white warhorse in his hand. The horse's mane was neatly trimmed, and a black whorl of hair on its forehead marked it. It was the "Snow Steed" carefully trained by the Imperial Horse Administration.

Seeing the imperial carriage stop, Fang Zhenghua quickly led his horse forward and knelt down with a thud, his voice respectful yet tinged with joy:

"This servant, Fang Zhenghua, respectfully welcomes Your Majesty!"

Zhu Youxiao stepped off the carriage on the back of a young eunuch, waved his hand to signal him to get up, but his gaze fell directly on "Xue Piao".

The horse was neither agitated nor kicking when it saw strangers; it simply swished its tail gently and exhaled two puffs of white breath from its nostrils.

He stepped forward and gently stroked the warhorse's neck; the touch was warm and smooth, and the horsehair was like the finest silk.

"Xue Piao" seemed to recognize him, gently nuzzling his palm. Zhu Youxiao smiled, took the reins from Fang Zhenghua, put his left foot in the stirrup, twisted his waist, and nimbly mounted the horse.

Compared to his awkwardness when he first rode a horse more than a year ago, he can now sit steadily, his legs gently gripping the horse's belly, his posture quite impressive.

"drive!"

He gave a low shout, tightened the reins slightly, and "Snowy Steed" took off galloping along the training ground track.

The wind whistled past his ears, lifting the hem of his dragon robe, and the flags at the edge of the training ground rushed past in his field of vision.

Zhu Youxiao felt all the pent-up emotions in his chest dissipate, and even his breathing became easier.

This is the state he desires: not a weak monarch confined to a warm chamber, but an emperor skilled in riding and archery, possessing a certain heroic spirit.

Fang Zhenghua, accompanied by several eunuchs from the Imperial Horse Administration, followed closely behind, their eyes fixed on the figure on horseback, fearing the slightest mishap.

Only when Xue Piao's breathing became heavy and fine beads of sweat appeared on its nostrils did Zhu Youxiao slowly pull on the reins. After the warhorse slowed down, he dismounted. Although his movements were not graceful, they were steady.

He patted "Snowy Steed" on the forehead and praised it with a smile:

"This horse is well-bred, has great stamina, and is gentle."

Fang Zhenghua quickly stepped forward to take the reins, a smile plastered on his face:
"It is my duty to please His Majesty."

The servants at the Imperial Stables fed it the finest alfalfa every day and regularly brushed its fur and took it for walks, all in the hopes that the Emperor would ride comfortably.

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said:

“The eunuch who raises this horse is given ten taels of silver; you should give him twenty taels.”

Fang Zhenghua immediately knelt down.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "Get up."

He moved his wrists; his hands, which had been gripping the reins while riding the horse, were still a little tense.

"I rode a horse today, and now my hands are itching to ride."

Fang Zhenghua, didn't you practice Taizu Changquan?

"Spar with me for a couple of moves. I've been studying this boxing style lately and have grasped some of its essence."

As he spoke, a hint of seriousness flashed in his eyes.

While one need not act with the courage of a common man to be an emperor, if one does not even have the ability to protect oneself, what if one encounters an unforeseen event and is at the mercy of others?

Even with only mediocre martial arts skills, one can have a better chance of survival in a critical moment.

Upon hearing this, Fang Zhenghua's face showed some difficulty, but he still bowed and replied:
"Your Majesty is a man of extraordinary talent. How dare I, with my meager skills, presume to show off my limited abilities before Your Majesty?"

"Stop trying to appease me!"

Zhu Youxiao smiled and strode towards the martial arts stage in the center of the training ground.

"Win or lose, it's all good to stretch your muscles and bones."

If you dare to yield to me, I will be displeased.

Soon, the two went up to the martial arts stage.

The training platform was paved with thick bluestone slabs, and several weapon racks were placed along the edge, with spears and broadswords stuck in them. The sunlight shone on them, giving them a cold gleam.

Zhu Youxiao took off his outer dragon robe, leaving only his plain-colored, tight-sleeved inner jacket. He stretched his shoulders and neck, and assumed the starting stance of the Taizu Long Fist.

