The imperial court won the battle,

There was a lot of discussion between the government and the public.

Weird?

Not surprising at all.

If you look at the two parties in the debate, you will know that this is just another battle between the new party and the old party.

Especially now that the government is controlled by the new party. The new party implements the new policy, encourages hard work, and pays attention to military achievements. Not only has it won every battle, it has also made the northern areas of the Ming Dynasty prosperous. Its tentacles have penetrated deep into the south and come to the east. The stronghold of the Lin Party, how can the old party endure this?

If this continues, the Donglin Party will have no say at all.

Therefore, even for the right to speak, controversy is inevitable.

Public opinion between the government and the public naturally affected Cao Wenzhao and Zhou Yuji.

The two of them did not dare to ask Zhu Youxiao, so they had no choice but to come to Zhang Haogu.

"Yuansuke."

Zhang Haogu frowned and looked at Cao Wenzhao and Zhou Yuji: "Why are you, the great generals of the imperial court, coming to me?"

Cao Wenzhao smiled and said: "Yuanfu, I didn't know you had a wife, so why did I come here to give you a gift?"

Zhang Haogu said with a smile: "No need, if you can win, you can give me the best gift to the emperor."

With that said, Zhang Haogu asked Cao Wenzhao and Zhou Yuji to sit down and poured tea for them: "You are the generals of the imperial court and the generals that the emperor relies on now. It is not appropriate for you to come to my place rashly."

Cao Wenzhao said: "Yuanfu, the main reason is that the rumors between the government and the public have become more and more widespread recently. Now the students are also worried about whether the court will really abandon the grassland."

Glancing at Cao Wenzhao and Zhou Yuji, seeing the worried looks on their faces, Zhang Haogu couldn't help but smile and said: "After all, he is also a general of the imperial court, so he should have the demeanor of a general."

"You are so worried about some rumors among the people. How can this make me feel relieved?"

After saying this, Zhang Haogu paused: "I am also aware of the debate between the government and the public regarding the Monan matter."

"You don't need to pay attention to these rumors and rumors. When you go back, train the soldiers so that they can train with peace of mind. Don't pay attention to the rumors outside."

"As for the matter of the grassland, I will let you know. The imperial court will not give up easily. Even if they want to give up, I and the emperor will not give up."

"Let's go back."

Cao Wenzhao and Zhou Yuji looked at each other, then smiled and said, "With Yuan Fu's words, the students will feel relieved."

"Students resign."

After Cao Wenzhao and Zhou Yuji left, Zhang Haogu took a sip of tea silently: "Taichong, what do you think?"

Huang Zongxi came out, bowed first, and then said: "Generals are fighting to the death on the grassland, and naturally they don't want the results of their hard work to be given up easily."

"The soldiers thought so too."

Zhang Haogu nodded: "The military has military considerations, and civil servants have civil servants' considerations. We can't just favor one side, nor ignore the other."

"When supporting the cabinet, we need to consider all aspects, focus on the overall situation, and not care about the immediate gains and losses."

With that said, Zhang Haogu looked at Huang Zongxi: "Taichong, do you think you can leave the grassland?"

Huang Zongxi mused: "The people of the grassland are unruly and difficult to tame. Moreover, the grassland is vast and sparsely populated. If it is managed, it requires long-term governance."

Zhang Haogu nodded: "Your idea is normal."

"Actually, it's not just you who has this idea, most people also have this intention."

"The grassland, in the short term, is not only unprofitable to our Ming Dynasty, but also costs a lot of money."

"However, the land of grassland cannot be abandoned. If you abandon it, you will lose all your current achievements."

"Throughout the past dynasties, the disasters on the grasslands have never been completely eliminated. The biggest reason is that the grasslands are chaotic and cold, and herdsmen live a difficult life. Many times they go south just to survive."

"The imperial court cannot remain passive and accept beatings, and then continue to appease the grassland."

"Now that we have the opportunity to occupy it, we must use it to control the grassland, completely naturalize the herdsmen, and become subjects of the Ming Dynasty instead of vassals. Whether it is settling down, building cities, or setting up prefectures and counties, it is all for the imperial court to completely control the grassland and solve the problem.

A stubborn problem that has been difficult to solve in all dynasties."

"The merits of one life can be used in future generations."

"Therefore, not only could this grassland be abandoned, but it also had to continue to be maintained. The imperial court had to build cities on the grassland, build roads to connect to the Great Wall, and station troops to maintain the stability of the grassland."

"The two pastures of Balian and Chahar, three thousand miles of rivers and mountains, whether they are cattle and sheep, forests, or mineral deposits below, will eventually be able to feed the imperial court when they are developed."

Huang Zongxi said: "It is a pity that many people inside and outside the court cannot understand Yuan Fu."

Zhang Haogu smiled: "They don't need to understand. If they say a few words, we will be timid. Can this country be governed?"

With that said, Zhang Haogu said to Huang Zongxi: "Taichong, please draw up a plan for me. The main purpose is that the court must not abandon the grassland. This is to exchange the power of one life for the merits of a hundred generations."

Huang Zongxi nodded: "Students understand."

