"I have made up my mind, before the autumn in Huaiyang trial donation, after the autumn, in the south of Zhili trial, before the autumn tomorrow, the world!"

Now what the Ming Dynasty can actually grasp is the Jiangbei territory of Huaiyang Fenglu, as well as the Huguang territory along the river from Wuchang Jiujiang to Taiping Mansion, and then the whole territory of Hunan, Nanzhili, Fujian, Zhejiang, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces.

The whole territory of Sichuan fell into the hands of Zhang Xianzhong, Luo Tong and other general soldiers guarded Yucheng, and choked Zhang Xianzhong's road to Yungui and other roads, which could be safed for the time being.

Shaanxi and Gansu provinces are in the hands of Li Zicheng.

In the northern provinces, for the time being, the officials did not approve of the recovery.

The eastern captives entered the Beijing Division, and the Liaodong lands were lost during the Wanli period.

In addition to Yunnan and Guizhou, the southern provinces of Huguang are large grain-producing provinces, and Jiangnan originally also produced grain, but in the past few decades, grain output has been declining year by year, and even many people only grow cotton, silk weaving, and the money they earn to buy grain to eat, if you want to say rich, there is nothing to say.

The two provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang have different situations, but they are still under the control of the imperial court.

Chongzhen's edict was followed, and the provinces complied with it, and after half a year, the center was afraid that there would be no shortage of money.

Such a major event in the court and politics, the emperor has already made a decision, and the cabinet still knows about it after the military affairs, Shi Kefa is deeply unhappy in his heart. What is even more worrying is that the donation is together, and the same people in Donglin will rise up to oppose this matter?

When I thought about it, I was very confused.

Fortunately, it was very late, and Chongzhen saw that he didn't belong to his mind, and he didn't blame him, but he just sent Shi Kefa out first with the inner prison.

The cabinet chief assistant system is respected, and even Chongzhen also stood up symbolically on the throne of Jintai to show off the prime minister.

When Shi Kefa went out, Chongzhen said to Wang Jiayan and Lu Zhenfei again: "There is no sudden change in Shoufu Shi Kefa, and there is no order in trouble, I am deeply disappointed!" ”

In front of other ministers, he would never have expressed such disappointment in Shousuke.

Jiangnan was initially decided, and there was still a rebellion in Nanjing City a while ago.

Yangzhou also has a popular uprising.

At this time, if there is any change in the first assistant like Shi Kefa, it will be easy to give the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of, and it will be a serious blow to the emperor's already low image and prestige.

Therefore, the emperor could only complain a little in front of these two increasingly trusted military ministers.

Wang Jiayan escaped from Yanjing together, and there is no doubt about trust.

Lu Zhenfei has already shown the ability to completely convince Chongzhen, meeting every day, making suggestions on military affairs, and making arrangements. The situation of the provincial defense forces is well known to all the geographical points.

In front of such a capable minister, talking about practice every day is also a complete supplement to Chongzhen's own ability.

This emperor only now knew that he used to claim to be a Ming monarch, and he knew both civil and military affairs, mountains and rivers, and geography, and his ability was a joke in front of real capable ministers.

Because of this, Chongzhen also relies more and more on the Military Affairs Department, and the cabinet is less and less taken to heart.

Complaining now, it's just that I'm disappointed in Shi Kefa's personal ability.

Of course, there is also the intention of encouraging the henchmen in front of him.

The first assistant of the cabinet, Anzhi can't be the current Minister of War? Wang Jiayan and Lu Zhenfei will join the cabinet in the future, and they will also be the ministers of the Military Affairs Department, wouldn't they be more handy?

In such a high position, which one is not the dragon and phoenix among the people, all of them are top people, as soon as the emperor's words came out, the general intention of these two people was known in front of them.

Wang Jiayan smiled and said nothing, Lu Zhenfei said solemnly: "Shoufu is honest and honest, courtesy, faith, and behavior are all inferior, and it is a blessing in the world for the emperor to have this Yuanfu." ”

It is also permissible to use such an evaluation to say Shi Kefa.

Chongzhen originally didn't mean to change horses, so he nodded silently and exposed the topic.

After pondering for a while, Chongzhen said: "The crown prince went out of the town of Huaiyang, and his achievements are remarkable, and a decree can be drawn up in military affairs to commend the crown prince Huaishang's actual military training achievements, and give iron whips, silver medals, tables and interiors, and silver, and the household department will immediately allocate them and send them to Qingjiang!" ”

In this way, the matter of Yangzhou is supported by the emperor, the military affairs department follows, and the crown prince has strong troops outside, who else can make any waves?

The matter of Jiangnan resistance has not been dissolved.

This kind of disposal is much stronger than publicly mentioning the Yangzhou civil uprising in the edict, at least the thieves and thieves will not know what to do.

The matter could have been classified as military affairs, and the two military ministers agreed to it.

Wang Jiayan got up and said with a smile: "The minister is going to go down, the sky will be dark, and the palace gate will be locked in a while. ”

"No hurry!" Chongzhen frowned and said: "Although Qian Qianyi's writing is gorgeous, but this purpose is profound, it is best to be drafted by the two of them, and polished by Yu Huai's group." ”

Speaking of articles, Qian Qianyi of the Military Affairs Department is the first one, and then Yu Huai and Chen Zhenhui are several military affairs people, all of whom are great talents in the restoration society, and it is not difficult to polish the edict and rely on the horse.

