There was only one reason why Zhu Yijun asked Zhang Xueyan to be the Governor of the three borders, and that was for military reform.
News of the military reform had already spread, and now everyone knew that the imperial court was discussing military reform.
If one were to say where the imperial court was most looking forward to military reform, it would be the three borders.
The three borders were too bitter!
Regardless of whether they were soldiers or officers, they had to live in the northwest wind and eat sand. The imperial court didn't give them any rations, and as for land production, they had to produce.
If it was really fertile land, then it would be great.
Even Hetao Plain, the only fertile land in the Yellow River, was about to be destroyed, let alone other places.
Military reform would give them money and rations, and for them, that was something they were looking forward to.
Zhu Yijun originally didn't want to change the three borders, because it would add a lot of burden to the imperial court.
In recent years, the three borders were far less important than the northeast, especially after the battle of Wala, and the three borders' role was much less important.
Zhu Yijun had calculated a lot, but the only thing he didn't calculate was the human heart.
The three borders were barren and cold, and there were the most bitter Daming soldiers there. They were suffering there.
Now that the imperial court had the ability, they should focus on them first.
Zhu Yijun didn't care much about adding a burden to the imperial court now. With the Department of Justice's confiscation of property, he would definitely be able to get a lot of money, enough for Zhu Yijun to use for military reform.
In addition, now that the imperial court was in trouble, he needed a place to settle Zhang Xueyan.
He could find a random place, but Zhu Yijun wasn't willing to let a talent like Zhang Xueyan be idle.
The three borders' position was very suitable, and he could do the military reform.
As for whether Zhang Xueyan could do it well, Zhu Yijun wasn't very worried.
Zhang Xueyan wasn't a court official by birth. He had worked in Liaodong for many years, and that was during the Longqing era. The Grand Secretary Gao Gong appointed Zhang Xueyan as the Right Deputy Imperial Censor to inspect Liaodong.
During that time, he pacified the exiled soldiers, replenished the army, and reorganized the war preparations. He and General Li Chengliang defeated the barbarians and became the Right Deputy Imperial Censor.
Zhang Xueyan was actually very good at this, which was also a very important point.
Zhu Yijun believed that after reaching the three sides, completing the military reform wouldn't be too difficult for Zhang Xueyan. Zhu Yijun believed in Zhang Xueyan's ability.
Compared to Ceng Shengwu, Zhang Xueyan was stronger.
In terms of being an official, Zhang Xueyan was also very skillful. During the reign of Longqing, he was used by Gao Gong. When Zhang Juzheng was in power, he was highly regarded by Zhang Juzheng. Later on, he was chosen by Zhang Juzheng. This was a talent.
"I will not disappoint Your Majesty!" Zhang Xueyan quickly bowed and said.
Zhu Yijun nodded his head and said with a smile, "You'll be going to three places. The mountains are high and the rivers are long. Take care, you."
After Zhang Xueyan left, Zhu Yijun fell into deep thought. He knew that his top priority was to appoint the Minister of Personnel.
Wang Guoguang was leaving, and the assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Zhao Deqian was arrested. Now, there was only one assistant minister left in the Ministry of Personnel.
The remaining person was actually a candidate that Zhu Yijun was training to take over the position in the future. This person was Shen Li.
In the 12th year of Wanli, Shen Li was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel as the assistant minister. It was time for him to be used.
In fact, at this time, it was not appropriate to transfer a minister from the other six ministries to the Ministry of Personnel.
The Ministry of Personnel was the head of the six ministries. The Minister of Personnel was also known as the Heavenly Official. It was very difficult for an assistant minister to be promoted.
However, he couldn't care about this now. Two of the three officials in the Ministry of Personnel were gone. What he needed to do now was to stabilize the Ministry of Personnel.
Shen Li had been in the Ministry of Personnel for three years. He was a suitable candidate.
"Zhang Jing!" Zhu Yijun called Zhang Jing. "Get the cabinet to draft a decree. Shen Li will temporarily be the Minister of Personnel."
Even if it was Zhu Yijun, it was not appropriate to directly promote Shen Li to the position of the Minister of Personnel.
This needed a transition period. It was fine to temporarily replace him. After a few days, he would be promoted.
This was a political compromise. Zhu Yijun was very familiar with it now.
"Yes, Your Majesty!
Zhang Jing answered and left with a bow.
Shen Li was from the same hometown as Gao Gong. At the same time, he was also his teacher. He was a very upright person. Zhang Juzheng liked him very much. He was a young man that Zhang Juzheng thought highly of.
However, Zhu Yijun also knew that Shen Li and Shen Shixing did not get along!
Shen Li was a person who liked to get into a dead end. He was upright and outspoken. He was completely different from Shen Shixing, who liked to smooth things over.
The two of them had been at odds since they were both under Zhang Juzheng. If Zhu Yijun appointed Shen Li as the Minister of Personnel, Shen Shixing would definitely object.
It was only temporary. This was Zhu Yijun's power. Now Zhu Yijun did not want to make a fuss, so it was suitable for him to be the Minister of Personnel.
It was hard to say how long he would be the Minister of Personnel. If there was no suitable candidate, it would be temporary!
At the city gate of the capital.
Ceng Shengwu lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked outside. There was no expression on his face.
Although he had only left the capital for more than a year, Ceng Shengwu still felt like it was a lifetime ago.
Looking at the busy city gate, Ceng Shengwu felt that the capital seemed to be bustling again.
Although he was not in the capital, Ceng Shengwu was still very familiar with things in the capital. He remembered that he had heard from Zhang Weixian that the Emperor seemed to be building a big capital. Zhang Weixian did not know the details.
