East Palace

It has been ten days since Shi Kefa's recital was sent to the capital, and he reported in the memo that Fang Yuan's Xuanjia Army had been allowed to be stationed at the Longjiang wharf, and that Fang Yuan had built a behemoth at the Longjiang Shipyard in Nanjing.

After receiving Shi Kefa's recital, Empress Zhou and Zhu Cihong immediately summoned Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting, the governor of Jingji, to discuss together, and the judgment of the war situation was obviously more professional Sun Chuanting.

Zhu Cihong held up Shi Kefa's recital and said angrily, "This Shi Kefa, knowing that Fang Yuan is a wolf's ambition, also leased the Longjiang wharf and shipyard to Fang Yuan to station?!" If Fang Yuan is in trouble, Nanjing City will not be protected! Is Shi Kefa also anti-hearted? ”

Hong Chengchou patiently explained, "Prince, now Nanjing City is now in a precarious situation between the forces of Fang Yuan and Zuo Liangyu. Even if he did not lease the Longjiang wharf and shipyard to Fang Yuan, it would be a matter of effort to capture Nanjing City with the combat strength of the Xuanjia Army. Shi Shangshu's lease of Longjiang wharf and shipyard is also borrowing strength and struggling to support, imitating South Korea when he borrowed the party to Zhao Guo and provoked the confrontation between Fang Yuan and Zuo Liangyu. Please don't doubt Shi Shangshu's loyalty. ”

The prince was displeased and said, "Shi Kefa, does he know which is more important?" Zuo Liangyu is just a disease of scabies, Fang Yuan is a big problem, I would rather give Nanjing City to Zuo Liangyu than to Fang Yuan! ”

Hong Chengchou retorted, "Prince! Zuo Liangyu is a rogue in the name of officers and soldiers, where he passes, not a single inch of grass is left, and the principle of Fang is the concubine of the imperial court, and he takes care of Jiangnan in an orderly manner. Zuo Liangyu never sent troops to the king of Qin, and Fang Yuan sent troops to the king of Qin several times, who is more troublesome, it is clear at a glance! Even if it is for the millions of people in Nanjing, Nanjing City would rather be handed over to Fang Yuan than to Zuo Liangyu! ”

Zhu Cihong retorted sharply, "Teacher, it is precisely because Fang Yuan is good at buying people's hearts in Jiangnan that the disaster is even deeper!" I'd rather have no grass in Nanjing City, and I can't leave it to Fang Yuan's enemy! ”

Hong Chengchou and Sun Chuanting trembled when they heard this, and they were silent.

The Zhu family is just fighting for the world by themselves, what is the crime of the people? It is better to have no grass in Nanjing City, but also to curb Fang Yuan's power, the rulers just think about it in their hearts, to say such inhumane words in public is to lose their conscience, where is there still a little bit of emperor's benevolence in the world?

Empress Zhou scolded sharply, "Prince, you dare to speak disrespectfully to the teacher, and immediately make amends to Mr. Hong!" Shi Shangshu's behavior is not only innocent, but also meritorious! ”

Hong Chengchou said respectfully, "Niangniang is really insightful! ”

Because Fang Yuan married Princess Kunxing, Zhu Cihong had an inexplicable hatred for Fang Yuan, and was scolded by the queen mother, so he could only bow down respectfully to Hong Chengchou, "Teacher, I was disrespectful before, please punish the teacher." ”

Empress Zhou asked humbly, "Mr. Hong, Inspector Sun, Shi Shangshu said that Fang Yuan's giant ship in Longjiang Shipyard was sixty-five zhang long and fifteen zhang wide. Did he build this unprecedented giant ship for the imperial court? ”

Hong Chengchou said, "According to the information obtained by the old minister, Fang Yuan not only repelled the Zheng family, but also participated in the civil war of the Japanese State, and even turned against the Francois who stole the island of Taiwan. He built a giant ship in Nanjing, and it seems that he was not targeting the imperial court in the north, but the maritime forces in the south. ”

Sun Chuanting is more familiar with Fang Yuan, and from his point of view, Fang Yuan has sent troops to fight against the Manchus several times, and he is not a rebellious minister who is determined to be independent. Of course, if the court pushes him too much and forces him to rebel, then say another thing.

Sun Chuanting said, "This kind of giant ship built by Fang Yuan is impassable through the Grand Canal. The minister seconded Hong Ge Lao's idea, Fang Yuan's target was actually the south, not the capital court. The other party is original, the court should adopt a gentle policy, and it is not easy to force it too much! ”

Empress Zhou sighed lightly and said, "But what kind of cabinet is Fang Yuan in Jiangnan, isn't this still anti-hearted?" ”

Sun Chuanting continued, "Fang Yuan trained the Xuanjia Army, and the imperial court could follow the drill. Fang Yuan was in the cabinet, and if there was really something to be desired, the imperial court could also learn from it. ”

He still insisted on his own views, and even more complained about the national policy that the imperial court engaged in the integration of officials and businessmen, and that officials and businessmen could openly collude.

