Kunning Palace.
Ma Enhui felt heartbroken when she saw Zhu Yunwen, who smelled of alcohol and fell asleep.
In the past few months, Zhu Yunwen was busy almost every day until late at night, and then got up early to deal with government affairs, northwest military affairs, food transportation, supervising construction in Peiping, and the Shaanxi civil uprising... one after another kept impacting Zhu Yunwen's nerves. Majesty and determination are the result of walking alone in the abyss late at night.
Ma Enhui didn't know how much pressure Zhu Yunwen was under. She only knew that in the past three months, he had stayed in Wuying Palace for more than half of the time and lived in Kunning Palace for the remaining half. But when Ma Enhui woke up in the middle of the night, Zhu Yunwen was still there. While reviewing memorials and planning state affairs, I didn't even go to bed at dawn several times and stayed up all night to deal with government affairs.
Persuasion has no effect.
Ma Enhui knew that Zhu Yunwen was in a difficult situation. Many matters in the documents were extremely difficult to deal with. The opinions of the cabinet were not unified, and there were even clear differences. Zhu Yunwen needed to make a decision on how to weigh the pros and cons and impacts.
But now things are getting better, the northwest has won a great victory, all difficulties will be solved, and peace will be restored to the Ming Dynasty.
The next day.
Zhu Yunwen woke up, rubbed his split head, took the warm rice porridge sent by Ma Enhui, drank two sips, and finally felt relieved. He sat cross-legged on the bed and said with a smile: "The Queen is attentive."
Ma Enhui sighed softly: "Your Majesty, the affairs in the northwest have been decided. There is no need to attend court today. Let's have a good rest."
Zhu Yunwen waved his hand: "No, since Timur was defeated and Yili also subjugated the country, the Western Regions will naturally be fully recovered. Next, we must seriously consider the control and governance of the Western Regions, where to choose the garrison, the size of the troops stationed, How to set up the chief envoys, who will reform the land and make them obey the management of the Ming Dynasty, all these need to be discussed with the ministers."
Ma Enhui's eyes darkened, she took the bowl of porridge from Zhu Yunwen, and couldn't help but sigh: "I thought the emperor would be a little more relaxed after the victory at Qamdo, but I didn't expect he is still so busy."
Zhu Yunwen stayed at the hotel and said relaxedly: "Previously, I was worried about the war in the Western Regions. It was inevitable that I would be unable to handle government affairs and weigh too many things. Now that the Western Regions have been settled, my heart has also been settled. No more storms can shake this heart. My heart is like a rock, no matter the wind or rain." What can be done?"
There was confidence and calmness in his words.
On the way to Fengtian Hall, Liu Changge took Xue Xia to plead guilty.
Zhu Yunwen looked at Xue Xia and said with a cold face: "Go to Wuying Hall and kneel down. I will settle this debt with you after I leave the court."
Xue Xia watched silently, watching Zhu Yunwen go to Fengtian Hall, then knelt down outside Wuying Hall.
Liu Changge knew Xue Xia's temper and temperament, and also knew that Zhu Yunwen was very dissatisfied with this matter, and knelt aside on the grounds that he was "not strict in controlling his subordinates."
Fengtian Temple.
Zhu Yunwen came to the court, and after handling everything, he turned to the affairs of the Western Regions: "With the great victory of Qamdo, it is inevitable to take back the Western Regions. The most important thing right now is how to ensure the submission of the people of the Western Regions and long-term peace and stability. I think it is time to consider setting up a capital in the Western Regions. What do you think about the commanding envoys, the proclaiming envoys, and the promulgating envoys?”
Taichang Shaoqing Gao Xunzhi came out and said, "Your Majesty, I have a few words. I would be unhappy if I didn't say them."
Zhu Yun raised his right hand and said, "Speak!"
Gao Xunzhi said solemnly: "I heard that there are countless desolate lands in the Western Regions. They are mostly yellow sand and Gobi deserts with very little water flow. The summers are unstoppable and the winters are extremely cold and uninhabitable. In addition, the Western Regions are far away and all supplies are dependent on them. Within the pass, how much financial and manpower does the imperial court need to spend to support the expenses of the three divisions and guards of the Western Regions? I think it is inappropriate to want a worthless and remote place that consumes 20% of the national treasury."
