Jingming

Chapter 476 The real demon king shows his true talents for the first time

Owari's big fool Oda Nobunaga was not yet ten years old, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was still playing in the mud in the countryside of Aichi County, and Tokugawa Ieyasu was still pregnant.

Before the so-called "Three Heroes of the Warring States Period" came on stage, the stage had already changed its background.

The banners of the three generals were completely destroyed.

Faced with the huge pressure from the Ming Dynasty, "heroes" from all sides competed for the initiative in advance.

There really isn't much time left for them. Even if you can't seriously create a new order during this period, you should at least try to be the leader of the alliance.

Either lead the princes to resist the Ming Dynasty, or lead the "loyal ministers" to assist the king's army to exterminate the rebels and then divide the kingdoms.

Nizi Qingjiu cannot be said to be ambitious and talented, but he is far less stable than his grandfather Nizi Qingjiu.

Due to the "extraordinary prosperity" of Tsushima Island, the Nizi clan, which was previously closest to Tsushima Island, gained some strength in advance by relying on the output of Iwami Ginzan. However, in the face of the betrayal of the Maori clan, Nizi Qingjiu's battle with a total of 30,000 elite troops from the six countries to conquer Maori Motoji was completely defeated.

If Nizi hadn't been around for a long time, and a surprise attack on the reinforcing Taolongfang army under Ouchi Yoshitaka was carried out. In the chaos, Ouchi Yoshitaka's only adopted son, Ouchi Harumchi, was killed, that battle would not have been completed. Know what will happen.

You know, Zong Qingkang had not suddenly sent out troops at that time.

Nizi was so old for a long time, and after working hard for the last period of time, he finally passed away.

Today's Nizi family situation is indeed very bad.

It was a tragic victory against the Mori clan and the Ouchi clan before. Nizi Haruhisa was unfavorable at the beginning of the war and even made an act to apologize for his death when his own formation was defeated. Now that Nizi has passed away for a long time, his retainers are worried about Nizi Qingjiu's ability. The local power is wavering, there is huge external pressure from neighboring countries, and the Ming Dynasty has exerted a stance that affects the fate of the country.

In such a harsh environment, as Yan Shifan said: fate did not give Ni Zishi time at all.

Tao Longfang was the same age as Takeda Shingen. From now on, he would also have another name: Tao Qingxian.

As a loyal retainer of the Ouchi clan for many years, the Tao family was extremely important among the retainers of the Ouchi clan, and served as the guardian of the Zhou Dynasty during that period. Tao Longfang was the child of Yoshitaka Ouchi when he was a child, and they grew up together. After succeeding as the governor of the Tao family, he was also highly regarded. And because he had previously assisted Mourimoto to resist Nizi Haru for a long time, he was unparalleled in bravery and unexpectedly emerged from the formation, and was even appointed as the general of the Ouchi Army.

Today, he is still the loyal Tao Longfang, not the "judge" who changed his name to Tao Qingxian because his master lost his son and became frustrated with his toys and became angry and defeated his superiors.

"General!" Tao Longfang said excitedly, "You said that I am the unparalleled general in the Western Kingdom, and Mao Liyuan is the most intelligent general in the Western Kingdom. Now you cheer up, raise your arms, and gather more than 50,000 elite troops! As long as you thoroughly Defeat the weak Nizi clan, and with the stone and silver mountain, how many soldiers can the Ming Dynasty send? In China and Kyushu, where we have the right time, right place and right people, we will definitely win!"

His adopted son died in battle with Tao Longfang, and Ouchi Yoshitaka actually had complicated feelings towards him.

But the rapidly changing situation did not give him time to indulge in self-harm this time. After confirming the adoption of the adopted son of a retainer in Kitakyushu and marrying Shimazu Takahisa's daughter, he indeed has the strongest appeal west of Kinki.

Hosokawa clan, let them compete with the shogunate and the heroes of Kanto first.

Now looking at Tao Longfang's extremely confident eyes, Ouchi Yoshitaka also said proudly: "That's right! The timing, location, and people are all in our hands! After defeating the Nizi clan, Tsushima Island can be taken at any time! As long as this Once we are victorious and jointly resist the Ming Dynasty's conquest, it will be time for the garrison army to march eastward and wipe out the incompetent Hosokawa clan and the traitorous Ashikaga clan who rebelled against the emperor and Mei Mei."

