Chapter 112: The bones and blood of the common people are exhausted, the state

"Sir! Minister Yin really won!"

"How on earth did the Minister think of using fire-ship tactics to open the water gate? This plan is truly brilliant! Aside from the gold and silver, all other spoils are being transported to the Southern Yamen; they are currently being inventoried and will be sent to the capital in a few days." Zhu Yijun had summoned Zhang Juzheng, and before Zhang Juzheng could even offer his greetings, he shared this good news.

Zhu Yijun was quite delighted by Yin Zhengmao's victory and handed the report to Zhang Hong, who then presented it to Zhang Juzheng for inspection.

Zhang Juzheng had already heard the details from Feng Bao while on his way, and upon seeing the report, he too revealed a smile.

He could tell that the young Emperor was truly happy about this victory.

"Minister Yin's method... is extremely costly." Zhang Juzheng felt a sense of lament regarding Yin Zhengmao's actions. Two ships full of gunpowder—the imperial court was nearly destitute, yet he had gone and set off a massive firework, throwing away at least fifty or sixty thousand taels of silver! He didn't even feel a pang of regret.

The court haggled over every few taels of silver, yet Yin Zhengmao scattered money like water!

Those Red-Haired Barbarians were practically blown to death by silver!

Zhang Juzheng had read the intelligence gathered by Deng Zilong; that fortress was indeed a hard nut to crack. Yin Zhengmao's method of using overwhelming force to overcome complexity reduced the attrition of the Zhejiang troops. As for whether silver or soldiers were more important, Zhang Juzheng believed the soldiers were more important.

"As long as we won, that's all that matters." Zhu Yijun waved his small hand, indicating that since they had won, the method of victory was unimportant.

The old accounts of corruption would be set aside for now; if you win, you are justified, and if you keep winning, you are always justified. Zhu Yijun also valued capable officials; every person who could get things done needed to be cherished. Given the current state of the Great Ming, every person who could work should be treated with courtesy.

The Great Ming had rotted to this extent, yet there were still those willing to serve to the death, to be driven by the state, and to act as the pillars of the nation.

"There were no gold or silver items among the spoils?" Zhang Juzheng keenly sensed a blind spot.

Among all the spoils, there was no gold or silver. This was not normal. A single arrival of a large Portuguese galleon at port meant four million taels of silver. Now that the Portuguese fortress in Luzon had been breached, where had the gold and silver on the inventory list gone?

It was the same as always; Yin Zhengmao had almost certainly divided it privately.

"You want the horse to run, yet you want the horse not to eat grass—there is no such logic."

"What kind of men are under Minister Yin's command? He relies on guest troops recruited from Zhejiang, and Lin Afeng himself is a sea bandit. Without heavy rewards, how could they fight? As for the wealth, we can ask Minister Yin when he returns to the capital." Zhu Yijun remained firm in his stance.

Matters of corruption would be set aside for now; when Yin Zhengmao returned to the capital, he would ask him personally.

Let him be a little corrupt. Yin Zhengmao was not like the Prefect of Yingtian, Gu Zhangzhi. Out of 480,000 taels of silver, Gu Zhangzhi had brazenly embezzled 360,000. Others might pluck a feather from a passing goose, but Gu Zhangzhi would leave the goose with nothing! With such a massive hole, if the court didn't confiscate his assets, who else could fill it?

Yin Zhengmao had levied a surcharge of 120,000 taels to assist with military expenses and only took 30,000 for himself; that was already quite incorruptible!

In the late Qing, Grand Secretary Li Hongzhang, after years of governing, embezzled 40 million taels of silver—what a massive parasite on the nation! The key was that Li Hongzhang took the money and still couldn't get things done; that was the greatest sin of all.

Zhu Yijun looked at the reports and the inventory list in his hands. The most important items were the ship logs, sea charts, and cannons, especially the half-built warship in the shipyard. Spain had its own national conditions, and the Great Ming had its own. By studying the Spanish ship designs, the Great Ming should be able to design ships suitable for itself.

"Ship logs, sea charts, cannons, quadrants, sextants, and octants—these are also essential for navigating the oceans by the stars and for the maritime academy. Sir, how much do you think these things are worth? They are priceless." Zhu Yijun shook his head and said.

Gold and silver were mere trifles; these were the things Zhu Yijun valued most, and Yin Zhengmao had brought them back intact.

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhang Juzheng was silent for a moment before bowing his head. The Emperor, who was always "right," had convinced him. How much was knowledge worth? It was hard to measure with gold and silver. Knowledge was priceless; Yin Zhengmao had taken the gold and silver, but the things he brought back solved the court's most urgent needs.

