Why did the emperor rebel?

Chapter 1138 Listen to me and give you value

Holding this memorial in his hand, the more he read it, the more shocked Yu Qian felt.

In the final analysis, although he was a Minister of the Ministry of War, it is impossible for him to know all the affairs of the court well.

The matter of Japanese pirates is one of them. Before that, most of Yu Qian's energy was put on the northern defense line. Relatively speaking, he paid less attention to the trouble of Japanese pirates.

However, after seeing this memorial, he realized just how serious the Japanese pirates' trouble in Daming was.

This seriousness does not lie in how serious losses the Japanese pirates can bring to Daming, but that there are many people in Daming who are helping the Japanese pirates, and even many people directly pretend to be Japanese pirates and kidnap them in the coastal areas. robbery.

In this memorandum, the situation of Zhangzhou Prefecture is described in the most detail, and other states are also mentioned, but it is not in-depth, but even so, it is very shocking.

You know, Yu Qian himself came up step by step from a local official, so he still knows how powerful the squires are in the state capital and how many clan powers there are in an area.

If what is said in this memorial is true, then it is conceivable that most of the clans in Zhangzhou Prefecture have more or less connections with Japanese pirates.

Moreover, after Yu Qian read it, he immediately discovered that this memorial was not signed, and there were obvious gaps in the writing, which meant that what he saw now should not be the original, but the copied one. Backup, some of the key information, I'm afraid it will be hidden by the emperor.

As for what this information is...

"It's no wonder that the mere Japanese pirates are hard to eradicate every time. It turns out that there are some people colluding with each other!"

A cold look flashed in Yu Qian's eyes, and he said coldly.

"Since Your Majesty has found out the thieves who are connected to the Japanese pirates, and has made up his mind to send an army to clean them up, please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will do my best to wipe out the thieves and restore Zhangzhou to a bright and sunny sky!"

Being able to reach this position, and having once served as Minister of the Ministry of War, Yu Qian is not a kind old man, on the contrary, he is first-class and decisive in killing.

In his opinion, this kind of evil gentry who oppresses the common people and is in touch with Japanese pirates is basically like a bandit. When it is time to kill, he will not be lenient in the slightest.

As for the matter of sending troops, although he still did not fully understand why the emperor wanted to send troops at this time, but after a long time and wisdom, when he saw this memorial, Yu Qian understood that the emperor's management of the land of Zhangzhou was not a one-time plan. Today, the contents of this memorandum cover a wide range, and it is impossible to investigate clearly without a year or a half.

This also means that if he persuades the emperor to stop at this time, then the previous hard work of the emperor may be in vain. With the character of the emperor... it may be useless to say it!

Seeing Yu Qian's indignation, Zhu Qiyu raised his hand and pressed down, saying.

"Don't worry, sir. It's hard to say, but as long as the court is willing to send a large army, the extermination will always be no problem. The real question is, what happens after the extermination?"

The problem of Japanese pirates is complex and complex, but after clarifying the joints, it is not difficult to solve it.

The pirates along the coast of Daming are divided into real pirates and fake pirates. The former are ronin who smuggled from Fusang country, and they are real pirates. As for the latter, most of them are common people and merchants along the coast. That's all.

The two are involved together to form the Japanese plague in Ming Dynasty today. In terms of the number of real Japanese and fake Japanese, the former accounts for a minority, while the latter accounts for the vast majority. In terms of combat power, the former is stronger than the latter.

If you look at the two separately, there are two biggest problems in eradicating Japanese pirates. Although the number of real Japanese is small, they are familiar with naval warfare. More importantly, their roots are not in Daming. Then, they can flee back to Fusang country at any time, so they have been suppressed repeatedly.

However, on the other hand, because the number of real Japanese is small, if all the fake Japanese can be wiped out, then the remaining real Japanese will not be able to cause too much trouble.

Compared with the real wo, with this information, it is not difficult for the fake wo to clear them up. After all, their roots are still in these clans. If the clan behind them is destroyed, these fake wo are naturally rootless , Difficult to become a climate.

