[Everyone, I don’t have to ask for a monthly pass, but you have to give it away~~ Let the wind of society blow in]
Capital, forbidden, main hall of Qianqing Palace.
In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Xianming was leaning on the dragon chair, squinting slightly and listening to the debate between the three people in the palace.
These three people are not simple. They are three bachelors in the cabinet and prime minister-level figures in the Ming Dynasty.
"It is a foregone conclusion to increase troops in the northwest. The most important thing now is to decide how many troops to increase. The rest is irrelevant!" Zhao Yushan, a bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion, spoke quickly.
Zhao Yushan is fifty-seven this year, but he is already the third assistant in the cabinet, two years younger than the second assistant Chen Jinyun.
So after hearing these words, Chen Jinyun said in a warm tone: "Mr. Zhao Ge, how much money and food are involved in increasing the army? How can we increase the army if the money and food are not enough? Things must be discussed one by one. You can't be too hasty!"
Zhao Yushan immediately retorted: "Money and food can be raised, but the situation in the northwest is still unstable. If we don't increase troops in time and cause the Mongolian tribes to defect, I don't know how much food will be spent to quell the rebellion!"
"Things haven't reached that stage yet, but according to Mr. Zhao Ge's words...it seems like the sky is about to collapse!"
Speaking of this, Chen Jinyun did not give in at all, saying: "Since the Emperor Zhongxing, the various tribes and alliances in Mongolia have been more respectful to the imperial court..."
"Not only do we bring in cattle, sheep, and horses every year, but we also dispatch troops at the request of the imperial court. How can this destabilize the situation?"
"Even the most rebellious Junggar tribe has donated cattle and sheep on time this year. To say that they are going to rebel... Mr. Zhao Ge is exaggerating!"
"Don't you know that the Junggar tribe colluded with the Rakshasa Kingdom?" Zhao Yushan said in a stern tone.
We are both cabinet ministers, so who can be afraid of the other?
"Humph, it's just a matter of doing business and sending envoys to each other..."
Before Chen Jinyun could finish speaking, Zhao Yushan interrupted: "Buying guns and guns is just for business?"
Seeing that the two people were arguing more and more loudly, Zhu Xianming finally opened his eyes and said in a deep voice: "That's enough..."
The elder, who had been fighting like a cockfight just now, immediately bowed and stood there, not daring to say anything.
"Mr. Xie Ge, what do you think?" Zhu Xianming looked at the old man who had been silent.
Xie Chang'en, the chief minister of the cabinet, is sixty-five years old this year. A lifetime of hard work has turned his beard and hair white, and his whole body has become rickety.
From the early years of Zhengtong to the present, Xie Changen had devoted all his efforts to stabilize the court, so he was trusted by Zhu Xianming, and he was even given a seat in the discussion at this moment.
"Your Majesty, I think what the two people in Yushan said is right!"
It is in line with Xie Changen's consistent style to open his mouth without offending both sides.
After being the chief assistant for many years, he is now exhausted and has reached the age of retirement. He is still willing to get involved in party struggles.
"Several tribes in Junggar are flirting with the Rakshasa people. It doesn't matter whether they have different intentions or not, but the necessary intimidation is unavoidable!"
Then Xie Changen changed the topic: "Just how many troops are sent, you really have to do it according to your ability..."
"Now in the Ming Dynasty, we have deployed strong troops along the nine border towns, built canals, and suppressed the Annan rebels. We also have to defend against the Western barbarians. There are too many places to spend money..."
Zhu Xianming was really annoyed by the clichés, so he asked: "Okay, okay, I know all this, so what does Mr. Ge mean...how much more troops should be sent to the northwest?"
After some thought, Xie Changen replied: "With the current strength of the national treasury, we can increase the number of troops in the northwest by at most one battalion!"
According to the establishment of the Beijing camp, there are 15,000 people in each battalion, which may not sound like a lot, but in fact they are all soldiers capable of fighting.
Zhu Xianming had the same idea in his mind, so he looked at the other two cabinet ministers: "What do you say?"
Chen Jinyun was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, I think... one battalion of soldiers and horses is too many!"
"Now in the northwest, Gansu Dusi alone has 30,000 soldiers, plus 13,000 additional soldiers from Sichuan, the number of available soldiers has exceeded 40,000..."
The local guards in the northwest are much more powerful than the peaceful lands in the southeast. These troops will participate in battles from time to time, and their combat effectiveness is not generally strong.
"The Junggar cavalry only has 30,000 cavalry at best, and they lack muskets and artillery... they don't pose much of a threat at all!"