Zhu Yijun said with some emotion: "This military merit also belongs to you, Sir. If not for your recommendation, how could Minister Yin, with his vast learning and fervent enthusiasm, have had the chance to display his talents? Minister Yin is an extraordinary man who does extraordinary things. Those in the wilderness praise him, while those at court are jealous. The censors dared not defy the requests of private factions and attacked him with words and pens. If not for your full protection, Minister Yin might not even have been able to finish pacifying the pirates."

"Let alone today's victory."

"The bandits in Lingdong have been pacified, and the Red-Haired Barbarians in Luzon have been purged—all because you, Sir, devised strategies in the temple, leaving no plan incomplete. Your merit should be ranked first. I shall draft an edict to confer honors, and I will also grant one of your sons the status of an official student at the Imperial Academy."

Conferring the status of an official student at the Imperial Academy was a third-rank honor; for a first-rank official, it would be three sons. Zhu Yijun was already calculating how to grant Zhang Juzheng first-rank status and then logically promote him to Grand Preceptor.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Juzheng flicked his sleeves, knelt down in a hurry, and kowtowed: "Your subject has received such profound imperial grace that I dare not refuse. However, the pacification of the bandits in Lingdong and the purging of the barbarians in Luzon were achieved through the concerted efforts of the generals and soldiers, and the coordinated struggle of the supervising officials. Your subject resides in the inner court and serves as a spokesperson; I have neither the labor of facing arrows and stones, nor the responsibility of commanding the military. How dare I greedily claim this heavenly merit?"

"To bestow rewards indiscriminately would lose the hearts of the soldiers in distant lands and violate the court's principles of encouragement."

"Your subject dare not accept."

The merit of the generals belonged to the generals; he, Zhang Juzheng, could not claim this merit.

From the beginning, Zhang Juzheng had not been optimistic about this expedition. He did not oppose it, but he had not explicitly supported it either. It was only because Lin Afeng was entrenched on Nanao Island and needed to be dealt with, and the guest troops in Lingdong needed to be settled, that he had agreed to this probe.

The Red-Haired Barbarians were somewhat fragile, which was not surprising. Since the Zhengde era, when the Portuguese arrived in the Great Ming, had they ever once defeated the Great Ming navy?

Give the Red-Haired Barbarians some face, and call them Portuguese; don't give them face, and send them to the grave immediately!

Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Juzheng and felt that this man was very boring. He thought for a moment and said: "Sir, please rise quickly. Let's talk business. I will reward you with one hundred taels of silver, six bolts of silk, and one python robe as a small token of gratitude. You should accept this imperial favor and be careful not to refuse again."

Zhang Juzheng had always been resistant to this first-rank treatment. This resistance was comprehensive; if it wasn't withdrawn, he would keep submitting memorials.

Last time, when Gao Qiyu caused the Yingtian Prefecture provincial examination case, Zhang Juzheng submitted four memorials in a row, requesting the Emperor to revoke the honors. Zhu Yijun had no choice but to issue a seal to revoke them.

"Your subject obeys the decree." Upon hearing that it was a reward of money and goods, Zhang Juzheng did not refuse. It was fine to bask in a little glory, but to claim heavenly merit—that would go into the history books and leave a bad name for ten thousand years!

Zhang Juzheng bowed his head and said: "This is because Your Majesty possesses heavenly talent, and your wisdom is renewed daily. It is as brilliant as the writings of Yao, expounding the secrets of the universe; it is as peaceful as the achievements of Shun, pursuing the style of the rise of the wise. Your subject is extremely fortunate! The world is extremely fortunate!"

"Minister Yin is capable; what does that have to do with me?" Zhu Yijun waved his hand and continued to look happily at the inventory list on the report.

There were merchant ships, warships, and ocean-going ships. The spoils of this battle were enough for the Great Ming to digest for several years. The young Emperor's fingers tapped on the table—tap, tap, tap. He had roughly guessed where Yin Zhengmao had spent the gold and silver.

Zhang Juzheng watched the young Emperor in deep thought and felt quite emotional. That this battle could be won relied entirely on His Majesty's heavenly talent.

Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng takes responsibility for his own words; his word is his bond. When he says the Emperor is wise, he is wise. He has reasons for saying so, and they are well-documented, not mere slander.

In the first month of the first year of the Wanli reign, he once specifically submitted a "Memorial of Gratitude for the Imperial Audience," stating: "Only the granting of an audience to the Grand Secretaries is a grand event of the ancestral dynasties. The late Emperor reigned for six years, listening to government in profound silence. Though repeatedly petitioned by the ministers to resume audiences, none were granted. The ministers and people of the world have looked forward to this for nearly a day."