Yes, crunch the numbers.

The mere Nizi clan can recruit 30,000 elite soldiers when they attack Maori Yuanji.

In the future, the coalition forces under the Imperial Guard General will be able to fend off foreign enemies and protect the country, and are expected to number one hundred thousand.

If you get the silver mountain, you will have money if you want it. The vast ocean is full of wind and waves, and the familiar land is rugged and difficult to navigate. How many soldiers can the Ming Dynasty send? How can it defeat so many experienced soldiers?

The advantage is mine!

How could he and the Hosokawa family take advantage of the situation and raise the banner of general if they hadn't decided after a thorough discussion that the advantages outweighed the disadvantages?

However, Ouchi had a special advantage: being further west, he had the opportunity to be the first to face the Ming army and defeat them.

At that time, the alliance will be guarded by all the places, and the shogunate should be opened by the Ouchi family!

"The Shimazu family's fleet should be approaching Tsushima Island soon. The Nizi clan's territory that the clan attacked before is now at an extremely weak moment. Mourimoto and he will attack from both sides, and good news will come soon. General Sir, it's time for us to launch a surprise attack! This time, I am still willing to be the vanguard!"

"Go, Longfang! For our dominance!"

Winter is coming soon. As long as the unsettling Nizi family is destroyed this time, under the righteousness of guarding the country, the anxious Nizi family retainers and local people will unite under his banner.

The Zong family, which was defeated and retreated to Tsushima Island, would have to rely on the Ming army.

Ming Dynasty would not be so stupid as to send troops to conquer the giant islands in the winter.

Before the soldiers and horses move, food and grass go first. How much food and ordnance will the Ming Dynasty transport first to support their subsequent conquest using Tsushima Island as a springboard.

Wouldn't that be a good time to gather around and call for reinforcements?

The Ouchi family has the Ouchi family's calculations, and the Hosokawa family also makes no concessions.

Hosokawa Harumoto is different from the Ouchi clan, but a local daimyo. He was the leader of the shogunate, and he gained real power during the battle with Ashikaga Yoshiharu and was actually in charge of the shogunate.

After defeating Ashikaga Yoshiharu and forcing him to flee to Omi, Hosokawa Harumoto was actually only one step away from completely controlling the shogunate.

As a result, at this time, the Ming Dynasty came to credential, and Ashikaga Yoshiharu actually wanted to use the Ming Dynasty King's division as support in an attempt to restore the situation.

is that useful?

Kinki and Kanto are actually far away from the Ming Dynasty's military front.

But here, strength comes first!

"How many years have we been fighting? Which of the soldiers on the battlefield today is not unparalleled in bravery? The leader asked me to tell the guardian..."

Unlike Ouchi Yoshitaka, Hosokawa Harumoto now considers himself a general, stands on the fundamental principles of the Emperor and Yamato, and begins to mobilize various places, sending many retainers.

Ouchi Yoshitaka had to gain prestige by defeating the Ming army, because he was on the front line and had to do so.

But Hosokawa Harumoto doesn't need to be like this. Instead, he wants to add fuel to the fire.

The Ashikaga clan is still lingering on, and he no longer takes it seriously.

On the contrary, the Ouchi family is very likely to really use this to gain momentum and has to guard against it.

The Hosokawa clan, which originally held the real power in Kinki, is now secretly sending the message to the guardians of Kinki and Kanto: listen to my strategy...

Could it be that there is no deep meaning in his self-proclaimed general who respects the emperor and repels the barbarians?

Actions speak volumes.

In the past, the Hosokawa family had already mastered the tribute trade with the Ming Dynasty, and he had many ships under his command.

But now, unlike Shimazu Takahisa who took a cruel gamble and took a gamble to destroy Ryukyu, the Hosokawa clan's people went north this time.

North Korea still has not made a decision because of the Japanese invasion of Japan on its southern coast, but the Japanese invasion is getting worse.

"Your Majesty, it's time to make a decision! Do you really want the people of Jeolla and Gyeongsang Province to think that you have abandoned them?"

Li Yi was very ill, but he still said: "Wait... wait until the elders come back... we can discuss it again... it's winter... we should..."

He acted like he was about to die, making people unable to bear the pressure.

