Matters in the southwest were no small matter. Even Zhu Youxiao, who had always been confident, was a little undecided at this time. In the end, he had to announce that the three bachelors of the cabinet and the four major camp leaders would hold this meeting.
This was the first time since Zhu Youxiao ascended the throne that civil servants and generals met the emperor together. It was also extremely rare in the entire Ming Dynasty.
Upon hearing the news that the emperor was going to lead another personal expedition, the reactions of the civil servants and military generals were completely opposite.
When a war is about to begin, the military generals naturally support it with both hands. They train hard every day, just to be loyal on the battlefield. If they are left idle, what is the point of joining the army?
Wang Zai Jin also held a neutral attitude, neither supporting nor opposing. He knew very well that since the emperor had already made his decision, too much advice would be useless.
But Wang Xiangqian and Xu Guangqi don't think so. Your Majesty doesn't sit in the capital and govern the country well, so why do you always think about going to war?
Especially the target of this expedition made them even more uneasy. Why are they going to fight for toast in such a normal way?
The Jian slaves are still active outside the customs. Shouldn't Liaodong be pacified first?
Moreover, the southwest is about to be in chaos. How did your majesty know about it?
There was no sign at all, and they didn't hear any rumors or news at all.
"Your Majesty, our Ming Dynasty has just experienced two wars with Jiannu and Mongolia. How can we raise weapons again before our strength has recovered?"
"Now that the situation in the border town has finally stabilized, your Majesty doesn't take this opportunity to work hard to govern and implement benevolent policies to benefit the people, but why is he thinking about leading his troops on an expedition all day long?"
"Besides, now that the treasury is empty, how can we support a war? I hope your Majesty will learn from this and think twice before acting!"
Xu Guangqi opposed the emperor's move to start another war from the bottom of his heart. Now is the best time to correct the chaos. Why does your majesty seem not to care at all?
"Mr. Ge, it's not that I am so happy about my achievements that I insist on killing, but these people forced me out. Why don't I want to govern the country well and create a peaceful and prosperous age?"
"But the peaceful and prosperous era cannot be achieved by words and pens. It must be supported by a strong army. Which is not the case in the reign of Xiaoxuan and the prosperous era of Kaiyuan?"
"As for the emptiness of the national treasury, let me just say it first. I don't want any money or food from the treasury in this war!"
Zhu Youxiao's words left Xu Guangqi speechless.
"Your Majesty, I dare to ask, where did you get this news?"
What Wang Xiang did this stumped Zhu Youxiao. He couldn't possibly say that he could not serve as a prophet.
"A few days ago, I dreamed about Emperor Taizu. Emperor Taizu told me that a major rebellion would break out in the southwest this year, and the scale would be no less than that of Yang Yinglong."
"After much thought, I found that the only unstable factor in the southwestern land is the local chieftains, and Emperor Taizu also mentioned the chieftains, so I guessed and was inspired."
After pondering for a moment, Zhu Youxiao really had no good excuse, so he had to find a reason to hold back his feet.
The ministers and generals below were all dumbfounded when they heard this. It could be seen from their expressions that it was obviously difficult for them to believe it.
But Zhu Youxiao pretended to be very calm, as if it was real.
Xu Guangqi had some theoretical ideas from Western countries and did not believe much in the theory of ghosts and gods. However, it was the emperor who said it, and he could not question it on the spot, so he said tactfully:
"Your Majesty, even if it is Taizu's dream, it may not be true. Maybe Emperor Taizu made a mistake in his speech. Moreover, Your Majesty heard it in a dream and his mind is not yet clear, so how can we assert it?"
Your Majesty, please stop using this trick to bluff people. I will never believe it. Just tell me something practical.
Zhu Youxiao touched his nose in embarrassment when he heard this. It seems that not all ancients believed in this completely.
After Xu Guangqi said this, everyone else was eagerly waiting for the emperor's response.
"You don't have to wonder, I have already sent Jin Yiwei to the southwestern provinces for overt and covert inspections. It is indeed what Emperor Taizu said in his dream. Yongning chieftain She Chongming and his son secretly recruited soldiers and horses, hoarded grain, grass, salt, iron tools and many other strategic materials, and secretly gathered those who fled.
The craftsmen and military households are for their own use, but why not for rebellion, you say?"
Then he picked up a memorial in his hand and said:
"This is a secret report from Jin Yiwei. It records everything that has happened to the powerful chieftain in Sichuan for more than a month. Take a good look at it!"
Wang Chaofu quickly took the memorial from the emperor and walked down the steps.
This memorial was forged by Zhu Youxiao himself. He wrote it completely based on his imagination. Anyway, as long as it was a logical and reasonable crime, all the crimes were written down, directly recording all those chieftains as heinous crimes.
people.
There is a saying in later generations that officials in the late Ming Dynasty could line up to kill each other and would never kill anyone by mistake. And these chieftains were no less generous. They were much more prestigious in the local area than the emperor himself, and they bullied good people and oppressed them.
Such things as kindness and excessive taxation are naturally commonplace.
When the ministers read the memorial, they all felt incredible. Is there anything more ruthless than corrupt officials in this world?
"Your Majesty, this is the case, and there is no evidence that they are plotting rebellion. If we send troops without any reason, wouldn't it be unfair and unfair?"
"If this continues, the prestige of the imperial court will inevitably decline, especially when it comes to the election of generals in border towns. After they find out, everyone will definitely be in danger. By then, I am afraid that even people who have no different intentions will have different intentions."
Zhu Youxiao deeply felt that what Wang Xiangqian said was very reasonable. In China, in ancient times, it was very particular to take the initiative to send troops to fight. You must first find a name, then worship the gods and ghosts of heaven and earth, and only send troops after the process is completed.
During the Wanli period, during the war to aid the DPRK and expel the Japanese, the Ming Dynasty issued a long message to inform the world that Zhu Youxiao's grandfather, Emperor Wanli, even carried out the Second Master Guan as the spiritual support of the Ming army's expedition.
"What Yuan Fu said is absolutely true, but from what I can see, they may have been unable to bear it for a long time. These chieftains have been rebellious for more than a day or two. Presumably, everything they need for rebellion has already been prepared, and they have not directly
To create fear is to wait for a good opportunity!"
"Now that they have revealed their opposites, I cannot sit still and wait for death. If I leave them alone like Yang Yinglong in Bozhou, the consequences will be disastrous!"
In this era, there is little information, and the traffic is extremely bad. If we don't make preparations early, the damage to people's livelihood will be immeasurable.
During the one-year expedition to annihilate Yang Yinglong, the Ming army spent nearly one-third of the time preparing supplies and deploying troops. It also took a lot of time to form an encirclement and suppression campaign.
During this period, the rebel side took the opportunity to expand and put a lot of pressure on the government.
Seeing that the emperor was determined to conquer in person again, Xu Guangqi sighed softly and said helplessly: