Emperor Ming Dynasty

"The total military expenditure is 20 million, but the navy has 50,000 people, and the loss of 5 million is simply unreasonable!"

"The capital camp and the border troops are 350,000, which is only 15 million!"

"The imperial court only allocated 12 million for the nationwide patrol camp!"

"Why does the imperial court need so many naval forces? In my opinion, the three major naval forces in the Bohai Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea are enough. Just leave the inland rivers to the local government!"

"Yes, there are too many naval forces!"

Navy, what is that? Why do you dare to be on an equal footing with Jingying? How many military exploits have you accomplished?

There was constant noise in the meeting hall of the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion, and the guards on guard could only suppress their thoughts with their brows twitching.

"Uncle!"

Yuezhou Bozhuyi walked over in official uniform, and the guard at the door immediately raised his hands and saluted.

"Yeah!" Zhu Yi'er heard the overflowing sounds, hummed in agreement, and then directly crossed the threshold and entered.

In an instant, the hall immediately became quiet.

Several heads fell silent.

Zhu Yi smiled without saying anything.

The Fifth Military Governor's Office manages local military and political affairs. It is the place where the emperor places nobles and nobles. It is also the key office to control local military and political affairs.

There are ten departments under it, including the Military Affairs Department (secretary and administrative personnel), the Ordnance Department (weapons research, equipment hoarding), the Munitions Department (money and grain distribution, material hoarding, canteens), the Military Science Department (military school), the Military Medical Department, and the Military Department. Law Department, Military Health Department (management of soldiers, garrison patrols), Military Construction Department (management of military buildings, such as barracks, docks), Training Department (recruitment, training, and dispatching of new recruits), and Navy Department (in charge of naval affairs).

The convention is that the Duke personally takes charge of the ten divisions, but as the nobles age, the control of military affairs gradually shifts to the hands of the younger generation, mostly earls and marquises.

But among the ten divisions, the Military and Political Division is now in charge of Jin Guogong Li Dingguo. Although he is over sixty years old, his prestige in the military is extremely high and he is well-liked by everyone.

"Have you had enough noise?" Li Dingguo has gray hair on his temples. His many years of military career have accumulated a lot of hidden wounds, but his voice is still sonorous and powerful.

Seeing that no one responded, he turned his head and said to Zhu Yi:

"Uncle Yuezhou, are there too many in the navy?"

"My lord, this is not much!"

Zhu Yi held up his hand and insisted: "The six major naval forces are just enough. Besides, unlike the Beijing camp, which is mostly on military pay, the navy is often on ships and artillery."

As he spoke, he said aggrievedly: "In the early years of Shaowu, a thousand-material ship cost only a thousand silver coins. Now it costs at least three thousand yuan. The main force of three thousand materials cannot be moved without twenty or thirty thousand, and artillery is even more expensive... "

Li Dingguo felt a headache when he heard the figures.

Warriors are fed up with such trivial matters.

Zhu Yi had to fight.

The ten departments of the Dudu Mansion have different powers, but the size of the budget is definitely the key to classifying the priorities.

The naval department's allocation can only be more, not less, otherwise it will shake his prestige in the military and affect his authority.

"A sea-going ship can be used for more than ten years, how can we ask for so much money!" At this time, Zhao Guangyuan, the head of the Military Construction Department, snorted:

"In my opinion, three million is enough."

"Nonsense, five million is just enough!" Zhu Yi hurriedly retorted: "To be honest, if I didn't take everyone into consideration, I would have to ask for eight million to be enough!"

As he spoke, he raised his hands towards the capital: "Your Majesty, you have spoken. A big ship with five thousand materials must be built. When one comes down, it will cost one hundred thousand!"

"Hmph, I suspect that many navy departments have a lot of corruption, and a bunch of rats are eating their brains and fat belly. The Inspectorate needs to go check it out!"

Invite the Inspectorate?

Isn’t this killing one thousand enemies and damaging oneself eight hundred?

Which yamen can withstand such an investigation? It would be a shame to find out.

Sure enough, Zhao Guangyuan knew that he had offended the public, and his face turned ugly.

"Okay!" Li Dingguo interrupted the quarrel between the two with a deep voice: "No matter what, the Navy Department has spent too much money, and this matter must be settled."

As he spoke, he forced Zhu Yi with bright eyes.

In this regard, Zhu Yi was naturally under great pressure.

However, he did not fight an unprepared battle after all, so he took out a bill from his arms:

"Please see, from the early years of Shaowu to now, eggs have risen from ten cents to fifteen cents per catty, grain prices have risen from only eight cents to one yuan, and cotton has risen from eight cents to ten cents per catty. Prices have skyrocketed!"

"In my opinion, 12 million for the patrol camp is far from enough. It needs at least 20 million to be able to spend it——"

These words were loud and deafening.

All the heads were shocked.

Immediately, the direction changed to asking for military spending.

The local and central government share half of the military expenditures for patrol battalions.

On the surface, it only looks like an increase of 8 million. In fact, the area has to be doubled, that is, 16 million.

What a huge benefit this is!

Even if there is no corruption, who doesn’t have an iron farm, a cotton field, a shoe factory, and a cloth mill? They are all connected by blood.

Everyone breathed heavily at the thought that their family could get twice as much benefit.

Zhu Yi breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Finally got through it.

But in the end, everyone still insisted on being unreasonable and asked the Navy Department not to divide the newly increased military expenditures.

