Zhu Jianshen was anxious.
"No, at your age, how can you wash your hands..."
As he said this, he laughed angrily, "You still wash your hands and think of yourself as the king of the mountain? Let me tell you, you can defile yourself, but you can't bring the imperial court into it."
"Okay, don't go online, this trick won't work for me." Li Qing rolled his eyes, "If the situation in the grassland hadn't changed, I wouldn't have come back."
"You've gone too far!" Zhu Jian said in a deep voice.
Li Qing hehehe: "Don't do this, I've already thought about where to go. I went all the way to Mobei for the sake of the imperial court. It's already very interesting. Don't push yourself too far."
Zhu Jianshen: "..."
After a long dull moment, he asked:
"Have you really decided not to come back after this time?"
"Your Majesty is so wise and powerful, do you still need me to protect you?" Li Qing asked, sighing: "You have grown up, what does my presence or absence have to do with it? I am just helping you attract some firepower."
"...Okay, I understand you!" Zhu Jianshen sighed, "It's better to come back afterwards, and we, the king and the ministers, can also say goodbye."
Li Qing pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement.
It's easy to get together and relax.
Zhu Jian raised his neck and drank the wine, put down the glass, and asked: "You are only in your early sixties, how will you live in the future?"
"What? You can't live without going to court?"
"...I mean, what are your plans to retire in Jinling?" Zhu Jianshen said, "If that's the case, you might as well retire in the capital, and I'll build you a house."
"I don't have to spend any money, and I won't retire in Aurous Hill." Li Qing said with a smile, "The world is so big, I want to see it."
"..." Zhu Jianshen's face was full of black lines: "You are over sixty, how can you still see the world at this age?"
"What's wrong with my age?" Li Qing was speechless: "Didn't you just say that I'm only in my early sixties? I still have a lot of time."
"But you have wasted a lot of your time!" Zhu Jianshen was heartbroken.
Li Qing curled his lips and said, "Come on, you just want me to be a worker in the Ming Dynasty all my life. The people in Lao Zhu's family are really evil-hearted..."
"You're so presumptuous!" Zhu Jianshen interrupted him, a little annoyed, "It's okay for you and me to be so presumptuous. Don't bring all the emperors of the Ming Dynasty in, what? Could it be that Taizu and Taizong are also in your way?"
Those two guys have even darker hearts, especially Lao Zhu... Li Qing touched his nose and said depressedly, "Okay, I'll drink three drinks as a penalty."
Li Qing drank three drinks in a row and felt very depressed.
Thinking about it makes me angry. When he was not very good at it, he was often manipulated by Lao Zhu, and he was even forced to eat a lot of big cakes, which made him choke to death.
Zhu Di was a little better. After all, Jing could not accept his favor, but he still wanted to use him to death.
Speaking of which, Xiaopang was completely in line with his wishes.
Even the good saint grandson, he didn't like to see him very much.
Zhu Qiyu was reluctant, but lacked political talent; Zhu Qizhen had good political skills, but used too much force;
Oh, by the way, there is also Zhu Yunwen. As his junior brother, Li Qing is quite happy to see him, but as the emperor of the Ming Dynasty... well, let's not mention it!
After all, there is nothing to criticize about the most affectionate person in the Ming Dynasty in front of me. The matter of liking older women is very personal and is of no importance to Jiangshan Sheji.
Li Qing put down his wine glass and said seriously: "Throughout history, unified dynasties all began to decline after the previous emperors, with the exception of the Ming Dynasty;
It is not easy for the Ming Dynasty to be what it is today. I hope that the emperor will not be impetuous and impetuous. He will not let down thousands of people or let down the previous emperors. "
Li Qing has made a lot of efforts to make the Ming Dynasty what it is today, and he doesn’t want his efforts to be in vain.
Fortunately...this emperor made him worry-free.
Zhu Jianshen became serious, nodded and said: "The empire of our ancestors will never decline in my hands!"
Li Qing nodded with a smile and joked: "You are quite confident."
Zhu Jianshen also smiled and said sincerely: "Without your help, I might... be a little lacking; but it's different now. Even if you leave the field, I am confident enough to control the overall situation."
He looked pleased and overflowing with confidence: "I have taken the lead. It is absolutely impossible for them to imitate the early days of the Orthodox Dynasty."
"Well, don't go too far." Li Qing said, "Everything must be reversed, so you have to leave some way for others."
Zhu Jianshen nodded: "I understand this, but having said that, officials in the Ming Dynasty are much more comfortable now than they were in the Hongwu Dynasty;
Not to mention anything else, just taking salary as an example, it has been increased several times, both covertly and overtly; in addition, gray income such as Bingjing and Tanjing have been earned by everyone in the past year;
I have never put these on the line. "
Li Qing smiled and nodded.
Needless to say, the current income of Ming officials is indeed very good.
Officials talk about low salaries, but they only talk about it, and everyone knows what it is like.
Of course, the salary on the surface is indeed not high. If it is an official with a clean mind, he will not be able to save much money in a year. But, how many such officials are there?
To take a step back, even if the court increases officials' salaries several times, they will still be greedy.
There is no such thing as having to commit corruption because of low salary.
After so many years, Li Qing has seen clearly that even if his salary is raised to the sky, it still cannot eliminate the phenomenon of official corruption.
