Fan Jingwen seemed to be asking for Chongzhen's advice, but in fact he was setting a trap for Chongzhen.
No matter whose views Chongzhen supports, the interests of others will be harmed.
This led to an unstable relationship between the ruler and his subjects.
Did Fan Jingwen do it on purpose?
unimportant.
Because he did nothing wrong, Chongzhen was the only one who could make the final decision on this matter.
Looking at the shrewd Fan Jingwen, Chongzhen chuckled.
He likes the feeling of competing wits and courage with these old foxes.
After all, only smart people would do this.
I am not afraid of all the civil and military officials in the court being smart, I am afraid of all the civil and military officials in the court being fools.
Smart people can only bring disaster to the country at most, while fools will ruin the country.
Compared with bringing disaster to the country, misleading the country is the most deadly.
"Minister Fan, what is the cabinet's attitude?" Chongzhen asked, staring at Fan Jingwen.
"The cabinet means that a port can be set up in Nanzhili, but we need to be cautious! From selecting officials, building ports, to collecting commercial taxes, we need to be cautious!" Fan Jingwen replied.
"Well, let's do as the cabinet says!" Chongzhen answered casually.
"This..." Fan Jingwen was stunned.
Adding a port is no small matter, and he did not expect Chongzhen to agree so readily.
However, Chongzhen did not give him a chance to respond and continued, "After the court meeting, the cabinet will draft a charter to make clear arrangements for the port of Songjiang Prefecture, especially for the collection of commercial taxes. There must not be any loopholes!"
"Your Majesty...will obey your Majesty's order!" Fan Jingwen had no choice but to lead the other ministers in bowing.
Chongzhen nodded and looked at Wang Chengen.
After receiving the order, Wang Chengen said loudly: "My fellow ministers! In August of the 19th year of our dynasty, the thief Li Chuang died in Shaanxi. In March of the 20th year of our dynasty, the thief Xian died in Lulin Mountain! Although there are still bandits causing chaos in various places after the death of these two bandits, the scale is no longer as large as before. Under the pursuit and suppression of the garrisons in various places, they have basically been pacified."
"After two years of governance, the people have been able to rest and recuperate."
"Now, it's time to consider recovering Liaodong!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the court quickly quieted down.
Fan Jingwen raised his head tremblingly and looked at Wang Chengen and Chongzhen with excited eyes.
He had waited too long for this day.
Today he is over sixty years old and his health is getting worse day by day.
At most, I can still work for another five or six years.
After five or six years, his health could no longer bear it, and even if he wanted to share the worries of the court, he was unable to do anything for it.
If the imperial court did not send troops to recover Liaodong, he would probably become the most incompetent prime minister of the Ming Dynasty.
After all, he accomplished nothing during his tenure as Prime Minister.
but.
If Liaodong could be recovered during this period, it would be a qualitative improvement to his personal reputation.
"What? Have you become accustomed to this kind of pampered life and forgotten that Liaodong was the old territory of the Ming Dynasty?" Wang Chengen asked in a sharp voice.
"Your Majesty!" Fan Jingwen bowed deeply to Chongzhen with great respect, "I have waited for this day for a long time. Since the eunuch mentioned Liaodong, I will dare to say a few words."
"Yeah." Chongzhen nodded.
"In fact, the court has been preparing to recover Liaodong. Especially in the two previous expeditions to the grasslands, not only did we drive away the Chahar tribe, but we also subdued the Western Tumed and Ordos tribes! In addition, your majesty sent Yuan Shu to Denglai as governor to prepare for the pacification of Liaodong."
"Yes," Chongzhen nodded. "Placing Liao is extremely important to me and the Ming Dynasty, so my strategy is to divide the Mongolian tribes and make the Jiannu lose their allies. Secondly, let the Jiannu see the power of the Ming Dynasty navy and pull them into the trap of building a navy."
"It has been nearly a year since the navy first dispatched. I feel the time is ripe to consider pacifying Liao."
"When does Your Majesty plan to send troops to Liaodong?" Fan Jingwen asked.
Chongzhen frowned at first, then relaxed his brows.
He frowned because he felt that it was inappropriate for Fan Jingwen to ask in front of all the ministers. Once there was a spy in the court who spread the news, the Jiannu would be able to prepare in advance.
But he soon realized that he was overthinking.
At least 100,000 infantry and cavalry are needed to recapture Liaodong!
Including logistics, various miscellaneous troops, navy and other arms, the total force can reach 150,000 to 200,000.
Such a large-scale troop movement could not be kept secret in any way.
Secondly, food and fodder must be sent ahead before troops move.
The food, artillery, gunpowder, projectiles, armor, and arrows needed to recover Liaodong...
The total cost of all these materials would be an astronomical figure.
These things cannot be bought with money. You need to spend money in advance to arrange their production and check and put them into storage.
Wait until the imperial order to send troops is issued before transporting them to the front line.
The Jiannu army must have noticed the mobilization of so many supplies.
In response to Fan Jingwen's question, Chongzhen did not answer directly, but asked in return: "When do you think it would be appropriate to recover Liaodong?"
"I think..." Fan Jingwen thought for a moment, "Next year or the year after."
"Why?" Chongzhen asked again.
"The imperial court is currently planning to implement currency reforms across the country, and the people are feeling a bit...impulsive! Sending troops to Liaodong at this time is definitely not a wise move!"
"Wait until the currency reform is completed in the second half of next year or the first half of the year after, and the rear will be stable! It will be most appropriate to send troops to Liaodong at that time!" Fan Jingwen replied.
"Well," Chongzhen nodded again, "Minister Fan is right, but I think we can make some preparations in advance."
"May I ask what your majesty is preparing for?"
Chongzhen stood up and walked back and forth for a few steps, then said leisurely, "In the 17th year of our dynasty, Wu Sangui led 300,000 soldiers and civilians to leave Ningyuan and return to Shanhaiguan! Now that five years have passed, it's time to send him out to find out what's going on outside the Shanhaiguan Pass, right?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
