The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Min Xi communicated with his colleagues in the Honglu Temple who were in charge of the northern and Liaodong affairs, and learned the specific situation of the Tatar and Jurchen tribes in detail. Of course, this was not enough, he also planned to arrange for the people of Yunxiang to gather intelligence and understand the situation of the Tatar and Jurchen tribes in a more comprehensive and detailed manner.

In addition, he also had to follow up on the casting progress of the Ministry of Industry. Since handing over the mechanical drawings to the Ministry of Industry, he had been busy with the affairs of the Censorate and had no time to inquire about the casting progress. He also didn't know whether the craftsmen were doing well or encountered any difficult problems. He had to take some time to go to the Ministry of Industry.

As he got so busy, Min Xi rarely went to the Censorate. He only went to the Censorate to check in the day before the morning court session to learn about the basic situation of the Censorate, which was also a way to understand the trends in the court. Of course, Yun Ji would also pay close attention to the trends in the court.

The new prime minister has just been appointed. Although Zheng Tuo is a reformist, he may not completely follow Zhang Juzheng's policies. He may come up with some new policies, and the court situation is not stable. They have to pay more attention to changes in the court.

Min Xi was busy for a long time, discussed with Yun Ji, and finally wrote a memorial, which elaborated on the policy towards the Jurchens. In addition to dividing the Jurchen tribes from within and balancing the strength of the three tribes to check and balance each other, it was also necessary to properly cultivate the power of the Tatars to contain the Jurchen tribes.

In addition, the trade policy towards the Jurchens was also mentioned: strictly control the Ming Dynasty's trade qualifications with the Jurchens, strictly prohibit merchants from smuggling, especially control the salt and iron trade, prohibit the export of ironware to the Jurchens, etc.; strengthen the crackdown on smugglers. After all, the Qing Dynasty was able to enter the country with the confidence, which was inseparable from the smuggling of salt, iron and grain by the Shanxi merchants who were traitors.

Rome was not built in a day, and the smuggling of Shanxi merchants did not become popular overnight. Min Xi estimated that Shanxi merchants had already been smuggling outside the Great Wall, but now the Ming Dynasty was weak and the local bureaucrats were corrupt and lazy, so they did not pay much attention. Since Min Xi already knew the harm, he could not just let it go and needed to rectify it.

Min Xi did not hand the memorial to his superiors, but presented it directly to Emperor Wanli.

After reading the memorial, Emperor Wanli casually threw it on the table without paying much attention: "These are all trivial matters, just let the cabinet handle them. Why did Min Qing specially bring the memorial to me?"

Min Xi's expression was very serious: "Your Majesty, diplomatic relations are no small matter! The powerful enemies in the north have always been the strong enemies of the Central Plains Dynasty and must not be neglected. Although the Tatars have reached an alliance with our dynasty, not to fight, and to trade with each other, it does not mean that these threats no longer exist. As long as there is a chance, the surrounding barbarian tribes will all want to bite our Ming Dynasty. In addition to the Tatars, the Jurchen tribes in Liaodong are also accumulating strength. Their strength is growing day by day, and they can even compete with the Tatars. If we don't pay attention to them, they may come back like the Jin Dynasty in the future! Your Majesty doesn't want to repeat the mistakes of the Jingkang Incident."

Wanli shuddered when he heard this. The Jingkang Incident was a shame engraved in the bones of every Han Chinese. The Jurchens should not be underestimated. After all, their ancestors were indeed rich. If they had the chance, they would definitely make a comeback.

"Then according to Min Qing, in addition to dividing and restraining them, we should strictly prohibit trade with them?" Wanli tapped his right finger lightly on the table.

"Now that the Ming Dynasty is weak in national strength, we can only treat it with a conciliatory policy. Fortunately, the reform has begun to show results. After a few years, when the army is strong and the treasury is full, we can send troops to defeat them. At least we can buy decades or even hundreds of years of peace." Min Xi was merciless to his enemies. In this chaotic era when there was no international order, there was only the law of the jungle and the victors took all.

Wanli looked at Min Xi in surprise: "I didn't expect Min Qing to be a war advocate."

"Peace and territory have always been won on the battlefield. Once a country's strength permits and the time is right, sending troops may not be a bad thing." It is always better to have the ability to proactively start a war than to passively accept a fight when you are unable to do so.

