Chapter 940 1029 Surrendering Prisoners?
"This memorial is a secret that is not to be passed on. Only you, me and the palace know it.
To the outside world, we will send troops under the pretext of the Ministry of War ordering the Nanyang Navy to go to the island to suppress the Japanese pirates. After that, we will set up water forts in the north and south, and we can also say to the outside world that it is to prevent the Japanese pirates from resurrecting.
As for the relocation of the garrisons, we can do it slowly. We will select one garrison from Zhejiang and Fujian to move east, and then transfer one shipyard from Nanzhili and Zhejiang. I plan to complete it in five years.
By then, Your Majesty will announce this to the world. The matter is done, and it will be done naturally.
At the same time, we can recruit candidates from all over the world to go to Dongfan Island to educate the people. The limit is five years. After five years, they will return to the court to be recruited as court officials."
Wei Guangde spoke lightly and told his plan.
Zhang Juzheng raised his eyebrows when he heard this. He didn't expect Wei Guangde to have a plan long ago. He adopted a gradual cannibalization method to completely bring Dongfan Island under the control of the Nanyang Navy before issuing an edict to the outside world.
By then, even if some officials discussed it, there should be more candidates who would choose to compete for the opportunity to teach on Dongfan Island.
After all, Wei Guangde meant that as long as he worked on the island for five years, he could return to the court and become an official.
In the eyes of the Jinshi masters, the officials of the eighth and ninth ranks were nothing, and only the seventh rank could be considered an official.
The seventh rank official, which the Jinshi started with, was an official position that many candidates could hardly reach in their entire lives.
After thinking for a moment, Zhang Juzheng had to admit that Wei Guangde's plan had a high probability of success.
The Nanyang Navy had already established a foothold on Dongfan Island, and only needed to transfer 20,000 people from two garrisons to the island.
After these people settled down, the shipyard would be relocated. At this time, even if they opposed it, it would be difficult to do it because the Nanyang Navy was already stationed on the island.
Although I don't think there is much value in occupying Dongfan Island, according to Wei Guangde's intention, if only the garrisons were dispatched, it would not seem to have much impact on the court.
In fact, if Wei Guangde had said at the beginning that he would relocate so many civilians, Zhang Juzheng would definitely oppose it.
Because relocating civilians means that many people have to leave their hometowns. This is not only about the ties of the clan, but also the suffering brought by the migration. The court also needs to prepare a lot of things.
Not only do they need to prepare supplies and transportation along the way for the immigrants, but they also need to issue at least one year's rations and prepare a large number of production tools when they arrive at the place, which is not available in the current Ming Dynasty court.
Zhang Juzheng has completely mastered the Ministry of Revenue, but because he knows the real situation of the Ministry of Revenue, all the excessive expenses make Zhang Juzheng very hesitant now.
Zhu Heng, the Minister of Works, has already returned from Nanzhili, and it can be said that the survey of the Jiayun Canal has been completed.
Through this survey, Zhu Heng has determined that the Jiayun Canal can be built, and it is also very effective in solving the problem of water transport, and it can effectively bypass the difficult Xuzhou section.
However, the construction cost of this section of the canal is also very large, so large that the Ministry of Works is unable to support the construction of this project, and the Ministry of Revenue must provide money and grain.
The construction of the Jia Canal was different from Zhu Di's previous canal repairs. That was the original foundation, and it was just a matter of large-scale dredging.
Therefore, by mobilizing large-scale labor around the canal, the Grand Canal was opened to navigation in some time.
The Jia Canal to be dug this time had no foundation at all before. It was necessary to open a new river channel, which was still hundreds of miles long.
The amount of work can be imagined.
Fortunately, according to Wei Guangde's initial proposal, it was actually the intention of some people in the Ministry of Works, that is, not to regard the excavation of the Jia Canal as the top priority of the court. After all, the navigation of the Grand Canal is still smooth now. Although there are occasional interruptions, it can still be used in general.
The excavation of the Jia Canal was regarded as a backup channel. At the beginning, only a single ship was guaranteed to pass. That is, at the beginning of the year, the Jia Canal was only used by the northbound canal ships, and at the end of the year, it was used by the southbound canal ships to return.
In this way, plus taking several years to slowly plan, only gathering the surrounding corvée for construction during the slack season, it can still be completed.
Moreover, doing so would have the least impact on the court and the local areas.
Especially after the new waterway is opened to navigation, the impact on Xuzhou will be the greatest.
Although the Jiayun Canal does not pass through Xuzhou, once it is opened, there will be fewer ships passing through Xuzhou.
Undoubtedly, this will have a huge economic impact on Xuzhou, a large city in the Central Plains, and will inevitably be strongly opposed by Xuzhou officials.
Using several years to slowly change the economic structure of Xuzhou can also maintain the stability of this large city in the Central Plains.
As for whether the Jiayun Canal will continue to be widened, it can be determined according to the actual situation. The most important thing is that the water volume of the Jiahe River and other rivers along the way is the fundamental factor that determines whether this waterway can be expanded.
Water transportation can never bypass water.