With feet shoulder-width apart, hands clasped in front of the chest, and eyes looking straight ahead, he looked quite imposing.

Fang Zhenghua dared not refuse any longer. He also took off his eunuch-style robes, bowed, and slowly assumed the starting hand gesture.

He learned martial arts at the Imperial Stables from a young age, and his mastery of Taizu's long fist technique was unparalleled. However, when facing the emperor, he had to restrain his sharpness.

He held back 30% of his strength when he threw the punch, and deliberately slowed his pace, only daring to lightly parry Zhu Youxiao's moves during the gaps in his attacks.

Let's get straight to business boxing.

Zhu Youxiao fought seriously, throwing a straight punch with a "straight to the point" move. Although the force was not strong, the angle was tricky.

Then, "Phoenix Facing the Sun" dodged to the side and then threw a punch in quick succession. The movements were fluid and clear that he had practiced his skills.

The two exchanged blows, their fists whistling through the air. After only a dozen or so rounds, Zhu Youxiao seized the moment when Fang Zhenghua was retracting his fist and delivered a "Double Peaks Piercing the Ears" strike to his shoulder.

Fang Zhenghua could have easily dodged it, but he deliberately slowed down by half a beat and was lightly hit by the fist, falling backward and sitting on the ground with a "thud".

"This servant has lost!"

Fang Zhenghua quickly got up, bowed and said, "Your Majesty's boxing skills are superb, this servant is far inferior."

Zhu Youxiao knew perfectly well that he was deliberately letting him win, but he didn't point it out. He just smiled and wiped the sweat from his brow.

"That's enough. I rode a horse and practiced boxing today, and I feel much better overall."

He gazed at the Taiye Pond in the distance. The autumn sun was shining brightly, and the air was crisp and refreshing. The anxiety he felt about the unfinished horse-related matters had largely dissipated.

Whether it's reorganizing the nine border regions or managing distant areas, we need to take it slowly. First, we need to strengthen our bodies so that we have enough energy to cope with the storms of the future.

The limited free time spent in the inner training ground came to an end.

Zhu Youxiao rode in the imperial carriage back to the Qianqing Palace.

Not long after he entered the palace, the eunuchs of the Imperial Kitchen served him the evening meal.

Twenty-four dishes were laid out in abundance.

Steamed Songjiang perch rests on a white porcelain plate, its eyes bright, drizzled with amber-colored sauce.

Braised deer tendon is coated in a thick caramel color and served alongside bright green vegetables.

There were also crystal pork knuckle, chicken slices with egg white, and eight-treasure duck, each dish as exquisite as a decorative piece, with aromas wafting out through the half-open window.

Many of these dishes were learned by the imperial chefs at Zhu Youxiao's behest.

As a royal chef, it would be absolutely unacceptable if one's skills were not up to par.

As emperor, he's already exhausted from managing countless affairs of state, and he can't even eat properly. What's the point of being emperor?
Think about this.

Zhu Youxiao picked up a piece of deer tendon with his chopsticks. It was soft and tender in his mouth, and the aroma of soy sauce spread on his tongue.

Having dealt with horse administration and reviewed memorials for several days, and having ridden for half an hour in the West Garden, my stomach was indeed empty at this moment.

When you're hungry, everything tastes good.

When he had almost finished eating, a eunuch announced from outside the door:

"Your Majesty, Wei Zhongxian, the Director of the Eastern Depot, and Wang Tiqian, the Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial, request an audience, saying they have good news of victory in Datong."

"Good news?"

Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up, and he immediately put down his jade chopsticks and tapped his fingers lightly on the edge of the table.

"Let them in."

"Yes!"

A moment later.

The curtain was gently lifted, and Wei Zhongxian walked in slowly, holding a roll of victory report with a bright yellow cover. Wang Tiqian followed behind him with his hands hanging down and his eyes fixed on the ground.

