Chapter 355 The Lifeline of the Country
Regarding Lu Tianshou's request, Su Ze immediately agreed and said:
"The underground printing shop must be protected. This is our public opinion position in the capital. Webmaster Lu is right. The capital is too far away from Jiangnan. The news The delivery delay is too long, and the most important thing about newspapers is hot spots. We need a newspaper from the capital."
Everyone present also nodded. Su Zedo no longer needs to explain the importance of newspapers, whether it is stabilizing one's own control area or infiltrating In enemy-occupied areas, newspapers played a decisive role.
Su Ze even praised the newsboys trained by Xiong Wu many times, saying that they were "worth a hundred thousand troops."
In the past, the "Jingshi Bao" shipped from Jiangnan was circulated on the market in the capital.
However, due to the cost of shipping, most merchants deliver a month's worth of newspapers at regular intervals. The newspapers that the people in the capital see are from one or two months ago, and the news has long become old news.
Moreover, this transportation method involves too many links and the cost is too high, so the Capital Information Station has been paying extra to publish newspapers.
Su Ze looked at Lu Tianshou and asked: "The editor-in-chief of this new newspaper must be selected from among the senior editors of the "Jingshi News", but ordinary editors can be selected in the capital. There are many literati in the capital, and the newspaper can appoint manuscripts to enrich the page. For editors Are there suitable candidates for the intelligence station?"
Newspapers are a forum for public opinion, and the editor-in-chief must use his own people. He does not trust even the officials currently working for Su Ze in the capital.
However, editors and contributors can be inclusive, and can even express some voices against Southeast Asia, so that the newspaper can sell more, and at the same time, the debate can allow people to understand more ideas.
Lu Tianshou said: "I have a candidate who is also from Fujian, Wang Yongji of the Metropolitan Procuratorate."
Lu Tianshou added: "This Wang Yushi is also a good friend of Lord Hai Ruihai. He is an upright man."
Su Ze nodded. Said: "I know this king Yongji."
Lu Tianshou stopped talking. Now the whole southeast knows that the governor is not only a god in military skills, but also a genius in understanding and employing people.
Whether they are favored by the Governor or feared by the Governor, they are all top figures in the world.
For example, Shen Shixing and the others were favored by the governor when they were still in office and kept in contact with them. Although the three of them were young, they had already shown their talents in governing.
Another example is the high-gong Zhang Juzheng who was always praised by the governor, and is now a pillar of the Ming Dynasty.
Since the governor knew Wang Yongji, there was no need for Lu Tianshou to say more.
In the historical line before Su Ze traveled through time, Wang Yongji and Hai Rui were sworn friends. After Hai Rui died, the family had no money to hold a funeral, so Wang Yongji paid for it.
After Zhang Juzheng came to power, Wang Yongji wrote a letter to impeach Zhang Juzheng for abusing his power. In the end, he was suppressed in the south, and finally became the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment in Nanjing.
Wang Yongji now serves as the imperial censor in the capital, and he often defies the powerful to write letters to impeach officials. Even the chief minister Xu Jie has impeached him.
Su Ze asked: "Wang Yongji is willing?"
Lu Tianshou said: "Wang Yongji is very dissatisfied with the corruption of the Ming Dynasty and has been exposed to new ideas. His subordinates can give it a try." "It's
just that Wang Yongji and Hai Your Excellency has similar ideas and still has illusions about Mingting."
Su Ze nodded and said: "Wang Yongji can be used, as long as the editor-in-chief is one of ours." "It's
okay to have more other ideas in the newspaper. In this world There are many roads on the road, and there are always people who want to take the road that has not been taken. The more people are not allowed to go, the more people want to take it." "When
these people know that this road is a dead end, it is a dead end, and the people will know Which way is the right way?"
Su Ze did not refuse to use Wang Yongji because of his position, but continued:
"The truth becomes clearer with each passing day. Since some people think that the Zhu Ming royal family can change their ways, then Let's wait for the emperor above them to come back and see what will happen to the capital!"
Su Ze said to Lu Tianshou again:
"After our army withdraws, the intelligence station will have a very heavy task." "
In addition to publishing newspapers, collecting The intelligence station must handle the Ming court's intelligence, the protection of progressive people in the capital, and the organization of the resistance movement."
Lu Tianshou showed a simple smile and said: "Grand Governor, the burden is heavy, should we increase the number of personnel?"
Su Ze said: "I will leave a few intelligence staff for you. In addition, if the Jinyiwei and Dongchangzhong of the capital have progressive ideas, they can be recruited as peripheral people and hired to do work." Lu Tianshou immediately smiled and said: "Thank you, Commander-in-Chief! New
! The newspaper also asked the Governor to name it!"
Su Ze thought for a while and said: "The newspaper published in the capital should be named "The Capital News". Before the editor-in-chief is in place, some articles from the "Jingshi News" can be reprinted on the front page. Articles, other pages can be started first."
After finishing talking about the capital's information, Su Ze looked at Xu Guo and asked:
"Has all the wood for the capital been transported to Tianjin Port?"
