The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Zhu Houzhao worked so hard to turn the tide and win the game at the last moment.

It seemed that he understood that Zhang Zhou was the final examiner. If he could convince Zhang Zhou to rule him the winner, or make Zhu Xiurong admit defeat, he could still turn the tide and even refute his father's comments.

Zhu Xiurong was sitting nearby, looking as if he had lost all hope in life.

That look seemed to be saying, Brother Emperor, why are you so shameless?
Zhang Zhou said: "Your Highness, do you know what the rules are?"

Zhu Houzhao frowned and said, "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean? Are you saying that I don't understand the rules? The rule is that she loses!"

Zhu Xiurong frowned and pouted, "That's the rule you set, okay?"

"I……"

Zhu Houzhao looked angry, but it seemed that he really had no idea what to do.

Zhang Zhou said: "The answers given by the crown prince and the princess are equivalent to discussing the process of pacifying the grassland from two different perspectives. One advocates winning by concentrating advantages in a short period of time, and the other advocates relying on long-term squeezing and occupation to make the enemy collapse without fighting."

Zhu Houzhao said, "Hey, sir, since ancient times, which war against foreign races has relied on such gentle means? Isn't it all about the front? Even the founding of the Ming Dynasty was based on expelling the Tartars. What's wrong with my idea?"

Zhang Zhou asked, "It was possible before, but it doesn't mean it will be possible in the future. Excuse me, Prince, do you still remember what the topic of this exam was?"

"Topic? Isn't it just to discuss how to pacify the grassland?" Zhu Houzhao asked puzzledly.

Zhang Zhou said: "If I remember correctly, I told you that the battle in the northwest was fruitless. The Tatars avoided fighting, and our Ming army marched straight in but could not win an effective victory. In the end, we had to withdraw our troops. Then I used this to discuss how to pacify the grassland."

Zhu Houzhao asked: "Is there any difference?"

Zhang Zhou said coldly: "I ask, when the five armies came out of the grassland, why couldn't they find the Tatars and why didn't the Tatars fight with us? Your tactic is to continue to increase the number of troops, even to send out all the border troops... You think that as long as you increase the number of troops, you can win on the front battlefield, right?"

"I……"

Zhu Houzhao suddenly became a little speechless.

Zhang Zhou said: "The problem now is not that we cannot win the frontal battle, but that the Tatars do not want to fight us. The problem is how to force them to fight. If we do not occupy their living space and make them unable to survive, and force them to fight and destroy themselves, what are the chances of winning if we just send troops blindly like this?"

Zhu Houzhao swallowed his saliva and was suddenly speechless.

Zhang Zhou was somewhat satisfied with this.

At least this kid is still able to listen to reason and even be reasonable at critical moments.

But he must be made to admit that he is wrong, which requires a strong theoretical foundation and absolute prestige in the military, otherwise he will not be able to suppress this kid's edge.

Zhang Zhou said: "Although the prince's strategy is likely to be the same as the strategy for pacifying the grassland in the future, the prince's answer is slightly contrary to the proposition this time, so you are not judged as the winner. This is also the rule. Do you understand my explanation?"

"I don't accept it." Zhu Houzhao sat down and continued to express his protest.

Zhang Zhou said with disdain: "You set the rules, and His Majesty presides over the examination. This is comparable to being on the list of successful candidates. Why are you dissatisfied?"

"I just don't accept it. I think what she said is that it is impossible to pacify the grassland." Zhu Houzhao said, "I think she lost."

Zhang Zhou said: "Prince, pacifying the grassland is just an idea that needs to be put into practice. If you don't even listen to other people's opinions and only think about winning by force, you will inevitably fall into a vicious circle. The Tatars may die but not die. How can a temporary victory guarantee long-term peace and stability in the grassland?"

Zhu Xiurong smiled and said, "Brother Emperor, if you want to occupy a place, don't you have to conquer the people first? Winning the battle is not the goal."

Zhu Houzhao was quite confident at first, but when he heard this, he was shocked and said, "You little girl, who did you learn all this from? I don't believe you have learned all this. Mr. Zhang, the reference materials you gave her are different from mine, right?"

Gao Feng said helplessly, "Your Highness, I copied the reference materials. The two copies are exactly the same."

"That must be contraband smuggled from somewhere else." Zhu Houzhao seemed to have admitted defeat at this point, but his face would not allow him to lose, so he could only continue to make up for it.

