Chapter 401 Wang Qiong
"cough cough"

Peng Ze, the Prince's Grand Tutor and the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Ming Dynasty, is 55 years old this year. Due to long-term fatigue in military affairs, he suffered from hemiplegia, cough, back rash and other diseases one after another. After returning to Beijing, he spent most of his time recuperating at home.

Mrs. Wu, Pengze's wife, came in and saw her husband struggling to write memorials at his desk. She said distressedly, "Master, the court's affairs are handled by the wise men in the court. Why do you have to force yourself?"

"Madam, you don't know that someone doesn't want me to stay in the capital!"

Peng Ze put down his pen, sighed and said, "I wrote this memorial to ask His Majesty to allow me to retire due to illness so that I can retire to the countryside and cultivate my body and mind. Secondly, it is also my wish. I don't want to be involved in military affairs anymore. I am tired of it."

Upon hearing this, Madam Wu recalled the conversation she had with the other ladies recently and asked, "Is it about the Governor-General of the Three Borders?"

"Madam also knows?" Peng Ze asked with some surprise.

Madam Wu nodded and said, "I've heard other ladies talk about it recently, but I heard that the court is more inclined to Lord Wang Qiong."

"Wang Jinxi!" Peng Ze thought about it. Wang Qiong was good at managing finances, especially in salt administration.

At the beginning, Wang Qiong advocated cracking down on private salt dealers, donating grain and rice to the border, and strictly following the tax collection in order to obtain salt permits.

In this way, the malpractice of indiscriminate issuance of salt permits and collection of silver for tax collection since the Chenghua period can be corrected.

The financial revenue of the imperial court and the grain and fodder of the nine border areas were both guaranteed, which was a two-pronged approach.

But unfortunately, Liu Jin, Zhengde, the cabinet and the six ministries did not take it seriously at that time.

Looking back, Pengze felt sorry for Wang Qiong.

Suddenly, Peng Ze came back to his senses and asked, "Who told Madam this?"

Mrs. Wu recalled for a moment before saying, "It's Mrs. Ou Zhanshi Liu Qing. What's the problem?"

"Ou Jingyu" Peng Ze's heart moved, and he smiled and said, "No problem, Madam, go and rest first!"

On the second day, Peng Ze wrote a letter to recommend Wang Qiong as the governor-general of the three borders. His reason was simple: Xiliang was an important place, where foreign invaders lived together. If the plan was not well planned, it would cause obstacles. Wang Qiong was daring and decisive, so he was a capable minister who could govern the country and pacify the northwest.

After Emperor Zhengde received Peng Ze's memorial, the balance in his heart unconsciously tilted towards Wang Qiong.

After thinking for a while, he simply summoned Wang Qiong to the Leopard Room.

Wang Qiong and Peng Ze were born in the same year, and both of them even took part in the imperial examination in the 20th year of Chenghua.

However, Wang Qiong passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, while Peng Ze returned home directly after the second examination, hearing that his mother was ill. Therefore, he did not pass the examination and became a student of the Imperial College. It was not until the third year of Hongzhi that he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi.

"I, Wang Qiong, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, come to see Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, please excuse me."

Wang Qiong stood up straight, and when he saw Ou Zanghua bowing to him, he returned the greeting.

Emperor Zhengde waved his hand and said with a smile: "I summoned you today to ask you about your views on the affairs of the Western Regions."

"Your Majesty, I believe that the key to the Western Regions lies in Hami. If Hami is stable, the Western Regions will be stable. And the key to Hami lies in Turpan."

After hearing this, Emperor Zhengde nodded and motioned Wang Qiong to continue.

Wang Qiong was very good at guessing the emperor's intentions. He knew his boss well and he knew young people even better. But he still considered the overall situation and expressed his own ideas: "If we want to solve the problem of Turpan, I think there are two ways." "The order in the Western Regions has been greatly disrupted, and Turpan has become the biggest obstacle on the Oasis Silk Road. Closing the country and refusing tribute will not work. It is better to open tribute and make peace."

