Chapter 570: The Emperor's Request, the Prime Minister's Wrath

This era belongs to the Ming Dynasty.

Counting back thousands of years, the era also belonged exclusively to the Central Plains.

The history books are filled with stories of nations being destroyed one after another.

But it cannot be stopped. Since the Three Dynasties, the Han Dynasty in the Central Plains has long stood proudly at the top of the world. As the only overlord of this world, it controls the universe.

The Rong people are gone.

The Huns are gone.

Mongolia is gone.

And the Han family is still there!
Every time the Han people put down their sickles and picked up iron swords, the world would undergo a major change.

The Rong people went west, the Huns went west, and the Mongols went west.

On this vast land, thousands of miles away in Europe, the mystery and future of the Eastern Empire are constantly spread.

They called the Mongols conquerors and the great fear.

The Mongols were nothing more than defeated generals defending the Han Dynasty.

Heavenly Khan.

More than 800 years ago, this was the title used to describe the great Han Dynasty, which had reached the pinnacle of its civil and military achievements.

Within the four seas and in the eight wildernesses.

Under all heaven, the Han family reigns supreme!
In the past, in the Chang'an city, in the 108 wards, in the Taiji Palace, on the high platform, the barbarians lowered their heads to the music of the King of Qin breaking the enemy's formation, raised their hands that were tightly grasping the reins into the pose of swallows, and let their legs clamped around the horses' bodies and circled in arcs on the ground.

now.

This scene seems to have appeared in the eyes of the Han rulers again after hundreds of years.

Borjigin Altan's eldest son Xinaihuang Taiji died in Hetao. His second son Buyan Taiji led his fifth son Baolin Taiji and the Tuman tribe leader Borjigin Tumen's second son Zaisang Wuer and third son Boyan Wuer to form the head of the dance offering group and also became the leaders in presenting the title of Tian Khan.

The captured fourth son of Altan Khan, Bingtu Taiji, was unwilling to submit to the Ming Dynasty because he was dissatisfied with it.

So, his head remained forever outside the Wuchuan City at the northern foot of the Yin Mountains.

These are the bloodlines of the Borjigin family.

Borjigin.

Meaning grey eyes.

The founding emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, Temujin Borjigin, the man on horseback who was revered as Genghis Khan but only knew how to shoot eagles with a bow, was from this family.

The bloodline of Borjigin is the most orthodox inheritance of the Mongolian Golden Family.

now.

Finally, they lowered their proud heads in front of the Han emperor.

In the Huangji Palace.

The Ming officials remained silent.

But an atmosphere and emotion that is different from the past is growing and spreading silently but rapidly.

This is a glorious day for the Ming Dynasty.

Some opportunistic officials, who belonged to the increasingly weak and declining old party, stood up immediately.

"Our emperor is holy and divine, with power and prestige throughout the country, and his name is known to all four corners. He is a saint of literature and martial arts, and his country is stable. The king's army has conquered the north, and the chiefs have surrendered and presented the Khan. This is due to the clear justice of heaven, the protection of heaven, and the benevolence of the emperor."

"Congratulations to Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, please accept the title of Tian Khan!"

This was a purely speculative act and had nothing to do with court struggles.

As this man began to ask for advice, more and more officials stood up and asked the emperor to give up the title of Heavenly Khan.

however.

The six cabinet ministers at the front of the civil service line remained silent.

Although Li Chunfang was somewhat reluctant in his heart, since the first person to speak was a member of the Qingliu Old Party, then the credit for Emperor Natian Khan would naturally belong to their Qingliu Old Party, which was a good thing.

At least at a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the clean stream in the court, it can be considered a good thing. Perhaps it can make the emperor relax his harsh treatment of the clean stream a little.

However, Gao Gong, the Prime Minister, frowned.

In the past few days, as the Northern Expedition Army returned to the capital, his thoughts became more and more sad.

The emperor became more and more autocratic, and his influence on him became smaller and smaller.

I am clearly the Prime Minister of the Cabinet and the master of the emperor when he was in the palace, but now the emperor talks to me less and less about state affairs. It is no longer like before when he would ask me about everything: What do you think, Master Gao?

This was the case when Yan Shaoting was recently conferred the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince.

Today, outside the Yongding Gate, the Dragon and Tiger General Yan Hu was enthroned as the Earl of Wuchuan.

This is how Yan Shaoting was conferred the title of Minister of Rites outside the Huangji Hall.

just now.

This is especially true when Mongolian captives offer the title of Heavenly Khan!

Gao Gong absolutely did not believe that it was entirely the idea of ​​these captured Mongols to offer the title of Heavenly Khan to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

It's just a failed war.

Just a horse farm that was not important to Mongolia was lost.

It was just a new border defense line connected by the Yinshan Qin Great Wall and the Six Garrisons of the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Over the years, the Mongols have moved south and fled north.

As long as they lie dormant for a few decades, the Mongols will still have the opportunity to march south again.

