First Prince of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 694

Facing the countless King Kaiping who had been slaughtered, Zhao Huai'an inevitably trembled a little, but fortunately he still remembered his identity and did not show any ugliness.

Hu Weiyong said: "When there is a war, it is necessary for the household department to raise food, grass and supplies. It is the beginning of spring, and the household department may have difficulties. Please ask Zhao Shangshu to discuss it together."

"According to what the prime minister said, invite Zhao Aiqing to come in."

"promise."

Zhu Biao looked at the map and was silent for a moment. Instead of paying attention to the besieged places in the military situation, he finally pointed his finger at Kaipingwei, which is the former Shangdu of the Yuan Dynasty.

"Who is guarding this place?"

Chang Yuchun replied: "Kaiping Duwei Commander Longhu General Song Sheng, Your Highness thinks Ye Sudieer wants to take back Kaipingwei?"

After capturing Kaiping, the Ming Dynasty established Kaiping as a grassland army town, ready to deal with the invasion of Mongolian tribes at any time, and belonged to the capital of Beiping in terms of division.

At the same time, in order to ensure the smooth transportation of grain and grass in Kaiping, eight post stations were established around Kaipingwei, with Liangting, Nihe, Saifeng, and Huangya to the east, and Huanshu, Weilu, Ming'an, and Shenning to the west.

Kaiping was located in the middle of the northern defense line in the early Ming Dynasty. It went deep into the grassland, which could ensure that the Xuanfu in the south would not directly contact the enemy, and also ensure smooth communication routes with Liaodong.

It is a strategic location on the Mongolian grassland. Occupying Kaiping means that the throat of the Mongolian grassland is stuck, overlooking the Mongolian kings, and curbing the southward invasion of the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty.

"Song Sheng?"

Chang Yuchun thought for a while and replied: "Song Sheng and his father, brother and ministers all defected to the superior position in the 15th year of Zhizheng. His brother died in battle when he captured Jiqing, which is the capital. After resigning, Song Sheng inherited his father's position as Marshal Tianningyi. After the founding of the country, he was promoted to General Huaiyuan.

"It's enough ability to let Yue Zhang entrust important land."

"Your Highness, don't worry, even though he was Conglong in the same year, he will not have any contact with the Song family in the end. The appointment of Song Sheng is entirely because of his sufficient qualifications and ability, and there is no personal relationship."

Zhu Biao felt relieved when he heard the words, Ye Sudieer's mobilization without any warning must have a plan. Although this person is not a hero, he is by no means an ordinary person.

At this time, Zhao Wenjing also hurried in, and after calming down, he saluted and said, "My minister pays homage to His Royal Highness, Your Highness Qianqiu."

"Well, Zhao Aiqing doesn't need to be too polite."

Zhao Wenjing got up and bowed his hands to Chang Yuchun and Hu Weiyong: "Your Majesty has met King Kaiping and Prime Minister Hu."

Hu Weiyong nodded to signal, but Chang Yuchun looked sideways and asked in a deep voice: "As a minister, why didn't you follow His Highness's order and insist on entering the audience!"

Zhao Wenjing's face remained the same, if he flinched when he was frightened by someone, how could he be the householder's house, not to mention the vicious voice, even if he put a knife on his neck, he wouldn't even try to take a grain that shouldn't be given to him.

"As for the matter of lowering officials, there will be impeachment in the imperial history tomorrow, and the punishment and relegation will be decided by His Highness. At this moment, the military situation in northern Xinjiang is at the forefront, and King Kaiping should still focus on military affairs."

Chang Yuchun couldn't help but glance at him with such a tough word, Zhu Biao saw that the atmosphere behind him was a little tense, he turned around and said, "Zhao Aiqing is worried about the military and state affairs, I am very relieved, how can there be punishment? Father-in-law, Do you think cousin can guess Ye Sudiaoer's intention?"

Chang Yuchun snorted coldly at Zhao Wenjing first, his dissatisfaction was palpable, and then he turned around to answer the prince's questions, and Zhao Wenjing bowed slightly to the prince to express his gratitude.

Hu Weiyong, who was silent, looked at Chang Yuchun's back unexpectedly. This murderer knew that he had made an enemy in front of the prince, and he really had a brain after living for a long time.

Chang Yuchun's real power is at the top, and the more than [-] elites in the Beijing camp are under his control. If he still wins over his party members, it will be the way to death. A few large granaries are the greatest restraint on the army.

