First Minister of Ming Dynasty

First Minister Section 517

This is what Zhang Ximeng won for the warriors.

Now that Lao Hu has made a move, there will be no problem.

They hurried to see Zhang Ximeng.

When they arrived, Zhu Di, the King of Yan, was also here. At this time, the fourth Zhu was standing with his hands down, like a good baby, completely without the arrogance and domineering of the past.

The second rule of the bear child is to be cowardly when it is time to be cowardly. After all, it is not your turn to make decisions in this world.If you don't understand this truth, it's not as simple as spanking.

"Did you get the result?" Zhang Ximeng said calmly.

Lian Zining immediately handed over the file.

"Please take a picture!"

Zhang Ximeng took it in his hand, unfolded it, looked at it for a while, raised his eyebrows slightly, and then returned to normal, just sighed lightly.

"Shut up all of you, and go to Peking University to teach for the time being. With me here, there is nothing to be afraid of." Zhang Ximeng said lightly.

Lian Zining, Huang Zicheng and Fang Xiaoru hesitated a little, then nodded quickly.

"Zhang Xiang, we all listen to you."

Zhu Di was stunned for a moment, "I, do I want to go to school too?"

Zhang Ximeng rolled his eyes at him, "Zhu Di, you are His Majesty's prince after all, how dare anyone do anything to you?"

Zhu Di scratched his head, looking terrified, "Sir, I, I still don't know what to do, or I just follow Mr. every day."

Zhang Ximeng snorted, "Why are you following me? If you want to follow, go to the Duke of Yue... He is a calm man who knows how to lead troops. You can learn a lot by following him."

Hearing this, Zhu Di heaved a sigh of relief. Although Zhang Ximeng didn't let him speak out, it was worth worshiping this teacher.

This time it involves the navy, how to arrest people and handle the case, the knowledge in it has grown.If you follow Hu Dahai, you will definitely benefit a lot... But the question is why does Hu Dahai teach you?

It depends on what Zhang Ximeng said.

Zhu Di bowed deeply to Zhang Ximeng, and left quickly.

Zhang Ximeng was left alone in the house. He pondered for a while, picked up his pen, and wrote a letter to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"The smuggling by the sailors this time has involved a lot... There are grain smuggling, arms sales, and private transportation of gold and silver, so that slaves are trading. The sailors have committed many crimes, but they are not limited to the sailors. I hope the lord can be patient." Handle the case carefully."

Zhang Ximeng thought for a while, and added, "This case is most likely the biggest case since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. The situation of the navy is special. I hope the master can arrange it properly."

Zhang Ximeng looked again and confirmed that it was correct, so he sent someone to send it out in a hurry by [-] miles, without delaying a second.

……

In front of Zhu Yuanzhang were Zhu Di's family letter, Hu Dahai's urgent report, and Jin Yiwei's secret report... Several things were in front of him, but in his hand, he was only holding Zhang Ximeng's letter.

Lao Zhu looked at it again and again, and finally said slowly: "Decree Mao Xiang, go and bring Liao Yongzhong!"

Chapter 718 The Big One

Jin Yiwei is dispatched... It seems to be the last time a case was handled on such a large scale.

All the princes in Beijing, no matter whether they are literary or martial arts, are trembling and shuddering at this time.

When they heard that they were going to Liao Yongzhong's mansion, some people secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but soon many people raised their hearts.

Sailor!

"It's fine if you don't handle this case. If you really put your heart into it, you don't know how much you will be involved!"

Li Shanchang, who already had many gray hairs, let out a sigh.

It can make Lao Li feel tricky. There are some things that don't need to be said.

Xu Da, who was also in Beijing, pulled out his sword after hearing the news, and danced it in the back garden. After a set of sword skills, he was sweating all over his body, feeling refreshed.

Xu Da snorted slightly when he finally found the head of the navy.

He calculated carefully, and when it comes to Huaixi generals, he didn't have much contact with Liao Yongzhong, only Gu Shi and Liao's family were his sons and daughters...Xu Da calculated a little, and didn't want to worry about it.

After all, it can't just be that the navy is unlucky...you have to give an explanation to the world.

Compassion does not command soldiers!

In Xu Da's heart, he had already begun to think about how to deal with the navy's affairs next.

Standing at the top of civil and military, there is a feeling that the rain is about to come, and the other small animals are naturally even more shuddering.

Why is this matter so serious?

Beiping, Zhang Ximeng's residence.

After a few days of recovery, Qi Tai's face turned red, and his spirits improved a lot.

Being imprisoned for almost five days without food, Qi Tai can be regarded as turning around from the gate of hell.

