The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Chai Mansion, in front of the main gate.

The scholar was carrying a gift of bacon, ready to meet Chai Sheng.

Chai Sheng was the newly appointed Minister of War.

He was fourteen years younger than Zhang Sheng, the youngest of the six ministries.

This meant that Ma Wensheng and Zeng Jian had retired, and Chai Sheng's career had just begun.

Among the six ministries and the cabinet, the one who had a gift of bacon with Chai Sheng had the best future!

If he could become an official in the court, he could be taken care of by Chai Sheng for at least twenty years.

The scholar was carrying bacon, standing in front of the mansion gate, waiting anxiously, waiting to meet Chai Sheng.

But they saw that a handsome scholar was led in directly by the doorman without queuing.

Suddenly, he started to cry out as if he had suffered a great loss.

Yan Song walked into the mansion carefully.

This was the most magnificent courtyard he had ever seen. He went in and out five times, and was tired of crossing the threshold, but he hadn't reached the place yet.

Walking around the main hall, we walked to the middle hall, where there were three masters wearing scarlet robes.

The first seat, the one wearing a scarlet robe with a pheasant pattern, Yan Song said, "I have met Lord Chai."

Chai Sheng smiled and gestured, "Please sit down. I value your talent. I heard that you are the top scholar in Northern Zhili?"

Yan Song did not sit down, but heard the mysterious meaning that Chai Sheng wanted to accept him as a student.

"Thank you for your appreciation, but I'm sorry that I can't become Lord Chai's disciple."

Chai Sheng's smile froze on his face.

Yang Tong said with a stern face, "Lord Chai is the Minister of War. I think you are not a smart person either."

Yan Song bowed, "I already have a mentor in mind. If Lord Chai is fine, I want to go back to read."

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Chai Sheng thought that Yan Song should beg him to accept him as a student.

But now, Yan Song was a little disdainful.

Chai Sheng asked, "Can you tell me the name of your mentor?"

Yan Song shook his head and said, "It is not convenient to reveal the name of that gentleman. Besides, he has not accepted students as his disciples, so he cannot be called a mentor."

"Yan Chengjin!"

"Yan Chengjin!"

Yang Tong and Zhuang Xuan blurted out.

In the court, only that person is not convenient to reveal his name.

Yan Song looked up in surprise and pretended to be calm: "Don't guess, my two adults, I didn't say anything."

It is Yan Chengjin without a doubt!

Yang Tong became more and more certain, but this boy has never been interested in the talent selection ceremony, why would he accept Yan Song?

Chai Sheng's face was cold, and he didn't like Yan Chengjin, so he was inevitably unhappy: "Send Yan Jieyuan out."

Yan Song came out of the central hall and saw Zhan Ruoshui and Cui Xian. They bowed to each other and turned away.

...

Yan Mansion,

Yan Chengjin pondered, why did the Ming envoy die in Tokyo City? Why did they send another spy back?

In history, Emperor Suzong Li Jingfu reigned for only six months before Li Yi succeeded him.

Li Yi was like King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty, tyrannical, addicted to wine and sex, and enjoyed killing people.

If Annan was handed over to this man, Annan would no longer submit to the Ming Dynasty.

The court was undecided on whether to send troops to Annan.

If they sent people to investigate, the journey would be too long, and if they did not send troops, it would damage the dignity of the Ming Dynasty.

He came up with a win-win plan and prepared to advise tomorrow.

He Neng trotted in to report, smiling flatteringly: "Master, Yan Song wants to see you."

Yan Chengjin did not even raise his head: "No, I am busy. If you disturb me again, I will deduct all your year-end monthly allowance."

He Neng disappeared from Yan Chengjin's sight in a flash.

After a while, he came to the gate of the mansion again and said to Yan Song: "Go back, our young master doesn't want to see you, get out."

Yan Song looked embarrassed and thought for a while: "Can you help me say something? Just say that Master Chai wants to recruit me as a disciple, but I didn't agree, so Master Yan shouldn't think too much."

