Chapter 180: 180. Chapter 178: Stepping on the Huashan Peak, Watching the Sea

180. Chapter 178: Stepping on the Huashan Peak, Watching the Sea

"... executed Dong Dong Huli and Gongnan on the spot; two days later, captured Changtu alive; another three days later, executed Balai."

"Only Chahalai and Meng'Meng Andai, seeing that the situation was not good, directly surrendered to Qingbaduer. With the instructions from me and the Ministry of War beforehand, Commander Qi did not conflict with them and withdrew his troops immediately."

Zhu Zhu Yijun said, handing the memorial to Zhang Hong to take and circulate for reading.

The memorial was naturally Qi Qi Jiguang's battle report.

The result was quite satisfactory.

The main target this time, the frequently rebellious Dong Dong Huli, was the first to be executed.

Four of his five sons died, and he also dragged in a Gongnan.

As for his younger brother Changtu, he was the same as in history, falling into a disadvantage and directly bowing his head to be captured alive by Qi Qi Jiguang.

The only flaw was that Dong Dong Huli's remnants were gathered by his fifth son, Meng'Meng Andai, and surrendered to Qingbaduer together with Chahalai.

The three Mongol right-wing tumens: Ordos, Tumet, and Yongshiebu.

Qingbaduer was the leader of the Khalkha, actually controlling the Yongshiebu Uryankhai Tumen. Among the Mongols, he was a figure in the top five in terms of power—the Mongols had only six tumens in total, and the Uriankhai Uryankhai Tumen was completely divided after this incident.

Such a figure as Qingbaduer was different from the small characters of the Duoyan Guard.

With him intervening, Qi Qi Jiguang had no choice but to withdraw his troops.

The subsequent loose ends naturally had to be handled by the central government.

At the moment, it was the Emperor, the Grand Secretariat, the Ministry of War, and the Beijing Camp holding a small meeting about this matter.

Inside the Gu Chengguang Hall, Zhu Zhu Yijun sat on the imperial throne.

Wang Wang Chonggu sat on half a buttock on a low stool, while the Minister of War Shi Shi Mao Hua and the Governor of the Beijing Camp Gu Gu Huan stood in the hall, hands bound.

Shi Shi Mao Hua had already read the Ministry of War's memorial in the duty room when he arrived, and at this moment, he spoke first: "Your Majesty, Qingbaduer's gathering of the Duoyan remnants was explained by the Prince Shunyi King in a memorial, requesting the imperial court's approval."

Zhu Zhu Yijun shook his head with a laugh: "Submitting a memorial after the fact is not a request; it's more like a notification."

Shi Shi Mao Hua hurriedly defended: "I wish to inform Your Majesty that Qingbaduer's agreement to let Hu Wang Shouren pass through was originally with the intention of getting a share of the spoils; this was the tacit understanding we had."

Some things cannot be written in official documents.

If there were no benefits to sharing Dong Dong Huli's unit, why would the Mongol right wing sit by and watch?

The Emperor's eyes cannot just stare at the flaws; regardless of anything else, the results of this battle were unquestionable.

Wang Wang Chonggu, as an expert on northern affairs, naturally had to explain the origin: "Your Majesty, when the Duoyan Guard moved the palace of Ugulun Hadun and voluntarily downgraded from a Uryankhai Tumen to an Alabatu (tribute payer) during the Emperor Longqing era, the Prince Shunyi King took the brothers of Yingke and their tribes as his own, and the Yingke tribe, which relied on danger and only nominally submitted, was bestowed upon Old Baduer."

"For all these years, Old Baduer could only collect annual tribute from the Duoyan Guard and could not actually control them."

"Now that the Duoyan Guard has been punished by Heaven's might, Qingbaduer's gathering of the remnants is justified by origin. The source is like this, and Altan Khan cannot stop it."

"If we insist on getting to the bottom of it, I am afraid it will worsen the relationship between the two sides."

Wang Wang Chonggu spoke tactfully, but this "relationship between the two sides" referred not only to Altan Khan and Qingbaduer, but also to the imperial court and Altan Khan—without corresponding strength, don't play the nature of the Heavenly Dynasty.