Zhang Ximeng invited him over and prepared two old ginseng plants for Qi Tai by the way.

"You have damaged your roots this time, and it will be exposed after a long time. Take these two ginseng plants back and replenish your energy. People like you are destined to become the pillars of the imperial court. Take care of your health. Don't worry, this is I bought it with royalties, and there is no problem."

Qi Tai hurriedly thanked him, and took the ginseng from Zhang Ximeng, feeling warm in his heart.

"Mr. Zhang, thank you sir for your compassion. Ginseng is a good medicine that can cure physical ailments... But this time, the student is sick in his heart. I wonder if the master can help the student heal?"

Zhang Ximeng couldn't help chuckling, "It's the teacher's duty to cure illnesses and save lives. Do you want to ask about the navy?"

Qi Tai nodded, and after pondering for a while, he said in a low voice: "Mr. Zhang, there are rumors that the sailors are all Mr. Zhang's confidantes. Is there such a thing?"

Zhang Ximeng laughed loudly, "You all said it was a rumor, and this matter is just a rumor."

Qi Tai rolled his eyes, and said again: "Since Zhang Xiang is like this, it is true that the navy is greedy for ink and perverting the law?"

Zhang Ximeng said: "I don't know the specific case. But all kinds of behaviors will only be worse than the rumors."

Qi Tai moved his butt, and Zhang Ximeng made it very clear that he knew about the navy's problems, so Qi Tai naturally had another doubt, "Sir, it has been 11 years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, why did the navy let it be there?" Rotten, the students really don't understand!"

Zhang Ximeng had a smile on his face. Instead of answering directly, he asked instead: "Qi Tai, do you think that someone is covering up here, and the person covering up is me? Otherwise, who has such a great ability?"

Qi Tai's expression was painful. People of his age were full of enthusiasm and thought too much about many things. A little setback, challenging the three views, might shake their minds, doubt everything, and lead to a completely wrong path. the way.

Just like the matter of the navy, it is very confusing.

Where is the problem?

If there was no one to cover them up, why did they act recklessly and almost became the private soldiers of the two families, detaining the court tax officials at will, how could they be so bold?

"Qi Tai, do you want to hear how Daming's navy got here?"

Qi Tai hurriedly said: "Master Zhang is willing to give advice, so it's naturally a wish for him."

Zhang Ximeng smiled, "It's really not complicated. The Liao family and the Yu family were the two main forces of the Chaohu Navy back then. After some strength, he was appointed as the commander of the navy and took the lead in crossing the river to stand in the front for His Majesty."

"If you want to say what relationship I have with the navy, that's all."

Qi Tai was stunned, because everyone already knew these contents, including himself.

It's just that there are too many people who don't want to believe it. Why do they think things are so simple?

Over the years, there have been constant rumors of navy officers being corrupt and breaking the law. If no one helped them settle the matter, how could it be today?

"Zhang Xiang, the students naturally dare not doubt, but the students are full of doubts, and there are more and more students."

Zhang Ximeng smiled and said, "Qi Tai, I want to ask you something. How do you manage the navy?"

Qi Tai was stunned, "Sir, the students are not good at the art of war, so they can't answer."

Zhang Ximeng said again: "Well, let's not talk about the specific art of war, but just the title of the book. Do you know that those are books about water warfare?"

Qi Tai can't be fooled now, he has read a lot of books, he has read some military books, but he really hasn't read any books on water warfare.

"Students don't know."

Zhang Ximeng smiled lightly, "You don't have to be ashamed, actually I don't know how to write war books on water warfare!"

So you don't even know?

Then why do you ask me?

I saw Zhang Ximeng continued to sigh: "Not only is the military book of water warfare, but also the overseas situation, hydrographic routes, ship construction, sailor selection... There are too many things, and they are all blank."

Having said this, Qi Tai was stunned for a while, and seemed to have some ideas, and he gradually caught up with Zhang Ximeng's thoughts.

When the Jimin Academy was established, it included astronomy courses. Later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was established, and the school also added foreign language courses, requiring people to understand the situation of foreigners abroad.

If it is said that for a long time, culture has been valued over martial arts, and warriors have been suppressed.

So among the military generals, the land generals who slashed and killed on horseback discriminated against naval generals no less than the former.Maybe it will be super doubled.

To put it bluntly, there is no naval tradition at all.

Everything is blank.

In fact, there is nothing difficult to understand, but if there are generals available, eunuchs will not be allowed to command the navy. To be honest, there are really no talents.

"Sir, why did this happen? The Ming Dynasty really didn't even have naval personnel?"

Zhang Ximeng smiled bitterly, showing helplessness.

