First Minister of Ming Dynasty

Instead, it was Zhang Ximeng who sighed, "My lord, don't rush to let brother Li go, we finally got together, and it was the place where we had a drink back then, let's drink a few more glasses of wine and chat, and then there are some things to discuss It's done, it won't be too late for him to return to his hometown for retirement."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly, and finally nodded, "Well, there are really not many people who can drink with us."

Li Shanchang was trembling and panicked, but fortunately Zhang Ximeng supported him, sat down, chatted a few words casually, and finally calmed down Lao Li.

Being able to sit and drink together is enough to show that Zhu Yuanzhang still has some affection for him, enough for him to retire.

"Brother Li, this time I came with my lord. In fact, I also want to meet the tribal leaders from all over the place to appease and win people's hearts. Especially in this northern land, where Hu and Han live together, it is difficult to quickly eliminate the barriers. What's your opinion?"

Hearing this, Li Shanchang finally cheered up.

"Teacher, take the area around Beiping as an example, there are 70 million Koreans, and hundreds of thousands of Mongols. In addition, there are Jurchens, Khitans, and even Bohai people... various tribes are mixed, depending on the situation. It sounds confusing. However, it is not that difficult to deal with. Take the Khitan and Bohai people as examples. After so many years, they have no proper written records. The only ones that really exist are Goryeo, Jurchen, and Mongolia. Among them, Goryeo admires Shangguo and wholeheartedly hopes to become people of Ming Dynasty. If Daming is willing to accept them, it won’t be too difficult to accept them.”

"Let's talk about Mongolia. They entered the Central Plains before. In terms of strength, although they are not small, they are still contaminated with the atmosphere of the Central Plains. They are greedy for pleasure and have little ambition. It will not be too difficult to gather them together. The real trouble is the Jurchen tribes! "

Zhang Ximeng nodded, "That's true. The Jurchen tribes are scattered over a wide area, and they are far away from the Central Plains. They are barbaric in nature, and it is not easy to educate them."

Li Shanchang chuckled, "Grand Master, let me tell you, this matter is not difficult, but it has to be divided into two methods, one long-term and one temporary... If you want to talk about the long-term, I think the Grand Master must have an idea!"

Zhang Ximeng nodded, "When we set up the Peking School, we accepted many children of tribal leaders and focused on cultivating the next generation. Now Beiping's industry is developing rapidly, requiring a lot of raw materials and labor. With gradual development, all tribes can be included. You must believe in the power of industry and the crushing brought about by productivity. Over time, both Jurchen and Mongolia will become good at singing and dancing.”

Li Shanchang was slightly taken aback, but nodded involuntarily.

"Zhang Xiang, let me talk about my current idea... Look, the Jurchen ministries, they are temporarily difficult to educate, unable to enter the factory, and they are rude and barbaric, and conflicts and frictions will inevitably occur... Actually, this matter is very easy to handle. We just need to recruit a group of young men from the various ministries and let them go to war!"

Zhang Ximeng frowned slightly, but Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up, and he understood what Lao Li meant!

For the time being, most of the Jurchens are young and strong, not suitable for entering the factory, and it is difficult to honestly work in the mine... In this case, it is better to recruit a group of young and strong, and let them go to fight for Daming and give full play to their strengths.

When they win the battle, have rewards, and pursuits, they can return to Liaodong, open factories, set up schools, and educate most of the Jurchen children.

In the long run, it is definitely good for Daming.

And what's even better is that the young and strong labor force is taken away, even if they want to make trouble, they don't have enough strength.

If you can't solve the problem, solve the people. If the people are gone, the problem will disappear.

Zhang Ximeng has no doubts. With Li Shanchang's character, if he is put in charge of this matter, he may dig a big hole and send these Jurchen youths away once and for all, just like how the Song Dynasty dealt with some Fanqi. traditional.

Zhang Ximeng even thought of the band, they would select some Sikhs, as well as the famous Gurkha battalion... These are relatively few and fierce ethnic groups, and they will be trained as the main force on the battlefield.

It doesn't matter whether you can beat your opponent or not.

At least taking this group of people away from their hometown and putting them in the army can save a lot of internal troubles.

Sure enough, there is nothing new under the sun. With Lao Li's ability, he went to take the lead and started as a permanent secretary.

Of course, for the current Daming, it is not possible to play such a bad routine.

Zheng'er Bajing recruited some Jurchen soldiers, formed a powerful cavalry, and threw them into the river to fight, defeating Timur.Take the opportunity to teach these Jurchen soldiers some rules, and then whether they want to run a ranch, or want land, or come back to farm and accept enlightenment...it doesn't matter which one they choose.

Daming has enough heart to digest all Jurchen ministries.

