Although Chongzhen asked this question in a very tactful way, the question was very sharp.
The old fox Fan Jingwen instantly understood what Chongzhen meant. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Whoever is beneficial to the court, I will side with him."
"Is this just your opinion? Or... do other officials think so too?"
"I dare not make any assumptions, but I think most officials would think so."
"The second question," Chongzhen continued, "After returning to Beijing this time, Lord Li will most likely retire and return to his hometown. I plan to make you the Prime Minister."
"I am terrified!" Fan Jingwen bowed hurriedly.
"Don't be anxious or panic," Chongzhen said with a smile on his face. "During his tenure as the Prime Minister, Lord Li did three major things: fighting against bandits and defending the capital, rebuilding the Beijing camp, and collecting taxes!"
"If Minister Fan becomes the Prime Minister, what will be the first thing he does?"
"Prepare for the pacification of Liao." Fan Jingwen took a deep breath and slowly said what he had kept in his heart for many years.
"Ping Liao?" Chongzhen hadn't heard this word for a long time.
He even thought that the civil officials in the court had accepted the current situation.
In the eyes of some people, since Liaodong was spending more than it earned, it would be better to maintain the status quo to reduce the pressure on the court.
Chongzhen stood up and paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back.
To pacify Liao is not just talk.
Not only do they have to spend a huge amount of money and food, but they also have to be prepared for casualties.
"Minister Fan has a plan to pacify Liao?"
Fan Jingwen smiled ashamedly, "I guess so, but it cannot be implemented yet, we can only prepare for it."
"What do you mean by considered?"
"Because the strategy to pacify Liao was not proposed by me, but by someone else."
"Who?" Chongzhen stopped.
"The strategy of pacifying Liao implemented by Yuan Keli, then governor of Denglai."
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