RPAGF Chapter 88: Annihilate Japan within 3 years!
Chapter 88: Annihilate Japan within 3 years!
Qi Jingtong was so shocked by the power and wealth displayed by Zhu Houzhao that he remained silent for a long time.
He had not yet recovered from the earth-shaking changes that had taken place in the Ming Dynasty.
Before this, he was not unaware of the Ming Dynasty's financial situation.
Before coming to Dengzhou Guard, he served as the battalion commander of Shenji Battalion for a long time.
Therefore, he was not only very familiar with firearms, but also knew how to maximize their effectiveness.
They also had a deep understanding of the Ming Dynasty's financial situation.
In a very simple sentence, it was poverty.
Even the Shenji Battalion, one of the three major military camps in the capital, was frequently owed wages. How good could the Ming Dynasty's financial situation be?
Because Qi Jingtong knew this very well, when he offered his advice this time, he only talked about low-key methods to resist the Japanese pirates.
Even the figures of 50,000 taels of silver and 200,000 shi of grain were deliberately exaggerated by Qi Jingtong.
He was already mentally prepared for Zhu Houzhao to cut half of his budget.
For Qi Jingtong, even if he only had 30,000 taels of silver and 100,000 shi of grain, he would do everything he could to wipe out the Japanese pirates.
But he never expected that Zhu Houzhao would accumulate such a huge fortune for the Ming Dynasty in less than a year.
Just now, Zhu Houzhao was still angry because he didn't get enough support.
Thinking about this, Qi Jingtong felt as if he were dreaming, and it seemed absurd.
Besides Qi Jingtong, all the civil and military officials on Fengtianmen Square stared in astonishment, their hearts filled with turmoil.
The Ming Dynasty was wealthy, and His Majesty was wealthy. This meant that silver and grain flowed from all parts of the Ming Dynasty to the court and into the hands of Zhu Houzhao.
If the imperial court has money, and the emperor has money, doesn't that mean the gentry and landlords have no money?!
Most of the officials present felt a slight unease, their spirits plummeting to rock bottom.
Officials and the emperor were not of one mind; the more beneficial something was to the emperor, the more harmful it was to the officials.
The officials present felt their hearts bleed upon hearing about the amount of silver stored in the national treasury and the imperial treasury under Zhu Houzhao's rule.
All this silver and grain should have belonged to them!
The civil and military officials in the court were heavy-hearted, but on the surface they had to put on an act of joy and jubilation for the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.
"Your Majesty is wise and virtuous, with both civil and military achievements!"
"The glory of the Ming Dynasty will live on forever; the Ming Dynasty's land will endure forever!"
All the civil and military officials bowed down and kowtowed to Zhu Houzhao, showing the utmost humility.
Zhu Houzhao was not impressed by the flattery of civil and military officials.
His gaze was fixed on Qi Jingtong, awaiting his reply.
At this moment, Qi Jingtong finally came to his senses.
After Zhu Houzhao's repeated reminders, Qi Jingtong finally understood what Zhu Houzhao meant by "full support".
Therefore, Qi Jingtong put aside his concerns and boldly asked Zhu Houzhao for more support.
"Your Majesty, I humbly request that Your Majesty provide me with 500,000 taels of silver, 1 million shi of grain, a steel steamship, 1,000 flintlock muskets, and 100 cannons."
"With this assistance, I pledge my military command: I will train 10,000 elite soldiers within three months and completely eradicate all the Japanese pirates along the coast within six months!"
"If I am unable to completely eradicate the Japanese pirates within six months, please execute me and punish me!"
Zhu Houzhao's full support and utmost trust in Qi Jingtong instilled in Qi Jingtong a strong sense of responsibility, prompting him to voluntarily sign a military pledge.
In Qi Jingtong's mind, if Zhu Houzhao supported him so much, he would still be unable to wipe out the Japanese pirates along the coast of the Ming Dynasty within half a year.
He himself was too ashamed to face Zhu Houzhao, too ashamed to face the people of the Ming Dynasty, and was unwilling to live on in this world any longer.
Faced with Qi Jingtong's request, Zhu Houzhao shook his head: "No."
Qi Jingtong took a deep breath, feeling slightly disappointed.
Was his request really too high?
It is only natural that His Majesty would refuse such a high request.
Qi Jingtong sighed silently, preparing to lower his request again, when he heard Zhu Houzhao speak again.
"Qi Jingtong, this time I will give you ten million taels of silver, fifty million shi of grain, one hundred thousand flintlock muskets, five thousand breech-loading cannons, ten 44-zhang-long steel steamships, and one hundred and twenty 18-zhang-long steel steamships!"
"I have only one request: within three years, slaughter all the Japanese and destroy the Japanese nation!"
"Sever the root of the Japanese pirate scourge at its source!"
"I ask you, can you do it?!"
boom!
Upon hearing this, Qi Jingtong was struck dumb, staring in disbelief at Zhu Houzhao's imposing figure.
Qi Jingtong never expected that Zhu Houzhao's goal from the very beginning was not just to wipe out the Japanese pirates along the coast.
Zhu Houzhao wanted to kill all the Japanese and completely destroy the Japanese nation!
In retrospect, the anti-Japanese strategy he offered to Zhu Houzhao was utterly ridiculous.
It's like kids playing house!
Now, Qi Jingtong finally understood why Zhu Houzhao had said he was very disappointed in him.
Now that his thoughts have been opened, Qi Jingtong is also very disappointed in his past self!
Qi Jingtong immediately knelt down and pleaded, "Your subject will certainly do it!"
"If I have disobeyed Your Majesty's command, please have me torn apart by five horses! I have no face to repay Your Majesty's benevolence!"
"very good!"
Upon seeing this, Zhu Houzhao finally revealed a satisfied smile.
"Qi Jingtong, listen to the imperial decree."
Qi Jingtong's expression turned solemn, and he immediately bowed: "Your humble servant Qi Jingtong respectfully obeys Your Majesty's decree!"
"Qi Jingtong is hereby promoted to Admiral of the Ming Navy, concurrently serving as Grand General for the Pacification of Japanese Pirates, and is granted the seal of Grand General!"
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and promoted Qi Jingtong, who was just a minor commander, to naval commander.
Qi Jingtong was extremely excited and quickly kowtowed to receive the decree: "Your humble servant Qi Jingtong receives the decree and kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your holy grace."
Zhu Houzhao nodded: "The things I promised you before will be settled in three installments."
"For this first time, I will allocate you three million taels of silver, five million shi of grain, two thousand flintlock muskets, five hundred rifled cannons, and three eighteen-zhang steel steam boats."
"Use these things to recruit and train soldiers. Once you have built a powerful Ming Dynasty navy, then you can completely annihilate Japan!"
"As for the training grounds, let's set them up in Dengzhou for now, and you can also serve as the commander of the Dengzhou Garrison."
The high-ranking official of the third rank was casually given to Qi Jingtong by Zhu Houzhao.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Qi Jingtong suppressed his excitement, cupped his hands to accept the imperial decree, and felt a heavy responsibility on his shoulders.
Zhu Houzhao waved to Qi Jingtong: "Go on, hurry up."
"Yes, Your Majesty. This humble subject takes his leave."
Qi Jingtong, carrying Zhu Houzhao's orders, turned and left Fengtianmen Square.
Watching Qi Jingtong's retreating figure, Zhu Houzhao had other considerations in mind.