Yangxin Palace Hall.
Qi Jingtong, the deputy general of the Divine Arms Battalion, had come to meet the emperor under the emperor's orders.
"Your subject, the Divine Arms Battalion's Deputy General Qi Jingtong greets Your Majesty.”
"Rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhu Houzhao fixed his eyes on Qi Jingtong and sized him up.
Qi Jingtong was Qi Jiguang's father, a famous general who fought against the Japanese.
However, because of the Great Ming's economy in recent years, they were unable to support the Great Ming Navy. Thus, Qi Jingtong naturally returned to the Divine Arms Battalion.
At present, Qi Jingtong was in his prime. Not only did his dark yellow skin not show any signs of lethargy, but it gave people an exceptionally sturdy feeling.
"Qi Jingtong, Zhen heard that you previously took up the role of resisting the Japanese pirates and had resisted the Japanese pirates many times at the border of the Ming Dynasty!”
When Qi Jingtong heard this, his expression shook. He cupped his hands and said truthfully,"Your Majesty, I have fought against the Japanese pirates in Dengzhou and Yiwu many times.”
"Later on, because the Imperial Court needed to reduce its expenses and was unable to support the naval operations, he returned to the capital to take up the position of deputy general of the Divine Arms Battalion.”
Qi Jingtong seemed to have some difficulties in saying this and did not know how to open his mouth.
Zhu Houzhao saw through Qi Jingtong's thoughts and said sternly,""General Qi, please speak your mind.”
At this moment, Qi Jingtong looked at the young emperor on the dragon throne with a deep gaze.
Although Qi Jingtong was in the military camp these days, he had heard many rumors about the emperor.
Although Tian Zi was young, he had already shown his wings and displayed the demeanor of a hero.
Seeing him today, Qi Jingtong believed the rumors inside and outside the court even more.
He wanted to tell Tian Zi everything that he had suppressed in his heart for many years!
Qi Jingtong thought so and knelt heavily on the palace hall. He cupped his hands and said,"Your Majesty, I have fought against the pirates many times and know their wild ambitions.”
"The pirates are constantly coveting the vast land of our Ming Dynasty!”
"As long as the pirates are not eliminated, the people in the border waters of the Ming Dynasty will always be threatened.”
"I implore Your Majesty to reorganize the Ming Navy to resist the bandits on the water.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Qi Jingtong kowtowed heavily in the hall, waiting for the Emperor's response.
He knew that the Ming Empire's national treasury probably did not have much silver left.
He did not expect the Emperor to grant his request.
However! As long as the Japanese pirates are not eliminated, the border of the Ming Dynasty will be unstable.
He had no choice but to tell the Emperor about the powerful relationship between them.
Da da ~
The sound of light footsteps echoed in Yangxin Hall.
Unknowingly, Zhu Houzhao had already appeared in front of Qi Jingtong.
"Your Majesty!"
Zhu Houzhao looked down at Qi Jingtong and asked in a dignified manner,""Let me ask you, if one day I let you lead the navy again, are you confident in defeating the bandits on the sea?”
Qi Jingtong's expression changed. He cupped his hands and said,""I am confident!"
"If I can't return the people of Ming Dynasty a stable sea border, I'm willing to offer my head to Your Majesty for forgiveness!”
"Good!"
"Well said!"
The voice of the Son of Heaven resounded throughout the palace.
Zhu Houzhao fixed his eyes on Qi Jingtong and said loudly,""Remember what you said to me today.”
"This is not only an agreement between you and Zhen, but also an agreement with all the civil and military officials in the court and the people of the world!”
"However, I will not give you a navy. I will give you a large navy for you to command!”
"What I want is not only to pacify the bandits on the sea, but to let the entire world, every land, fly the Great Ming Dragon Flag!”
"I want to build an invincible naval fleet, and I will hand over the position of naval governor to you!”
When Zhu Houzhao said these words, Qi Jingtong's breathing became much faster.
Great Ming Navy!
The Ming Navy!
Navy and navy were two completely different concepts!
The navy could only protect the safety of the seas and rivers, while the navy could sail through the rivers and seas of the world!
Their martial strength and manpower far surpassed the navy.
Qi Jingtong was extremely excited and kowtowed heavily on the palace.
However, Qi Jingtong understood one thing. The silver in the Great Ming national treasury did not seem to be enough to support the establishment of a navy.
"Your Majesty, the money to build the navy…"
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and said with a dignified expression,""You don't need to worry about the silver. Go to Tanggukou immediately to check the damage of the ship Zheng He used when he went to the West.”
"The degree of wear and tear, how much silver is needed to repair it, and so on.”
"Yes."
……
In the Forbidden City.
The Minister of Works, Li Sui, was extremely nervous when he heard that the Emperor had summoned him.
The Emperor's words in the court today made him feel excited, but at the same time, he was extremely nervous.
The Emperor suddenly summoned him. Was it because the East Chamber or the Jinyiwei had fabricated a crime against him?
Li Sui was extremely nervous, even though he did not take bribes.
However, if they targeted him, he would be skinned even if he didn't die.
Li Sui followed the eunuch to Yangxin Palace with a perturbed heart.
"Minister of Works Li Sui greets Your Majesty.”
"Minister Lu, please rise!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Sui stood up respectfully and lowered his head nervously.
He didn't know that the Emperor had already met with the Divine Arms Battalion's Deputy General Qi Jingtong before summoning him. He was even less clear about the Emperor's intentions in summoning him here.
In the eyes of others, the position of Minister of Works was indeed a lucrative one.
After all, he was in charge of big Ming engineering, equipment, and so on. All of them required huge amounts of silver.
It could be said that more than half of the Ming Empire's expenses went through the Ministry of Works.
But even so, Li Sui asked himself, he didn't dare to take even half a cent to fill his own pocket.
Today, the Emperor summoned him here. Li Sui asked in fear,""May I know why Your Majesty suddenly summoned me?”
Li Sui's voice was filled with anxiety. Anyone could hear the uneasiness in his heart.
Right now, the person in front of him was no longer a young emperor.
He was clearly comparable to Hongwu and Yongle back then.
This was the first time he had shown such a fearful expression in front of the young emperor.
"Li Sui, let me ask you, how long have you been the Minister of Works?”
The Minister of Works, Li Sui, trembled when he heard this. He cupped his hands and said,"Your Majesty, I have been the Minister of Works for six years.”
Zhu Houzhao nodded slightly and casually flipped through the accounts. He said with dignity without anger,"I summoned you here today to test you.”
"I want to see if you have slacked off during your tenure as Minister of Works.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Sui heaved a sigh of relief.
If it was really because of this matter, Li Sui believed that there would not be any mistakes.
"I will listen to Your Majesty."
Zhu Houzhao nodded." If that's the case, then tell me about Ming Dynasty's expenditure, income, and usage last year!"”
"Yes, sir."
Li Tunnel cupped his hands and bowed, confidently recounting the expenditure and tax payment of the previous year in detail in Yangxin Hall.
Zhu Houzhao compared the accounts with what Li Sui had said.
"Alright, there's no need to say anymore.”
"As the officials in the court have said, my beloved minister has done her duty.”
Li Sui bowed humbly.
Zhu Houzhao took out an account book and pushed it to the table. He said,""This account book was submitted by Minister of War Xie Qian!”
"Zhen has made some comparisons based on the accounts submitted by the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works.”
"The expenditure on repairing firearms is undoubtedly the highest.”
"To be precise, the cost of these repairs is enough to build more than half of the firearms!”
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