For the Emperor to grant an audience to the Grand Secretaries, Zhang Juzheng still had to specifically submit a memorial to express his gratitude. This was because the late Emperor, during his six-year reign, had never once granted an audience to the Grand Secretaries. The Wenyuan Hall was right across from the Wenhua Hall, yet the late Emperor never once summoned Gao Gong or Zhang Juzheng.

This memorial could be called extremely presumptuous. Out of respect for the deceased, the late Emperor had already passed; even if he had made a mistake, how could it be spoken of?

But Zhang Juzheng said it anyway, and he also requested that the young Emperor meet with the Grand Secretaries, court ministers, officials, local magistrates, village elders, commoners, and foreign envoys.

By holding court and summoning the Grand Secretaries for consultation, allowing state affairs to run normally, Your Majesty has truly done very, very well.

On the other hand, regarding Yin Zhengmao imposing taxes on the small Portuguese to support the inner treasury, the young Emperor waved his hand and directly cut the palace budget to fund the war in the far south.

The fact that Yin Zhengmao could wreak such havoc on the Dutch in Lu Song has a great deal to do with this sum of silver.

In the second year of the Longqing reign, Zhang Juzheng submitted a "Memorial Requesting the Cessation of Silver Extraction." During the reign of the late Emperor, palace expenses were high. In the second year of Longqing, the Longqing Emperor specifically issued an edict demanding 300,000 taels of silver from the Ministry of Revenue.

The Ministry of Revenue memorialized that border expenses were heavy and national funds were insufficient, begging the wise Emperor to stop the extraction.

Zhang Juzheng remonstrated in his memorial: "The marrow and blood of the living people are exhausted, and the expenses of the state have no source. We ministers are anxious day and night, with no plan to offer."

After this memorial was submitted, it was like a stone sinking into the sea. Zhang Juzheng had no choice but to memorialize again. After several times, he finally received a reply from the Longqing Emperor: "I have read your memorials. The Ministry of Revenue lacks silver, and the inner treasury also lacks silver; I am just taking some. Since you say it is like this, just take 100,000. You ministers pass this on, and do not come again to memorialize and disturb."

In the end, the Longqing Emperor still drew 100,000 taels of silver from the national treasury.

At that time, the national treasury was in a huge deficit and had no money. During the Jiajing reign, the ancestral laws had detailed rules: of the national grain tax, the imperial palace's inner treasury took 30%, and the national treasury took 70%. In the first year of Longqing, with the Yuegang customs duties, the national treasury and inner treasury split it fifty-fifty.

These were all settled matters, but the Longqing Emperor went back on his word and took another 100,000 taels of silver.

And the young Emperor? He waved his hand, cut the palace budget, and insisted on supporting Yin Zhengmao in setting off fireworks and fighting the Dutch. What a wise move this is!

Yin Zhengmao, who has a way of generating wealth, does not lack money at all. What he lacks is confidence. Zhang Yuanxun and the others also lack confidence. With such imperial grace, how could Yin Zhengmao not be moved to tears and pledge his loyalty to the state?

Ling Yunyi believes that Yin Zhengmao is a member of the imperial clan lost among the people; otherwise, such imperial grace is hard to explain!

"Oh, I see!" Zhu Yijun slapped the table, suddenly enlightened. He had found the answer to the question he was just pondering.

Zhang Juzheng, who had been lost in thought, came back to his senses and asked suspiciously, "Why is Your Majesty so happy?"

Zhu Yijun smiled and said, "I know where Minister Yin spent the silver. Sir, look, Minister Yin said he wanted to repair that unfinished giant clinker-built warship, to be completed by the third month of next year for defensive purposes. How could building a ship not cost silver? So, he took the gold and silver, let him take it."

The war in Lu Song is just a beginning. When the great galleons arrive in the Great Ming again next year, if Yin Zhengmao does not have large ships, how will he face the enemy?

Zhang Juzheng still insisted very firmly: "Minister Yin's heir has entered the Imperial Academy as a government student. Once Lu Song is slightly stabilized, Minister Yin should be summoned back to the capital to report on his duties."

Yin Zhengmao is leading the Zhejiang troops; if he has financial autonomy, there is a fear of him becoming a regional warlord.

Once Yin Zhengmao and his crowd defect, or even collude with the Dutch and act in cahoots, then Lu Song and Manila will become the source of disaster, a scourge of sea pirates even more terrifying than the Dutch or the Japanese pirates.

Therefore, Zhang Juzheng has always opposed Yin Zhengmao's corruption, regardless of what he did with the silver he embezzled.