"Even if the troops are insufficient, Qinghai Xingdusi and Anxi Xingdusi can recruit troops from various chieftain tribes and alliances. How difficult will it be to suppress a Junggar?"
As a cabinet minister, Chen Jinyun had an account of all matters inside and outside the court, so he could easily describe them at this moment.
Now that we are gradually entering the era of hot weapons, the advantage of cavalry has been greatly weakened. It is very simple to rely on strong artillery to defend the city.
Even in field battles outside the city, if the infantry cooperates properly, no matter how many cavalry come, they will be killed.
"Zhao Qing, what do you think?"
After Zhao Yushan saluted, he replied: "Your Majesty, King Gedan of Junggar is so ambitious that he is now collaborating with other ministries. If there is no strong deterrent... I am afraid that chaos will break out!"
"A battalion of soldiers and horses can only have more troops and no less troops!"
It can be seen here that Xie Changen has a good sense of proportion, and the strength of the first battalion is just sandwiched between Zhao and Chen Fanglue.
…………
Outside Qianqing Palace, Rui Wang Zhu Jingyuan led two blue-robed officials into the palace gate and outside the main hall.
"Is Father here?"
"Reporting to the prince, the Lord is discussing with three pavilion elders!"
If it were anyone else, Zhu Jingyuan would come in as he was told, and he would not dare to disturb the cabinet ministers' discussions.
After waiting for almost ten minutes, the three old men in red robes walked out of the main hall. When they saw Zhu Jingyuan outside, they stopped to salute.
"I've met the prince!"
"There is no need to be polite, Sir. What are we discussing today?"
Chen Jinyun then replied: "Is the prince coming to pay his respects to the reinforcement of troops in the northwest?"
"The ceremony has a new batch of catalogs, and I will submit the originals to His Majesty for review!"
Chen Jinyun praised: "Your Majesty majored in Dadian and strengthened our Ming Dynasty cultural heritage. He has really made immeasurable contributions!"
"I am also acting according to orders, and all the credit belongs to Your Majesty!"
After saying these words, Zhu Jingyuan said again: "I still want to see my father, so I won't talk to Mr. Ge anymore and say goodbye..."
After greeting each other, the three cabinet ministers walked down the steps of Danbi, and Zhu Jingyuan entered the main hall.
"My son, Zhu Jingyuan, comes to see my father!"
While he was reading the memorial, Zhu Xianming asked without looking up, "Old Liu, what are you doing here?"
After getting up from the ground, Zhu Jingyuan bent his waist and replied: "Dad... Jixian Hall has drafted a few pages of catalogues. Today, my son has brought the originals. Please take a look at them!"
The imperial orthodox canon was compiled five years ago, involving nearly a thousand officials, scribes, craftsmen, and spending hundreds of thousands of taels every year. It can be said to be a gold-devouring beast.
To say how useful this book is, compared to the money it costs, it really doesn't mean much.
But as Chen Jinyun said, compiling books can strengthen the cultural context of the Ming Dynasty, especially for such an unprecedented grand ceremony.
Zhu Xianming's throne was not just right, so he needed to use various methods to prove the legitimacy of his throne, and repairing the Grand Ceremony was one of them.
Taking the catalog from Zhu Jingyuan, Zhu Xianming said goodbye in a deep voice: "Well... very good!"
After rushing, the official made a gesture, and the latter would surely present the book he was holding, and the eunuch would forward it to Zhu Xianming.
Just listen to Zhu Jingyuan say: "These are the originals, and the contents listed in the catalog are all taken from them!"
"I can rest assured that you are doing things, so there is no need to watch!"
Picking up the memorial again, Zhu Xianming said: "If there is nothing else, you can go back!"
Seeing Zhu Jingyuan hesitate to speak, Zhu Xianming couldn't help but ask: "Is there anything else?"
"Dad... the thirteenth brother was scolded by the cane, will he be okay?" Zhu Jingyuan looked worried.
Wang Qing returned to Beijing today. As an older brother, Zhu Jingyuan must care about his younger brother who is of the same mother.
"Don't mention this bastard. In my opinion, thirty is still too little..."
"This little bastard, in front of all the officials in Jinling, said that in order to quell the chaos, he would not complain no matter how many grievances he suffered..."
"What does he mean by this? Could it be that I have wronged him?"
The more he talked, the more angry he became. Zhu Xianming said in a stern tone: "What are you talking about? All previous accounts have been written off. How dare you bargain with me!"
[Note: The nine sides mentioned in this chapter are different from those in history. 】
