The world of film and television begins with the God of Medicine.

Chapter 1551 New Arrangements

"Zhizhong, how have you been?"

Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang clasped their hands in greeting to Wang Yan.

It was already deep winter, and the heavy snow from the previous day had not yet melted. Generals such as Yu Dayou came to the capital to receive their rewards and pay their respects to Wang Yan.

Back in the Shuntian Prefecture government office, Wang Yan returned their gifts.

"It should be me greeting you. The chaos in the southeast is entirely due to the efforts of the two generals, which has led to today's great victory and the peace to come. Today we're having hot pot; on such a cold day, it's perfect to eat some warm meat. Generals, please, let's eat, drink, and talk."

When everyone arrived at the main hall, three hot pots were already set on the table, with piles of meat neatly arranged on plates; the texture of the meat alone was enough to make one's mouth water. There were also various kinds of vegetables, a rare sight in winter, piled high on the table—a truly balanced meal of meat and vegetables.

The three sat down, and Yu Dayou said, "Zhizhong really knows how to enjoy life. You can't even find all these dishes in the warmer Guangdong and Guangxi regions."

Wang Yan was putting a plate of meat into the pot when he heard this and replied with a smile, "Is the old general cursing someone?"

"Alas, Zhizhong has misunderstood. I know that Zhizhong loves the people like his own children and has never plundered their wealth. Even with so many rare green vegetables, I imagine that all those who cultivate and work the land have made a fortune."

Yu Dayou explained with a smile. After working together for so long, he had come to understand Wang Yan's character and knew that Wang Yan was joking.

Qi Jiguang, following suit, ate some meat and chimed in with a smile: "The old general is right, the magistrate is all about making money. This time, the suppression of the Japanese pirates in the southeast was largely thanks to the magistrate in raising military supplies."

"You guys are the same, always talking about fighting."

Wang Yan shook his head and said, "The two generals are still praising me. How did we win this battle? It must be because His Majesty's strategy was invincible. His Majesty assigned me, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, to procure military supplies for the Southeast Pacification of the Japanese Pirates. With the cooperation of various government departments, we achieved a great victory."

Oh, don't look at me like that. To speak so disrespectfully, often mentioning Your Majesty's achievements first might seem like flattery, but Your Majesty's trust in me is undeniable. Your Majesty must first grant me the position before I have the opportunity to serve the country.

The same applies to this war; it's because His Majesty has grievances against the powerful families in the southeast. In the past, we didn't have such a good opportunity, nor did we have sufficient military supplies. We couldn't afford to fight or sustain the war. Now, everything is ready, which led to this great victory. Ultimately, it's all thanks to His Majesty; we merely played the role we were meant to play.

Or to put it more bluntly, if we don't fight this battle well, we'll all die.

What was initially a joyous occasion lost its spirit after Wang Yan's tirade. They were thinking about the terrible consequences if the battle went poorly. After all, they were well aware of Jiajing's extraordinary affinity for fire.

Wang Yan poured wine and invited the two to have a drink. "I'm the spoilsport. Look, we won a great victory, and you have to talk about how we lost. It's so boring. Let's talk about the food instead."

These vegetables were grown by the Shanglin Garden government office. In recent years, the palace has had more money, so the Shanglin Garden has expanded considerably, and many more greenhouses have been built. In addition, I also had people specifically researching how to grow vegetables in winter to increase their yield. In the past two years, we have seen some success.

The vegetables produced in Shanglin Garden are in such high demand that they can't keep up with the demand. Besides supplying the palace and giving them as rewards to officials by His Majesty, the rest are all sold off. They're incredibly sought after. Two eunuchs in Shanglin Garden have already been beaten to death; money is flowing in like water!

"I can eat so much because His Majesty knows I have a sweet tooth and sends me fresh green vegetables every day. It's all thanks to His Majesty's kindness. When I eat this meat and these vegetables, I should always remember His Majesty's benevolence."

"Zhizhong has done many practical things, and His Majesty's favor is well-deserved. Come, Zhizhong, let me toast you." Qi Jiguang took the initiative to play the straight man.

After this exchange, the three began to discuss the specific details of their campaign to quell the Japanese pirates in the southeast.

Finally, Qi Jiguang said, "There are three reasons for our great victory in the southeast."

Seeing the question in Wang Yan's eyes, he explained, "Firstly, it's because of His Majesty's support. Secondly, the military supplies were fully prepared, the soldiers' pay was sufficient, and the compensation was generous, so naturally they were willing to fight. Thirdly, the Japanese pirates later on were not as numerous as before..."

Qi Jiguang gave Wang Yan a comprehensive analysis of why the Japanese pirates of today are not as powerful as those of the past.

