Chapter 542: Prestige Is Earned Through Fighting

"Someone, bring a seat."

After Han Kuang sat down, Zhu Youxiao did not beat around the bush and directly asked with a lackluster tone: "My dear minister, is there something you came for today?"

In truth, Zhu Youxiao did not want to beat around the bush either; he had no mind to deal with Han Kuang and the others right now.

Hearing this, Han Kuang's heart tightened. He knew the Emperor did not want to handle affairs, but he had not expected it to be to this degree. Toward his arrival, the Emperor actually showed some disgust.

This made Han Kuang somewhat nervous.

Still, having dealt with him for so long, Han Kuang also understood the Emperor's temperament. If his matter was a legitimate one, there should be no problem.

Han Kuang straightened his bearing and said respectfully: "Your servant came today because there is a matter I wish to report."

"Go on." Zhu Youxiao nodded, leaning askew on the daybed as he waited for Han Kuang to speak.

"Your Majesty, the Grand Secretariat has recently received quite a number of routine memorials, all of them concerning the military." As he spoke, Han Kuang carefully watched Zhu Youxiao, a hint of worry on his face and unease in his heart.

After all, everyone in the Great Ming knew that the Emperor had always placed great importance on military power, and the current Emperor was even more so — he valued his military authority above all else.

On the matter of military power, the Emperor simply did not permit anyone to interfere. Whether nobles or civil officials, none were allowed.

Han Kuang raising the issue of the military was itself rather sensitive.

"Is that so? Let's hear it." Zhu Youxiao nodded and said.

"They are all impeachments of military corruption and the padding of payrolls with phantom soldiers." Han Kuang looked at Zhu Youxiao and said: "Your Majesty's recent anti-corruption campaign in Jiangnan has stirred up quite a storm. Many people in the military saw an opportunity, so they sent up their memorials."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao was taken aback — this was something he had not anticipated.

Speaking of it, corruption in the Great Ming military was very serious, and this had been the case since long ago. Padding payrolls with phantom soldiers, falsely claiming and embezzling military wages — these were all common occurrences within the army, and even Qi Jiguang had done it, something known throughout the court and the country.

If you were given a full complement of one hundred thousand, having fifty thousand would already be good; the rest would be the old, weak, sick, and disabled, plus phantom soldiers on the payroll, and some of them were not even combat troops. The truly battle-ready forces were probably only ten to twenty thousand.

Everyone knew about such things; the court and the country were all well aware. Those who embezzled money from this included not only the military but also civil officials.

Zhu Youxiao had not expected Han Kuang to raise this matter, and for him to come in person — there was something interesting about that.

Zhu Youxiao looked Han Kuang up and down, beginning to ponder what he was thinking.

For a Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, such matters were not lightly engaged in; even if one did participate, one would first send subordinates to test the waters rather than personally running to the Emperor.

There was a problem here. Zhu Youxiao felt this matter was out of the ordinary.

Could it be that he wanted to lead military reform? Did Han Kuang even have that kind of boldness?

In fact, Zhu Youxiao's guess was correct — that was exactly what Han Kuang was thinking. He wanted to lead military reform. This was not something Han Kuang wanted to do on his own initiative; it was something he had no choice but to do.

Opportunities were no longer plentiful. The Emperor had dealt with so many people that the problems remaining in the Great Ming were few.

Everyone could see that, let alone a clever man like Han Kuang?

With His Majesty being so grand in vision and talent, reform was certain. He would never allow such an abscess to continue bleeding the Great Ming dry.

Xu Guangqi in the Grand Secretariat had always been a firm supporter of military reform. Back when he was not yet a Grand Secretary, he had already begun training troops and was deeply dissatisfied with the court's military system, hoping the court would adopt recruited soldiers.

During those two years of training new troops, Xu Guangqi had been much quieter — partly because Zhu Youxiao was cleaning house, and partly because the court was in chaos.

But now that things had been stable for eight years, and the Emperor had suddenly struck out to deal with a large number of merchants, the state had money and politics had stabilized. Under such circumstances, military reform was about to begin.

Clever men could already see this step coming, so they needed to prepare before the rain fell.

And once Xu Guangqi led the military reform, Han Kuang, as a Grand Secretary, would probably not be far from being pushed out.

Under such circumstances, how could Han Kuang sit still?

He was deeply panicked inside.

Military reform could only be led by civil officials — after all, it was a thankless task that made enemies. The staff office could only cooperate from the side; it absolutely could not take the lead, or else it would damage their authority, breed conflicts between superiors and subordinates, and make future management difficult.

The Grand Secretariat was the best choice for military reform. And within the Grand Secretariat, Xu Guangqi was the best candidate.

To seize power, one had to be proactive. Under such circumstances, Han Kuang came straight to the palace. He did not want to wait, and he could not wait any longer.

Aside from the military, there was not much left in the Great Ming. If he were assigned to lead civil official reform, the trouble would be enormous.

Judging from the Emperor's actions over the years, tax reform was certainly the next step, and the focus would be on requiring both officials and gentry to pay grain taxes alike.