Throughout the ages, it is not to say that the Central Plains has not had a powerful navy.

It's just that for a long time, the navy has been placed in an auxiliary position.

And because it is an inland navy, the ships are all swaying in the inland water, so there is not much room to play.Land and water generals do not have such clear boundaries.

Just like Chang Yuchun, he is not only good at horseback riding and archery, but also rampant and invincible after boarding the boat.

Therefore, strictly speaking, the Central Plains Dynasty lacked a decent naval strategy, or in other words, faced with the vast sea, they had no concept at all.

This is also one of the problems that Zhang Ximeng advocated for the development of industry and commerce.

This is not a question of who is right and who is wrong, but that there is no concept at all.

"We have millions or tens of millions of people in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Lingnan. They live by the sea. Foreign trade, silk and tea fill the court's finances. Even if it is so important, we lack the understanding of overseas. On the other hand, the big Han sent envoys to penetrate the Western Regions just to find an ally to deal with the Xiongnu, expanding the space for the Chinese people. In comparison, we are indeed not as courageous and courageous as our ancestors!"

Qi Tai gradually lowered his head, and sighed: "The student guessed right, this is the purpose of setting up astronomy and other courses in Jimin Academy, isn't it?"

Zhang Ximeng nodded, "Not only that, I also arranged many people to sail with Fang Guozhen to master the skills of sea fighting. And Zhu Ying, who often travels from Lingnan to Yingtian, has also trained a lot of sea talents. Arrived Today, although I dare not say that I know everything well, it is not a blank slate.”

Qi Tai thought about it for a while, and finally realized, "Sir, if you don't have solid preparations and enough talents, and rush to investigate the navy, you may completely extinguish the hope of developing overseas! Sir, you are really thoughtful, and the disciples are devoted to each other!" "

Zhang Ximeng shook his head and smiled wryly, "If they were really thoughtful, they wouldn't let them mess around. It's just that they were helpless for a while, and couldn't think of a way, so they could only delay. Since you revealed the matter of the navy this time, it will be a success. It’s a good thing, only by solving them can overseas interests fall into the hands of the imperial court. Next, there will be plans to run schools and develop factories in Peiping.”

Qi Tai was surprised again, couldn't help thinking over and over again, and understood what was going on.

Indeed, in foreign trade, the biggest profit is often in the transportation... In the past, many barbarian merchants earned it, but now it is taken away by the navy.They secretly smuggled, colluded internally and externally, lying on Daming's body to suck blood.

If we don't solve this problem, we will talk about foreign trade, develop industry and commerce, and build a technology tree... In that case, whose hands will the profits flow to?

Can the imperial court get the fattest piece?

Qi Tai suddenly realized something, "Sir, you are in Beiping, and you are talking about the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, advocating foreign trade. Are you ready, sir? You are going to attack the navy?"

If this is the case, then this time the navy is looking for death.

Zhang Ximeng didn't say anything directly, but just sighed slightly, "The navy is too closed in the hands of the Liao family and the Yu family, and it is impossible to touch Daming's pulse!"

Sure enough, the result of arrogance is the most terrible.

Zhu Yuanzhang let Mao Xiang take down Liao Yongzhong, and then appointed Yu Tonghai to thoroughly investigate Liao Yongzhong's case.

This arrangement is very interesting. To ask Yu Tonghai to investigate Liao Yongzhong, is it to make him worse, or to let him cover up and perfunctory?

Just when everyone was still hesitating, Mao Xiang handed over a secret report to Lao Zhu.According to reports from Yu Tonghai's family, there were also smuggled objects in Yu's house, among which there were many golden dragons and phoenixes, which were particularly eye-catching.

"Catch! Grab it immediately!"

Yu Tonghai, who was interrogating Liao Yongzhong, was directly captured by Jin Yiwei, and instantly changed from an interrogator to a prisoner.

Liao Yongzhong laughed so hard that tears came out suddenly.

"A companion is like a tiger! I knew this before, why bother?" Liao Yongzhong gritted his teeth, "Your Highness, without us, how would you cross the Yangtze River? We have contributed to Daming, so why can't we spare our lives!"

Liao Yongzhong made a bleak plea, but Zhu Yuanzhang naturally couldn't hear it.

Civil and military officials in Beijing only knew that two Marquises had been arrested again, and the case was no less serious than the original case of Tang Lu... Just as the big guy was feeling emotional, Mao Xiang led Jin Yiwei and rushed to Gu Shi's house again.

The Marquis, who was born in a noble family in Huaixi, could not run away either.

It was indeed the first case since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, no doubt about it!