"To restore the tribute route does not mean abandoning Hami. We should preserve our reputation as the successor of the lost empire and gradually seek to restore it."

"This is a long-term plan. For the court, the financial pressure will be slightly reduced. After the tribute is restored, merchants will come and go frequently, the source of taxation will be broad, and the treasury can be expected to be gradually filled. Moreover, if the border is peaceful, the cost of border military pay can also be saved."

"The best way to solve the problem once and for all is to gather the forces of the three towns and destroy Turpan in one fell swoop. However, once the war starts, the money and resources consumed will be immeasurable."

After hearing this, Emperor Zhengde looked at Ou Zanghua and asked, "What do you think, Mr. Ou?"

"Minister Wang is right. I agree with the first strategy."

Ou Zanghua bowed and replied, "But Minister Wang is not clear about your majesty's ambitions, so he is a little conservative."

When Wang Qiong heard this, an idea suddenly occurred to him. He looked at Emperor Zhengde and asked, "Your Majesty, do you want to restore the system of the Western Regions during the Han and Tang Dynasties?"

"Of course!"

Emperor Zhengde nodded and said very complacently: "And I have already taken the first step and arranged for Wang Shouren and Zhao Jian to go to Gansu and Shaanxi. In addition, among the Jinshi candidates in this palace examination, dozens of them will also go to Shaanxi and Gansu."

Wang Qiong's expression froze. His Majesty actually arranged so many new scholars to go to Shaanxi and Gansu. It can be seen that His Majesty really attaches great importance to this matter.

He thought for a while before saying, "Your Majesty has such ambitions, and I will do my best to assist you. In this case, the strategy for conquering the Western Regions should indeed be changed, and I need to consider it carefully."

"Hahaha, very good!" When Emperor Zhengde heard Wang Qiong's answer, he was immediately delighted. He immediately kept Wang Qiong to have a meal together before letting the two leave.

When Wang Qiong and Ou Zanghua were riding in a carriage and heading to the Leopard House, he bowed to Ou Zanghua and said, "Thank you, Mr. Ou. I hope you can give me more advice on the affairs of the three borders."

Ou Zanghua smiled, returned the greeting and said calmly: "Minister Wang, you are too kind. This is all the will of your majesty."

Wang Qiong also smiled, then turned and left.

If he stayed in the court, he would have to fight against Yang Tinghe and Liang Chu alone, and he had already felt a lot of pressure. Now that he can be sent out, it is also a good thing for Wang Qiong.

But just as Wang Qiong left, the invitation from the Minister of War Lu Wan arrived, and Ou Zanghua happily went.

Lu Wan was obviously dissatisfied with Ou Zanghua for not helping him to promote Peng Ze, so at the banquet, the Grand Marshal kept sighing, which made Ou Zanghua feel a little uncomfortable. He could only bow his hands and said, "Grand Marshal, stop sighing. I really can't stand it anymore."

"Ou Zhanshi, I am definitely not sighing for you. I am just sighing for my bad luck. Alas." Lu Wan said, and sighed again.

Ou Zanghua was speechless. He took a sip of wine and then said, "Grand Sima, your body is indeed not strong enough. It is not wise to travel a long distance to the northwest again."

Lu Wan said seriously, "But in the imperial court, you are the only one who is as good at both civil and military affairs as Peng Jiwu. Wang Jinxi is a good ruler, but the northwest is too complicated. I'm afraid Wang Jinxi can't control it."

"Your Majesty has trusted Minister Wang." Ou Zanghua had no choice but to say.

After hearing this, Lu Wan smiled cheerfully and changed his words, "But then again, Wang Jinxi is brave, quick-witted and decisive. With Wang Shouren and Zhao Jian by his side, we can still look forward to him."

Ou Zanghua: “.”

(End of this chapter)