Chapter 861: A Gentleman Will Fail
As the leader of the new policy, Jiang Qingzhi's character has been analyzed in various ways by the outside world, and many conclusions have been drawn.
The most mainstream conclusion is that Jiang Qingzhi was a famous general, decisive in killing and skilled in tactics, similar to Wang Anshi.
But some people say that Wang Anshi had a group of people around him as helpers, but Jiang Qingzhi only had a few kittens around him.
The New Deal group was isolated and powerless. When the New Deal was launched, Jiang Qingzhi was unable to handle everything. By then...
Therefore, Jiang Qingzhi must have picked out a group of people to assist him.
Just like Wang Anshi back then.
This is an opportunity!
Once you catch the eye of that big boss, it will be easy to rise to prominence.
Some people were dismissive, saying that following Jiang Qingzhi would indeed lead to rapid success, but fortune and disaster go hand in hand, and the risks that come with it are not small.
"It is said that following Lord Changwei brings unpredictable fortunes and disasters. If the new policy fails, I'm afraid I won't be able to be Su Shi." Wang Yiqi said with a smile.
Su Shi was jumping back and forth, sometimes opposing the new policy, sometimes opposing the old party, angering both sides. If Gao Taotao had not been his fan, this Su Xian, whose talent suppressed the entire East for hundreds of years, would have already followed in Di Qing's footsteps.
This is also the case at the moment. Many people will face the choice of standing with Jiang Qingzhi or standing against him.
There is another way, which is to follow no one and be a free and easy person.
Although the Xiaoyao Sect seems to be free and easy, they are also the most likely to become cannon fodder.
Jiang Qingzhi didn't tolerate any sand in his eyes and slapped them in the face, saying, "Who cares about your Xiaoyao Sect? Get out and make room!"
So all three have risks.
It is a common consensus that following Jiang Qingzhi carries the greatest risk.
The reason is very simple. First, throughout history, how many people have succeeded in reform? There is only one person, Shang Yang. Even if the reform was successful, Shang Yang's end was extremely miserable.
Secondly, Confucianism is powerful and Jiang Qingzhi is a giant of Mohism. Even if those who follow him claim to the outside world that they are still believers of Confucianism, they will still be regarded as traitors.
If the new policy fails, these people will face extremely brutal retaliation.
"If you fail, you will die." Zhang Juzheng smiled, "I know the consequences of this matter."
Jiang Qingzhi took out some medicinal cigarettes. He had been busy for a long time today, so he went to the Ministry of War to inquire about the issue of the garrisons drawing empty salaries. However, several officials in the Ministry of War said that this was a common practice, which made Jiang Qingzhi furious.
Conventions, conventions, everything is a convention, as if it were an ancestral rule. Just like scholars with official titles do not pay taxes, and the powerful do not pay taxes. When did this convention begin?
Are there any regulations?
No, it's just the unspoken rule of the vested interests.
No one has dared to touch this unspoken rule. Wang Yiqi glanced at Zhang Juzheng and said, "From the Five Military Commands Office to the Ministry of War, to the local garrisons, many people have made their fortunes this way. If this path is cut off in a hurry, it will cause a lot of disputes..."
Jiang Qingzhi knew that Lao Wang wanted to use this incident to test Zhang Juzheng's character, so he smiled and said, "It's not just a dispute, is it? If things go wrong, the civil and military officials may unite to oppose the new policy."
Those generals were fools when it came to leading troops to fight, but they were experts at making money. This is also a sign of the rise and fall of dynasties: are officials busy with official duties, or are they racking their brains for personal gain? Are the warriors busy with drills, busy honing their military tactics, staying ready for battle, and rejoicing at the news of war, or are they desperately corrupt...
If it is the former, then the dynasty is not far from collapse.
It was the latter that made the dynasty flourish.
The mainstream of the Ming Dynasty is the former. Officials are greedy and only seek personal gain. Soldiers do not practice or hone their military skills, but only care about collecting empty salaries.
"Floating away" is a representative unspoken rule. After the money and grain are distributed from above and embezzled along the way, there is not much left in the army. The generals are not furious and stand up for the soldiers, but continue to exploit them. In the end, the money and grain left in the hands of the lower-level soldiers are pitifully small.
"I always say that one should not sit in a well and look at the sky. It is nonsense to say that a scholar knows everything about the world without leaving home. That is just empty talk." Jiang Qingzhi took a puff of medicinal tobacco and let the cold smoke pass through his lungs.
Winter used to be his most tormenting time. The chronic illness he had brought from his mother's womb would frequently flare up, making him extremely uncomfortable. The doctor also said that his illness could not be cured, and it was a miracle that he could maintain this level.
But Jiang Qingzhi did not believe in superstition. He felt that the human body was a huge treasure house, and that disease was just a physical phenomenon, not a problem. As long as he persisted in treating his body well, any phenomenon could heal itself.
And medicine is just an auxiliary.
The new policy is not only to break some unspoken rules, but also to reverse this downward trend.
That's why Jiang Qingzhi was so furious.
He looked at Zhang Juzheng with a smile, "I said before that martial arts students can replace those corrupt generals. What do you think?"
If Zhang Juzheng came to Jiang Qingzhi, he would have the dual roles of secretary and advisor. After being tempered, he would be sent out to serve as an official for a few years. If he did not make any major mistakes, he would be on the road to success.
Zhang Juzheng thought carefully for a while, "This war has made everyone in the world aware of the problems of the Ming Dynasty's officers and soldiers. The cleansing and reconstruction of the Beijing Guards has made a great success, and it has also given a slap in the face to those who clamored that the cleansing and reconstruction was an overreaction.