"Sir, Minister Yin has the merit of pacifying the Japanese pirates and bandits. In the far south, thousands of miles away, if there are things not reported in time, it is understandable. Minister Yin and you, Sir, were in the same examination cohort, acting as each other's support. You recommended Minister Yin to the far south, and only then did Minister Yin begin to show his talents. Why are you so wary of him now? If Minister Yin knew, wouldn't he feel disheartened?"

"To punish excessively and indiscriminately is to lose the hearts of the soldiers in distant lands and violates the court's principle of encouragement. That is what you just said, Sir!" Zhu Yijun expressed his support for Yin Zhengmao.

Winning a battle is always a beautiful thing! Even when Zhu Xixiao left, he regretted not seeing the day when the Great Ming's military might would shine again, and he took it as a personal regret.

This is not the first time Zhang Juzheng has shown wariness toward Yin Zhengmao; it could even be called suspicion. At first, Zhu Yijun thought it was because Yin Zhengmao was disobedient and challenged Zhang Juzheng's authority, but now it seems that is not entirely the case.

Zhang Juzheng bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, the disaster of the Jin Party in the northwest is still before our eyes. As a Grand Secretary, I cannot sit and watch them become increasingly wanton without adding constraints."

Hearing this, Zhu Yijun could only sigh and say, "What you say, Sir, makes sense. Doing things is hard, so Minister Yin is a bad person."

After saying this, Zhu Yijun himself was amused. Qi Jiguang said Yin Zhengmao had done all kinds of evil. In the values of traditional Confucian scholars, Zhang Juzheng is a usurper who intimidates his sovereign; he is not a good person either.

Zhu Yijun has Zhu Yijun's ideas, and Zhang Juzheng has Zhang Juzheng's principles. This is where the contradiction lies. The young Emperor is almost doting on the ministers who win battles, but Zhang Juzheng needs to grasp the scale; he cannot be too indulgent, and even less can he be too restrictive.

Therefore, Zhang Juzheng agreed to give Yin Zhengmao policies, but still reprimanded Yin Zhengmao's conduct.

Contradictions are everywhere, and only by finding a path of harmony and balance between contradictions can the affairs of the Great Ming progress step by step and change slowly but firmly!

Zhu Yijun does not intend to talk much with Zhang Juzheng about Yin Zhengmao's affairs. If Yin Zhengmao really defects, let Yu Dayou go to suppress the rebellion. Moreover, Zhu Yijun does not believe Yin Zhengmao will defect.

In the chaotic situation of the far south, Minister Yin was able to clean it up and never raised bandits to increase his own importance! Why would he have to run to Lu Song to defect?

Human hearts are indeed fickle, but there are still things that some people hold fast to, such as loyalty—loyalty to the national interest, loyalty to the public good of the Great Ming.

Zhu Yijun picked up another intelligence report and said, "Assistant Regional Commander Deng memorialized that among his captives, a Dutch woman named Lorian, he does not know how to dispose of. She is an interpreter and also a missionary. He wants to send her to the capital for the court to decide. Assistant Regional Commander Deng's idea is that since I am learning foreign languages, it would be appropriate to have a Portuguese teacher."

"He also said she is a great beauty. Let him keep her for himself. I will learn foreign languages slowly; for the time being, I will not seek foreign barbarians to teach."

"Your Majesty is wise," Zhang Juzheng said with a smile.

Since this woman was specifically brought up, it is natural that Deng Zilong hopes the court can give her a way to live. After all, it counts as a fleeting romance. Saying she is being sent to the capital to be an interpreter is just for the sake of leniency.

In fact, if Deng Zilong showed leniency on his own, no one would say anything. Reporting it specifically, doesn't that represent Deng Zilong's submissive heart?

Zhang Juzheng just does not want Yin Zhengmao to defect, nipping it in the bud, rather than feeling that Yin Zhengmao and the others have any flaws in their loyalty.

"Report! Urgent report!" The commanding officer ran to the front of the Wenhua Hall, panting and shouting loudly: "Urgent report from Liaodong!"

The Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Zhao Mengyou took the intelligence report and hurriedly presented it.

Zhu Yijun opened it and looked, his face changing in shock. He said sternly, "The thieves are so bold! The rebellious chieftain of the Jianzhou Jurchens, Wang Gao, lured and killed our Great Ming's Fushun Garrison Commander Pei Chengzu at the Fushun horse market!"

Hearing this, Zhang Juzheng's face changed several times. He took the intelligence report from Zhang Hong's hands. After reading it, he was furious and said sternly, "How dare the Jianzhou Jurchens be so rampant?!"

Zhu Yijun took a deep breath and said, "Summon the court ministers."

"I obey the edict."

