Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 326 Main Quest: First, confiscate 100 million from him (11)

A secret meeting concerning the fate of the Ming Dynasty was finally settled quietly in this main hall.

With his ingenious "three-horse carriage" strategy, Zhu Youjian infused the seemingly clumsy behemoth, the "Great Ming Royal Transportation Bureau," with a self-circulating and ever-renewing soul and blood.

Cui Erjin, Ni Yuanlu, and Huang Daozhou, like prophets who had received divine pronouncements, were filled with a surge of heroic ambition to create chaos and a heavy sense of responsibility.

The three dared not delay for a moment, and after receiving the decree, they hurriedly took their leave.

His steps were much steadyer and more anxious than when he came, as if he had a raging fire in his heart and was eager to find an outlet in the vast world so that it could burn even brighter!

As soon as they stepped out of the main hall, a group of sharp-eyed and burly officers from the Imperial Guards came to greet them. The leader clasped his hands and said, “My lords, the Governor-General has ordered that we, your humble servants, shall immediately be at your command. All matters concerning protection and communication shall be handled by us.”

Cui Erjin and the others felt a chill run down their spines. These were not guards; they were clearly a talisman bestowed by His Majesty, but also a whip urging them on their journey. It was both a blessing and a shackle.

They exchanged a glance, and in each other's eyes they saw the urgency that time waits for no one and the unwavering determination to move forward.

Cui Erjin said to the captain, "Thank you for your trouble. We must split up immediately and set up the framework of this new government office so that His Majesty's grand plan can be transformed into reality before our eyes!"

Before they finished speaking, the three of them, filled with knowledge and boundless ambition, quickly disappeared into the bustling crowd at the post station.

It looked as if a dragon had entered the sea, ready to wreak havoc on the long-dormant Ming Dynasty trade route!

Inside the main hall, as they left, the tense atmosphere filled with calculation and scheming gradually dissipated.

Zhu Youjian remained seated on his throne, not rising immediately. He gazed quietly at the empty hall, the echoes of their heated debate still lingering in his ears.

His face showed a hint of weariness, but more than that, it held the satisfaction and anticipation unique to a victor after strategizing and planning.

With the civil affairs settled, the next step is the other most important part of the empire – military preparedness!
He clapped his hands gently.

A clever young eunuch slipped in silently like a wisp of smoke, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty."

"General Xuan Qin." Zhu Youjian's voice regained its imperial dignity and composure, as if the impassioned and eloquent person just now was not him.

"According to the order."

Before long, a series of steady and powerful footsteps sounded from outside the hall.

The footsteps were neither as leisurely as those of a civil official nor as light as those of a palace attendant; rather, they sounded like the beat of a war drum, each step striking the ground and the heart, causing an inexplicable unease.

A female general clad in silver armor strode into the hall. Her posture was as upright as a pine tree. Although her face was no longer young, it showed no signs of aging. On the contrary, the passage of time had given her an imposing presence that made people dare not look directly at her. She was like an ancient sword hidden in its sheath, which, though not showing its sharpness, already exuded a chilling aura that penetrated to the bone.

It was none other than Qin Liangyu, whose fame resounded throughout the land.

She walked into the hall and, unlike the civil officials, did not kneel down. Instead, she knelt on one knee and gave a crisp military salute: "This humble general, Qin Liangyu, pays her respects to Your Majesty!"

Its voice was clear and resonant, full of energy, and within the spacious main hall, it even carried a faint echo of clashing swords and galloping horses.

"General Qin, please rise and take a seat." Only then did a genuine smile appear on Zhu Youjian's face, like the first melting of ice and snow.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Qin Liangyu responded and stood up, but did not sit down. Instead, she remained standing upright in the hall, her body motionless.

In her view, standing before the emperor is a soldier's duty and a source of pride ingrained in their very being.

Zhu Youjian did not press the matter, but went straight to the point and asked, "Minister Qin, I ordered you to recruit new soldiers in Zhejiang, Yingtian, Anqing and other places. How is the matter progressing?"

