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

Chapter 346 The Minister of War, Focusing on the Future

This is a situation that Zhang Weixian wouldn't even dare to dream of!
"Pfft!"

Zhang Weixian could no longer control himself. He knelt heavily on both knees and banged his head on the ground with a dull thud.

"Your Majesty is wise! Even if I were to give my life, I could never repay even a fraction of Your Majesty's kindness in recognizing and supporting me!" His voice choked with emotion.

Zhu Youjian watched him quietly, letting the old general vent the emotions he had suppressed for half his life.

He stepped forward and helped Zhang Weixian up again, his tone still steady but with a comforting power: "Duke of Ying, there's no need for this. The Beijing Garrison and the Northern Frontier are merely laying a new foundation and repairing the roof for this dilapidated house of our Great Ming, so that it won't collapse immediately. But the house is still riddled with holes, and the road ahead is still long."

He waved his hand, gesturing for Zhang Weixian to look at the huge map, and his expression became serious again.

"What I just said was all good news. But what I am about to say is the real worry that puts our Great Ming Dynasty on the brink of collapse and that we must be extremely cautious about."

His wooden pole moved slowly across the map, crossed the Shanhaiguan Pass, and landed heavily on the narrow strip of land in Liaodong.

"Firstly, Liaodong."

Zhu Youjian's voice turned somber, and the atmosphere in the warm pavilion immediately froze.

"This place is the only external front for our Great Ming Dynasty, a battlefield where our dynasty will face off against the Later Jin and the Jurchens head-on. Grand Secretary Sun is a wise and experienced strategist. The Guan-Ning-Jin defense line he built is advancing layer by layer, step by step, and is indeed the only barrier for our Great Ming Dynasty to stop Huang Taiji from going south. I am well aware of this and deeply admire him."

Zhang Weixian nodded in agreement.

Although Sun Chengzong's Guan-Ning defense line was extremely costly, it effectively kept the Later Jin army at bay outside the pass, allowing the people of the land to live in peace and stability. His achievement was truly remarkable.

"However," Zhu Youjian's tone shifted sharply, "the Guan-Ning Army is also a money-devouring behemoth! Millions of taels of silver are poured into it every year, yet all we hear is the word 'defend.' My money doesn't grow on trees! It's squeezed from the mouths of corrupt officials, extracted from the bones of nobles and unscrupulous merchants! I can give it, and I can afford it."

He emphasized the latter half of the sentence, which gave Zhang Weixian another jolt: "But every penny I spend must be worthwhile! To only defend and not attack is to place the fate of my Great Ming Dynasty entirely on this fragile defensive line, allowing the Jurchens to recuperate and grow stronger. This is a passive strategy, which is not what I want!"

Zhang Weixian remained silent.

The emperor's words hit the nail on the head.

Although the Guan-Ning defense line was stable, it was like a bottomless pit, draining the nation's strength and causing the Ming Dynasty to lose its strategic initiative.

There were people in the court who had suggested taking the initiative, but they were always overwhelmed by the enormous pressure of the Liaodong military expenditure and the fear of fighting the Later Jin in the field.

“However,” Zhu Youjian drew a circle on the map with his wooden stick, connecting Xuanfu, Datong, and Liaodong, “the situation has now taken a new turn. The threat from the northern barbarians has been eliminated, and Huang Taiji no longer has the possibility of bypassing Mongolia to launch a surprise attack on our flank. This means that Grand Secretary Sun no longer needs to be distracted by the defense of the Jizhou and Xuanda lines, and can focus all the forces of the Guan-Ning Army on the front lines!”
I've given him more than just money and provisions; I've given him a battlefield where he has no worries about the rear! Therefore, my requirements for him will no longer be merely to defend!

Zhu Youjian's eyes flashed with a cold light: "While consolidating our defenses, we must seek opportunities to counterattack! Even if it's just a small-scale raid, we must keep Huang Taiji from having any peace! We must let him know that he is not facing a coward who can only take a beating, but a fierce tiger that will show its claws at any time! I will use the Guan Ning Army to firmly pin the Later Jin down in Liaodong, so that he has no time to look elsewhere!"

Zhang Weixian was deeply moved, and he fully understood the emperor's intentions.

By resolving the Mongol issue, the emperor revitalized the entire northern chess game.

The Guan Ning Army, the most important piece in the game, has been transformed from a passive defensive fortress into a sharp sword that can be drawn proactively!

However, Zhu Youjian's expression did not lighten; instead, it became increasingly somber.

His wooden pole left Liaodong, slowly heading west, passing through Shanxi, and finally landing on that land covered with loess and crisscrossed by gullies.

"The trouble in Liaodong is still superficial. But the danger here has penetrated to the heart."

He pointed to the towns of Yansui, Ningxia, Guyuan, and Gansu on the map, especially the area around Shaanxi.

