Jiajing took in the expressions on everyone's faces, and then praised him.

"Well, you're doing a good job! I've heard that those officials have been shut up from you. ”

"Your Majesty has entrusted such an important matter to your ministers, so we naturally can't live up to Your Majesty's trust!"

Seeing that the emperor opened his mouth to praise, everyone hurriedly said modestly.

"Well, yes, I hope you can keep this momentum up and get the Maritime Trade Division on the right track as soon as possible."

After Jiajing finished speaking, he immediately followed up with a sentence of encouragement.

And when Jiajing mentioned that the Maritime Trade Division should be on the right track as soon as possible, several people looked at each other, and finally decided that Gao Gong, the Minister of Maritime Trade, would speak.

"Your Majesty, when it comes to getting the Maritime Trade Division on the right track as soon as possible, Weichen has some ways here."

I saw Gao Gong get up from the seat and say respectfully to Jiajing.

"Oh, but it doesn't hurt to say it."

Jiajing nodded, signaling Gao Gong not to have any scruples.

"Your Majesty, Weichen thinks it's time for the Maritime Trade Division to sell the first batch of sea certificates!"

"And this first batch of certificates to go to sea will take the form of auction, with a reserve price of 10,000 taels of silver, and there is no cap! If the auction price is less than 200,000 taels of silver, the auction will be voided. ”

"In this way, not only can you immediately contribute at least six million taels of income to the imperial court, but also take this opportunity to greatly enhance the influence of the Maritime Trade Division, what do you think?"

After Gao Gong repeated the specific method that everyone had discussed before, he waited anxiously for the emperor's evaluation.

And Jiajing also pondered for a long time after listening to the measures that Gao Gong wanted to take.

I saw that he tapped his fingers on the seat under him very regularly, and it took a long time before he showed his attitude.

"Well, this matter can also be used as a whetstone for the Maritime Trade Division! I'm right, let's just do it. ”

"In addition, as I said earlier, as long as these fleets can afford to go to sea, the imperial court can also send sailors to escort them."

After Jiajing finished speaking, he didn't forget to add such a sentence.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Seeing that the emperor agreed to this proposal, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and the stone in their hearts fell to the ground.

After mentioning the water division, Jiajing asked Zhang Juzheng about the current construction progress of the water division.

"Your Majesty, in recent times, the shipyard has been working around the clock to build a total of five warships!"

"And these five warships have all been built, and in addition, the number of cannons on board is a little more than before!"

"Therefore, in terms of combat effectiveness, it is stronger than the previous warships."

Zhang Juzheng saw Jiajing asking about the construction speed of the water division, but he did not dare to hide it at all, and informed him of the current progress.

"Well, yes, keep up the current progress! In addition, I plan to allocate some of the money to the Ordnance Division so that they can develop more powerful and long-range cannons. ”

"It's really not good, I plan to wait for the official start of the sea trade to buy cannons from those Hongyi people, and then hand them over to the Weapons Division for imitation!"

"What do you think?"

After Jiajing finished speaking, he got up and poured himself a cup of hot tea, raised his eyebrows, and asked everyone for advice.

"Your Majesty, Weichen thinks that my Daming does not have too strong opponents at present! Therefore, for the time being, there is no need to invest heavily in the research and development of new cannons. ”

As soon as Jiajing's words fell, Yan Song stood up and expressed his attitude.

"Xu Jie, what about you? Do you think the same way as Yan Gelao? ”

Jiajing was noncommittal to Yan Song's statement, and then turned his gaze to Xu Jie on the side and asked.

"Your Majesty, Wei Chen thinks that this ...... In fact, there is no need for this at the moment. ”

After Xu Jie noticed the emperor's gaze falling on him, he also felt quite troubled, and finally gritted his teeth as if he had made up his mind, and responded like this.

"So, your opinion is the same as that of Yan Ge Lao?"

After listening to Xu Jie's words, Jiajing's face showed mockery.

"Weichen is ignorant, please forgive your majesty!"

Xu Jie naturally heard the mockery in Jiajing's words, and then knelt on the ground tremblingly and spoke.

"Gao Gong, what is your opinion?"

Jiajing didn't seem to give up, and asked Gao Gong again.

"Your Majesty, this, Wei Chen thinks ......"

In the face of Jiajing's inquiry, Gao Gong hesitated for a long time and did not express his thoughts.

"Your Majesty, Weichen thinks that the corresponding funds should be invested in the development of new cannons!"

Just when Yan Shifan wanted to stand up and support the emperor's resolution, he was preempted by Zhang Juzheng on the side, so Yan Shifan had to grit his teeth and hate it.

Seeing that everyone's eyes were focused on him, Zhang Juzheng's expression was as usual, and he said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, since Weichen served as the secretary of the Ministry of War, he has often felt that the current equipment of my Ming army is still a little backward. ”

"Don't mention anything else, let's just take the cannons on the warship, the cannons currently installed by my Daming Sailor Division are very different from the cannons on the ships of the Hongyi people, both in terms of range and power!"

"Therefore, once the two sides go to war, in the case of the same number of warships, my Daming Sailor will definitely be at a disadvantage, and the gap between them can only be filled with human lives!"

"Let's ask, why should the soldiers of the court take their lives to fill in the things that can be solved by spending more silver? They are also living people! They also have families and children behind them, and they also have responsibilities on their bodies. ”

Zhang Juzheng's words made everyone present fall into silence, and the entire cabinet was shrouded in deathly silence.

In the end, Jiajing coughed lightly twice, breaking the silence: "I think Zhang Aiqing's words are quite reasonable!" ”

"The treasury is so abundant at the moment that it has even reached the point where it needs to be expanded! Why can't we take some of this out of it and develop new weapons? ”

"You must know that on the battlefield, once the gap between the weapons and equipment of the two sides is too large, then the next thing waiting for the weak side is a one-sided slaughter!"

"If you fall behind, you will be beaten, this is an ironclad fact! Or would you rather let my Ming Dynasty soldiers use their lives to fill the gap? ”

Seeing that the emperor said such a heart-wrenching word, everyone present showed panic on their faces and knelt on the ground with a 'plop'.

"Your Majesty, the ministers have been wronged!"

And Jiajing didn't pay attention to everyone, but said to himself: "I don't plan to discuss this matter with you today!" If you can't do it, I'll find someone else to do it. ”

"I don't believe it, I have so many officials in the Ming Dynasty, can't I find someone who can do this?"

"You think you can sit back and relax? Don't forget, the place under your ass is coveted by a lot of people! ”

"Now, answer me, can this matter be done?"

Jiajing's expression was cold, and he swept his gaze over Yan Song and Xu Jie.

After perceiving the emperor's gaze, the bodies of the two began to tremble uncontrollably, and they said in unison.

"Your Majesty, Weichen is willing to supervise this matter!"

"Wechen is willing, Wechen is willing."

Seeing that Yan Song and Xu Jie no longer dared to raise any objections, Jiajing nodded, a smile on his face.

"Since this is the case, then this matter is decided, and when the time comes, Zhang Juzheng will make a report and hand it over to the household department, and then the household department will transfer the silver down!"

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Your Majesty, the ministers understand."

(End of chapter)