Without sufficient water, it is naturally impossible to sail, especially for a grain ship full of grain.
This is also the reason why Zhu Heng suggested that only grain ships should be allowed to pass at the beginning.
In this regard, the Ministry of Households only needs to provide a small amount of money and grain to the Ministry of Works, and the project can start next year.
It is definitely too late this year. It is too hasty and easy to cause trouble.
Of course, it costs money to move the garrison, but the bulk of the money is not from the Ministry of Revenue, but from the Ministry of War, which relieves Zhang Juzheng of a lot of pressure.
Although in the end, the money was actually spent from the court, but from whose hands the money flowed out, there are still many considerations.
The government of the Ming Dynasty did not have a real Ministry of Finance, which controlled the government's purse, and the finances of the court were scattered in multiple government offices.
Often, the warehouses of the Ministry of Household Affairs are all empty, but the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of War actually still have more or less money, not to mention the Taipus Temple controlled by the Ministry of War. The amount of money in Chang Ying's library now has reached an unfathomable level. degree of imagination.
As for how much money Taipu Temple had at this time, the six yamen and even Tan Lun, the minister of the Ministry of War, didn't know much about it. They only knew the approximate amount.
However, the cabinet and the palace still know everything about the money deposited in Taipu Temple.
The total amount of silver deposited in Changying Treasury is already close to ten million taels of silver.
Moreover, the new horse price silver received by Taipu Temple every year is still increasing at a rate of more than 700,000 taels per year.
Taipu Temple is so rich, but why does the imperial court have no money? It's because the system is dead.
No other yamen can even think of using Taipusi's money. Unless there is a special situation like a war, Taipusi will take the money from the Changying treasury on the grounds of allocating funds to buy horses.
Wei Guangde has actually been thinking about making money here for a long time.
Without money, the war cannot be fought.
If the money is kept in the warehouse and cannot produce offspring, it is better to use it to fight and seize some territory to benefit future generations.
However, according to the behavior of the courtiers, it is not advisable to start a war without authorization, and they will be sprayed to death, so Wei Guangde can only prepare silently through his generals.
Yes, war is not a whim decision, but the result of planning and then acting.
Emperor Yongle was so wise and powerful at the time, but he also fell into disgrace in Annan.
So this time, when Wei Guangde said that Dongfan Island should be taken over with money from the Ministry of War, Zhang Juzheng had no reason to object.
"If that's the case, I object to it."
Zhang Juzheng whispered: "However, if the order is issued from the Ministry of War, I am afraid that the DPRK will know about it soon."
At Zhang Juzheng's reminder, Wei Guangde nodded and said with a smile: "After you and I report it to the palace, we will send it directly to Yu Dayou with the imperial edict."
The edict was issued directly by the palace without going through the decree of the court. Therefore, apart from him and Zhang Juzheng, only the eunuchs in the palace, Shang Baojian, knew about it.
In this way, the confidentiality level of this matter is relatively high.
This is also the reason why Wei Guangde wants to get the support of Zhang Juzheng. Feng Bao, the inner palace, has the final say. Now that he has some trouble with Feng Bao, he should let Zhang Juzheng deal with Feng Bao to avoid him disturbing the matter.
"Can."
Zhang Juzheng thought for a while and felt that this was a good thing. It didn't cost the court a single penny, but it could still be regarded as a contribution to the expansion of territory. Although it would take a few years to calculate the credit, he was still young and could afford to wait. .
"Then shall we enter the palace now?"
Wei Guangde asked, "By the way, please report the preparations for the prisoner presentation ceremony to the palace.
Although His Majesty is young, it is beneficial for him to participate in such a big event as the prisoner presentation ceremony.
Such a grand ceremony is rare. "
Although Zhu Yuanzhang formulated the etiquette regulations of the Ming Dynasty, such a grand event as the prisoner presentation ceremony has never been held since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.
The prisoner presentation ceremony refers to a military etiquette in which the ancient army presented the captured enemy chiefs or heads to temples, shrines and the emperor after their triumph.
In the early Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang's military exploits were illustrious. When he was fighting in the army, he did not forget about civil affairs. He ordered military rituals and established a prisoner presentation ritual system.
The emperors of Yongle, Xuande, and Zhengtong followed it and continued to develop and improve it. During the Hongzhi Dynasty, the "Huidian" was revised, and the ceremony of presenting prisoners was first recorded in the canon.
During the Zhengde and Jiajing periods, the country's military was in decline, and there were many crises on the frontiers. The emperor was idle and idle in his administration. He occasionally offered prisoners as gifts to whitewash his martial arts. Sidian evolved and also declined.
That is to say, since Wei Guangde entered the court, he protected generals who could fight and the military was revitalized.
Thinking of the prisoner presentation ceremony, Wei Guangde also thought of it when he saw the report of Li Chengliang of Liaodong and captured Wang Gao and presented him as a prisoner.
"Shandai, I still think it's a bit much to arrest Wang Gao and hold a prisoner presentation ceremony."
Zhang Juzheng actually had some objections to Wei Guangde's proposal to use Wang Gao to hold a prisoner dedication ceremony.
