Braving the heavy snow, Zhou Zheng set off from the capital and rushed to Shanhaiguan.
This year's snow was exceptionally heavy. The carriage trudged hard on the road and had to rest after almost an hour. Not only people, but horses and others could not bear it.
When they arrived at Yongping Mansion, Zhou Zheng and others took a break to meet officials at all levels in Yongping Mansion.
Zhou started from Yongping Mansion. Almost all the people here are his direct descendants, and they naturally rushed to see him one by one.
Zhou Huaipi, the prefect of Yongping Mansion, sat in front of Zhou Zheng and introduced the situation of Yongping Mansion in detail.
Zhou Huaipi also came from the Jiujiang Pavilion, a few years later than Zhang Heyi, Kou Huaiyi and others, and his career development was much slower.
Zhou Huaipi's arrival at Yongping Mansion, Zhou Zheng's base camp, also shows the relationship.
Zhou Huaipi said: "My lord, the reforms in Yongping Mansion are quite thorough. The land, government officials, military reforms, taxes, agriculture, commerce, etc., proceeded very smoothly and thoroughly. The officials are confident that they will be able to complete them within five years. Complete the reform and make Yongping Mansion a whole new look..."
Zhou Zheng drank the hot tea, nodded and smiled: "The patrol censor wrote me a very detailed inspection report. You did a good job, and you will consolidate it for another two years."
Consolidating for two years, it goes without saying.
Zhou Huaipi immediately smiled and said, "Don't worry, your sir, you will do your best, and you will never hold back your adults!"
Zhou Zheng took a sip of tea and said, "Well. In addition, Yongping Mansion is also the closest place to support Liaodong. Starting next year, the imperial court will make great efforts to build it, and the investment will be very large, involving all aspects, you have a psychological preparation."
Zhou Huaipi didn't have any surprises, but cautiously said, "My lord, what do you include?"
Zhou Zhengdao: "The first is to lay out the economy of Yongping Prefecture, including agriculture, commerce, and industry. The second step is the military industry. This is more complicated. You will know about it in the future. The third is transportation. Renovate the roads of Yongping Mansion. It is roughly these three points. Next year, the imperial court will call you into Beijing and discuss with you carefully."
Zhou Huaipi was entrusted with an important task, with a solemn expression, and said, "The lower officials should remember."
Zhou Zheng waved his hand and said, "Get familiar with it. When you enter Beijing in the future, local experience is also very important."
Zhou Huaipi nodded solemnly and responded repeatedly.
Zhou Zheng chatted with Zhou Huaipi for a while, and then set off for Shanhaiguan.
It was already dark when it came to Shanhaiguan. In Shanhaiguan, the governor of Liaodong Fang Yizao was already waiting.
Sitting in the side hall of Shanhaiguan, Zhou Zheng and Fang Yizao were chatting.
Fang Yizao smiled and said, "My lord, Liaodong is currently divided into two. The military is under the control of Mr. Lu, and the civil affairs are under the official. On the contrary, there is a tacit understanding and no fight."
Fang Yizao's words were clearly expressing his attitude and explaining some of the voices of the imperial court.
In the past, officials from both military and political circles in Liaodong were incompatible and fought back and forth. This is simply a tradition. It began during the Wanli period. The governors of Liaodong and the governors of Liaodong have been the same.
The discord between the chief general and the chief official of Liaodong was also one of the important reasons for the defeat of Liaodong.
Zhou Zheng nodded and said, "Don't worry about this, I know it well. Tell me about the situation in Liaodong."
Fang Yizao felt relieved and said, "My lord, at present, Liaodong is setting up government and counties, registering population, and reclaiming wasteland... There is no action to the north of the Linghe River for the time being. The biggest problem at present is that Liaodong is extremely unstable, and the other is The population, ministers and others are trying to find a way."
Liaodong is a land of hundreds of battles. From Wanli to the present for decades, it is undoubtedly difficult to normalize.
Zhou Zheng listened in silence for a while, and suddenly said, "Do you think it is feasible for the army to expedition to the north next year?"
Fang Yizao was stunned, and immediately said: "Building the captives is indeed the biggest threat to Liaodong. Only by eliminating the built-up Liaodong can the development of Liaodong be achieved. However, it is not easy to solve the problem of building the captives. The captives have been in business for decades, and they are about to fight for a decisive battle. They are not surprised that they have recruited 100,000 military officials. Secondly, they may not fight for a decisive battle. If they can’t achieve all their achievements in one battle, Liaodong will return to the Chongzhen period. Paying for it."
