Domineering Daming

Zhu Xu was stunned, looking at this old man with white beard and hair and a withered face. Although he was hale and hearty, he was really old.

Regarding Sun Chengzong's meaning, Zhu Xu understood very well, put down the bowl, thought it over, and said frankly: "According to my plan, Yang Sichang will go to Liaodong for two years, Xiong Tingbi will succeed Shen Yongmao as Minister of Mongolia, and then Yang Sichang can succeed Qin Liangyu, Do everything you can, up to three years, and my lord still has three years."

Zhu Xu has always been wary of the foreign court, and some plans will not be revealed until the last moment, but facing the old man, Zhu Xu is willing to tell the whole story, and believes that Sun Chengzong will not hold him back.

Sun Chengzong listened to Zhu Xu's arrangement, and it was not a surprise. Considering Qin Liangyu's age, if he found an excuse like "honor", it should be reasonable, and the government and the public might be able to accept it, and it would not cause major turmoil.

Sun Chengzong found an excuse to convince himself, and said: "The emperor's arrangement is very safe, so how will Cao Wenzhao arrange it?"

It has been widely rumored that Cao Wenzhao will succeed Sun Chengzong for some time. After another three years, will Cao Wenzhao have any ideas?The Cao family has great influence in Daming, especially the military.

Sun Chengzong's words were not exhaustive, but they were self-evident.

Zhu Xu laughed and said, "Old Cao is very smart. In these years, have you ever seen him go too far? Which one of the Cao family knows the truth of keeping a low profile? Don't worry, I know it well."

When Sun Chengzong saw this, he was relieved. This incident was considered to be over. After a while of silence at the dinner table, Sun Chengzong said again: "Your Majesty, the military reform has basically been completed, and the standing army has remained at around 40. Through compulsory military service, continuous recruitment, Training soldiers, retiring from the army, if a war happens in the future, a single call-up order can have millions of troops rushing to the battlefield..."

The military system of the Ming Dynasty began to collapse in the late Xuanzong period. In the Wanli period, it could only get signs from various places. In the Tianqi period, there appeared "refining salaries", that is, the imperial court gave money, formulated officials to recruit people to train into the army, and the regular army Already "doesn't exist".

There are very serious consequences here. It is extremely easy to form warlords, vassal towns, and the power of the imperial court is extremely weak. Once the imperial court cannot meet the requirements, all kinds of incredible and natural things will happen.

Sun Chengzong has been in the army for most of his life, and he knows these things very well. He is the most supportive of Zhu Xu's "military reform", and he has always been the person who has been the most attentive and really started to manage it.

There are endless feelings in his heart, his eyes are a little moist, and his face is calm and calm.

Zhu Xu slowly picked up the rice and vegetables, not noticing Sun Chengzong's emotional changes, and said casually: "The number of troops is not the key to victory. Since ancient times, it is too common to win more with less, and it often happens at critical moments. And , with the development of firearms, the number advantage will be further compressed, the army must keep pace with the times, and walk in front of all countries, the idea of ​​​​building the Great Wall and sleeping in the Nanshan Mountains must never be allowed again! We sleep in a big sleep , the enemy or potential enemy is desperately developing, one ebbs and another, the consequences can be imagined... History books are like a sea, full of blood, we must learn from history, and we must not take it lightly..."

These are all Zhu Xu's clichés. Sun Chengzong listened carefully, but he didn't think it was a big reason. He could hear that Zhu Xu's words were full of certain emotions and were sincere.

As a veteran of the four dynasties from Wanli to the present, he has experienced too many things, deeply touched by Zhu Xu's words, and nodded silently.

After talking for a while, Zhu Xu stopped talking and said, "There are still three major threats around us, Japan, Burma, Mongolia, and enemies farther away on the way. We all need to calm down and be patient, one by one. The agreement on the European side has been signed. Whether Europe can give us blood transfusions or the development of its own sea trade, no matter how severe the disaster is in the next few years, life will be much easier. Liaodong and North Annan are no longer allowed to operate. No matter how much you want, Shanchuan can move out, and continue to move. For the future land, it needs to be further developed. I always feel that the land in Suzhou and Hangzhou has not discovered the greatest potential..."

The current situation of the Ming Dynasty is naturally much better than in history, and gradually getting used to it, Zhu Xu doesn't feel so much pressure, it's time to prepare some things.

From Zhu Xu's casual words, Sun Chengzong could hear the change of his mentality, which indicated that this was not bound by a real predicament, and that His Majesty, the emperor with lofty eyes, was planning something.

Sun Chengzong no longer worried as much as before, on the contrary, he was more at ease, without asking any questions, and said: "Compared to Bi Ziyan, Sun Baigu is more energetic, and he doesn't have as many constraints as Bi Ziyan, so he should be able to fulfill the emperor's great entrustment. "

Bi Ziyan came from the cracks of the old bureaucrats, or the Donglin Party. He is not a member of the Donglin Party. Since he became a loyal minister, he has tried his best to stabilize the court situation, and naturally he is deeply involved in a complicated network of relationships.Sun Chuanting is relatively simple, and when he does things, he will be sharper and show his sharpness.

Zhu Xu nodded with a smile. Sun Chuanting was the second "chief assistant" appointed by him. The ruling and opposition parties knew it well many years ago.

Li Jieyu checked his words and saw that the two of them had finished talking, so he poured a cup of tea for Sun Chengzong and said, "Mr. Sun Ge, please use it."