One had to know — the nobles, the imperial in-laws, and the imperial house were all already paying taxes. Only the civil officials remained, and they looked very conspicuous. If the Emperor were to make a move, he would certainly find someone to do it.

Han Kuang did not want to shoulder that burden, so he had to find another matter to carry instead — and thus he chose military reform.

He was a civil official himself, and he was not afraid of offending those rough military bigwigs. This matter could not be left to subordinates — they lacked the weight. It was more direct for him to handle it personally.

Zhu Youxiao could roughly guess what Han Kuang was thinking, but after a moment's consideration, he set the matter aside at the back of his mind.

It did not matter. Han Kuang could think whatever he liked, as long as the matter got done.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Han Kuang and asked: "I wonder how my dear minister plans to go about it?"

"The great investigation Your Majesty launched in Jiangnan can be said to have shaken hearts and inspired them as well. The court and the country alike are filled with admiration and deference. For the common people of the Great Ming, this is all a good thing."

"Your Majesty's grace spreads far and wide across the four seas, and the hereditary military households in the army naturally fall within its scope. Now, generals at every level are drinking the soldiers' blood and oppressing the military households, making their lives worse than even the salt-boiling households. These military households have rendered merit for the Great Ming, and their ancestors bled for the Great Ming — they should not have to endure such treatment. Now that the court's days are better, it should let them live better as well."

Han Kuang spoke with an air of righteousness, and Zhu Youxiao's expression also turned serious.

Clearly, Han Kuang had done a great deal of preparatory work, and he had investigated these matters as well. He had come prepared.

"What my dear minister says makes sense." Zhu Youxiao said with particular feeling: "Now many military households have been reduced to private slaves of the generals. That is very bad — bad for the realm, and bad for the Great Ming. So whatever my dear minister wishes to say or do, speak freely."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." After Han Kuang acknowledged, he breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

He knew he had gambled correctly.

Han Kuang continued: "Your servant wishes to launch a great purge within the military, thoroughly investigating the corruption of those generals, and buy a clear and bright sky for the military households, so that they may feel Your Majesty's grace!"

Han Kuang's tone was rare, his words earnest — it was clear he was ready to act.

Zhu Youxiao let out a breath, sat up straight, and said: "I know what my dear minister says makes sense. It is only that these matters cannot be accomplished overnight; they must be carefully planned."

"I recently intend to use troops in Liaodong, and the war will begin early next year. This year must be spent in thorough preparation — gathering grain and fodder, forging weapons, and drilling the troops."

"Once the Liaodong campaign concludes, I intend to begin this matter. So my dear minister may first draw up a plan."

In fact, this was Zhu Youxiao's plan — military reform would come after the Liaodong war.

First, with the border secure, no problems would arise; even if military reform ran into some trouble, nothing major would happen.

Second, once Liaodong was won, it would establish his prestige.

His current prestige was high, but still somewhat insubstantial.

Why was the prestige of Emperor Chengzu and Zhu Yuanzhang so high?

The reason was simple: Zhu Yuanzhang was the founding emperor. This realm was won by his own hands—that was how he had forged his authority through battle.

Although Zhu Di had rebelled, he had swept the northern deserts so many times, and every campaign was a great victory. Under such circumstances, his prestige naturally soared.

To put it plainly, all prestige is won through battle.

Might comes first, renown follows behind. Prestige, prestige—first you must awe them with your might.

After hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Han Kuang's heart stirred. He had not expected the Emperor to open war in Liaodong.

But this was also a good thing. Once war broke out in Liaodong, there would be much more he could do, and it would push the Great Ming toward an era of resurgence and prosperity.

After all, in all these years, the only ones daring to challenge the Great Ming were those Jianzhou barbarians. Once they were beaten down, there would be no more problems.

As for the Mongols—they were nothing but ants trying to shake a tree, utterly overestimating themselves. After fighting for so many years, what had they ever accomplished?

Once the entirety of Liaodong was recovered, they could continue expanding westward. By then, recovering Daning and pushing further west and outward would pose no problems at all.

In recent years, the court's trade along the northern frontier had developed rapidly. Although Han Kuang's own family had no business in the north, as Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, he naturally knew this very well. Many at court were raking in money hand over fist, and they strongly supported the war in the north.

Now that wool-spinning prices were rising higher and higher, and cashmere prices were also extremely high, these people were practically red-eyed with greed, impatient to go fence off pastureland on the steppes, impatient to capture some Mongols to make into slaves.

In the past few years, slaves who knew how to herd livestock had seen their prices multiply over and over.

Han Kuang knew that once war began, he would gain the support of the entire court and country. And as the Chief Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat presiding over this campaign—setting aside the question of merit—at the very least, his position would be secured.

Han Kuang rose to his feet, respectfully straightened his robes, and knelt to the ground, saying: "Your Majesty is supremely wise! The Great Ming's era of resurgence and prosperity begins with Your Majesty!"

Ministers had been getting better and better at flattering speech lately. Zhu Youxiao was in a fairly good mood.

"Beloved minister, no need for such ceremony!" Zhu Youxiao said with a smile. "Wei Chao, quickly help Minister Han to his feet."