The new policy starts with money and food as the first step. For the military, eating empty salaries is also money and food, so they can be classified together. However, it is not wise to attack both civil and military officials at the same time. "
"Put it on hold?" Wang Yiqi said in a deep voice, "Although this is a great victory, the victory was achieved with firearms. Altan Khan was defeated, and while licking his wounds, he would also endure hardships.
Firearms are powerful, but not invulnerable. At present, only the Imperial Guards can fight against the Ming Dynasty. The northern grasslands, the Japanese pirates in the south, and even the Portuguese who are eyeing the Ming Dynasty's outer seas... The Ming Dynasty has so many opponents, and it depends on the Imperial Guards..."
Wang Yiqi smiled at Jiang Qingzhi, "Just as Chang Wei Bo said, we are stretched to the limit. So, time is running out, what do you think we should do? Young man, don't avoid the truth. New policies, new policies, are about picking up a heavy hammer and hitting problems when they are found."
Zhang Juzheng smiled and said, "Yes. After the great victory, some people said that there would be peace for the next fifty years. But they failed to see the many external crises. The Beijing guards have so few troops and are not enough. But the more this is the case, the less anxious we should be." "Tell me about it." Jiang Qingzhi took a puff of medicinal smoke, thinking about the current situation.
It is said that several tribes under Altan's command rebelled, so Altan killed them ruthlessly. After defeating the rebels, he used the most primitive and bloodiest method on the grassland.
——All men taller than the wheels were killed.
The bloody reality silenced the dissatisfied tribes.
But this silence is not submission. Once Altan shows his weakness, those tribes will pounce on him like a pack of wolves and bite him. The winner will be the king and the loser will be the bandit. A new Khan will be appointed.
This is how the grasslands are, the speed of the replacement of the old with the new is unbelievable. But there is one characteristic, as long as the grassland kings learn from the Central Plains dynasties, they can continue for many years.
For example, the Liao Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty, and even the subsequent Qing Dynasty were all like this.
"Although I have never been to a local garrison, I know that the relationships among various parties are definitely complicated. If a war breaks out, not only will the external enemies take advantage of the situation to attack, but also the internal scholars and officials will not miss such a good opportunity to fight back."
Zhang Juzheng said calmly: "Therefore, I think that a plan can be implemented right now." He looked at Jiang Qingzhi, who raised his eyebrows to indicate that he was listening.
Zhang Juzheng, a famous figure in history and the host of the Wanli New Deal, now seemed like a student giving him advice.
Jiang Qingzhi felt a little unreal and then reminded himself not to show off.
"You can spread the word that past incidents in the military...will not be punished."
Wang Yiqi frowned, "Do you know what will happen if we let bygones be bygones?"
"It will make many people feel safe and reckless. They will think that the law does not punish the masses."
"Then, once the news spreads...should those corrupt officials also be forgiven?" Wang Yiqi looked at Zhang Juzheng scrutinizingly, feeling a little disappointed.
"You are trying to smooth things over." Lao Wang said bluntly.
Zhang Juzheng smiled and said, "Once these words are spread out, it will be like a warm spring breeze. The generals will be happy and encouraged, and will also try their best to cooperate in the reorganization of the officers and soldiers. The sound of military training is heard everywhere in the Ming Dynasty. This is midsummer, hot and joyful... All things are thriving."
The corners of Jiang Qingzhi's mouth suddenly curled up slightly, he shook off the cigarette ash and smiled.
"But once summer is over, isn't it autumn?" Zhang Juzheng said with a smile, "Autumn is cold and harsh. It's time to settle accounts."
"We'll settle the score later!" Wang Yiqi murmured, "You young man, you are not a gentleman."
"A gentleman who implements a new policy will surely fail!" Zhang Juzheng said decisively: "Everyone in the world can be a gentleman, except the emperor. Everyone in the world can practice the way of a gentleman, except Chang Wei Bo!"
Zhang Juzheng looked at Jiang Qingzhi and said, "The so-called gentleman's way is nothing more than bringing disgrace upon oneself."
Jiang Qingzhi asked: "Old Wang, how is it?"
Wang Yiqi is a conservative person and doesn't like conspiracies and intrigues.
However, Zhang Juzheng's suggestions were filled with conspiracy and cunning, which made Lao Wang feel uncomfortable.
"The way of a gentleman..." Jiang Qingzhi said softly.
Historically, Zhang Juzheng joined forces with the Empress Dowager in the palace to sideline Emperor Wanli. From then on, he held great power and was almost like a regent.
This is not the way of a gentleman.
Once this guy gains power, will he sideline me?
This thought flashed through his mind, and Jiang Qingzhi smiled, mocking himself in his heart: This is the Jiajing period, I am not the young Wanli Emperor, and I am not a piece of plasticine. If Zhang Juzheng dares to make a move, I will slap him to death.
Wang Yiqi looked at Zhang Juzheng with complicated eyes. "You remind me of Wang Rong."
Wang Rong is the representative of someone who will do anything to achieve his goal.
This is the flavor of Zhang Juzheng's words.
In history, he held great power. Qi Jiguang had to call himself his disciple when writing to him. The commander of the Jinyiwei had to bow and be respectful when he saw him.
Zhang Juzheng looked at Jiang Qingzhi and said, "The new policy concerns the fate of the Ming Dynasty. If we follow the rules, we will fail!"
It's time to give a result.
Wang Yiqi looked at Jiang Qingzhi and felt a little depressed.
Such young people can be a double-edged sword if they are not handled properly...
Jiang Qingzhi took a puff of the medicinal smoke.
Through the smoke, it seemed as if I could see countless historical stories being played out.
"Go back and tell the Hanlin Academy that from today on, you will follow me."
Zhang Juzheng bowed and said solemnly: "Your subordinate, I obey your orders!"
(End of this chapter)