Qin Liangyu's gaze sharpened, and he replied in a deep voice, "Your Majesty! This humble general has been fortunate to fulfill his mission! This time, we recruited more than 40,000 new soldiers. Most of these people were young and strong men who had not committed any major crimes but had some martial arts skills, from those salt smugglers and transport gangs whose homes were confiscated when Your Majesty swept through the canal transport and rectified the salt affairs."

Many of them were former servants and bodyguards of officials and gentry who had been dismissed. Compared to ordinary farmers, these men were bolder, more worldly-wise, and more prone to violence; they were like rough diamonds, which, with a little polishing, could become valuable pieces.

"Oh?" Zhu Youjian was quite interested and leaned forward slightly.

A confident smile appeared on Qin Liangyu's lips, a smile that carried the joy of a craftsman who had discovered a beautiful jade: "This humble general dares not act on his own authority, and all the training is carried out in accordance with the new methods that Your Majesty and I have repeatedly deduced and discussed."

At this point, a hint of amazement flashed in his eyes, as if he were recounting an extraordinary feat: "The results are remarkable. While these 40,000 new recruits may not be comparable to my elite White-Spear Soldiers, they are well-organized in squads of three, forming a defensive and offensive force. Compared to those old-fashioned soldiers who only know how to stand in the palace and pose, they are already far superior!"

"Good!" Zhu Youjian slammed his hand on the armrest of the throne, his voice filled with barely suppressed joy.

He stood up, walked to Qin Liangyu, and his tone became solemn: "Qin Qing, I am very satisfied with the troops you have trained. When you return to the capital this time, these 40,000 men will join the tens of thousands of new recruits that Duke Zhang Weixian has newly recruited in the capital garrison. I do not intend for them to enjoy a life of luxury in the capital."

Qin Liangyu's gaze instantly sharpened, like a hawk locking onto its prey: "Whatever Your Majesty commands, this humble general will gladly die for you!"

Zhu Youjian looked at her and said, word by word, "I will divide them into groups of ten thousand and send them to the southern grasslands and the outskirts of Liaodong. In short, to places where there are sporadic battles but not major ones. I want them to use the heads of the Jurchens and those disobedient Mongol tribes to sharpen their swords and familiarize themselves with the real battlefield! I call this 'training through war'!"

"Use combat as training!" Qin Liangyu silently recited these four words in her heart, feeling a surge of heat rush from her chest to the top of her head, making her limbs feel hot!

This is the ultimate method for training troops!

Soldiers are weapons of killing. If they are only used for drills on the training ground, they are like swords hidden in their sheaths. Even if they are sharp, they will eventually lack the bloodthirsty killing intent. They are like unsharpened infants.

Only on a real battlefield, in a real life-or-death struggle, can a group of greenhorns be forged into a truly fierce and powerful army!

She could almost see the soldiers she had personally trained fighting to the death against the enemy on the vast grasslands and in the snow and ice of Liaodong, and then, under the baptism of war, rapidly growing into the most elite warriors of the Ming Dynasty.

What Zhu Youjian said next almost took her breath away.

The emperor's voice was extremely low, like a lover's whisper, yet it carried immense weight: "Qin Qing, do you know why I am so eager to train the troops?"

Qin Liangyu's heart stirred, and she raised her head to meet the emperor's deep, unfathomable gaze.

Zhu Youjian slowly said, "Because my patience has run out. The trouble in Liaodong has been like a poisonous thorn stuck in my Great Ming for decades. I don't want to wait any longer."

He turned around, looked at the huge "Map of the Ming Dynasty" on the wall, his gaze falling on the land marked "Jianzhou Guard", and there was an indescribable complex emotion in his eyes.

"When spring arrives next year, flowers bloom, grass grows and birds sing, and there is enough fodder to support the army's needs, and the frozen roads have all melted, that will be the day I completely defeat the Jurchens of Liaodong!"

Qin Liangyu felt as if the blood in her body was burning intensely in that instant.

Liaodong!

Solve Liaodong!

How long had she waited to hear those words?
How long have the people and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty waited?
From the Wanli reign to the Tianqi reign, Liaodong was like a wound that could never heal, festering repeatedly, draining the blood of the Ming Dynasty, and becoming a boil that no one dared to touch easily.