The next day, Zhang Haogu went to court to participate in the court meeting. The courtiers who were discussing in low voices were surprised when they saw Zhang Haogu coming in. Then, with the sound of "The Emperor has arrived," Zhu Youxiao also moved quickly.

walk in.

"I will pay my respects to the Emperor."

"Everyone is safe."

Sitting on the dragon chair, Zhu Youxiao looked around at the courtiers, and then said: "In recent days, there has been an endless debate in the court about the use of the grassland."

"Let's let go of the talk today. Should we abandon it or continue to use it? Let's discuss and come up with a charter."

"My dear friends, you can speak freely."

Soon someone stood up and said: "Long live the imperial censor Bai Yu Qizou, the grassland is a land of barbarians and barbarians. They are vulgar and cannot be taught. Moreover, they are of a foreign race and are not of Chinese descent from our Han family. How can we trust them?"

"Don't you see, no one in the past dynasties has been able to control the grassland? Because the people in the grassland cannot be civilized, so every dynasty built the Great Wall to defend against the enemy."

"Even during the Chengzu period, it was still enough to conquer and never occupy the grassland. Now that the imperial court wants to occupy the grassland, I don't know how much food it will cost and how much manpower and material resources will be consumed. Is this what a wise king does?"

"If we build cities and roads on the grassland just to show our merits, and build the city this year and abandon it next year, wouldn't it be a waste of manpower and material resources?"

For a moment, members of the old party all agreed: "Yes, yes."

"I think so too."

"The people of the grassland cannot be civilized. Building cities and building roads now will only be in vain."

"."

Listening to the echoes of these people, Zhang Haogu walked out slowly: "I don't agree with this."

As he spoke, Zhang Haogu looked at the official: "The Han Dynasty built Shuofang, Jiuyuan, and Dingxiang. From then on, the Hetao land entered China and became our old Chinese land."

“If all dynasties and dynasties had clung to the old territory without exploring it, how could we have the thousands of miles of land we have today?”

"Throughout the past dynasties, no one has been able to completely control the grassland. Is it because the people of the grassland cannot be civilized?"

"Where have you learned the scriptures and righteousness from these saints?"

"Is it true that the people who draw bows on the grassland cannot be civilized? The Master once said: If the barbarians and the Di invade China, they will conquer China. These people who draw bows are the people of the Central Plains, so why can't they be civilized?"

"Is it impossible to educate, or are you unwilling?"

"What's more, the Monan Grassland, with three thousand miles of rivers and mountains, fertile water and grass, flocks of cattle and sheep, numerous forests, and all kinds of rivers and lakes, is a rare fertile soil. Even if it cannot be cultivated, it can still graze tens of millions of cattle and sheep and feed millions of herders.

"

"Why can't this be used by our government?"

"Building roads and cities, connecting the Central Plains, turning the grasslands into the territory of our Ming Dynasty, and these millions of herdsmen as our subjects of the Ming Dynasty, are not just a waste of money and food, but an act that will contribute to the present and benefit the future."

"Expanding the country over three thousand miles, recruiting millions of people, not only opening up territory for our Central Plains, but also consolidating border defenses and using grasslands to defend against enemies."

"In less than thirty years, this grassland will be the inherent territory of our Ming Dynasty. The cattle, sheep, forest, fur, and cotton on the grassland can all be used to make profits for the country. Moreover, the grassland is rich in mineral deposits. If they are mined, they will contribute to the industry of our Ming Dynasty.

Why should we abandon the grassland and sit back and watch this fertile land go to waste?”

"What's more, the Jian Nu in Liaodong have been plotting on the grassland for more than a year and a half? If we can't trap the Jian Nu in Liaodong, and wait until they occupy the grassland before Wang Shi goes out, wouldn't it be too late?"

"The imperial court must not abandon this grassland. Not only must it not abandon it, it must also increase investment in building cities and roads, maintaining garrison troops on the grassland, and increasing the imperial court's deterrence in southern Mon and northern desert."

"To give up midway now would be a waste of the court's resources."

As Zhang Haogu stood up, one by one from the new party also stood up. The old and new parties once again argued about this matter, and then there was another dispute between the students of the old and new parties in Jiangnan Province, the center of the struggle between the old and new parties.

.

After the dispersion of the dynasty, Zhang Haogu came to Xiyuan.

Zhu Youxiao took a sip of tea with some dissatisfaction: "These courtiers all claim to be loyal ministers and appear to be thinking about the court. In fact, they only talk in vain, which is useless!"

Obviously Zhu Youxiao also supports occupying the grassland. After all, what emperor can refuse the feeling of opening up new territories?

The imperial court mobilized 30,000 troops, plus 20,000 Mongolian soldiers and horses. It was useless to transport grain, grass, ordnance, and conquered these three thousand miles of rivers and mountains. He has not even offered sacrifices to the Ancestral Temple to comfort his ancestors. He just gave up if he said so. Why?

possible!

Zhang Haogu said with a smile: "Your Majesty, why bother with them?"

Zhu Youxiao nodded. At present, the court meeting is just a decoration. A series of policies of the imperial court are discussed in Xiyuan and the cabinet. Major issues are rarely discussed at the court meeting. If there is any major event, Zhu Youxiao will have already discussed it.

It was settled with Zhang Haogu and other cabinet ministers.
To be continued...