After Zhu Youjian issued the order, the eunuchs rushed off to deliver it.
However, just like the previous times, the Ministry of Justice was located further away, so it was Bi Ziyan from the Ministry of Revenue who came to see the emperor a step earlier.
"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."
Bi Ziyan's face was full of joy.
"Your Majesty, I've heard that the recent plundering of the southeast yielded tens of millions of taels of silver? What do you think of this..."
As soon as he opened his mouth, Zhu Youjian knew what he was thinking.
"That old codger is probably trying to get me to allocate some silver to his Ministry of Revenue again!"
"And why did he speak so rudely? What do you mean by 'plunder'? It's clearly torture!"
However, Zhu Youjian thought about it again and realized that Bi Ziyan was indeed a loyal minister.
He always brought this up because the Ministry of Revenue really didn't have much money.
In addition, he considered that the events in Jiangnan would definitely have repercussions.
Although the Donglin Party was purged, there must still be some people in the court who sympathize with the gentry.
Now, give the Ministry of Revenue a batch of silver to make up for the salaries owed to officials in the capital over the years.
"They've taken my money, how can they continue to insult me?"
"After all, he who eats another's food is bound to him, and he who takes another's money is bound to him."
So Zhu Youjian smiled and spoke:
"Alright, Minister Bi, I know what you want to say."
"Once Zhou Yanru has escorted the gold and silver back to the capital, I will..." He hesitated for a moment before continuing:
"How about I allocate three million taels of silver to your Ministry of Revenue?"
This number was still somewhat different from what Bi Ziyan had expected, but the fact that the emperor did not reject him outright this time was already a pleasant surprise.
He quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise."
"However, Your Majesty would be even more wise if you could give more silver."
"You old fool!" Zhu Youjian chuckled a few times, but didn't respond to the remark.
Instead, he spoke to Bi Ziyan about serious matters.
“Minister Bi, this time, in addition to the financial gains, the court has also acquired two million mu of land by resolving the issue of the scholar-officials in the southeast.”
"What do you think we should do with these fertile fields?"
Upon hearing this, Bi Ziyan immediately understood the emperor's meaning.
"Your Majesty, are you perhaps planning to allocate land to those new recruits?"
"According to the ancestral system of the Ming Dynasty, each household of soldiers in the garrison should be allocated fifty mu of land."
"The two million mu of fertile land in Jiangnan, plus the more than one million mu of land owned by Prince Fu, is just enough to distribute to those seventy thousand people."
"only……"
At this point, Bi Ziyan hesitated.
Zhu Youjian raised his hand and asked, "But what?"
"Minister Bi, I summoned you here to inquire about this matter. Just speak freely!"
Bi Ziyan then continued speaking.
"Your Majesty, I do not agree with distributing land to those soldiers now."
He organized his thoughts.
"Most of those soldiers were from the Northwest. Once they were allocated fertile land in the Central Plains and Jiangnan, they were naturally grateful for His Majesty's kindness."
"In the coming decades, it will become the most reliable pillar of the court."
"But it will take the imperial court several years to train them into elite troops."
"During this period, they acquired land, became officials and soldiers, and received military pay from the imperial court. They must have wanted to... marry and have children."
"If we ask them to leave the pass and fight the Jurchens again, will they still be able to fight?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian immediately sensed that something was amiss.
"Then why can't we fight?"
"I remember a saying: 'Those who have stable property have stable minds.'"
"The most capable soldiers during the Han and Tang dynasties were all from respectable families in Guanzhong. Why are they not as good as me?"
Bi Ziyan gave a bitter smile after hearing this.
He thought to himself, "It's been eight or nine hundred years since the Tang Dynasty, and more than a thousand years since the Han Dynasty."
Things have changed a long time ago!
"If those new recruits are truly allowed to live a good life, they will be absolutely loyal to the court and the emperor, and will be able to strike hard against all kinds of refugees and rebels."
"But expecting them to fight the Jurchens to the death..."
Bi Ziyan gently shook his head.
He said earnestly to Zhu Youjian:
"Has Your Majesty ever heard of the phrase 'extremely vicious'?"
"The wild beasts in these mountains are most ferocious when they are hungry."
"The same goes for soldiers; only those who are poor but eager to get ahead are the most reliable."
"If Your Majesty wishes to use the new recruits to pacify Liaodong, you cannot offer them too many benefits now."
"As for this land, it's not that it can't be divided, but it must be used as a reward for pacifying Liaodong, and we'll use these things to keep them in check."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian finally understood Bi Ziyan's meaning.
"I feel like I've heard those old man's words somewhere before..."
"By the way, what Master Gao usually talks about, like lying flat and involution, seems to be the same thing."
According to Bi Ziyan, the idea was to use those lands as a carrot dangling in front of the soldiers to entice them to fight the Jurchens to the death.
"This tactic is a bit unethical, but it might actually work."
After pondering for a moment, Zhu Youjian finally made up his mind.
"It's more important to pacify the Jurchens. I'll play the bad guy this once!"
He looked up and said, "What you say is true, Bi Aiqing. Then we will do as you say."
"Once the army returns to the capital, I will issue an edict ordering the soldiers to train diligently."
"When we attack the Jurchens and recover Liaodong in the future, I will reward those who have made contributions with land as a reward."
Upon hearing this, Bi Ziyan felt a surge of excitement.
He said, "If Your Majesty adopts this strategy, it probably won't take five years at all. Liaodong can be pacified within three years!"
Zhu Youjian also smiled.
"If this can really be achieved, then I will have done right by my ancestors."
Perhaps because he said that, something else suddenly came to his mind.
"By the way, Zheng Yiguan will soon be heading north with the army."
"Pi Island is very important; it can be used to harass the Jurchens' rear."
"With Zheng Yiguan's help, the imperial court can easily reinforce Pi Island with troops."
"At that time, we will split our forces into two groups, which will be enough to make the Jurchens unable to attend to both ends."
"So, in your opinion, how should I deal with this Zheng Yiguan?"
Bi Ziyan casually said, "Your Majesty is a man of exceptional talent. As long as Zheng Yiguan meets Your Majesty, he will naturally submit to you."
Why bother caring about his thoughts?
This flattery was so natural, and it came from Bi Ziyan's mouth.
Even Zhu Youjian got a little cocky.
"Too."
"Alright, Minister Bi, you may leave now."
Just then, the Minister of War finally arrived, albeit late.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects... um?"
He glanced at Bi Ziyan walking out, and at the emperor turning to leave.
"What's going on? Am I late again?"
"No, what does this mean? Just because our Ministry of Justice is a little far away, does that mean I can't discuss politics?"
The Minister of War was helpless, but had nothing to say.
I could only walk a few steps faster to catch up with Bi Ziyan and ask him cautiously:
"Lord Bi, what exactly did His Majesty want to discuss with us when he summoned us?"
After thinking for a moment, Bi Ziyan decided not to hide it from him.
The Minister of War will find out about the matter we just discussed sooner or later.
They even used fertile land as bait, kept soldiers busy with rigorous training, and then went to fight the Jurchens to the death.
We also need the Minister of War to help us.
So he quickly began to recount what had just happened.
Upon hearing this, the Minister of War first smiled with satisfaction.
"His Majesty is indeed a wise and enlightened young ruler."
But by the time he heard the last part, the smile on his face had frozen.
"Hmph, Zheng Yiguan is nothing but a pirate. The fact that the imperial court was able to grant him amnesty is already a blessing he has prayed for for several lifetimes."
Why does Your Majesty value him so much?
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