After handing over the documents at the Ministry of Personnel, Ceng Shengwu went directly to the palace.
He went to see the Emperor first. Ordinary people did not have this kind of treatment, but Ceng Shengwu had no problem with it.
After reporting to the Emperor, Ceng Shengwu saw Zhang Jing.
Ceng Shengwu quickly cupped his fists and said, "Eunuch Chang, thank you, thank you!"
Zhang Jing's current status was very high. As Zhu Yijun's most trusted and close chief eunuch, Zhang Jing, who controlled Dongchang, naturally rose in status.
In addition to the prestige that he had built after leaving the capital to handle cases, there were not many people who could make Zhang Jing personally come out to greet them.
Now all the eunuchs knew that as long as Zhang Hong died, Zhang Jing would become the number one eunuch in Daming.
"Lord Ceng, you are too polite!"
Zhang Jing cupped his fists and said to Ceng Shengwu with a smile, "The Imperial Majesty is still waiting for Lord Ceng inside!" Saying that, he led the way for Ceng Shengwu.
Walking into Wenhua Hall, Ceng Shengwu quickly knelt on the ground and said, "Subject Ceng Shengwu greets Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"
Zhu Yijun smiled as he walked down the steps and extended his hand to help Ceng Shengwu up. Then he said with a smile, "You have worked hard. Seeing you so healthy today, I am relieved."
"Thanks to Your Majesty's great blessing, this subject's body is still fine." Ceng Shengwu quickly said.
Zhu Yijun nodded and pulled Ceng Shengwu to say, "The matter at Xuanfu has been handled well. I am very pleased!" Saying that, Zhu Yijun continued, "Now that you are back, do you want to rest for a few days?"
Rest for a few days?
Ceng Shengwu knew that he couldn't rest. He knew what happened in the capital. The Law and Discipline Department showed great power, two assistant ministers were arrested, and the Minister of Personnel Wang Guoguang resigned.
Thinking of Wang Guoguang, Ceng Shengwu was quite sad. That was an old official who took care of him.
However, everyone had a day like this. If he couldn't even see through this, then he didn't need to stay in the officialdom.
Ceng Shengwu had been an official for so many years and had seen everything. Naturally, he wouldn't fall into it.
"This subject doesn't need to rest!" Ceng Shengwu said with a firm tone.
Zhu Yijun nodded. He had already expected Ceng Shengwu to answer like this. After all, it was time for Ceng Shengwu to rise to the top. What was the point of resting?
"Very well, you can go to the Ministry of Revenue!"
Zhu Yijun said in a deep voice, "The Minister of Revenue, Zhang Xueyan, has gone to three different places, and the Assistant Minister of Revenue, Qian Qian, has been arrested. However, the Ministry of Revenue can't fall into chaos."
"You can go and stabilize the Ministry of Revenue for me. Is that okay?
“
Of course it's okay!
Ceng Shengwu had been an assistant minister in the Ministry of Revenue before, so going to the Ministry of Revenue wasn't a big problem. His position as the Minister of Revenue was in his hands. This made Ceng Shengwu heave a sigh of relief.
Although the Emperor's promise of becoming a Grand Scholar of the Cabinet had yet to be fulfilled, he was still the Minister of Revenue.
"Yes, Your Majesty, rest assured. I will do my best to stabilize the Ministry of Revenue as soon as possible," Ceng Shengwu said with a bow.
Zhu Yijun nodded, "Then you can go to the Ministry of Revenue after resting for two days!"
"Yes, I will take my leave!" Ceng Shengwu hurriedly bowed and left.
Ceng Shengwu's position as the Minister of Revenue had been given to him. The position of Grand Scholar of the Cabinet had to be given to him as well. There was no room for negotiation.
Firstly, Zhu Yijun couldn't be an Emperor who broke his promise. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Secondly, this was also a signal to the officials that if they worked hard for the Emperor, they would be rewarded handsomely.
This was also very important.
Ceng Shengwu becoming the Minister of Revenue didn't cause much of a commotion. Everyone knew that Ceng Shengwu would definitely be put in an important position after his return.
Before going to Xuan University, Ceng Shengwu was going to enter the Cabinet. Now that he had done such a good job in Xuan University, how could he not be rewarded?
Some people had even guessed that Ceng Shengwu would soon become Cabinet Elder Zeng.
After seeing Ceng Shengwu off, Zhu Yijun also breathed a sigh of relief. The next step was to arrange for Ceng Shengwu to enter the Cabinet.
The military reform in Ji Province would also be put on the agenda. This was not difficult. The key was the military reform in Liaodong, which was a big problem.
What interests would be affected by the military reform in Liaodong?
Of course, it would be Li Chengliang.
Li Chengliang now had the tendency to raise his own army. He raised his own soldiers and took all the interests of the merchants and people under his name. He was becoming increasingly arrogant. He would probably oppose the military reform.
However, this problem had to be solved. Liaodong was a place that Zhu Yijun valued very much.
Daming had two big granaries. One was the North China Plain, which started from the Taihang Mountains in the west, reached the seaside in the east, reached the Yan Mountains in the north, and reached the Huai River in the south. This was what people often called the Central Plains.
The second was the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Plain, which started from the Wu Mountains in the east to the seaside. It was formed by the alluvial accumulation of the Yangtze River and its tributaries. In later generations, there was a saying, "When the lake is wide, the world is full."
As for the Guanzhong, Hanzhong, and Bashu during the Qin and Han Dynasties, by the time of Daming, only Bashu was left.
Bashu was not easy to transport and could not be counted on.
The remaining two granaries were mostly planted with cash crops.