The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 655 The Two Kings Meet
By the time Emperor Wanli finished arranging Qi Jiguang's funeral, it was almost mid-May.

Time was indeed tight at this point, because the ice-covered period in the northern desert was extremely long.

If the Oirat problem cannot be resolved before October of this year, it will be delayed for another year.

After handling the funeral arrangements, he hurriedly took Imperial Noble Consort Qin Lan, Xiao Zhu Changxun, Qi Zuoguo, and others to the Hailar Grassland.

Now that the railway is open, it's much more convenient for them to go to the Hailar Grassland.

Moreover, to make their travels more convenient, Song Yingxing specially built a train that could carry people, complete with a study, kitchen, bedroom, and so on, making their travels much more comfortable.

On the ninth day of the fifth lunar month, at the hour of You (5-7 PM), before the sun had set, their train arrived at Hailar Station.

The Hailar Station had been improved at this time, with long corridors like sunshades erected on both sides of the railway, so that the grain stored inside wouldn't get wet in the rain.

The Northern King Zhu Changxu, Ma Gui, Dong Yiyuan, and others had been waiting in the long corridor for a long time. Outside the corridor, there were thousands of warhorses, row upon row.

This time, when Imperial Noble Consort Qin Lan carried little Zhu Changxun downstairs, Prince Zhu Changxu of the North did not snuggle into her arms and act spoiled again.

It seems this kid has matured a lot after experiencing life and death.

Wanli nodded to himself, exchanged a few more pleasantries with the generals, and then waved his hand, saying, "Let's go, let's talk in the main tent."

Although the city of Hailar has been completed, due to time constraints last year, only stables, cattle sheds, sheepfolds, and barracks for soldiers to spend the winter have been built. The commander's office has not yet been built.

Moreover, cattle, sheep and horses ate, drank and defecated inside all winter last year, and the odor has not yet dissipated.

Therefore, the 50,000 Shenji Battalion soldiers who remained here chose to set up camp on the open ground near the station.

Soon, the group rode into the camp and arrived at the large tent where maps were kept.

This time, Emperor Wanli not only brought Imperial Noble Consort Qin Lan, Xiao Zhu Changxun, and Song Yingxing, but also several of Qi Jiguang's sons.

Qi Jiguang originally had five sons. Apart from his eldest son Qi Zuoguo, his second son Qi Anguo had died young. His remaining sons, Changguo, Baoguo, and Xingguo, were all in their twenties or thirties.

Emperor Wanli gathered everyone around the large table where the map was displayed, and then solemnly said, "Yuan Jing has passed away, but we must continue our campaign against the Oirat Mongols."

General Ma, this time you are the commander-in-chief, overseeing the overall situation. Yi Yuan, you are the deputy commander, leading 500,000 cavalry in a charge.

This year we must take over the entire northern desert and completely pacify the north.

Upon hearing this, Ma Gui and Dong Yiyuan immediately bowed and said, "Your subordinates obey the order."

Emperor Wanli examined the map carefully and then asked, "General Ma, how is the road traffic here in winter? And what about the grain reserves?"

Ma Gui thought for a moment, then carefully said, "Your Majesty, the train doesn't always run here in winter."

In November and December, the local police stations along the route were able to clear the snow and ice from the railway, allowing trains to pass.

By the end of December, the ice was too solid to clear. It wasn't until early April this year, when the weather gradually warmed up, that we were able to clear the ice and snow and reopen the road.

We currently have over a million shi of grain in our main camp in the former territory of the Xiongnu royal court, and we have also stockpiled over two million shi of grain near the railway station south of the North Sea.

That's about it.

This amount of grain is enough to feed 800,000 people for four months, and more will continue to be transported over.

Wanli nodded slightly, then pointed to the map and said, "General Ma, Yiyuan, you will take the train back tomorrow. Five days later, you will lead your troops to continue your westward expedition against the Oirat Mongols."

The distance from the southern shore of Beihai to Gansu Town is about 3,000 li. If you include the detour, it is roughly 4,000 li.

You don't need to rush. Advancing about a thousand miles a month is enough. Once the railway is completed and the supplies have been delivered, you can continue your westward advance.

In short, as long as we can reach Gansu Town before October, that's fine. Then we'll assess the situation and decide how to establish the northern defense line.

Upon hearing this, Ma Gui and Dong Yiyuan nodded repeatedly and said, "Your subordinates understand."

Wanli nodded slightly, then solemnly said, "Xu'er, you should return to the Northern King City to take charge."

what?
Upon hearing this, Zhu Changxu, the Prince of the North, was taken aback.

He was like a born warrior, only wanting to command his army to conquer all directions.

He was quite unsettled by the sudden decision not to accompany the army on its expedition.