Taking advantage of the time before the ministers arrived, Zhu Yijun sorted out the cause and effect of this matter.

The Jianzhou Jurchen Na'ertu and three others led their village to submit to the Great Ming. Fushun Garrison Commander Pei Chengzu accepted the surrender of the four villages.

A Jurchen chieftain named Lilihong led troops in pursuit. Fushun Garrison Commander Pei Chengzu naturally blocked them and would not let the Jianzhou Jurchens pursue. Lilihong was naturally unwilling to give up, so he took advantage of the night to plunder five Han people and returned to his own camp.

After Fushun Garrison Commander Pei Chengzu found out, he demanded that Lilihong return the plundered commoners.

Lilihong invited the Jianzhou Jurchen rebellious chieftain Wang Gao to settle the matter. Wang Gao took advantage of the market to meet Pei Chengzu and invited Pei Chengzu to go to Lilihong's village to collect the people.

Pei Chengzu did not think much of it and took three hundred cavalry to collect the people. Only when he arrived did he realize he had been tricked. Wang Gao had deployed troops, and the two sides fought fiercely. Fushun Garrison Commander Pei Chengzu, along with Battalion Commander Liu Chengyi and Company Commander Liu Zhongwen, were captured but did not yield and were killed.

Zhu Yijun waited for the court ministers to enter the Wenhua Hall for a court discussion.

The court ministers were summoned again. Zhu Yijun did not let them enter the hall until the Marquis of Qian'an and Beijing Regional Commander Qi Jiguang arrived from the Northern Tucheng. Only then did Zhu Yijun signal the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander to crack the whip three times, summoning the court ministers to enter the main hall from the side hall.

After the ministers paid their respects, Zhu Yijun frowned and said, "Urgent report from Liaodong: the Jianzhou Jurchen rebellious chieftain Wang Gao lured and killed our Assistant Regional Commander Pei Chengzu and others, invaded Qinghe, and harassed Liaodong. He was defeated by Liaodong Regional Commander Li Chengliang. Provincial Governor Zhang Xueyan memorialized the matter, requesting a strategy to suppress the bandits and pacify the barbarians."

"Today I suddenly summoned the ministers to the hall to discuss this matter. War is a dangerous thing, and I do not wish to easily start border conflicts. However, the Jianzhou Jurchens are so rampant that you ministers should work together to assist."

"Let the court discussion begin."

Zhu Yijun sat down. This time he did not read books but was quite solemn. This had already exceeded the scope of holding court, but the ministers did not have many opinions, as if it were a matter of course.

After Ge Shouli sat down, he kept looking at Zhang Juzheng. Zhang Juzheng had arrived earlier than them, and all the court ministers were waiting in the side hall, except for Zhang Juzheng, who was in the main hall discussing with His Majesty.

It was very, very obvious that Zhang Juzheng already knew about summoning the court ministers for discussion. This was the Emperor in charge of government; how could Zhang Juzheng not oppose it?

Is Zhang Juzheng really a treacherous minister who intimidates his sovereign?

Zhang Juzheng felt a bit strange being stared at by Ge Shouli. He thought for a moment and said, "A victory report came from Lu Song. Minister Yin defeated the Dutch in Lu Song and won the battle. His Majesty was happy and summoned me to the hall to inform me of the victory and ask about matters in Lu Song. The intelligence report suddenly arrived, and His Majesty summoned the court ministers for a discussion."

"So I was waiting in the main hall, not isolating the inside from the outside. Why exactly is Master Ge looking at me like this?"

Master Ge, you keep staring, what do you mean?!

Ge Shouli shook his head and said, "I have no intention of questioning the Grand Secretary."

"It's over so soon?" Tan Lun said with slight surprise. According to the Dutch and many intelligence reports, these Dutch are no longer ordinary barbarians.

He thought that Yin Zhengmao's surprise attack on the Dutch lair would be like water dripping through stone, taking a lot of effort to fight. As a result, this victory report was sent to the capital? This is too fast!

Information from the Dutch special envoy Li Yashi, Great Ming intelligence, Southeast reports, etc., were summarized to construct a Dutch in their cognition.

And Yin Zhengmao's surprise attack on Miyangang, the subsequent battle at the Manila fort, and the clearing of the Dutch remnants are the reality of practice.

There is some error between cognition and reality. The Dutch are not as powerful as in cognition, or rather, the Dutch's long-range projection capability is still insufficient. The Invincible Armada is rampant in the West, but it doesn't work when it comes to the Great Ming.