Wanli waved his hand gently: "Forget it, I will discuss this matter with the cabinet ministers."

Min Xi and Yun Ji came out of the palace: "Seventh brother, you have to work hard! Become a cabinet minister as soon as possible, and it would be best if you could become the cabinet's chief minister."

Yun Ji raised his eyebrows: "What do you mean?"

Min Xi looked at him and smiled: "I don't think your majesty is very interested in sending troops to attack the Jurchens. This war doesn't need to be fought now. It won't be too late to wait for ten or twenty years. By then, you should be able to enter the cabinet, and then you can take the lead in this matter."

Hearing this, Yun Ji unconsciously touched his eyebrows with his slender fingers, and the corners of his mouth curved into a beautiful arc: "Ninth brother, since you think highly of me, I will work hard. Incorporate Liaodong into the territory of the Ming Dynasty and fulfill your wish."

Yun Ji understood Min Xi's worries too well. He was afraid that the Ming Dynasty could not escape its fate and would eventually fall to the Jurchens.

Min Xi patted his shoulder and smiled: "I'm optimistic about you!"

Min Xi's memorial still attracted Wanli's attention. Soon after, the cabinet issued a decree on the Tatars and the Jurchens. The content was similar to that in Min Xi's memorial, but more detailed. An anti-smuggling team was also set up under the Maritime Customs Office, which was responsible for the review and inspection of foreign trade and strictly prohibited the smuggling of prohibited items.

According to Yun Ji's current fifth-rank qualifications, if he wants to enter the cabinet and follow the normal process, he will need at least another twenty years.

The drought began in the capital in the summer of that year, and it lasted for a very long time. The disaster was very serious. Until the second year, there were few rains and snows in the capital. The crops failed for two consecutive years, and even drinking water became a problem. Even the Huitong River dried up, and even the last section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was affected. The canal ships could not enter the capital and could only stop at the docks dozens of miles away. The materials had to be transported to the capital by land.

The drought in the capital was severe, and the grain harvest was poor, which had seriously affected the lives of ordinary people. Fortunately, the Ministry of Revenue had been promoting the planting of sweet potatoes, rice and potatoes in many places for many years. The national grain harvest was good year after year, and the grain depot was full. Grain could be transferred from all over the country to support the capital area, so there was no tragic situation of refugees and starving people everywhere.

The steam water pump manufactured by Min Xi played an unprecedented role and ensured the basic drinking water problem for the people in the capital area.

Both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works made great contributions, and Yun Ji and Min Xi were the greatest contributors.

At the end of the year, when the examination was completed, Yun Ji was promoted to the position of Zuo Tongzheng of the Tongzhengshisi, a fourth-rank official. He was responsible for submitting, forwarding, sealing and rejecting memorials. In other words, all memorials submitted by officials from all over the country had to pass through his hands and be submitted to the emperor or rejected. He also had the power to participate in major policies, major prisons, and the selection of civil and military officials, so he was a powerful official.

Min Xi was a juren, which meant that his academic qualifications were limited and his career prospects in the government had almost come to an end. He could not be promoted any further. In addition to rewarding him with money, the emperor began to develop him horizontally, letting him take on multiple positions. He appointed him as the head of the manufacturing warehouse of the Ministry of Works and set up a manufacturing plant specifically for him to manufacture the machines he designed to improve the lives of the people of the Ming Dynasty.

In the 22nd year of Wanli, the 48-year-old Yun Ji returned to the Hanlin Academy and served as a Hanlin scholar. The following year, he entered the cabinet and became one of the youngest cabinet ministers in the history of the Ming Dynasty.

Min Xi was still a minor official of the sixth rank, but he was already holding several positions at this time. If he had not refused, Wanli would have planned to continue to promote him. Although his official position was not high, he was a frequent visitor to the palace and was a person whom Wanli relied on and trusted.

As Min Xi wished, although Emperor Wanli was often out of tune, he still listened to advice on major state affairs and did not miss court for 30 years as in history. Although the Ming Dynasty was rotten to the core, it was not as rotten as in history. It should be able to survive for dozens or hundreds of years. The curse of the Ming Dynasty's demise at the hands of the Jurchens may really be broken.