The most reckless man in the Ming Dynasty

This is a very sad thing.

Even if the Ming Dynasty recaptured the Hetao, it would not be able to hold it at all.

Because today's Ming Dynasty's defense line in northern Xinjiang is all huddled within the Great Wall, and there is no way to defend the Loop!

Zhu Houzhao and Yang Tinghe also understood this truth, so they were very disappointed for a while.

"Just because we can't defend it now doesn't mean we can only watch helplessly."

Tang Hao took out a charcoal pen and drew a line on the map.

"The imperial court can immediately start building the 1,500-mile border wall starting from Dingbianying (Dingbian, Shaanxi) in the west and ending at Huangfuchuan (northeast of Fugu) in the east. It can complete the construction within three years and at the same time dispatch elite soldiers to execute it." "Search for Tao" and "Damage Nest" strategies, proactively enter the Hetao area to search and suppress the Mongols, and prevent them from using the Hetao as a springboard to attack Shaanxi, Shanxi, Ningxia and other places."

"When the side wall of this Great Wall is rebuilt, the imperial court can mobilize all its troops to attack its nest by land and water, and completely regain the Hetao!"

According to the current combat effectiveness of the Ming Dynasty soldiers, it is not difficult to regain the Hetao.

But the difficulty lies in how to hold on to this place after retaking the Loop. After all, the little Mongolian prince is a powerful figure. How could he watch such a fertile pasture and strategic location being taken away by the Ming Dynasty?

After all, the Hetao is a plain pasture and a natural battlefield for prairie cavalry. The Ming army did not have an advantage in fighting here, so they could only rely on the construction of fortifications, starting from Dingbianying (Dingbian, Shaanxi) in the west to Huangfuchuan (northeast of Fugu) in the east. )’s 1,500-mile border wall was the key to Ming’s recovery of the Hetao!

Zhu Houzhao always had a good strategic vision, and he realized this immediately.

"Chief Assistant, what's this plan?"

"Building a side wall, I think it's feasible!"

"This is a once and for all solution!"

Yang Tinghe frowned, his expression a little complicated.

"It is feasible, but building the border wall is not a day's work. Coupled with the loss of manpower and material resources, the government's financial expenditure is probably..."

"Don't worry!" Zhu Houzhao waved his hand, "Half will come from the national treasury, half will come from internal funds, and I will use my own money to build the border wall and regain the Loop. Is that okay?"

As soon as these words came out, even Tang Hao looked at him sideways.

This ridiculous emperor who was greedy for money and lust, never expected that there would be such a time when people would admire him with admiration.

In fact, the reason why Zhu Houzhao had the confidence to say this was thanks to Tang Hao's expanded financial avenues for him.

The annual commercial tax revenue from overseas trade in the East China Sea amounted to a large amount of silver, not to mention the gold and silver treasures shipped back from Japan, the value of which was simply inestimable.

Yang Tinghe looked at His Majesty the Emperor with dumbfounded eyes, feeling a little confused for a moment.

Spending your own money to build a border wall?

How much food did His Majesty the Emperor plunder from Japan?

Yang Tinghe is not stupid, of course he knows where the money and food come from.

However, since His Majesty the Emperor has said such words, it is naturally impossible for Yang Tinghe to refuse.

After all, the Hetao is indeed a strategic location. Since Borai forcibly occupied the Hetao, the Hetao has become the main starting base for the Mongolian tribes to harass the interior of the Ming Dynasty, and the "Tao bandits" have also become the main border trouble of the Ming Dynasty.

Why is the Ming Dynasty’s military expenditure so high?

Isn't it because after the Mongolian tribes occupied Hetao, they used it as a stronghold to rush left and right, march south and west, and frequently harassed the military towns along the border of the Ming Dynasty and the areas in the hinterland, burning, killing, looting and committing all kinds of evil!

