Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 103 Thunder, rain and dew are all your kindness

Zhu Changluo knew that Nurhaci would not be satisfied with being confined outside the fertile land of Liaodong. If he could only fish and hunt, it would be difficult to unleash greater war potential.

However, Korea is indeed a good place. There are so many stories between the Central Plains dynasties and Korea in their history, but there is a reason why it has remained a vassal state and has not been turned into real land.

The sea, the Yalu River, the Changbai Mountains...geographical factors.

If Nurhaci could start with Korea and take over Korea before the Ming Dynasty could react, he would at least have the relatively flat and well-cultivated farmland to the west of Korea.

There are still many obedient farmers and skilled craftsmen in Korea, and their skills are always higher than those of the Jurchens.

Regardless of whether Nurhaci will do this or not, Zhu Changluo has created a possibility today. What happens next depends entirely on how Nurhaci and Li Hun act.

But the iron must be hard to forge, so we need to train the Beijing Camp and the Yongwei Camp, rectify the nine borders, make money from the Changming Camp, and infiltrate the military generals of the nine borders and the various tribes outside the border walls. We should just lay out the arrangements first.

Matteo Ricci was finally able to meet the emperor again, and now Zhu Changluo had become the emperor.

"I heard that the rulers of the countries in the Western Regions also want your Pope to crown them. I am very cautious about the doctrine you want to promote." Zhu Changluo poured cold water on him first, "China has its own heritage. I am appointed by heaven. No one in the world can override me for any reason or reason."

"…Your Majesty, we, the common people, will never offend the supreme majesty of the noble Emperor, let alone endanger your rule."

"Buddhism was also introduced from foreign countries. It took hundreds of years for Buddhism to take root after adapting to local customs." Zhu Changluo nodded with satisfaction. "I want to know what advantages your religion has in the West. How about this? I will allow you to stay in the capital first. You can send a batch of classics, ingenious tools, and skilled craftsmen to the West. After I learn more about it, I will decide whether to allow you to build a church in Ming Dynasty. Before that, even the churches built in Guangdong and Nanjing cannot openly preach to the people."

Matteo Ricci was both happy and anxious: "Your Majesty, I sincerely thank Your Majesty for your grace. But the churches in Guangdong and Nanjing..."

Zhu Changluo said without hesitation: "I don't forbid all of your private interactions. But I still have to be cautious when you gather in the church regularly. Let me get to know your Western land better and see if your doctrine will damage the foundation of my rule. In any case, if it is of no use to me, why should I allow you to preach in Ming Dynasty?"

Matteo Ricci had no choice but to accept his fate.

"Remember, it has to be useful to me." Zhu Changluo emphasized and turned to the main topic, "You people can come here continuously by boat from thousands of miles away, so you must have quite some experience in building ships. The journey is dangerous, and I heard that you also have some ingenuity in firearms. You occupied Malacca, a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, and you used ships to trade east and west. How did you do it specifically? Today, I will learn about this first."

He showed an extremely pragmatic tendency, which was to make Matteo Ricci a tool for the missionary cause.

In addition to Wang Xun, there were also Cheng Jing who was in charge of the Imperial Stables, Ma Tang who was arranged by Zhu Changluo to supervise the construction of sea ships, and Sun Long who was going to the Armory.

They seemed to be just ordinary eunuchs serving the emperor, and Matteo Ricci did not know Wang Xun. He could only answer whatever the emperor asked, otherwise what would happen if the emperor's permission to stay in the capital was withdrawn?
During the remaining days of the twelfth lunar month, Wang Zhizhen brought out the list of Jinyiwei that Zhu Changluo had requested, Tian Le and Li Chengliang discussed the training plan for the Beijing camp, the Cabinet, the Six Ministries and the Censorate discussed the specific provisions of the strategy to increase revenue, the Ministry of Personnel evaluated merits, and the Ministry of Revenue paid annual salaries and the first batch of year-end silver for hard work. The Ming Dynasty temporarily and peacefully moved towards the first year of Taichang.

The news has spread further afield.

In the Dudu Mansion on Beimen Street in Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian, a strong middle-aged man was exercising in his old house.

The old house is not small and the archway is magnificent.

After all, this is the family residence of Yu Dayou, who was posthumously awarded the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Left Army and given the posthumous title of Wuxiang.

Yu Dayou has been dead for twenty-one years, and his only son Yu Zigao has become a middle-aged man.

However, he did not inherit the hereditary position of commander-in-chief granted by the court, but devoted himself to studying the military tactics left by his father at home and practicing martial arts to strengthen his body.

This is both the advice from his father before he died and Yu Zigao's stubbornness.

Even if he wants to inherit the position, he cannot bring disgrace to his father's reputation. He must first gain fame through the military examination!
Unfortunately, over the years, it seemed that there was always someone suppressing him in some subtle way, making it impossible for him to pass this hurdle.

"Young General, the villagers have brought us New Year's gifts again."

The loyal servant left behind by Yu Dayou came to the martial arts training ground and called Yu Zigao out.

Decades have passed, but there are still people who are grateful to Yu Dayou for his help in fighting against Japanese pirates in the southeast.

As the Spring Festival is approaching, some families will send some New Year's goods. In response, Yu Zigao will go out to thank them.

At this time, the team delivering the imperial edict had already entered the Quanzhou city and went straight to the governor's residence.

The prefect of Quanzhou and others arrived early upon hearing the news and walked in the ceremonial procession with the "angel".

In the procession, there was a colorful sedan chair with a cloud cover on top.

On the red silk cloth in the sedan chair, there was a bright yellow imperial edict and a black iron plate.