Zhou Zheng glanced at him and held up his teacup.
What Fang Yizao said was also the concern of Zhou Zheng and the Ming court. If Jianlu did not fight decisively, it would be the same as Zhu Di’s Five Expeditions. He could not do his best. Sooner or later Jianlu would come again and make another Thrall. In the Battle of the Margin, the Ming Dynasty may not be able to have another Northern Expedition.
Zhou Zheng took a sip of tea and said, "Well, I see, has Lu Jiandou returned to Jinzhou?"
Fang Yizao said: "It should be back. Master Lu went to Guangning Zhongqianwei to investigate the enemy's situation."
Zhou Zheng nodded and said, "The reason why I put you back is because you are not at ease. You have been working hard for two years. When Liaodong stabilizes, I will let you return to Beijing.
Fang Yizao smiled happily and said, "Where are the things the adults say, it is not for promotion to be promoted. This Liaodong has the only good situation for decades. How can you not be dedicated?"
Zhou Zheng smiled with relief in his eyes, and said, "I put it aside. Whenever I want to go back to Beijing, just tell me directly."
Fang Yizao leaned forward, smiling without speaking.
Zhou stayed in Shanhaiguan for one night, and rushed to Ningyuan early the next morning.
The current Ningyuan City is not just a few years ago. The city has doubled its size. The walls are full of black-hole cannons. The soldiers are full of morale and awe-inspiring.
Zhou was resting in Ningyuan for a while, chatting with Man Gui who was stationed in Ningyuan City for more than half an hour, then went to Jinzhou.
It was already night in Jinzhou, Zhou Zheng arranged for a group of people to rest, and with Liu Liuzhe, Zhou Deshang entered the Piandian.
Lu Xiangsheng, Lu Xiangguan, Cao Bianjiao and others accompanied him. The crowd surrounded the carbon stove, eating hot pot, and talking casually.
Lu Xiangguan was eating meat, shaking his mouth, and said: "Duke Dingguo is too cold in the northeast, especially this year. I just came back from Guangning with my eldest brother, and further north, it can freeze on the ground... "
Almost everyone is vulgar, but they didn't feel vulgar, and looked at him with a smile.
Lu Xiang watched Zhou Zhengdao: "Duke Dingguo, from the investigations of my brother and I combined with the intelligence of the Military Intelligence Department, the situation of the prisoners must be even worse. They are in serious shortage of food and clothing. I heard that there are still a lot of them. People kill horses to satisfy their hunger."
Captives are a fishing and hunting nation, and the strongest force is the cavalry. The importance of horses is self-evident. When it comes to killing horses to satisfy their hunger, the situation of building captives is indeed very bad.
Zhou Dezhen was eating, and he raised his head sharply after hearing the words: "Then, can I expedition to the north next year?"
When everyone looked at it, they all knew that it was Zhou Zheng's nephew, but they didn't think it was disgusting.
Lu Xiang watched Lu Xiangsheng, who had been silent for a long time, and shook his head: "I can't do it. No matter how good the prisoners are, they won't be destroyed. Duke Dingguo knows how many times he has beaten and how many people have died. I have never hurt my muscles or bones."
Here, Zhou Zheng fought the most with Jianlu, and also fought the most fiercely.
Cao Bianjiao glanced at Lu Xiangguan, and ate the dishes in the bowl.
Zhou Dezhen put down his chopsticks, looked thoughtful, and then said: "That can't wait, wait for Jianlu to get through, we will have more troubles, let him kill him while he is sick!"
Lu Xiangsheng calmly raised his eyes to Zhou Deshou, and then moved his eyes to Zhou Zheng's face.
Zhou Zheng was holding the bowl, chewing the lamb in his mouth, and said: "We are just discussing, there is no final decision, we can say anything, there is no taboo."
Lu Xiangguan came over, looking at Zhou Zheng, tentatively: "Duke Dingguo, you, have you decided to expedition to the north?"
Zhou Zheng caught a piece of meat for Zhou Deshou, his eyes glided over Lu Xiangsheng's face, and smiled and said, "No. Didn't you say it? There are no taboos. You can say whatever you think."
As Zhou Dezhen listened, his heart became more and more excited, his eyes all looking at Lu Xiangsheng.
He knew that his second uncle came to Liaodong this time to listen to the opinions of Governor Ji Liao. This person's opinion is very important, and even influences the decisions of his second uncle and the court.
He said that the court must agree to the Northern Expedition, and if he opposed it, the court would definitely hesitate. (End of this chapter)