Ming Dynasty: Tanks blocked the door and you said to me, "Long live Ming Dynasty"

"Let them know that no matter what business they start, I am the largest shareholder!"

"Understand?"

Wei Zhongxian suddenly realized and raised his head timidly.

"Your Majesty, what you mean is that instead of opening the sea, you want to attack the merchant caravans maintained by those officials?!"

Zhu Youxiao nodded, and said with a hint of anticipation, "Yes, I really want to see their expressions when they pay taxes!"

At this time, the Ming Dynasty's maritime ban had long been in name only, and high-ranking officials in the court, especially those in the south, were almost all secretly supporting merchant caravans.

They smuggled Ming Dynasty's exquisite porcelain, silk, tea and other commodities overseas in exchange for high profits, and never paid taxes!

If we are to levy taxes, these people should be the focus!

Just checking a ship can earn you half a year’s worth of taxes from a mine!

But Wei Zhongxian was in a dilemma: "Your Majesty, it's not that I'm incompetent, it's just that there are too many seaports in Jiangnan, and it's really not easy to catch them!"

Zhu Youxiao was not surprised by what he said. If it were easy, he would not have waited for him to bring it up.

"Send someone overseas to try to contact Zheng Zhilong. Remember, your attitude must be good!"

"Tell him that I have a title of Earl of Nanhai waiting for him to take!"

"He has 700 ships under his command. Even if we look at the world, he is a top-notch force."

"As long as we can recruit him, those smuggling caravans will have nowhere to hide!"

Wei Zhongxian was a little confused: "Zheng Zhilong?"

He had rarely heard of this name, simply because Zheng Zhilong's fame had not yet reached its peak at that time, and the historical Battle of Kinmen with the Dutch East India Company would not take place for another six years.

Zhu Youxiao nodded again: "Go find Xiong Wencan first. It will be much easier to recruit Zheng Zhilong with him!"

Wei Zhongxian knew this name, and his eyes immediately lit up: "Your Majesty, are you talking about Xiong Wencan, the former governor of Shandong?"

"That's right!"

"I understand now. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your advice!" Wei Zhongxian's face was wrinkled with smile.

He was not afraid of Zhu Youxiao beating him or punishing him.

What he fears most is that Zhu Youxiao will not give him any work to do!

Let’s see what task the emperor has assigned us this time?

Collect commercial taxes, or taxes on maritime merchants!

To recruit Zheng Zhilong, seven hundred ships, if they were put on land, wouldn’t they fill up the entire Forbidden City?

When the mood is good, flattery will be poured out without cost.

"The emperor has indeed become different since he came back from the ancestor this time."

"You can know everything about the world without leaving home, even what's happening at sea."

"This is a skill that only saints have. I admire you so much!"

Zhu Youxiao glared at him fiercely and said, "Get out and do your job!"

After saying this, he stood up and walked back to the imperial desk, continuing to look through the memorials.

Wei Zhongxian quickly said yes, got up from the ground and left the Qianqing Palace. His movements did not seem like those of a man in his 60s at all.

Zhu Youxiao's actions at the court meeting made all officials restrain themselves a lot.

At least in the next few days, he never saw any memorials like "I have eaten, Your Majesty has eaten" again.

On the sixth day of the ninth month of the seventh year of the Tianqi reign, an old man, a middle-aged man, accompanied by Wei Zhongxian, came to the Qianqing Palace.

"Your Highness, I, Sun Chengzong/Sun Chuanting, pay my respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

The old man was Sun Chengzong, now 64 years old, with a head full of black and white hair and a face full of wrinkles. He was very thin, but looked strong and powerful, with a pair of eyes as sharp as a knife.

Zhu Youxiao, who was sitting behind the imperial desk, couldn't help but stand in awe when he saw this.

The Sun Chengzong in front of us was once Tianqi's teacher.

According to historical records, twelve years later, at the age of 76, he led his family to defend Gaoyang City and eventually died for his country. He is a hero!

He stood up from behind the imperial desk, took two steps at a time to reach Sun Chengzong, and reached out to help him up.

"Teacher, no need to be polite!"

"Bo Ya (Sun Chuanting) please stand up quickly!"

After helping the two men up, he said to Wei Zhongxian, "Old dog! Why don't you go get the brocade stool?"

"Yes Yes Yes!"

Wei Zhongxian hurriedly trotted to the back of the hall and brought back two brocade stools.

Sun Chengzong was very surprised!

Sun Chuanting’s appearance was very unexpected!

A big reason why the two of them resigned was that they could not stand Wei Zhongxian's tyranny, but Emperor Tianqi at that time turned a blind eye to this. Seeing that there was no hope of serving the country, they chose to resign and return home.

But now, the emperor treated them with such courtesy!

As soon as Sun Chengzong sat down, he stood up again and bowed.

"Old minister is terrified!"

"I wonder what instructions your majesty has for this old minister to return to the capital?"

"Sit, sit, sit!"

Zhu Youxiao took a step forward and pushed him back onto the brocade stool, then spoke slowly.

"I'm sure you've heard that a few days ago, I was called over by the Hongwu Patriarch and scolded."

"So, I have learned from my mistakes and decided to revive the Ming Dynasty, so I asked people to bring you two back."

"I hope you two can forget the unpleasantness of the past and help me revive the Ming Dynasty!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he bowed deeply to the two of them with an extremely sincere attitude.

Sun Chengzong and Sun Chuanting quickly stood up and held Zhu Youxiao's arms on the left and right.

