Reborn as a tyrant in the Ming Dynasty

As a person in a high position, the most taboo thing is to take on too much and handle everything personally. If this is really the case, then what are the people under you doing?

Since you have chosen to reuse some people, you should let them be in their respective positions, assume their respective responsibilities, and truly be able to shoulder the corresponding burdens.

As long as those in power can control the decision-making power, personnel power, and financial power, and have a group of talented people with different personalities under their command, no one can pose a threat to them.

This is what Zhu Youxiao is doing now.

Since he chose to use Ma Shilong and Cao Wenzhao, Zhu Youxiao must give them absolute trust and ask them to improve the Shanhaiguan defense line.

In fact, Ma Shilong and his colleagues did not disappoint Zhu Youxiao's trust.

As batches of unpaid wages were paid to every soldier, a larger-scale rectification, even anonymous reporting, was quietly taking place throughout Shanhaiguan.

A clean Shanhaiguan was the goal set by Zhu Youxiao.

When all the hidden dangers on the surface have been eliminated, then finding out the hidden dangers behind the scenes is something that must be done while the momentum is strong.

"All those arrested will be handed over to the Royal Guards." Zhu Youxiao said with a serious expression after reading the memorial submitted by Ma Shilong.

"I really didn't expect that many merchants in Shanhaiguan were secretly connected with Jianlu, and these were all reported by the lower-level soldiers."

An expression of shame appeared on Ma Shilong's face.

This was something he didn't expect.

Ma Shilong thought that after being appointed to Shanhaiguan and having served in this position for so long, he had established his prestige. However, he did not expect that there were many things he was not aware of.

"Also, I have already decided to dismiss all the more than 30,000 old and weak people from the army." While Ma Shilong was thinking about this, Zhu Youxiao put down the memorial in his hand and said calmly.

"It is useless for these people to stay in the army. Even if they are assigned to serve under my command, I am afraid they will not be of much use. Moreover, if they really want to go to Liao, it will be very risky. These people are not suitable for going to the battlefield."

"Your Majesty, can this be done in batches?"

After hearing this, Ma Shilong showed some concern. "After all, there are too many old and weak people here. If we really fire them all, there's no guarantee that something might go wrong."

"No, fire them all."

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "The Shanhaiguan General's Office should issue an imperial edict to clarify that these dismissed old and weak people will be settled in the imperial farms in Qinhuangdao, Yongping Prefecture and Shuntian Prefecture. The soldiers in Shanhaiguan should all know that even if they are old and have nowhere to go, the court will find a way to settle them. This will become a regular practice in the future!"

Ma Shilong's face changed drastically.

Originally, he thought that the emperor wanted to dismiss these old and weak people and no longer care about them, letting them fend for themselves.

But what Ma Shilong never expected was that the emperor dismissed these people, but at the same time he also considered a place for them to go, which was equivalent to giving them a way to survive.

This has never happened before.

"What's that expression, Qingjia?"

Seeing Ma Shilong like this, Zhu Youxiao smiled and said, "You don't think that I will just fire these people and not care about their lives, do you?"

"minister……"

Ma Shilong was blushing and bowed to the emperor.

"The current situation of these people is closely related to the imperial court." Zhu Youxiao sighed and said, "If it weren't for the Liao incident, they wouldn't have stayed at the border for so long."

"Since it was caused by the imperial court, the imperial court must be held responsible to the end. We cannot let them down, and we cannot let down the men who work so hard for the imperial court."

"This matter must be made clear, and all the soldiers stationed in various places in Shanhaiguan must know it. I want to completely dispel their concerns."

"The minister obeys the order!"

Ma Shilong immediately expressed his opinion: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will definitely handle this matter well. Once these elderly and weak people are settled, Shanhaiguan will no longer have any hidden worries!"

"Go down and do your work."

Zhu Youxiao smiled and waved his hand.

"My minister retire."

Watching Ma Shilong's departing back, Zhu Youxiao felt a sigh in his heart, although settling this group of elderly and weak people would place a considerable burden on the court.

However, compared with completely rallying the military morale of the entire Shanhaiguan, these are simply not worth mentioning. If money and food are gone, there is still time to earn them again, but if people's morale is scattered, it will be difficult to gather them again.

It is true that human heart is the cheapest, but it is also the most expensive.

It is always easy to say that it is easy to gather people's hearts, but it is extremely difficult to do it.

"Your Majesty!! Good news!!"

As Zhu Youxiao was sighing, an excited voice rang out, "The troops of the Military Equipment and Cleaning Officials Division have successfully arrived in the Shimen City area."

Ok.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao became inexplicably excited. The military equipment he had been longing for had finally been delivered by Jiao Xu and his men.

Ever since Zhu Youxiao left Beijing to patrol the border, he had issued an edict to Jiao Xu and others, asking them to speed up the production of firearms, cannons and gunpowder at all costs, in addition to all kinds of military equipment. For this purpose, Zhu Youxiao also allocated a special silver from the treasury.

So no matter how many things happened during the border patrol, Jiao Xu and his men only did one thing, which was to organize people to build various military equipment.

"According to the news sent back by Wang Zhiren, among the many weapons transported by the Armaments and Equipment Department this time, there are hundreds of artillery pieces alone, of which the Tiger Crouching Cannon accounts for nearly 70%!"

Wei Liangqing walked into the hall, holding a memorial in his hand, and could not hide his excitement as he told the emperor the truth: "In addition, a lot of gunpowder was also transported here, and there were also many gunpowder products derived from gunpowder. For example, more than 5000 boxes of thunder bombs were transported here, with 20 bombs in each box!"

The biggest advantage of assembly line operation is that once you become familiar with this type of production, efficiency can be greatly improved. In order to speed up production, various standards will even be clarified. These standards are not limited to production, but also apply to storage, transportation and other aspects.

"Well, the Military Equipment Cleansing Division really didn't disappoint me."

After reading the memorial, Zhu Youxiao smiled and looked at Wei Liangqing and asked, "Where are Sun Chuanting and his men? How are the various transport stations from various places in the capital to Shanhaiguan being built?"

"Your Majesty."

Wei Liangqing said truthfully: "Sun Chuanting has arrived in Lulong, the preparations for the disaster relief office in Yongping Prefecture have been completed, and the preparations for transportation to various places have also been basically completed."

"In addition, the civil unrest in Qian'an and other places was basically suppressed by Lu Xiangsheng's troops. While Lu Xiangsheng led his troops to suppress the mutiny and civil unrest, Sun Zushou and his men secretly arrested a group of treacherous villains in the three associations and twelve routes under the jurisdiction of Jizhou Town. The situation in Jizhou Town is now stable."

While Zhu Youxiao was stationed in Shanhaiguan and busy with various plans and deployments, the civil and military officials in other places were also busy. Only Zhu Youxiao knew how hard-won all this was.