When the residents of Quanzhou saw the imperial edict, they knelt down to greet it, but they were talking about it and didn't know what it was about.

They had already entered the city, and the eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict shouted loudly: "In compliance with the Emperor's order, Yu Dayou has made great contributions to the country and is posthumously awarded the title of Marquis of Jingyi and a hereditary certificate!"

The people were stunned at first, and then the whole Quanzhou city was in an uproar, and the news spread like wildfire.

The person who brought the good news ran to the governor's residence, and when he entered the door, he gasped and said, "Young... Young Marquis... hurry... get ready... to receive the order..."

"……what?"

"Your Majesty conferred him a posthumous title..." the man breathed a sigh of relief and said eagerly, "Marquis Jingyi! The imperial edict and the iron certificate have been delivered!"

Yu Zigao shook his head suddenly: "Red Book...Iron Certificate?"

"We're almost at the alley entrance!"

Yu Zigao's tears welled up and he sobbed uncontrollably.

Doesn't he know the loneliness of his father in his later years?
After years of fighting, he retired as a first-rank governor, without any other noble titles. However, the new king had just ascended the throne, and suddenly he had a hereditary certificate of marquis?

The same thing had already happened in Dengzhou, Shandong. Qi Jiguang had spent his whole life in military service, but his eldest son Qi Zuoguo only inherited the hereditary position of commander of Dengzhou Guard, which was the same starting point as Qi Jiguang.

The rest of the newly-appointed lords received the imperial decree of enthronement one after another and obtained the other half of the iron certificate belonging to the family of the meritorious official.

In Huai'an, in the Governor's Grain Transport Department's courtyard, Li Sancai sat at the top seat, and the official hall was full.

There is also another headquarters of the General of Grain Transport in Huai'an.

The East Courtyard of the Northern Palace is the current headquarters of the Grand Canal.

"Grain transport chief, the chief grain transporter has not returned yet. According to the law, the autumn grain transported from Jiangnan must be transported across the Huai River in the first month of the year. The grain transport ships from Huguang, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi are still lined up and must also cross the Huai River before March next year. The chief grain transporter has not returned, and the grain transport troops have no orders. What should we do?"

Li Sancai seemed very friendly and just said warmly: "Drink water, don't be anxious."

He is very honest and there is not even any tea here.

In Suzhou Prefecture, one thing is always mentioned when people come and go before the New Year.

"The two former prime ministers of Suzhou have been re-appointed into the cabinet, but the edict of ascension to the throne did not mention any exemptions, and there has been no new grace until now. What are the two elders, Shen and Wang, doing?"

"Humph! There is no new favor, but the prefecture and county government offices are bustling. Now there is an extra annual salary, and everyone is smiling. It's just thirty or fifty taels of silver!"

"Fang Huai Weng, have you ever gone to the Shen family to ask?"

"Why are you in such a hurry? Your Majesty also wants to celebrate the New Year. What kind of person is Mr. Shen? He always has to consider the overall situation."

“There has to be an explanation for that.”

"That's natural. There has to be an explanation."

"But conferring titles on the emperor and training the Beijing garrison..."

"Just relax, Jiangnan is the real foundation of the country!"

In the capital, a countess's wife cried, "The garden is only half-finished! Can you let them go back after it's finished?"

"Why fix it? Leave it there! Let's see if there's a way to fix it next year! If I can take care of those brats, I don't know how many people will impeach me next year!"

Zhangyong Earl Liu Jing counted the gifts in the newly granted house and ordered: "Clean them up carefully, and make sure the lady is happy when she sees them!"

I always give money as bribes, and now that I have been conferred the title of Earl, at least this time the favor should be reciprocated, right?
The Zheng Mansion, the former residence of the royal family, changed its plaque and became the new Zhangyong Earl Mansion, so magnificent!

At the Ministry of Revenue, officials of lower ranks lined up with their certificates to receive their salaries and the first payment of their year-end wages.

With nothing else to do, people naturally discussed state affairs or just chatted.

Generally speaking, December has changed a lot since the new king ascended the throne. At least, apart from the holidays, court meetings have been held several times.

They have really become more amiable during this period of time, and the emperor is really more like an old minister than they are.

There are exemptions. Several prefectures and counties that suffered severe drought in the summer were granted exemptions from this year's land tax, but there was no exemption for past arrears.

The strategy to increase revenue, which was neither surprising nor relieving to many people, was to focus on currency, customs, and commercial taxes.

It still cannot be underestimated. The commander-in-chief of the grain transport system has been staying in the capital for almost a month, which shows that Your Majesty really understands the key points.

To the east of the capital, a team of prisoner cars slowly approached.

There was also a general on horseback in the team. Although he was still wearing his official robe, his face looked nervous and aggrieved.

This was because Ma Lin, the Liaodong general, was dismissed from his post because of his involvement in the Shanhaiguan uprising.

Hou Xianchun had been brought to Puzhin Ferry, west of the capital, along with his family.

He has lost a lot of weight and his expression has become increasingly sinister.

But he was prepared to live.

South of the capital, Qin Liangyu was wearing her official robes on her way back to Bozhou.

She had been thinking about the emperor's proposal for many days and weighing it for a long time.

This is indeed a very important choice, Shizhu is the root of the Ma family.

But after the Yang family rebelled, what kind of defense measures would the court take against the other chieftains in the area?

In the first month of the new monarch's accession to the throne, the emperor's grace shines upon him, with thunder, lightning, rain and dew.

Although the scale is not large yet, everyone who cares knows that the storm is still brewing.

The first year of Taichang, which is about to come, is destined not to be peaceful.

(End of this chapter)