This isn't a very complicated matter. Generally speaking, there are only so many people along the southeast coast, and the number of those who dare to go to sea as pirates is also limited. Before becoming pirates, these people were local thugs and ruffians who fought for power. After being recruited by local gentry and wealthy families, they became local criminal gangs. Once they went to sea, they were even more lawless, and they were willing to burn, kill, and plunder.

These people are quite capable fighters; they are bold, daring, and fierce in battle, but ruthless when it comes to harming others.

The next level down are those who have been coerced into suppressing their lustful desires. They are the timid and submissive who eventually erupt. They are more ruthless than the criminal gangs, but their fighting ability is relatively much weaker. After all, for a considerable period of time, they have worked hard but reaped little reward, not enjoying the same level of comfort as the criminal gangs. This puts them at a significant disadvantage.

In addition, the fighting and ruthlessness among criminal gangs have honed their fighting, escape, and survival skills to a level that is far superior to that of ordinary people.

Both of these groups are limited in number; the rest, those who are coerced, are few and far between. As ordinary citizens, they are starving. As Japanese pirates, they are starving in the same way.

Although this Southeast Wokou raid was premeditated, the veteran Wokou suffered heavy losses due to the prolonged and continuous attacks, and the new recruits were no longer of any use.

How could this group of new Japanese pirates be a match for a regular army, especially a regular army that was being paid well?

A bunch of murderers, as long as the money is right and the death is worthwhile, they'll really go all out. They'll get the job done once they've been paid.

Of course, on the other hand, once on the battlefield, there was no room for inaction. After all, if you didn't kill the Japanese pirates, they would kill you. If you tried to desert, there were supervisory teams behind you who would behead you; you had no choice but to charge forward and fight without hesitation.

However, on the other hand, receiving full or even excessive military pay, and with the death benefits being fully implemented, psychologically made them even more courageous and fearless.

Originally, in a life-or-death struggle, they might have only unleashed 80% of their potential, with the remaining 20% ​​being a rebellion against this damned world. Now, however, it's more than 120%—a fearless, unwavering, and resolute fight, a true testament to the heroic tragedy of these soldiers…

Despite knowing everything, Wang Yan listened patiently to Qi Jiguang's explanation, with Yu Dayou adding to it.

After listening, Wang Yan said, "Furthermore, Minister Hu and Vice Minister Tan also made excellent arrangements, and their contributions cannot be denied. It is through everyone's concerted efforts and unity that we have achieved stability in the southeast."

Ultimately, however, it is the soldiers' willingness to risk their lives that matters most. Regardless of the strength of the Japanese pirates, I believe that this unrest in the southeast can be quelled, and our soldiers are brave and fearless.

"Don't worry, I'm keeping an eye on the recognition of merits in this battle. Back in the capital, the powerful and wealthy all call me a dog, but I'm keeping a close eye on them. Anyone who dares to tamper with this will have their entire family in turmoil." This was Wang Yan's guarantee.

After the war, the most difficult issue for these conscientious generals was the distribution of merits, compensation, and rewards to their subordinates. They had fought so hard, risking their lives, yet the compensation was meager, and the rewards were barely delivered. Meanwhile, many of their subordinates who wanted promotions couldn't get the positions they deserved. Ultimately, these problems piled up on the shoulders of the generals above them.

The result was that those above were dissatisfied with the generals, and those below were also dissatisfied with them, pleasing neither side.

It would be much more comfortable if they were heartless, but clearly Yu Dayou, Qi Jiguang and other generals who led the campaign to quell the Japanese pirates in the southeast were quite good.

On the other hand, this opportunity to fight also allowed Wang Yan to gain a very good reputation among the generals leading the troops. After all, war is all about logistics, and this time Wang Yan provided them with logistical support, which was truly reassuring.

In Beijing, grain was transported via the Grand Canal; new paper money was issued in Fujian and Guangdong, directly guaranteeing Hu Zongxian and Tan Lun's interests. Anyone involved with Japanese pirates was to be immediately investigated and their property confiscated, with the formalities to be completed later. In other words, Tan Lun, Yu Dayou, and others decided that whoever they deemed to be in league with the Japanese pirates was indeed in league with them, and that they should be dealt with first, with any problems to be attributed to Wang Yan.

At the same time, Wang Yan mobilized resources from Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, and Sichuan to provide support to the southeast, and also took the opportunity to investigate and punish a large number of people involved in the canal transport.

Of course, as Wang Yan told Jiajing, if he couldn't be the Grand Secretary, the local officials naturally wouldn't listen to him. It was he who cooperated with Lü Fang to suppress the various government offices and local officials. The conflicts and entanglements of interests involved were numerous.

In short, Wang Yan provided logistical support to these generals, allowing them to fight the most enjoyable and effortless battle since becoming officers and leading troops.

The various forms of corruption in the middle of the chain of command were directly addressed by Wang Yan, who remotely wielded a sword and beheaded dozens of people. The highest-ranking official among them was the prefect, killed by Tan Lun, and carried out by Qi Jiguang's subordinates, with the execution of the imperial guards and secret police overseeing the operation. This matter is still being debated in the court, and Wang Yan is still being impeached.