It's just that after a few years, whether wild boar skin will be rebelled and the Ming Dynasty will be overthrown due to improper control is not something Zhang Ximeng can foresee.

After all, if a dynasty has fallen, even if there is no wild boar skin, there will be tiger skin, old wolf skin...Anyway, someone will jump out and end this country.

It can only be said that they have left such a deep foundation for the Ming Dynasty, and if it is still inevitable that the country will be ruined and the family will perish, then he has nothing to do.

"My lord, brother Li's proposal is very good. But we can't just recruit the young and strong...we also need to bring the ministries into the Ming Dynasty, and reward the young and strong for joining the army. In addition, I have another idea...accepting the gold from the ministries. , used to cast the Huaxia Jinding, and incorporate the Jurchen ministries into the Huaxia system!"

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment, then nodded and agreed, "Let's pass the decree, tell the three Jurchen tribes, as well as the kings of the Eastern Mongolian Road who belonged to them, and the three guards of Duoyan, all come to face the king... Let them remember to bring some gold! Don't worry too much. More, just think about it."

Chapter 900 You can't do it in hell

After Zhang Ximeng arrived in Beiping, he suffered from the cold. Although he didn't fall ill, his knees ached. He didn't try to be brave, so he simply stayed in the city and hid in the room with Li Shanchang, drinking tea and chatting.

Zhang Ximeng likes that kind of strong bitter tea more and more. The stronger the taste, the better it is. Drinking it is enjoyable and refreshing.On the other hand, Li Shanchang, he is getting old, his taste buds have degenerated, and the bland taste does not stimulate him. Old Li actually likes to add sugar to his tea, and at Zhang Ximeng's suggestion, he added a lot of milk to make milk tea abruptly.

Li Shanchang drank quite happily, and Zhang Ximeng asked his subordinates to prepare some spring rolls for him, stuffed with red bean paste and full of sugar, so he was twice as happy.

Li Shanchang ate while drinking, and chatted casually with Zhang Ximeng, feeling very happy.

"Teacher, in recent days, a lot of barbarians from the north have gone south, and Koryo has been hit. Why do you think they stayed in the north to herd horses and sheep honestly, and insisted on going south?"

Zhang Ximeng said helplessly: "If the north can survive, they won't go south... In fact, you, brother Li, have you found out that there is a beehive in our north, in the north of the center of this continent, between the vast grasslands."

"Hive? What kind of hive?" Li Shanchang was puzzled.

Zhang Ximeng said: "It is the hive of nomads. From the early Huns, to the Turks, Khitans, and then to the Jurchen Mongolia, they have continuously impacted the land of the Central Plains, creating crises one after another, and constituted continuous infringement on the land of China. !"

Li Shanchang smiled, "It turned out to be this beehive... indeed, and there are wasps living in it! Killing wasps! Grand Master Zhang, what do you think we can do to completely solve this disaster? Do you want to massacre and kill all these people? "

Zhang Ximeng smiled and shook his head, "I said this is a beehive, which means it can't be killed. When the year is good, the wasps live in the nest. When the year is bad and it is difficult to maintain, they will spew out and go south. Marching... and the empty nest they left behind will soon be occupied by other peoples, these people live and multiply, accumulate strength, and wait for the next round of outbreaks, endlessly, stretching for thousands of years, never stopping!"

Zhang Ximeng concluded with a smile that, as the largest continent in the world, there is a vast grassland desert in the central part of the Eurasian continent. This large area is as many as several million square kilometers, or even more.

Due to the vast territory, there will always be areas with abundant water and grass that can survive temporarily... Therefore, countless nomadic tribes are bred on this land.

Some of them are strong, some are weak, and even most of the tribes can't find the source, as if they popped up all at once.

Their activities are completely governed by the climate.

When the temperature rises, the precipitation increases, the water and grass are plentiful, and cattle and sheep are everywhere, they will live in peace, pastoral, full of poetic distant places.

But when the climate changes, precipitation decreases, white disasters increase, and people and animals die in large numbers...they are forced to move south in order to survive.

Then they will collide with the farming peoples in the south.

Not only in the Central Plains, but also in other places.

The most unpromising of them is India. Once they are killed by nomads, they only have to kneel down.The new nomads became Kshatriyas and became higher castes, and the other original people were lowered by one level.

Due to the history of kneeling for thousands of years, the aborigines of this continent, the black Dravidians, have been driven to the south and become untouchables.

And those latecomers with whiter skin became the upper caste and became the masters of the continent.

Those who are more promising than the third brother are the Persians. They also built fortifications, similar to the Great Wall in the East, to resist the invasion of nomads.

Of course, they were not completely successful, and the ancient Persian civilization was also submerged in the iron hoof.

In contrast, the most outstanding thing is the east, the land of China.

