Yang Shen was not the first important minister to hold a different view on the imperial court's use of troops in the southwest, and Zhu Houxi was used to this.

Strictly speaking, since the first war of the Great War in the sixth year of Jiajing, the Ming Dynasty has actually recuperated for three years - although there are still some invasions and expulsions from the Western Three Sides every year, it is actually only the usual intensity of the past.

In the blink of an eye, it is actually another year of change. The ministers have their own views on many important matters, not only because this year is extraordinary, but also because they have to compete for some important positions.

What's unusual about this year?

The addition of two new ministries, the re-division of provincial-level political regions across the country, and the unification of new money and printing finances are the major events.

During the Spring Festival, Zhu Houxi didn't care about these for the time being, and it was the matter of discussing and finalizing the draft again and again after the year.

Now he accompanies his family first.

Among them, there is another special person: Alfonso.

After living in the capital for so many years, Alfonso was already a qualified courtier, especially after his daughter Carolina became pregnant in the emperor's last round of "pacification of the harem", gave birth to a son, and named Zhu Zaikai.

In the Palace of Nourishing Hearts, Alfonso visited his grandson, and waited in the imperial study to hear what the Emperor had to say after he left him.

Zhu Houxi went straight to the point: "You have become my county lord, and Carolina has also given birth to a prince." After a few years in Daming, you should only be loyal to me, right? ”

"The loyalty of the minister is unquestionable, Your Majesty the Emperor."

"My operation in the South Seas has begun." Zhu Houxi opened his mouth and said, "The Nanyang Naval Division has been preparing in Dongguan for more than a year, and now a lot of warships have been built. You are proficient in naval warfare, and you have brought many students with you at Huangming University. After the New Year, I am ready to send you out. ”

"Nanyang's operation?" Alfonso's heart moved, "Your Majesty, are you about to start conquering the seas?" ”

"Preparation period." Zhu Houxi shook his head, "Since you were also defeated, it seems that Portugal has temporarily given up the opportunity to continue to seek trade to the north. Now, it is the Jiaozhi people who act as middlemen, going back and forth between the Ming Dynasty and the South Seas. This time, I want you to do one thing. ”

"Your Majesty, please give a decree!"

Alfonso's words and conversations were already in shape, and Zhu Houxi smiled at this time: "After the New Year, you go to Zhejiang first." Since the severance of trade with Japan, they only dared to smuggle with some coastal tribes on the sly. In the past few years, under the successive investigations, we have also arrested some people, and the construction of Shuangyu Port has also used their efforts. You go to Zhejiang, take some prisoners who have already been obedient, and pretend to be your crew. ”

"Pretend?" Alfonso didn't understand too much, "Didn't you let the minister serve in the navy?" ”

"There's no hurry." Zhu Houxi continued, "I'll tell you a story first......

This idea was inspired by Zhu Houxi because of the performance of the Emperor Mingji.

Unexpectedly, Huang Mingji actually came into contact with Wang Zhi, and Wang Zhi's courage was really great, and he actually wanted to borrow chickens and eggs to complete his primitive accumulation with the escort warship of Huang Mingji Sea Trade Bank.

But Wang Zhi is the face of the Ming people after all, and it is not good to do this.

Alfonso is different, an old Portuguese flag man with red roots.

"Daming and Malacca are thousands of miles away, and you have never left Beijing since you entered Beijing, and there are very few people who know your current identity." Zhu Houxi said, "You arrived in Japan by chance after you were defeated, and you also maneuvered in the reform of the Ming Dynasty for several years and opened up trade routes." Back in Malacca, the first was to have a new status to be in charge of trade to the north, the second was to provide a cover for the intelligence network of the foreign inspection factory, and the third was to encourage the Indian governor to send warships and generals to take advantage of the internal strife in Cochin to open up new colonies. ”

Alfonso looked at him in amazement.

Zhu Houxi said calmly: "I know that it is not easy, but for the sake of Sakai, you have to do it." ”

"I don't understand ......"

"I'm going to talk to you about it today. Don't worry, I've got ...... arranged."

Throughout the ninth year of Jiajing, Zhu Houxi had too much time to make a lot of preparations.

