The outbreak of the corruption case of the Arsenal Department had completely crippled Daming's Arsenal Department. The case was closed, but the matter still needed to be resolved.
Ordnance was the most important thing. Without the Arsenal Department, there was nothing to play with.
Early the next morning, Zhu Yijun summoned the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and the Ministers of the Six Departments for a court meeting.
Whether it was the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet or the Ministers of the Six Departments, they were all very nervous about the Emperor's court meeting this time. It was obvious that the Emperor was up to something this time.
According to the normal procedure, after the investigation of the corruption case of the Arsenal Department was finished, they would just appoint new people to the Arsenal Department. There was no need to hold a court meeting.
Although the Arsenal Department was a very rich yamen, the officials of the Arsenal Department were only of the fifth rank.
They were of the fifth rank, not the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. Why would they hold a court meeting? The meaning was very clear. The Emperor was up to something again.
For this reason, whether it was the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet or the Ministers of the Six Departments, they all looked very serious.
Now, no one regarded this young emperor as an unreliable emperor. After all, everyone here was smart.
Maybe they didn't realize it before, but after so long, they knew it after thinking about it for a while. How could it be unreliable?
Although the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and the Ministers of the Six Departments didn't talk to each other, they all exchanged glances.
Everyone's meaning was also very clear. They absolutely couldn't let the Emperor do anything unreliable. They had to do their best to stop him.
When Zhu Yijun arrived at the scene, he instantly felt the serious and dignified atmosphere.
Sweeping his gaze across the faces present, Zhu Yijun said with a smile, "Everyone, you look very energetic. This is very good!"
Seeing that no one wanted to talk about this topic, and no one even wanted to flatter him, Zhu Yijun could only end it awkwardly. It seemed that it was impossible to liven up the atmosphere.
After thinking for a moment, Zhu Yijun said directly, "Today, I asked you to come here for the matter of the Arsenal Department."
"I haven't been on the throne for long, and such a case happened in the Arsenal Department. I am very distressed."
"Someone sent me a memorial saying that the punishment for the Arsenal Department was too heavy and that it had lost the style of a benevolent ruler. But every time I think of those soldiers fighting bravely in the border towns, I feel my heart ache when they use that kind of military equipment."
"For the sake of the Daming, they protected the country and defended the country. For the sake of the Daming, they used such weapons. I have let them down!"
Though the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and the ministers of the six ministries didn't show any expression on their faces, they understood in their hearts that this was all a foreshadowing and a way to set the tone.
The meaning was clear. Pay attention to what you say next.
Of course, this was just one of Zhu Yijun's thoughts. The other thought was recorded on the side.
In the future, these would all be historical materials. Whether he could be glorious or not would depend on these.
"How many soldiers died in vain on the battlefield when they used this kind of military equipment?
How am I going to explain this to their parents, their wives, and their children?
Those are my people. What should I do? "
"How can I let the culprits off so easily?
They should serve as a warning to those who come after them! "
Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Zhu Yijun finally said, "In order to prevent this kind of thing from happening again, I am going to split up the Arsenal Department."
In any case, things had already reached this point. Zhu Yijun wasn't going to discuss it with them and directly said it out loud.
However, Zhu Yijun also knew that the Arsenal Department couldn't be separated from the Ministry of War anymore. If it was separated, there would be nothing left in the Ministry of War.
What did he want an empty shell of the Ministry of War for? Even if it was separated, the quality of the weapons made by the Arsenal Department couldn't be guaranteed, so splitting it up was the way to go.
When the ministers heard Zhu Yijun's words, they weren't too surprised. Today was meant to stir up trouble. It would be strange if the Emperor didn't stir up some trouble.
"How does the Emperor want to split it up?" As the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Zhang Siwei was naturally in charge of this matter, so he asked first.
There was no way to object. After all, the matter of the Arsenal Department had happened. It was too shameful, so he couldn't say anything to defend the Arsenal Department.
The key was what he said. If he said anything about the mess he had caused, the Emperor would probably rebuke him.
"This is what I think. Who understands the military equipment the best?
Of course it's the people who use them. They know best what kind of military equipment is forged and how much is forged.
"In the future, the military equipment forged will be based on the memorials from the border army. The generals in each place will request for military equipment according to the number of soldiers and types of soldiers under their command.
When the memorials arrive, they will be handed over to the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies. After the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies verifies it, it will be presented to me. "
Zhu Yijun wouldn't let the memorials reach the Cabinet. He was going to strip military power from the Cabinet and set up an organization similar to the Grand Council.
In other words, Zhu Yijun was going to develop the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies into an organization similar to the Grand Council.
"After I approve it, the military equipment will be handed over to the newly established Arsenal Department to be forged.
"Speaking of the Arsenal Department, this yamen was split from the Arsenal Department and is responsible for the forging and recycling of military equipment.
Of course, the Arsenal Department is also under the Ministry of Works and has a Minister, just like the Arsenal Department.
"As for the Arsenal Department, it specializes in the transportation of military equipment and establishes a complete military equipment supply and transportation system.
"Next, the Arsenal Department will be responsible for the forging of military equipment. After the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies sends personnel to inspect it, it will be handed over to the Arsenal Department to be responsible for escorting it.