Countless famous ministers and valiant generals have fallen and died in battle, and countless fine young men have been buried in foreign lands.

Liaodong has become a hidden ailment and an underlying disease that the Ming Dynasty dares not easily touch, yet which is constantly causing it to ache!
She had assumed that, given the current emperor's steady and cautious approach, he would likely remain patient for several more years to build up national strength before taking action against Liaodong.

But I never expected that this day would come so quickly and so suddenly!

Like a thunderclap in a dry sky, it sent shivers down one's spine. Qin Liangyu narrowed her eyes instantly, countless thoughts flashing through her piercing gaze, her mind racing like beads on an abacus, calculating rapidly.

She thought to herself, "By next spring when the flowers bloom, it will be around March or April. So, doesn't that mean I only have less than half a year to prepare?"

Six months! Only six months!
To prepare provisions, weapons, horses, and winter clothing for hundreds of thousands of troops within six months was something that would have been an unthinkable fantasy in the past!

But at this moment, looking at the resolute profile of the young emperor before her, Qin Liangyu felt an unprecedented surge of confidence.

She didn't know why, but she felt that since His Majesty dared to say it, he must dare to do it!
Because he has the confidence to do so!
"Overwhelmed with emotion" is not enough to describe Qin Liangyu's feelings at this moment. She felt that this was what she had been seeking all her life as a military general!

He died on the battlefield, conquering new territories and pacifying the world for his king!
Unable to contain herself any longer, she suddenly knelt on one knee again, her voice trembling slightly with excitement: "Your Majesty! This humble general requests to lead the charge! I am willing to serve as the vanguard, cooperating with Commanders Sun Chengzong, Man Gui, and others to break through Nahetu Ala and take Shengjing! To avenge this great humiliation for our Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Youjian turned around and personally helped her up.

His eyes also gleamed with the same excitement, like two blazing flames: "Good! Good! I am very pleased to hear your words, my dear minister!"

He held Qin Liangyu's calloused hand tightly and said sincerely, "The Qin family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, guarding the borders of the country. I am deeply grateful. My dear Qin, you are not only a general of our Great Ming, but also the pillar of our Great Ming!"

The emperor and his minister looked into each other's eyes and saw a raging fire in each other's eyes, a fire that could start a wildfire.

Qin Liangyu was also filled with mixed emotions.

She never imagined that her life would take such a huge turn after she turned fifty.

Back then, she received the imperial edict to defend the emperor and led the White Spear Army away from her familiar homeland of Sichuan. She thought she was just going to Shaanxi to help the emperor fight disasters and quell bandits, and that she would return to Sichuan after the mission was over.

But to everyone's surprise, the young king not only did not send her back, but instead gave her unprecedented trust and important responsibilities.

She is a grateful person and upholds the family tradition of loyalty and righteousness.

Over the past few months, she has had her worries on her mind.

In Sichuan, she was, after all, a general, and being away for so long, she was always worried that something might happen. She had also subtly mentioned this to the emperor.

The emperor seemed to have anticipated her concerns and had already given the best response through his actions.

He had already allocated another 300,000 taels of silver to support his brother Qin Bangping and his nephew Qin Yiming in expanding the Sichuan White Banner Army.

Today, this loyal and brave army has grown to ten thousand men, well-trained and well-supplied. Some time ago, they wiped out the remnants of the She clan and the bandits in the mountains who had been entrenched in Sichuan for many years and had been repeatedly suppressed, thus making a great contribution to the imperial court.

All of this seems to confirm the emperor's words, which were half comforting and half joking—that the pillars of their hometown were doing even better in her absence.

Thinking of this, Qin Liangyu felt a warmth in her heart and quickly said, "Your Majesty is wise! This is all thanks to Your Majesty's divine might. If Your Majesty had not acted swiftly and decisively, wiping out those local gentry who were secretly colluding with bandits, my soldiers in Sichuan would never have dared to act so boldly."

Zhu Youjian laughed heartily: "Qin Qing is too modest. This is all thanks to your Qin family, and I have remembered it all. Once the Liaodong matter is settled, I will personally award your Qin family another great merit!"