"This is a malignant tumor clinging to the very flesh of my Great Ming!"

The phrase "a deep-seated carbuncle" clenched Zhang Weixian's heart.

"Duke of England, you must remember, no matter how strong the Later Jin are, as long as the Guan-Ning defense line stands, they cannot invade. At most, the Ming Dynasty will lose some face and spend some money and grain. But once Shaanxi falls into ruin, refugees will rise up everywhere, and mutinies will break out one after another. A single spark can become a prairie fire and sweep across the heart of the Central Plains! At that time, our Ming Dynasty will not only suffer minor injuries, but will also collapse from within!"

Zhang Weixian frowned. He had thought that the greatest threat to the world was the Jurchens beyond the Great Wall, but he did not expect that in the eyes of the emperor, the real fatal danger was in the heart of the country!

"Shaanxi is suffering from a severe drought, with the land parched and barren, yielding no harvest. Today, the drought is worsening. The starving people are the most fertile ground for those rebels and bandits! They only need to raise their arms and call for followers to flock to them!"

"I personally went to Shaanxi and beheaded the greedy and tyrannical King of Qin, and executed a large number of corrupt officials who preyed on the people. I established the Imperial Garrison to try to appease the refugees and reorganize the border troops. It did have some effect and temporarily suppressed the fires there. However, natural disasters and man-made calamities are endless, and what I have done is only a drop in the ocean!"

A deep sense of helplessness and exhaustion was evident on Zhu Youjian's face.

It was a sense of powerlessness in the face of the overwhelming power of nature, a feeling that human strength is sometimes limited.

"I can kill a Prince of Qin, I can kill a hundred corrupt officials, but I cannot make Heaven send down a timely rain! This is the most urgent and fatal threat to my Great Ming!"

Zhang Weixian's back was already covered in a layer of cold sweat.

He finally understood why the emperor had appointed him, a military officer, to head the Ministry of War.

The problems in Shaanxi are not only issues concerning people's livelihoods, but also military issues!

Silence fell over the hall. The flames of war in Liaodong were fierce, but they were far away; while the decay in Shaanxi seemed to be right before their eyes, and they could smell the stench of decay.

After a long while, Zhu Youjian's wooden pole moved again, returning to several important towns near the capital.

His expression softened slightly, and he regained his composed and strategic demeanor.

"So, you see, this is the chess game of my Great Ming Dynasty."

His wooden staff tapped lightly on the towns of Jizhou, Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi. “These places used to be front lines that required constant vigilance. But now, thanks to the strength of the Beijing garrison and the alliance with Ligdan Khan, their military pressure has been reduced to a minimum. I have a new perspective on them.”

"Jizhou is located east of Liaodong and west of the capital. It will be the gateway for our Beijing garrison to go out of the pass and support Liaodong, and it will also be the most important transit point for Liaodong's grain and military supplies. Its defense must be absolutely reliable."

"The border troops under Governor-General Man Gui in Xuanfu and Datong are elite soldiers who have fought countless battles. Now that they no longer need to guard against the Mongols day and night, this force has become a mobile fist that I can mobilize at any time!"

If there is trouble in Liaodong, they can go east to provide reinforcements; if there is an emergency in Shaanxi, they can go west to suppress bandits!

This force must be adequately fed and trained, and its combat effectiveness must be ensured to remain undiminished!

"Finally, there are the provinces of Shanxi." Zhu Youjian drew a circle on the map of Shanxi with his wooden pole. "This place connects the east and the west, links the Central Plains to the south, and is a strategic hub connecting Xuanda in the north and Shaanxi in the west. Its position is extremely important. But it also has its inherent problems."

He sneered: "The Shanxi merchants are a cautionary tale! Although I have uprooted those parasites who only know their families and not their country, their profit-seeking nature remains unchanged."

He looked at Zhang Weixian, his words carrying a hint of testing: "I and Ligdan Khan have recently opened a horse market, mostly located along the Xuanda line. Man Gui is a fierce general, unmatched in the world in his bravery in battle, but he is not good at financial management and knows nothing about business."

If this continues, trade with the Mongol tribes may be exploited by unscrupulous merchants, harming the interests of our Great Ming. Duke of Ying, as the Minister of War, how should this matter be handled?

At this moment, Zhang Weixian's thoughts were completely drawn into this grand strategic picture by the emperor.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately bowed and replied, “Your Majesty, I believe we should follow the ancient system and appoint a capable civil official as the deputy to the Governor-General of Xuanfu and Datong, so that he will not interfere in military affairs and will be in charge of trade with the Mongols, accounting of money and grain, and liaison with the Mongols.”

In this way, everyone's talents can be fully utilized, allowing Governor-General Mangui to focus on military affairs, while also ensuring that profits from trade with Mongolia go entirely to the national treasury and do not fall into the hands of unscrupulous merchants.