It has been many years since trade with Japan was cut off, and although the imperial court has been storing silver for several years in order to mint new money this year, it also needs a steady stream of silver in the future. You can't just come in and not be able to control it, so while cracking down on smuggling, we are actually investigating and cultivating obedient private maritime merchants.

Now, there are plenty of conditions for Alfonso to return with a full harvest.

The Ming Dynasty's intervention in the situation in Outer Yunnan and then in the Jiaozhi situation will be for the sake of local orthodoxy.

When the news reached Malacca again, the royal family of Manraka must have asked the Ming to send troops again. And if Alfonso instigated the Portuguese to send troops to fight each other, and the Ming Dynasty defeated a lot of their vital forces in one battle, coupled with Alfonso's internal response, then there would be hope for controlling the Strait of Malacca in one fell swoop.

After that, it is to keep, which is a steady stream of sea trade.

Huang Mingji searched for rubber trees in Nanyang for several years but did not find them, Zhu Houxi thought about it, but he was afraid that like some crops, not all tropics have them. The exchange of goods between the East and the West, this trade thing still needs to be done. No matter how good the Ming is, it is impossible to fight all over the world under today's technological conditions.

The islands of the South and East Oceans are island chains when they are disadvantaged, and side walls when they are advantageous. When the Great Wall is completed, the strategic depth of the future maritime era will be even broader.

It took a day to solve Alfonso's doubts, and at this moment, in the city of Taiyuan Prefecture, several local wealthy businessmen and clans also gathered during the Chinese New Year.

"I didn't expect the treasury bonds of that year to be so valuable. This time, the benefits of Yunnan's treasury bonds have come since they were subscribed and bought at the beginning of last year. The head of the Wang family said happily, "The fleets of the three families in Fujian have been found to be secretly smuggling Japan for many years. The license was removed, thanks to Tang Dutai and Wudinghou's intercession, and it was given to us. There is a big event at the moment, and our Shanxi businessmen have to contribute money and efforts to get it done......"

All they knew was that the imperial court allowed their family to go to Japan. Although struvite is not required, the tax will be higher, and only the money will be collected.

But even so, it is a unique special passage.

However, the head of the vest family said: "We don't have much accumulation at sea, and we still need to use coastal people." Now, I have to find a few families and get married. ”

"It's easy to do! Not only Nanzhili, Zhejiang, Fujian, but also Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan, we should also pay attention. After this battle, Yunnan will also open a border city! The gems, the ivory, the grain, ...... over there."

"It's mountainous over there, but I'm afraid I'll have to use horses to carry it."

"What are horses afraid of? Save some in the border city of eastern Liaoning, and Dian Ma can also do it......"

The First Battle of Xuanda, although it had a great impact on this northern border town at that time, also gave birth to opportunities.

The war in the southwest has not yet officially begun, but they are preparing for new opportunities.

In the two capitals and 13 provinces, after the fifth year of Jiajing, to the tenth year of Jiajing, it is necessary to start preparations for the five-year inspection.

After several rounds of deliberation at the national policy meeting last year, it has been announced to the world that the county does not plan to prepare a cabinet, and does not take charge of the provincial government and does not make up for the policy. In addition to the temporary election, the officials of the Ming Dynasty report on their work every year, take a three-year examination, and conduct a five-year inspection.

Everyone knows what this year's inspection is to prepare for the division of provincial-level political regions, and second, to determine whether officials with a career can embark on a new and correct path of promotion. Since the eleventh year of Jiajing, the reform of the government office in the Ming Dynasty has lasted for several years, and it should be stabilized.

This is always the case, when the interests of some people are involved, the future of many people is always involved. How to choose, natural differentiation. Even if you have the intention to struggle for one or two, you will find that too many people are duplicitous, and the struggle is just in vain.

Dacha is just a matter of the Ministry of Officials and the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Yang Shen's sense of responsibility is bursting, but he only feels that Daming is always taking a dangerous road.

If all goes well, what if something happens? For example, the war in the southwest is unfavorable, and for example, the northern captives take the opportunity to create more burdens on the border of Koubian?

For this reason, after the meeting of the Sun Dynasty on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, he finished giving a lecture to the prospective prince, and went to the Yangxin Palace to persuade him about this matter, and he asked about the northern borders.