Gu Gu Huan, seeing the Emperor looking at him, pondered for a moment and expressed his perspective: "Your Majesty, just as the Zhang Gelao and the Minister of War said, even if this matter was Qingbaduer's own doing, ignoring the tacit understanding between the imperial court and the Prince Shunyi King, we should not investigate it deeply."

"Qingbaduer's subordinates often marry Han women, especially living mixed in the vicinity of Bansheng, with close customs and frequent trade, and they are the most friendly to our dynasty, several times better than his few brothers who often loot our dynasty."

"It's a pity that after Old Baduer died, Qingbaduer has been in constant friction with his brothers Habushen, Manwusuo, and Manwuda, and has not yet completely integrated the tribe."

"If our dynasty rashly reprimands them for this small matter, it will easily cause changes."

The meaning of this Governor of the Beijing Camp was that the situation of the barbarians was complex, and we should stop when we see good results. As for the remnants of the Duoyan Guard, they were irrelevant.

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded slowly upon hearing this: "Since this is the case, issue a document to the Prince Shunyi King and grant Qingbaduer his wish."

The Emperor expressed his stance, and the few people who spoke naturally had no objections.

"Your Majesty is wise."

"I obey the edict."

Wang Wang Chonggu took the conversation: "In the fifth year of Emperor Longqing, the Chief Minister and the Earl of Ding'an submitted a memorial to the late Emperor, saying that the left-wing Mongol trouble lies in the subordinate barbarians, and the right-wing trouble lies in Bansheng. If these two troubles are not eliminated, our dynasty will never have a peaceful pillow."

"When Altan was enfeoffed, Zhao Quan of Bansheng was punished; now that troops have been used against Dong Dong Huli, the left-wing subordinate barbarians have been swept away."

"Two dynasties of bravery, temple calculations and military conquest, the north can finally have a peaceful pillow for some years."

Zhu Zhu Yijun glanced at Wang Wang Chonggu.

He knew this guy's thoughts like the back of his hand.

Whether it was clearing Qingbaduer just now or what he said at this moment, it was all to build up his own merits.

The so-called pacification of the two troubles, wasn't it all his, Wang Wang Chonggu's, strategy?

Because of this, listening to the tone was enough; if he really believed in a peaceful pillow in the north, then Zhu Zhu Yijun would be no different from his ancestors.

Not to mention that the so-called two troubles were just the military advisors and pawns of the left and right wings, merely a skin disease; the Tatar headquarters' strength had never been damaged at all.

Even if the Altan Khan lost his tentacles now, it didn't mean he wouldn't drive the headquarters to invade the border, and it was impossible to have a peaceful pillow forever.

Contradictions are constantly transforming.

Before Altan's enfeoffment, the border was indeed plagued by his looting.

But after the enfeoffment, it led to "border defense being extremely lax, military pay all entering the general's pocket, besides feeding the enemy, some were sent to Beijing. The soldiers near the border were hungry and thin, without any livelihood, while the Bansheng population grew, strong and shameless, and those who discussed it were worried."

Even Bansheng dared to gradually become strong and shameless.

It can be seen that constant kindness cannot guarantee that the right wing will be submissive forever. After recuperating, ambition expands with strength, which is not impossible.

The Mongol right wing is like this, and the left wing is even more indescribable.

In history, although the Duoyan Three Guards did not kneel so quickly, they eventually bowed their heads around the twentieth year of Emperor Wanli—Dong Dong Huli was beaten into submission by Li Li Chengliang, Changtu was captured alive by Qi Qi Jiguang, and the Chang'ang unit was divided by the Great Ming and the Altan Khan.

But the weakness of the Uriankhai Uryankhai Tumen was followed by the annexation and merger of the Jurchens in the grazing area, returning from the dead.

This is how the Great Ming dynasty was lost.

The decline of the opponent does not mean that one is thriving.

There will eventually be new opponents.

In the final analysis, practicing internal skills well is the hard truth.

Thinking of this, Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hand to return to business and instructed Shi Shi Mao Hua: "Don't delay the rewards for merits, draft them as soon as possible."

It wasn't that he, the Emperor, was impatient.

It was just that according to the Great Ming dynasty's convention, rewards for merits like this wouldn't have results unless a few thousand people gathered at the drill ground to demand them.