The dynasties since the Qin and Han Dynasties not only built the majestic Great Wall to resist invasion, but even trained cavalry to carry out decisive counterattacks...

This kind of thing seems to be very common in the history of the East. Only the wolves are enshrined in the Xuxu, and the merits of this level are worthy of praise.

But in the world, farming people, countering nomadic attacks, that is, sheep counterattacking wild wolves, which can be called a heaven-defying idea!

In the past dynasties of China, not only did it, but also succeeded several times. Emperor Wu of the Han counterattacked the Huns, destroyed the Turks in the early Tang Dynasty, counterattacked the Northern Yuan Dynasty in the early Ming Dynasty, and conquered Mongolia five times... These actions are absolutely unimaginable in the history of the world. It is a real fighting nation, maybe it really needs to be discussed.

To put it bluntly, the level of Song Dynasty is not bad. If it is not too bad luck, it will be stuffed in the Central Plains dynasty pile, and it will be a bully-level existence in any other place.

Just putting Da Song in the middle of Tang Ming made him feel awkward.

Zhang Ximeng smiled and analyzed the problems in the north with Li Shanchang. It is absolutely remarkable to have the ability to fight back and achieve peace for hundreds of years.

But to go one step further and completely eliminate the threat, so that this hive can never sting the Central Plains again, is undoubtedly a greater achievement.

Far away from the achievements of the Han and Tang Dynasties!

"Brother Li, you proposed to recruit some young men and throw them into the river to fight. I strongly agree. As long as we can give us 20 years, we may be able to solve the problem once and for all."

Li Shanchang frowned slightly, "Is it possible? Master Zhang, what can you do?"

Zhang Ximeng said: "This matter has to be viewed from the perspective of development. The most important move is naturally the improvement of transportation. Take the present as an example, our shipping is so strong that soldiers, horses, money and food can go to the Liaohe River and go deep into the hinterland. Send soldiers and horses to Liaoyang and other places. In general, the border troubles are no longer a concern. Now between Beiping and Dagu, rail carriages have been built. If this can be extended to Liaodong through Shanhaiguan, the situation will be very different. If If we can research a new means of transportation, and increase the transport capacity ten thousand times, at that time, even if the Jurchens don't want to sing and dance, they will still have to sing and dance!"

Li Shanchang was slightly surprised, and couldn't help but sit up straight, "Master Zhang, can you speak more carefully?"

"Okay... I heard from Qi Tai and the others that they are researching a new machine, and they are still frowning." Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "This machine is used in coal mines, and it can be used to pump water from mines... Theirs Meaning, since the water below can be pumped, can the vehicle be pulled forward by changing the direction?

For a while, Lao Li couldn't figure out what mechanics was. After all, at his age, it was difficult for him to keep track of the latest academic progress.

But Li Shanchang understood that Zhang Ximeng would not just talk nonsense, since he has said it, there is a great possibility to do it.

As Zhang Ximeng said, the ability to increase transport capacity ten thousand times is absolutely limitless!

With such a huge transportation capacity, it seems that the layout is too small just to mobilize soldiers.

The vast grassland is vast and sparsely populated, and there are too many mine resources buried below, the value of which is incalculable.

The reason why it cannot be mined is that transportation is the biggest constraint.

There is a lack of labor force in itself, and it is difficult to transport when mined, so we can only guard Baoshan to beg for food.

But once the transportation capacity is resolved, a large amount of labor can be transported from the Central Plains, including food, clothing, mining tools... and then the treasures of the grasslands will be transported back to the Central Plains for smelting.

And the people on the grassland can also get a share of the trade.

Without the pressure of survival, ghosts are willing to leap south and rob for a living.

Two enemies who have been enemies for thousands of years, it is not necessary for one to completely eliminate the other to solve the problem.

In fact, you eliminate the opponent, and soon someone will add it, and you will never be able to finish killing.

The fundamental way is to change the economic foundation and let the grasslands completely embark on a new path of survival, so that all problems can be easily solved.

After listening to Zhang Ximeng's introduction, Li Shanchang pondered for a long time and remained silent.

Zhang Ximeng refilled him some milk tea, "Brother Li, why are you silent?"

Li Shanchang rolled his eyes, "What else can I say? In 20 years, I'm afraid I'll only have a handful of bones left at that time. Grand Master Zhang, when the grassland is calmed down, you can just burn a newspaper for the old man, and I will do it too." Happy with you!"

Zhang Ximeng paused, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll definitely burn it for you, and I'll burn some more money for you...Brother Li, this time it's a meritorious advice, and I'll definitely find a way to repay you."

Li Shanchang snorted softly: "Master Zhang, don't bully me, I appreciate your kindness, it is really a blessing to accept it!"

Zhang Ximeng chuckled, "Brother Li, you are not blessed, and your children and grandchildren are not blessed either?"