But now, Yin Ren tried his best to prevent Yin Yuanheng and his family from presiding over the important matter of pacifying Japan, and Yin Yuanheng also disagreed with Li Yi's decision to leave this matter of controlling the military power in the south to the prince faction.

As for handing it over to the old ministers? That is even more disagreeable to both sides.

Looking at Li Yi like this, the critical moment is coming soon. At this moment, whoever has more power will have unimaginable effects.

It was another fruitless day, and Yin Yuanheng felt that he could not wait any longer.

As long as Li Yi is still there, there is no way to bypass him.

But now, it is impossible for Li Yi to change the title of Queen Wen Ding's biological son to the crown prince.

If Li Yi can't survive this winter, the crown prince will succeed to the throne, and Yin Ren's power will inevitably increase.

The crown prince, Li Gao, is already twenty-eight years old. If he succeeds to the throne, he will of course be directly in charge.

When he returned home, he called his concubine: "Go and tell the queen that it's time to think of a way!"

Naturally, the method had been thought of for a long time, but Queen Wen Ding had never made up her mind.

What we have to do now is to take advantage of the Japanese invasion and do something quickly before Elder Yin comes back and Li Yi is seriously ill.

In the turbulent dispute between the crown prince of North Korea and his relatives and ministers, what big deal is the Japanese invasion? Just from the beginning.

Now Hosokawa Harumoto did not expect that his layout would also get the "tacit understanding" of North Korea's powerful officials to cooperate internally and externally.

When Yin Yuanheng's concubine Zheng Lanzhen watched the handsome monk Pu Yu leave with a strangely red face, and when she saw Queen Wending and heard her cryptic words to pray for the king, Zheng Lanzhen knew exactly what had just happened - —There is clearly a strange smell here. She just said to Queen Wending: "My husband asked me to ask the queen if she should think of a solution."

Queen Wending was stunned for a moment, and then asked with some embarrassment: "Are you threatening me?"

"No, no, no..." Zheng Lanzhen panicked, "That's not what I meant..."

Queen Wending's heart was ups and downs, but thinking about her current mood of worrying about gains and losses, and the status Yin Yuanheng described to her, she gradually made up her mind.

"Go back and tell him, I know!"

With such an illness, is it not surprising that he suffered another stroke?

Then Yin Rentong rebelled against the Japanese. This was also dictated by the situation. He took the risk desperately, right?

But Yin Yuanheng must do it more carefully!

The drama is taking place in the east of the Ming Dynasty, and the Prince of the Ming Dynasty has finally arrived at the capital station - under the personal protection of Lu Bing, there will be no more stops along the way, just a necessary rest.

When they arrived in front of the emperor, the three little ones knelt down first.

Regardless of the cause, the fact is that the prince recognized that he may be in danger of his life due to the struggle for the throne.

This is a distrust of the emperor's control, and it is also a distrust of brotherhood.

“It’s done right, but it’s not good.”

Zhu Houcong said so.

"My son, please listen to your father's teachings!"

Zhu Zaiyi breathed a sigh of relief.

If it is done correctly, it means there is no principled error.

If it's not done well, it's just a matter of means.

Zhu Houcong looked at Zhang Juzheng: "Uncle, you couldn't think of a better way at that time? You just passively hid in a small family with no ability?"

Zhang Juzheng's forehead touched the floor: "You are stupid, and you have already made a big mistake in convincing Your Highness to personally investigate the maritime trade, just in case. In panic, there is no other way..."

Zhu Houcong said nothing and looked at him quietly.

Sometimes, truly smart people just lack opportunities and some necessary experience.

There are even some geniuses who, as long as they have a chance, can emit light in their weak years that others cannot possibly emit in their lifetime.

Zhu Houcong spoke slowly: "First go to Anlu and Jingzhou. You will meet the local scholars and see how the people in my land of Longxing have felt over the years. Then go to Shandong and you will see that Duke Yansheng's Mansion is gone. Afterwards, the old gentry of Shandong are still struggling, and what is the new look of Linqing after the major reform of water transportation. But the important thing is that these three places are the hometowns of the three of you."

Only Zhu Zai'an had stood up. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that his father was looking at him when he said these words.