Of course, even so, there will still be difficulties if you want to clear them up. For example, what is the evidence that proves that these clans are involved with the Japanese pirates? Will they get the news in advance and flee? However, these are trivial matters. If it continues, there will always be capable ministers who can handle it well.

But this is not a permanent solution!
"That's right, it's not accidental that the Japanese pirates can spread to such a situation. After we wiped out this group of people, I'm afraid that after a while, new clans that are connected with the Japanese pirates will emerge. This minister didn't think carefully."

Hearing Zhu Qiyu's question, Yu Qian was taken aback for a moment, bowed his head and thought for a while, and then he understood.

Seeing this situation, Zhu Qiyu nodded and said.

"The Japanese plague did not happen overnight, nor did it occur for one reason. These gentry colluding with the Japanese pirates are certainly hateful, but behind them, there is no other reason."

Speaking of this, it is actually the introduction of the real topic... Sea ban!
"In the southeast area, people live along the coast. The land is barren and there is very little land that can be cultivated. The people often make a living by fishing. The imperial court strictly prohibits slabs from going into the sea. The people can only fish in small boats in the adjacent sea area. Barely make ends meet, but if there is a shipwreck or other natural disasters, the family will have no livelihood, so they have to become bandits, evade taxes and resist donations, thus forming a fierce folk custom."

"In addition, although maritime trade is strictly prohibited by the imperial court, it is really difficult for lands near the sea to become rich if they do not rely on commerce. Therefore, no matter how strict the ban is, there will always be people who will take risks."

"These people involved in the Japanese pirates, or even the fake Japanese pirates, are profit-seeking and forced. The root cause is that the place is too barren. If this problem cannot be solved, the Japanese pirates are bound to be suppressed and reappear. Make the imperial court exhausted!"

After these words, Yu Qian also fell into deep thought.

It should be said that the truth said by the Son of Heaven is not difficult to understand, but in many cases, the simpler the truth, the easier it is to trap people.

In fact, even Zhu Qiyu himself figured out the relationship here only after the combined vision of two lifetimes.

At least, in the previous life, before the Longqing switch, the emperors and ministers of the Ming Dynasty thought about this simple truth for 200 years and did not understand it.

After a while, Yu Qian spoke slowly and said.

"Your Majesty, it is true. It is easy to wipe out this group of clans, but it is not enough to use troops to eradicate the Japanese plague. So, does Your Majesty think that the root of the Japanese plague lies in the ban on the sea?"

At this time, Yu Qian also began to gradually agree with Zhu Qiyu's point of view, of course, not entirely.

After pondering for a while, Yu Qian still couldn't help saying.

"However, even so, the sea ban policy is not harmful or unprofitable. First, even if the imperial court relaxes the sea ban, the Japanese pirates may not really disappear. Second, the merchants value profits, and the coastal generation is aggressive. At the time of the bureau, the leaders of the multi-channel anti-Yuan came from the coastal generation, if the sea ban is lifted, it is necessary to increase the garrison of heavy troops, so that the imperial court will be exhausted, please think twice."

After saying these words, Zhu Qiyu also sighed.

Indeed, the sea ban policy has disadvantages, but the reason why it can be implemented for so long also has its benefits.

To put it bluntly, it is the least costly way to stabilize coastal rule.

The coastal areas were barren and Japanese pirates were in trouble. On this basis, the imperial court banned maritime trade. It seemed to be to resist Japanese pirates, but in essence it was to ensure control of the coast.

Just like what Yu Qian said, being barren means that they are unable to cause chaos. Even if they have no food and clothing, become bandits, or even pretend to be Japanese pirates, the most serious consequence is to rob the people along the coast.

However, it is impossible to organize a large-scale army. The barrenness of the place means that even if there is an incident against the imperial court, it will be difficult to cause too much trouble to the imperial court if there is not enough logistics output.

On the contrary, if the sea ban is lifted, there will certainly be various benefits, the most obvious being that the number of Japanese pirates will be greatly reduced.

However, there is also a great risk in doing so, that is, if the locality has enough strength, coupled with the fierceness of the people, if there is an accident, there will be rebellion.

If stability is to be maintained, the imperial court needs to send more troops to garrison to deal with possible chaos.

