Chapter 38 News from the Southeast
Inside the house.

Zhu Shitai and the other two were shocked.

Yan Shaoting, however, showed a kind face: "Our great Ming Dynasty is glorious, Your Majesty is wise, who dares to rebel?"

"Then why do you want us to lead the troops back to the capital?"

Zhu Shitai and the other two were a little confused.

Today, the imperial court’s troops in the capital are all controlled by the Ministry of War, and are rotated regularly every year.

It has been many years since any general has been able to lead his troops into the capital alone.

When was the last time?

Thinking of this, Zhu Shitai and the other two became nervous.

Yan Shaoting smiled and explained, "My three brothers heard what I said in Yuxi Palace before. If you three have made contributions in the southeast, I am willing to help His Majesty and summon you three brothers to lead the troops back to the capital to guard the Western Garden."

"Guarding the West Garden?"

Yan Shaoting nodded heavily: "Brother-in-law, think about it. If I simply let the three of you return to Beijing in the future, you will continue to serve in the palace, but what power can you have in the court?

But if you, my brother-in-law, train the troops well in the southeast, lead the army to fight against the Japanese pirates, and make great contributions.

This is your ability, the talent of a general.

How glorious it will be to bring this battle-hardened army back to the capital to guard the Western Garden? Who among the nobles of the Ming Dynasty can compare to the three of you, my brother-in-law?"

Yan Shaoting's series of questions shocked Zhu Shitai and the other two, and a hint of excitement began to appear in their eyes.

Although they are now also responsible for guarding the palace, no one takes it seriously. It is just a custom of the royal family to treat nobles.

But if it is really as Yan Shaoting said, they can lead the troops in the southeast and make great contributions, and then bring these troops back to the capital to guard the Western Garden.

That won't be tolerated in the past.

They are the iron wall before the emperor.

That is the emperor's most loyal and brave guard.

Zhu Shitai said without any instructions: "So our trip to the southeast is actually to train the guards for His Majesty!"

Yan Shaoting smiled and nodded slowly in the expectation of the three people.

"Brother-in-law is wise and hits the nail on the head."

Xu Wenbi was hesitant, "But the Japanese have been plaguing the southeast for many years. How should we go south? Do you have any detailed instructions?"

Yan Shaoting turned his eyes and said, "In the southeast, we have Governor Hu Zongxian of Zhejiang Province, and in the army we have Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou. You three brothers just need to follow orders. How to win over the people in the army is something I don't need to tell you."

As he spoke, Yan Shaoting looked at Xu Wenbi with a profound gaze.

Xu Wenbi understood immediately.

The three of them also showed understanding on their faces.

Today's meritorious generals may not be able to fight in the battlefield, but when it comes to winning over people in the army, they are all top experts.

Yan Shaoting also smiled.

As long as Zhu Shitai and the other two really do what they say, Qi Jiguang, Yu Dayou and others will naturally have the support of the generals in the future.

And through Zhu Shitai and the other two, he could quietly implement the task of rebuilding and training the three major camps of the Ming Dynasty's capital army step by step.

Zhu Shitai stood up and patted Yan Shaoting on the shoulder.

"In this case, we must do our utmost to help. It would be best if we could seal the letter with Hu Zongxian, Qi Jiguang and others."

Yan Shaoting naturally agreed.

At this moment, Zhu Shitai and the other two already had an idea in their minds, so they didn't stay any longer.

According to the imperial decree, the three of them will set off south tomorrow with their few retainers.

After all, for Jiajing, the sooner the three of them left, the sooner the impeachment storm in the court would end. The noise in his ears would disappear, and he could continue to practice Taoism with peace of mind.

After sending Zhu Shitai and the other two away.

Yan Shaoting returned to the Yan Mansion through the back door.

As soon as he reached the gate of his own villa, he saw his lackey Yan Hu waiting there with a fawning look on his face.

His brother-in-law, Jinyiwei Commander Lu Yi, was also present. He saw Yan Shaoting coming back.

