Good morning Daming

Chapter 1095: Destruction in Grandeur
The meeting is over.

Zhu Xizhong and Jiang Qingzhi walked out of the hall side by side and said, "You have such means but you didn't tell me. Do you know that your sister-in-law and I have been worried these days?"

Jiang Qingzhi could only laugh and said, "I'll cook for you myself later."

If you want to keep a secret, the fewer people who know it, the better.

Even in the Bo Mansion, the only people who knew about Jiang Qingzhi's plan were Xia Yan, Xu Wei, and Hu Zongxian. But only Xia Yan knew the whole plan.

"Long Wilbur!"

Jiang Qingzhi turned around and saw Yan Song and his son slowly approaching.

"I quite agree with the expedition to Japan, but I have always been worried about the money and food issue. It would be a good thing if it can be resolved. If you need any help in the future, just ask."

The old Yuanfu smiled very kindly, just like the old man next door.

But who doesn’t know the attitude of this father and son in this matter?

Previously, the Yan Party watched Jiang Qingzhi being besieged by other ministers, while Zhao Wenhua and Yan Shifan were ready to make a move. All this was seen by those who had ulterior motives.

Yan Song has remained as unshakable as a mountain. At this moment, although this old prime minister looks old, he is still the stabilizer and ballast of the Yan Party.

Yan Shifan was watching from behind with a smile on his face, but the smile did not show in his eyes.

Once the discussion of conquering Japan was over, the familiar rhythm of Jiang Qingzhi followed.

"No problem." Jiang Qingzhi bowed with a smile.

"You should come to Zhilu more often." Yan Song said with a smile: "You are the prime minister after all. You come to Zhilu only a few times a year. People think..." The old prime minister looked around and smiled exaggeratedly, "People think that I can't tolerate others."

Yan Song turned his eyes and found Xu Jie. "There are some people that I cannot tolerate. Chang Wei Bo and I once trusted each other on the battlefield. We are friends for life and death..."

Nima!

This old dog!

Xu Jie walked over slowly with his smile unchanged.

"Long Wilbur."

"Mr. Xu Ge."

Jiang Qingzhi smiled.

This smile was a slap in the face to Yan Song who was trying to be friendly.

Didn’t you say that Xu Jie cannot be tolerated?

I can tolerate him!

Yan Song's old face still had a smile on it.

Yan Shifan was furious and was about to speak when Yan Song looked at him with a sharp look that he had never seen in recent years, which made Yan Shifan stunned.

"I'll prepare some side dishes later and we can have a drink together." Yan Song said with a smile.

"No problem." Jiang Qingzhi didn't say whether he agreed or not.

Yan Song and his son left immediately.

"Dad, we are almost at odds with Jiang Qingzhi now, why bother with you to bow to him in public?" Yan Shifan said, suppressing his anger.

"You don't understand." Yan Song's eyes were calm. "Count it yourself. Since Emperor Taizu Gao, has anyone destroyed a country?"

Yan Shifan shook his head, "No."

The Ming Dynasty was founded, claiming to have destroyed the Mongols. However, the Mongols outside the Great Wall still stubbornly waved the banner of the Mongols.

Who said I'm dead?!
"If Jiang Qingzhi can destroy Japan, who can stop his momentum?" Yan Song smiled and said in a low voice, "Remember, the war against Japan is the decisive battle between us and Jiang Qingzhi."

"Dad means..."

"I have been a good man for a long time." Yan Song smiled kindly and nodded to an official who saluted him, but murderous intent was spitting out from his mouth, "I have blocked swords and guns for your majesty for a long time, but what did you get in return? Ignored, and the bow was put away after the bird was killed. Since he is unkind... then don't blame me for being unjust!"

"Dad!" Yan Shifan said in disbelief; "The one you are talking about is..."

"His Majesty!"

……

"Lord Xu, let's have tea together when you are free." Jiang Qingzhi bowed and said goodbye to Xu Jie with a smile.

