Good morning Daming

Chapter 1077: Cui Yuan's decline and tensions

Jiang Qingzhi has always looked down on Altan, thinking that he is too narrow-minded. For many years, he has been cautious and stingy. Looting the nine borders of the Ming Dynasty is a traditional art of the grassland, but the officers and soldiers of the nine borders are afraid of the enemy. You should at least try to attack the city!

Taking down a city not only provides a forward base, but also increases one's prestige.

"Plundering a country?" Emperor Jiajing stroked his beard, thought for a while, and said, "The navy is corrupt. If we follow the procedures, it will be in a state of decline after reconstruction. Using the banditry of pirates... you have set your sights on Malacca!"

"Your Majesty is wise." Jiang Qingzhi praised sincerely, "Malacca is an opening. If the Ming Dynasty wants to go out to sea, it must control this opening. As long as Malacca is controlled, if external forces want to come in, they will have to ask the Ming Dynasty navy first."

"This is the maritime gateway of the Ming Dynasty!"

Jiang Qingzhi smiled and said, "That's right."

"But why are you suggesting attacking Japan at this time?"

In Daoye's opinion, Jiang Qingzhi's move was extremely unwise.

"Your Majesty, if the navy wants to be reborn, it must first undergo a phoenix nirvana. Use the expedition to Japan to temper the navy..."

"Is the Japanese navy incompetent?"

"The Japanese pirates' navy... The Japanese pirates are now like the Central Plains during the Warring States Period, with numerous vassal states and no unified navy. It's a good opportunity for the Ming navy to practice."

"You once said that Zheng He's fleet was unrivaled in the world, so why are you so cautious?"

"Longjiang is currently building warships. I dare say they are even better than the treasure ships of the past."

Jiang Qingzhi spoke very modestly. According to his judgment, the drawings given by Uncle Ding were the most advanced of this era.

"But no matter how powerful the warships are... you have also seen that although the situation of the Nine Frontiers officers and soldiers is not good, it is still luxurious compared to Altan. The weapons and food make Altan's subordinates drool, but how can they not defeat Altan and fear the enemy like a tiger?"

Jiang Qingzhi's eyes were sharp. "When Altan Khan's men attacked, they could only hide on the top of the city and tremble in fear. It can be seen that weapons are not enough to rely on. Morale is still the most important thing."

"I understand." The Taoist sighed, "We have been at peace for so long that the people are at ease and the military is idle, and now we have to recruit thieves to join the army."

"Your Majesty, if the treasure ships of Emperor Yingzong could sail again, the Ming navy today would still be able to dominate the world."

As long as the Ming Dynasty keeps pace with the times, the Ming Dynasty navy can beat the shit out of any king of the seven seas.

Pity!
Jiang Qingzhi couldn't help but sigh.

"You have worked hard on this trip south, so go back and rest. By the way, there might be some trouble in the next few days, are you prepared?" asked the Taoist priest.

"Are you talking about the expedition against Japan?" Jiang Qingzhi smiled, "I have known about it for a long time. Those people want to stop it, but I have my own way to deal with it."

"Hmm!" The Taoist didn't ask him how to deal with it. All he had to do was to take charge.

If you manage everything and take care of everything, you are not an emperor, but a manager.

Jiang Qingzhi took his leave, walked two steps back, and said with a drooling face, "Your Majesty, are there any roasted lamb legs left in the palace?"

After eating the roasted lamb leg in the palace once, Jiang Qingzhi fell in love with it. He went home and thought about it, trying to copy it, but the roasted lamb leg he made after trying it many times was always a little bit lacking in quality.

According to the analysis of the chef of the Bo Mansion, the palace probably used some precious spices that could not be found on the market.

This is a crime not committed by war… The cook looked at his boss with sympathy.

Seeing the Taoist staring at him, Jiang Qingzhi said, "I'll have someone wait in Zhilu."

It would take at least two hours to roast the lamb leg from marinating to roasting, maybe three hours.

It was just the right time to go home, take a shower, change clothes, have a meal, take a nap, and when I woke up there was lamb leg to eat.

The Taoist waved his hand with a look of disdain, and Jiang Qingzhi said with a smile: "I will take my leave."

