After the court meeting, Kangxi summoned the Manchu and Qing cabinet ministers to prepare for a small meeting.
This small meeting is where real discussions take place!
In Gyeongbokgung Palace, the former study room of the King of Joseon, Kangxi sat in the top position, his still immature face full of uprightness and seriousness.
As he grows up a little bit, he has gradually realized the fact that he has been ignored.
However, even if he realizes it, Kangxi is unable to change anything now!
Today's Kangxi can be said to have no cards to play except for his status as emperor.
Even the maids and eunuchs who serve him may not be completely loyal to him.
Under such circumstances, Kangxi was powerless to change anything.
In the original historical trajectory, Kangxi killed Obai, then successfully took over power and was able to rule personally.
But that was because the Eight Banners at that time had a clear internal order and the Manchu imperial power was stable.
Therefore, after Kangxi killed Obai and showed his strength, no one dared to challenge the imperial power again.
But now it is different!
The repeated defeats on the battlefield, as well as the Qing Dynasty's loss of the Longxing land in the Central Plains and Liaodong, caused the imperial power of the Manchu Qing Dynasty to seriously fade and had long lost its inviolability.
Turned into a pure plaque!
It looks glamorous on the surface, but its actual function is just an ornament.
But for Kangxi, the real fatal problem was the expansion of the Eight Banners. After a large number of former Green Camp soldiers were incorporated into the Eight Banners system, the strength of the banner owners below rapidly expanded, and each had their own selfish interests.
This is the deepest reason for the decline of the Manchu imperial power!
The imperial power of the Manchu Qing Dynasty came from the Eight Banners system. Now that the Eight Banners were no longer loyal to the emperor, the imperial power naturally declined.
Looking at the heavily armed cabinet ministers and princes of the Eight Banners below, Kangxi was eager to change the current status quo.
Through the teachings of several of his teachers, Kangxi very smartly realized that if he wanted to change his current situation, military power was the top priority.
Only when he controls the army can the emperor be the real emperor.
An emperor without military power would have an unstable throne.
Countless precedents in history proved this to Kangxi.
And wanting to take control of the military is not that simple.
Unless he can prove that he can lead his army to victory.
For Kangxi, the Qing Dynasty's plan to cross the sea to conquer the Japanese was an opportunity for him to gain military power.
But before that, he must have an army directly belonging to him...
Therefore, recently Kangxi was very concerned about the Qing Dynasty's cross-sea conquest of the Japanese.
"My dear friends, our Qing Dynasty has been in Seoul for a long time. I wonder when we can send out troops to conquer the Japanese?"
Kangxi glanced around and asked.
As soon as Kangxi finished speaking, the other people in the study looked at each other and communicated with each other with their eyes.
Just when the atmosphere was a little cold, Sony stood up and said.
"Your Majesty, now is the time of the windy season, so we cannot rush the war against Japan!"
Suk Saha also stood up and said.
"Your Majesty, if our Qing Dynasty wants to conquer the Japanese, the navy is the top priority!"
"Currently, our Great Qing Navy Division is still in the process of training. There are still huge shortages of ships and sailors."
"Besides, our Qing soldiers are not very proficient in naval warfare and are still in training. We are really impatient!"
Aixinjueluo Jieshu also relied on his seniority to stand up and speak.
"The emperor is still young and does not understand the principles of using troops!"
"The military is a major matter for the country, a place of life and death, a way of survival. It cannot be rushed!"
Although what a group of people said made sense, the selfishness in their words was also quite obvious.
As long as they still had the slightest respect for the imperial power, they would not dare to unite as a group and tacitly agree to embarrass Kangxi like this.
Ye Bilong also stood up and said.
"If the Qing Dynasty wants to cross the sea to conquer the Japanese, the money, food and military expenses required will be an astronomical figure."
"Now our Qing Dynasty is not well prepared. If we send troops rashly, I'm afraid something unspeakable will happen!!"
Upon hearing this, Kangxi's face turned pale as he heard the opposition from the officials below him.
But he didn't get angry on the spot. Instead, he suppressed his anger and changed the subject.
"Then what should I do now?"
Ye Bilong stood up and said.
"Reporting to your Majesty, whether it is training the navy or hoarding food, grass or weapons, to put it bluntly, the word money and food cannot be avoided."
"The most important thing our Qing Dynasty needs to do now is to solve the problem of money and food!"
After Kangxi heard this, he spoke subconsciously.
"Tax increase?"
As for the consequences of tax increases, Kangxi didn't care.
The Qing Dynasty was the aggressor to North Korea. Would the aggressor care about the life and death of the invaded?
