Li Qing frowned: "What happened?"
"Those bastards robbed the government granary and killed more than a dozen officials. They also robbed three villages and killed more than 30 people." Zhu Jianshen said angrily, "This is no longer a friction, this damn thing is rebel."
"Your Majesty, please don't get excited."
"How can you keep me from getting excited?" Zhu Jianshen shouted, "It's already like this, and you still keep me from doing anything?"
"Of course not, it's just...the news comes one after another, the gap is a bit big!" Li Qing said.
He suspected that Zhu Jianshen was making it up. He thought it was very possible that this guy wanted to send troops for a day or two.
"What's there to be suspicious of?" Zhu Jianshen snorted, "Does the local government still dare to bully the emperor?"
Li Qing squinted at him and said quietly: "The local government has no such courage, but some people who are interested can't be ruled out... Haha... How about verifying it?"
"What do you mean?" Zhu Jianshen heard what was going on behind the scenes and suddenly became furious, "Do you think I made this up?"
"I didn't say that, it's just..."
"See for yourself!" Zhu Jianshen threw out the memorial. Due to the excessive force, it scattered in the air and almost tore apart.
Li Qing reached out to catch it, unfolded it again, and looked at it carefully.
A quarter of an hour later, he gave up his doubts and nodded: "It's time to send troops if you are so arrogant."
Zhu Jianshen immediately turned cloudy and said happily: "Do you also support sending troops?"
"Of course!" Li Qing said: "Such an act is, to put it mildly, a rebellion. If we don't send troops again, how will the imperial court lose its face? How can the people be convinced?"
"well said!"
Zhu Jianshen waited for a nice word and said, "Tomorrow is the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, which coincides with the festival. Don't forget to come to court."
"Okay." Li Qing knew that civilian officials were opposed to sending troops, so he had to argue again.
Seeing how happy he was, Zhu Jianshen felt better and changed his address: "Sir, do you think... how appropriate is it to send troops this time?"
"As I said before, we must win the battle!" Li Qing said, "Since we want to fight, we can't be afraid of spending money. I suggest... send 150,000 troops!"
"One hundred and fifty thousand?"
"That's right!" Li Qing said seriously: "With fewer troops, it is easy to fight a protracted war. For the chieftains, a protracted war is the most beneficial to them. They can afford it and can deal with it calmly."
After a pause, "But for Daming, the most cost-effective strategy is to push it quickly, so that they are overwhelmed and die suddenly on the spot before they have time to arrange it properly."
Li Qing said seriously: "If the troops are insufficient and it turns into a protracted war, in the end, money will be spent but the results will not be achieved. Sending more troops will not only help the morale of the Ming army, but also make the chieftains frightened."
Zhu Jian gritted his teeth and endured the pain: "Okay! One hundred and fifty thousand, one hundred and fifty thousand!"
He was confident. Last year, there was a small surplus in the national funds. In addition to the detected commercial taxes, he had nearly 6 million taels in hand, which could support a campaign and use troops internally. He was too wealthy.
As long as the beatings are not measured in years, he can fully afford it.
Li Qing breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Does the Emperor have a suitable candidate?"
"There are some..." Zhu Jianshen paused and said suspiciously: "Sir, do you want to be the head coach?"
To be honest, Zhu Jianshen didn't want Li Qing to make great contributions anymore.
For one thing, Li Qing's invisible power is already great enough. Although it can be trusted, it is very 'unhealthy' for the emperor.
Secondly, if Li Qing performs meritorious service again, he must be granted a public title, but the Duke of the Ming Dynasty is not allowed to hold power. This is an ancestral system.
What Zhu Jianshen wanted was for Li Qing to use his talents to help him govern the country, but once Li Qing became an official, this plan was ruined.
Besides, he still wants to let Li Qing join the cabinet.
It is difficult for a marquis to join the cabinet, but it is impossible for a duke to join the cabinet. Even if he passes the civil service test, he still cannot pass the ancestral precepts of the emperor.
And doing so will lay hidden dangers.
Li Qing understood Zhu Jianshen's concerns and said: "I'll just ask, if we send 150,000 troops, as long as the commander doesn't make blind moves, there is no reason to be invincible."
"That's it..." Zhu Jianshen smiled sarcastically, feeling much more relaxed, "I haven't thought about it yet. Can we discuss it again after we finish deciding on sending troops?"
"That's fine." Li Qing nodded.
Zhu Jianshen smiled sheepishly and asked: "Sir, how have you considered the matter of joining the cabinet?"
Li Qing didn't care about Zhu Jianshen's selfishness. It was normal for the emperor to have this mentality. He wouldn't be angry about it. Moreover, he was more concerned about the situation in Mobei now.
"I haven't decided yet. Let's wait and see what happens next." Li Qing said, "We will wait until Shi Biao comes back and understands the situation in Mobei before making a decision. If the situation becomes tense, I will join the cabinet."
"Hmm...Okay." Zhu Jianshen nodded. He felt a little guilty and could not push further.
"What about that? I am aware of your contribution to the Ming Dynasty. Don't worry, sir, I will never let you down." Zhu Jianshen assured him, patting his chest.
Li Qing nodded with a smile: "Then thank the emperor first."
"Uh-huh... I should." Zhu Jianshen said with a smile.
~
Small courtyard.
When Li Hong learned the details, he was so happy that the opportunity had come.
"Godfather, what kind of official position are you going to arrange for me?"
"Hundred households."
"Huh?" Li Hong was stunned.
Although I didn’t have high expectations, I didn’t expect that the official position would be so small. I thought that at the worst, I would be able to have a thousand households. Who would have thought...
He is the heir of Marquis Yongqing. As the second generation of Marquis level, this starting point... is really too low.
