Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 18

Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Qi Jingtong, commander-in-chief of the Shenji Battalion, came to see the emperor according to the emperor's will.

"Qi Jingtong, Commander-in-Chief of Chen Shenji Battalion, I greet Your Majesty!"

"Qi Qing's family, free from courtesy!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Houzhao looked at Qi Jingtong carefully, and couldn't help secretly amazed in his heart!

Qi Jingtong was the father of Qi Jiguang, the anti-Japanese general who was later famous all over the world, and he was a rare general in this generation.

It's just that the imperial treasury is empty this year, unable to support the Daming Navy, and Qi Jingtong naturally returned to the Shenji Camp.

At present, Qi Jingtong has passed the prime of life, and there is no trace of aging in his dark skin, but from the firm muscles, it gives people a solid and heavy feeling.

"General Qi, I heard that you have previously served as an anti-Japanese army, and you have led the army to fight against the Japanese pirates at the seaside many times. Is there such a thing?"

Qi Jingtong's complexion changed when he heard the words. The emperor turned his face faster than he could turn a book. Li Dongyang, the chief minister of the cabinet, was fined half a year's salary just for saying a few compliments. This is a lesson from the past!

But no matter what, this is not a court hall, and there are not so many civil servants stepping on him. Although the military generals in the court are not satisfied, this is the Hall of Mental Cultivation. His Majesty must have other plans for summoning him.

I saw Qi Jingtong cupped his hands and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I have been sent to Dengzhou, Yiwu, and Hangzhou many times before to fight the Japanese pirates!"

"Later, because the imperial court needed to reduce military expenditures and transferred all the materials for the naval battle back to the capital, I have been serving as the commander of the Shenji Battalion."

Speaking of this, Qi Jingtong seems to have a lot of unspeakable secrets, as if he doesn't know where to say it.

Zhu Houzhao saw that Qi Jingtong had something to say, and said solemnly: "General Qi, but it doesn't matter if you say it."

At this moment, Qi Jingtong looked at Zhu Houzhao on the dragon chair with deep eyes. He firmly believed that although the emperor was young, he would surely achieve great things in the future and fulfill his promise in the court.

Recently, although Qi Jingtong was in Shenji Camp and went to the northwest to suppress bandits, he heard many rumors about Emperor Zhengde from time to time.

When I saw it today, it was indeed as rumored in the court.

He wants to tell this ambitious emperor all the words that have been deposited in his heart for many years. He knows that His Majesty has a heart for all people, and this is the best time.

Qi Jingtong thought this in his mind, but he still knelt down heavily and cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, I have fought against the Japanese pirates many times. I know very well that these Japanese are ambitious and they are always coveting the fertile land and people of the Ming Dynasty."

"Your Majesty, if the Japanese pirates are not eradicated, there will be no peace in the imperial court!"

"The people on the coast of Daming are also being invaded by Japanese pirates all the time. It is really miserable. I would like to ask Your Majesty to issue an order to reorganize our Daming navy to resist the bandits on the water!"

As soon as the words fell, Qi Jingtong knocked his head heavily on the ground, waiting for Zhu Houzhao's reply.

He knew that Ming's treasury didn't have many inches of silver, so the emperor probably couldn't satisfy him with this small request.

But, it is indeed as he said, if the pirates are not eradicated, the people will not rest, and the seaside will not be peaceful.

He had to tell the emperor about the powerful relationship.

Ding Ding Deng!
There was a sound of footsteps in the hall.

At some point, Zhu Houzhao's figure appeared in front of Qi Jingtong.

"His Majesty!"

Without anger, Zhu Houzhao leaned over to support Qi Jingtong, and asked majesticly, "General Qi, let me ask you, if one day, I let you command the Daming Navy again, are you sure to repel the banditry?"

Qi Jingtong's face was shocked, and he cupped his hands and said, "I'm [-]% sure!"

After a pause, he continued, "If the people of Ming Dynasty cannot have a sea frontier where they can live and work in peace, I am willing to offer this head of my minister to plead guilty to Your Majesty!"

"Good! Well said!"

"That's what I want from you!"

The voice of the Son of Heaven resounded throughout the hall.