Qian Qianyi's kung fu is used in culture and education, and the results are not bad, but if you want to be in the emperor's heart, you have to work military politics.

This old man is also a Donglin boss, Wang Jiayan wanted to promote him to draft an edict, but the emperor vetoed it, and he could only smile bitterly at the moment.

"Don't be in a hurry to leave," Chongzhen ignored the thoughts of his subordinates, and watched the crowds of eunuchs under the palace lighting the palace lamps on the corridor, and then the lights in the hall, twilight gradually covered his sight, but little by little, it was also bright. Midsummer dusk actually makes people feel a little lazy and comfortable. He followed his train of thought and said to the two ministers: "Today I talked about the open source for a day, how about reducing expenditure?" The crown prince once said that there were several major mistakes in the system of this dynasty. The money is too low to be outside the class, and it is said that it will last for a long time, and gradually become a group to fight against the imperial court, which is one of them. Second, the officials cannot be motivated, and this generation is allowed to be hereditary, and after a long time, they will make lawsuits, insult officials, and local power, and this generation will be divided with the gentry. Third, the official income was too low, so the post station was originally set up to facilitate the passage of news and convey the will of the imperial court, and later gradually became a place for officials to divide private fertilizer. Wujiang County, every year, more than 1,000 people are sent to officials, and the expenses are all from the cost of apportionment. The inaction, corruption, uselessness and incompetence of officials are also the result of this system. Of course, I abolished the post station, the military information was transmitted in the north, and the generals and officials could only hire horses and personnel to deliver the service, and often cut off the news. ”

Of course, Chongzhen admits his mistakes more than once, but he used to be a story of lies, and he generally admitted his mistakes from the top that he would never make. For example, not being diligent in government, not cultivating virtue, and so on.

This is the first time that he has admitted his mistakes in specific government affairs and opened up the world.

Not allowing these two ministers to sigh, Chongzhen smiled bitterly, and continued: "These shortcomings must be regulated by Xu Tu." For example, the Yulu is too low, and the autumn wind is played at the post station, and these origins are not the same. There are a few other things that I dare not say now. It has to be rich in the center of the court to change the past. However, there is one thing that needs to be rectified now......"

Speaking of this, Chongzhen paused and looked at the two military ministers below.

"Eliminate redundant troops."

"Cut redundant soldiers!"

The next two people spoke almost in unison and spoke at the same time.

After that, the three monarchs and ministers all laughed together.

Chongzhen looked very emotional, stood up, and said with a smile: "The crown prince said that it is very appropriate to discuss this matter with the two of you." With Chang Yanling and Zhang Guowei, it is not difficult to implement this matter...... Lu Qing, Shi Kefa is trapped in the cabinet, and military affairs are not his director, I Yiqing is also the left waiter of the military department, and he should not resign! ”

Lu Zhenfei was originally just a governor of Huai'an, far from the position of a central official, although the rank of the Minister of Military Affairs went up all of a sudden, but he did not have a full-time position in the ministry, and his qualifications were still very shallow.

Now with a high-grade military minister, and then a full-time squire, the rest of the officials are demoted, which is very appropriate for him.

Of course, such an arrangement will not be proposed by Zhu Cihong, it should be Chongzhen's own will, and it can be regarded as a stroke of God.

To abolish redundant generals and redundant troops, it is necessary to have a capable minister in charge of the military department.

This appointment can also be seen that Chongzhen's dissatisfaction with Shi Kefa is already very obvious.

Thinking about this emperor, he has changed more than 50 first assistants in seventeen years, and it is really difficult to say whether Shi Kefa can survive the one-year period.

Although several new military towns have been established, the total number of cavalry and infantry under the jurisdiction of one town does not exceed 5,000, and the rest of the soldiers and horses that are unusable can be directly dismantled and ordered to return to their hometowns. The more robust ones are used in patrol superintendents to maintain local law and order. Even if the military quality is worse, all of them will be abolished and retained as reserve troops.

The soldiers go to the barracks for two months every year for training, and they are divided into two agricultural slack times, and they usually train a few days every one or two months, and they are responsible for food and silver during training, and there is no other expense.

This policy, Chongzhen has led the military affairs office and the military department to Fujian and Zhejiang, originally there were several leading generals, sitting on tens of thousands of troops, such as Zhoushan general Huang Binqing, chief military officer Huang Fei and Wang Zhiren several generals, more than 20,000 or 30,000, less than 10,000, Zhejiang Province, more than 200,000. It is redundant, and many of them are simply empty, Zhejiang Province, the true color of the folded color is very limited to the imperial court, and the cost of the garrison in this province is too large, which is an important reason.

As for the Huguang area, after all, it is now a battlefield, and there are too many registrations, Hunan and Hubei, more than 500,000 soldiers, the two provinces not only cannot pay taxes, but also have to be subsidized by the imperial court, and in fact, Zuo Liangyu has 60,000 soldiers in a town, and the imperial court is currently burdened, so if it goes on, it really can't fill this bottomless pit!

The green battalion of the Qing Dynasty, at its peak, was only **100,000, and here in Nanming, there are already 1.5 million registrations, and after a while, He Tengjiao expanded the battalion in Hunan, scratched the place, and added about 300,000 loyal battalions of the Dashun army to Shun, the entire Nanming, more than two million soldiers!

Therefore, now it is important to order all localities to reorganize and dismantle redundant troops in order to reduce the financial burden on the central authorities.

(To be continued)