"Visiting Henan, you are there to see the changes after the completion of the straight road, and deliberately inquire about the people's views on the management of the Huanghuai River. It reminds them of the hardships faced by floods for their ancestors. Now there are iron farm tools and the difference after the reform of the tax system. They have seen last year's new grain. How to start shipping tax money. When you arrived in Huai'an, it happened that I was going to implement the new examination system and new measurement, so you went to the Yellow River construction site. During this section of the road, you saw the benefits and problems brought about by my clean water and land transportation, and you also experienced some of them with your own eyes. People suffer.”

"In Yangzhou and Nanjing, you interacted with wealthy merchants from the south of the Yangtze River and sang with the gentry from the south of the Yangtze River. It looked like you were just having fun, but what you saw were the officials and gentry. When you arrived in Zhejiang, you went straight to Ningbo. After a while, you went to Shuangyu Island and stayed close. In the past month, I have been involved in some business. Apart from the Yellow River construction site, you stayed there the longest. Is it the place where the new law was tried in Guangdong, the changes in the place where the rebels fought in the past, or Yunnan and Sichuan? Isn’t the Northwest Frontier worth a visit?”

Zhu Zai's heart was lifted again.

Zhang Juzheng replied: "Ningbo is different from Guangdong. All shipping matters in the city are dominated by Huang Mingji Maritime Trade. Ningbo Maritime Trade includes local officials, southeastern rich families, common people in the market, traveling scholars, and merchants from foreign vassals. Your Highness and the two boys Everyone has gained a lot, so they delayed for a long time and encountered Japanese pirates. The boy deserves death..."

"If you say that there are all kinds of people, it's a mixed bag. Every year, over ten million silver taels of goods go in and out there, and that's a whirlpool of interests. Linqing and Huai'an are also places like this. Why don't you get involved in specific things there? Business matters? When I got there, I actually helped the small businessman surnamed Tang with advice and development of sales channels and sources of goods? Without Japanese pirates, I'm afraid it would also attract opposition from my peers."

Zhu Zaiyi couldn't help but look at Zhang Juzheng, who was kneeling and silent.

"There is nothing in the world, and mediocre people disturb themselves. You have been a child prodigy since you were a child, and you are not a mediocre person. I know it clearly." Zhu Houcong frowned, "You have started to play such self-defeating tricks at such a young age? It's too much. It's not good. It's not good to make trouble over nothing. It's not good to just plan and take the risk of causing trouble. It's really the kind of emergency situation you said, and it's not good to just hide."

The emperor said four bad things in a row, and Zhang Juzheng kowtowed: "Your Majesty, the divine king, has come to this world, and his eyes are as bright as a torch. This kid is frightened."

"It's just like the real thing. It's really that kind of emergency situation. Is there no one trustworthy enough to protect the prince? Didn't you leave some foreshadowing in the friendship you made along the way to deal with the emergency? Liang Guangfeng made a mistake in a hurry, couldn't he have How can you figure out a way to directly put him in danger? I asked you to accompany the prince, why do you have to put yourself in the position of a lonely minister so early? "

Zhang Juzheng kowtows again: "This kid will die..."

"Get up." Zhu Houcong finally said.

Zhang Juzheng stood up, lowered his head, and wiped his sweat.

"I'll give you what you want. You don't have to be the prince's companion. Start taking the exam and start from the bottom." Zhu Houcong looked at Zhu Zai'an again, "You are right. There is a big plan between the Ming Dynasty and the vassals. Planning, it is natural for the prince to be in the center at this time. He has traveled around to observe the people's sentiments, and has been to several provinces. He has seen a lot of various people, and the others are pretty much the same. As for the prince, he has a basic understanding of the people's sentiments. That’s enough, the main thing is to learn to read people.”

After hearing what his father said, Zhu Zaiyi couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

Along the way, he naturally became more familiar with Zhang Juzheng, but did he understand him? My father said that he wanted to leave his position as his schoolmate and take the imperial examination? Why?

"Young man, please accept the order and thank your majesty for not killing..." Zhang Juzheng knelt down again.

"Why do I want to kill you? Since I have a greater ambition in my heart, I will fulfill your wish. You made a big fuss, and all the important officials in the court now know that you are a devilish kid. If you become an official in high school, The road before the age of thirty is difficult. If you want to prove yourself, just do it." Zhu Houcong shook his head slightly and said to Qi Jiguang, "Your punishment is to be a big-headed soldier. With your father After my mother is reunited, she will report to Xue Han and prepare to kill the Japanese pirates."