"Therefore, I have the courage to ask the emperor to be considerate of the people of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan and other places, and order the Western Expedition army to withdraw into the pass as soon as possible. Don't waste the people's strength year after year, raising a useless land."
Zhu Yunwen looked gloomy and stared at Gao Xunzhi: "What do you mean, do you want me to abandon Turpan, Hami, and the entire Western Region, and return to Jiayuguan Pass?"
Gao Xunzhi solemnly said: "That's exactly what I mean."
Zhu Yunwen sneered, shook his head in disappointment, and said to the chamberlain: "Let Huo Lin, Xuan Qingshu, Yang Fenghuo and others enter the palace."
Huo Lin and others entered the palace to salute.
Zhu Yunwen said in a deep voice: "Taichang Shaoqing Gao Xunzhi said that I should abandon the Western Region and withdraw all the soldiers into the pass. What do you think?"
Huo Lin's eyes widened and he shouted loudly: "Is it the behavior of a human minister to make such remarks?"
Xuan Qingshu was also very angry: "Whoever makes this statement should be expelled from the imperial court and exiled to the Western Regions!"
Yang Fenghuo was a rough man and rolled up his sleeves: "Who is Gao Xunzhi? Come forward."
Gao Xunzhi walked out angrily and shouted: "I am Gao Xunzhi!"
Yang Fenghuo was about to rush towards Gao Xunzhi. If Xuan Qingshu hadn't hugged him, Gao Xunzhi would have been beaten.
"Nonsense, this is Fengtian Palace, not a military camp! Be quiet!"
Yu Xin scolded sharply.
Yang Fenghuo looked at Yu Xin, and then said to Zhu Yunwen: "Your Majesty, the soldiers at the front fought bloody battles. They fought in the cold wind and heavy snow, and lost their lives in the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, just to expand the territory! But the imperial court As for the ministers above, they stay in Nuan Pavilion every day and open their mouths to give up on the Western Regions. I, Yang Fenghuo, really want to tell the officials who have these thoughts, go to hell!"
"vulgar!"
Gao Xunzhi pointed at Yang Fenghuo and yelled angrily.
Tie Xuan, Minister of War, came out and glared at Yang Fenghuo: "No one in the imperial court should be rude. The emperor has his own opinions whether to stay in the Western Regions or not."
Huo Lin saluted again and shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, we want to know why anyone would want to give up this vast and rich land in the Western Regions, give up this huge strategic depth, and give up the hard-won east-west passage! "
Gao Xunzhi walked out and once again explained his statement, which was nothing more than that he was poor and the court could not afford it.
Huo Lin looked at Gao Xunzhi and asked, "Has Gao Shaoqing ever been to the Western Regions?"
"No."
"When Qingshu and I were studying in Xi'an Prefecture, Mr. Sun Changwei Sun once taught that the Imperial College held that without investigation, there is no right to speak. I personally think that Gao Shaoqing has never been to the Western Regions, and he just talks about his stay in the Western Regions based on hearsay. He should not speak if it is true. , let alone give advice to the emperor, if a big mistake is made, Gao Shaoqing will be a sinner throughout history."
Huo Lin said with a straight face.
Gao Xunzhi's face was livid, because he was pointed at his nose and scolded.
Xie Jin, Yang Shiqi and others couldn't help but shine. These two guys turned out to be Sun Changwei's disciples. No wonder they were so temperamental. Sun Changwei compiled teaching materials and produced a lot of wisdom. He was an important participant in the Ming Dynasty's culture and education. If he knew that his disciples were being bullied and there was no one to help speak up, he would probably bring trouble to the capital...
Yang Shiqi came out and said, "Your Majesty, the ministers in the court know very little about the Western Regions, and their understanding is inevitably biased. You might as well listen to Huo Lin, Xuan Qingshu and others explain the Western Regions in detail, and then discuss the governance of the Western Regions."
Gao Xunzhi's pupils condensed slightly. Yang Shiqi was an old fox. He did not talk about "going to stay" in the Western Regions, but said "governing". This shows that he had no intention of giving up the Western Regions at all.
But the Western Region is so desolate and barren, with yellow sand everywhere. What is the use of this piece of land?