Therefore, if you look at it purely from the standpoint of a ruler, the sea ban policy may not be really wrong, but...

"I can understand what you said, but the people of the coastal generation are also the subjects of the imperial court..."

Frowning, Zhu Qiyu's tone became a little complicated.

"Their lives are also their lives!"

This sentence was not loud, but it was undoubtedly deafening when it fell in Yu Qian's ears.

However, Zhu Qiyu didn't stop talking and continued.

"If I don't know the root cause of the Japanese plague and the pros and cons of the sea ban, that's all. But now that I understand, how can I just ignore it?"

"These people have worked diligently and hard all their lives, but because they were born in the coast, they are doomed to survive. If it is the destiny, it will be fine. Their situation was facilitated by the imperial court. How about peace of mind?"

"Tang Taizong said that the people are water and the king is the boat. Water can carry the boat and overturn it. Since I am the lord of the people and the king of the world, I will appease the living people in the present. If I know that the ban on the sea is not good for the people , but still do it, it is immoral and immoral!"

"If you are a king, if you don't have virtue, the country will be destroyed one day. Therefore, whether it is for the country or the people, I will let this government end in my hands!"

After these words, Yu Qian's expression was a little complicated.

After a while, he let out a long breath, stood up, bowed and kowtowed, and said solemnly.

"Your Majesty has a heart for all people, which is really the blessing of the country and the fortune of the world!"

"I...willing to die for His Majesty!"

After finishing speaking, he solemnly kowtowed to the ground, and his voice was resounding.

There was silence in the hall for a moment, Zhu Qiyu seemed to have thought of something, a hint of incomprehensible color flashed in his eyes, but it disappeared soon, and then, a smile floated on his face, and said.

"What are you doing, sir? I still count on you to fight against Japanese pirates for me. How can I die? Hurry up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Yu Qian stood up again, but instead of sitting down, he stood by, waiting for the emperor's order.

Seeing this situation, Zhu Qiyu said.

"The sea ban is to be lifted, but after all, it is the old system of Taizu, and it still needs to be done step by step. The immediate urgent need of the court is the disaster that may occur next year. This is also the reason why I chose this time to send troops to suppress the Japanese pirates. .”

Speaking of this, Yu Qian will naturally not mention any ancestral system or not, and Zhu Qiyu can also directly say that he wants to open the sea, but, no matter whether he mentions it or not, the fact is the same. Zhu Qiyu's set The truth can convince some people including Yu Qian, but it is impossible to convince the whole court.

This is not just an issue of the ancestral system, more importantly, to open the sea, it will definitely touch the interests of some people, so even if it is to be done, at this stage, it can only be done secretly, and when the time is right , and then mentioned in the court.

"At the beginning, the caravan from Huangzhuang to the sea carried silk, porcelain, tea, etc., at least worth nearly 10 taels of silver. The place they went this time is not too far away. According to the time it took Zheng He to sail Come to think of it, as early as June next year, as late as the end of next year, we will be able to return to the voyage."

"I have read the books of the former Song Dynasty. It said that these things can be several times beneficial when they arrive in the Western countries. If it is true, then when they return to the voyage, the amount of gold and silver they brought back may be astonishing. Such a huge amount The money will definitely attract the covetousness of the Japanese pirates, so within half a year, all the people from the coastal generation who are related to the Japanese pirates must be uprooted, so that the merchant ship can return safely."

While talking, Zhu Qiyu looked up at Yu Qian and said.

"We don't know the severity of the disaster next year. If it is really a catastrophe year, then this money may be life-saving money for countless people. Mister may understand?"

For some reason, hearing these words, Yu Qian always felt that the emperor's tone was a bit heavy.

However, from his perspective, even if he doesn't know, he can understand the seriousness of this matter.

Even if there is no disaster next year, how much effect can this large amount of money be invested in the court? More importantly, once the merchant ship returns, it can really prove that opening the sea is profitable. If the sea ban policy is lifted, the pressure on the court will be much less.

Therefore, no matter from which level, it is imperative to send troops to exterminate the Japanese pirates, and it can only be at this time...

(End of this chapter)