When he walked outside the palace, a eunuch was waiting for him with a food box in his hand. The food box was not small, and Jiang Qingzhi was surprised, "Is it for me?"

"Yes." said the eunuch.

Jiang Qingzhi took the food box and opened a corner.

There were suddenly two roasted lamb legs inside.

The familiar fragrance made Jiang Qingzhi's appetite increase.

He asked curiously, "But the Royal Guards informed me of my return date?"

The eunuch shook his head and said, "Your Majesty has ordered the kitchen to prepare two roasted lamb legs every day these days."

Jiang Qingzhi looked back into the hall, where the Taoist priest was sitting on a cushion. The autumn wind blew in from outside, blowing his Taoist robe and his beard. He happened to be looking at Jiang Qingzhi.

Smile.

Jiang Qingzhi couldn't wait any longer, so he picked up a roasted leg of lamb and started eating it as he walked.

"Chang Wei Bo, the one in front is Cui Fu Ma."

The eunuch reminded him.

Jiang Qingzhi looked up and saw Cui Yuan walking towards him in a listless manner. The flesh on his face seemed to be much less than before, and he looked particularly old and haggard.

"Chang Wei Bo!" Cui Yuan bowed and looked at the roasted lamb leg in Jiang Qingzhi's hand and the oil stains at the corners of his mouth with complicated eyes.

As soon as Jiang Qingzhi was about to enter the palace, there was roasted lamb leg waiting for him, which shows how much Emperor Jiajing cared about this cousin.

"Prince Consort Cui." Jiang Qingzhi nodded with some pity.

Cui Yuan was old, but he still lingered. What Jiang Qingzhi didn't know was that if it weren't for him, the grass on Cui Yuan's grave would be three feet high.

Cui Yuan sighed, "Recently, the capital has been in a state of flux and undercurrents. I am naturally not afraid of the might of Lord Changwei. However, I have heard Lord Changwei say that the so-called work is to make as many friends as possible..."

Jiang Qingzhi was stunned when he noticed the hopeful look in Cui Yuan's eyes.

What does Lao Cui mean?

Is it...

Jiang Qingzhi thought of a possibility and smiled, "It's easier to walk the road when you have more friends."

Cui Yuan's eyes sparkled with surprise, and Jiang Qingzhi continued, "However, with more friends comes more trouble. I would rather have few friends than bad ones." As he said that, Jiang Qingzhi took a bite of the lamb leg and left.

Cui Yuan stood there for a long time.

"Prince consort!" The eunuch leading the way turned around. He thought to himself that this man was so old, yet he still didn't want to go. It would be fine if he didn't go, but he actually wanted to join forces with Chang Wei Bo. But don't you see how old you are? Chang Wei Bo is like the rising sun, how could he look down on a useless sunset like you.

Cui Yuanlao has become old. The Taoist priest summons him less and less often nowadays. The thing he is asked to do most is to offer sacrifices. If you have nothing to do, you can go to various places to worship the gods on my behalf.

In other words, in the eyes of the Taoist priest, Cui Yuan is now just a human being.

That is, a personal sacrificial machine.

"Oh!" Cui Yuan finally caught up.

The old face gradually turned red.

Jiang Qingzhi actually rejected me?

Cui Yuan was annoyed and a little distracted when he saw the Taoist priest.

"... Be careful when you go there, don't anger the gods."

The Taoist gave some instructions, then looked up and found Cui Yuan in a daze. He frowned and said, "Mr. Cui! Mr. Cui! Mr. Cui!"

"Prince consort!" Huang Jin roared like a lion, and Cui Yuan suddenly woke up, "Your Majesty...Yes, I obey your command."

He then took his leave and walked outside the palace, where he vaguely heard Emperor Jiajing say, "Cui Yuan is old..."

"Old man, are you old?"

Cui Yuan's figure looked particularly thin in the autumn.

But Jiang Qingzhi was surrounded by the crowd.

He wanted to go home, but was intercepted by Zhu Xizhong halfway. Zhang Juzheng came out after hearing the news. He had a lot to report to his boss, but he could only watch Zhu Xizhong drag Jiang Qingzhi into his duty room.

In the duty room, Wang Yiqi and other generals of Jiang's faction were all there.