The Night Scout's intelligence report does not go through the Ministry of War but is sent directly to the Emperor by the Northern Depot. The generals' memorials are sent to the Five Chief Military Commissions and then to the Emperor via the Left Shunmen. Only the military reports of the provincial governors and viceroys are sent to the Ministry of War, so Tan Lun did not know that the victory report from Lu Song had already been sent to the capital.

Zhu Yijun handed the victory report to Zhang Hong, signaling him to pass it down for circulation, and said, "Minister Yin said he slightly overestimated the Dutch, so he used too much force, which is why the battle was fought so quickly. However, Minister Yin also said that this battle situation has just begun and there is still fighting to be done; it is just an initial victory."

After reading the victory report, Tan Lun couldn't help but say, "Minister Yin is amazing."

Before a great battle, having such a victory report as a cushion makes people feel much more pleasant.

Wan Shihe was silent for a moment and said tentatively, "Previously, Fang Fengshi and Wu Dui falsely reported military intelligence, causing worry to the Emperor above and frightening the people below. Is this barbarian situation true this time?"

If you cry wolf too many times, no one will believe the wolf is coming. Last time, Wu Dui also falsely reported military intelligence, causing a lot of trouble. Could this time also be a false report?

Wan Shihe also did not approve of the things Wu Dui caused. Falsely reporting military intelligence is the most delaying thing.

"That is not the case. Liaodong Regional Commander Li Chengliang has his seal on it." Zhang Juzheng handed the intelligence report to Wan Shihe. After checking, Wan Shihe saw the seals of Provincial Governor Zhang Xueyan, Regional Commander Li Chengliang, and the supervising eunuch, and was convinced it was true.

After reading it, Wan Shihe frowned and said, "Is Wang Gao crazy? He is too bold."

"Speaking of these Jianzhou Jurchens," Zhang Juzheng's hand reached forward slightly, his body tilted backward, his eyes narrowed, and his tone became cold and stern.

Everyone clearly knew that Zhang Juzheng was angry.

"In the 36th year of Jiajing, the rebellious chieftain Wang Gao peered at Fushun City and killed our Fushun Garrison Commander Peng Wenzhu. Every year, he plundered the forts of Dongzhou and Huian without a single month of peace. At that time, the Northern Barbarians were rampant, and the Jianzhou Jurchens acted as each other's support, harassing our Great Ming from the northwest and northeast."

"In the 41st year of Jiajing, the rebellious chieftain Wang Gao again lured and killed our Deputy Regional Commander Hei Chun at Xifu Mountain, invaded Liaoyang, plundered Gushan, and raided Fushun, successively killing our commanders Wang Guozhu and dozens of others."

"In the first year of Longqing, Li Chengliang was appointed Deputy Regional Commander to Liaodong and recruited strong men from all over to resist the invasions of the Northern Barbarians and the Jianzhou Jurchens. The military prestige began to rise."

"In the 5th year of Longqing, the Jianzhou Jurchens saw that the Northern Barbarian Altan Khan had already been enfeoffed, so they also requested enfeoffment, but the court did not allow it. In the 4th and 5th months of the same year, the rebellious chieftain Wang Gao successively invaded Lianshan Station and Panshan but was repelled by Li Chengliang. In the 2nd month of the 6th year, Wang Gao again invaded Changsheng Fort but was repelled."

"In the 6th year of Longqing, the late Emperor passed away, and the nation was shaken. The northwest reported that Altan Khan had signs of moving south, while the rebellious chieftain Wang Gao was also eyeing Liaodong covetously. At that time, Liaodong Provincial Governor Zhang Xueyan and Regional Commander Li Chengliang memorialized: requesting an imperial enfeoffment and tribute market."

"Liaodong Provincial Governor Zhang Xueyan showed both grace and might, and Garrison Commander Pei Chengzu joined Wang Gao in slaughtering an ox to form an alliance, beginning to exchange captives and restore the tribute market."

At the end of the 5th month of the 6th year of Longqing, the Longqing Emperor passed away. In the court, Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng also launched a decisive battle, and in the end, Zhang Juzheng won a complete victory.

The court was not peaceful, and the borders were not peaceful either. Altan Khan was restless in the northwest, and Wang Gao was also eyeing covetously in the northeast. Once troops were used in the northeast, the Northern Barbarians' Altan Khan would inevitably move south.

At this special time point of an orphan and a widow, the court finally agreed to Wang Gao's request for grace.

The one who formed the alliance with Wang Gao was Pei Chengzu, who was lured and killed this time.

The rebellious chieftain Wang Gao has truly done all kinds of evil! Wang Gao killed Pei Chengzu, with whom he had formed an alliance, and then invaded Liaodong again. This is treachery. If we do not sweep his lair and plow his fields, the Northern Barbarians will probably move south together!

