The Ming Dynasty's Spokesperson

Lin Tailai suddenly pointed his sword at the Ministry of War's Fang Division. For a moment, the monarchs and ministers in the palace were confused.

But the specific reasons for confusion are different for each.

Some people are confused because the staff department is so important.

You, Lin Tailai, are so nakedly coveting the position of Fang Si, you are really not afraid of being overwhelmed!

Although institutionally and nominally, the head department of the Ministry of War is the Department of Military Selection, just like the head department of the Ministry of Personnel is the Department of Wenxuan.

But in today's actual work, the Staff Department is the head department of the Ministry of War, and even the core department of the Ministry of War.

In the early days, the Ming Dynasty's military system was based on the garrison system. The Military Selection Department was responsible for the promotion of military attachés in the garrison. It was logical that the chief department of the Ministry of War was responsible.

Later, the focus of the Ming Dynasty's military system increasingly shifted to the garrison system and the camp system, and the role of the garrison became smaller and smaller.

The importance of generals such as generals, generals, guerrillas, and garrison officers gradually replaced the traditional military attachés such as commanders, qianhu, and baihu.

From the beginning to the present, the Department of Military Affairs has only been responsible for the promotion and recording of meritorious services for traditional hereditary military attachés.

The affairs of the town garrison soldiers have always been under the responsibility of the Zhongfang Si. As a result, the selection of the town garrison generals and the Beijing camp officers was also the responsibility of the Zhongfang Si.

Therefore, with the changes in the military system of the Ming Dynasty, the power of the Zhongfang Division, which is responsible for the selection of general officers, has long surpassed that of the Military Selection Division, which is responsible for the military attachés of the guards, and has become the de facto first division of the Ministry of War.

Not to mention that the Ministry of War also has responsibilities such as troop deployment and drills, city gates, and map drawing. It can be said that most of the power of the Ministry of War belongs to the Ministry of War.

At that time, Yan Song, a powerful minister of the time, had "two civil and military stewards" among his followers. Among them, the Wen steward was a doctor in the Wenxuan Department of the Ministry of Personnel, and the Wu steward was a doctor in the Fangsi Department of the Ministry of War. This shows the status and power of the Fangsi Department.

So today you, Lin Tailai, opened your mouth to slander Fang Si out of nowhere. Isn't this power-hungry look a bit ugly?

Another group of confused people were Chief Assistant Shen Shixing and his followers.

Yang Yuting, the doctor in the staff department, is Shen Shoufu's disciple and party member, so starting from Shen Shoufu's side, he is one of your own, Lin Tailai!

You, Lin Tailai, are simply going crazy when you want to mess with Fang Si like this! He doesn't distinguish between friend and foe, he bites people indiscriminately!

Yang Yuting, the doctor of Zhongfang Si, couldn't help but asked Lin Tailai: "Why did you impeach Fang Si?"

It's not that he's angry, it's just pure curiosity.

Lin Tailai replied plausibly: "Huo Luochi was ready to make a move two or three years ago, and there was a lot of friction in the West Sea. This time the captives are crossing the river in large numbers to go to the West Sea, which will definitely cause commotion again.

It can be said that all accidents have early signs. Your department was unaware of the military situation and had no foresight of the border police.

As a result, the incident has already occurred and the court hastily responded to it. Isn't it Zifang Si's fault? "

Yang Yuting was still confused and replied: "This is because Li Tingyi, the governor of Gansu, missed the embankment and missed the military situation. The matter was critical and he still failed to report it. What does it have to do with my position?"

Lin Tailai asked aggressively: "The collection, analysis, and judgment of military intelligence from overseas barbarians have nothing to do with your office?"

Yang Yuting said in surprise: "I am in charge of map, military system, city god, garrison, drill, expedition, city, Guanjin, rectification of the army and other matters.

As for collecting military information, isn't it the responsibility of the governor of the border town? How can our staff control it? "

No matter what the specific operations are, in terms of explicit accusations, the Staff Division does not have the job of collecting overseas military intelligence.

At least at this time, you must not admit it, otherwise you will take the blame.

"What?" Lin Tailai opened his eyes wide, as if he heard something incredible, "You don't even care about gathering military intelligence?"

Anyone with eyes in the hall can see that Lin Tailai's acting is really fake at first sight.

But Lin Tailai continued to say exaggeratedly: "In addition to the Staff Department, the Military Selection Department, the Arsenal Department, and the Vehicle Driving Department are not in charge of military intelligence collection.

In other words, there are countless yamen in the Ming Dynasty, and there are tens of thousands of civil and military officials, but there is no professional military intelligence collection yamen?

The daily collection of military intelligence is all based on the consciousness of the governor of the border town, and random inquiries are made for reports?

No way? No way? How could our Ming court be so useless? "

Originally, the emperor and his ministers didn't think this was a big deal. It had been like this for so many years.