Wei Zhongxian walked to the table, knelt down on both knees, and held the victory report high above his head:
"Your Majesty, good news has arrived from Datong!"

"General Xiong has quelled Wang Wei's rebellion, and the peasant uprising has been quelled. General Du Wenhuan of Yansui has even submitted a letter of apology!"

Zhu Youxiao reached out and took the report of victory. He immediately unfolded it, his eyes quickly scanning the words, and the smile on his lips gradually deepened.

Wang Wei committed suicide, Zhang Tianlin was captured, Sun Zhen and Ma Rong defected, and five million taels of silver were seized from Datong. Even the Yansui garrison took the initiative to plead guilty...

The rectification of the nine border regions is progressing much more smoothly than expected.

"Excellent! Xiong Tingbi has indeed not disappointed me!"

Zhu Youxiao placed the report of victory on the table, his tone filled with joy, and turned to look at Wei Chao, who was standing beside him.

"The death of the Prince of Dai at the hands of the rebel army is a great loss to my imperial clan."

Go and convey my decree:
The cabinet was instructed to draft an edict, dispatching the head of the Imperial Clan Court to Datong to preside over the funeral rites for the Prince of Dai, ensuring that the ceremony was conducted with utmost solemnity.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Rites is instructed to expedite the discussion of the succession of the Crown Prince to the throne, ensuring that all rites and ceremonies are followed without negligence.

Wei Chao bowed and replied, "This servant obeys."

As he stood up, his eyes quickly swept over Wei Zhongxian and Wang Tiqian out of the corner of his eye, a hint of coldness in them.

The victory in Datong was such a momentous event, yet these two bypassed him, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and went directly to see His Majesty. It was obvious they wanted to steal the credit!

Two old foxes!
Wei Chao clenched the handkerchief in his sleeve and hurriedly left the warm pavilion.

As Wei Zhongxian watched Wei Chao's figure disappear outside the door, a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

After Wei Chao completely left the East Warm Pavilion.

Wei Zhongxian slowly rose, took out a dark brocade-covered book from his sleeve, on which was written in small regular script, "Inspection Record of the Bureau of Military Supplies," and handed it to Zhu Youxiao:
"Your Majesty, the matter of your previous order to investigate the Bureau of Armory for corruption, delays in cannon production, and substandard weaponry has now been resolved."

Zhu Youxiao took the book, his gaze darkening.

The Ordnance Bureau was an arms manufacturing agency under the Ministry of Works, and it was related to the combat strength of the border troops.

The imperial court spends so much money every year to manufacture firearms.

It's not for these people to embezzle.

Zhu Youxiao slowly opened the book, and saw that it recorded the corruption of the Bureau of Armory.

The supervising eunuch embezzled materials and silver, the craftsmen cut corners, and substandard military equipment was passed off as good products. On the last page, it was even written that "Wei Zhengguo, the adopted son of Wei Chaoyi, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, served as the Director of the Bureau of Armory. He repeatedly accepted bribes from merchants and altered the acceptance records."

Wang Tiqian added at the opportune moment:

"Your Majesty, I have sent people to verify that Wei Zhengguo did indeed use his connections with the Wei Dynasty to place his cronies in the Bureau of Armory. In just one year, he embezzled 120,000 taels of silver."

Those substandard muskets were inspected by him.

Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly.

He had long known that Wei Chao's subordinates were not entirely clean, but he never expected that they would dare to extend their reach into the Bureau of Military Supplies and even condone their subordinates' embezzlement of military funds.

Wei Zhongxian secretly glanced at the emperor's expression, a slight delight forming in his heart, and continued to embellish the story:

"Your Majesty, Wei Zhangyin, as the head of the Directorate of Ceremonial, has allowed his relatives to cause chaos in the Bureau of Military Affairs. If he is not dealt with, it will be difficult to win over the people and will also jeopardize the important affairs of the border army."

However, this matter involves Minister Wei, and this servant dares not make a decision on her own. I humbly request Your Majesty's wise judgment.

Ha ha.

The two dogs under his command started fighting.

(End of this chapter)