"This man is quite good at understanding opportunities." Wang Yiqi said, "There was a rumor a while ago that Xu Jie would not be able to see the first snow of this year while in the Government Affairs Hall."

"Xu Jie is occupying the toilet without doing anything, and those people can't stand it. Jiang Ying is very active today and is staring at Xu Jie!"

When Jiang Ying was mentioned, Jiang Qingzhi thought of Xiong Jia who was not here, "How is Xiong Jia?"

"not optimistic."

……

Xiong Jia is really old.

After the Northern Expedition, Xiong Jia fell ill every now and then. He was able to hold on at first, but after summer, his health deteriorated. In autumn, he was completely exhausted.

"Uncle." Xiong Lou was actually at home.

"How is Mr. Xiong?" Jiang Qingzhi asked.

Seeing that he didn't bring any gifts, Xiong Lou said gratefully: "The imperial physician said that if you can survive this winter, you will be well again."

Winter is the most difficult season for the elderly.

Since the beginning of winter, the number of funerals in the capital has increased by 30% every day.

These are words to comfort the Xiong family.

It’s almost a declaration.

Xiong Jia's life began to enter the final countdown.

Jiang Qingzhi could hardly believe it when he saw Xiong Jia.

The cheeks were so thin that there was almost no flesh on them, and the entire head had shrunk by more than 30%, looking like a skeleton wrapped in skin.

Only those eyes still had a sparkle in them. "Long Wilbur!"

"Don't move, Mr. Bear."

Jiang Qingzhi quickly stepped forward and held down Xiong Jia who was about to stand up, and carefully looked at his complexion. "You look good."

"This old man... cough cough cough, I wanted to go to the court meeting today... I wanted to go to cheer you on, but unfortunately my body is not strong enough, I got a little too excited and now I feel dizzy."

"It's done." Jiang Qingzhi sat down and smiled at Xiong Lou who handed him the stool.

Xiong Jia glanced at Xiong Lou and said, "This kid took a long vacation without permission to serve me. I scolded him but he ignored me. Children and grandchildren are grown up and cannot be controlled by others!"

"This is human ethics, and it should be done."

After the greetings, Xiong Jia waved his hand, and after Xiong Lou left, he said: "There were several major wars after the founding of the Ming Dynasty. The first was the Jingnan Campaign of Emperor Chengzu, the second was the Annan Campaign, the third was the Tumu Fortress Campaign, and the fourth was the Campaign to Suppress Prince Ning.

The Battle of Annan ended in disgrace, with a huge price paid but nothing gained, the Battle of Tumu was a disastrous defeat...the rest was all internal strife.

Going to war with a country is a risk. It has been a great help in boosting the morale of the Ming army. You have repeatedly mentioned that the Ming should look outward, but do you want to completely correct the current decadent trend? "

"As expected of Mr. Xiong." Jiang Qingzhi nodded. "Since Emperor Chengzu, the people of the Ming Dynasty have become increasingly sluggish and their morale has been low. How can we talk about morale? Back in the Han and Tang dynasties, the people were strong and brave. This was the confidence that the Han and Tang dynasties had when they showed off their swords to the outside world.

The northern expedition defeated Altan's army, which reassured the people. The next step is to find a country to attack. If we can win the battle, the people's morale will be greatly boosted. Then we will look westward..."

"Looking for an opponent for Ming Dynasty?"

"Exactly."

"Do you know... that war is dangerous?"

"Those who forget to fight will perish!" Jiang Qingzhi said with a piercing look in his eyes, "The Han Dynasty was the only one that perished because of its strength. Even at the end of the dynasty, a vassal state could still prevent foreigners from crossing the line, and could still beat them to a pulp. The current Ming Dynasty lacks such a majestic spirit."

Looking back to the early Han Dynasty, whether it was the Gongsun clan or Cao Cao, they were able to suppress foreign races. But when it came to the Sima clan, they became a laughing stock.