He would never believe that the son of the most powerful leader of the Altan tribe on the grassland would be so willing to bow to the emperor of the Ming Dynasty and offer the title of Heavenly Khan, which had been discontinued for more than 800 years.

Gao Gong's gaze lingered on Yan Shaoting for a moment.

Afterwards, he silently stared at the Emperor who was sitting high on the dragon throne.

this moment.

Gao Gong already knew it in his mind.

All of this is just the demands of the new emperor.

The emperor needs to have a reputation for the civil and military achievements of his ancestors.

For this reason, nothing is more practical and useful than obtaining the title of Heavenly Khan offered by the enemy after a great victory.

If all he wanted was the reputation of an emperor, Gao Gong could have taken it easy.

But if we take into account everything the emperor has done since he ascended the throne, we get a different answer.

The emperor has become increasingly independent. He is no longer willing to listen to the opinions of his teacher and the prime minister of the empire, and is becoming more and more opinionated and assertive.

at this point.

This is what Gao Gong could not tolerate.

His autocratic and domineering behavior is not directed at any particular person.

But everyone here!

Even if you are an emperor, you should be honest and high-handed and rule the country without any hesitation.

this moment.

Faced with the loss of control of the emperor and the court, Gao Gong became more and more annoyed.

This feeling of being out of control made him extremely angry.

And this is a situation he would never allow to occur.

But at this moment...

Gao Gong was helpless.

In the crowd, Yan Shaoting silently glanced at Gao Gong's figure with a meaningful smile on his face.

He always knew that Xu Jie was wrong, Gao Gong was wrong, and even Zhang Juzheng was wrong. They stubbornly believed that they could control everything by themselves.

Even the villain Xu Jie had thought about using the idea of ​​a figurehead monarch for these ultimate civil officials.

Gao Gong is the heir.

Zhang Juzheng developed the concept of a figurehead monarch to its peak.

But they were all wrong.

Because the emperor cannot be treated like an ordinary person.

Because the emperor has already transcended the scope of normal people.

Just like adolescent children, the more they are suppressed and controlled, the greater and stronger the backlash will be.

He clearly remembered the traditional rural education he received many years ago.

It is no punishment to coax someone to death.

Even Dayu did not use the method of blocking to control floods, but chose to dredge and go with the flow.

This is also the biggest difference between him and all other officials.

The current conflicts in the court all originate from this.

Just because... our paths are different.

And on the throne.

Faced with the surrender of enemies and the advice of his ministers, the emperor finally accepted the title of Heavenly Khan after some implicit refusal and self-humility.

But after the emperor nodded, he issued an oral order.

There was cheering in the entire Huangji Palace.

The sound spread outside, and before the officials who could not enter the main hall understood what was going on, the eunuchs had already delivered the news.

moment.

The entire Forbidden City was plunged into a sea of ​​cheers.

Amid the endless cheers, the arched brows were so high that they almost broke the brow bones.

His hands, hidden under his official robe, were clenched into fists and trembling slightly.

The emperor and his ministers are one, but the emperor and the prime minister are in opposition.

This is a struggle between imperial power and prime ministerial power.

Although Emperor Taizu abolished the left and right prime ministers, the current chief minister of the cabinet is equivalent to the prime minister and controls the world.

This was undoubtedly a shock to Gao Gong, who had always held the idea of ​​a figurehead in his heart.

When the ruler is strong, his ministers are weak.

That's why.

Until the end of the palace banquet in Huangji Hall, Buyan Taiji and others each received the official position of the Governor's Office awarded by the Ming Dynasty. The cabinet and the six ministries and nine officials moved to Wenhua Hall to discuss matters. Gao Gong's face was silent and he did not show any joy.

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

A huge feng shui table was placed in front of everyone, and the place in the hall where a table should have been placed for the emperor and his ministers to discuss matters or hold daily lectures was replaced with a huge sand table.

Whether it is geomancy or sand table, they all spread out around Hetao and Yinshan as the core.

The Governor-General of the Beijing Camp Military Affairs and Marquis of Zhenyuan, Gu Huan, held a long pole and pointed to certain areas on the sand table from time to time.

"According to the military strategy proposed by Shao Bao Yan, our dynasty has now recovered Hetao and must strictly guard this place. This is because although our dynasty has many horse farms, such as the horse farms established in Lianghuai, Hedong, Yanshan, etc., the horses they produce are often not satisfactory. However, Hetao is an area with abundant water and grass, and has always been a place for breeding good horses. Defending Hetao can solve our dynasty's need for horses and catch up with the war horses ridden by the Mongols, and then our dynasty's troops can resume the Second Ancestor's expedition to Mobei."

This illustrates the importance of Hetao.

Everyone present nodded, but there was a hint of helplessness on their faces.

In the past, the Central Plains controlled Hetao, Hexi and Qinghai, and did not have to worry about the source of war horses.

But before today, these places were not under the control of the imperial court.