"As for the escorting soldiers, they will be sent by the Capital Camp to ensure the safety of the road.
"In this way, the Commander-In-Chief will request it, the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies will approve it, I will approve it, the Arsenal Department will manufacture it, and the Arsenal Department will store it and escort it. A complete military equipment system will be constructed."
The Commander-In-Chief would request it. As for whether it was approved or not, it was up to the Emperor. The Arsenal Department specialized in manufacturing and didn't care about anything else, just like the munitions factories of later generations.
The Arsenal Department specialized in escorting it, supplemented by the Capital Camp's soldiers. This could avoid danger and also prevent people from playing tricks on the road.
The military equipment manufactured by the Arsenal Department had to be inspected by the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies. Only after it passed could it be sent to various places.
It seemed complicated, but in reality, from the requirements to the forging, and from the inspection to the transportation, it was completely separated.
The inspection and forging rights were separated to avoid the phenomenon of shoddy goods being passed off as quality goods.
In this way, the Ministry of War still controlled the Arsenal Department and the Arsenal Department, but their authority was weakened.
The inspection rights were given to the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies, and the authority to manufacture military equipment was given to the local Commander-In-Chief.
With mutual checks and balances and mutual restrictions, the Emperor could have an overall view of the whole situation. If something went wrong, he would investigate which part was responsible. There wouldn't be a situation where power and responsibility were unclear.
In this way, Zhu Yijun could hold the military equipment in his hands.
If he wanted too much, the Ministry of War would report it to him. Without money, he couldn't produce it. If he wanted too much, he could prevent the military equipment from being distributed and used indiscriminately.
It wasn't easy for the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies to buy people's hearts with military equipment.
Of course, this wasn't what Zhu Yijun cared about. Small favors were unavoidable. As long as there wasn't a large-scale stockpiling of military equipment, it was fine.
When the ministers heard this, they didn't know what expression they had on their faces. The emperor's plan really made them speechless.
If he didn't agree, the Arsenal Department was in such a state, and the Emperor didn't have much power to reduce the Ministry of War. Although the Arsenal Department was split, the Arsenal Department was still in the Ministry of War. Because of this, the Ministry of War still had some more official positions.
If he agreed, he always felt that his authority had been weakened. After all, he was the one who had the final say in the past. This time, he wanted the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies to participate, and he needed the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies to submit a report. Although the Ministry of War kept the Arsenal Department and the Arsenal Department, they weren't the real power.
The Cabinet was even more embarrassed. The report didn't go to the Cabinet, but to the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies. What was going on?
Shen Shixing pondered for a moment and said worriedly, "Your Majesty, in this way, I'm afraid there will be a lot of additional expenses. The imperial court is already tight. If this happens, I'm afraid there will be a lot of redundant officials!"
Zhu Yijun glanced at Shen Shixing and said with a smile, "Shen, you, calculate for me."
"In the past seven years, Liu Xuan's Arsenal Department has embezzled more than two million taels of silver. Tell me, if this two million taels of silver is used to pay the salaries of new officials, how long will it take?"
With one sentence, Zhu Yijun directly made Shen Shixing speechless. He could only say, "It's this official who didn't think it through!"
"Your Majesty, isn't it inappropriate to send the report to the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies?"
Zhang Siwei also couldn't help but say, "Reports have always been sent to the Cabinet, and the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies has never replied to them. Why don't we have the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies send the report to the Cabinet?"
Zhu Yijun waved his hand. "After the military equipment is manufactured, the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies will be responsible for the inspection. After the inspection, the Commander-In-Chief of the Five Armies will coordinate with the Army Camp and the Arsenal Department to escort the shipment. It will be much more convenient to send the report to them, so there's no need to fight for it.
In any case, the report will eventually be sent to me. Isn't it the same? "
You're the Emperor. If you say it's the same, then it's the same. No one dares to say it's different.
If you say it's different, then what do you want to do?
Reply to the report on behalf of the Emperor?
You don't want your life anymore?
The eunuchs of the Department of Rites can approve it, but not the ministers. If you want to approve it, then castrate yourself and enter the palace!
The Minister of War, Wu Dui, was actually the most complicated of these people. He had submitted the report asking for forgiveness, but until now, there had been no response.
In this kind of situation, it was inappropriate for him to say anything. After all, the Arsenal Department was still a big basket, so he didn't have the confidence to say anything.
He couldn't say that it was better to stay in the Ministry of War!
Even if the Emperor didn't pursue the matter, Wu Dui didn't have the face to say that. It was too embarrassing.
In addition, Wu Dui was a provincial governor and had fought many wars in Xuan Manor. To be honest, he had suffered a lot from the Arsenal Department of War. Now that he heard the Emperor's arrangement, he felt a little happy.
However, his head determined his ass. He was now the Minister of War, not a provincial governor.
Although he knew that when this news spread to other places, the governors would probably drink to their heart's content, they had long had enough of the Arsenal Department's bullsh * t. They still had to give them money and beg for their help.
If it were the Five Armies Commander-In-Chief's Office, things would be different. All the Commanders-In-Chief there were old subordinates. If you didn't give me good military equipment and even accepted bribes, then do you still want to be a Commander-In-Chief?