"Excellent!" Zhu Youjian clapped his hands and laughed, his eyes full of approval. "Your words are exactly what I wanted! After you take office in the Ministry of War, you should immediately consult with the Cabinet and the Ministry of Personnel to draft a plan and select a capable person as soon as possible to go to Xuanhua and Datong to assist Man Gui!"
I decree that Xuanfu and Datong should not only serve as a strong shield for my Great Ming Dynasty, but also as a source of wealth for it!

At this point, Zhu Youjian gently placed the gilded wooden rod back in its original place.

He turned around and looked at Zhang Weixian, who was still immersed in shock. He had already analyzed the entire world's situation clearly.

"Duke of England, do you understand now?" The Emperor's gaze was as deep as the sea.

"Liaodong is of paramount importance and requires a gradual approach, sustaining the war effort through warfare; Shaanxi is of urgent need and requires swift and decisive action to address the root causes; Jizhou, Xuanzhou, and Datong are fundamental and require strengthening our capabilities to provide support. These three are interconnected and none can be dispensed with."

This is the move I will make next. And you, as the Minister of War, are the chess player who will orchestrate this game for me, allocating the nation's troops and resources! The burden on your shoulders is ten times, a hundred times heavier than when you were in charge of the capital garrison!

Zhang Weixian felt a surge of heat rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

He looked at the young emperor before him, whose face, which had not yet completely shed its childishness, was filled with a profound wisdom and decisiveness beyond his years.

contrast!

A stark contrast involuntarily surfaced in his mind!
Emperor Wanli, for decades, did not attend court. Although he had capable ministers like Zhang Juzheng who laid the foundation for his dynasty, he ultimately neglected his duties and ruined the country due to his own selfishness, leading to widespread corruption and border troubles.

Emperor Taichang, who reigned for only a month, died hastily due to the Red Pill Case, leaving behind unfulfilled ambitions and only sighs of regret.

The late Emperor Tianqi, though not incompetent, was obsessed with craftsmanship and entrusted the nation's most important instruments to eunuchs, leading to the corruption of the court and a sense of insecurity among the people.

And what about the emperor before us?
What a mess he inherited when he ascended the throne!

Internally, the eunuch faction was deeply entrenched; externally, powerful enemies were eyeing the country covetously; the national treasury was empty; and the people were suffering.

Any emperor facing such a desperate situation would likely have been disheartened and helpless.

But what about him?
After ascending the throne, he initially remained patient and reserved, but then struck with lightning speed, wiping out the Shanxi merchants and replenishing the national treasury.

His actions were decisive and ruthless; he reorganized the Beijing garrison and firmly grasped military power.

With foresight and far-sighted planning, he allied with the Mongols to control the Jin dynasty, thus revitalizing the entire northern war situation.

Throughout the more than two hundred years of the Ming Dynasty, apart from Emperor Taizu and Emperor Chengzu, there were no other emperors like this…

A bolder, even somewhat rebellious, thought flashed through Zhang Weixian's mind: even if Emperor Taizu and Emperor Chengzu were alive, could they have done a better job than His Majesty in the present day, given the current predicament of being beset by internal and external troubles and deeply entrenched problems?

That might not be the case!
At this moment, Zhang Weixian no longer felt any fear or reluctance towards the position of Minister of War.

All that remains is the heroic spirit of a scholar willing to die for one who understands him!
He understood it completely!

What Your Majesty mentioned earlier about Shaanxi and Xuanda were merely means to an end!
Everything—internal pacification, military training, financial management—ultimately points to that land of white mountains and black waters—Liaodong!
The final move in this grand scheme is to gather the last of the Ming Dynasty's strength and achieve a decisive victory in one battle, thus completely eliminating the threat to Liaodong!

He took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and once again gave Zhu Youjian a standard military salute.

"Your Majesty!" His voice was loud and firm, without the slightest hesitation, "Your subject, Zhang Weixian, is willing to be a soldier before Your Majesty! Where Your Majesty's sword points, I will die ten thousand times over! If there is the slightest mistake, and Your Majesty's plan cannot be accomplished, I am willing to offer my head to you!"

Zhu Youjian looked at the old general before him, whose hair and beard were already somewhat gray, and saw the burning fire that had been rekindled in his eyes, and smiled with satisfaction.

A thousand troops are easy to get, but a general is hard to find.

What's even more remarkable is that he is a military strategist who can so clearly see through my plans!

"Very well! I am greatly pleased to hear the Duke of Ying speak these words!" Zhu Youjian personally helped him up. "I entrust all military affairs of this realm to you. I hope you will not fail me, nor will you fail the people of this realm!"

"Sir, obey the order!"

The emperor and his minister exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word.

(End of this chapter)