"Meet Long Wilbur!"

Everyone saluted, and Jiang Qingzhi cupped his hands, "I say, can you at least let me go home and hug my son first?"

"No way." Zhu Xizhong glared, "You said you wanted to attack Japan, but I don't know how much trouble you brought us. The Ministry of War... Lao Wang."

Wang Yiqi smiled bitterly, "Now the outside world is saying that the Ministry of War is the support of Chang Wei Bo's aggressive military expansion. Some people suggest that we replace him."

"There is also the Ministry of Personnel. Xiong Jia is old and is now struggling to hold on. Those people accused him of protecting you and were too selfish. As for the evidence, his son studying with you is the evidence. Master and apprentice are like a family!"

"This is just the beginning!" Zhang Juzheng squatted in the palace every day, and after summarizing the various information he received, he couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine. "Now there are undercurrents in the capital. Many people are ready to start by blocking the proposal of the Duke to conquer Japan, suppress the new policy, and suppress the Duke."

"Many people thought your trip to the south was like walking through fire and water. They thought you would be in a mess. They were waiting to laugh at you and kick you when you're down. Who would have thought that you would actually find a way out of that dangerous place? Those people were greatly disappointed and became even more wary of you."

Zhu Xizhong's face was solemn. "The South is the base of those people. If you suppress the South, you will suppress their lifeline. Those people are deeply distressed and may show their true colors."

Jiang Qingzhi took out the medicinal cigarette and said, "I know that blocking the Japanese invasion is just an excuse. To be honest, those people are eager to see me fail in the Japanese invasion, right?"

Zhang Juzheng nodded, "Now there is a rumor circulating in the capital that when the Mongols invaded Japan, their army was so powerful that they were invincible. But who would have thought that they encountered a strong wind that blew the fleet into pieces. The Japanese called this strong wind a divine wind. Those people said that it showed that Japan was protected by gods, and that Emperor Taizu Gao was really wise to list Japan as a country not to be conquered."

"If I go against the current, I will inevitably bring disgrace upon myself." Jiang Qingzhi lit the medicine cigarette.

The old dandy said, "Qingzhi, don't underestimate this matter."

"I won't underestimate the enemy, but the so-called kamikaze is a joke!" Jiang Qingzhi thought of the future, when overwhelming bombers dropped countless flames and set fire to Japanese cities.

Where was the kamikaze at that time?
The kamikaze was fanning the flames of this fire.

"Conquer the Japanese... do you really mean this?" Zhu Xizhong asked.

Jiang Qingzhi was amused, "Do you think I'm joking?"

Everyone was silent.

Jiang Qingzhi sighed, "Don't worry, I know what to do."

"What are the benefits of conquering Japan?" Wang Yiqi couldn't help but ask.

“It’s a huge benefit.”

Without the War to Aid Korea among the three major expeditions of Emperor Wanli, the Ming Dynasty would have lasted at least another 30 years.

In addition, the destruction of Japan also eliminated a threat to future generations.

As a result, the Ming Dynasty's maritime territory expanded a lot, and the maritime blockade became a joke.

Jiang Qingzhi stood up and said, "Tomorrow! Everyone come tomorrow."

Everyone saw him off and watched him mount his horse and ride away. Wang Yiqi said, "I feel that Chang Wei Bo has returned this time... There is something strange about him."

"Hmm!" Not only Wang Yiqi felt this way, the old playboy also felt this way, "I feel that his mind is not in the capital."

"Where is that?"

No one answered. After a while, Zhang Juzheng, who was not very clear, said, "My uncle once said something like... the sea of ​​stars."

Zhu Xizhong narrowed his eyes, "Qingzhi has returned. Those people have been preparing for a long time and will definitely stop him at the next court meeting. This fight... can only be won!"

Once intercepted, the situation in the south will reverse.

Including the scale of shipbuilding in Longjiang, and the subsequent external attitude of the Ming Dynasty...

Pulled around and moved the whole body.

Zhang Juzheng sighed, "How difficult it is to do things."

Wang Yiqi patted his shoulder and said, "It's not difficult. It's not a big deal. Learn well from Chang Wei Bo, and you will benefit a lot in the future."

(End of this chapter)