"It can be made according to the rituals of the prisoner presentation ceremony, but it should be done under the prisoner ceremony. After all, Wang Gao is not the enemy royal family, he is the right guard commander of Jianzhou."
Zhang Juzheng said.
"Wang Gao was nominally the right-guard commander of Jianzhou appointed by the imperial court, but in fact he did not regard himself as an official of the imperial court at all. He was the so-called 'Khan' of the Jurchens. Not only Wang Gao, but also Wangtai."
Wei Guangde said.
Wan Khan's situation is actually the same as Wang Gao's. Both were appointed governors of the Jurchen tribe by the imperial court, but they all called themselves Khan internally and were completely independent.
Wei Guangde emphasizes this point, which actually means to put gold on his face.
In fact, not only Zhang Juzheng had different opinions, but Zhu Heng and Tan Lun also approached him privately and suggested not to use the name of the prisoner ceremony.
The ceremony can be performed, but externally it can only be said to be a prisoner sacrifice.
"I still feel something is wrong. Wang Gao does not have a gold book. If he had a gold book, he would be recognized as a vassal by the court, but he is not."
Zhang Juzheng said.
Although Zhang Juzheng could also gain great benefits from this matter, he was a little thin-skinned and worried about criticism from scholars.
This is not the first time Zhang Juzheng has told him this in private. In Wei Guangde's mind, this is the third time.
One pass, two pass, but no three. With Zhang Juzheng's expression, Wei Guangde had to think about it seriously.
Wei Guangde actually didn't care about the criticism from scholars. He didn't rely on literary talents to make a living.
Along the way, he relied on luck and being on the right team. In addition, because of the perspective of later generations, he was still able to do things and was able to secure his current position.
But seeing Zhang Juzheng's hesitation, Wei Guangde had to think more.
"Let me think about this again."
Wei Guangde did not reject Zhang Juzheng's proposal this time, but said that he would carefully consider the pros and cons.
In this regard, Zhang Juzheng would not say more. The relationship between him and Wei Guangde is relatively good now. At least they are not in conflict with each other. In many cases, everyone's interests are actually the same.
"There's one more thing you might want to think about."
Zhang Juzheng suddenly said again: "This time Li Chengliang comes to Beijing, you plan to directly appoint or remove him to take charge of the Right Army Governor's Mansion. Will this worry the Liaodong generals?"
This time, Wei Guangde's reply to Liaodong asked Li Chengliang to escort Wang Gao to Beijing. The purpose was self-evident, which was to transfer Li Chengliang away from Liaodong.
In his impression, the generals of Liaodong did not listen to propaganda.
Being able to transfer generals from Liaodong to the capital is an opportunity not to be missed.
He did not realize that it was at the end of the Ming Dynasty that he listened to the tune but not the announcement. The Ming Dynasty was weak and surrounded by powerful enemies. Naturally, the Liaodong generals did not pay attention to the imperial court.
At this time, Liaodong generals actually did not dare to make mistakes, but Wei Guangde made simple things complicated.
"From the Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong to the Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army, couldn't he be neglected?"
Wei Guangde frowned slightly and asked, "Speaking of which, it should be the favor of the imperial court that he was promoted from Right Commander-in-Chief to Left Commander-in-Chief and transferred to the Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth Army this time."
"Shandai, it's okay for you to say these things to others, but it would be boring to say the same to me."
Zhang Juzheng replied angrily.
The two of them have known each other for more than ten years, and Zhang Juzheng knows Wei Guangde very well.
Which of the generals he valued was transferred back to the capital and entered the Fifth Army Commander's Mansion?
In fact, Zhang Juzheng knew very well that no general wanted to go to the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion. After all, what's the good of an empty, idle yamen.
The generals of the Ming Dynasty all wanted to lead troops abroad. This can be seen from the fact that even Ma Fang, who was in his sixties, was unwilling to return to the capital and wanted to stay in the border town.
Seeing that Zhang Juzheng had noticed, Wei Guangde's expression immediately changed and he said with a smile: "Uncle, I really don't have any other intention. I just think that the court should keep a few generals who are good at fighting. The court can mobilize them at any time if something happens.
You know the people in the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion. If there is a war, the court will not dare to send them, and they will have to mobilize generals outside. If things go on like this, it will be detrimental to the court. "
"Then if you keep Li Chengliang in Beijing, where do you plan to send him?"
Zhang Juzheng was not stupid and continued to ask.
Zhang Juzheng would not feel at ease unless he understood Wei Guangde's plan.
He was in charge of conquest, which was the tacit agreement the two of them had reached in private before.
As a soldier, major affairs of the country must be carefully monitored. He was worried that Wei Guangde would create a big trap and affect him.
"Brother Uncle, you still remember that a few years ago, Burma rose up and invaded neighboring areas such as Mubang and Mengmi. They repeatedly requested the imperial court to have a happy life, awarded gold-lettered red cards, and sent envoys to mediate disputes."
Wei Guangde's words stunned Zhang Juzheng. It happened in the second or third year of Longqing, but it has not been reported again in these years.