Shi Shi Mao Hua hurriedly accepted the edict.

Wang Wang Chonggu took the conversation: "Your Majesty, the regulations for mutual markets with the Duoyan Guard have been drafted. The location should be eighty li north of Xifeng Pass, in the Kuanhe area (today's Kuancheng County, Hebei Province)."

After saying this, he took out the memorial from his sleeve and let the inner attendant present it.

Zhu Zhu Yijun took it and read it carefully.

There was no problem with the location; this area was still a disputed area.

It originally belonged to the Kuanhe Guard, but after the Daining Division was abandoned, it factually belonged to the grazing area of the Duoyan Three Guards.

He also listed some other details of the mutual market, categories of trade, time of mutual market, etc.

It was not much different from the mutual market in Three Xuan-Da.

After reading it once, Zhu Zhu Yijun put it aside: "Minister Wang, why is the time of the mutual market in late spring and early summer?"

The time for the mutual market with Altan Khan was indefinite—Altan Khan would only set a time when he wanted to.

But the Duoyan Guard clearly didn't have this qualification, so the initiative naturally lay with the imperial court, which could set the time whenever it wanted.

Wang Wang Chonggu answered every question: "Your Majesty, the Tatar horses are fat in late autumn, so I thought of setting the mutual market period in late spring and early summer, because the Tatar horses are thin and they dare not gallop deep."

"To put it another way, even if there is a change, we can use the strength of the infantry at the pass to strike the weak and thin horses, which is preventing trouble before it happens."

Zhu Zhu Yijun heard this and secretly thought it was professional.

However, since he asked, he naturally had other opinions.

He cast an inquiring look at Wang Wang Chonggu: "Since it is preventing trouble before it happens, there must be other ways. I ask Minister Wang, if this mutual market is permanently established, can it be opened?"

Wang Wang Chonggu was startled, a bit confused.

But he still replied to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, it can naturally be opened permanently, but just setting up a simple market won't work; at the very least, we have to build a small city."

Although the Three Xuan-Da mutual market often had thieves and Tatars disguised and gathering to loot, that was because its location was chosen to make Altan Khan feel at ease, far from Three Xuan-Da, so it was beyond reach.

But the Duoyan Guard was different.

Since they had been beaten into submission, they naturally had no initiative, even if the mutual market was set eighty li from Xifeng Pass, it was a matter of one word from this side.

Correspondingly, the impact of looting on the mutual market was naturally within a controllable range.

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded: "Kuanhe belongs to the Haihe River basin and flows into the Bohai Sea via the Luan River. If the mutual market is opened, whether it is bulk materials or personnel movement, it is much more convenient than Three Xuan-Da."

"Since this is the case, why not make the mutual market bigger?"

"While restraining the Duoyan Guard, it can also prosper the people at the northern border."

Zhu Zhu Yijun was meaningful.

Since the hot war was over, how could the subsequent financial war not follow?

Wang Wang Chonggu, as the first in official position among the businessmen of the time and the first in business among officials, felt something after hearing the Emperor's words.

He put on a business-minded expression, frowned, touched his chin, and began to ponder.

Gu Gu Huan, seeing this, hesitated and interrupted: "Your Majesty, this... I fear there is a suspicion of feeding the enemy."

The scale of the Three Xuan-Da mutual market was only enough for the nobles of the three tumens to live a good life, and for the slaves to share a bowl of soup so they wouldn't starve to death.

If the scale were to be expanded, it would be difficult to avoid the worry of raising a tiger to cause trouble.

Zhu Zhu Yijun shook his head: "Minister Gu, you are overthinking; in business, talk business."

Altan Khan had elite soldiers and strong generals, and had the request for pots and cloth, so the imperial court had to agree even if it suffered a loss.

But the mutual market with the Duoyan Guard, Zhu Zhu Yijun would not do a losing business.

Wang Wang Chonggu pondered for a long while and finally responded: "Your Majesty, perhaps, we can imitate Bansheng, Han and barbarians living together, opening up trade."

Zhu Zhu Yijun was startled for a moment, then suddenly clapped his hands and praised: "Minister Wang's insight is excellent!"