“…… You are worried about state affairs, and I am very pleased. The Beiyu have to be on guard all the time, how could they not have expected that they would find out the news from the southwest, and what would they think? I am talking to the Tibetan side, and Tibet is very close to Outer Yunnan, so it should be said that I am likely to do something about it. ”

Yang Shen's face was full of worry, this was what he was afraid of.

"After returning to Beijing a few years ago, a group of subordinate officials who were lucky when they directly recruited grain from Jiangnan last year were found. Huguang grain was transferred to Guizhou to enter the palace, and the same is true for Sichuan. There is really not much grain in the national stockpile......"

"Don't be so nervous." Zhu Houxi sighed, "I set up a grain reserve number so early, and after the kings entered Beijing, all the fields were given to the grain storage number to take care of. ”

“…… How much grain is stored in the grain storage number? Yang Shen didn't like the feeling that he was the head of the household, but he couldn't know the actual amount of grain stored in the Ming Dynasty.

"Last year, the new grain was not in storage, and I am still waiting for the amount. In short, the granaries in various parts of the grain reserve were built with the land given by the kings in the past, and this was originally the grain support network prepared by me for the future use of troops or disaster relief. Zhu Houxi didn't hide it from him, "Huang Jin, bring last year's report to Yongxiu to see." ”

"The slave obeys."

After a while, Yang Shen saw something, and it was full of pictures and texts.

On the map, the appearance of the granary formed a "Feng" word in the Ming Dynasty.

The central axis is from top to bottom, which are the original King Dai, King Jin, King Shen, and King Zheng......

To the north of the Yellow River, from west to east, there are King Su, King Qing, King Han, King Zhao, King Lu......

Further south, the same is true. The feudal kings of the Ming Dynasty were indeed mostly in convenient places.

In this way, if the grain storage number really built granaries in various places because of the Huangzhuang and the feudal king's land, it would indeed almost cover the hinterland of the Ming Dynasty.

Yang Shen looked at the figures of last year's grain storage, and glanced up at the emperor with complicated eyes.

"At the end of this year, after the National Policy Conference, the national treasury was set up in a unified manner, and a law will be formed in the future. The amount of grain stored in the grain reserve number will be reported to the past for the record every year. ”

It's just for the record, if there is a demand, it is natural to go through the process of purchasing, which is nothing more than doing things for His Majesty, and the procedures and settlements can be done slowly.

In any case, the emperor has soldiers and food in his hands, and the Emperor Ming Assets Bureau has money in his hands.

"I understand."

Yang Shen really understands now, what instability is he afraid of? If there are still people who refuse to accept their fate because they want to split up the southern Zhili, the emperor is only afraid that he will be happy to enrich another round of stolen money and continue to replenish his family background in the future expedition to the north and the south.

Before leaving, Yang Shen still asked: "Your Majesty, if the north is desperate and Yunnan is peaceful, will you still fight in the east and west?" ”

“…… Belligerent death? I know. ”

Zhu Houxi has a bit of PTSD against him, he tortured Yang Tinghe in the past, and now he reports it again.

However, he also knew that Yang Shen was now the head of the household department, and he was doing his duty.

So Zhu Houxi only said: "You just remember one thing, I will not fight endlessly for the sake of some false fame to expand the territory." I don't make loss-making deals. ”

Yang Shen sighed and retired: "The minister will definitely teach His Royal Highness the Crown Prince carefully." ”

It seemed that the donkey's lips were not in the horse's mouth, but Zhu Houxi could only watch him leave speechlessly.

Meaning: You have a tendon, I can't persuade you. Your son, I have to teach him to be a benevolent ruler who cherishes the people's strength, and to recuperate well in the future.

There is a kind of loyalty that looks forward to the early death of His Majesty the Emperor and the stable development of the Ming Dynasty.

“…… I have to live. ”

Zhu Houxi muttered, and then his thoughts drifted to the northwest.

After deciding to use troops in the southwest, Wang Shouren, Tang Shunzhi and others had already been ordered.

If there is any movement in the north, this year will probably not wait until autumn.

They also have to consider the problem of whether the horse is fat or not after the winter, if they only hope that the north and the south will create pressure on the Ming Dynasty, and look forward to any internal changes in the Ming Dynasty in the case of this year's general change and political reform, it will be disappointing.

Enter the temple, the Yingjie Palace, more than two books, and many governors...... There are also the money and food saved in the past three years, and the generals who have been recruited by many provinces under the general army.

