The elites of the Ming Dynasty were mainly concentrated in several border towns in the north.
With the rise of the Jurchen tribe in Liaodong, all the elites from the border towns were transferred to Liaodong. Later, a large number of Ming army elites were concentrated in Liaodong to deal with Dajin.
The armaments in the south of the Ming Dynasty have long been lax. Except for the navy, which can barely swim around the lakes and rivers, the troops and horses elsewhere are not even as good as the frontier troops on the nine sides, let alone the troops and horses of the Tiger Flag. Compared.
Anyone who knows a little bit about military affairs knows that it is almost impossible to rely on the existing military power of the Ming Dynasty to deal with the soldiers and horses of the Tiger Flag.
Qian Qianyi sighed and said: "I also feel that the existing military strength of the Ming Dynasty is not enough to compete with the tiger thieves, and I want more time to buffer. Unfortunately, Eunuch Yang is unwilling. I have no choice but to deal with Yang." My father-in-law said that we can cooperate with the Qing Dynasty first to deal with the tiger thieves together."
"Is it possible to cooperate with the Qing Dynasty?" Qu Shishu asked worriedly.
The last time the Ming Dynasty promised to cooperate with the Qing Dynasty, it failed before it came to fruition, and it also cost the life of a foreign minister of the Ministry of Rites.
This time he had to cooperate with the Qing Dynasty again, and Qu Shishu felt that things might not go well.
Gao Hongtu, who was the Minister of War, thought for a while and said: "It is indeed a good way to cooperate with the Qing Dynasty to deal with the tiger thieves, but this time is different from the last time. This time we are actively seeking cooperation with the Qing Dynasty. It is difficult to protect the Qing Dynasty. A lion won't open his mouth and put forward some excessive conditions."
"I have thought of your worries in advance." Qian Qianyi said, "I told Eunuch Yang that in order to cooperate with the Qing Dynasty smoothly, we can agree to cede Liaodong to the Qing Dynasty in exchange for the two parties joining forces to deal with the tiger bandits."
Gao Hongtu said: "Liaodong has essentially fallen into the hands of the Qing Dynasty. Even if we agree to cede Liaodong to them, the Qing Dynasty may not agree, and there is no guarantee that there will not be more excessive demands."
Although the Ming Dynasty never recognized the cession of Liaodong Dusi to the Qing Dynasty, in fact these places already belonged to others.
In his view, it may not be that easy to gain the support of others with just verbal benefits.
"No, it's still possible." Qu Shichun said, "Shilang Gao only thought that the Ming Dynasty was begging for the Qing Dynasty. In fact, the Qing Dynasty also needed the Ming Dynasty. The tiger thieves were also their enemies, and I heard that the Qing Dynasty was still the Great Jin Dynasty. I often suffered losses at the hands of tiger thieves."
Sitting on the main seat, Qian Qianyi said: "I also think about it. Not long ago, the tiger bandits and the Qing Dynasty fought a battle in the Liaodong Peninsula. You, as the minister of the Ministry of War, should have heard about it. The Qing army not only attacked the tiger bandits but The thieves suffered a loss and even lost the Liaodong Peninsula and retreated to Haizhou. I don’t believe that the Qing Dynasty does not hate tiger thieves.”
"I have indeed heard the news. I also admit that the tiger thieves are powerful. But to say that the tiger thieves can drive the soldiers and horses of the Qing Dynasty from Fuzhou all the way to Haizhou, I always find it a bit hard to believe." Gao Hongtu His brows knitted together.
Since the Ming Dynasty was driven to the southern capital, there has been much less news and assistance from the north. Especially in the Liaodong Peninsula further north, it has become even more difficult to obtain news channels.
Even as the Minister of War, he could not guarantee that all the news from Liaodong received by the Ministry of War was true.
"The news that the Qing Dynasty was captured by tiger thieves in Gaizhou is true." Qian Qianyi said, "This news came from the mouths of the caravans returning from the north."