"Since the Duoyan Three Guards are spreading their branches and leaves everywhere, isn't it just suitable to manage this matter from the center?"

Read as spreading branches and leaves, written as three-party division.

But this is not important; what is important is that Wang Wang Chonggu's proposal is very good, and while fighting an economic war, he also gave Zhu Zhu Yijun a reminder.

Can we use this to cultivate some guides, promote ethnic integration, and kill two birds with one stone?

As the highland of East Asian culture, how can we not export something?

Great unification is not just military and economy. Cultural unification is also an indispensable part.

Who says Mongols can't take the imperial examination—of course, only after thorough liquidation would Zhu Zhu Yijun consider bestowing this qualification, as for extra points, don't even think about it.

Seeing the Emperor's intense reaction and quick agreement, Shi Shi Mao Hua and Gu Gu Huan, who couldn't get a word in, looked at each other, wondering what they were excited about.

Although Wang Wang Chonggu proposed it, he still stated cautiously: "Your Majesty, let's discuss it at the court deliberation."

"This matter involves discussing the commercial tax and land tax of the Kuanhe mutual market, which must be reviewed by the Ministry of Revenue; to absorb Han and barbarians living together, we must also ask the Three Judicial Offices to leniently release the fugitives; in addition, how to defend the border, whether to establish a guard, how to educate and restrain the Mongols..."

"It involves many departments and still needs to gather wisdom."

Zhu Zhu Yijun was not in a hurry and was very satisfied with Wang Wang Chonggu's cautious appearance.

He nodded in approval: "These things indeed need full discussion, I will send Wang's meaning to the regular court for discussion later."

"By the way, just let Hu Wang Shouren escort Chang'ang and his sons to Beijing immediately, and discuss it together."

The Duoyan Guard is not only the trading party of the mutual market, but also the external channel for the Kuanhe Free Trade Zone.

Since they play an important role, they must be made to deeply understand the spirit of the meeting—if they don't understand, it doesn't matter, Chang'ang has many sons, and there will always be those who are willing to understand.

Wang Wang Chonggu hurriedly saluted: "There is no one wiser than Your Majesty!"

And then the four discussed some other matters.

For example, appeasing the Altan Khan slightly while strengthening defense to prevent him from being angry and ignoring the big picture.

For example, writing to the Inner Khalkha Uryankhai Tumen that occupied Prince Tai Ning and Fuyu, explaining the origin, and not changing the affiliation.

After discussing these loose ends, it was already noon.

Wang Wang Chonggu and the others rose to leave.

The Emperor tried to keep the three for lunch, but Wang Wang Chonggu and Shi Shi Mao Hua declined with official business, and Gu Gu Huan, wanting to stay, had to follow them away.

Zhu Zhu Yijun saw that it didn't work even to eat with the ministers, so he curled his lips.

Having no appetite, he had to tidy up and return to the Wan Shou Palace for lunch.

Walking out of the Gu Chengguang Hall, the sun was shining brightly, and there were no clouds in the sky.

After entering summer, there was already a hint of heat.

The group walked on the imperial road.

"Zhang Daban, has the plan for selecting concubines been drafted?"

On the way back to the bedroom, he asked casually about matters that needed his concern recently.

The Emperor himself couldn't intervene in matters like selecting concubines.

Age, scope, process, all were drafted by the Ministry of Rites and the Directorate of Ceremonial, and decided by the two palaces; the Emperor didn't even have the right to know.

However, rules are just rules.

Zhang Hong heard this and didn't hesitate at all, blurting out: "Reporting to Your Majesty, it has been drafted."

"First, select beautiful women from all over the world aged thirteen to sixteen, hire them with silver and coins, and their parents will send them, five thousand people gathered in Beijing, for family background selection."

"Then the inner eunuchs will inspect them, removing one thousand who are slightly short, slightly fat, or slightly thin; then removing one thousand whose voices are slightly masculine, slightly hoarse, slightly muddy, or slightly stuttering; removing those whose wrists are slightly short, toes slightly large, or whose movements are slightly light and restless; the remaining are carefully selected, exploring their breasts in a secret room, smelling their armpits, and feeling their skin texture, leaving only three hundred to enter the palace for appearance selection."