Sun Chengzong's eyes were red and his hands were shaking.

"Your Majesty, you are embarrassing me!"

"How can an old man like me be worthy of such a great gift from you?"

"As long as Your Majesty does not mind my old age, I am willing to put on my armor and fight for the Ming Dynasty again, to show my power and kill the enemy!"

Chapter 15 Even if someone rebels, I want you to ignore it

Sun Chuanting also felt flattered. After all, before he resigned, he was only a Langzhong in the Ministry of Personnel's Honors Department, a fifth-rank official. He had few opportunities to meet the emperor, so how could he have received such treatment?

He was still young, only 34 years old, full of vigor and vitality. After Sun Chengzong finished speaking, he took two steps back, knelt on the ground with a plop, and kowtowed three times.

"To be treated so courteously by Your Majesty, I will die without regrets!"

"If you have any orders, Your Majesty, please give them to me. I will never refuse, even if it means death!"

This time it was Zhu Youxiao who went to support them. After the two of them sat down again, Zhu Youxiao smiled.

"My Lords Sun, let's make it clear that we invited you here today to discuss state affairs. From now on, you are not allowed to perform formalities at every turn."

He asked someone to move a chair from behind the imperial desk, sat opposite the two of them, and told them his plan.

In addition to being reinstated as Minister of War, Sun Chengzong also served as Governor-General of Ji and Liao, handling all war matters concerning the Jurchens.

Sun Chuanting was appointed Governor-General of Shanxi and Shaanxi to deal with the rebellion there.

But after a detailed chat, Sun Chengzong got up and left, and Zhu Youxiao left Sun Chuanting alone.

Sun Chuanting was a little confused and didn't know why he was asked to stay.

"Your Majesty, is there anything I need your attention for?"

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

"Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces are extraordinary!"

"Since ancient times, the people there have been tough and brave. Not only have they produced many generals and brave warriors, but they have also produced countless bandits and thieves."

"Therefore, I will give you three thousand Shenji soldiers to accompany you. You must bring back Wang Er's head!"

"But there is one thing you must remember. After you have wiped out Wang Er, you must immediately lead your troops back to the capital. You are not allowed to stay in Shanxi or Shaanxi for even a single day!"

"Even if there is a rebellion, I want you to ignore it and return to the capital immediately!"

Sun Chuanting was even more confused!

Since he is the Governor-General of Shanxi and Shaanxi, shouldn't he be stationed there permanently? Why should he come back immediately after suppressing Wang Er?

You are not even allowed to take care of something that happens during a rebellion?

It’s so outrageous!

But when he looked up and met Zhu Youxiao's serious expression, he seemed to understand something.

The emperor must have other arrangements!

With this thought in mind, he stopped asking questions and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your advice. I'll take note of it!"

Zhu Youxiao waved to Wei Zhongxian and said, "Go, give it to Commander Sun..."

He originally wanted Wei Zhongxian to draft an imperial edict for Sun Chuanting so that he could go to the Shenjinying to select soldiers, but he stopped halfway through his words.

"Forget it, I'll just accompany Commander Sun to the Divine Machine Camp myself!"

Sun Chuanting once again felt flattered. The emperor in front of him seemed to have really changed!

"I am frightened!"

Zhu Youxiao smiled when he heard this: "Why should I be so scared? I haven't been to the Beijing camp to see the soldiers for a long time. It's a good opportunity for us to go together."

After saying that, he asked Wei Zhongxian to select some accompanying guards and take Sun Chuanting out of the palace.

This was the first time he had walked out of the palace since he traveled through time.

The scene on the street outside is completely different from what is shown in movies and TV dramas.

Although the weather was still hot, there were many pedestrians on the streets.

Outside Chengtian Gate (Tiananmen Gate), there are mostly government agencies, and most of the people coming and going are officials and clerks. They are in a hurry, perhaps because Zhu Youxiao has dealt with a large number of officials a few days ago.

But once you pass through the Daming Gate, the pedestrians on the street become all kinds of ordinary people and vendors.

Since everyone had changed into casual clothes, it didn't cause any commotion.

Under the big willow tree at the base of the city wall, there were a few old men in ragged clothes lying, enjoying the cool air and picking lice.

Zhu Youxiao walked past them and could still hear the snapping sound of lice being crushed.

After walking for a while, the group finally arrived at the Shenjiying base.

The Shenji Camp, the Wujun Camp and the Sanqian Camp, together, are the three major camps guarding Jingcheng, with a total of 170,000 troops on paper.

Of course, only God knows how much is left now!

The gate of the Shenjiying was tightly closed. Four ugly soldiers stood at the door, one hand leaning on a bronze three-barreled gun, the other holding up their unbuttoned clothes and fanning themselves.

Seeing this scene, Zhu Youxiao couldn't believe it at all. These were the so-called elite troops of the Beijing Camp!

"Stop! What are you doing!"

One of the soldiers saw a large group of people coming, loosened his clothes, raised the three-barreled gun, and aimed it at Zhu Youxiao and others.

"presumptuous!"

Wei Zhongxian's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He was about to go up and curse at him, but was stopped by Sun Chuanting.

Zhu Youxiao was a little surprised, but he still gave Wei Zhongxian a look out of respect.

The latter retreated to the back with a look of grievance, looking at the soldier opposite with sharp eyes, ready to rush up and slap him in the face at any time.

Sun Chuanting then walked forward and looked at the soldier with a smile.

"Little brother, even if your gun can really fire, I'm afraid it will explode first, right?"