"It's really a good plan." Zhuang Migao also figured it out.
Through the intermediary Yang Laizhen, Zhuang Migao has had a lot of dealings with Su Hao and knows how Su Hao does things. Su Hao is good at using benefits to induce others to do things, and those who cooperate with him can indeed benefit from it.
Obtain real benefits. Su Hao is not greedy. The benefits are shared with his collaborators. Therefore, although the people who cooperate with him understand that they are being used by him, they are willing to do so and even actively hope to be used by him.
This time, Su Hao obviously advocated going abroad to fight. At the same time, he also knew that this proposal would be blocked by the court. He marked out so many mineral points, nominally dedicated to Zhou Wei'an and Zhuang Migao, but in essence he wanted to
Through the two of them, it will be donated to all officials who can speak out about sending troops. Of course, the benefits that the two of them can gain in this process are also very considerable.
In fact, for most ministers, it does not matter whether to use troops on the grasslands. Out of habit, they will oppose this proposal, but if there are any benefits, it is not difficult for them to support this proposal. Li Zhi
The analysis of these ministers is very accurate. They claim to be scholars, but their inner greed is no less than that of profiteers in the market.
"We have to calculate how much revenue we can get from these mines." Zhou Wei'an said nakedly.
"Deputy General Su and us have already figured this out," Dong Tianzhang said.
The income of a mine depends on the reserves of the mineral deposits, the grade of the ore, the difficulty of mining, transportation costs, etc. Without mastering this information, it is impossible to calculate how much income a mine can generate. Su Hao has a good understanding of the mineral points he has marked.
With an in-depth understanding, although the various data cannot be said to be memorized, it is still enough to cope with some ordinary cost-benefit estimates.
Before Dong Tianzhang and Yang Laizhen left Ningxia, Su Hao had already calculated the income from the mines with them. Rough calculations showed that even if only half of these mines could be successfully mined, the annual income would be more than 200,000 taels of silver. And if
Mineral products can be further processed in some mining areas and then sold to the chiefs on the grasslands, and the income can be further increased.
Dong Tianzhang reported the calculation results to Zhou Wei'an and Zhuang Migao, and their breathing began to become rapid. Zhuang Migao glanced at Zhou Wei'an and said, "Shilang Zhou, this is worth doing!"
"Haha, Zhou also has this intention." Zhou Wei'an said, "Master Zhuang, who do you think we should look for first?"
"Come on, let's do it together." Zhuang Migao said.
That night, Zhou Wei'an and Zhuang Migao each held a banquet in their own homes. Many officials from the capital were invited to attend the banquet. There was no need to ask for a reason for attending the banquet.
, in the end, the more likely it is to surprise people, as anyone who has been in the officialdom for a long time knows.
Outsiders have no way of knowing what exactly happened at the banquet at Zhou Mansion and Zhuang Mansion, but when the guests left with a full meal, everyone had some excitement and excitement on their faces. Some of them
After leaving the host's house, he did not rush back to his own home, but hurried to the homes of other officials with whom he had a good relationship on weekdays to pass on the news he had just received.
The brokers who served officials, big and small, also suddenly became busy. They were urgently summoned by their respective employers, and then began to mobilize troops. On the road from the capital to the border towns of Ningxia, batches of caravans rushed forward like sparks.
, when everyone met in a post house or inn, no one showed any surprise, but exchanged tacit glances with each other, with only three words in their eyes: You understand.
Cheng Dong was completely unaware of the undercurrent surging in the capital. He stayed in the house he rented for several days and wrote a long memorial, quoting classics and classics, to refute the proposal to send troops to the grassland. He wrote it emotionally.
Everywhere, he was moved by himself, feeling that he had transformed into a cuckoo crying blood in the middle of the night, calling for spring relentlessly.
After writing the memorial, Cheng Dong polished it repeatedly and copied it carefully, and then took it to the court with great ambition. After several days of deliberation, Xiao Ruxun's proposal will be discussed at the court meeting today. Cheng Dong believes that,
I will definitely be able to criticize this proposal thoroughly and show off my skills in front of the ministers.
"My dear friends, you have been discussing Xiao Ruxun's proposal of sending troops to the grassland to hunt down the Kuaibai remnant party for several days, right? Let's talk freely today." Wanli sat on the dragon chair and said to
everyone said.
"My lord..." Cheng Dong took a step forward and planned to speak.
"I have a plan to report!" Before Cheng Dong could say the second word, Zhou Wei'an interrupted him loudly.
Wan Li pointed to Zhou Weian and said: "Zhou Aiqing, please speak."
Cheng Dong had just taken half a step and had to take it back again. Zhou Wei'an's official was much more senior than him, and his seniority was not mentioned. Cheng Dong did not compete with him for the power of the microphone.