"Audacious!" Wan Shihe immediately stated his position: "The barbarians are indeed like this, wolf-faced and beast-hearted, fearing might but not cherishing virtue! The court's grace is thick, but they do not think of being submissive. If they are not wiped out by thunderous force, I fear the Northern Barbarians will all think our Great Ming is empty and can be bullied, and border conflicts will naturally arise everywhere!"

"The nature of the barbarians is only to discuss strength and weakness. Once a grudge is formed, they will retaliate endlessly!"

Wan Shihe is an old pedant who talks about cherishing distant people. He would still talk about cherishing distant people, but this has already been cherished enough. How else can it be cherished? Kneel down and kowtow, begging Wang Gao not to cause trouble?

"Then shall we discuss a strategy for suppression?" Zhang Juzheng asked.

"Suppress!" Wan Shihe gritted his teeth and said: "The Jianzhou Jurchens are not subjects of the people."

"In the 14th year of Zhengtong, the Tumu Crisis occurred, and the late Emperor was captured. At that time, national prestige was frustrated, and border affairs were greatly damaged. Rebellious chieftains like Li Manzhu and Dong Shan took advantage of the situation to plunder the borders, and Liaodong was exhausted because of it. During the Chenghua reign, their lair was destroyed and their kind was cut off."

"It is the same today!"

During the Gengxu Crisis, Altan Khan invaded the capital region. Dingxiang Prince Zhu Xixiao defended the capital, but the capital region was plundered for eight full days. Afterward, the Great Ming and Altan Khan fought in the northwest, and this fight lasted for more than ten years. The Jianzhou Jurchens took advantage of the situation to start border troubles again, exactly the same as Li Manzhu and Dong Shan back then!

They are all a bunch of rebellious slaves who deserve to be killed by heaven!

Even Wan Shihe, the biggest dove, agreed to suppression, so no one disagreed with advancing to suppress the Jianzhou Jurchens.

The court actually also needs people like Wan Shihe. Being fond of war is dangerous, and if war breaks out everywhere, the country will inevitably perish. It is reasonable for Wan Shihe to remind the ministers not to be fond of war. Similarly, forgetting war is dangerous.

Minister of Revenue Wang Guoguang was silent for a moment and said: "In the 8th month, Provincial Governor Zhang Xueyan memorialized: the military pay for this town is in arrears by more than 149,700 taels of silver."

"The Liaodong border is more than 2,000 miles long, with 120 forts and three sides facing the enemy. There are 72,000 government troops, each given one shi of rice per month, discounted to 0.25 taels of silver. Horses are given feed in winter and spring, discounted to 0.18 taels of silver per month. This was followed by famine and drought, with starving people everywhere, hence the arrears in pay."

Wang Gao is not a fool either. If the Liaodong border town were extremely powerful, Wang Gao would not dare to cause too much trouble. This matter had been discussed before. The court issued 30,000 taels of silver from the Taicang treasury, which is why Wan Shihe asked if the Liaodong border side was following Wu Dui's old ways, falsely reporting the barbarian situation to get this military pay.

"If the pay is in arrears and not issued, the morale of the army is hard to use," Qi Jiguang stated on behalf of the military generals. No matter how much they argued in the court, he had to explain from a military perspective that they could only work after they were full.

The ministers fell silent. Should they suppress? Yes. But the court could not even issue the arrears.

Zhu Yijun saw that no one was speaking and asked: "30,000 taels have already been issued, which means there is an arrear of 110,000 taels. How much silver is in the Taicang treasury of the Ministry of Revenue?"

Wang Guoguang hurriedly bowed and said: "The Ministry of Revenue can allocate 60,000 taels of silver."

"That is enough," Qi Jiguang said after hearing that there were 60,000 taels of silver.

Wang Guoguang frowned and said: "Enough?"

"Half pay is enough," Qi Jiguang looked at everyone and said: "Being able to receive half pay and fill their stomachs is enough to win the battle. The morale of the army can be used. If they win, and the remaining half pay can be given, then they can win next time. The soldiers in the border towns actually know that the court's finances are in a huge deficit."

The court has no money. From the generals to the small soldiers on the border, everyone knows the situation. After fighting in the northwest for so long, everyone knows how much silver the court can produce. Since Qi Jiguang went to govern the army in the north, he found that the northern army, let alone half pay, was already very good if they could eat.

With Zhang Juzheng in charge of the country, asking people to fight and being able to give half pay is already a great happy event.

A gentleman is ashamed to talk about profit. The court ministers are all gentlemen who govern people, but the court is so poor that it is wearing its pants, which is also a fact. The rebellious chieftain is already riding on the face of the Great Ming to run wild. Trying every possible way, they can only scrape together half pay.