Li Shan was shocked, "Grand Master Zhang, you, why do you still have ideas about my juniors? They can't beat you, so you can't bully the younger!"

Zhang Ximeng shook his head and said, "You are very wrong. You know that sugar cane in Luzon Island is very profitable, right?"

Li Shanchang snorted: "Who doesn't know? That's not sugar cane, it's silver and gold everywhere!"

Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "That's right, but I figured that it won't be long before places like Luzon will be merged into Daming... I'm afraid that kind of plantation that burns people's lives won't work. There will definitely be no such thing in Luzon in the future." With the current efficiency, I can’t make so much money. But sucrose is definitely the most valuable thing right now. I’m planning to find another place, which is also an island with a hot and humid climate, where I can grow sugar cane to supply Daming and other places. "

Li Shanchang said with a sullen face, "Master Zhang, you might as well explain it clearly, I am getting old and my brain is not good."

Zhang Ximeng said: "Brother Li, I mean, let's find an island in the Americas. Isn't Europe in a mess now! We get labor from Europe and send it to American plantations, let them produce sugar cane, and then sell it to Europe , or Persia and other places... how do you see this business?"

Li Shanchang was all about how much money he could make, and he didn't realize how interesting it would be to use Europeans as labor to grow sugar cane.

Li Shanchang pondered again and again, "Master Zhang, I'm already at this age, if you still want to play tricks on our family, you will have to turn into a ghost after the old man dies and take you away!"

Zhang Ximeng laughed loudly, "Even if we go to hell, I believe there are far more ghosts on my side than on your side!"

Chapter 9 and One

Li Shanchang was stunned for a moment, he seemed to have really gone to hell, and Bao Zheng's level of Hades, the fighting power of an honest gentleman is indeed much stronger than him.

If you think about it, you can't fight in the world, let alone underground.

So for Lao Li, it is better to live in peace and stability for a few more years and enjoy the last time, which is a worthwhile life.

While the two of them were chatting casually, Zhu Yuanzhang came back unexpectedly, and he was in a hurry, his face was full of joy.

"Mr. Zhang, Mr. Li, you two really should go out and have a look! Just take that rail carriage... From Beiping to Dagukou, the speed is fast, and it is comfortable and stable... We have never encountered such a comfortable carriage in all our life! Refreshing and vigorous!"

Lao Zhu was talking excitedly, a little thirsty, he picked up the teapot and poured a cup. As soon as he drank it, he felt the bitterness was unbearable. He frowned, and went to another pot, but it turned out to be milk tea, which was so sweet.

Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry, "You two, can't you make something that people can drink?"

Zhang Ximeng had no choice but to smile bitterly. He had written too many books and needed tea to refresh his mind, so the more he drank it, the more bitter it became. As for Li Shanchang, it was simply because he was getting old and his taste buds had degenerated, so he had to increase the dose of stimulation.

If he finds time to get him some cream puffs or something, Lao Li will love it forever and never forget it.

Zhang Ximeng could only pass Lao Zhu a pot of hot water and some Longjing tea for him to make himself.

Zhu Yuanzhang had no choice but to brew it properly, waiting for the tea to cool down while talking to Zhang Ximeng and Li Shanchang. He really realized the benefits of the rail carriage.

Steady, fast, and large volume.

"Let's look at the history books and say that the Qin Dynasty built straight roads to make it easier to deploy troops, which cost a lot of money... I want to ask you two, can you build rail carriages everywhere to facilitate the transportation of goods? Is it like the Qin Dynasty, consuming national power? , make a short-lived subjugation, or can it bring Daming to a higher level?"

After Lao Zhu finished speaking, he looked at these two, as the two strongest civil servants in the world, what advice could they have?

Zhang Ximeng smiled, "My lord, I actually mentioned the subjugation of the Qin Dynasty. There is only one reason for this matter, that is, Qin Shihuang miscalculated the national power, and he took the paper figures as the national power that can be used... The same mistake happened again. On the Sui Dynasty."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, seemingly puzzled.

At this time, Li Shanchang smiled and said: "The superior, the old minister will make a footnote to the words of the grand master... The fault of the Qin Dynasty he said was that before the unification of the world, the Qin Dynasty was not a big country. , all went smoothly. That’s why Qin has such a strong national power. When the first emperor ruled the world, the territory of the Great Qin increased sixfold, and the population increased fivefold... Qin Shihuang thought that these newly merged territories could be compared to the original The old Qin was the same. He mobilized soldiers and horses to serve, built the Great Wall, built the Lishan Mausoleum, built straight roads, and toured the world... The first emperor thought that his national power could be fully borne, but he didn’t know that after the reunification of the six kingdoms, no matter the people or the officials , are far inferior to the old land of Qin, and it is not surprising that he tried his best, and the world is in chaos."