"These three hundred will be carefully observed by the two palaces for their temperament and speech, and their rigidity, softness, stupidity, wisdom, and virtue will be evaluated, screening fifty people as concubines, for the final temperament selection."

"As for the selection of the Empress, it will be decided by Your Majesty."

Zhu Zhu Yijun listened and showed a strange expression.

What kind of variety show selection is this?

After this set of processes, it's no wonder that when an Emperor wants to get married, it starts with half a year.

Zhu Zhu Yijun couldn't help but instruct: "Send people you trust to keep an eye on it, don't let them be all ugly people who bribed their way in; if this matter is handled poorly, I won't care about your previous merits and hard work."

He had seen some photos of concubines circulating in later generations, which were simply unbearable to look at.

It would be fine if it were just political marriages among court officials, but if the quality was still like this after a worldwide selection, he would really lose his temper.

Zhang Hong hurriedly guaranteed: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will watch this matter personally."

Zhu Zhu Yijun curled his lips; he wasn't used to this feeling of being arranged.

Although in his previous life, the Youth League, the trade union, and the organization department all took turns to introduce him, he had spent a few years together before getting married—at least he had helped the little girl move the refrigerator in the Justice Bureau a few times, and received released prisoners together.

Zhu Zhu Yijun put away his wild thoughts, shook his head, and asked again: "How is the date arranged?"

Zhang Hong answered fluently: "Your Majesty, the initial date is the birthday in August for the worldwide selection, entering the palace in early September, and selecting concubines in November."

He paused and lowered his voice: "The meaning of the two empresses is to let Your Majesty get married in the spring of next year."

Zhu Zhu Yijun pinched the time.

It was already early summer, and until next spring, it was nine months.

This was indeed fast; places like Yunnan and Hainan, which were half a year away, definitely wouldn't make it to the worldwide selection.

If he wanted to be faster, it would inevitably seem hasty.

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded: "Just do it like this, no need to change."

Zhang Hong hurriedly responded.

Seeing that the Emperor didn't speak again, he said another matter: "Your Majesty, Li Kun requested the Hanlin Academy today, hoping to resign as a Hanlin editor and go to the local area."

Zhu Zhu Yijun couldn't help but laugh.

As expected of someone who could enter the Kong Miao in later generations, he was indeed sensible.

There are thirty-eight ancient scholars in the West Corridor of the Kong Miao, and Li Kun—who had already changed his name back to Lü Kun—was ranked right after Wang Wang Yangming, so he was naturally not a simple person.

As soon as this kid entered Beijing, Zhu Zhu Yijun immediately paid attention to him.

Of course, besides having a way with scholarship, he was indeed someone who could handle practical matters.

"Village Compact Law" was something he got when he was a county magistrate.

This person could be said to be a figure who couldn't be bypassed in the study of grassroots governance in later generations—he was considered a feudal version of Liang Shuming.

Now Zhu Zhu Yijun's arrangement for him was naturally to make the best use of everything.

He waved his hand: "I have already informed Wang Wang Xilie, let him study in the Hanlin Academy for half a year first."

The central government's policies and strategies still need to be well instilled, otherwise, it's easy to act like a headless fly when going to the local area.

Furthermore, the Grand Secretariat and the Ministry of Rites hall officials must determine the teacher-student relationship.

After talking, the group had returned to the Wan Shou Palace.

Naturally, someone went to pass the meal.

Zhu Zhu Yijun took off his crown, put it on the table, and walked to the screen to check if there were any unfinished items on the wooden board: "What happened to the court officials' memorial requesting Wang Wang Yangming to enter the Kong Miao that I rejected last time?"

Zhang Hong heard the Emperor ask something obscure and didn't know how to answer for a moment.

A godson of Li Jin at the side saw this and hurriedly stepped forward to answer: "Reporting to Your Majesty, after Your Majesty rejected the memorial on the grounds that the lineage was unclear, the Ministry of Rites began to sort out the Wang Yangming lineage."

"It is said that it inherits from Confucius and Mencius, Zhou and Zhang, Cheng and Zhu, and Lu Jiuyuan, and extends to create the Seven Sages of today."