Qin Liangyu quickly replied, "This humble general is unworthy of such praise! In the end, it is His Majesty's extraordinary abilities that enable us military men to stand tall and act with dignity."

What she said wasn't a flattering lie.

Having participated in several "confiscation" operations, Qin Liangyu knew better than anyone how astonishing the wealth held by the emperor was.

From the incredibly wealthy Prince Qin and Prince Fu, to the eight prominent Shanxi merchants who colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country; from the Jiangnan gentry who exploited the people, to the salt smugglers of Lianghuai who controlled the nation's lifeline; even the Confucius Mansion, which has a thousand-year-old tradition and claims to be the "descendant of the sage," and the numerous temples and Taoist monasteries throughout the country that do not engage in production but amass vast fortunes; not to mention countless corrupt officials...

All these factors meant that these parasites, which had been sucking the blood of the Ming Dynasty for a hundred years, were cut down one after another under the emperor's thunderous and ruthless methods, just like leeks after autumn.

The mountains of gold and silver, the countless land deeds and shops accumulated by their generations all eventually flowed into the bottomless royal treasury known as the Inner Treasury!

Qin Liangyu had secretly done some calculations in her mind. If all the money, grain, and goods available in the emperor's private treasury were converted into silver, it would probably be... probably really a huge sum of over 100 million taels!
One hundred million taels of silver!

This number made Qin Liangyu's heart pound every time she thought about it.

Back then, Emperor Wanli only spent a mere few million taels of silver on the three major campaigns.

The Liaodong battlefield alone cost three to four million taels of silver annually, causing the entire Ming Dynasty to complain bitterly.

But now the emperor holds such terrifying wealth in his hands!

With this money, why worry about building a strong army?
What's there to worry about with powerful cannons?
Why worry about food supplies?
That means they can fight however they want!
Moreover, Qin Liangyu wholeheartedly agreed with the emperor's actions.

Especially in Shaanxi, she witnessed firsthand how those so-called "local gentry" hoarded goods during famine years, forcing people to sell their children, while also colluding with officials to embezzle the imperial court's disaster relief funds.

On the other side, however, there was a human tragedy of starvation everywhere and people exchanging their own children to eat.

If His Majesty had not used swift and decisive measures to eliminate those corrupt officials, opened granaries to distribute grain, and implemented work relief programs, Shaanxi would likely have long since become a paradise for bandits.

Therefore, she thought the emperor did the right thing! Good riddance!

Those scholars who spout benevolence and morality on a daily basis are more ruthless than anyone else!

Since realizing this, she has written five letters home in the past few months and sent them back to Sichuan overnight.

In the letter, she used the harshest language to severely warn her relatives in her hometown that they must be careful in their words and deeds and strictly abide by the various new policies and national policies promulgated by the emperor, especially the matters of measuring land and paying taxes uniformly, and that they must not disobey in the slightest.

Otherwise, without waiting for the court to punish her, Qin Liangyu would be the first to object and would definitely clean up the mess herself!

She saw through it all, understood it thoroughly, and grasped its meaning in her own way.

The emperor of today is no longer the weak and constrained ruler who was constantly manipulated by his civil officials.

She recalled that more than a year ago, when she was still in Sichuan, she heard news from the capital, all of which were about the situation in Liaodong and the court's predicament.

However, in the past year or so, since this young emperor assumed power, the entire world seems to have undergone earth-shattering changes in a quiet manner.

Apart from the earth-shattering victory in the southern desert that annihilated the Khorchin tribe, there was strangely little news of large-scale battles coming from the turbulent Liaodong front.

It was as if even the arrogant Later Jin Jurchens were intimidated by the new ruler's ruthless methods.

Looking at the domestic situation, the bandits were suppressed in a corner of Shaanxi and could not move; the wealth from Jiangnan was continuously being transported to the capital.

All of this instilled in Qin Liangyu a profound sense of awe and reverence for the emperor before her.

The restorer of China?

No, perhaps even these four words are far from enough to describe even a fraction of the Emperor before us!

(End of this chapter)