Zhu Houzhao narrowed his eyes, stared at Qi Jingtong and said, "Okay, I want you to remember what you said to me today!"

"This is not only an agreement between you and me, but also an agreement between you and the people of the world!"

"However, I won't just give you a Daming navy to manage, I will give you the entire Daming navy, and you alone will command it!"

"I not only want to pacify the banditry on the entire sea, but also let my Ming's flag fly across the ocean, and fly my Daming's dragon flag in this world!"

"From now on, I will establish the Ming Dynasty Navy, and you will be the governor of this navy!"

When Zhu Houzhao said these words, Qi Jingtong's breathing seemed to become a lot faster, which was something he dreamed of.

He had been looking forward to this dream for many years!
Daming Navy!

Great Navy!

He is responsible, and this responsibility can be described as great.

Qi Jingtong was already very excited, and he kowtowed heavily on the ground.

However, even so, Qi Jingtong was still worried.

"Your Majesty, the cost of forming the Great Ming Navy"

Zhu Houzhao waved his hand. He also knew that the national treasury was empty. Some time ago, Liu Jin was cut in half, and the silver he copied from him was not enough to build the Daming Navy.

"You don't need to worry about the silver taels. You go to Tanggukou Dam immediately to check the warships that Zheng He used when he sailed to the West. If you can repair it, just tell me how much silver taels you will use."

"The minister obeys the order!"

Qi Jingtong withdrew.

Zhu Houzhao asked the eunuch next to him to summon Li Suide, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, to have an audience.

Li Suide, Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry, was uneasy when he heard that His Majesty had summoned him.

The words of the early court today have already made him tremble. Although the emperor said that he would be a wise king, it is his business after all. If the minister is a little careless, Li Dongyang is the best warning.

What's more, the previous Liu Jin is also an example.

If this was according to the intention of the former emperor, and he was suddenly summoned by the emperor, there are nine out of ten that he was accused of something by Jin Yiwei Luo!
This is something that every courtier has to worry about every day.

Li Suide was uneasy, even if he was not corrupt and broke the law, even if he said something wrong before, he would be targeted by Jin Yiwei, at least be skinned, and at worst be cut in half, this is something he, the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, cannot bear.

"Li Suide, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, bows to His Majesty, long live my emperor!"

"Li Aiqing is free from courtesy!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Li Suide stood up respectfully, lowered his head anxiously, not daring to look at Zhu Houzhao.

He didn't know that the emperor had summoned Qi Jingtong, the commander of the Shenji Battalion before this, and he didn't understand the emperor's purpose of summoning him for no reason.
In the eyes of others, the Minister of Industry is a fat man, but the past few years he has been working there have been quite difficult to be honest!

After all, he was responsible for the engineering, equipment, equipment, etc. of the entire Ming Dynasty. These were counted behind the scenes, and it was a matter of spending money.

It can be said that more than half of the expenditure of the Ming Dynasty went through the Ministry of Industry.

But even so, Li Suide had a clear conscience in his own heart. He did not dare to be greedy at all, and he would work hard to be a clean slate.

Although Li Suide was extremely disturbed, he still pretended to be calm on the surface. After all, the current emperor was only fifteen or sixteen years old. Compared with him, an old fox who was involved in the world, he was just joking.

When he looked up at Zhu Houzhao, the emperor Zhu Houzhao was also watching him carefully.

However, at this glance, Li Suide understood in his heart that it is possible for the emperor to become a wise king in the future.

Not to mention other things, as far as the courage is concerned, it is no less than Zhu Di back then.

Immediately, a fearful expression appeared, and this was the first time he had shown such a look in front of a young emperor.

"Li Aiqing, let me ask you, how long have you been Minister of the Ministry of Industry?"

Li Suide arched his hands and said, "Return to Your Majesty, I have been Minister of Industry for nine years."

Zhu Houzhao nodded, nodded slightly, picked up a booklet on the table, and said: "I announce you today to test you, to see if you have fulfilled the responsibility of a minister of the Ministry of Industry during your tenure?"

Li Suide breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this, and his inner suffering was slightly reduced
　Ask for collection!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)