"The two people of the Cheng-Zhu school and Wang Wang Shouren's two disciples have recognized this lineage, only the Confucius family is still pulling with the Ministry of Rites."

Zhu Zhu Yijun saw Zhang Hong was ignorant and the Eastern Depot people were counting treasures, so he knew it was palace gossip again.

However, he wouldn't interfere in such minor details.

He put down the wooden board on the screen and exclaimed in wonder: "Confucius family... let them enter Beijing, wasn't it for the sake of lineage?"

"Everyone knows it, and now they dare to wait for a price; I'm afraid they don't know the water is cold."

The lineage must be corrected.

This step can be said to be easy, but it is also crucial.

Why does Daoism claim to be the lineage of Confucianism that has been broken for a thousand years?

It is to revolutionize the lifeblood of all Confucian schools since the Qin dynasty.

What "dismissing a hundred schools and respecting only Confucianism"? It's just that Huang-Lao's theory didn't sound as good as Confucianism, so they changed the shell.

What "heaven-man induction," "great unification theory"? It's just Dong Dong Zhongshu's "Six Classics note me."

In short, these are all external paths, clinging to Confucianism.

True Confucianism must look at Daoism.

The Confucian orthodoxy is in Daoism, so how is the current Daoist orthodoxy inherited?

This is what the court and the public are waiting to determine.

Fortunately, after the most difficult part passed, it only needed to go through a process.

Once this process is completed, a new chapter in Confucian philosophy should be opened.

Zhu Zhu Yijun sneered in his heart; in the future, if he encounters any celestial phenomena or solar eclipses, let him try to pray for blessings and repent?

Thinking of this, Zhu Zhu Yijun instructed Zhang Hong: "Issue an edict for the Duke Duke Yansheng to enter the Ministry of Rites and discuss the Wang Yangming lineage."

Zhang Hong hurriedly responded: "I will go now."

After saying this, he bowed his head and retreated slowly.

After Zhu Zhu Yijun went through the matters on the screen, he had finished the matters for the day.

Lunch was just served.

Unlike the sixth year of Emperor Longqing, when Gao Yi was moved by eight dishes on a table, it had now been changed to a regulation of eleven dishes.

There was no way; eating alone at that time, it didn't matter if there were fewer.

Since this year, Zhu Zhu Yijun either ate with court officials or returned to the Wan Shou Palace to eat with Li Three Xuan-shi, so if there were fewer categories, it would be easy to encounter dishes he didn't like.

However, speaking of which.

He, the Emperor, didn't worry about food; he could increase as many dishes as he wanted, even twenty-seven dishes a meal like Emperor Taizu.

But the people probably wouldn't have it so easy; it was already summer, and some prefectures and counties reported that the swallows hadn't returned to their nests yet, and the people were dragging their feet and refusing to plant in spring.

Little Ice Age...

Zhu Zhu Yijun sighed in his heart; it would inevitably get harder and harder.

He probably had to think of a way for farming.

"Is the cooking of the Imperial Kitchen not to Your Majesty's liking? Hard to swallow?"

Zhu Zhu Yijun was thinking about things when he suddenly heard Li Baiyang calling him.

He came back to his senses and explained gently: "No, I was just thinking about some things."

Li Baiyang looked at the Emperor suspiciously.

To tell the truth, the dishes made by the Imperial Kitchen were indeed not delicious, at least worse than what she ate at home.

She only thought the Emperor was covering up, so she requested: "Your Majesty, let me cook for dinner?"

Zhu Zhu Yijun glanced at Li Baiyang; you cook, you're the God of Cookery Li Fugui, right?

It's fine to cook one or two meals occasionally, but if the harem was given the permission to cook often, who knows when they would add some chronic seasoning.

But this just reminded him.

He smiled at Li Baiyang: "No need to cook, but Li Three Xuan-shi can put some effort into the ingredients."

Li Baiyang was stunned: "Ingredients?"

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded and said seriously: "You must know, the harem has the responsibility of encouraging agriculture and sericulture..."

He paused: "Li Three Xuan-shi, are you going to plant potatoes?"

He paused: "Li Three Xuan-shi, are you going to plant potatoes?"