Zhu Yijun looked around and said: "The inner treasury eunuch Yin Ping reported that there is still some money in the inner treasury this year, which can make up the full pay. The Ministry of Revenue will first give half pay. If they win, I will allocate the remaining half pay, pensions, and rewards from the inner treasury."

Wang Guoguang hurriedly bowed and said: "Your Majesty, please allow me to report: it seems that only 60,000 are missing. If they win, the rewards will still need more than 40,000. If they lose, more will be needed."

"I believe our Great Ming soldiers can win. The palace still has more than 100,000 taels of silver," Zhu Yijun said to Wang Guoguang: "Do not worry about it, continue to discuss the matter of suppression."

Hearing this, Wang Guoguang bowed and said: "Your Majesty is wise."

Thanks to the Dutch galleons and the customs duties on foreign ships, the palace now has some surplus, and 100,000 taels of silver can still be taken out.

Tan Lun looked at the map and said: "Jiliadong Viceroy Liu Yingjie, Jizhou Regional Commander Chen Dacheng, and others will lead the army eastward, sending two strong troops out of Shanhai Pass to support Liaodong."

Qi Jiguang thought for a moment and said: "I can lead more than 10,000 elite troops from the Beijing Camp to Yipianshi, or take the opportunity to go out of the border, or destroy their lair, acting according to the situation."

Tan Lun thought for a moment and said: "I can be the coordinator of military affairs for the Beijing Camp and go with Commander Qi."

As soon as Zhu Yijun heard that Tan Lun wanted to go to war, he immediately said: "The Imperial Physician Chen Shigong once said that the Minister of War should no longer go to the battlefield. I do not allow it."

"I am just the coordinator of military affairs, not fighting," Tan Lun hurriedly bowed and said.

Zhu Yijun said disapprovingly: "Listen to what you are saying, do you believe it yourself?"

The civil service examination graduate Tan Lun is a war maniac, more like a military general than a military general. Going to the battlefield to kill the enemy and charging into the front lines, his body can no longer fight. Since Li Shizhen returned to the capital, he has been adjusting Tan Lun's health. This coordinator of military affairs will definitely coordinate to the front line.

Tan Lun is actually not very interested in the intrigues of the court. For Tan Lun, a man should die in the wilderness, be wrapped in horse skin and buried, how can he lie on the bed in the hands of women?

Tan Lun is excited when he encounters war.

Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and said: "Let the Vice Minister of War Liang Menglong coordinate military affairs."

Zhang Juzheng is Liang Menglong's teacher. Liang Menglong is holding the waist token of the Quanchu Club, which counts as one of his own, so there will be no mistakes.

Zhang Juzheng hurriedly bowed and said: "Your Majesty, please allow me to report: Liang Menglong's mother has just passed away, and he needs to return to his hometown to observe the mourning period. He has already requested to resign and return to his hometown."

"This..." Zhu Yijun was truly helpless. He looked around and asked: "Do you have any other candidates?"

When Tan Lun heard this, he hurriedly said: "Let me go. I guarantee I will not go to the battlefield to kill the enemy. I am at this age, I really can't fight anymore. Your Majesty, please be at ease. I will take care of my own life."

It is precisely because Tan Lun does not take his own life seriously that Zhu Yijun does not allow it. If he cherished it, Zhu Yijun would let him go.

Actually, there is another candidate, and that is Wang Chonggu.

Wang Chonggu filled the hole in the construction of the Great Wall, and successively stabilized the Northern Barbarians through border enfeoffment and tribute, followed by farming, with many fields. Wang Chonggu had previously coordinated the military affairs of the Beijing Camp as the Crown Prince's Junior Guardian. Wang Chonggu can actually be used.

But no one in the court recommended him.

Vice Minister of War Wu Baipeng can also do it. The construction of Xuan-Da has been completed on schedule, but the reason Wu Baipeng stayed in Xuan-Da was to monitor. If Wang Chonggu, Wu Dui, Fang Fengshi, and others were used to send troops to the southeast, it is hard to say what the Northern Barbarians would do if Wu Baipeng in the northwest were moved.

The tacit understanding of the Northern Barbarians knocking at the pass, and the extremely familiar raising of bandits to increase one's own importance.

Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and made a decision that violated the ancestors: "Then we will not set up a Beijing Camp Viceroy. Isn't there none now?"

"The nature of the barbarians is only to discuss strength and weakness. Once a grudge is formed, they will retaliate endlessly," is Zhang Juzheng's original words. Please vote for the monthly ticket, Awoo!!!!!!

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