Zhang Zhou said: "I think the prince's strategy of pacifying the grassland is still feasible. The strategy of group warfare will also be put into practice in the future. Now when we attack the grassland, we are no longer a single force, because the Tatars will know how to avoid our edge. Only when we attack from all directions can we have a chance of winning."

Zhu Houzhao blinked and asked, "Does that mean that the direction of my argument is correct?"

"It's true that you're wrong, but you still lose," said Zhang Zhou.

"Hmph!" Zhu Houzhao sat there, rolled his eyes, and seemed not to want to argue anymore.

Zhu Xiurong almost jumped up and said, "Oh, I won. I can take whatever good stuff I want from my royal brother. Some people can no longer call me a thief! Royal brother, you are so proud! Hehehe, I will go to your place to take things today."

Zhu Houzhao waved his hands and said, "These are all things I'm tired of playing with. You can take whatever you want."

Zhu Xiurong said: "I will come to class from now on, and see who can still chase me away!"

"Humph!"

Zhu Houzhao continued to pretend not to hear.

……

……

evening.

Outside the Duanjing Hall, Liu Jin was eagerly waiting for Zhu Houzhao's summons.

A few days ago, Zhu Houzhao summoned him to inquire about military strategies. He seemed to be full of energy and explained to Zhu Houzhao his plan to pacify the grassland. Under his guidance, Zhu Houzhao came up with the plan to pacify the grassland, which was said to be so ambitious.

In general, it means to mobilize the whole country's strength and pacify the grassland in one fell swoop.

It is also the "experience" he summed up from actual combat.

I brought too few soldiers and ended up being trapped by the Tatars for too long. If I were given another 200,000 or 300,000 soldiers, let’s see if the Tatars would be able to deal with me!
"Eunuch Liu, go back."

Just when Liu Jin was becoming happier and happier, thinking that he would gain the prince's absolute trust and even be with the prince all the time in the future, Gao Feng's words came out and were like a basin of cold water poured on his head.

Liu Jin was puzzled and asked, "Why?"

Gao Feng said: "I lost."

"Lost?" Liu Jin said in disbelief, "You mean, the prince lost in a military strategy contest with the princess?"

Gao Feng came over and said, "Can you please not be so loud? The prince is feeling depressed. If someone hears you, do you want to get your ass chopped off?"

Liu Jin still looked unbelievable and said, "The prince didn't...say anything? It's impossible to lose. From the princess's point of view, how could it be possible...Besides, even if someone judged it unfairly, wouldn't the prince argue?"

Gao Feng said: "You lose, you lose. Even the prince himself has acquiesced. What else do you want?"

"The Crown Prince... agreed?" Liu Jin was even more shocked. "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."

"What's wrong with the prince?" Gao Feng asked.

Liu Jin quickly said, "No, no, the prince is not usually like this."

In his impression, Zhu Houzhao was definitely a typical example of someone who was stubborn even though he was dead. Not to mention that he would not lose in such a competition, even if he did lose, it should be because they had their own strengths. How could the prince think that his strategy was not good? And how could he admit defeat voluntarily?
Is this little prince so humble now?

As they were talking, a group of people came out. It was Zhu Xiurong and a few palace maids, carrying large and small boxes of things, and walking out.

Liu Jin said, "That's..." Gao Feng said helplessly, "Of course there is a price to pay for losing. You saw it, too? Do you still want to go in?"

"No." When Liu Jin saw this situation, he thought, wouldn't it be unlucky if I went in?

Originally I came here to ask for a reward. After all, we won, and a large part of the credit for the military medal goes to me.

But at the same time, if I lose, it would be strange if the prince doesn't take out all his anger on me.

Gao Feng said: "We are all helping you. This little princess used to be a low-profile person, but who knew she was so talented. The people in our royal family are really as capable as men."

Liu Jin frowned.

I thought to myself, why are you telling me this?

No matter how awesome she is, isn't she just a princess?

Getting married and having children in the future has nothing to do with power directly, so why do you seem so sentimental?
"Eunuch Liu, you should go back first." Gao Feng said, "Don't come here recently. If the prince sees you, he will inevitably think of the humiliation you suffered today, and then he might..."

"I understand, I understand." Liu Jin was also a smart man. Without waiting for Gao Feng's further instructions, he quickly left with his tail between his legs.

……

……

Zhu Houzhao sent his imperial sister away and sat there sulking.

"How could I lose? I am so knowledgeable. When it comes to military maps...my maps...she is just a little witch. I must defeat her in the future and let her know how powerful I am."

Zhu Houzhao clenched his fists, as if he had found his life goal.

