At this time, the entire court's eyes were focused on Yan Jingxiu.
Go against mainstream opinion, and you'll get some strange looks.
Zhu Jianshen, who was sitting on the dragon throne, became slightly interested. He actually had no objection to the ministers' suggestions on how to deal with the remaining Jurchens in Jianzhou. After all, he was only a 21-year-old boy. However, seeing Yan Jingxiu's firm attitude, he still spoke with great interest:
"Ai Qing, you can express your opinion."
Yan Jingxiu saluted, then faced the ministers and said loudly:
"Fellow ministers, I want to ask you something here."
"If someone kills your father, can you still get along with him on friendly terms, or even be willing to work as a slave for him?"
Unable to get an answer from the ministers below, he asked himself and answered:
"Definitely not. The hatred for killing my father is irreconcilable."
"Then, why do you think that Tuoluo would be willing to live under my great Ming Dynasty and become a minister?"
"Are we Han people the only ones who have the affection between father and son?"
"If he pretends to be a vassal, but actually develops his power secretly, and waits until his strength recovers to invade our Ming Dynasty again, can you all be held responsible for this? Which virtuous man is willing to lead the army to put down the Jianzhou Rebellion?"
His eyes swept across the ministers. The ministers who had been talking happily just now closed their mouths one by one and avoided his gaze.
Seeing that the ministers had been restrained, Yan Jingxiu turned around, faced Zhu Jianshen, and said loudly:
"Your Majesty, since you have already committed the massacre, you must not relent in the middle. The grudge has been forged, and this cannot be resolved by banning a commander!"
"If you do this kind of thing, you either don't do it or you never do it! You can't give the other party any chance to make a comeback!"
"Your Majesty, the right way is——"
“If you cut the weeds without eradicating the roots, they will grow again when the spring breeze blows!”
Yan Jingxiu’s words were sonorous and echoed in the square.
The court hall was quiet.
The gap in strength between the Ming Dynasty and the surrounding vassal states was too great, so the idea of the Celestial Kingdom was deeply implanted in the hearts of ministers. They subconsciously believed that even if the leader's father died at their hands, the leader would not dare to take revenge. .
If I don’t kill you, it’s already a gift from Ming Dynasty. Why don’t you thank me?
This is the consensus of everyone in the court. After all, no one has the ability to predict the future. It can be known that the Jurchen tribe has such a tolerant leader, and they just wait until the strength of the Jianzhou tribe recovers before they invade again to take revenge.
But at this time, no minister could refute what Yan Jingxiu said.
Are you questioning the word "filial piety" in the four-character mantra "loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness" used by the Ming Dynasty to govern the world?
If the Jurchens rebel again, will you be able to pay for the lives of the people who died tragically under their swords, or will you be able to lead the troops to put down the rebellion?
These two words were placed on top of it, and for a moment the court became silent, with no one dared to speak.
Zhu Jianshen, who was above him, nodded frequently, his eyes sparkling.
On this day, he heard a voice that was different from the Confucian gentle thoughts in the past, and it seemed that a brand new door had been opened for him.
Either don’t do it or never do it!
Zhu Jianshen clenched his fist, feeling satisfied with this decisive killing.
"I will send troops now to completely conquer the Jurchens in Jianzhou, and then build prefectures and counties there and incorporate them into my territory of the Ming Dynasty!"
As soon as these words came out, it caused a commotion below. The civil servants deliberately opposed it. After all, they always believed that the main method of dealing with "barbarians" should be education. Moreover, if His Majesty were to deviate from Confucianism and Taoism, then the status of nobles and generals would definitely be greatly improved after years of battles. This is not good.
But when they raised their heads and wanted to say something to stop him, they saw Yan Jingxiu standing firmly in the center. They couldn't help but shut up, and their faces turned red from holding back.
"No, Your Majesty, there is no need to send any more troops."
It was only then that Yu Qian, the chief minister of the cabinet, spoke calmly. He first rejected Zhu Jianshen's passionate words, and then looked at Yan Jingxiu, his eyes full of appreciation:
"Yan Gechen's words are correct. There will never be any more rewards for Tuoluo. It's just that the establishment of prefectures and counties needs to be considered in the long term... There is no need to spend military expenditures on the desolate land, and it is far away from the Great Wall, and the Ming Dynasty cannot defend it."
Although the words spoken by the chief minister were negative, the eyes of the ministers could not control the look of shock.
Listening to what he meant, he actually supported Yan Jingxiu!
This means that the chief minister of the cabinet, a veteran of five dynasties, and the leader and spokesperson of the civil service group has chosen to abandon the mainstream ideas of civil servants and stand with Yan Jingxiu, a somewhat "deviant" guy!
Regarding the questioning glances behind him, Yu Qian's eyes did not change at all.
He only stands on the right side.
Yan Jingxiu nodded when he heard this. He also knew that it was not realistic for the Ming army to garrison the Jurchen territory in Jianzhou. It was too far away from the area controlled by the Ming Dynasty, and unlike Jisu and Jiaozhi, it could not be provided to the Ming Dynasty. Even the slightest benefit will be paid back.
When he originally proposed this, it was just like "ask a high price and slowly counteroffer".
Seeing Yu Qian speaking at this time, he immediately said:
"Yu Shoufu is right. I made the angry remarks before. It was indeed ill-considered. The Ming army stationed in that place will only gain more than it loses."
"Your Majesty, what I mean is that we don't want to show any kindness to the Jianzhou Jurchens. We even want to issue an edict to reprimand them, withdraw the rewards we have received, and refuse to recognize them as the Jianzhou guards of the Ming Dynasty!"
Yan Jingxiu's face showed a slightly dark look:
"When the time comes, without us taking action, the Haixi Jurchens and other Jurchen tribes will carve up the Jianzhou Jurchens themselves! And they will definitely not let the son of the former leader of the Jianzhou tribe live!"
"This is a plan to kill someone with a borrowed knife!"
"Moreover, if they carve up the Jianzhou territory, will they be able to divide it equally? At that time, the Haixi Jurchen and Barbarian Jurchen tribes may fight among themselves. Their internal discord will be more conducive to the Ming Dynasty's rule of Liaodong!"
This was exactly what Yu Qian meant. When he heard that Yan Jingxiu's opinions coincided with his, the admiration in his eyes became even stronger.
When Zhu Jianshen heard his plan, he couldn't help but clapped his hands. This opinion was indeed much better than the rewards given by the ministers to appease him. This was the way to truly demonstrate the great power of heaven and maintain peace on the border!
He also had a new perspective on this cabinet minister who was originally indifferent.
Without further ado, Emperor Chenghua immediately issued an order to deprive the remaining leaders of the Jurchen tribes of their Jianzhouwei positions, declaring them traitors and punishing them all!
Yan Ling soon received the news from Yinlong.
He nodded with satisfaction. At this step, the Qing Dynasty should no longer exist.
Yan Ling made this move to eliminate a powerful opponent.
(End of chapter)