Yan Hu came up immediately and said, "Master, you are back."

Yan Shaoting glanced at the lackey.

Yan Hu understood and immediately said, "There is news from the southeast."

Yan Shaoting nodded and turned to look at Lu Yi.

Lu Yi also smiled and said: "I also have news from the southeast."

"Then go in and talk."

Yan Shaoting said this and led the two into his courtyard.

Yan Shaoting and Lu Yi sat down.

Yan Hu kept looking at his young master's brother-in-law.

Yan Shaoting glared and said, "There is nothing that cannot be said in front of Cheng."

This moved Lu Yi a little, and the look he gave his second brother-in-law became more passionate.

Yan Hu said in a low voice: "In reply to what the young master said, it is said in Zhejiang that the magistrate of Chun'an, Hai Rui, is very resistant to the new national policy. He led the people under his rule to refuse to replace rice with mulberry trees, and even..."

It turned out to be Hai Rui, the stubborn guy.

Yan Shaoting snorted in his heart and looked at the lackey: "More what?"

"Master, calm down." Yan Hu hurriedly spoke up, and continued, "This Hai Rui is even more outrageous. It is Elder Yan and Young Elder, and... and you, Master, who are inciting His Majesty to do things that harm the country and the people..."

When Yan Shaoting heard this, he couldn't help but glared: "Hai Rui didn't see this matter, is Zhang Juzheng handling it now?"

Yan Hu moved his mouth, lowered his head and dared not speak.

Lu Yi did not need to avoid these things, and said cheerfully: "This matter was proposed by Lord Yan, and Zhang Juzheng was recommended by you, brother-in-law. Hai Rui in Chun'an naturally knows who to scold."

Yan Shaoting immediately turned to look at Lu Yi and glared at his brother-in-law.

Lu Yi quickly shrank his head.

"Brother-in-law, don't hit me. I have something to tell you."

Yan Shaoting snorted, "You say."

Lu Yi stood up, ran to the stool next to Yan Shaoting and sat down, then smiled and said cheerfully: "Here is the news about Zhang Juzheng in Suzhou Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture."

"Zhang Juzheng? What happened to him over there?"

Yan Shaoting probably knew that Zhang Juzheng's mission in Southern Zhili this time would not be easy, but he was not sure what would happen.

Lu Yi immediately explained: "Hey! Originally I thought that Zhang Taiyue could get things done, but who knew that the subordinates reported back that Zhang Taiyue was probably in a mess and stuck in a quagmire."

Without waiting for Yan Shaoting to ask again.

Lu Yi continued, "Brother-in-law, you don't know that Zhang Juzheng had just arrived in Suzhou Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture, holding the imperial edict and acting as an imperial envoy. But when he heard that the court wanted him to change cotton to mulberry in the two prefectures, the locals immediately agreed and kept saying that they would obey the court's orders."

Yan Shaoting looked suspicious: "Oh, then it seems that this is going smoothly."

Lu Yi shook his head repeatedly: "How can this be so simple? God knows what happened in Suzhou Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture this year. They actually planted cotton seedlings so early. There are hundreds of thousands of acres of cotton fields in the two prefectures. Tens of thousands of cotton farmers and thousands of weavers are now in the fields, asking Zhang Juzheng for the seedling fee."

Yan Shaoting was suddenly surprised.

“It turned out to be like this!”

Lu Yi snorted twice: "Zhang Juzheng is now in a dilemma. The people will never say anything about resisting the imperial decree. They just ask Zhang Juzheng to pay money. As long as the money is in hand, they will take the lead in working for free to replace cotton with mulberry."

After hearing this, Yan Shaoting finally understood the reason behind the incident.

It was probably just news that leaked from the court, which spread faster than Zhang Juzheng.

As for how the news got through and who sent it, Zhang Juzheng had to bear the consequences now.

Yan Shaoting couldn't help but laugh.

"It seems that Zhang Juzheng really wants to return to Beijing."

(End of this chapter)