Xu Guo immediately said: "The wood for the construction of the three main halls , have been transported to Tianjin Port, and all the aniseed materials stored by the Ministry of Industry have also been transported."
Su Ze nodded and said: "These are all high-quality wood. Let's simply make the ship tow it back to Zhejiang. These are all We can't let the Ming Dynasty be so busy with the best shipbuilding materials!"
The wood in the three main halls is all the best wood collected from the mountains in various places, and there are many of the best shipbuilding materials.
Seeing these timbers, Su Ze immediately ordered them to be transported to Tianjin through the North Canal, and then organized craftsmen in the capital to build them into large ships, and then tow them back to the port in Zhejiang to be broken into timber.
This kind of timber ship will definitely not be able to withstand strong winds and waves, but as long as one can be towed back, it will be one, and Ming Ting must not let it waste any more.
Su Ze added: "Dengzhou is the exit of the Bohai Sea and an important node for our return south. The first brigade navy is ready to assemble and must control the Dengzhou Port." Lin Mojun immediately received the order, and Ming Ting was in Dengzhou
. Although the state has a navy, it can't even detect smuggling on weekdays, and it doesn't have the strength to intercept the fleet.
Lin Mojun understood that Su Ze's intention was to occupy Dengzhou Port, so that a stable sea route to Daku Fort could be formed.
Dengzhou was also the port where the Ming Dynasty traded with North Korea and Japan. If Dengzhou was controlled, it would also cut off the Ming Dynasty's maritime revenue.
Just when Su Ze was preparing to withdraw from the capital in an orderly manner, on July 10th, Gao Gong, who had been covered in travels, finally arrived in Xuzhou City.
Along the way, Gao Gong rode a horse and went south under the protection of Yanping's elite riders. His thighs were worn out and his whole face was covered with wind and frost. When he saw Xuzhou City and the camp outside Xuzhou City, Gao Gong finally relaxed. Take a breath.
Jiubian Jingqi is still in Xuzhou, so there is still a chance for everything!
Compared with the non-stop pace of Gao Gong, Zhao Zhenji, who was responsible for announcing the decree, walked much slower.
Zhao Zhenji was unwilling to ride a horse, so he took a carriage to Kaifeng under the escort of the red-helmed imperial army. Along the way, he continued to accept banquets from the counties along the way.
After arriving at Kaifeng Mansion, Zhao Zhenji took an official ship and headed slowly to Xuzhou.
Therefore, the distance to the capital was farther than Pingyang Mansion, but Gao Gong arrived in Xuzhou first. Xuzhou is now the front line, and interrogation is naturally very strict. However, Gao Gong is already very experienced in the checkpoints along the way. As expected, he bribed the interrogating officers and successfully entered Xuzhou.
Gao Gong couldn't help but sigh, Ming Ting's failure really started from top to bottom.
From officials to ministers, to subordinates and servants, they all look the same.
How could such a Ming court confront the Southeastern New Army with strict military discipline?
Gao Gong was a little pessimistic, but he quickly cheered up.
The emperor was hunting in the west, and King Yu had already gathered the military power in the north. As long as the military supplies were put into the warehouse after autumn and the capital was recovered, King Yu could ascend the throne as emperor.
As long as you assist King Yu well, you will be able to get rid of the current disadvantages and regain the country!
Gao Gong calmed down and found out where Zhang Juzheng lived after entering the city.
Gao Gong was also surprised after seeing Zhang Juzheng's residence.
Zhang Juzheng occupies the patrol yamen of Xuzhou. With his current position as Minister of War in Nanjing, it is okay to live in such a mansion.
However, Zhang Juzheng still asked his soldiers to expand the gate of the mansion, and the entire mansion looked very grand.
This is far from the image of poverty that Zhang Juzheng had when he was in the capital.
Although Zhang Juzheng was short of money when he was in the capital, he also liked brocade clothes very much. Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng often helped each other.
Zhang Juzheng is now the deputy general of the army and an important minister of the imperial court. Even if it is a temporary residence, it must be built with style.
Gao Gong looked at his shabby appearance, sighed and handed the token to the concierge, then took out the money to pack it, and finally sent the token and invitation in.
After a while, the concierge hurriedly let Gao Gong in. He only saw Zhang Juzheng, wearing a vermilion official robe, standing inside the door waiting for Gao Gong.
Gao Gong felt warm in his heart. People in Xuzhou were talkative, so it was naturally impossible for Zhang Juzheng to go out to greet him. Standing behind the door to greet him was already a very high courtesy.
Zhang Juzheng pulled Gao Gong and said, "Brother Suqing!"
Then Zhang Juzheng pulled Gao Gong into the study. After everyone had retreated, Zhang Juzheng immediately said,
"I have heard about what happened in the north. Your Majesty is hunting in the west. Is it brother Su Qing's plan for the king to go to the border town?"