Regarding Yang Shiqi's opinion, Zhu Yunwen readily agreed: "Then let's talk about it."
Xuan Qingshu walked out and said humbly: "Your Majesty, gentlemen, some people say that the Western Region is barren, with deserts and Gobi as far as the eye can see. There is no way to grow crops or live in it. I don't agree with that. Let's take Hami and Turpan as an example. , there are rivers, oases, forests, and grasslands south of the mountains. The land there can also grow wheat."
"Everyone is worried that the Western Regions will become a burden to the imperial court. In my opinion, this worry is completely unnecessary. The oases in the desert and the basins to the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains have large expanses of fields that can be used to cultivate crops and defend the army. Through private reclamation and other methods, we will be able to achieve self-sufficiency in food within two years. Even if there are some deficiencies, we can solve them by transporting food commercially through the Silk Road, without having to strain the people in the pass."
When Gao Xunzhi heard these words, he couldn't help but feel a little ashamed. He still took it for granted. If, as Xuan Qingshu and others said, the Western Regions can independently solve the food problem, then controlling the Western Regions is a matter of course.
Xuan Qingshu's words did not end, but continued: "According to
According to the information currently obtained through the investigation of the Western Expedition Army, there is indeed a large amount of oil in the Western Region. As you all know, oil is related to the production of medical gauze. At present, medical gauze is only distributed to important border towns and has not been spread to all health centers. If we control the Western Region and exploit a large amount of oil, we can produce medical gauze in the Western Region and transport it to the capital. In this way, within five years, medical gauze can be distributed throughout the army and even enter the homes of ordinary people. "
Tie Xuan, Mei Yin and others nodded repeatedly.
Although medical gauze has been around for many years, due to production constraints and repeated use in combat, it has never been possible to popularize it throughout the military. And this kind of thing is of great help in wound treatment. It can prevent and reduce inflammation and prevent wounded soldiers from dying due to wound infection. It is very precious for sergeants.
The Ministry of War has long wanted this thing to be popularized throughout the army, but it has never been able to do it, and the root cause lies in this oil. Since there is a large amount of oil in the Western Regions, the problem of medical gauze should be solved from the root.
Xuan Qingshu went on to say: "The Western Regions have long sunshine hours and large temperature differences, which are very suitable for cotton cultivation. Although it is cold and freezing in winter, if cotton is widely planted, it is possible to be self-sufficient in clothing and bed quilts for the military in winter. Moreover, there are Racecourse, the Great Victory of Qamdo, captured tens of thousands of good horses. If a racecourse is set up in the Western Regions, and cooperates with the racecourse under the Qilian Mountains, within five years, the problem of the shortage of war horses will be solved from the root..."
Gao Xunzhi looked a little pale, he was still too superficial after all. Listen carefully to what Xuan Qingshu said, the Western Region is not only not barren, but also a fertile land. Not only will it not become a burden to the Ming Dynasty, it can also solve many problems for the Ming Dynasty.
If this is the case, wouldn’t losing the Western Region mean losing endless wealth? The accusations made by Huo Lin and others are not unreasonable.
Huo Lin added: "Not only that, the army also discovered or heard about coal, iron, copper, gold, limestone and other minerals in the Western Region. They can only exploit the minerals after the army has pacified the area and completely controlled the Western Region."
When Xie Jin heard this, he quickly came out and said loudly: "Your Majesty, the Western Region cannot be lost. I believe that the Western Region is not only extremely important in geographical location, it is a barrier to the northwest, but also a land rich in minerals. It cannot be lost. What's more, if the army is Completely withdrawing from the Western Region will become a source of trouble, and the northwest defense will be intensified by then."
Zhu Yunwen nodded repeatedly and looked at the ministers: "Is there anyone else who thinks that the Western Region should be abandoned rather than retained?"
The ministers were silent.
Gao Xunzhi came out and said, "Your Majesty, I made a mistake and should not have a one-sided view of the Western Regions."
Zhu Yunwen smiled and said, "It doesn't matter."
Gao Xunzhi shook his head: "If the emperor establishes three divisions in the Western Regions, I will personally invite you to go to the Western Regions and serve as the local magistrate. I would like to go and see if the Western Regions can become a granary of prosperity!"
