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Chapter 66 Yuan Keli

Hong Tao is very happy today. The court is still arguing over the reduction of the clan's salary. It seems that there will be endless quarrels for ten days and a half. He has gained a lot. To be precise, one person, Yuan Keli.

Regarding the issue of reactivating Yuan Keli, the cabinet scholars and courtiers did not have much objection, which also reflected a problem. Yuan Keli was most likely not from the Zhejiang Party or the Donglin Party.

However, Yuan Keli still experienced a lot of twists and turns in his position. From the emperor's instruction to the cabinet recommendation to the official approval, it took nearly three months.If it weren't for the fact that the policy of reducing clan clans is more sensitive and there are more topics to discuss, it is estimated that if it is delayed for another two months, there may not be a conclusion.

What key positions did Hong Tao assign to Yuan Keli that made the officials and courtiers take him so seriously?In fact, it is not a very important position. It is the second rank, governor of water transportation and admiral of military affairs. Governor Fengyang and other departments are also in charge of rivers. It is referred to as governor of water transportation.

The job of this position is to transport grain, cloth, silk, and porcelain from the south of the Yangtze River along the Grand Canal to several warehouses along the way for use by the capital, the imperial city, and part of the army in the north.

Call it important. The Yamen of the Governor of Water Transport was established in Huai'an City, Nanzhili. It was far away from the capital. It was not in front of the emperor and was not in the center of power. It lacked the right to speak.It is also an errand to handle specific affairs, so it is easier to find fault and be impeached.

Call it unimportant. The entire capital city and some frontier troops rely on this north-south artery for blood transfusion. A slight deviation is a big problem and is directly related to the stable operation of the country.In addition, the Governor of Water Transport also managed more than [-] troops, who were responsible for guarding rivers and water ships. They were called troop transporters, and they were also called water troops.

In fact, Hong Tao took a fancy to the advantages of these more than [-] transport troops and Yuan Keli, so he had the evil intention to get this former official who was demoted and idle at home to the position of the general transport soldier.

The combat effectiveness of the troop transport is very average. At best, it can prevent bandits from robbing the ships. It is incomparable with the regular army of the three major battalions of the capital.However, troop transportation has the advantage of troop transportation. Training, supplies, and small-scale mobilization are all managed and directed by the Cao Yun Yamen, without having to go through the Ministry of War and the Fifth Army Governor's Office. It is relatively independent.

The governor of water transportation was directly responsible to the emperor, and there were no intermediate links to hinder him.If the governor of water transport can be replaced by one of his own, it will be equivalent to controlling more than [-] troops in disguise.

In addition to water transportation, the Grand Canal can also become a transportation channel for many raw materials and finished products, playing an irreplaceable role in promoting and protecting the development of light and heavy industries quietly near the capital.

In addition, Hong Tao also has an idea, which is to develop the navy.The Governor of Water Transport not only guards the water ships, but also manages the largest shipyard in the imperial court. Even if all the ships built are inland river ships, it will not be too difficult to test some naval ship models and train some naval generals and sailors.

Of course, these small actions must be carried out secretly, so as not to be known by the courtiers.As the saying goes, killing someone's wealth is like killing their parents. Hong Tao really doesn't want to poke this hornet's nest before his wings are full.

The maritime ban of the Ming Dynasty will not be reversed for a while. Any emperor who dares to touch this red line will soon be killed by the courtiers in the southeastern coastal areas. They are really merciless.

Is Yuan Keli capable of entrusting such an important job to him?You can't say for sure, but you can give it a try.As for Yuan Keli's general character, Hong Tao already has a clue through Li Zhi's description.

First of all, Yuan Keli's ability to govern is very strong. He started as an official in the state government, and served as the censor, the Shaoqing of Taipu Temple, the Secretary of the Zuotong Government Department, the emperor's teacher, and the governor. He has worked all the way from the grassroots to the feudal official. It is rare to have rich practical experience and achievements.

Let’s put aside whether we are honest or not. As an official, the first thing to be assessed is ability, not moral character.Coincidentally, Yuan Keli doesn't seem to be lacking in character, which is the icing on the cake.Secondly, Yuan Keli dared to resist people and things that went against his ideals.For example, he once accused Emperor Wanli of being addicted to drinking and debauchery and neglecting government affairs.After being demoted, he put down his words and never served as an official again.In fact, he did so. If it hadn't been for Li Zhi's personal letter, it would not have been so easy to ask him to come out.

Competent people usually have temper and backbone. Only people who are incompetent and greedy for power will bend their knees and obey for the sake of power.From this point of view, at least Yuan Keli is not a politician who is particularly attached to power, and he really wants to do something.

Finally, Yuan Keli understood military affairs, not just by talking about it on paper but by actually doing it, and he also personally trained in the navy.Although he did not personally lead the troops to fight, he was a handsome man who was well-organized, knew people and dared to use them.

When talking about military talents, the first thing that comes to most people's minds is the generals who rush to kill on the front lines, but they ignore the commanders who command, dispatch and weigh in the rear.

The ancients said that it is easy to get a thousand armies but hard to find a general.But in Hong Tao's eyes, ten generals are not as good as one handsome man.No matter how powerful a general is, if he wants to win the war, he must be backed by a commander who is open-minded, strong in execution, strong in management, and strong in communication. Otherwise, it will be difficult to perform to the level he deserves.

On the contrary, with the three powerful commanders strategizing, the frontline warriors can perform beyond their level even if their abilities are slightly inferior.Judging from Yuan Keli's performance when he was the governor of Dengzhou, he should be a rare handsome man.

"Yuan Aiqing, please get up and give me a seat!"

Seeing Yuan Keli's appearance, Hong Tao couldn't help but want to laugh. This guy looked a bit like himself in later generations, with straight eyebrows but a bit of a splay, and bright eyes with dark circles.Only the mustache on the lips and the goatee on the chin are faultless, and they are combed in a very stylish way.

"Thank you for your grace..." Hong Tao was observing, and Yuan Keli was not idle either.In the 24th year of Wanli, he was demoted and returned to his hometown. He never met the adult prince, let alone the young emperor.

Hearing is better than seeing. Before I came, I saw from Li Zhi's letter that the new emperor was a good man with lofty ideals and ambitions, good political skills, and was expected to become the first emperor of the ages.But as soon as they met, I felt that he was not very reliable. This man's smile was a bit scary, treacherous and ridiculing, contempt and enthusiasm. It is difficult to describe accurately.

"Do you know why I want to name you as the governor of water transportation?" In fact, Hong Tao really doesn't have such a complicated mood, let alone laugh deliberately in front of the ministers of the DPRK. He just hasn't completely gotten over the state of his previous life.

Every time I want to laugh, I habitually tell myself not to laugh, but my rational mind reminds me that my body is not like that anymore, just laugh, it will be fine.As a result, I didn’t dare to smile even if I wanted to, and kept smiling even though I didn’t dare to smile, which resulted in the current demeanor of being smiling but not smiling.

"I am stupid, please make it clear, Your Majesty!"

"What do Governor Yuan think of the imperial water transport?" Although Hong Tao thought Yuan Keli was a talented person, whether he had talent or not was useless just relying on what he thought and heard. He had to find some practical information face to face.

(End of this chapter)