Chapter 510

Lan Yu and Cao Bianjiao are both tiger generals; they can absolutely be dispatched.

There is also Hong Chengchou.

The main reasons for failing against the Jianzhou Jurchens and Tatars are that the Great Ming army has become lax, fears death, and that weapons and armor are far inferior, having been embezzled.

Now it is completely different; the Great Ming soldiers and officers have undergone a baptism, with no existence of eating empty rations or bleeding the troops.

The weapons and blades are all the finest.

Furthermore, the court has money; with generous rewards and compensation, the soldiers and officers no longer fear death.

Moreover, the Great Ming cannons are now extremely powerful.

One could say the troops are strong and the horses robust, with a victory rate exceeding eight or nine out of ten!

If they were to lose despite such a massive advantage, then the only possibility is that the commanding generals are idiots or have defected.

After listening to Su Qiao's words, Zhu Youjian immediately felt full of confidence.

"Then how should those ministers be handled? Does your subject have a method?"

Admittedly, Zhu Youjian could completely bypass the ministers in the court and insist on doing it himself.

But governing the world also requires these subjects.

The court is also the result of the Emperor and his ministers grinding against each other.

Zhu Youjian still did not want the subjects he promoted to become estranged; both sides were for the Great Ming, only their thoughts were not unified.

Hearing Zhu Youjian's words, Su Qiao thought for a moment, then immediately said: "This subject has a method!"

"What method does your subject have? Speak quickly!"

"Your Majesty, since the court ministers believe that the Great Ming sending troops violates the ancestral rules, and that the Great Ming, as the superior nation of the Celestial Court, cannot strike at vassal states, lest it chill the hearts of the vassal states, it seems all the court ministers hold this view."

"Your subject speaks correctly; what method is there to turn this around?"

"Your Majesty, it can be done exactly like this: these Japanese pirates are plundering the Great Ming coast without restraint; Your Majesty can absolutely issue an imperial edict to reprimand the people of Eastern Japan, and change that so-called 'Emperor of Heaven' title of theirs! Otherwise, Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, yet they become 'Emperors of Heaven'; is this not purely intentional?"

Zhu Youjian did not know this point before, but now that Su Qiao mentioned it, he immediately felt some anger rising.

He stood up abruptly, his forehead flushing.

"Is it true?"

"Yes, Your Majesty; Commander Luo is right here; Your Majesty can ask him."

Since entering the great hall, Su Qiao had spotted Wang Chengen and Luo Yangxing.

One is the current Director of the Eastern Depot, the other is the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Both were in the great hall; Su Qiao was somewhat more familiar with Wang Chengen, whom he had contacted more often.

As for Luo Yangxing, for some reason, Su Qiao always felt a faint hostility from him towards himself.

Moreover, although Su Qiao had dealt with Luo Yangxing, they were not considered familiar.

So Su Qiao decisively sold out Luo Yangxing.

Hearing this, Luo Yangxing's face changed!

Hearing Su Qiao's words, Zhu Youjian immediately turned his head to look at Luo Yangxing and asked with anger on his face: "Is what Su Qing said true?"

"It is true!"

With a plop, Luo Yangxing knelt down directly.

Truly, Zhu Youjian's aura was too strong, and Zhu Youjian in his fury was like a living volcano.

It made Luo Yangxing, kneeling on the ground, feel that even breathing was difficult.

"Hmph! Then why did you not know?"

Zhu Youjian questioned coldly.

Luo Yangxing truly did not know how to speak best.

In his heart, he was now cursing Su Qiao to death.

Clearly the matter had nothing to do with him, yet he was dragged in by a single sentence from Su Qiao.

Moreover, faced with Zhu Youjian's angry questioning, he did not know how to answer best.

That Eastern Japan calls itself the 'Emperor of Heaven' was known long ago.

It is also in the Embroidered Uniform Guard Juan Sect files; who knows how long it has been stored there.

To say Zhu Youjian did not know would truly be fooling a ghost.

So now Zhu Youjian's anger is actually just for an excuse.

Luo Yangxing is the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard; naturally, at critical moments, the Emperor uses him as a tool.

So Luo Yangxing very straightforwardly lay flat.

"Your Majesty, this subject has failed in his duty! Please, Your Majesty, punish this subject's crime!"

Luo Yangxing knocked his head to the ground.

Zhu Youjian snorted coldly and said: "Hmph, this time I will just note it; I will not punish you for now. Later, the intelligence on Eastern Japan must be organized and presented as soon as possible!"

"Yes!"

"What intelligence I want, you should have a clear idea in your heart, right?"

"This subject knows!"

"Hmm, go!"

He waved his hand and sent Luo Yangxing away.

Zhu Youjian's mind turned no less quickly; Su Qiao had just started, and he already thought of finding leverage against the people of Eastern Japan.

Ideally, he would make those arrogant ones truly strike at the Great Ming.

However, he also understood this was only part of it; it could not completely shake the court ministers in the court.

Su Qiao understood this too, so he continued: "Your Majesty, not only that; we can also order Eastern Japan to solve their pirate problem themselves."

"It's useless. When the Japanese pirates previously violated the borders, Great Ming left it to Japan to handle, but Japan itself was in internal chaos, passing the buck everywhere, and simply didn't care."

Zhu Youjian heard this and shook his head, saying.

Su Qiao said without thinking: "Your Majesty, if they don't care, then we can have pirates too; we can't control them either!"

"Where do we have pirates... wait, what you mean is..."

364, the method of Nurturing bandits to increase one's own importance!

Zhu Youjian widened his eyes, not expecting Su Qiao to actually come up with such a plan.

Will it work?

It is feasible!

Although it is somewhat unrighteous, even resembling a conspiracy.

But the effect will surely be good.

As long as the secret is kept, covered up well, or even if someone discovers the pirates are linked to Great Ming.

As long as Great Ming flatly denies it.

Then the blame cannot be pinned on Great Ming's head.

Instead, Great Ming can practice Nurturing bandits to increase one's own importance~!

The more Zhu Youjian thought about it, the more he felt this plan was truly operable.

"If we do this, I estimate some ministers in the court will still disagree."

After considering for a long time, Zhu Youjian brought up this sentence.

Hearing this, a hint of disdain appeared on Su Qiao's face. "Your Majesty, if anyone still opposes, it proves they are truly stubborn and pedantic; there is no need for them to remain in the court."

Having said this, Su Qiao stopped.

Actually, what he also wanted to say was that for Great Ming to become powerful, such people who stick to old rules and are overly pedantic are of no use.

However, without Su Qiao needing to say much more, Zhu Youjian realized it himself.

"Hmm, I understand. I need to consider this matter."

Zhu Youjian frowned, thought for a moment, and said.

Su Qiao nodded. "By the way, Your Majesty, the Fifth Rank, Junior Grade Mobile Corps Commander Zheng Zhilong returned with me. Zheng Zhilong is quite experienced in naval warfare; when will Your Majesty meet him?"

"Zheng Zhilong, ah. If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten him. Have him attend court together tomorrow."

It was not that Zhu Youjian did not value Zheng Zhilong, but rather that compared to Zheng Zhilong, he valued Su Qiao even more.

At this time, the Zheng family had already decided to settle down in Jingcheng.

Staying in an inn all the time is inconvenient.