As Master said, when people are well, they still want to be well.
It is better to satisfy their psychological expectations bit by bit and stabilize the officialdom for a longer period of time.
When Lao Zhu wielded the butcher knife, it was not without gain. At least, he gave Ming officials low enough psychological expectations.
If the king of future generations is a little better, it will make him feel much better.
Li Qing didn't want to do anything to raise the officials' psychological expectations!
The monarch and his ministers toasted frequently, and the atmosphere was harmonious. The relationship between the two was not as harmonious as the Jingtai Dynasty, but more down-to-earth.
Just like...the elders and the juniors.
Although, the younger generation is more rebellious...
The next day,
Li Qing and He Zhong led five thousand cavalry and rushed to the Hetao area.
These five thousand cavalry are not going to fight, but to supplement the vacancy caused by the departure of warriors from the Hetao Grassland tribes.
Zhu Jianshen stopped the morning court and led all the officials to see him off.
This time the troops were dispatched, it could be said that everyone was expecting them. Everyone was happy on their faces and in their hearts as they sent them all the way out of the imperial city.
Goodbye, Marquis Yongqing;
Best... never see you again!
I hope that this battle will go down in history...
~
Early July.
Li Qingyi's army arrived in Hetao and settled down.
After a few years, the entire Hetao has changed drastically. The area he originally planned has been fully developed and is gradually radiating outward.
Li Qing rode a horse to visit, accompanied by Funing Marquis Zhu Yong, and told the development process of the Hetao over the years.
Zhu Yongdao said: "The number of large and small horses currently stored in the pasture has reached as many as 8,000, and the cultivated land is nearly one-third more than what Yongqing Hou expected;
In addition to paying taxes, there is still a lot of surplus..."
"Well, very good!" Li Qing happily praised: "The Hetao can be what it is today, thanks to the contribution of the Marquis of Funing. In the future, the title of Duke is just around the corner!"
"What the heck, Marquis Yongqing's words are serious." Zhu Yongqian said with a smile, "You haven't made a duke yet, how dare Zhu Yong think so?"
"Haha...we are different."
"What's the difference?"
"..." Li Qing choked, "You are younger than me and have greater room for improvement. After I have fought this battle, it is time for me to return home and retire, but you are different;
The emperor relies on you more than anyone else. Work hard and you will be granted the title of duke. "
This is the pie that Zhu Jianshen traveled thousands of miles to draw for Zhu Yong. Li Qing just conveyed it on his behalf.
However, it is almost certain that Zhu Yong will be crowned Duke in the future. Today's Ming Dynasty is not an era where the stars gathered in the early Ming Dynasty. There are not many people the court can offer, and Zhu Yong is definitely one of them.
Zhu Yong was patted on the shoulder twice by Li Qing. He felt light and airy all over and couldn't help but grin.
He had gotten along with Li Qing and knew that he was always on target. What Li Qing said was probably because of the emperor's instructions.
For a time, Zhu Yong was very excited and full of energy.
"When does Marquis Yongqing plan to set off? Is there anything I can do to help?"
Li Qing thought for a while and said: "Please help count the people who are willing to follow to Mobei. While ensuring that the Hetao is safe enough, we can mobilize as many people as possible."
After a pause, he said, "In the future, we will prepare more food and grass here to supply our army. I made an agreement with the emperor before this came;
Our supply consumption can offset the tax, and it can also save you a lot of worry. You no longer have to worry about paying taxes and transportation. "
Zhu Yong was naturally happy to obey, "No problem at all. Apart from that, is there anything I can do for you?"
"It's gone for the time being. I'll tell Marquis Funing when I think of it." Li Qing said with a smile, "It's already July now. If the weather gets colder, it will be difficult to march. Marquis Funing should hurry up."
"Don't worry, Marquis Yongqing, I'll take care of it." Zhu Yong patted his chest, "The court's treatment is so generous, I'm confident that within half a month, I can organize a team of no less than 7,000 people for Marquis Yongqing! "
Li Qing smiled and cupped his hands: "If that's the case, then it will be troublesome for Marquis Fu Ning."
Zhu Yong cupped his fists and returned the salute: "We are all doing things for the court and the emperor. Marquis Yongqing is so polite."
~
Zhu Yong has been guarding the Loop, and he is much easier to talk to than Li Qing. Li Qing also enjoys his leisure time, admiring the beautiful scenery all day long...
The treatment from the imperial court is very generous. Those who are willing to go to Mobei to fight will receive a monthly military salary of five taels of silver. Those who die in battle will receive a pension of one hundred taels of silver. Those who are brave in battle will also receive rewards.
The total amount was only ten thousand, so Li Qing had no scruples and spent money lavishly.
Of course, this was paid by the Ministry of Household Affairs, and if it had to be converted into internal funds, Zhu Jianshen would probably have to make a counter-offer.
Li Qing also hit the Hubu department correctly, expecting that the opponent would have to push him out if he tried to push his head, so the lion opened his mouth...
A brave man must be rewarded, and this applies at all times.
Although life in Hetao is not lacking in food, drink and stability, but...who doesn't want to live a better life?
One year's work is sixty taels, which does not include the silver reward for military merit. Not to mention much, one year's work is enough for the family to live in a big house.
For a time, warriors from all tribes flocked to each other...