But Lin Tailai's tone was very exaggerated and harsh. It was simply too fussy and sensational!

After Shen Shoufu provided psychological counseling to the emperor, he had been sitting firmly on Diaoyutai. At this time, he finally couldn't bear it anymore.

If the imperial court is a grassroots team, then what is he, the chief assistant who has been working for six or seven years?

So Shen Shoufu rebuked Lin Tailai and said, "Lin Tailai! Don't be so presumptuous! If you have nothing to say, just stand down!"

Not only did Lin Tailai not retreat, but he said even louder: "Do you know, do you know that the Folangji and the Red-haired Yi thousands of miles away in the West have already attacked cities in Southeast Asia and are approaching the Ming Dynasty?

Do you know that Fo Langji occupied Luzon on the outskirts of the South China Sea twenty-five years ago, and that their governor of Luzon has been formulating a plan to conquer the Ming Dynasty?

Do you know that the Hongmao barbarians send countless large ships across the South China Sea every year, and recently they have spied on the islands along the southeast coast in an attempt to occupy Penghu off the coast of Fujian?

Do you know, do you know, that the Japanese country in Japan has ended its civil strife and has stationed 300,000 to 400,000 troops in an attempt to invade the Ming Dynasty and use Ningbo as its capital?

Compared with the above military situation, the pirates are just suffering from scabies!

No way? No way? The Dukes of the imperial court are already members of the Ming Dynasty, but they know nothing about the external military situation? "

Everyone: "."

Can't you, Lin Tailai, speak properly? Do you have to use such a tone that makes you want to be beaten?

Do you want all the civil and military officials in the palace to beat you up?

One hundred people against one, maybe you can't beat him? Then forget it.

Yang Yuting, the doctor of the Ministry of Personnel, asked: "How did you know?"

Lin Tailai replied: "When I was in Jiangzuo, I liked to chat with various sea merchants and heard overseas news.

After multiple verifications, I can know a lot of military intelligence! I, Lin Tailai, can guarantee that the military intelligence mentioned above is more or less the same!"

Everyone was speechless and could only listen to Lin Tailai's nonsense, because this was a blind spot in most people's knowledge, and they didn't know how to refute it.

Lin Tailai turned to Emperor Wanli and said passionately: "As the saying goes, knowing yourself and the enemy will lead to victory in every battle, but I didn't expect that my Ming Dynasty was so closed-minded and ignorant of the enemy!

In the East China Sea and the South China Sea, countless wolves and tigers are lurking at my Ming Dynasty, but the court is completely unaware of the situation!

Your Majesty is completely in the dark, whose fault is it?"

First make a few alarmist remarks, and finally use rhetorical questions to increase the emperor's sense of substitution, this is called conversation skills!

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanli said: "You already knew it, but you never reported it, causing the court to be unaware of the truth. Isn't it your fault?"

Lin Tailai: "."

Why doesn't your Majesty play by the rules? Is there anyone who talks like this?

But Lin Tailai could only follow the emperor's words and say: "I just found out a few things by chance, but one person's power is limited after all, how can it become a normal situation?"

The Wanli Emperor was not a fool, and he understood the meaning of the music. He said: "Do you mean to collect intelligence and assign it to a certain government office? Zhifang Division?"

Yang Yuting, a doctor of Zhifang Division, was enlightened when he heard the words. Could it be that Lin Tailai's fundamental purpose was to increase the authority of Zhifang Division?

Then he heard Lin Tailai say: "The affairs managed by Zhifang Division are already extremely complicated, and the authority cannot be increased!"

This is also reasonable. A division is responsible for the selection of generals and officers of border towns, the selection of officers of Beijing camps, the deployment and training of soldiers, and the border walls, cities and passes. The authority itself is already very large.

Then Lin Tailai continued, "So we should set up another office to be responsible for intelligence, and we should also transfer the map part from the Zhifang Division. The name of the office can be temporarily set as the Military Intelligence Bureau, or the Intelligence Bureau, or any name."

When the ministers heard this, they felt that "the dagger was revealed", and Lin Tailai's intention was finally exposed.

It's nothing more than taking on another official position and taking over the task of collecting intelligence.

But everyone still couldn't understand why Lin Tailai wanted to take charge of such a thankless task?

In the traditional power structure of the Ming Dynasty officialdom, collecting foreign intelligence is definitely a more marginalized task.

From a selfish point of view, it is not easy to make merit in this task and rely entirely on luck, but it is easy to take the blame, and it is completely useless for the power game of the court.

Even if the foreign intelligence can be detailed to the color of the female chief's underwear, will it be of any help in the fight for the Shangshu or cabinet ministers?

Did everyone blame Lin Tailai wrongly? In fact, Lin Tailai is a selfless person who does not care about gains and losses for the interests of the Ming Dynasty?

Emperor Wanli also thought of this and was suddenly moved.