After all, the Yangtze River Navy and the Yellow River Navy also account for a large share.

Zhu Yi could only agree with a forced smile.

After getting on the carriage, Zhu Yi lay half-ly with a relaxed expression: "Dream, if it can increase to 20 million, I will have your surname!" Sure enough, the emperor knew about this, and the cabinet naturally knew about it.

The top ten chiefs were called to the palace and were scolded by the emperor.

Naturally, the increase in military spending has become a mirror image.

However, Zhu Yi's pride did not last long before the emperor met him and his first sentence was to poke his lungs:

"There are too many naval forces and we need to reduce them!"

Facing other nobles, he dared to fight hard, but for the emperor, he could only say aggrievedly: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid that there are not enough naval forces to maintain order on the river."

"Water cannot live without land!"

Zhu Yixi sighed casually: "As long as we control the dock, there will be no place for collusion. Which water bandit dares to show up?"

"You're too impressed."

"The Yangtze River Navy is reduced to 10,000 people, the Yellow River Navy is reduced to 7,000 people, and it is most appropriate to maintain the Navy at around 35,000 people!"

"I know!"

Zhu Yixi smiled and started talking to him about everyday things.

The four major ocean navies include five thousand people in Nanyang, three thousand people in South China Sea, three thousand people in East China Sea, and five thousand people in Bohai Sea. Although these numbers are a little less, they are enough.

In today's East, who dares to provoke the imperial navy?

Although the inland river is large, it cannot support small boats. Three or five people can fit into one boat. It is mainly used to carry infantry and suppress bandits, and it plays a supporting role.

After that, Zhu Yi returned to his house and sighed: "Times and fate cannot change!"

……

Autumn is coming soon, and prices in Beijing have started to rise as expected, and people are used to it.

Especially for vegetables, the prices have skyrocketed. Ordinary cabbage costs five cents per catty, and radish and shepherd's purse have also risen to three cents per catty.

Many families can only endure it and buy a large amount of cabbage for pickling, so that there will be no shortage of vegetables throughout the winter.

However, rich families do nothing about this because they have a large amount of fresh vegetables and can eat fresh vegetables anytime and anywhere.

Warm caves allow vegetables and fruits to appear on the dining tables of wealthy people in winter.

Just after school, his grandson Zhu Fu and his grandson Zhu Fu were wandering around the inner city together. The clothes they wore were ordinary cotton clothes, which looked a bit bloated.

"Chinese cabbage, fresh Chinese cabbage!"

A hawker pushed a wheelbarrow and started selling on the street. After a while, the cart of cabbage disappeared.

Soon, there was another man pushing a cart. The basket full of cucumbers was so crisp and delicious that the grandson couldn't help but walk away.

But the high price has stopped many people.

When Taisun got closer, he learned that this cucumber actually cost half a penny, which was fifty cents. It was really an exaggeration.

Having walked around the streets a lot, he knew the prices very well. This was a day's wages for an ordinary person, and three days' worth of food for a family of five.

"This is too expensive for you!" As he stepped forward, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy, wearing a green shirt, talked about the price in a rather philistine manner:

"If I buy three sticks, can I buy a hundred coins?"

"Master, you look like you are from a wealthy family. Why should you make things difficult for us poor people?"

The merchant directly kidnapped morals: "Fifty cents is worse than a toy to you!"

"Don't think I don't know about you!" The young man turned his head and whispered: "The fruits and vegetables in Nuandong outside the city are all ordered by wealthy families. You made them with your own furniture!"

"They only give thirty yuan to the minister, how dare you sell it so expensively?"

"That's it!" The vendor could only say with a grimace: "You are still the best, so be it!"

Taisun was quite surprised to see the young man get the price in just a few clicks and his unexpected bargaining.

It should be noted that literati are particular about their demeanor, and it is easy to lose face by openly bargaining in broad daylight.

Taisun took three steps and two steps back: "My price is the same as his!"

As he said that, he also picked up three sticks and sprinkled a handful of them.

"You haven't asked for advice yet?" Taisun became interested in this young man.

"My dear, Zhang Tingzhan, is currently studying in the Imperial College!"

Zhang Tingzhan is polite and courteous, as is the philistine just now.

"Oh? Are you Zhang Tingzhan, the leader of poetry in the Imperial College?"

Taisun immediately remembered the name.

Immediately, he thought of his father, Zhang Ying, the chief envoy of Shandong.

It is said that he is very successful in governing the country in Shandong. He will enter Beijing in less than two years and serve as a minister or junior minister. He is under fifty years old and his future prospects are limitless.

"The ridiculous praise from my classmates!" Zhang Tingzhan was modest but also had a hint of reserve and pride: "In terms of poetry, I am just a late learner, and I am still far behind those great masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties!"

Taisun felt funny for a moment.

In the Ming Dynasty, which lasted for hundreds of years, how many people could rival those of the Tang and Song dynasties?

This kid is quite ambitious.

But for young people, this is normal!

The three of them talked about their studies, while Zhang Tingzhan was distressed and scratching his head: "The eight-part essay is really disgusting, and the paper is full of staleness. I will go back to my hometown next year to take the Boy's Examination and become a scholar as soon as possible."

"Bagu!" Taisun smiled and shook his head: "That's laying the foundation. Of course it's boring, but it's necessary!"

The three of them were not much different in age, but the more they talked, the more they became more and more congenial, and they became good friends for a while.