That means outshining your own sister.

Gao Feng then walked to his side and waited for his orders.

Zhu Houzhao asked, "Where is Liu Jin? Hasn't that fellow arrived yet?"

Gao Feng said: "The person has left."

"What? Gone?" Zhu Houzhao said angrily, "He just walked away without saying anything? He still has the nerve to do that? He doesn't even bother explaining to me and just becomes a deserter? I thought he was really talented! They say there is a fundamental difference between those who have been to the battlefield and those who haven't. It turns out he also likes to be a deserter?"

Gao Feng laughed secretly in his heart.

Isn't it because your previous style scared him?

Of course, we won’t stand by his good side and will definitely find ways to cheat him.

Zhu Houzhao stood up and paced back and forth, saying, "No, we have to compete in the next round. Next time, I can't use some empty concepts to talk about things. I must make sure my words are meaningful. Now that I think about it, my father said that I was right. I underestimated the enemy."

Gao Feng thought, it's rare that you know you really lost.

But did we really lose?

Why do I always feel that Your Majesty and Duke Cai have joined forces to suppress you?
But this is hard to say.

Zhu Houzhao said, "After all, the pacification of the grassland has not been implemented yet. When I really use this tactic to pacify the grassland in the future, who will say that my words are empty? Of course, I will let Zhang be my vanguard. Wherever he goes, the Tatars will surely flee. Then I will find a chance to ambush the Tatars, and I will lead the troops in front."

Gao Feng said: "Your Highness, you are going to take yourself as..."

"As bait, huh? You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child, and now you can't catch a Tartar without sacrificing the crown prince. Don't you understand this? Besides, with the artillery, what am I afraid of? Didn't Liu Jin come back safe and sound after going to the battlefield?"

Zhu Houzhao looked disapproving.

Gao Feng was thinking in his heart, you are going to follow in the footsteps of your ancestors.

Zhu Houzhao said bitterly: "Zhang must have something amazing to teach me. I can't let my sister have the opportunity to learn advanced knowledge. No one knows more about military affairs than me!"

……

……

British government.

In front of Zhang Mao was a plate of vegetables, a bowl of porridge, and some pickles.

This was his dinner.

Zhong Decai stood by and said helplessly, "Master, how long are you going to torture yourself?"

Zhang Mao put down his chopsticks and cursed, "Don't I know that meat is delicious? Or do I not know that I should eat more fish? But that's 90,000 taels of silver... Even this is not enough to compensate. If I can't come up with the remaining 50,000 taels before the beginning of next spring, even this house will be taken away by the court! Can't I save some money now?"

Zhong Decai said: "But there is no need to wrong yourself like this."

"Decai, I heard that you eat better than me, right?" Zhang Mao said, "Then let's start saving money from you first. You don't need to receive a salary for the next year."

"Master, you haven't given me any salary in the past year."

Zhong Decai also seemed very aggrieved.

"is it?"

After hearing this, Zhang Mao seemed to feel a little better.

It turns out that my stinginess was used in the right place.

Zhong Decai said: "We had agreed to settle the accounts at the end of the year, but we had to go to war at the end of the year, and they said they would settle the accounts when we came back. And then... Anyway, I am almost out of money now."

Zhang Mao sneered, "Why are you pretending to be poor? Do you think I don't know that the people below have given you a lot of tribute? Now you want me to return the dirty silver. I see that you have taken a lot, so why don't you give some of it?"

Zhong Decai shrank his neck and was speechless for a moment.

Zhang Mao picked up the chopsticks again, tried hard for a long time, and finally put them down and said, "Well, let the kitchen fry an egg for me."

"Is one egg enough?" asked Zhong Decai.

Zhang Mao said: "Do you think I am here to eat? I am here to see! Even if you just let me smell the fragrance? I, Zhang, have come this far, it's really..."

Zhong Decai said, "Sir, please calm down. Fortunately, you have the red seal and iron certificate here. Otherwise, anyone who embezzles more than 5,000 taels of silver in the court will be executed immediately. I heard that several people have been executed."

"what?"

Zhang Mao lost his temper instantly.

According to this standard, he would have to have thirty heads.

Zhong Decai said: "And His Majesty has reduced your punishment according to your previous merits, and also given you a grace period. This is already a great favor from the Emperor. If you have any more complaints and someone gets to His Majesty's ears, I'm afraid you..."

"Okay! Let's fry some eggs! And bring a pot of wine, the one that Lao Jiang brewed. These will be my snacks." (End of this chapter)