Regarding this Empress Li, the government and the public have many opinions, and many people directly regard him as Concubine Zheng, and criticize him raveously.But Sun Chengzong was very clear about Zhu Xu's thoughts, and also knew that Li Niangniang had been wronged.

Sun Chengzong took it with both hands and said, "Thank you, Madam."

Li Jieyu smiled and said nothing more.She hopes to "reconcile" with the foreign court and not to chase after their mother and child.

Zhu Xu looked at Li Jieyu, thought clearly about her carelessness, and did not expose it.

After chatting with Sun Chengzong for a while, Zhu Xu received the envoys of Siam and Burma in Qianqing Palace.

The situation in the southeast peninsula is even more complicated than that of Ming Dynasty. Siam seems to have eaten Nanzhang and other countries, and is the leader in the southeast peninsula. However, it is also facing disasters.

Myanmar is more complicated, and the interior is already torn apart. Since the Wanli period, the king of Myanmar has tried to unify Myanmar, but the result is backfired. Coupled with the disaster, Myanmar is extremely weak.

The two countries are too busy to take care of themselves internally, and now the external threats are increasing day by day, hoping to "peace talks" with Ming obviously has the upper hand.

They have already met Sun Chengzong and Fu Changzong, and the basic conditions have been negotiated. The main thing is to "return" the previously occupied Ming territory, followed by the confirmation of vassal relationship, the amount of tribute, and a series of commercial and military treaties.

Daming is still quite "moderate" and has not raised too many excessive demands. The two countries are eager for peace talks, and they can basically accept it. The meeting with His Majesty the Emperor of Ming this time is a courtesy and a final confirmation.

In the main hall of Qianqing Palace, Zhu Xu was sitting on the dragon chair, and the two envoys from Burma and Siam were standing below, and the hall was quite quiet.

Zhu Xu has two stacks of documents in his hand, each with three volumes.

He opened the first book, which was a manuscript written by the King of Siam to His Majesty the Emperor Ming, and it was full of respectful words from his courtiers.

The second book is the "peace talks" between Ming and Siam, in which the territory and boundaries, the amount of tribute, and the time of regular tribute are agreed.

In fact, the Ming Dynasty forcibly divided nearly half of the territory of Yunnan from the two countries, and the amount of tribute was also doubled. The kings of the two countries had to go to Beijing regularly to pay respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

The third book is a trade treaty. Siam will import cloth, silk, porcelain, tea, raw salt, weapons and equipment from Daming within three years, with a total amount of more than 1000 million taels of silver. Valley and so on more than 1000 million stone, basically mutual benefit.

In this way, within three years, Daming will have another 2000 million shi of grain imported!

Zhu Xu was very satisfied with the result of this "peace talk", so he smiled at each other, deliberately staying with the two for a few more days.

These two walked around the capital for a while, and then went to the Miyun camp to watch the Ming Dynasty's artillery drill.

The two of them were full of apprehension all the time, their backs were covered with cold sweat, and they returned to the station trembling.

After a long time of preparation, the date finally arrived for Zhu Xu to leave Beijing to escape the summer heat.

Without any special preparations, 2000 guards from the Imperial Army guarded all places along the road.

He brought along, apart from the supervisor of ceremonies and some members of the cabinet, only the queen Zhang Yun and a few children in the palace.

For an emperor, this is considered light and easy.

Sitting in a relatively large imperial carriage, Zhang Yun was taking care of the children, and Zhu Xu sat beside Fu Changzong.

"I am worried." Fu Changzong said bluntly.

He didn't notice it when Zhu Xu was in Beijing, but as Zhu Xu was about to leave, he became more and more uneasy.He is the only one left in the cabinet now, and he has no confidence in wanting to serve as the "chief assistant" temporarily, especially at this intricate and turbulent moment.

Zhu Xu wiped the sweat off his face, and said with a smile, "It's nothing serious. If you're not sure, go to Xingyuan. If it's urgent, you'll discuss it with the six departments."

Zhu Xu said it lightly, such a big country, how can it be decided casually.

Fu Changzong hesitated, and said: "Your Majesty, can you ask Mr. Bi Ge to return to Beijing as soon as possible?"

When Bi Ziyan was here, the government and the public were more or less dissatisfied with him, but now that he has only been away from Beijing for three months, the government and the public feel that he is indispensable.

In fact, looking at the Ming Dynasty, there are not only a handful of people who can serve as the chief assistant, but Bi Ziyan is the only one!Sun Chuanting's position was probably the result of Zhu Xu's strong support.

Zhu Xu looked at Fu Changzong and sighed softly in his heart. Daming had no shortage of talents, but there was a shortage of serious talents. After all, Fu Changzong didn't have the ability to be the "chief assistant".

"Let me try it." Zhu Xu said.Bi Ziyan was already in Jiangxi, so he must be waiting for him, and he didn't know what Bi Ziyan wanted to say to him.

Fu Changzong hesitated for a while, but let this matter go, and said: "Chen Qiyu forcibly pushed forward a series of plans related to Tian Mu in Nanzhili, which caused a lot of commotion. I heard that some people even blocked the governor's office. There are still many people who are on hunger strike, forcing them to die..."

Zhu Xu touched his chin in surprise, and said with a smile: "Chen Qiyu has been the governor of Shuntian for many years, and she was silent. I didn't expect to make a noise in Nanzhili. Let's see."

"Let's have a look", seems to be non-committal, but actually supports it.