Oh, you think too much? When will the young master care about a mere champion.

I don't want to hit this scholar.

He Neng responded nonchalantly and slammed the door.

…

The next day, early in the morning.

The matter of Annan beheading the Ming envoy was discussed again.

Emperor Hongzhi's face was gloomy, and he didn't know how to deal with the matter of Annan.

The treasury was empty, and once the war started, hundreds of thousands of dollars would be wasted.

It is not rational to spend tens of millions of silver just to fight for face.

After the court was dismissed yesterday, the officials were still discussing this matter and had been hesitant.

Emperor Hongzhi calmed down: "What do you think, should we send troops or not?

I thought about it all night, and what Mr. Yan said makes sense. This matter is indeed like a traitor using the court to get rid of the King of Annan."

It is also very unpleasant to make wedding clothes for others.

Chai Sheng said: "If the court does not send troops, the southwest will definitely be in chaos. I think we should send troops!"

Since Yongle, Annan has been wantonly invading the southwest.

The court's attitude of not caring about anything has made them arrogant and domineering.

If the envoys are killed, they can still live in peace. The southwest, which has always been stable, will be invaded by Annan from now on, and even Siam, Tubo and other countries will follow suit.

Ma Wensheng said: "Lord Chai is right. For the stability of the southwest, we must send troops!"

"Your Majesty, the silver mines that Li Zhaoxian brought back can only refine 9.7 million taels of silver. Now they have to go to sea again, and there is also the waste of repairing the Grand Canal.

What can the court do if it captures Annan?" Han Wen disagreed with sending troops.

If war cannot be plundered, it will be a losing business.

At this moment, a non-irritating voice from the Censorate joined the group chat: "I may have a win-win solution."

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Yan Chengjin and coughed dryly: "Let Mr. Yan talk."

"County Annan!"

When these words came out, the faces of the gentlemen changed slightly, and they obviously understood what Yan Chengjin meant.

During the Yongle period, Chengzu had made Annan a county and made Annan the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

But the court had to send heavy troops to garrison, which was wasteful and did not bring any benefits. Later, it was thrown away as a burden.

Xie Qian turned his head: "Master Yan means to make Annan a county of the court?"

Chai Sheng thought it was a clever way: "During the Yongle period, there was already a county in Annan, which is a wasteful move."

In later generations, Annan was the world's second largest rice exporter, which shows its grain production strength.

Rice can be grown throughout Annan, but Zhu Di did not explore the value of this land.

If Annan is taken, the court will have the third land of fish and rice.

Yan Chengjin said: "I think that Annan should be made the 15th provincial government of the court. As far as I know, Annan produces more rice than Jiangnan."

The pupils of Emperor Hongzhi and the officials shrank suddenly.

Jiangnan, half of the imperial court's tax revenue!

Liu Jian was surprised: "How come the imperial court didn't know?"

"Annan has been in civil strife for many years, and the people can't farm with peace of mind. In addition, there is a lack of agricultural tools, and the wasteland can't be reclaimed, which deceived the imperial court." Yan Chengjin said.

Annan's provocation to the Ming Dynasty just gave the Ming Dynasty an opportunity to send troops and use the strategy against them.

Emperor Hongzhi didn't know that the land in Annan was so fertile: "How did Yan Qing's family know that the good land in Annan was fertile?"

Li Dongyang looked at Yan Chengjin with some concern.

However, seeing that this boy was not panicked, he was obviously prepared.

Yan Chengjin looked at Han Wen: "May I ask, Lord Han, how much rice does Annan exchange with the imperial court every year, and is there any arrears?"

Han Wen said: "About 6 million shi, never in arrears!"

Hiss!

There was silence in the hall.

The imperial court collected only about 15 million shi of autumn grain.

How could a small country like Annan trade iron tools with 6 million shi of grain?

Yan Chengjin was also shocked.

There is only one possibility, the Annan court exploited the people to death.

Emperor Hongzhi had a stern face and was a little excited: "Why didn't the Han family say it earlier?!"