However, after the Tumubao Incident, the Ming Dynasty weakened rapidly and was unable to regain the Hetao area. The most it could do was "search for Tao" and "destroy the nest" during the Tianshun and Chenghua periods.

Although Yang Tinghe was not good at military affairs, he did not lack a certain strategic vision.

After all, anyone with a discerning eye can see the importance of the Hetao. If the Ming Dynasty does not find a way to regain the Hetao, the nine sides will always face harassment and plunder by grassland barbarians, and military expenditures will continue to increase!

And once a unified force appears on the grassland and uses the Hetao as a springboard to attack Shaanxi, Shanxi, Ningxia and other places, then the Ming Dynasty is really in danger of collapse!

For example... now!

Therefore, even if it was for the sake of future generations, Yang Tinghe could not veto Tang Hao's proposal to build a border wall.

"A general should be dispatched as the trilateral commander-in-chief to oversee this matter full-time!"

"The first one is building side walls, the second one is searching for traps and destroying nests, and the third one is making contact with Yibu Lai and Mandu Lai!"

"So this general must not only know how to fight with soldiers, but also be resourceful and resourceful..."

As he spoke, Yang Tinghe turned his attention to Tang Hao.

Well, among the generals of the Beijing Army, the only one who meets the requirements is our Marquis of Zhongshan, who is both civil and military.

Zhu Houzhao also subconsciously looked at Tang Hao. In his heart, all the martial arts were inferior to his own.

What's more, the trilateral commander-in-chief has a high position and has the power to control the troops and horses of the three sides. Zhu Houzhao would definitely not be at ease if it were anyone else who went there.

Seeing the two people turning their attention to himself, Tang Hao replied angrily: "What do you want me to do? I'm going to Liaodong and I have to go there in person!"

"The situation in Liaodong is far more complicated than the Hetao, and it is no less important than the Hetao. If there is chaos in Liaodong, the country will be in danger of overthrowing!"

This is also an irrefutable fact.

"Then who does Tang Hou think can take on this important task?"

"Jinglubo Anguo!"

Tang Hao gave the reason.

"Anguo was born in the town of Beian. He studied hard since he was a child and was proficient in the history of the Spring and Autumn Period. In addition, he was excellent in martial arts, and was good at riding, riding and shooting with swords and spears. At the age of fifteen, he was invincible in defeating the Suide Guard. He was loyal to the imperial court and could serve as a guard. general!"

"Anguo...?" Zhu Houzhao nodded, "With both civil and military skills, he is indeed a good candidate."

Historically, Anguo was a dignified and rigorous man, with talents in both civil and military affairs. He managed border affairs conscientiously, gave simple orders, and was especially good at caring for soldiers. Many generals were willing to serve the country under his command. In the area he guarded, the enemy never dared to invade rashly. He was a rare general in the Hongzhi Zhengde Dynasty.

Yang Tinghe raised doubts and said in a deep voice: "The trilateral general governorship governs the military affairs of Shaanxi, Gansu, Yansui, and Ningxia, and controls the governors of Hexi, Hedong, and Shaanxi as well as Gansu, Liang, Su, Xi, Ningxia, Yansui, and Shinto The nine generals of Ling, Xing'an, and Guyuan are in high positions of power, and no one but an important official in the court can take office!"

The trilateral system of the Ming Dynasty began with the famous general Wang Yue. This is because after the northern border of Shaanxi was divided into three border areas: Yansui, Ningxia and Gansu, each town was ordered to independently assume the task of guarding the border within its jurisdiction. In case of war, there was no coordination with each other. In order to effectively consolidate the northwest border, the "Governor Shaanxi Trilateral Military Affairs Member", referred to as the Trilateral Governor, was established to take over its powers. This also shows that the border defense situation is serious and such an establishment is inevitable.

The management of the trilateral general system gradually became systematic. The core of this border system was the separation of powers between the civil prime minister headed by the general system, the military ministers in charge of the army, and the internal ministers supervising the army. Its essence was to strengthen the northwest military defense of the Ming Dynasty. capabilities, improve the defensive edge effect of each town association, and strengthen centralization of power.