Gao Gong naturally had nothing to hide from Zhang Juzheng. He said directly: "It was I who suggested that your highness go to the Xuanfu. Now the second town has pledged its allegiance to your highness and is ready to regain it at any time. Capital."
Zhang Juzheng said with a smile: "Brother Su Qing wants to imitate Li Mi's story and assist King Yu in ascending the throne?"
Faced with his friend's straightforwardness, Gao Gong also nodded and said: "That's it. Why is the current situation like this? Your Majesty's " "The Edict of Sinful Person" has made it very clear, since only by assisting the new king in this way can we win the hearts of the people and fight against the southeastern bandit army." After
Gao Gong resigned as the royal lecturer, he recommended Zhang Juzheng to King Yu to take over.
Therefore, whether it was political interests or personal friendship, Gao Gong had no need to hide anything from Zhang Juzheng. He directly told his plan.
Zhang Juzheng said: "I understand what Brother Suqing means, but I don't have the Nine-Border Elite Cavalry. It's not me that Brother Suqing wants to convince." Gao Gong asked, "Is it Yang
Shangshu or Li Chengliang?"
Zhang Juzheng nodded and said: " Brother Su Qing has a thousand-mile insight. In name, the commander of the Nine Sides Elite Cavalry is Yang Shangshu, but Yang Shangshu is old and lacks energy. To put it bluntly, the person who really controls the military's morale is Li Chengliang, the commander-in-chief of Liao Town." Gao Gong frowned
. Said: "In my uncle's opinion, is it possible to bring Li Chengliang over?"
Zhang Juzheng nodded and said: "Li Chengliang looks rough and honest, but in fact the city is very deep. At the military meeting a few days ago, he clamored to go to Guanzhong Qinwang. In fact, it's just shouting slogans. I wonder if he is very loyal to His Majesty." "It's
hot in the Central Plains now, and many of Li Chengliang's soldiers can't stand the heat. Now that the army is focused on returning, going to Guanzhong to serve the king is just a shout."
" During these days, Li Chengliang and I had many military disputes. He is a military leader who cares about his direct lineage and is very short-sighted." Zhang Juzheng looked
at Gao Gong and said: "Whether it is Yang Shangshu or Li Chengliang, the key is the capital. Su Qing understands "?"
Gao Gong immediately understood what Zhang Juzheng meant and said:
"As long as King Yu regains the capital, then Li Chengliang will have a way back north, and he will be loyal to King Yu without hesitation? Is this what your uncle means?" Zhang Juzheng nodded slightly
. , Gao Gong looked at his friend again and said:
"Yang Bo is the guardian dog, Li Chengliang is the mountain tiger, what do you want?"
Zhang Juzheng said to Gao Gong: "I want the imperial court to keep the army in Xuzhou!"
"Xuzhou is the gateway to Qilu. , is also the gateway to Guanzhong. If the imperial court has Xuzhou, it can fight with Su Ze in Jianghuai, and it can also contain the strength of the new army in the southeast." "If King Yu ascends the throne,
I want the imperial court to support Xuzhou."
Gao Gong immediately understood what Zhang Juzheng meant, and waited until After Yang Bo and Li Chengliang returned to the north, Zhang Juzheng hoped that the court would continue to support him in guarding Xuzhou. What Zhang Juzheng wanted was the military power to garrison Xuzhou.
Gao Gong immediately made a promise: "If Jiubian Jingqi is loyal to His Highness, when he returns north one day, His Highness will definitely worship his uncle as the governor of Xuzhou and the governor of Qilu, Jianghuai and the war!" Zhang Juzheng sighed and said: "Brother Suqing, you know that
I It’s not that we are greedy for power, but we cannot lose the Jianghuai front line!”
“If the imperial court loses Jianghuai, there will be no hope of recovery!”
Although Gao Gong also understood the strategic position of the Jianghuai area, he did not know much about the new southeastern army. Deep down, he asked: "Why did uncle say this?"
Zhang Juzheng sighed and said: "Brother Suqing, when you were in Nanjing, did you see the caravans between Nanjing and Su Song?"
Gao Gong was silent, then At that time, during the truce between the imperial court and the Southeast bandits, there was an endless flow of caravans coming and going, and a large amount of goods from the Southeast region were dumped on the Nanjing market.
Zhang Juzheng added: "I heard from businessmen who came and went that the workshops of Su Song's Erfu were spread all over the city. During the day, the sound of looms could be heard throughout the city. Ships were docked at the ports of Shanghai, Hangzhou and Fuzhou every day. Thousands, if the imperial court loses Xuzhou and allows the Southeast thieves to develop with peace of mind, is there any hope in the future?"
Gao Gong was silent, let alone Nanjing, he could still see Southeast goods when he arrived in the capital, which shows the dumping ability of Southeast goods.
Zhang Juzheng said: "The front line of Xuzhou is there, and there are still ports in Shandong. If Xuzhou is lost, how can we fight against the southeast with only the northwest?"
Zhang Juzheng sighed and said, "Brother Su Qing should go and convince Yang Shangshu and Li Chengliang first."
( End of this chapter)