The integration of government and business is the national policy proposed by Empress Zhou, although Sun Chuanting did not directly oppose it, but he pointed to Sang scolding Huai's praise of Fang Yuan's national policy, she was dissatisfied, and looked at Hong Chengchou noncommittally and asked, "What does Mr. Hong think?" ”

Hong Chengchou said, "Lao Chen has carefully studied the cabinet system implemented by Fang Yuan, which comprehensively opened up commerce and allowed businessmen and ordinary people to run for the cabinet, but there are also merits. ”

Even Hong Chengchou praised Fang Yuan like this, Empress Zhou had nothing to say, and said with a sigh, "Your Majesty is really discerning, and Fang Yuan, whom he vigorously promoted, is really a talent that is rare in hundreds of years, but he is against us." ”

Hong Chengchou arched his hand and said, "The old minister has a word, even if the mother doesn't want to hear it, the old minister also wants to say it." At least at this moment, Fang Yuan still did not show the slightest act of rebellion, not only did not attack Nanjing City, but even went north, but aimed the spearhead at the various forces in the south that harassed the Daming Sea Frontier. Fang Yuan's goal was obviously to start with the south and then the north, and the imperial court should target the warlords and vassal kings in the north, first the north and then the south. ”

Empress Zhou agreed with his suggestion and asked, "Mr. Hong, has the cabinet drawn up a vote on the arrears of land and commercial taxes in various provinces this year?" Have the feudal kings and governors of various places paid the land taxes and commercial taxes this year? What about Fang Yuan? What about the two thieves Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong? ”

Hong Chengchou truthfully reported, "Li Zicheng of Henan and Huguang has paid in full the field tax and commercial tax that Huguang should have paid before, and Zhang Xianzhong of Sichuan has paid in full, and half of the commercial tax on the sale of Shu brocade is in arrears. Fang Yuan's arrears of land and commercial taxes last year were also made up after the imperial court sent Huang Zhan to ask for them. ”

Empress Zhou smiled with satisfaction, although the two thieves were killing each other, at least they obeyed the orders of the imperial court honestly, it seems that the fiefdom was the right move, "Your Excellency sent an edict to Li Zicheng and crowned the earl as a reward." And brought the will of the imperial court, so that he made persistent efforts and continued to send troops to exterminate the warlords and rogues who were not subservient. ”

Hong Chengchou received the decree and said, "The only one in the provinces who has not paid the land tax this year is Liu Zeqing from Shandong. This person not only failed to pay the land tax, but also withheld the customs duties of the Grand Canal, and did not pay a tael of silver to the imperial court. The cabinet has issued three official documents to Liu Zeqing to collect money, but Liu Zeqing has ignored them all and has not replied to a single one. The old minister suggested that troops should be sent to severely punish Liu Zeqing, who was arrogant and domineering, and his disobedience was already clear. ”

"This Liu Zeqing is simply bold!"

Empress Zhou slapped the small table heavily and said angrily, "Inspector Sun, how is the new Ming army of the imperial court doing?" ”

Sun Chuanting said, "The establishment of the new Ming army has 10,000 cavalry, 10,000 infantry, and 500 artillery. The ministers practiced for a year, plus the money and food support of the imperial court. The firearms were made of thunderbolt weapons purchased from the Luqi Kingdom, and the weapons were all Japanese swords, and the armor was a layer of iron armor and a layer of leather armor. This is already the most elite sergeant in the imperial court, and he can go to the battlefield at any time to kill the enemy and serve the country. ”

Empress Zhou nodded and said, "Mr. Hong, has the imitation of the Xuanjia Divine Gun not come to fruition?" ”

Hong Chengchou said, "Daming's technology really can't study the manufacture of nitric acid, Lao Chen has asked the Francois to go back to the West to buy chemical instruments, and there are professional talents to develop again, it may take some more time, and please wait patiently." ”

Empress Zhou said, "Mr. Hong, is it feasible to order Inspector Sun to lead the newly trained 20,000 new-style Ming troops to crusade against Liu Zeqing and verify the combat strength of the new army?" ”

Hong Chengchou said, "It is feasible, Inspector Sun, you immediately lead 20,000 new-style Ming troops to conquer Liu Zeqing, attack the heart first, attack and kill the bottom." The target is only Liu Zeqing and his henchmen, and Liu Jun is mainly recruited, and no more killings can be done. ”

Sun Chuanting gave up his hand, "Yes!" The minister immediately led the army to the battle! ”