In reality, after Qi Jiguang finished fighting in the northwest, Zhu Yijun had planned to do something in the northwest.
Although there were many border armies in the Daming's border towns, and the border armies had consumed a lot of resources, there were still many unreasonable things.
Now, the other places could not be moved, but the border towns in the northwest could be moved.
In the entire defense line to the north of the Daming, the nine towns were naturally the most important.
Liaodong Town, Jizhou Town, Xuanfu Town, Datong Town, Taiyuan Town, Yansui Town (also known as Yulin Town), Ningxia Town, Guyuan Town (also known as Shaanxi Town), and Gansu Town. Liaodong was in the northeast, Jizhou was north of the capital, and the other seven were in the northwest.
This time, the northwest had taken down Walla, and the northwest towns had basically settled down.
The Daming was invincible in the northwest. At this time, what Zhu Yijun needed to do was to clean up the northwest towns.
"Using Xuanfu and Datong as a pilot, start the reform of the military system."
This was the focus of Zhu Yijun's reform this time. In the two towns, Xuanfu and Datong, completely abolishing the military system and changing it into a recruitment system.
All the fields in the military system would be given to retired soldiers.
In the two towns, the military household system would be abolished, and generals would be registered as ordinary people.
This kind of change would greatly increase the expenses of the court, but Zhu Yijun believed he could afford it.
Whether it was the land tax at the end of the year or the commercial tax that was being prepared, it was enough to support his reform.
Even if there was a problem with the taxes, his money would be enough to cover it for a while.
The soldiers in the northwest lived very hard lives. Most of them had become the servants of the generals. This was a very big hidden danger.
With this reform, this situation would be completely changed, and at the same time, a large number of young and strong laborers would be released.
He had a lot of arrangements in the northwest, such as textile factories and selling things. These all required labor, and the soldiers in the northwest would be released to do these things.
Zhu Yijun was very clear about the situation in the northwest. The drought in the northwest would only get worse, and the collapse of the field system was only a matter of time.
Right now, it seemed that the field system could provide some money and food for the army, but as the drought worsened, the field system in the northwest would completely collapse.
At that time, unless the imperial court spent money to support these military households, the military households in the northwest would be the biggest hidden danger.
Give them a chance to work and let them escape from the shackles of the land through trade in the Northwest.
This time, Zhu Yijun planned to recruit a large number of retired soldiers to make a living for the textile factory.
This reform was a major issue, one that involved both the military and the government.
Not only did it involve military affairs, but it also involved political affairs. It required a capable, resourceful, and prestigious official to go over. The person Zhu Yijun chose was Ceng Shengwu.
Zhu Yijun really hoped that he could go to Xuan University and be the Governor of Xuan University for two terms.
Ceng Shengwu had been the Inspector-General of Sichuan and fought the barbarians. He had been in the Ministry of War for many years and was familiar with government affairs. At the same time, he was deeply trusted by Zhang Juzheng and was Zhang Juzheng's confidant.
Now that he had been recommended by the Minister of Personnel, Wang Guoguang, into the Cabinet, he had a strong background and a strong foundation. No one dared to disrespect him.
Now that he was the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, he was also suitable to be the next Governor Xuan.
Zhu Yijun felt that he was very suitable, very suitable.
The key was that Ceng Shengwu was about to enter the Cabinet. It was unreasonable to send him to the northwest to preside over this reform.
However, Zhu Yijun didn't care. As an official, he had to do whatever the Emperor wanted him to do. This was his responsibility as an official.
If Ceng Shengwu could do this well, Zhu Yijun wouldn't be stingy to give him a title of nobility.
"Imperial Majesty, Lord Ceng is here!" Zhang Jing bowed and said.
"Let him in!" Zhu Yijun nodded and put down the memorial in his hand.
Ceng Shengwu had been quite nervous during this period. When faced with such a big event like entering the Cabinet, no one could not be nervous.
At this critical moment, Ceng Shengwu was naturally very cautious when the Emperor summoned him.
If he was not careful, he would probably lose his position as the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.
"Your subject Ceng Shengwu greets Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!" After Ceng Shengwu walked in, he respectfully knelt on the ground and bowed to Zhu Yijun.
"Get up," Zhu Yijun nodded and said, "You have handled the affairs of the Ministry of War very well. I am very pleased."
Ceng Shengwu heard the Emperor praising him and was immediately delighted. However, he didn't dare to show it on his face. He bowed and said, "This is my duty."
Zhu Yijun nodded and said with a smile, "Duty, this is a good word. I like it. If everyone can remember their duty, the world will probably be governed." As he said this, Zhu Yijun said to Zhang Jing, "Bring a stool for you, Ceng."
In fact, Ceng Shengwu wasn't qualified to be given a seat by the Emperor, so this made Ceng Shengwu very happy.
Could it be that his position as the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet was fixed?
Only the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet could be given a seat by the Emperor!
"When Mister Zhang was alive, he recommended you to me many times."
