Zeng Xian, whose courtesy name was Zizhong, was from Huangyan, Taizhou Prefecture, Zhejiang Province. He was a merchant. He was a Jinshi in the eighth year of Jiajing. He served as the magistrate of Changle, Fujian, the censor of the Censorate, the Liaodong Inspector, and the Shandong Governor.

During his conquest of Liaodong and governor of Shandong, he had suppressed mutinies and rebellions many times. He was experienced and outstanding. Moreover, he was brave and strategy, and was good at using troops. After Yang Cong became the governor of Xuanda, the Tatars did not fail to attack the border, but they were all defeated by him.

Logically speaking, it should be a good choice to have such a person presided over the plan to deal with the Tartars. As long as the court fully supports it, he may really be able to deal with the Tartars.

Unfortunately, the court, or Yan Song, did not intend to fully support him. The reason why Yan Song agreed to let him take charge of the Tartars was entirely to cheat Xia Yan.

Zeng Xian didn't know this, and he had always been his goal to deal with the Tartars and recover Hetao. When he was transferred to Shanxi as governor, he had submitted a "Request for Reply to Hetao". At that time, Yang Cong, the Governor of Xuanda, was also a talented and powerful person. Although the two were not in the same camp, they still cooperated very well in dealing with the Tartars.

If Yang Cong was not transferred and the two of them worked together, it would be possible to regain Hetao and drive the Tartars to the deserted Mobei. In that case, the border troubles in the northwest would be no longer a concern.

Unfortunately, Yang Cong was transferred to the southeast to suppress the Japanese. Moreover, after Yang Cong was transferred, the corresponding food, supplies and military supplies gradually tilted to the southeast. Although he was determined to recover Hetao, he could not organize enough food and money and could not organize enough troops, so he could only give up.

Finally, when Yang Cong wiped out the Japanese pirates and pirates, he thought the opportunity had come again. Unfortunately, something happened again in Annan. Yang Cong was transferred to the southwest again to preside over the plan to deal with Annan Mo's family. The corresponding food, supplies and military supplies began to tilt to the southwest again, so he could only wait.

Immediately afterwards, Yang Cong pacified Annan again. The border between the Ming Dynasty seemed to be in the northwest of the northwest, and other places had been pacified.

He thought that he could finally regain Hetao and drive the Tartars out of the pass. Unexpectedly, Xia Yan, as the chief minister of the cabinet, could not transfer food and salary. Even if he had great skills, he could only stare at him.

Originally, he thought that during the Governor of Xuanda and the Governor of Shanxi, he would have no hope of regaining Hetao and dealing with the Tartars, but he never thought that he had wasted nearly ten years here. When he was almost desperate, Xia Yan suddenly sent someone to inform him that the food and money would be about to be available. Hurry up and submit a memorial and ask for the recovery of Hetao. How many border troops do you want to convene and how much food and money do you need? Just keep it!

This made him so excited that he was so excited that he was looking forward to the stars and the moon, and finally he had his food and salary.

He immediately wrote the "Repeated Discussion on the Repair of Hetao" and presented the plan to recover Hetao and even the subsequent plan to resist the Tartars outside the pass.

To be honest, if the court could really follow what he said and give him enough support, the northwest border problem might have been solved by him.

It’s a pity that this is just Yan Song’s chain plan!

He was ambitious and wanted to do something big, but Yan Song had no intention of providing him with enough food and salary.

Xia Yan was so excited that he was very excited when he was published.

He has been the chief minister of this cabinet for many years. Although he has been diligent and self-disciplined and has never made any mistakes, he has nothing to do with his achievements.

Although the Japanese pirates and pirates in the southeast were wiped out, it had nothing to do with him, because it was done by Yang Cong. Even if it was about achievements, it was from the Yangming lineage.

Although Annan recovered, it still had nothing to do with him, because it was Yang Cong who did it, so he didn't do much effort at all.

People who are arrogant in their hearts generally think that they are different and can compare everyone.

Xia Yan is the same. Unfortunately, he has been the chief minister of the cabinet for so many years, but he has not made any great achievements. Instead, he was compared by a young boy, Yang Cong. How could he be convinced?

Now, the food and salary are available, Zeng Xian is also his confidant. If Zeng Xian can recover Hetao in one fell swoop, drive the Tartars out of the pass, and solve the problems in the northwest from then on, then he, the chief minister of the cabinet, will make great contributions.

After receiving Zeng Xian's "Repeated Discussion on the Hetao Shu", he couldn't wait to order someone to call Yan Song over, wanting to discuss with Yan Song how to support Zeng Xian and completely clean up the Tartars.

Yan Song couldn't help but sneer in his heart after reading the memorial.

Zeng Xian is such an idiot, really whimsical!

This guy actually suggested that the three border towns in Shanxi and the three border towns in Shaanxi each recruit 30,000 elite troops, and then attack on both sides, defeat the Tartar in one fell swoop and recover Hetao!

What a joke? One border town recruits 30,000 troops, and six border towns are 180,000 troops. How much food and salary will be obtained?

Not to mention too much, just count it as ordinary infantrymen. The 180,000 army will require at least 360,000 taels of food and salary per month, which is more than 4 million taels a year, which is more than the taxes for the entire Ming Dynasty!

You guys are thinking about nothing!

How much does the benefits of salt induction last year?

Even if Yan Maoqing was not greedy for a penny, even if all the salt merchants didn’t need to be filial, they would exchange them for food and pay to support the border army. If they could die, they could squeeze out about four million taels of food and pay.

I finally took over the position of Minister of the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing. I won’t get any benefits for a penny, and I will use all the income from salt to recruit a large army and deal with the Tartars?

You're afraid you haven't woken up!

Do you know how many people are thinking about more than four million taels?

Do you know how many people this more than four million taels can make me bribe?

All of them are for you as food and wages?

dream!

Yan Song sneered in his heart for a while, then pretended to be embarrassed and said carefully: "Sir, the food and salary of the 180,000 army is not a small amount. Even if Yan Maoqing transferred all the salt income to the northwest border army as food and salary, it might not be enough!"

When Xia Yan heard this, his face couldn't help but stagnate.

not enough?

How can it not be enough?

Even if it is not enough, it has to be enough!

He thought for a moment, and then said without any doubt: "If there is not enough salt in the existing one, add salt intake. Anyway, salt intake is a hot item, and no one thinks it is too much."

You idiot, you can get more salt, you can think of it!

Yan Song continued to pretend to be a shame: "This, Master, the extra salt intake has to be exchanged for salt. Not to mention whether the extra salt and salt merchants can sell it, it is a question whether the major salt farms can produce so much salt."

Is this also called a problem?

Xia Yan subconsciously turned his face and said coldly: "Is it difficult to cook salt? Are they tired all day long? Who doesn't know that the officials in the salt farm are spending time and enjoying themselves all day long. I give a dead order and ask them to stare at the salt households working overtime and cooking hard. I don't believe it, the output of this salt will not be increased."

Well, you idiot, since you have no brains and are as whimsical as Zeng Xian, let you dream together.
Chapter completed!