unclear

Chapter 871 Tushetu Khan
"Grandmaster, please don't thank me yet. The cost of the library and the printing of new books every year is paid by the treasury, but I don't want to keep paying for the management and care of the library. Please help me think about whether there is a way to make the library self-sustaining and not let the students worry about not appreciating the books?"

Hong Tao raised his hand slightly, signaling Weng Zhengchun to stand up, and waited until the old man sat firmly before he began to complain with sorrow. The meaning was very clear, the emperor only cared about killing and not burying, and whether the library could be established depended on whether there was a way to be self-reliant.

"...Uh...In my humble opinion, we can ask wealthy families from all over the country to donate money to cover the expenses of the library. The royal collection of books are rare treasures and unique pieces. Your Majesty has a broad mind, and as a minister, I should not be stingy."

Weng Zhengchun probably did not expect the emperor to raise this issue, so he thought hard and found a solution, which he thought was very reasonable.

"Well... that's a solution, but who should manage the donated money? If I entrust it to the wrong person, it might backfire." Hong Tao stroked his sparse stubble and continued to pretend to be confused.

"...If Your Majesty does not forsake me, I am willing to volunteer to take on this position!" It was not until this moment that Weng Zhengchun realized what was going on. After all the discussions, the final key point was with him.

The emperor was hinting that he would resign voluntarily, and the reward would be a sinecure responsible for managing libraries in various places. Should I understand the emperor's intention? After thinking for a while, I decided to follow his advice.

Having been in the position of Grand Secretary of the Cabinet for so long, it was time to make room for a newcomer. Besides, managing the library was just what he wanted. If he didn't quit while he was ahead and irritated the emperor, he might get a visit from the Eastern Depot one day to check the accounts.

"Well, the Grand Secretary is highly respected, honest and dedicated to his duties. I trust him. But it may be difficult for the Grand Secretary to handle everything alone... Let's put it this way. There must be many book lovers among the officials laid off in Nanjing. You can find a few like-minded people, and I will transfer one or two from the Hanlin Academy to set up a national library under the cabinet, which you will be in charge of.

Go discuss the specific rank and treatment with the Ministry of Personnel, and draft a proposal for me to use the seal. Oh, yes, the Imperial College’s chief priest Shen Taihong is the son of Shen Yiguan, and he is also a book lover, so let’s go to the library together.”

But Weng Zhengchun misunderstood. The emperor did not intend to take advantage of the opportunity to take him down. Instead, he added more burdens to his shoulders. He was retained as a cabinet minister and concurrently in charge of the national library.

As for the reason, there is no reason. Hong Tao just thinks that this old man loves books, so it is better for him to go to a more suitable position to make use of his remaining energy. As for Shen Taihong's transfer, it was completely out of conscience. Back then, Shen Yiguan agreed to sell out the Zhejiang gentry and powerful people, and the only condition was to exchange for his son's future.

When there is no major conflict of interest, Hong Tao will temporarily change from a politician without any bottom line to a gentleman with feelings and righteousness. It is a simple task with no consequences, and it is an act of trust and loyalty, so why not do it?

Of course, there is a prerequisite, that is, being able to remember. Some people may also do the work, but forget. Hong Tao will not blame himself for this, nor will he deliberately make up for it, nor will he be entangled in his heart.

In his mind, there is no one in this world who must be loved, nor is there anyone who must be hated. No one owes himself, and he does not owe anyone. Before the complete destruction of mankind, the only eternal thing is interest.

In addition, Weng Zhengchun thanked the wrong person. It seems that the emperor used the treasury to build a library, typesetting and printing the royal collection, and providing it to Ming students for free, which is a very noble act. But behind the seemingly noble actions, there are often ulterior motives.

The emperor's move was to dig a hole in the traditional education system, a deep hole that was bottomless. The library could have the Yongle Encyclopedia and various ancient books, as well as new learning books and European books. The reason why it was emphasized that it was free and open was to give everyone in the Ming Dynasty the opportunity to see them and be impacted by different cultures.

When atoms are impacted, new substances will be produced. The same is true for human thought. If it is always calm and without waves, there will be no innovation. The library is a testing ground for cultural collision and a fuse for cultural integration.

Hong Tao wants to integrate not only ethnic groups but also cultures. This exploration should be beneficial, and success will likely reduce the probability of war.

But human beings are so strange, those who do bad things often get nothing wrong, but it is very difficult to do something serious, and most of the time they have to do it secretly, like a thief.

At the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, the Forbidden City welcomed another wave of distinguished guests from afar. With the active mediation of the leaders of the five Inner Khalkha tribes and the Khorchin tribe, a leader of the seven Outer Khalkha tribes, together with the leaders of the Tumed and Kharchin tribes, traveled south to Beijing under the pretext of the New Year.

Although it is called the Seven Outer Khalkha tribes, it is actually divided into three chiefs, namely the Tushetu Khanate in the west, the Zasaktu Khanate in the middle, and the Chechen Khanate in the east. The one who came this time was Erlek of the Tushetu Khanate.

Originally, the seven Outer Khalkha tribes were relatively far away from the Ming Empire, but since the death of Ligdan Khan and the submission of the Mongolian tribes south of the desert, the two sides could be considered neighbors. After receiving the message that the Ming Emperor wanted to talk to his neighbors, the three leaders of the seven Outer Khalkha tribes immediately had a disagreement.

Zasaktu Khan Subadi firmly opposed it, because Lindan Khan was from the Lhasa Ketu lineage, and Chaoketu Taiji, who followed Lindan Khan to Qinghai, was also from the Zasaktu Khanate. If his descendants were killed, the murderer should be the enemy of Mongolia, and there was nothing to talk about.

Morobama of the Chechen Khanate neither supported nor opposed the Ming Empire's initiative to contact him. He just said that he was in poor health and did not even meet the messenger sent by Oba.

They were not worried at all about whether the Ming Empire would go north to attack the seven Outer Khalkha tribes. The Han dynasty had not penetrated deep into the northern desert for hundreds of years, and it should not have the ability to do so now.

Although the Outer Khalkha tribes and the tribes south of the desert are all Mongolian tribes, there are still significant differences in their geographical location and natural environment.

On the even more desolate and barren Mobei Plateau, even if the Han army could reach it, it would be limited to the southern region. Even with the help of the Mongolian tribes south of the desert, they were still capable of fighting, and it was hard to say who would win in the end.

Only Elek of the Tushetu Khanate was concerned about the Ming army's ability to thoroughly defeat the Chahar, Ordos and Western Tumed tribes on the plateau and kill Ligdan Khan in one fell swoop.

Now that the two sides have become neighbors, and with the support of the various tribes in Inner Mongolia, the Ming army is not incapable of going north. It is obviously not a bad choice to talk first and get to know each other. Why bother to go to war when the conflict can be resolved with language?

(End of this chapter)