After Ceng Shengwu sat down, Zhu Yijun said in a somewhat emotional tone, "Back then, Mister Zhang told me that you are not only loyal and upright, but also diligent in recognizing the situation. You are a rare subject."
"Mister Zhang told me that if there is any difficult matter, I can ask you to handle it."
Hearing the Emperor mention Zhang Juzheng, Ceng Shengwu also felt a bit emotional. Back then, he had been promoted by Zhang Juzheng, and Zhang Juzheng had a deep influence on him. Thinking about it now, he still felt quite sad.
However, the Emperor's words sounded strange. It didn't seem to mean that he was going to be appointed as the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet!
Zhu Yijun felt that he had laid the groundwork, so he said, "In this war in the northwest, I have seen many problems." As he said this, Zhu Yijun began to talk about the recruitment system and the defense system.
In reality, this problem had been discussed a long time ago. The peak period was during the Jiajing period.
Everyone in the court knew this problem. Everyone knew that the defense system was failing. Otherwise, they wouldn't have recruited soldiers.
Now that the Emperor mentioned this problem, Ceng Shengwu had a bad premonition. He was afraid that he would be given a bad job.
It wasn't that Ceng Shengwu was cursing the Emperor, but that all of this was too abnormal.
"Now that the court's finances are much better, I want to conduct a pilot in the northwest."
"Abolish the defense system in the two border towns of Xuanda University and give them the fields there. At the same time, adopt a recruitment system in the two border towns of Xuanda University." As he said this, Zhu Yijun took out a booklet and said, "I have written some things on this."
As he said this, Zhu Yijun handed the booklet to Zhang Jing.
Zhang Jing respectfully took it and then handed the booklet to Ceng Shengwu.
Ceng Shengwu was still confused. What happened to the promised position of Grand Secretary of the Cabinet?
He knew that he had no chance of becoming a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet this time.
Although he tried his best to adjust his mentality, Ceng Shengwu still couldn't adjust.
Zhu Yijun didn't rush Ceng Shengwu. Although the position of Governor wasn't small, it was far from being a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet.
After a while, Ceng Shengwu came back to his senses and hurriedly apologized. "Your subject has been disrespectful. Your Majesty, please punish me!"
Waving his hand, Zhu Yijun said with a smile, "I can understand. Now that you are about to enter the Cabinet, it is a bit inconvenient for you to be transferred to Governor of Xuanda University.
But I don't feel at ease leaving such an important matter to others. "
"Your ability and talent are top-notch. Few people in the court can compare to you."
"I want you to go to Xuanda University because I feel that you must be the one in charge.
But I won't force you. If you are willing to go to Xuanda University, I will be very happy.
If you don't want to go, I won't be unhappy. "
Although Zhu Yijun said so, Ceng Shengwu wasn't stupid. This wasn't something that he could choose.
The emperor showed his generosity, but he had to know when to advance and when to retreat. Ceng Shengwu directly knelt on the ground and said with a solemn expression, "Your Majesty, it is my duty to be loyal to the Daming."
"Since Your Majesty trusts me, I am naturally willing to go to the northwest. Your Majesty, please don't worry. I will complete your task."
Zhu Yijun walked in front of Ceng Shengwu and helped him up. He said with a smile, "Good, good. I know that you won't let me down. This trip to the northwest is you's loyal service to the country."
"Don't worry. I am not a stingy emperor. When you return from the northwest, I will return you a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet."
This was equivalent to the emperor's promise, which made Ceng Shengwu feel somewhat comforted.
But Ceng Shengwu also knew that this was under the condition that he could do a good job in the northwest.
If he did a good job, not to mention the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, with this credit, he was expected to have a glimpse of the position of the Prime Minister of the Cabinet.
If he messed up this matter, not to mention the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, he would probably lose his position.
After seeing Ceng Shengwu off, Zhu Yijun's expression also relaxed. Then he shook his head with a wry smile.
It wouldn't be easy to comfort Ceng Shengwu. He hoped that he wouldn't feel resentful!
Not to mention Ceng Shengwu, even if he was in Zhu Yijun's shoes, he probably wouldn't feel good.
In the Daming's view, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet represented too many things.
Letting a person who was about to enter the Cabinet go to the northwest and do something that offended people would make anyone feel uncomfortable!
Soon, the discussion about the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet came to an end. This time, only one Grand Secretary of the Cabinet was added, and that was the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Wang Xijue.
The Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, Ceng Shengwu, who everyone had placed high hopes on, didn't enter the Cabinet, which made many people's jaws drop.
When the news that the imperial court was going to abolish the Imperial Guards in Xuan Prefecture and turn it into recruiting soldiers came out, the imperial court was shocked again.
Everyone knew the benefits of recruiting soldiers, but the problem was, could the imperial court afford to support them?
While everyone was arguing about this problem, the appointment of Ceng Shengwu came out. Ceng Shengwu was transferred to the position of Governor of Xuan Prefecture.
Of the two people who were supposed to enter the Cabinet, only Wang Xijue himself got into the Cabinet. Everyone knew that the empty position was reserved for Ceng Shengwu.