"Godfather, let's just say...can you lift it up a little bit more?"
Li Qing shook his head: "A hundred people are enough. If I give you a team of a thousand people, can you use your arms and fingers like an arm?"
"I think……"
"I don't want you to think that!"
"...Godfather, although the art of war and tactics cannot be compared with the real battlefield, it is still of great help. Besides, the child also experienced actual combat last time..." Li Hong smiled bitterly, "Are you a little confident in your godson?"
Li Qing rolled his eyes: "If you haven't experienced actual combat, I will only let you continue to be a private soldier."
"Godfather..."
"Okay!" Li Qing left no room for doubt, "Either you become a hundred households, or you don't go at all. It's your choice."
Li Hong said with dismay: "Let's just make a hundred households!"
"That's right." Li Qing smiled and said, "Only one step at a time can solidify your foundation. The height of the pavilion depends on the solidity of the foundation. Although there are only a hundred people, it may not be impossible to achieve results."
After a pause, "Remember, as a military general, you must be responsible for your subordinates on the battlefield; if you rush forward greedily and cause serious damage to your subordinates, your legs will be broken when you come back."
Li Hong nodded with a serious expression: "Yes, kid, remember that."
"Well..." Li Qingwen calmed down, "On the battlefield, there are many dangers. You must protect yourself, you know?"
"My child knows." Li Hong nodded and said with a smile: "Godfather, my child is not a weak flower. My child understands your feelings, but... a man should be vigorous in his life!"
The young man is handsome and full of energy.
Li Qing laughed dumbly, nodded and said, "Well, young people must behave like young people."
At that time, not only was he a foolish young man, but he also flirted with the prince's son-in-law and hated the son of old Cao Guogong. He also stood on the opposite side of the officials early on.
Now, nearly a hundred years later, he still sticks to what he wants to protect, but his mentality has finally been smoothed out.
Li Hong today is exactly the same as he was back then.
Young people must have the arrogance of a newborn calf.
~
Early morning the next day.
Before the emperor came, the officials were discussing it. Everyone in Hunchaotang was well-informed and they had heard about everything.
All the old faces were wrinkled, and they obviously understood that it would be very difficult to stop the emperor from sending troops this time.
First of all, it cannot be justified legally.
Normally, they take the common people as their banner and make excuses for the court's dignity, but now...
Dozens of civilians were killed, dozens of officials were killed, the flag could not be raised, and the dignity of the court was trampled on. Under such circumstances, it was an absolute political mistake to blatantly oppose sending troops.
Even political opponents will use this as a lever to settle scores later.
This time... it's difficult!
However, some officials were quite indignant and believed that the chieftain was too domineering and that it was necessary for the court to send troops.
Especially the Censor Yanguan of Six Subjects and Thirteen Roads. These people attach great importance to the dignity of the court. They usually point out from the moral high ground, never fight against the wind, let alone make political mistakes.
Seeing the situation like this, Li Qing felt that it was unnecessary for him to come.
Not long after, Zhu Jianshen stepped into the main hall.
The ministers silenced their voices and saluted in unison: "Long live my emperor, long live long live...!"
"Everyone is safe!"
Zhu Jianshen's voice was gentle. When the ministers stood up, he immediately said: "I believe all the ministers have heard about the rebellion of the Yao tribe, right?"
The ministers were silent.
Li Qing helplessly praised: "I have heard about it."
Ministers: (￢_￢) Who asked you to represent us?
The gentleness on Zhu Jianshen's face quickly disappeared, replaced by boundless anger. He slammed the paperweight and said hatefully:
"These chieftains are simply arrogant. If they are not punished, I, as the emperor, will no longer be the emperor. I might as well leave them to others."
Zhu Jianshen's main focus is to go online!
If you dare to object, you are objecting to my becoming emperor. You should consider what to do!
Naturally, all the officials could hear the deep meaning of the words, and they all remained silent, as if they had not heard. They became deaf and mute one after another.
Li Qing was helpless and continued to praise: "Your Majesty is wise!"
Zhu Jianshen nodded, looking at the silent ministers, the corner of his mouth curled up: Haha... This time, I am in control of the direction of public opinion, ah~ This feeling of standing on the moral high ground is so wonderful.
He simply stopped pretending, cleared his throat, and said majestically: "I want to send 150,000 troops. Who is in favor of it and who is against it?"
"Your Majesty is wise!" Li Qing's slightly helpless voice continued, echoing Zhu Jianshen.
The big guys continued to be silent, but the younger guys couldn't hold it any longer...
Yao Kui, the Minister of Civil Affairs, saw that the coffin was about to be finalized, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and leave:
"Your Majesty, for a small chieftain of the Yao tribe, is it too much to make a fuss by sending 150,000 troops?"
There is no way, he is the head of the Six Divisions, and if he wants to maintain the aloofness of the Heavenly Official, he must set a good example and take the lead in rebelling against the emperor.
Only by doing this can he be convinced and followed.
You old boy, just wait for me...Zhu Jianshen secretly wrote down the account and said calmly: "How much does Yao Aiqing think is appropriate?"
"This, this, this..." Yao Kui kept saying "this" for a long time, but he didn't say anything.
The old guy was also very embarrassed. It would be impossible not to say it, but it was wrong to say it. He muttered for a long time and only said: "I think we should take a long-term approach."
'Bang! Zhu Jianshen slammed the paper weight and said in a hateful voice: "People's families have been destroyed, government offices have been robbed, and officials have been killed. Do you think you have a long-term plan?"
So brave! "
When he captured the thief and captured the king, Li Qing immediately praised him: "Yao Shangshu has a heart that can be killed!"
Yao Kui: (??｀??Д????)!!