Anyone who dares to resist the tax will be killed!
Ye Bilong shook his head and said.
"Your Majesty, our Qing Dynasty has a shallow foundation in North Korea, and our control over the local area is almost zero!"
"Raising taxes won't work!"
"For me, the Qing Dynasty, the best choice at the moment is actually to plunder and plunder!"
"Because, if we, the Qing Dynasty, send troops to plunder, we can not only obtain money and food, but also train our troops!"
In fact, to be precise, it is possible to collect taxes.
As long as the Manchu and Qing Dynasties used the tax package system, allocated the share of tax collection to the social elites below, and then used a knife to force the secular elites to collect taxes, this tax could probably be collected.
After all, the Qing Dynasty now holds a knife in their hands. If those wealthy people do not want to die, they have no other choice but to be obedient.
But, then again, if the Manchus and Qing Dynasties obtained money and food through taxation, wouldn't they be unable to do what the Ming Dynasty entrusted them to do?
In order to complete the tasks handed down by the Ming Dynasty, we can use this to seek a glimmer of hope for the Qing Dynasty!
It also facilitated the Manchus to train their troops in the process of plundering North Korea, and through killing, the newly attached Koreans and the Eight Banners soldiers benefited, and became more loyal to the Manchus and had a greater sense of belonging.
Without any hesitation, Ye Bilong rejected Kangxi's choice of raising taxes and put forward the suggestion of plundering.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! As for how many Koreans will die tragically under the butcher knife of the Qing army during the plundering process...
Ye Bilong doesn't care about this!
In fact, not only Ye Bilong, but no one in the entire Manchu Qing Dynasty cared about this either.
Every person in our Qing Dynasty has countless blood and killings on their hands, but we don't care about this.
After Ye Bilong finished speaking, the other people in the study spoke in agreement.
"Yes, yes, plundering with troops is indeed the best choice for our Qing Dynasty at the moment!"
"That's right, go and plunder the forts of those wealthy and powerful people. You can train your troops and make a fortune at the same time. You'll kill two birds with one stone!"
"Yes, just rob the nobles of the world. There is no point in plundering those Korean civilians. Each one is poorer than the last. Even if they are squeezed dry, they will not be able to produce a few taels of oil. It is not hard enough!"
"..."
Some people took advantage of the situation and proposed the idea of plundering the world's elite instead of ordinary North Korean civilians.
Everyone discussed in a flurry and the matter was finalized very quickly.
Seeing this, Kangxi could only nodded slightly and expressed his agreement.
Because, since most people agree, it is useless to object.
After discussing the matter, Kangxi spoke again.
"Now the Qing Dynasty is facing huge military pressure. It must not only be careful to guard against the pursuit of Ming thieves, but also prepare for the future cross-sea conquest of Japan."
"Currently, our military strength in the Qing Dynasty is stretched thin. I want to form a new army!"
"A new army using the Ming army's tactics and weapons. This new army will be trained and led by me personally!"
"I wonder what your lords think?"
This was Kangxi's first time to test military power.
Upon hearing this, the Manchu and Qing officials in the study kept exchanging glances.
Finally, Sony stood up and said.
"What the emperor said makes sense!"
"However, the formation of a new army is important, but the foundation of our Qing Dynasty is still the Eight Banners!"
"Moreover, the New Army cannot be achieved overnight. Before the New Army proves its combat power, it should not be allowed to squeeze out the resources originally belonging to the Eight Banners."
"Since the Emperor wants to form a new army, let's first form a new army of a thousand people to try the water!"
When Kangxi heard this, he couldn't help but look happy.
Although he is dissatisfied with Sony's stinginess, what can a thousand people accomplish?!
However, when he thought that these thousand people were just the beginning, his mood became much better.
Everything is difficult at the beginning, just make a start and then plan slowly later!
Sooner or later he, Kangxi, would be in charge!
…
After the discussion was over, Ye Bilong left Kangxi's study.
The expression on his face was gloomy, and he was visibly unhappy.
Because the scene that happened during the discussion in the study today made Ye Bilong feel wary.
He just started a plan here, asking the Qing Dynasty to send troops to plunder North Korea's wealthy families in order to obtain money and food.
Immediately afterwards, someone added a series of factors such as the reasons for this matter and interests.
He couldn't imagine it!
How has the Qing Dynasty been penetrated by the Ming Dynasty now?
Apart from him, how many other people are colluding with Ming Dynasty overtly or covertly?
Thinking about these things, Ye Bilong became more and more worried.
At this moment, E Bilong raised his head and looked forward, and then Sony was stopped by Suk Saha, Jieshu and others.
