In the palace, in Emperor Hongzhi's study, Emperor Hongzhi was looking at the map of the Western Regions and Uzang carefully, studying it carefully. In fact, he also wanted to use troops against the Western Regions and Uzang.
But Emperor Hongzhi knew very well that the war was a national matter, and he could not use weapons lightly. Although he wanted to use troops against the Western Regions, he still needed to be cautious. No matter how cautious he was, he had to be fully prepared in all aspects before using troops against the Western Regions.
One battle will determine the outcome.
It's winter now. Since ancient times, there has been no precedent for using troops in the Western Regions, grasslands, Us-Tibet and other areas in winter. Marching in winter is really a challenge.
Therefore, even though both the government and the public wrote letters to Emperor Hongzhi, asking him to start a war in the Western Regions, Emperor Hongzhi was not in a hurry because he felt that now was not the time to start a war.
At least, we still have to wait until winter is over and the weather warms up before it is suitable to send troops.
"Your Majesty, many ministers have written letters saying that they want to start a war in the Western Regions."
Xiao Jing came over with a pile of memorials and reminded him in a low voice.
"It seems they are really anxious."
"It's good to be anxious, it's good to be anxious, and let them taste the feeling of being anxious. In the past, I would be anxious in winter and always wanted to do something. But as for them, each of them is like Jiang Taigong, steady and steady.
Sitting on the Diaoyutai, even if the sky pokes a hole, they won't be anxious at all."
"I'm fine now. I'm already anxious, and you all know how uncomfortable it feels."
When Emperor Hongzhi heard this, he immediately laughed.
"Your Majesty, the textile industry involves a wide range of things, not only the ministers of the government and the public, but also has a great influence on the ordinary people of the Ming Dynasty."
Xiao Jing thought for a while and said.
"Xiao Jing, have you also invested in some textile factories?"
When Emperor Hongzhi heard this, he thought for a moment, smiled and asked.
"We have invested in a few small factories, which are not large in scale."
Xiao Jing nodded and said, naturally this matter cannot be hidden from the eyes of Emperor Hongzhi, so it is better to admit it decisively and readily. Who in the whole court has not invested in several factories, invested in several trading houses, and has several plantations in Nanyang?
"It's good to know how to invest. At least you won't have to do anything extraordinary just for a little money in the future."
Emperor Hongzhi nodded slightly. He himself was the largest capitalist with many industries under his command. He did not object to Xiao Jing's investment in textile factories and trading houses, but thought it was a good thing.
Eunuchs are human beings too, and because they have no offspring, they prefer foreign objects such as gold and silver. It is also a good thing to be able to invest and earn some money, at least they will not be bribed by some people with a small amount of money.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty~"
"This old slave has always been loyal to you and never dared to do anything out of the ordinary."
When Xiao Jing heard this, he immediately fell to his knees in fright. Emperor Hongzhi's words frightened him half to death. He kept thinking about whether some of the little things he had done before were known to Emperor Hongzhi?
"Get up, I didn't tell you anything."
Emperor Hongzhi looked at Xiao Jing and said.
Xiao Jing stood up tremblingly, but he kept thinking about Emperor Hongzhi's words in his mind. Was Emperor Hongzhi trying to beat himself up, or did he have other meanings in it.
But no matter which one it was, Xiao Jing felt like he was sweating profusely, and even in the winter, there was a cold snort on his back.
"Xiao Jing, tell me how big the Western Region and Uzang are, but they are a barren land. What's the use of our Ming Dynasty conquering them?"
"This Western Region is a little better. At least you can grow cotton, raise cattle and sheep, etc. But as for Uzang, it doesn't seem to be of much use."
Emperor Hongzhi looked at the map, thought for a while and asked Xiao Jing.
"I don't know anything about these things. Why don't you call Liu Jin to the palace? He will definitely be able to answer your questions."
Xiao Jing thought for a while and replied.
"Liu Jin?"
"This brat, I gave him two months' leave, and he really doesn't plan to miss a single day of it. It's been almost two months, and he still hasn't come to morning service."
When Liu Jin was mentioned, Emperor Hongzhi laughed. He had never seen such a lazy minister.
"There are only three days left, and the two-month vacation will be completed."
Xiao Jing thought for a while and replied.
"Go and call him into the palace. Those who live all day long will know how to enjoy happiness at home. This is a small life."
"Yes~"
"Western Region, Uzang..."
Emperor Hongzhi looked at the map in a daze.
Here, Liu Jin, who was at home with Milk Baby, reluctantly left the house and came to the palace with a look of displeasure on his face.
There really were no human rights in ancient times.
It's winter, it's snowing, and it's freezing cold. If the emperor just says a word, you have to go to the palace in disgrace. This is simply inhumane.
Arriving at Qianqing Palace, Liu Jin observed carefully.
