Ye Yongjia opened the cover of the document, and it was clearly written on it: "Zhongshu Provincial Commission for Requesting the New Coast Defense Policy".
"Are you planning to attack Haiphong?" He raised his eyes and looked at Niu Yuan doubtfully.
"Don't you mean that too?" Niu Yuan sat aside and asked.
"Recently, the sea frontier has indeed been uneven," Ye Yongjia turned another page, "Looking at the war reports from Fujian and Guangdong, we can see that since March this year, pirates have been invading coastal counties and counties. If you are caught in an ambush, if you don’t chase, you will sit back and watch, and you will be burned and plundered. This period of time is really difficult.”
"But what's the problem? Isn't it just that the military equipment is ineffective!" Niu Yuan pointedly said, "Just like before, let's carry out reforms and rectify the military!"
"When it comes to this, I am of the same mind as Feng Xiang." Ye Yongjia closed the memorial, but did not pick up the pen, but pointed to his heart, "But the evil is in the ascendant, and at this time, a large-scale innovation will only hurt Common people. The situation in the south of the Yangtze River is different from that of the frontier fortress, and it cannot be generalized to the previous situation. My suggestion is that coastal defense should be strictly prepared, but if there is such a change in the memorial, I will not be convinced."
Niu Yuan was never willing to listen to other people's objections. Seeing that Ye Yongjia was also making comments here, he was naturally unhappy and turned his head away. Finally, when the other party finished speaking, he put on a cold face, curled his lips and asked, "After talking so much, will Ye Shangshu sign or not?"
Ye Yongjia was stunned when asked. After a moment of recovery, he didn't feel annoyed, but smiled calmly. This smile was not helpless, it seemed to be a sign of resignation. He nodded and said: "Oh, it doesn't matter, I will sign it."
He took a pen, quickly wrote a few big characters on the memorial paper, and handed it back to Niu Yuan. There was no eye contact between the two of them. Niu Yuan took the memorial away from his hand, tucked it under his arm, then turned around and walked down the steps step by step, leaving the Ministry of War Yamen.
"Prime Minister, let me briefly talk about the reform."
Niu Yuan glanced at Liu Zhennian, and then at Gui Fu who was sitting next to him and listening.
"If you want to solve the maritime troubles, you must first explore the reasons why the pirates mobilized their troops. These thieves originally had no leaders, but they fought independently and were scattered troops. Therefore, they have been dormant for years and did not dare to invade the Celestial Empire. The reason why they dare to take risks now is because there is a The deserters from the Yi Kingdom came from Southeast Asia and occupied a small island. They used gold and silver to gather the people, win over the thieves, repair their armor and sharpen their soldiers, and encourage them to invade Tianwei. From this, it can be seen that their number is not large, so they have to raid To rob the people, you cannot attack the city and seize the land. The reason why the government is so delayed is because of two reasons: first, they are too far away from their lair and cannot be completely swept away; second, they come and go without a trace, and their march is unpredictable, and the officers and soldiers If you are negligent, you will be attacked.”
"In view of this, the official decided to follow their methods and plan to build defense on the island." As he said that, Niu Yuan quickly moved to a cowhide map, pointed at a large sea area and said, "Look, Mr. Liu, The vast sea area from Shandong to the south is dotted with countless islands. If we can send a large army to the islands, overhaul the city walls and forts, and connect them everywhere to echo each other, how can those thieves dare to take a step closer to the land!"
"It is certainly a good thing to expand the defense to the islands, but most of these islands are isolated and isolated. How to ensure food and wages?" Liu Zhennian used a pair of Western glasses to see the map clearly.
Niu Yuan smiled calmly and bowed deeply: "For this point, the official has already thought of a solution. Since the responsibility for defense lies with the islands, then the land can be settled. When migrating residents If we go to farm along the coast, there will be no shortage of supplies."
"How about it? Do you both support it?" Niu Yuan unknowingly puffed up his chest and asked with his hands behind his back.
The words landed smoothly, but no one picked him up. The only response he got was suppressed silence. Liu Zhennian slowly took off his eyes with wrinkled hands and looked straight at Gui Fu.
The latter had to look into his eyes, and after looking at each other for a while, he was at a loss and just smiled and said: "It's a good idea, very good."
Niu Yuan, who was originally confident, couldn't help but feel embarrassed when he saw this scene. His shame was beyond words. He lowered his head in silence. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that Liu Zhennian's reaction was inexplicable.
"Just support Lieutenant Gui..." Liu Zhennian said immediately, "Prime Minister, how many people's names are there? I'll sign it too, and you can go and hand it over to the emperor to see."
"Report to Mr. Liu, almost all the chief officials have signed."
"Okay, I understand..." Liu Zhennian said in his old and slow voice, and no one could hear the momentum from back then. Even Niu Yuan was the same. He didn't care whether Liu Zhennian's tone was serious or soft. After all, they all sounded the same cowardly tone. I just waited quietly for the old man to finish signing, and then left with the memorial.
"Mr. Liu," Gui Fu saw Niu Yuan walking far away, and then stepped forward and said, "Isn't Prime Minister Feng more stable than Prime Minister Yan? Isn't this proposal unfeasible?"
Liu Zhennian said: "I have never doubted his ability. However, this person is obsessed with fame and impetuous. Now that he is older, he becomes more and more impatient. Usually when he acts, he needs someone to assist him to correct him. shortcomings. But now? Yan Shenzheng has passed away, and everyone in the government and the public is suppressed by him and dare not speak, and everyone is in danger. All the officials can agree with such a controversial memorial. In the past, who could Imagine? Now that everything is going smoothly, he will be unscrupulous and act without any rules... Sooner or later, he will follow Yan Wen's old path. "
"But what he said..."
"I know what you want to say," Liu Zhennian interrupted before Guifu finished speaking, "but I understand him."
"Then why didn't you reject it?" Guisu was still puzzled.
Liu Zhennian let out a bitter laugh: "The Taiwei heard a word, which is to draw opinions from everyone. But now he has only one voice in the entire court. If I reject it, who can I listen to? Now I am over seventy. My eyes are blurry, my legs and feet have begun to feel weak, and I have suffered from many illnesses... I can no longer do everything by myself."
Guifu looked at his lonely look, and couldn't help but reveal a trace of disappointment on his face: "Mr. Liu, you were so decisive in killing people back then, how magnificent you were! How many literati with lofty ideals are not afraid of criticism and are willing to join your service, isn't it just hope? Have you saved the country through vigorous and resolute means? Now that this has been lost, you will actually sit back and watch us decline and even perish..."
Liu Zhennian did not argue, and could not argue. He still looked at Gui Fu's face affectionately, stretched out his hand to straighten his collar, and said with a smile: "Look, when the Taiwei became the censor, he really can't speak. Please show mercy."