A group of people were arguing about something.
The expression on Ye Bilong's face remained unchanged, he strode forward, came to a few people, and asked.
"What are you guys doing?"
Suk Saha on the side heard this and said very unhappy.
"Suo Xiang is in Hutu today!"
"The emperor is still young, has grown up with the hands of women in the palace, and has never been exposed to military affairs. How can he take on the important task of training a new army?"
"Why did Suo Xiang agree to the emperor's personal leadership in training the new army?"
Jieshu on the side also questioned.
"Yes, the emperor is young and vigorous now, has no hair on his lips, and is not solid in his work. How can he command an army?"
"If anything happens to the emperor after he takes charge of the army, can Prime Minister Suo afford it?!"
Even Ye Bilong couldn't help but speak.
"Yes, what Suo Xiang did today is indeed Meng Lang!"
"..."
Faced with everyone's doubts and opposition, Sony is not angry.
He just laughed and said.
"maybe!"
"But your lords, please remember that this Qing Dynasty is the Emperor's Qing Dynasty!"
"We ministers are only assisting the government now. Sooner or later, we will return the government to the emperor."
"You can't always go against the emperor's wishes, right?"
Sony's words made the other people's faces look unhappy.
Eyes focused on Sony, the eyes seemed to say, are you so serious?
However, before anyone else could ask again, Sony continued.
"The emperor wants to train his troops, so let him do it!"
"Can't it be enough for me and the old minister to keep a check on the food, grass and weapons for the Emperor?"
As soon as Sony said this, everyone was stunned.
I see!
It can only be said that Sony is indeed a real old fox.
Really smart!
Without opposing Kangxi face to face and being a bad person, and avoiding continuous opposition arousing Kangxi's rebellious psychology, Kangxi could also be controlled.
This Zhengdou’s rank is indeed much higher than theirs!
…
Incheon Port!
After the Battle of Incheon, the city of Incheon was also massacred by the Qing army.
After three days of massacre and looting, there were almost no living people left in Incheon City.
However, after the war, the city of Incheon returned to its former prosperity within a short period of time, and was even better than before.
The reason is very simple. The Qing army looted and looted a lot in Korea.
But there is no way to realize the wealth they have harvested.
The only ones who had the ability to cash in the property looted by the Qing army were the merchants from the Ming Dynasty.
Incheon was also the trading port between the Ming Dynasty and North Korea, and gathered a large number of merchants!
For Qing soldiers, Incheon was the best place to sell stolen goods.
As a result, Incheon is extremely prosperous now.
Incheon City, a shop with a disguise!
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! An appraiser wearing a robe and glasses is appraising some sundries sent by the Qing soldiers in front of him.
Several strings of jewelry, a gold ring, two pieces of Korean cloth, a fine porcelain bottle, a snuff bottle...
There's a lot of mess, but there's also good stuff.
But what is very obvious is that these products all have a faint smell of blood, and their origins are obvious.
After looking at everything, he pondered for a while, and then the appraiser spoke.
"Consignment? Or pawn?"
Although this shop was labeled as a shop, the Qing troops stationed in Incheon knew that it was a pawn business.
The price given is fair, not deceptive, and the reputation is guaranteed!
Many Qing soldiers robbed things and liked to come here to sell their stolen goods.
The Qing soldier in front of me had dark skin, small eyes, and a scar on his face that added to his fierceness.
"What do you mean by consignment? What do you say by pawn?"
So the Qing soldier asked in Chinese with a Shandong accent.
He was born as a Han Chinese in Shandong. He was once plundered by the Manchus and made into a banner slave. Later, the Manchu army became vacant and became a green camp. Later, he was raised as a bannerman and even married a bannerman woman as his wife.
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Later, he followed the Qing army into North Korea!
His life has been full of ups and downs!
The appraiser opened his mouth to explain.
"Consignment means you store your things with us and we help you sell them!"
"But we have to take 10% of the final transaction price as a handling fee! And there is no guarantee when this product will be sold."
"It takes longer, but the money you get is relatively more!"
"If you want to pawn, we will directly estimate and give you a price. If you are satisfied, you can pay and order the goods."
"You can get the money now, but the pawn price is definitely not as high as the selling price!"
When the Qing soldiers heard this, they spoke directly without any hesitation.
"Evaluate the price. If it's suitable, I'll take it!"
He was transferred to Incheon and was stationed there for a short time. He didn't know where he would be transferred next. It would be easier for him to pawn directly.
Anyway, it’s something you robbed, so if you lose a little, just lose a little, don’t feel bad!
It’s really important to get the money as soon as possible!