Not to mention the Ming Dynasty.

"You would rather let the Ming Dynasty perish in greatness than let it live in weakness!"

"Yes."

The former Song Dynasty was just trying to survive in weakness.

"Destroyed in grandeur?" Xiong Jia smiled, "This ending is not bad either."

"Mr. Xiong, the proposal to conquer Japan has passed this stage, but there will be a lot of troubles afterwards. Those people will not stop, and will do a lot of things to trip us up and stab us in the back. I need you to stabilize the situation in the Ministry of Personnel...Mr. Xiong, Mr. Xiong."

"Ah!" Xiong Jia opened his eyes and looked at Jiang Qingzhi blankly, "Just now I saw my ancestors."

Jiang Qingzhi felt a chill in his heart and turned around and shook his head at Xiong Lou.

Xiong Lou ran away in a hurry.

"Ministry of Personnel... I'll be there right away." Xiong Jia struggled to get up, but Jiang Qingzhi held him down, "Don't worry, we don't have to worry."

"Jiang Ying is eyeing you covetously. He has been in the Ministry of Personnel for many years and has accumulated enough merit and experience. If I am not here, even Your Majesty cannot stop him from taking over the Ministry of Personnel. If he takes over the Ministry of Personnel, he will definitely cause trouble for you."

"Sharpening the knife does not delay the chopping of wood. You should take care of your body first!" Jiang Qingzhi just exerted light force and held Xiong Jia down again.

Xiong Jia was panting when his children and grandchildren came.

A crowd of people stood silently behind Jiang Qingzhi.

Xiong Jia looked at his children and grandchildren and blinked his old eyes. "Why...are they all here?"

Xiong Jia looked at Jiang Qingzhi, and a blush suddenly appeared on his skull-like old face.

Jiang Qingzhi sighed in his heart, "What would you like to eat?"

Xiong Jia seemed to know something. He said to his children and grandchildren, "Remember what I said."

"Yes." Someone began to sob and gradually started crying.

"Shut up." Xiong Jia's son shouted.

Xiong Jia sighed, "I have already arranged the family affairs. Now I am only concerned about the political situation. Chang Wei Bo."

"You go ahead." Jiang Qingzhi held Xiong Jia's hand with a gentle look in his eyes, "I'm listening!"

"Tell me, what will happen if the Ming Dynasty does not change?"

"The sun will set in the west. A hundred years later, the Central Plains will become a horse ranch for foreigners, and the Han people will become slaves of foreigners."

"The new policy...what will the Ming Dynasty become?" The red glow on Xiong Jia's face grew brighter and brighter, and his grip on Jiang Qingzhi's hand grew stronger.

"This Ming Dynasty..." Jiang Qingzhi thought for a moment. "The people should hold their heads high, be polite but not cowardly, and be proud to be in the army. The army is happy to hear about war, and is invincible on land and at sea. The civil officials take it as their responsibility to expand outward. When everyone looks outward, there will be less petty intrigues and power struggles within. The civil and military officials will join forces to lead the Ming Dynasty into the world."

"Where is the emperor?" Xiong Jia asked.

"Emperor..." Jiang Qingzhi was silent for a moment, "The words of Emperor Xuan of Han should be the motto of future emperors."

"You can't just use Confucianism."

"Yes. The emperor should learn what the Ming Dynasty needs and how the world will develop. He does not need to be knowledgeable, but he must be proactive, have an inclusive mind, and be curious about new knowledge..."

"This is exactly in line with your idea that the Ming Dynasty must look outward."

"Yes."

"In the end, this Ming Dynasty... this world..." Xiong Jia's breathing suddenly tightened.

Jiang Qingzhi lowered his eyes, "The light of the Great Ming will bless the entire world."

"I may see that day, I... help, help me up..."

The hand suddenly loosened.

"Bear Lord!"

September of the 31st year of the Jiajing reign.

Minister of Personnel Xiong Jia passed away.

(End of this chapter)