Now that we have the best horse farm like Hetao, we naturally cannot lose it again.

Gu Huan gently moved the long pole in his hand to the north, glanced at Yan Shaoting, and then looked at the emperor with a smile on his face: "What Yan Shaobao wants to do is to rebuild the Great Wall of Yinshan in the north of Yinshan Mountain, based on the Great Wall of Qin. Although the journey is long, it does not require too much investment due to the terrain of Yinshan Mountain and the Great Wall of Qin as a foundation. Except for the important passes, which need to be built with rammed earth, bricks and stones, the rest can be rebuilt with earth and stones on the spot. However, Yan Shaobao proposed to rebuild the Six Towns of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Because it is located outside the Great Wall, it is necessary to station troops and cultivate farmland, and relocate the people, so a strong city is needed. The Six Towns here are not just six cities. According to the system of the Northern Wei Dynasty, a citadel must be built between the cities, and soldiers and horses must be stationed to prevent the Six Towns from being besieged by the enemy army and difficult to communicate. The cost here has been discussed with the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Works. It may cost three million yuan in money and grain, and 300,000 conscriptions and corvées."

It cost three million in cash and three hundred thousand in corvee labor.

Everyone in the hall had tense expressions, looked hesitant, and frowned.

Gu Huan quickly explained, "However, if the Great Wall north of Yinshan Mountain is defended, Hetao will be safe. Moreover, the three towns of Guyuan, Yansui and Shanxi will no longer have to face the Mongolian invasion directly, and the money and grain here can be saved, which used to be spent every year. As for Liuzhen City, troops can be stationed there. Even if the court does not march north, it can still support Xuanfu, Datong, Ningxia, Gansu and other towns from the east and west. And although Liuzhen City is north of Yinshan Mountain and in the southern part of the desert, crops can be grown around the city to supplement the food supply of the nine borders with Hetao."

After finally saying everything, Gu Huan's face was tense and he looked around.

He was afraid that after hearing this, someone would say in public that the country was wasting too much money and was warlike.

Zhu Xizhong, one of the three dukes present, turned to look at Gao Yao, the Minister of Revenue, and said, "Minister Gao, the Ministry of Revenue has made a lot of money in recent years. Can it afford this expenditure now?"

What he said was not a question at all, but an affirmative sentence.

The first half of the sentence says that the Ministry of Revenue has become rich in recent years, and the second half asks whether it can support the construction of the Yinshan Defense Line. It is clearly telling the Ministry of Revenue not to make excuses saying that it has no money.

Gao Yao looked around and finally looked at the emperor who was also looking at him with a questioning expression.

He bowed and nodded, whispering, "Your Majesty, if...if the court wants to build the Great Wall north of Yinshan Mountain, the Six Towns and the Acropolis as Shaobao Yan said this year or next, even if the Ministry of Revenue has money and grain, it will be difficult to support it. Even if this money and grain is used, I am afraid that the court's spending elsewhere will be greatly reduced."

Hearing this, Zhu Zaigui's brows tightened.

This is not what I want to hear.

But Gao Yao quickly explained: "But! But if this expenditure is divided into five or three years, the Ministry of Revenue can definitely guarantee that the required money and grain will not be reduced in any way!"

The emperor's expression softened and he looked a little relieved.

Zhu Xizhong also nodded and said, "We have discussed this expense with the Ministry of Works. The Great Wall needs to be built, and the Six Towns and the Acropolis also need to be built at the same time. It will take at least three years to complete the construction, if not five years. The Ministry of Revenue does not need to worry."

Just when everyone thought that the expenditure and strategy were about to be finalized.

Gao Gong coughed lightly.

Everyone looked up at the Prime Minister who attracted everyone's attention.

That's when I discovered it.

The Prime Minister hasn't even opened his mouth to speak yet.

Zhu Zaigui also glanced over and said with a smile: "Prime Minister, do you have any other questions to fill?"

Gao Gong faced the emperor and bowed with both hands: "Your Majesty, I would like to ask you a question. I respectfully request that you can help me solve my doubts."

As soon as the Prime Minister said this.

Zhu Zaigui's eyes shook slightly, and everyone present was a little confused.

Judging from Gao Gong's tone, it doesn't seem like it's a good thing.

Zhu Zaigui hesitated for a moment and nodded: "Since the Prime Minister has any doubts, you can ask me."

Gao Gong nodded.

Then he raised his head and chest, looked around, and scanned everyone.

He opened his mouth and raised his voice.

"Your Majesty, I would like to ask, the most important thing for our dynasty now is the Gia Long New Deal..."

"It is more important to launch a massive military campaign and engage in militarism!"

Angry.

Gao Gong finally couldn't stand the emperor's change and got angry.

As soon as he opened his mouth, words like large-scale military campaign and militarism came out of his mouth.

moment.

Dozens of pairs of eyes were staring at Gao Gong, who had an angry look on his face.

No one can ignore the Prime Minister's anger!

…………

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(End of this chapter)