Without the urging of the frontline commanders, the supply convoys were naturally rushing as fast as they could, doing their utmost to deliver supplies regardless of whether they were urged or not.

The main reason is that Wang Yan used this war to open branches of the Royal Bank in various places, and all the money he issued was in paper money. Others had to accept it, otherwise it would become military supplies.

He paid money to the soldiers and civilians involved in the transportation, and they could spend the money. If they couldn't spend it, they would even earn more, so their initiative was naturally maximized.

In summary, Wang Yan won this major battle concerning the rise and fall of the Ming Dynasty by relying on the logistics provided by the precious paper money and using empty promises...

He also won over the generals with his logistics and empty promises. He used this battle to cultivate his own power base.

This is why Jiajing said those things; he had already seen that Wang Yan was seizing power. Jiajing was happy to see this.

From a personal perspective, Wang Yan was obedient and good at making money; from a public perspective, Wang Yan was quite reliable in handling affairs and effective in governing the region. He had the ability to lead the Ming Dynasty to greatness, and Jiajing would have become one of the greatest emperors of all time simply by lying down.

Li Zhi said that Emperor Gaozu was one of the greatest emperors of all time, so if he surpassed his master, he would naturally be one of the greatest emperors of all time...

The two readily agreed and happily toasted Wang Yan, drinking with great relish.

After drinking for a while, Wang Yan asked, "What are Your Majesty's plans for the two generals?"

"We only saw His Majesty once and heard His Majesty's encouragement before being escorted out by Eunuch Lü..." Yu Dayou shook his head, equally bewildered by his own emperor.

Wang Yan nodded with a smile, then asked, "What are the plans of the two generals themselves?"

"What plans do we two have? We will do our best to serve the king wherever we are, and we will leave everything to His Majesty's arrangements." Qi Jiguang understood the spirit of the king's words very well, and he always mentioned His Majesty when he spoke.

"In my opinion, the old general is familiar with the south and is getting old, so it would be more comfortable for him to stay there. I heard from Hu Zongxian's letter that the old general has done a good job training the navy. He should stay in the south from now on, so that he can guard the southeast and also manage the fleet to conquer the South Seas. I have already told you two before that if the fleet is managed well, the navy will be invincible on the sea frontier, which would be a great achievement."

Yu Dayou thought for a moment and said, "What Zhizhong said makes sense. I really don't want to move the area. So let's settle on this?"

"I will report to His Majesty later."

Wang Yan took a sip of wine, turned to look at Qi Jiguang, and said, "General Qi is only thirty-seven years old, in the prime of his life, and in the best of times. With the south at peace, the border affairs in the north cannot be neglected. I believe that it is most suitable for General Qi to be in charge of military affairs in Jiliao, training troops and preparing for the border."

"Does Zhizhong intend to advance north?" Yu Dayou couldn't help but ask.

"The situation in the North is different from that in the Southeast. It is complex and a matter of life and death. If one place is at war, then the whole country is at war. The supply route is long and the cost is enormous. With the current strength of our Great Ming, it is not advisable to start a major war lightly. I must use my methods to plan military supplies and find a good opportunity before we can fight."

Wang Yan gave a fairly clear answer, and then went on to say something else: "Before that, we should focus on training our troops and defending our borders, so as not to let the northern barbarians easily move south and disturb the peace of our border people. Secondly, we should establish border markets, trade with them, and earn their silver. Ideally, we should get them to use our own currency. When that time comes, dealing with them will be easy, and we may even be able to subdue them without a fight."

While Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang were completely bewildered, Wang Yan thoughtfully explained to them the power of economic control, as well as the influence and impact of advanced culture and ideas on ordinary people.

"Don't worry about these things, General Qi. Just train your troops well and guard the border. If you do these things, I guarantee you'll make a fortune."

Qi Jiguang waved his hands repeatedly: "Your Excellency has misunderstood, I didn't mean it..."

Wang Yan smiled and shook his head: "You should take what you're entitled to. You can take this silver with a clear conscience. Do you think this silver belongs only to those barbarians? There are also wealthy families from Shandong, Shanxi, and Hebei. They all trade with the barbarians in the north. By setting up the border markets and cutting off their trade, we're profiting from their silver. There's a lot of trouble ahead."

If this really starts, I might get attacked a dozen more times...

"The great cause of governing the Ming Dynasty rests entirely on the arrangements made by the ruler." Even Qi Jiguang was moved. He sensed in Wang Yan a strong desire to make the Ming Dynasty great, and he was truly fighting for the Ming Dynasty with his life...

"Then it's settled. I'll go to the palace tomorrow to report to His Majesty. Come, come, my two generals, let's drink until we're drunk tonight."

……

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