Upon hearing Bi Ziyan's words, the other ministers all nodded in agreement.
"That's true."
"Then why did His Majesty suddenly summon us?"
They discussed it as they hurried toward the Imperial Study.
As soon as I entered the room, I saw several eunuchs bustling around, hanging up a new map.
Those who know their stuff can recognize it at a glance: it's the Kunyu Wanguo Quantu (Complete Map of the World) from decades ago.
"Why did Your Majesty bring this thing out again?"
Wang Chengen was directing the eunuchs when he heard this and replied with a smile, "His Majesty ordered us to find it."
"Actually, the map was found a long time ago, but recently His Majesty summoned Johann Adam Schall von Bell to the palace to correct some of the map's errors."
"The new map was finally drawn a few days ago, and that's when they let us hang it up."
The ministers sneered, "These foreign devils only know these strange tricks and gimmicks."
But they were just saying it casually; after they finished, they went over to look at the map themselves.
"Hmm, this is our big Ming, why does he look so small?"
"Rather than saying our Ming Dynasty is small, it's more accurate to say that the world is truly that big?"
"Heh, what world? Apart from our Celestial Empire, all other places are barbarian lands. No matter how big they are, they are not worth mentioning."
Wang Chengen almost burst out laughing when he heard this.
He thought to himself, "Luckily, Master Gao isn't here, otherwise he would definitely lecture the ministers if he heard these words."
Just then, Zhu Youjian walked in; he hadn't heard what the ministers had been saying.
So as soon as they entered, he told them to rise and then went directly to the map, pointing in the direction of Jiangnan.
"I am determined to open the sea, and to accomplish this great task, the Jiangnan region must be stable."
"Therefore, I intend to send an imperial envoy and troops to escort him to Jiangnan."
What do you gentlemen think?
The ministers exchanged glances, but didn't take the matter to heart.
"The gentry of Jiangnan are not so easy to deal with."
"What use is a mere imperial envoy and a troop of soldiers!"
"Fine, since the young emperor won't listen to advice, let him run into a brick wall on his own."
So they all shook their heads.
"We have no objection."
Bi Ziyan hesitated for a moment, but in the end he didn't say anything.
Zhu Youjian took in their expressions, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.
"Very well! Since none of the ministers have any objections, let's do it this way."
"Minister of War, immediately issue an order to Zhou Yanru in Shaanxi and Gansu, instructing him to take the newly recruited able-bodied men and assemble in Guanzhong."
"Then we went east along the Yellow River, and then south along the Grand Canal into the Jiangnan region."
"In addition, I will send Li Ruolian south to train troops in Jiangnan."
Upon hearing this, the ministers were dumbfounded.
"Why do you say that, Your Majesty?"
Zhu Youjian smiled faintly and said, "Didn't you all agree to send troops to protect the Imperial Envoy?"
"I feel that a new dynasty brings a new atmosphere. Since this year is the first year of Chongzhen's reign, the imperial envoy's guards cannot be reduced."
"Let's just send those 70,000 to 80,000 soldiers over there as guards."
"So that the people of Jiangnan will not look down on the imperial envoy and delay the court's opening of the sea."
The ministers were immediately alarmed.
"Tens of thousands of troops are marching over there. Are they here to protect the imperial envoy? They're clearly going to start a massacre!"
Immediately, someone knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
He spoke with genuine sincerity.
"If Your Majesty wishes to send troops to protect the Imperial Envoy, you only need to mobilize a few hundred Imperial Guards."
"Even if there are concerns about the safety of the imperial envoy, at most a few thousand garrison troops from the capital would be dispatched. How could new recruits be sent?"
"Yes, people from the Northwest have always been rough and uncouth. If they were to go to the Jiangnan region, where culture and refinement are flourishing, I'm afraid they would lose their civility."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian stared coldly at the minister and asked in a deep voice:
What does "undignified" mean?
"In the past few years, the northwestern provinces have contributed manpower and silver to help the imperial court defend against border troubles."
"However, various places in Jiangnan have repeatedly defaulted on tax payments."
"Where exactly is this barbaric land?"
The minister was speechless, unsure of what to say.
Just as Zhu Youjian was about to press his advantage, he heard Bi Ziyan speak:
"Is His Majesty sending troops south to open up the seas, or to crack down on the scholar-officials?"
Bi Ziyan was from Shandong, so he didn't have much sympathy for Jiangnan.
But he was afraid that things would get chaotic in Jiangnan.
"Your Majesty, the scholar-officials in Jiangnan are indeed becoming too powerful to control, but rashly launching a massacre would also be detrimental to the country."
With Bi Ziyan leading the way, the other ministers quickly chimed in.
"What Lord Bi said is very true. If we really take action against the gentry, Jiangnan will be in chaos."
"If the south is in chaos, how can the imperial court remain stable?"
"We still suggest that Your Majesty proceed slowly and methodically."
Zhu Youjian stared at them for a long time, and he understood their stance.
"Apart from Bi Ziyan, most of the other ministers have received benefits from Jiangnan, which is why they speak up for them."
"Hehe, I'll replace you all sooner or later."
He suddenly laughed and said, "Have you all misunderstood?"
"I ordered the Shaanxi and Gansu troops to go south, not to start a massacre, but simply to have them escort the imperial envoy."
"At the same time, the Jiangnan region is prosperous, and the army can find food and raise military funds locally, thus relieving the pressure on the imperial court."
"As for targeting the gentry... haha, I don't like killing people."
The ministers naturally didn't believe it, and they were all complaining in their hearts.
"Oh right, you don't like killing people, but Wei Zhongxian and the Donglin Party were killed on our orders, okay?"
But they didn't say anything on the surface.
After all, it was an undeniable fact that the imperial court was short of money at the time.
Sending new recruits to Jiangnan to raise military funds locally is not an outrageous idea.
After hesitating for a moment, they nodded and said, "Then we have nothing more to say."
At this point, the Minister of Justice finally arrived, albeit late.
He was somewhat bewildered to see all the other ministers kneeling on the ground.
What happened?
Zhu Youjian smiled and waved his hand: "Alright, since none of you ministers have anything to say, let's do it this way."
After all the officials had left, a hint of murderous intent flashed in Zhu Youjian's eyes.
"Hmph, it seems these scholar-officials of Jiangnan really deserve to be killed!"
He said to Wang Chengen in the corner:
"How are you doing with the things I asked you to do?"
Wang Chengen quickly pulled out a set of books from the side.
"Your Majesty, this is what you asked me to summarize. I have already copied two sets. This is one set, and the other set has been carefully preserved."
It turned out that a few months ago, Zhu Youjian had asked Wang Chengen to contact Gao Qingyun's students and have them secretly record the content of Gao Qingyun's classes.
Then let Wang Chengen summarize it, remove the parts that they really couldn't understand, and compile the rest into a book.
This matter was highly confidential and could not be handled by other eunuchs, so only Wang Chengen could do it himself.
So after several months, I only managed to copy these two sets.
Zhu Youjian glanced at it a few times and nodded in satisfaction.
"You have done a good job, and I will reward you accordingly."
He ignored Wang Chengen's thanks and instead picked through the books, setting aside physics and chemistry books and keeping only the political book.
Zhu Youjian flipped through the book, then said to Wang Chengen, "Give this book to Li Ruolian and tell him to read it carefully."
"Once we get to Jiangnan, he'll naturally know what to do!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com