In the context of the border town accident where people were shirking responsibility, someone was suddenly willing to take the initiative to take on the heavy responsibility and do the thankless work, which seemed particularly fresh and refined.

So although Emperor Wanli was not interested in setting up a military intelligence bureau, he decided to give some encouragement, after all, the spirit was commendable.

So he said to Lin Tai: "If you have any ideas, you might as well tell me in detail."

Let you say a few more words, and it will be over after you say them.

Lin Tailai took the opportunity to reveal his ideas in full, "Set up a general office in the capital, and then set up a branch office in the southeast, southwest, northwest, and northeast!

Below the branch offices, set up stations at key transportation hubs, ports, and border towns, each focusing on collecting intelligence in a certain direction.

The officials in charge of the general office, branches, and stations are set as civil servants, but the action and work personnel do not need to be civilian servants, but directly transferred from the official army.

From top to bottom, form an independent and professional intelligence network. When conditions are ripe, overseas stations can be set up in Japan, Southeast Asia, etc."

Just as Lin Tailai was talking endlessly about the future blueprint, he was suddenly interrupted.

"Wait!" Suddenly, Yang Junmin, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, stood up and stopped Lin Tailai's imagination.

Then he questioned with reason and evidence: "Your conjecture is fine if you want to hire people, after all, our dynasty does not lack official troops, but where will the money come from?

You said that you need to set up a general bureau, branch bureaus, stations, and a large number of operational staff, and you also need to collect foreign intelligence.

You don't have to think about it carefully, you know that it will cost a lot, and in order to maintain operation, it must require long-term investment.

Now Taicang is in a tight budget, and it has already started to lose money after only half a year this year. Where does the money come from for these ideas you mentioned, Lin Tailai?"

Although Yang Junmin has been Lin Tailai's mortal enemy for many years, his words are very fair.

Even if Wang Situ, the Minister of Revenue, stood up, he could not deny Yang Junmin's opinion.

Especially since we are about to conquer the northwest, we will inevitably use troops, which is another additional expense.

From an economic point of view, there is no need to spend a lot of money to build the intelligence network that Lin Tailai mentioned, especially it sounds like a bottomless pit of long-term investment.

Lin Tailai blinked a few times and said to Yang Junmin, "Why are you so anxious, the Minister of Revenue? When did I ever say that we need money from the treasury?"

Yang Junmin immediately asked in anticipation: "Do you hope to spend money from the internal treasury?"

Emperor Wanli suddenly tightened his face and stared at Lin Tailai.

If you, Lin Tailai, dare to think about using the money from the inner treasury to do your own thing, then let me first let you feel what the king's wrath is!

Lin Tailai quickly reassured the emperor, "Impossible! It is absolutely impossible to use the internal treasury for such a trivial matter!"

Yang Junmin still asked maliciously: "Then where do your expenses come from? Is it possible that you, Lin Tailai, still want to pay for it out of your own pocket?"

Lin Tailai stopped talking in circles, "Don't you, Yang Junmin, have read ancient books such as Spring and Autumn Period or Warring States Period?

Since ancient times, businessmen traveling among various countries have often been tasked with gathering intelligence.

Why can't Ming Dynasty imitate the ancients? Nowadays, whether exporting overseas, going to Southeast Asia or heading to the East China Sea, the number of merchants is very large!

The court can guide and utilize these businessmen by issuing licenses, anti-smuggling, taxation and other means! Let them collect intelligence for the court!

Of course, they also organize caravans directly to collect intelligence on the one hand and earn funds on the other.

In any case, establishing an intelligence network does not require spending money on the national treasury. At most, it may only require some initial start-up funds. "

Damn it! The ministers were all shocked when they heard this. Your Lin Tailai's heart is really full of twists and turns!

At first I thought you wanted to invade the company, but it turned out that you wanted to set up an intelligence network.

When I really thought you were selfless and wanted to set up an intelligence network, it turned out that you were doing it for business! Or to put it more bluntly, smuggling for the sake of monopoly!

To guide and use foreign trade merchants to collect intelligence is to use the power of the court to monopolize smuggling!

At the end of the day, it’s all about business!

After Emperor Wanli was stunned for a while, he suddenly warned the ministers with serious words: "Lin Tai is right. The court is now blind and ignorant of overseas information.

If the imperial court had been able to obtain detailed information about the West Sea and take preventive measures against the pirates, would there have been another Taohe Incident?

Therefore, gathering intelligence is urgent and very important. The establishment of an intelligence network must be put on the agenda as soon as possible! "

After expressing his attention and determination, Emperor Wanli further instructed: "The idea of ​​using businessmen to collect intelligence is also very good, but other private businessmen may not be loyal and reliable. They can be used but cannot be completely relied on.

Therefore, you still need to have exclusive merchants, caravans, and merchant ships. Your own talents are the most reliable foundation. "

Ministers: "."

So there is a legal question. If the emperor personally engages in smuggling, can it be considered smuggling?