Zhu Youzhen did not object much to the cabinet's desire to wrest the power of managing overseas territories from the hands of the prime minister's yamen, but Huang Liji and Guo Yunhou only wanted the lucrative warm islands in the south, but did not want the cold land in the north, which seemed to have little future, which made him extremely disgusted.

Zhu Youzhen thought for a moment and replied: "I can agree to include sugar, tobacco, alcohol, and oil in the rights of the imperial court, and I also agree that the imperial court can send investigators to various overseas territories every year to investigate the local social conditions and economic level. However, it is still too early to include Taiwan and other places in the areas directly under the jurisdiction of the imperial court. ”

Huang Liji and Guo Yunhou glanced at each other, and then asked Chongzhen: "Your Majesty thinks that these areas are under the management of the imperial court, but are there any conditions that are not available?" ”

Zhu Youzhen nodded and said: "Now there are still too many natives in these overseas territories, and there is a sea between these areas and the Ming Dynasty. If you rely on the direct management of the imperial court, if the natives in these places make trouble, is it better for the imperial court to send troops or not? If the killing is too heavy in the process of quelling the turmoil, should the domestic Qingliu impeach the leading generals? The local natives were killed so badly that they remembered that hatred had to drive us away. When the time comes, just like Vietnam, it was driven back by someone, wouldn't the imperial court lose face? ”

Huang Liji was silent, but Guo Yunhou was a little reluctant to let go of the wealth in these places, so he continued to intercede with the emperor: "What Your Majesty said may not be realized, not to mention that if it is really as Your Majesty said, these natives are making trouble, and there are no court officials guarding there, wouldn't it be more difficult to govern?" If we can occupy one day, we will occupy one day, better than let those pirates take over the island as kings. ”

Zhu Youzhen shook his head and no longer entangled with the two of them on this issue, "In the short term, I don't plan to discuss the issue of overseas territories with the cabinet on this issue. I think that the Ministry of Household Affairs should first handle the grain development work in Cambodia, and then discuss the management of overseas territories with me..."

Shortly after leaving the Cultural Palace, on the way to the Wuying Palace, Wang Chengen took the time to report several small things to Chongzhen, one of which was about the immigration affairs of Vladivostok, Sakhalin, Temple Street, Fusang Island, Kuril Islands and other places. In the wave of overseas immigration that began last year, most of the immigrants to the warmer southern islands were voluntary, but most of the immigrants to the colder regions of the north were forcibly exiled.

After surviving in a cold winter, the survival data of these northern migrants were also sent back. But obviously this data is not good, and sure enough, Wang Chengen reported to Chongzhen in a hurry: "... More than 1,900 people migrated to these areas last year, but 872 people did not survive the winter, and more than 40 percent died.

At present, the local town guards have suggested that until the local development is completed, it is better for the relocated people to be mainly young and middle-aged, and it is better for the elderly, the weak, women and children to stay on Jeju Island. Plus they need more doctors, medicines, strong glass, and a lot of kerosene and kerosene stoves..."

Zhu Youzhen asked with some curiosity: "What do they want strong glass for?" ”

Wang Chengen quickly replied: "The wooden windows are not sealed enough in winter, and the room cannot be kept warm. If you don't open the window, you can't observe the movement of the outside world, and the light in the room is poor. The few pieces of glass that were sent to Vladivostok and Temple Street last year worked very well after being double-layered, so they hope to be able to renovate other houses as well. However, some glass is not strong enough and will freeze and crack in winter, so they want to bring more strong glass over. ”

Zhu Youzhen thought for a while and said: "Since the Ministry of Internal Affairs is responsible for immigration affairs, you can just do these things yourself." However, all data on the mortality rate of migrants in these areas should be sealed and not leaked to the outside world. You're urging local governments to exile felons overseas, not impose other punishments.

In addition, all officials and officers who voluntarily go to these areas will be counted as having served twice as long as they have been promoted, and will be promoted by one level upon the completion of their term of office. As for the material needs you just mentioned, they will be issued in the amount they need, and the funds will be taken from the account of the Ministry of Internal Affairs..."

Listening to Chongzhen's decision, Wang Chengen also breathed a sigh of relief, most of the overseas immigration affairs are managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The reason for this situation is also because some areas have no interests in the eyes of merchants, and the imperial court has no funds, but in the eyes of Chongzhen, it is an extremely important place, so it can only be the top of the internal affairs government.

