The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Zhang Zhou had not expected that in order to fight for a place to go to sea, everyone would use all their powers, and even Chiang Kai-shek would come to lobby.

Perhaps the advertising effect was too good this time. A voyage brought back more than 10 million taels of silver. Every person who went out to sea, even an ordinary soldier or boatman, received a reward of more than 200 taels of silver, and the voyage lasted only one year...

This salary is comparable to that of important officials in the Ming Dynasty. It is equivalent to earning forty or fifty years' salary by going to sea for one year.

After all, an ordinary person can get four or five taels of silver as wages a year, or after selling the grain from the land and paying taxes, this is basically the amount left. This is also based on the premise that the person owns the land and the weather is good.

Ordinary people have no concept of currency depreciation. They just think that these two hundred taels of silver are great and hope to go out and try their luck.

As for the generals who led the troops, the ordinary soldiers, or the boatmen who had special skills, they just went out to sea to complete a routine duty, and after returning, they could live a carefree life... After two years at sea, they could directly retire...

Zhang Zhou did not agree to Jiang Dezhong.

After all, Zhang Zhou doesn’t have any business overseas.

From the beginning of planning the Great Voyage, Zhang Zhou made it clear to Zhu Youtang that all this was for the public good, and even if the emperor wanted to transfer the benefits to him, Zhang Zhou, he would not accept it.

……

……

Zhu Youtang then summoned Zhang Zhou to the palace to discuss the matter of going to sea.

"I didn't expect that so many people would be eager to go to sea, or think that there is a lot of potential overseas."

Zhu Youtang asked Chen Kuan to hand Zhang Zhou a detailed list of applicants so that Zhang Zhou could see who was on the list.

Zhu Youtang said: "Lian Heling and Yanling seem to be interested in this, but I don't plan to let them go. I am afraid that if they go, they might embezzle a lot of money. Don't let them go and become two parasites."

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, you really understand the character of your two brothers-in-law.

They go out to sea to make trouble, and when they reach a place far away from the emperor, they will be even more restless. Perhaps the first ones to cause trouble, or even make a big incident, will be people like Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling.

"Your Majesty, who does you plan to appoint as the leader?" Zhang Zhou asked.

Zhu Youtang said, "I didn't take it too seriously at first. I could have sent anyone. I was also wondering, even if it was a short voyage, it would take nearly a year, and there were so many risks. It was very likely that the ship would be capsized by wind and waves and never come back. Why were so many people vying to go?"

Zhang Zhou said: "Because they want to make contributions to the Ming Dynasty, and this matter is profitable."

"Yes." Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "Then Bingkuan, who do you think is the most suitable person to go? Of course, what you said before does not count. What I am worried about now is who will lead this voyage... According to what I said before, in the future, we will set up the position of general commander in overseas areas. This position should be held by a civil official. In terms of military merit..."

Zhu Youtang didn't explain it very clearly.

But Zhang Zhou understood what he meant. The emperors of all dynasties were still too worried about military achievements.

If this group of people rebel outside, the power of the warriors will still be very strong because this group of people have no principles.

Moreover, the rules for the Ming Dynasty's expeditions have always been the trinity of power, that is, civil officials, military heroes and eunuchs restrain each other. Therefore, the emperor would be more in line with the Confucian concept of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, and believed that a civil official would not dare to rebel after going out.

Zhang Zhou asked, "Who does your Majesty prefer?"

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "In fact, I have thought about this issue. If we want to show our importance to overseas places, we should send someone with qualifications and reputation. I think Lu Wan, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, is a good choice. Although he is currently fighting bandits in the Central Plains, those bandits themselves are not a threat. It's just a matter of a word."

"I don't think it's appropriate." Zhang Zhou said, "Lu Wan might be a bit radical in his actions."

Zhu Youtang asked, "Who is suitable to go then?"

Zhang Zhou thought about it and continued to shake his head and said, "If there is no better candidate, we can let the newly promoted Ministry of Revenue Doctor Lin Ting continue to go. After all, he has experience the last time. If he goes back this time... he may be able to better control overseas affairs."