Zhou Wei'an didn't think about what Cheng Dong was thinking. A small seventh-grade censor was not worthy of the attention of a minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. He walked out of the team, came to Wanli, took out a memorial, and said:
La said: "I believe that General Xiao's move of troops out of the grassland is an unparalleled feat. If this move can be effective, General Xiao's achievements can be compared to Wei Qing of the Han Dynasty and Li Jing of the Tang Dynasty...
"
No? Cheng Dong listened to Zhou Wei'an's eloquent speech and had a feeling that he was dreaming. He remembered that Zhou Wei'an seemed to be opposed to sending troops a few days ago, but why did he turn around and support Xiao?
Ruxun's main force? Well, even if your mind has changed, can you stop exaggerating like this? It's just that you went out to the grassland to hunt down Kuaibai. How come you became Wei Qing and Li Jing? Can these two people stand up to each other?
Up?
After finally waiting for Zhou Wei'an to finish speaking, Cheng Dong raised his foot and planned to go out to ask for the performance. Before he could start, Zhuang Migao blocked him again: "Your Majesty, I have something to say."
"Zhuang Aiqing, please speak." Wanli said to Zhuang Migao with a satisfied smile on his face. Although Zhou Wei'an's words just now were a bit sensational and disgusting, Wanli was still very happy. He didn't know what happened these days.
It's a matter of course, but we can guess to some extent that Su Hao must have played a role in it.
Zhuang Migao took a step forward and said: "Wei Chen doesn't have much to say. What wei Chen wants to say is that he completely agrees with Zhou Shilang's views. Although the traitor is a Tatar, he has surrendered. I am the one who surrendered."
A minister of the Ming Dynasty. As a minister, being the first to cause trouble and defecting later is an unpardonable crime. If he cannot be apprehended and brought to justice, it will be a great disgrace to our Ming Dynasty!"
"Are you finished?" Wanli asked.
"That's it." Zhuang Migao replied.
"Zhuang Aiqing said well, please step back." Wan Li said cheerfully.
"Your Majesty..." Cheng Dong was about to speak again, but what made him depressed was that someone else had beaten him to it, and it was still the kind of minister with a higher official position than him. His level was considered to be the lowest in the imperial court.
It's not enough. I usually get the chance to speak, mainly because people don't want to talk too much to avoid offending others, so I let him take the lead. Now the situation is different. There are many people who want to speak, so how can it be his turn to say anything.
"I agree with Zhou Shilang's words. Pursuing the remnant party is an act of demonstrating my great power."
"I second the proposal!"
"I have already said that we should send troops!"
"..."
Officials one after another stood up and expressed support for sending troops. Of course, some of the ministers had objections, but when they saw this scene, they consciously shut up. They were not afraid of arguing with the emperor, because the more they argued, the more powerful they were.
Proving that they are the conscience of the academic world is something that can bring them both fame and fortune. But when it comes to going against most of the officials, they are not that stupid.
Some people who were kept in the dark immediately asked their colleagues around them in a low voice what had happened. With a mysterious smile on their face, the colleagues just replied vaguely: Brother so-and-so, your information is too ill-informed.
Well, how about, after the court is dismissed, we go to Defu Tower to have a chat and wait for my little brother to explain it to you in detail?
After everyone talked noisily for a long time, Shen Shixing stood up. He waved his hands to stop the officials who were about to add their opinions, then walked to Wanli, bowed and said:
"Your Majesty, the opinions of all the ministers are unanimous, that is, they agree to send troops to the grassland to hunt down the remaining Kuai Bai party. Can Your Majesty issue an order now and ask the Ministry of War to handle this matter?"
Wan Li nodded and said: "Since all of you are in favor of sending troops, I should agree. Xiao Ruxun said that sending troops to the grassland does not cost extra. That is because he understands the difficulties of the court and takes the initiative to share the worries of the court.
It's commendable. However, since we need to use troops, is there any reason not to spend money? Although our Ming Dynasty's treasury is not very rich, we still have to spend the money. Shen Aiqing, please discuss with Wang Yi'e and Wang Aiqing to see how much money should be allocated.
It’s better to give the fee to Xiao Ruxun.”
"According to the order!" Shen Shixing responded.
"I..." Cheng Dong, who had never had a chance to speak, stood in the team and opened his mouth to shout something, but no sound came out. Amidst the praise, he knew that his voice was very weak, no matter how much he said,
It was useless to say anything. He looked at his colleagues around him blankly, and did not hear the eunuch Li Long's voice announcing the dismissal of the court.
"Bangzhi, what are you thinking about?" Wu Bo, the Minister of Household Affairs, walked up to Cheng Dong, pushed him and asked.
"Ah?" Cheng Dong finally woke up from his confused state and found that everyone around him had disappeared. Apart from the eunuchs on both sides, only he and Wu Boxing were left in the entire court.
"Let's go, don't stay here." Wu Boxing refused to say anything and pulled Cheng Dong out of the court.
"Wu Shilang, what's going on?" Cheng Dong said to Wu Boxing full of grievances, still holding the memorial written with painstaking efforts in his hand.