Vladivostok, Sakhalin, Temple Street, Fuso, and the Kuril Islands are northern regions, although the climate is harsh, making it difficult to cultivate. However, these areas are not rich in furs, timber, mountain goods, or rich in fishery resources, and even some gold mines can be found, so the Ministry of Internal Affairs has taken it seriously from the beginning.

However, in addition to some civilian criminals, there are also many local wealthy families who have made mistakes. The former died and died, but the latter's death on such a large scale, even Wang Chengen's heart was up and down. After all, if you want to develop these places, it is impossible to immigrate without seven or eight years. At this rate, how many people would have to die?

When Wang Chengen was thinking about it in his heart, Zhu Youzhen had already put his mind on other places, "Has Mr. Xu's resignation ceremony been decided?" ”

Wang Chengen nodded hurriedly and replied: "It has been decided, just half a month later, the location will be placed in the Shengji Hall behind the Wenhua Palace, and the style of the medal requested by His Majesty has also been decided."

The medals awarded to civil officials are divided into five classes, the first and second classes are called Huabiao Medals, and the first-class Huabiao Medals are inlaid with Huabiao patterns in the center, and there is a benevolent character, surrounded by eight characters: a gentleman is not a weapon, and he is virtuous for government; The second-class Huabiao Medal replaces benevolence with the word righteousness.

The third, fourth, and fifth class medals are called the Baoding Medal, and the middle characters are courtesy, wisdom, and faith, and the words around it are changed to: the monarch envoys and ministers are courteous, and the ministers are loyal. ”

Zhu Youzhen thought for a while and said: "In the future, the second- and third-class Baoding Medals will be awarded to officials below the third rank and above the fifth rank, and they must be retired officials who have served for 20 years, have no corruption and perversion of the law, and have not been warned and punished by the ministry. or officials with special performance below the fifth grade may be specially awarded.

The Order of the First Class is awarded to officials of the third rank and above, and the Order of the Second Class is only awarded to the heads of the six ministries and members of the cabinet who have retired and performed well. The Order of Huabiao of the First Class is only awarded to officials who have retired as the first assistant, or who have made outstanding contributions to the Ming Dynasty.

The Cabinet and the Ministry of Rites will issue a list of medals every three years and submit them to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for review. The conferment of the Order of Merit of the First and Second Class must be made by the Honourable Person. Over the years, Mr. Xu has been brave in his work, and has founded and presided over the Royal Academy of Sciences and Yenching University, and deserves to be awarded the Order of Huabiao of the First Class.

Since the award ceremony and the resignation ceremony are put together, the Shengji Hall seems to be smaller, so let's put it in the Zhongji Hall, and let the officials above the fifth grade in the capital come to watch the ceremony..."

In the Wueiden Palace, after Chongzhen arrived, the staff officers of the Army General Staff and the Navy General Staff Headquarters began to ask Zheng Xiang to tell the latest news about the Japanese side and the detailed process of seizing Osaka Castle. As a matter of fact, after Zheng Xiang returned to Beijing, he had already handed over a detailed handwritten report to the Army General Staff Headquarters and the Navy General Staff Headquarters, and today he is just reading out his own report according to the rules.

Although the army and navy staff officers present at the meeting had already read this report, they could not help but be amazed at how easily Li Chenfang led such a small number of men and horses to capture Osaka City.

Zhu Youzhen listened to the discussion of the staff officers for a while, then knocked on the table and said to the staff officers present: "As a Ming man, we should be proud that Major Li conquered a city of 100,000 people with only 300 people, which is enough to prove that the trained Ming soldiers can accomplish battlefield miracles that we once could not imagine.

But as a soldier of the Ming Dynasty, especially as a staff officer of the Ming army and navy, I do not think that Major Li's behavior is correct. According to our pre-war planning, calculations, and layouts, the defeat of the Japanese shogunate was inevitable, and the battle of Osaka Castle was a completely unnecessary adventure.

