During the Hongwu period, Zhu Yuanzhang was the first to establish the Ningxia Prefecture and the Ningxia Guard, which was subordinate to the Shaanxi Dusi.
It was during the Yongle period that the government was changed to the Wei. Later, as the Ming Dynasty abandoned the Hetao area, Ningxia Town looked like a piece of territory on the map that suddenly protruded from a horizontal line and penetrated into Mongolia.
This resulted in Ningxia Town becoming a breakthrough point in Guxuan Fortress.
Jiangnan was reluctant to release this piece of fortress, but the defense pressure increased sharply, so the imperial court had to set up Guyuan Town on its side and rear.
This is a specific example of how changes in defense pressure have led to the growing number of border towns.
Zhu Houzhao was different from other emperors in that he adopted an aggressive strategy and tried every means to improve his national power. Sometimes he just wanted to expand his territory and lacked strength, but the gain outweighed the gain.
Therefore, continuously increasing the financial resources of the imperial court without increasing the burden on the people is a direction that cannot be given up.
The emperor expressed this idea to his ministers, and one stone stirred up a thousand waves.
Those who cared about Renyi in the court strongly agreed that the palace was extravagant and should have laid off personnel, returned land, and saved money long ago.
However, King An's rebellion was actually a blow to the emperor, and it had a hint of "your own family can't stand you".
Older ministers like Zhang Fuhua and Han Wen, who like to seek stability, began to worry.
The emperor's methods are too tough, and if not done well, the vassal king will rebound.
"What does Zhang Aiqing mean by rebound?"
The two of them came to Qianqing Palace to see the emperor privately.
"King An rebelled, and the border town was shaken. I thought that your majesty should use gentle methods at this time. If you use this to offend the king of the world, wouldn't it make people think that your majesty's methods are harsh?"
Zhang Fuhua is very old. When he speaks, he always feels like there is phlegm in his throat that he cannot cough up.
Zhu Houzhao was not angry at the objections raised by his ministers. He knew that speaking out was not a good thing. As long as he did not argue with him, he would not drive him away like Lin Han.
"The money obtained by the imperial court will be used either to revitalize the border army or to provide relief to the victims. This is a good thing for the country. Zhang Aiqing should be considerate of me."
"It's not because I don't understand your Majesty. Your Majesty, have you ever thought about it? The cleanup of military camps is... already..."
The old man was slow to speak, so Zhu Houzhao was anxious, "Zhang Aiqing, you understand my temperament and speak directly if you have anything to say. You have not always been nice and obedient to me in the past. You are in charge of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and are the head of the censors in the world. Why do you still have something to hide?"
"Yes." Zhang Fuhua lifted the hem of his official robe and knelt down, "I will write my heartfelt words today!"
Zhu Houzhao raised his eyes and glanced at Liu Jin. Liu Jin bent down slightly, and then said to the other people waiting in the hall: "Get out."
Zhang Fuhua kowtowed and stood up, and said calmly: "The emperor is naturally heroic and wise. He can be compared to Yao, Shun, or Yutang. His talents and strategies are so great that all ministers and workers in the world are in awe of him. In just four years since he ascended the throne, he has done hundreds of things. However, despite all the shortcomings, our Ming Dynasty is expected to revive brilliantly. The achievements are all achieved in the moment when Your Majesty is brave. After thousands of years, it will be passed down to the descendants. The clan and the world will be very lucky.
The emperor's imperial edict for Qingtun is about to arrive. Although Ningxia rebels against the king, as soon as the imperial army arrives, people from all directions will flee. If Your Majesty uses this power and plans it slowly, the Qingtun on the nine sides will be impossible to do. In this way, it will be full of vigor and vitality. The world is changing, and the frontier armies can regain their former power. However, those who were harmed by the Qing Dynasty took away the benefits of the generals and schools, so there were those who followed the peace and rebelled. If your Majesty seizes the feudal king's property again at this time, if the earth shakes and the mountains shake, I will not dare to think about it. "
After Zhang Fuhua finished speaking, there was a silence in Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Houzhao could only hear the old man's heavy breathing in his ears.
"Liu Jin."
"The old slave is here."
"Help Zhang Aiqing stand up. He is old and it is not easy for him to kneel down once." The emperor waved his hands, his expression was calm.
Hearing that he was in such a mood, Liu Jin, Han Wen, and Zhang Fuhua felt relieved.
"Your Majesty!" Zhang Fuhua was excited and shouted again.
"I understand what you mean." Zhu Houzhao said, "You want to say that no one in the world can let me offend you, right?"
"I hope your majesty will take some words from the bottom of my heart and put them to use!"
"Get up." Zhu Houzhao drawled a long voice, "I am still pleased that you said these words today. Although I am not as good as Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, I can tolerate any minister who is willing to tell me what is in his heart."
This completely relieved the two people's worries.
The emperor's behavior was different from ordinary people. Zhang Fuhua originally thought that it would be the end of the day, but he did not expect that the emperor's spring breeze was warm, as if nothing had happened.
Only this point, few emperors throughout the ages have been able to do this.
"Old minister, thank you for your forgiveness."
"There is no forgiveness or non-forgiveness. The duty of a minister is to give me advice and suggestions. As for the matter you are talking about, I don't know about it. It's just that it's difficult for me."
He wanted to do something as emperor, which was not easy.
Although no one can order him, he is also restricted by moral factors and other factors, and he does not just do whatever he wants.
Therefore, when doing things, you must pay attention to an opportunity.
If he missed this feudal king's rebellion, he might never be able to wait for the next one.
Because the world was generally governed better and better by him, the basis for the rebellion of the feudal kings was no longer there.