Seeing the crown prince's gaze, Hu Weiyong also said: "King Qiyang's ability is unpredictable, Shen Hong is unpredictable, but he is fierce in front of the battle, and he is strong when he encounters a big enemy. , how can you be confused."

"My lord, all the relatives are commanding the same Zhi Shang Honghai to ask for a meeting."

"Call it in, it should also be information from Beijiang."

Shang Honghai came in and saluted one by one, and presented the news from the pro-military captain's mansion, which was roughly the same as that sent by Li Wenzhong, except that there were some more movements and guesses from the Mongolian tribes.

Seeing that there were speculations that the other party was going all over the place to retake Kaipingwei, Zhu Biao felt relieved, Li Wenzhong had an assistant from the pro-military Duwei's mansion by his side, and he would definitely remind him.

Chang Yuchun firmly expressed his opinion: "Fight them! No matter what their intentions are, they must be beaten back fiercely. If you don't hurt them, these wolf cubs will commit crimes every now and then."

Zhu Biao's eyes are also brewing with murderous intent, it's just a matter of the cost of a big war, the amount of food that soldiers eat on the battlefield is not much different from what they usually eat, and the food eaten by cattle, horses and mules is also the same as usual. The gap is not enough to make food and grass on the battlefield a problem.

The main reason is that if the country is poorer than the teachers, the people will lose far away, and if the people lose far away, the people will be poor. Although the north has been actively opening up wasteland and military settlements, it is far from enough to supply such a large number of troops, and the imperial court needs to transport them from the south.

If it is normal, the stability of the rear can naturally transport the food in northern Xinjiang in an orderly and prepared manner, and the cost along the way is still at an acceptable level, but once the war is about to start, in order to appease the army, the food must be transported to the army as soon as possible and stored. It's scary.

"Zhao Aiqing..."

It was difficult for Zhu Biao to speak. A few days ago, he said that the household department should tighten up and support the imperial court in recovering Yunnan and Liaodong. Now it is the spring plowing season, but it is difficult for the household department to suddenly produce food for a big war.

Zhao Wenjing bowed and said, "Your Highness, I have arranged for officials to inspect the grain and grass, and tomorrow the first batch of grain and grass will be shipped to northern Xinjiang, and the follow-up ministers are already prepared. Please don't worry, Your Highness!"

"Zhao Aiqing! The pillar of the real country!"

Every day, Zhao Wenjing insisted that he had no money and no food. Now that he came out like this, he was really surprised and moved. Zhu Biao thought in his heart that when you die, I will definitely give you a good posthumous title.

Most of the time, wars are about logistics. As long as the logistics supplies can keep up, temporary victory or defeat is irrelevant. Repeated defeats are fine, and there is always a time to win.

There was Xiao He in the past and Li Shanchang in the future, none of them had great military exploits. The reason why they are so successful is because they can transfer grain storage and supply equipment for the army in any situation, and they are never in short supply. The generals will have no worries.

Appreciation also flashed in Chang Yuchun's eyes, the generals who lead troops to fight hate civil servants, and they will not hate civil servants who can provide them with food and grass.

"Hmph, it's just his duty, His Highness is too high."

Zhu Biao couldn't help being a little speechless, and he didn't know who gave his father-in-law the idea. Although it was understandable, it was a bit too blunt.

Hu Weiyong laughed beside him and said: "Shangshu Zhao has lived up to His Majesty's trust. He has conquered Mongolia in the north, conquered Liaodong in the east, and settled Guizhou in the south. Zhao Shangshu has worked hard and made great achievements. I am ashamed of myself."

These words somewhat imply that Zhao Wenjingming has enough food and grass, but a few days ago he insisted on the matter of the prince. After all, everything in the household department and the treasury belongs to the emperor, and the ministers are just custodians. How can it be possible? secretly hiding.

Zhao Wenjing replied without changing his face: "What I do is out of public interest. I did not take a single grain of food from the treasury to satisfy my hunger. If Your Highness wants money and food to build a palace or to use it for the temporary opening of borders Tuotu, that minister still said the same thing, no!"

"But if His Highness needs money and food to defend the country against the enemy, then the minister will definitely raise enough food for the army by selling pots and pieces of iron, and will never let the soldiers go to the battlefield hungry!"

"I have saved some money and food in recent years, but it is all saved from the food that the people of Ming Dynasty have to feed their stomachs. There is not a single bit that can be wasted. I hope Your Highness will always remember how difficult the people's livelihood is, and how hard it is for the people to survive."

...............

(End of this chapter)