But the victor is not to be condemned, so I recognize Major Lee's exploits in taking Osaka Castle, but you, the staff officers of the army and navy, need not be too admirable of such a venture. I would suggest that you should carefully review how many mistakes the defenders of Osaka Castle made to be successfully attacked by such a small force. Their mistakes should be our lessons, and this is the greatest significance of the Battle of Osaka Castle for the Ming soldiers. ”

The army and navy staff officers immediately restrained their smiles and began to seriously discuss the mistakes made by the defenders in the battle of Osaka Castle. After listening to Zheng Xiang's report, when Zhu Youzhen was about to leave, Zhang Xie couldn't help but ask when he came out to bid farewell to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the accidental seizure of Osaka Castle, do you want to launch it here in Toyotomi Chiyo?" ”

Zhu Youzhen frowned and thought for a long time and said: "Let Zheng Xiang take her to Jeju Island, join the four battalions led by Lu Xiangsheng, and don't use the banner of Toyotomi for the time being, and see if the shogunate can kill the rebellious loyalist." We won't be listened to until they're exhausted..."

When Zhu Youzhen left the Wuying Palace, he couldn't help but look at the sky in the south, thinking about whether Qian Qianyi could be allowed to return to the capital first if the disaster relief in the south went well, and then he was about to launch a moral criticism of the Yansheng Mansion, and his statement as a leader in the literary world could influence the attitude of many Jiangnan scholars.

Qian Qianyi, who was hung by Chongzhen, couldn't help but sneeze, he was on the Yueyang Tower in Yuezhou City at the moment, accepting a banquet from the local squires and elders. Yuezhou, which is separated from Changde, the epicenter of the earthquake, by Dongting Lake, although there is also a feeling of tremor, but it is a few earthen houses that have collapsed, and a few cracks have been made on the ground, but there are no casualties.

Originally, he was in Wuchang Mansion, but he was really annoyed by the gentry of Wuchang and the clan of the King of Chu, so he came to Yuezhou City, which is 240 miles away from Changde. The gentry and clan of Wuchang naturally did not admire his literary talents and pestered him every day, they took a fancy to the disaster relief money he carried.

If it weren't for Qian Qianyi, a cabinet minister, who was in charge of disaster relief, but other lower-ranking officials, it is estimated that these gentry clans would have come up with some means to threaten them a long time ago. But even so, these gentry clans, far away from the earthquake area, also wanted to intercept 400,000 or 500,000 yuan to repair the damaged Wuchang houses.

Qian Qianyi also expected to rely on the attack of this disaster relief to sit in the position of first assistant, naturally he would not be in the same stream with these gentry clans, he allocated a small amount of money of thousands of yuan to open a porridge shop, and then rushed to Yuezhou in a hurry.

The area damaged by the earthquake has been counted, about 33 states and counties, and in the past two months, there are still aftershocks from time to time. However, the imperial court provided timely relief this time, and sent a large number of officials to supervise production for self-help and work-for-work relief, and the local people were in a stable mood.

Hunan is a new grain-producing area that is developing, and there are many mountains, forests and rivers, and there is no shortage of building materials for building houses. The only thing that the local people lack is the understanding of earthquake knowledge, and the fact that someone organizes and leads them to produce and save themselves.

The presence of ministers like Qian Qianyi in the disaster area, even if he is only on the edge, has given a lot of confidence to the people in these earthquake areas. First, they felt that the court had not abandoned them; The second is that there is a Wenqu star like Qian Qianyi to suppress the evil spirit, and I think the earthquake should not be violent anymore.

Qian Qianyi, who was sitting in Yuezhou, also relaxed after receiving information about the stability of people's hearts from various disaster areas. Of course, he also had a headache, that is, the palace of Changde Rong was destroyed in several places, and King Rong's father and son urged Qian Qianyi to watch it on the spot and allocated funds to repair the palace.

How dare Qian Qianyi join in this excitement, Changde is the epicenter, and he is not sure if the earthquake will continue; Second, although nearly 3 million yuan has been allocated from various places, if it is used to repair the palace, it is estimated that other places will not need disaster relief.

Fortunately, King Rong couldn't run across Dongting Lake to arrest him, so Qian Qianyi resorted to the prevarication tactic of pushing and asking questions, and under the pretext that he was applying to the imperial court for the construction funds of King Rong's Mansion, he fooled the other party.

However, looking at the drizzling rain on Dongting Lake outside, Qian Qianyi also had a hint of wanting to return to Beijing. Being away from the capital not only made him feel closed and unable to understand the latest court situation, but also made him worry about losing Chongzhen's concern for him.