Gao Shilang frowned and asked, "Is it a caravan that has dealings with tiger thieves?"
"The tiger thieves did not prevent the Ming Dynasty's caravans from going to the north to do business. The news brought back by some merchants returning from the north was sometimes more accurate than the news received by the court." Qian Qianyi explained.
Gao Shilang said: "These caravans have frequent exchanges with the North. There is no guarantee that tiger bandits' spies will not be mixed into them. We still have to be careful. If someone uses false information to sneak in, it will make the court's prediction of the situation worse. error."
"Don't worry, Minister Gao. All caravans traveling to and from the southern capital must be from the south. People from the north are not allowed to enter the southern capital. Even if there are any spies from the tiger and thieves who want to sneak in, it will not be easy." Qu Shishu, as the Prime Minister of Yingtian Mansion , is very familiar with guarding against Tiger Flag spies.
Unlike the northern provinces under the rule of the Tiger Banner, the southern provinces under the Ming Dynasty did not allow caravans from the North to enter, and even goods from the North had to be sold by merchants from the southern provinces.
Qian Qianyi said: "This is all too far-fetched. Today you are here to help me think about who is suitable to send to Liaodong?"
As soon as they mentioned the candidate to go to Liaodong, the two people immediately fell silent.
If you want to go to Liaodong, you can't get around the Tiger Flag.
Although the areas under the rule of the Tiger Character Banner do not have many restrictions on caravans, caravans are not allowed to go anywhere. Places like Liaodong are not within the scope of the Tiger Character Banner's permission.
For Daming, going to Liaodong is a risky thing. If you don't do it right, you will die on the road and you won't be able to reach Liaodong at all.
"Don't say anything at all. Although I recommend candidates, I will decide whether they are suitable or not." Qian Qianyi said to the two people.
Gao Hongtu hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Otherwise, it is better to let people from the Ministry of Rites go. It is most appropriate for officials from the Ministry of Rites to go to Liaodong."
"I'm afraid it's difficult." Qu Shishu shook his head and said, "Last time, the candidates from the Ministry of Rites went to Liaodong, and they didn't come back. This time, the Ministry of Rites will probably use this as an excuse to not select candidates, and this time they will join forces with the Qing Dynasty. It has something to do with military affairs, maybe it will be blamed on the Ministry of War."
As he spoke, he glanced at Gao Hongtu.
Gao Hongtu twirled his beard with his hand and said: "The Ministry of War will definitely not get involved in this matter. I think we should leave it to the Jin Yiwei. They are also familiar with the situation, and it is safer than sending officials there."
"Would the status of Jinyiwei be too low, making Ming Dynasty appear to be insincere?" Qian Qianyi said worriedly.
Gao Hongtu said: "I think Jinyiwei is the most suitable person. The Ming and Qing Dynasties are not friendly countries. They are only joining forces to deal with the tiger thieves. I believe the Qing Dynasty has the same idea. After the tiger thieves are solved, , there will be another battle between the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty."
"What you say makes sense." Qian Qianyi nodded and said immediately, "If you want to use the Jin Yiwei, I'm afraid you need Eunuch Yang. The cabinet cannot directly mobilize the Jin Yiwei."
Gao Hongtu said: "This is better. With Eunuch Yang's participation, even if someone pursues the case in the future, they will only cause trouble for Eunuch Yang, sharing some of the pressure for Mr. Ge."
Qian Qianyi looked thoughtful after hearing this.
The method was good, but he felt that Eunuch Yang might not fall for it easily, and would definitely blame the cabinet on the matter.
"Teacher, why don't you go and discuss it with Eunuch Yang as Minister Gao said? The student also feels that it is more appropriate for Jin Yiwei to come forward in this matter rather than sending officials directly there. Perhaps we can also convey Ming's goodwill through Jin Yiwei like last time. It is not impossible to ask the Qing Dynasty to send people over." Qu Shishu looked at Qian Qianyi and said.
(End of chapter)