At the beginning, the Qianqing Palace was still very simple. Most of the various decorations were mainly calligraphy, paintings, porcelain bottles and the like. But now, the entire Qianqing Palace is filled with various gems, jade, etc.
Coral, etc., anything, is priceless.
These things were all moved back from Nanyang and the West. Liu Jin raided Nanyang hard and brought back an unknown amount of gold, silver and jewelry. The fine products were all placed in the Qianqing Palace.
.
"Your Majesty~"
Arriving at Emperor Hongzhi's study, Liu Jin saluted.
"Coming~"
"Come here and take a look. The Western Region and Uzang are huge places. They are basically deserts. What use can they have?"
Emperor Hongzhi nodded, then motioned to Liu Jin not to be polite, pointed to the map and said.
"Your Majesty, no amount of land is too much. Even if it is a desert, it is of great use. Even if we don't know what its use is now, future generations may be able to discover treasures in the desert."
Liu Jin thought for a while and first gave a positive reply.
Useful, must be useful.
How could the Western Region and Uzang be useless?
What's more, even if it is useless now, it does not mean that it will not be useful in the future. The oil, minerals, energy and other things under the desert are all indispensable for development.
Didn’t those tycoons in the Middle East in later generations make their fortunes by relying on oil?
The vastness of the land naturally has its benefits. Apart from anything else, if future generations study mushroom bombs, at least there will be a place to experiment, right?
Emperor Hongzhi also nodded slightly. He thought it was useless in many places before, but now it seems that it is all wrong.
In the past, Ryukyu Island was a barbaric land, and some people retreated to Fujian in the past. They said that miasma and barbarism were rampant there, so this treasure island has never been developed.
But now, with the development of Ryukyu Island in recent years, the snow sugar, rice, vegetables, fruits, deer skins, etc. produced here have already become famous in the north and south of the Ming Dynasty.
Even in winter, a boatload of vegetables and fruits is transported from Ryukyu Island to the Beijing-Tianjin area every day, so that everyone can eat vegetables and fruits in winter.
Who dares to say that Ryukyu Island is useless?
The same is true for the Western Regions and Uzang. They may feel useless now, but they may be of great use in the future.
"The Western Region is extremely vast. The area ruled by the Han Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty was mainly in this area. The terrain of this area is mainly three mountains sandwiched between two mountains. The Altai Mountains in the north, the Tianshan Mountains in the middle, and the Kunlun Mountains in the south.
They are the Jungar Basin in the north and the Tarim Basin in the south.”
"The area is very vast, almost equivalent to half of the traditional Ming Dynasty's two capitals and thirteen provinces. If you include the area to the west, the area is even larger than the two capitals and thirteen provinces combined."
"To the north of the Western Region is a vast cold plain. It is sparsely populated and only a handful of fishing and hunting tribes survive in this area. However, this area is very vast and even larger than our Ming Dynasty."
"To the west is Central Asia. This area, like the grasslands in the north, is very suitable for grazing. However, because of the melted snow in these tall mountains, this area is also very suitable for growing wheat, cotton, and potatoes.
kind of crops.”
"Going all the way to the west, you reach the territory of the Ottoman Empire. This is an extremely powerful and huge empire. It is precisely because of its existence that it blocks the trade between the East and the West."
"Towards the northwest, it is controlled by several khanates left behind by the Mongol Empire. In the past, this vast area was controlled by the Golden Horde, Chagatai Khanate and Ilkhanate. But now
Now, these three khanates have been torn apart and divided into various khanates, large and small."
"And these khanates have basically lost control of various regions. Many of them have become Turkic and Sudanese. They are no longer the Mongol Empire they were back then."
Liu Jin looked at the map and began to explain the situation in the Western Regions to Emperor Hongzhi. He knew that Emperor Hongzhi was going to use troops against the Western Regions.
"It is not difficult to conquer the Western Region. Even if we send troops in winter, with the strength of our Ming army, we can sweep across the entire Western Region very quickly."
"What the Mongols could do back then, we can also do. Although the Western Region is vast, it has not been difficult to conquer it since ancient times."
"What is really difficult is how we should learn from the Mongols' lessons and think about how to truly incorporate these areas into the rule of the Ming Dynasty. Instead, like these Mongols, although they occupied this place, they quickly lost control of it.
control, even to the point of becoming Turkic and Sudanese themselves.”
After thinking about it, Liu Jin also brought up the most difficult point. It was very simple to conquer the Western Regions. With the Ming Dynasty's strong military and national power, conquering the Western Regions was a piece of cake.
But after conquering the Western Region, how to rule the Western Region is the key. This is an extremely huge land and it is very complicated. Only by firmly ruling the Western Region can we say that we can conquer the vast northern territory in the future.
Siberian Plain, and then westward to Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