He paused for a moment, then asked cautiously, "Father, what's wrong? Is everything alright with Uncle Yuande and the others helping to keep an eye on things in the Northern King City?"

"You brat, you've forgotten you're a prince when it comes to fighting." Wanli shook his head slightly, then patiently instructed, "Xun'er, you are a prince, you have your own fiefdom, fighting on the battlefield is not your main job."

The important thing is to manage your own vassal state well.

Now that Zuo State is also about to become a vassal state, and your two vassal states are adjacent, it's a good opportunity to exchange goods and resources and cooperate for development.

Uh, does this mean I should do business with the King of the North Sea to make money?

Upon hearing this, Zhu Changxu, the Prince of the North, thought carefully for a moment, and then cautiously asked, "Father, what kind of business should I do with the Prince of Beihai?"

There are so many businesses you can do with this.

Wanli pointed to the map and patiently explained: "Look, the vassal states of Zuo are almost all pastures, while your vassal states are almost all fields."

The main occupation of Zuo State was raising cattle, sheep, and horses. Horses could be used as warhorses or to pull carts, cattle could be used to plow fields or produce dairy products, and sheep could be used for meat or to produce wool and sheepskin.

However, his vassal state produced almost no grains, fruits, or vegetables.

You can supply them with large quantities of grain, fruits, vegetables, and even animal feed. You can also have your subjects buy more horses for pulling carts, cattle for plowing, and even mutton and dairy products from them.

what?
Upon hearing this, Zhu Changxu, the Prince of the North, asked in surprise, "Father, don't cattle, sheep, and horses eat grass? Do they also eat feed?"

of course.

Emperor Wanli patiently explained, "Livestock can all be fed feed, and livestock that are fed feed grow faster."

For example, if you feed pigs vegetable leaves and leftovers every day, you'd be lucky if they could even be sold within a year.

You should have understood this principle long ago: pigs grow faster when they eat feed.

The same applies to cattle, sheep, and horses. In fact, cattle, sheep, and horses don't grow fast if they only eat grass, just like pigs don't grow fast if they only eat vegetable leaves and leftovers.

As for what kind of feed cattle, sheep, and horses should eat to grow quickly, you can try different formulas, just like you would with pig feed. I believe you'll figure it out in a year or two.

He's quite interested in making money from animal feed.

If cattle, sheep, and horses could grow quickly on feed like pigs, then we would be rich! There would be an abundance of cattle, sheep, and horses in all the border towns.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Changxu, the Prince of the North, nodded repeatedly and said, "Your subject understands."

Wanli then pointed to the map and explained in detail: "The railway from the capital to Alunhewei passes right through Taizhou Post Station, which is more than 300 li away from Beiwangcheng."

Father will send people to complete the railway from Taizhou Post Station to Beiwang City as soon as possible. When that happens, you can arrange some shops for Zuoguo in Beiwang City.

In this way, the cattle, horses, furs, dairy products, and other goods produced in Zuo Kingdom can be sold directly there.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Changxu, the Prince of the North, nodded repeatedly and said, "Your subject understands."

After thinking it over carefully, Wanli solemnly said, "Zuoguo, I gave Xu'er one million taels of silver back then."

Now I'm also giving you gold, silver, and copper coins worth one million taels. From now on, you'll have to rely on yourself to manage your vassal state and make money.

I will fund the construction of the Northern Sea Royal City for you. However, the Oirat Mongols have not yet been destroyed, and we have not completely conquered the northern desert. Your fiefdom is not very safe yet. Construction can only begin after we have completely conquered the northern desert.

You can first consider how to manage the vassal state and get the business going.

You can have people rent some shops in the capital and Nanjing. Right now, there is still a great demand for horses to pull carts and oxen to plow fields, and there are quite a few ordinary people who can afford to eat mutton.

Also, dairy products are actually a good thing. Children especially benefit from drinking more milk, which helps them grow strong. You can dry the milk, grind it into powder, and sell it.

I will order someone to write a special article to publicize this in the Imperial Gazette. As for the drying and grinding machines, you can ask your father-in-law to help you make them.”

Uh, the capital and Nanjing?
Qi Zuoguo suddenly realized what was happening and cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, the princes and their clansmen cannot leave their fiefdoms. May I send people to rent shops in the Northern Capital, the capital, and Jinling to do business?"

That's the rule.

Emperor Wanli slowly shook his head and said, "Princes are not prisoners. The titles of prince, duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron are all peerages."

"I will handle this matter properly later. You just focus on doing business, developing your vassal states, and ensuring that your subjects are well-fed, clothed, and live in peace and prosperity."

Okay, whatever you say, I'll do it.

Qi Zuoguo nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

(End of this chapter)