Although it is said that there was indeed a more active rebellion by King Ning during the Zhengde period. But the time when King Ning rebelled was in the 14th year of Zhengde, which was still ten years from now. Secondly, it is better to be proactive when doing things and wait passively. Who knows how long it will take?
If we follow Zhang Fuhua's idea and plan it slowly, what reason will we find to limit the wealth of the feudal king?
But the reason for this is not easy to explain directly to the minister.
It can't be said that I was just waiting for him to rebel, so I caught him as an opportunity to take advantage of it.
It would be unseemly to say such a thing.
At least he can't say it clearly, so if the ministers can't understand it for themselves, he really has no good solution. You can only experience what you can experience for yourself, but you cannot say it out loud.
If you say it, the emperor will turn his face and deny you. There is no evidence, why are you trying to figure out the emperor's thoughts without permission?
Zhang Fuhua and Han Wen are indeed smart people. If you give them some time to figure out the words "It's difficult for me," they can still gain some insights.
The emperor sighed and said: "Some things in this world are easy and some are difficult. You and I, the emperor and our ministers, can't just pick the easy things to do. The difficult things...if they should be done, then they should be done with grit and teeth. It's easy to do it easily." There is a ZTE in the Ming Dynasty, but it is not a real ZTE. Of course, if the country is in danger of overthrowing... then I am not unable to lift the three-foot green front. I believe that the two beloved ladies will not abandon me. .
I have already responded to Ningxia’s memorial. The cleanup of the military settlements must not stop. Not only must it not stop, it must be continued even more thoroughly. After King Anhua rebelled, other border towns also had doubts, but I have already issued orders to emphasize that as long as we cooperate with the cleanup of the military settlements, we will not behead or kill anyone. "
Over the years, he has replaced the chief military officers in each town. Those who were not familiar with him in the past have either become officials or changed their positions. The military itself needs attention, how could Zhu Houzhao not know?
In addition, the imperial court was also gentle in its treatment of Ningxia's Commander-in-Chief Jiang Han and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Yang Ying. They died for the country. Although it was investigated that they did occupy some acres of land, they were not held accountable, and they were given all the glory after death. The rations, even those fields were left to their families.
There is no doubt or hesitation.
Dying for the country has its own benefits.
Both of these men were high-ranking officials, and during the rebellion, they always upheld morality and orthodoxy.
If the emperor is still unkind to them. If Zhu Houzhao were to be his own minister, he would not sacrifice his life for such an emperor.
Absolute fairness itself is unfair. Some people contribute a lot and some people contribute a small amount. Of course they are different. These two people even lost their lives, so they should be given some wealth.
Only issuing certificates without bonuses cannot be regarded as qualified management anywhere.
These opinions have been discussed by the emperor and the cabinet, and the meaning has been written down in the imperial edict and published in the imperial palace.
Including officials from Ningxia Town who cooperated with the case, there were also words of "no accountability".
…
Zhang Fuhua walked out of Qianqing Palace and looked up at the sky.
He actually felt a little like he was in another world. He thought it would be difficult to walk out of the Qianqing Palace calmly... Everyone said that the emperor was easy and unforgiving, but only those who often came into contact with the emperor knew that the emperor rarely really got angry.
Like what he said today, changing the emperor will most likely suffer some hardships.
"It seems that the emperor...has thought everything clearly."
Han Wen nodded, "This has always been the case. The fact that Brother Gongshi said these words today and His Majesty did not get angry is a clear proof."
Zhang Fuhua cast a somewhat puzzled look.
Han Wen followed up and explained, "You are not angry because Your Majesty thinks Brother Gongshi is right."
But yes, we still have to do it.
This can reflect the decision-making level of different decision-makers.
"Perhaps as His Majesty said, those who have achieved great things since ancient times did not do it because they did easy things, but because they did difficult things."
…
"have they gone?"
"Back to Your Majesty, they have all left the palace."
"Send a message to the cabinet. The matter of the vassal king will be postponed for a while. It will be postponed until...the fifth year of Zhengde's great court meeting. At the moment, the priority is to suppress the rebellion and clean up the military settlement."
When a major event like a vassal rebellion occurs, Zhu Houzhao will mention it at the next year's court meeting.
At that time, we can still use this as an excuse. This year, we will hold off for a while, so as not to be too fierce. He is young and not afraid, but there are mostly old people in the court, and the old people like to seek stability, so they still have to take care of them.
But he must do it resolutely, and no one can change his will.
However, only a few days later,
The four elders of the cabinet handed a note to the palace at the same time, because another report came from Ningxia - King Anhua had been arrested.
The Ministry of War, which was originally thinking about how to send troops and set up formations, will soon start thinking about rewards based on merit.
The soldiers and horses originally left by Yang Yiqing in Guyuan Town, not to mention Shuofang Town. The military strength the emperor now possesses is not insufficient to protect him from carrying out some difficult tasks.
Zhu Houzhao read the report carefully. Except that he knew about the battle of Jinyiwei, he didn't know the rest. After reading it, he noticed a person, Qiu Yue.
He had a vague impression of this person.
Moreover, he has also read the reports of previous battles. Qiu Yue's bravery and skill in fighting cannot be faked.
Now Jiubian from west to east, he has Zhou Shangwen, Wang Shouren, Yang Shangyi, Yang Xing, and it seems that he can add Qiu Yue.
Being good at fighting is one thing, but the key is his political background. He was promoted by Yang Yiqing, and now he follows Wang Shouren, so his family background is very clean.
From now on, five warlike confidants would lead the north, and he didn't believe that any trouble could be caused.
It's just that he hasn't seen this person yet.
So he summoned his attendant Jin Gui to come to him and "make a decree to summon Qiu Yue, the commander of Shuofang's left guard, to come to the capital. I want to see him."
"yes."