There is still someone in the Ming Dynasty who is not afraid of death, although he takes a step forward.

Small actions do not affect the overall situation, and the blunt knife has been cutting meat for many years.

It's been ten years since Jiajing, and times have changed.

Da Ming, who has been gentle for many years, began to take the initiative to show his fangs.

Jiajing six years is not counted, it was the Northern Capture that first made a big move on Koubian - although there were reasons for being lured.

Now the first one to be actively barred is the Tusi of Waidian.

Before the end of the first month, on the twenty-sixth, a total of three armies in the southwest border took the initiative to attack.

It is said that there will be no soldiers in the first month, otherwise the omen will be bad. But does Zhu Houxi believe this? The backhand gives a counterexample: Shi Zai, January 26, King Wu from Zhou Xingshi. On the twenty-sixth of February, Zhou Shi was deployed in Muye. The next day, the rush was immediately victorious, faint, Zhou occupied the Shang capital, and King Yin burned himself to death.

You see, King Wu of Zhou sent troops in the first month, and the battle was completed in a month and one day.

Isn't that a good sign?

In Yunnan, Mu Shaoxun commanded the army and sat in Yongchang with Wu Wending.

In front of them, Qu Zhinan led his troops to attack Jiangtou City, which was owned by Meng Yang, Ji Wei's residence went straight to Meng Mi, and Tang Shaozong set out from Hanlong Pass to enter the territory of Mubang.

"Grandpa Guo said! His Majesty said that King Wu won the victory in January and changed the dynasty. There are so many guns shipped in this battle, don't be stingy! Fight fast, within a month, defeat Ava City! ”

Both sides of the Jinsha River are vast and flat, and there seems to be an earl in front of Qu Zhinan: The general is coming.

And in the rear of the Meng Yang army array, Si Lun was a little flustered to see the elephant soldiers in the front of the formation turning over on their backs.

In the words passed down from the ancestors, Daming's fire gun is indeed powerful, but it hasn't reached this level, right?

That kind of big gun, can be transported so easily, so much?

The generals of the Third Division, who had fallen behind a lot, felt the great shock from the Ming Army's active study of the field tactics of the Mandarin Duck Formation and the new guns.

Tiger squat cannon, easy to handle, can be fired in bursts.

The bird's gun has a longer range and is more accurate.

Si Lun felt that he was well prepared, after all, in the lunar month before the Chinese New Year, Da Ming ordered him to go to Kunming to take the blame.

But Da Ming doesn't talk about martial arts.

I'm ready to fight tomorrow morning, why are you playing so many mediation dramas in front of you?

He did miscalculate. In the previous two or three years, the Ming Dynasty seemed indifferent to the changes in the situation in Outer Yunnan.

And then suddenly it was well prepared and came to "sneak attack".

Why do they have so much firepower?

Mu Shaoxun had never fought such a generous battle, and the emperor's trust in the Mu family made him excited from the bottom of his bones.

"Wu Dutai, if it's so easy, you can sweep away Waiyun!" The front-line reports kept coming back, and looking at the speed at which the front was advancing, Mu Shaoxun couldn't hold back his excitement.

Wu Wending shook his head again and again: "Your Majesty has an edict, this is called blitzkrieg." The firepower was poured out, and the city of Ava was quickly captured, and the Wei Ding Covenant was still ruled by Tusi to govern Outer Yunnan, which was the temperament of the king. Outer Yunnan is easy to sweep, and it is difficult to govern the people. Remember, the big strategy is to open the market and get real profits! Revive culture and education, and slowly plan it! ”

"Yes, yes, I'm out of shape."

Even if there is really that kind of emperor who wants the Mu family to assist His Royal Highness King Yue to possess the heart of the entire Outer Yunnan, he can't be eager.

Take it easy.

To the south of Ava City, Mangruiti has also sent troops.

The Taungoo Burmese gave him great support, which stemmed from his courage to go to Bago that day.

But no matter how ambitious Ren Mangruiti was, he couldn't help but be in a trance when he heard the news that the sentinel had returned from the north, and at the same time he had a huge fear of the combat power and firepower of the Ming army.

Are they really helping to restore themselves?

I've been too busy these two days, and I'm afraid I won't have time to make up for it today

(End of chapter)