After sending these two little ones away, Zhu Zaiyi said: "Father, I don't understand very well..."

Zhu Houcong didn't blame him either.

Because of the different amount of information he possesses, he appears to be extremely talented in the eyes of his ministers.

But there is a high probability that the son he will give birth to will not be as good as Zhang Juzheng.

He just looked at his son who had gone through so many things and had a different temperament after all. He smiled and said: "There are nine ministers of state in total, dozens of second-level pavilions, and nearly a hundred advisers. The center I left for you, If you only have the Holy Family, it is enough to be an imperial party among them to help you secure power. But if you still want to have the ambition to reach the position of Prime Minister and Minister of State, how can you only have the Holy Family? Yan Song has been waiting for so many years, Is there ever a time when it’s not difficult for you to look at him? There are too many important ministers who seem to be incompatible with him but are completely different from him."

Zhu Zaicheng seemed to understand but not understand.

Zhu Houcong sighed: "After all, I taught him from a young age. After hearing the great aspiration of the world to be unified, he naturally cannot reach that position just as a Qiandi Xingchen. If he does not go through a punishment, he will lose the favor of the saint, and then rely on his ability. Step by step, there will be people who will always be dissatisfied with him in the future. If Yang Shen hadn’t gone to Guangdong and didn’t have the story of his father’s resignation to Fei Hong, how would he be able to sit in the position of chief assistant now?”

After looking at his son, he said: "What can you tell by just looking at the flowers? Now he has used this matter to teach you two lessons. One lesson is called the huge stakes of the big position, which is enough to let you know Where is the root? Let you know how far a young man like him can think. A lesson is called the depth of power and position. If young people are like this, what about the veterans in the court? Let you see the depth of his city now. Trust and fear, this is the basis for the day when you two get along as monarchs and ministers."

Zhu Zaiyi was stunned and couldn't help but ask: "Father, he...isn't he afraid that you will be wary of his deep thoughts and have a prejudice against him from now on?"

"Why am I afraid of him? He has almost grown up with me since he was a child, and he also understands me. If you dare to do this, you are letting me see this side of him in advance. After seeing this side, won't I remind you? Fei came out like this to express his loyalty to me. He has learned practical knowledge and dialectics well, and I naturally know that everyone has two faces. If he doesn't pretend to me or you, there is no big mistake in principle."

Zhu Zaiyi felt a chill down his spine. After thinking about it carefully, he felt awe when looking at his father and said, "My son...is really a little afraid of him now."

Zhu Houcong nodded: "This is the biggest gain of your trip. He knows very well that in my heart, his actions this time have more merit than fault. The companion who went to school together has shown his talent, so you should be even more stressed. What should I do? If you continue to grow, you will be able to suppress such a minister in the future, let’s think about it.”

This was the first time that the innocent Zhu Zaiyi truly felt what it was like for a king and his ministers to love and kill each other.

Yan Shifan made Zong Qingkang feel so horrified, and if outsiders heard the words of the Ming Emperor and his son in the Palace of Qianqing, they would not know what they would think.

The most terrifying and famous official in the Ming Dynasty, the light he radiated for the first time made Zhu Zaiyi feel dazzled.

You have to watch out for him in the future!

In fact, Zhu Houcong didn't say a word to his son, at least as a point of observation to see if his son could understand it.

You must know that what you will leave to your son in the future is a completely different Ming Dynasty. This little boy's brothers are all separated from each other. What kind of monarch and ministers should the Ming Dynasty have to digest this achievement?

Zhang Juzheng also had another intention: he came here to let Zhu Houcong know that he was going to leave the seeds in the hearts of other princes that he would be wary of them on behalf of the prince.

At that time, who else is more suitable to intimidate the princes of the vassals than Zhang Juzheng?

So after Zhu Zaicong returned, Zhu Houcong himself was a little dazed.

That guy was already ridiculously strong, and now that I have raised him from a young age, I don’t know what he will become in the future.

After thinking about it... at least this thing is giving me and my son the chance of life and death, taking a gamble while the "youth and ignorance" buff is still there?

On the contrary, Zhu Houcong figured it out quickly.

As long as there are still strong people who can defend and digest the huge new foundation that Ming Dynasty is about to create in the future.

Haven't my sons already thought about various ways out for the future?

(End of this chapter)