Ming Empire

Chapter 152 Making a Decision
After hearing Sun Chuanting's words, Cao Yue was both angry and happy.

What makes him angry is that he has trained such an army with such combat power. Many people in the court, including Emperor Chongzhen, are worried about him and want to seize his military power. This is very chilling.The good news is that he can raise some conditions when someone wants the Datong Army, maybe another beginning of life will start here, and he will give up some things that seem precious in front of him, maybe he can get more income in exchange.

Immediately staring at Sun Chuanting, he asked bluntly: "Old man Sun, didn't you say you want to give me some help? Then you can tell me today, what I should do best!"

"Give up the Datong Army, go back to Beijing to lead the Beijing camp, or go to Nanjing to train a new army," Sun Chuanting said, his expression became serious, "but I personally suggest that you don't go to Beijing, the situation in the capital is too complicated , even if you are the admiral of the Beijing camp, you can't fully control the Beijing camp. After all, there are too many dignitaries in the court, and many people are unwilling to mess with the emperor. Their tentacles have already stretched out the Beijing camp. If you go to the Beijing camp, you may eventually The nose is bruised and the face is swollen, and there is no way to fully grasp it. The old man still recommends that you ask for an errand in front of the emperor. It is best to be an admiral of Nanzhili, and the worst is to be an admiral of Nanjing. You can ask the emperor to admiral Nanzhili, and the emperor probably will not agree , you will then admiral Nanjing, I believe that the emperor will agree to your second request in order to reward and arrange you."

Cao Yue didn't interrupt, but listened quietly.

"Nanjing relies on the affluent Jiangnan, with sufficient supply of money and food, and has not experienced wars. Neither slaves nor bandits have ever set foot in Jiangnan. Moreover, the folk customs in many places in Jiangnan are aggressive. Qi Jiguang recruited soldiers in Jiangnan back then. The soldiers in Jiangjian were very Have fighting power. If you can admiral Nanzhili, or admiral Nanjing, as long as the emperor agrees, you can make full use of the wealth and large population of Jiangnan to train an elite division that is several times or even dozens of times better than the Datong army, and Vigorously develop firearms. You can take away some of the troops of the Datong Army, half a battalion or even a battalion, as the basis for training the new army, and the effect will be faster. If there is a day when the new army is successfully trained, then whether it is Jiannu, or bandits, can no longer threaten the safety of my Daming."

While speaking, Sun Chuanting's expression was even more suspicious, and he no longer had the usual joking expression, "I hope you can go to Nanjing to train a new army under the order of the court. Only in this way can it be possible to save Daming, otherwise Daming will still be dead." There are dangers everywhere. If you have military achievements and prestige, the lieutenant general will obey you, and you are a son-in-law. If the Shangfang sword in your hand is not taken back by the emperor, and the emperor gives you an edict to train recruits, then you can be big when you arrive in Nanjing. After some hard work, it will not be a problem to train hundreds of thousands of new troops. Of course, it would be best if you can admiral Nanzhili, so that the military affairs of the southern provinces will be in charge of you. Even if the war situation in the north is still unfavorable, Nanjing is still there, which is the worst. The imperial court can move the capital to Nanjing and keep half of the country for future plans. Cao Yue, I pity you for being a talent, so I’m only telling you these heartfelt words today, I hope you can listen to them!”

"Thank you very much for Sun Dushi's advice, Cao Yue is very grateful." Cao Yue also put away the joke just now, and bowed to Sun Chuanting solemnly, "The boy is young, and he may be good at fighting, but he is good at dealing with people." I don’t have any experience in matters of dealing with people, as well as matters in the court, and there are many things, I hope Master Sun can give me some pointers!”

"Hahaha, you boy, finally you can speak humanly and treat this old man as your elder!" With Cao Yue's respect, Sun Chuanting seemed as excited as picking up a treasure. After laughing triumphantly twice, he caressed Hu Xu said: "The old man has given you some advice just now. I hope you can stay away from the court and go to Nanjing to take a post and train a new army with outstanding combat effectiveness. Although there are six ministries in Nanjing and many stubborn ministers, I believe Compared with Beijing, most of the ministers in Nanjing are losers and do not have much influence on the government. If you have a plan, you will not fall into their hands. But if you go to Beijing, you may stumble If you fall down, you will never be able to turn over again. Presumably you have also seen the power of some officials in the court, and you can understand something about what happened to this old man."

As Sun Chuanting spoke, he also chattered about the affairs of the court, including the struggles of many ministers in the court. He thought which ministers were more upright, who were more insidious, who he could make friends with, and who he should avoid.There are also some officials in Nanjing, the situation in Nanzhili, and some things that Emperor Chongzhen secretly ordered him this time, also borrowed some special tone to say.

He asked Cao Yue not to disobey the imperial court's will, and obediently hand over the Datong military power, but he could recommend to the imperial court a general who is now in the Datong army to take over.Then, on the condition of handing over the military power, he proposed to the emperor to go to Nanjing to train the new army, and to have sufficient power.Only in this way can it be possible to achieve great things.Otherwise, no matter how brave they are, they may be ruined by such incompetent people in the court.

"Okay, old man Sun, what you said makes sense. I also think that Daming is already terminally ill. If heavy medicine and reforms are not given, it is hopeless. The current Daming army is just a bunch of rabble. If you want to win the war, you can only train the new army," Cao Yue sighed after Sun Chuanting, and promised him that he would consider Sun Chuanting's proposal and make an early decision.

Then Cao Yue asked Sun Chuanting some questions, and went back to his room to rest.

After returning to the room, Cao Yue didn't go to bed right away, but put his head on his head and seriously considered what Sun Chuanting said today.

Before just now, Cao Yue didn't think about many things, and he didn't know enough about the importance of Nanzhili and Beizhili. Today he had to seriously consider how to decide whether to go to Beijing or Nanjing.

Nanzhili is the general name of the prefecture and Zhili prefecture in the south of the Ming Dynasty and directly under the six departments of the central government.In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, the place directly under the capital Nanjing was established as an official; in the 18th year of Ming Yongle, after Ming Chengzu Zhu Di moved the capital, the capital was renamed Nanjing, and the former capital area was renamed Nanzhili. The government and prefectures under the jurisdiction of the chief envoy are also the six central departments of Zhili, which are called Beizhili.

In terms of importance, Southern Zhili is far inferior to Northern Zhili, and the status of officials in Nanjing is far inferior to Beijing.Although Beijing is now threatened by Jianshou from time to time, almost no officials are willing to take office in Nanjing.In fact, according to Cao Yue's knowledge, the situation of the areas under the jurisdiction of Southern Zhili is far better than that of Northern Zhili, whether it is population, money, food, taxes, or so on. In Nanjing, at least don't worry about these.

Cao Yue had already realized the importance of the south, so he asked his mother and second brother Cao Chao to go to Nanjing to seek development, but the growth of the Datong Army gave him unrealistic ideas. Hearing what Sun Chuanting said today, he was a little enlightened Feel.It is still necessary to go to the south and use Nanjing's special status to lay a more solid foundation.

Everything you do in Datong is like practicing your hands.

After making a decision, Cao Yue felt relieved, and he was no longer reluctant to part with the Datong Army.Now what Cao Yue has to consider is how to make a request to Emperor Chongzhen, and how to get Chongzhen to agree to his request.

(End of this chapter)