However, the key point is that Wang Yue is not a martial artist, but a civil servant and gentry who has reached the rank of Jinshi. When he took up the post of the Trilateral General System, he took office as the censor of Zuodu.

After Wang Yue, the second trilateral leader of the Ming Dynasty was Yang Yiqing, the current Minister of War.

In other words, Yang Tinghe was reminding Tang Hao and Zhu Houzhao that the position of the Trilateral General System could only be held by civil servants and gentry, rather than by a martial gentry with both civil and military skills. This was something that the gentry and gentry would never allow.

When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he immediately became angry. Mongolia was about to be unified, and the Ming Dynasty was about to be kicked out. As a result, these damn courtiers were still fighting among themselves. Isn't it terrible?

But before His Majesty the Emperor could get angry, Tang Hao directly gave reasonable suggestions.

"The tripartite system is nothing more than the separation of powers between the civil prime minister headed by the general system, the military ministers commanding the army, and the internal ministers supervising the army."

"The commander-in-chief of the army and military affairs is temporarily designated as Jinglubo Anguo, who is fully responsible for dispatching troops and generals to take charge of the war. As for the prime minister and civil servants, His Majesty recommends Wang Qiong, the right minister of the Ministry of Revenue!"

Wang Qiong?

Hearing this name, a figure flashed in Zhu Houzhao's mind.

This Wang Qiong has been a Jinshi for twenty years in Chenghua. He has served in Chenghua, Hongzhi and Zhengde dynasties. He has served as director of the Ministry of Industry, doctor of Dushui, participating in politics, and chief envoy. He has a bright resume and outstanding abilities. He is indeed a talented official. .

However, Yang Tinghe frowned, because Wang Qiong, like Jiao Fang, was good at gaining power and would do whatever it took to advance in his official career, which was not tolerated by the scholars.

In the second year of Zhengde, Wang Qiong bribed the eunuch Liu Jin to enter the court and serve as the left minister of the household department.

At that time, Prince Heng's Mansion had land awarded by the court, which was too barren for cultivation. Prince Heng Zhu Youyi still ordered the people to pay rent according to normal conditions, and in turn falsely accused Zhao Xian and other ordinary people of encroaching on his land. Wang Qiong went to investigate in person and took the land next to it. The land from the common people was seized and given to King Heng, and Zhao Xian and others were sent to the border to serve as troops. Many local people resented Wang Qiong, and his reputation was ruined!

It's just that you don't enforce the law impartially, but you cling to the powerful and persecute the people. What kind of logic is this?

Civil servants and gentry all have status and status, and they all want face. Even if they are interested in an official career, they will pay more or less attention to the impact and will not do anything too obvious and make others laugh.

But someone like Wang Qiong who deliberately pleases the powerful regardless of his face is really looked down upon, not to mention that Wang Qiong is also defined as an eunuch.

"Your Majesty...this Wang Qiong..."

"That's it!" Zhu Houzhao was too lazy to talk nonsense to Yang Tinghe, "Wang Qiong will be the trilateral commander-in-chief, and Anguo will be the conquest general. The two of them will be fully responsible for the battle for the Hetao, and they will take office immediately!"

After making his decision, Zhu Houzhao looked at Yang Tinghe.

"Master Yang, Mongolia is about to be unified. I have no intention of continuing to fight with the civil servants and gentry!"

"It's best for them to cooperate with the imperial court honestly and strive to regain the Hetao to avoid future troubles. If they don't cooperate, I will never be merciful again!"

Hearing this, Yang Tinghe was shocked and his expression became solemn.

"Your Majesty is wise, I understand."

When the Ming Dynasty encounters a strong enemy, everything must be focused on preserving the country and the country!

Whoever dares to continue fighting for power at this time is ignoring his ancestors and the country, and His Majesty the Emperor will never spare him!