Zhu Youtang seemed to have no time to think about it, and directly made the decision: "Okay, I will promote him to the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and give him the job of Right Deputy Censor-in-Chief, and let him take charge of overseas affairs."

Zhang Zhou said, "Your Majesty, are you considering other candidates?"

"No need." Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "If you hadn't mentioned Lin Ting, I might not have considered him. After all, people would be a little tired after going to sea once, but he is young after all, and it's okay for him to gain experience overseas for another two years. Speaking of which, is the situation in the northwest definitely better than going overseas?"

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, you are really considerate of your subjects. It's a pity that Lin Ting has to run back and forth like this.

Zhu Youtang asked, "You mentioned that the two things that overseas people are most worried about are plague and riot. Plague is not a big deal, at least it won't cause any major changes. But for riot, we need someone we trust. I plan to appoint Zhang Yong as the military supervisor. What do you think?"

The emperor again nominated the candidate and asked Zhang Zhou to come for reference.

Zhang Zhou said, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten what you are going to do after the beginning of spring?"

"Yes, yes, Zhang Yong has rich experience in leading troops, so we should keep him. Let Liu Jin go." Zhu Youtang immediately thought of the second candidate.

The person who made him angry and thought was a bad guide for his son, but who still had some ability and he didn't know how to use him.

Stuff Liu Jin overseas and make him a military eunuch in the Americas...

It seemed that the emperor had already thought of this candidate, but after excluding Zhang Yong, he immediately felt that this person was more suitable.

Zhang Zhou said: "I second the motion."

Originally, Zhang Zhou did not intend to let Liu Jin go. After all, an ambitious man like Liu Jin might make a name for himself overseas.

But it is also a good thing to let Liu Jin stay away from the capital of the Ming Dynasty temporarily.

The bond between Zhu Houzhao and Liu Jin is really hard to explain. When Zhang Zhou couldn't kill Liu Jin directly, the best way was to keep a distance between the prince and Liu Jin... Some things are also the so-called "historical correction force", and Zhang Zhou himself couldn't explain many things clearly.

"Mr. Bingkuan, I still think it would be best to let the Duke of Ying go. It was he who proposed it anyway."

When Zhu Youtang mentioned Zhang Mao, he seemed to be very wary. "If we transfer him overseas, there will be less resistance to any plan we want to implement in the next one or two years."

Zhang Zhou said: "It is better for your Majesty to make the decision on this matter. In fact, it doesn't matter who we send."

Zhu Youtang said: "Let the Duke of Ying go, it's settled!"

……

……

Zhang Mao submitted an application and was immediately allowed to go overseas as a meritorious official.

When the imperial edict was conveyed to the Duke of Yingzhou's Mansion, Zhang Mao himself was also surprised.

Am I so popular with His Majesty?
Your Majesty, do you really believe me when I say I can shoulder such a heavy responsibility?

But I'm a landlubber, and you actually asked me to lead troops to the sea? I, Zhang, have never been on a ship in my life. Have you considered the feelings of my family?

My son is now in the northwest, his life or death is uncertain, and he may even return home wrapped in his horse's hide. Now you want him to lead the troops to the sea...

"Master, congratulations, you got what you wished for." Zhong Decai was unaware of the turmoil in Zhang Mao's heart and was still speaking politely.

Zhang Mao asked calmly, "Decai, do you think it is appropriate for me to go overseas?"

Zhong Decai asked curiously, "My Lord, you offered to go earlier and asked me to go to the relatives of Duke Cai to seek help. You were just pretending, weren't you? Now that His Majesty thinks you are competent, shouldn't you feel happy?"

"is it?"

Zhang Mao said, "With my status as an old man, after I go to sea, does it mean that everything in the capital has nothing to do with me?"

"That's not the case. Didn't His Majesty mention it in the imperial edict, saying that you will be entrusted with important tasks after your return?" Zhong Decai seemed very optimistic about this.

"That……"

Zhang Mao's eyes immediately lit up, as if he was about to say the following content.

But Zhong Decai immediately interrupted, "I have something to tell you, sir. I am old and have an old mother to take care of at home, so I plan to resign and leave."

"Fuck you!"

Zhang Mao couldn't help but curse.

Zhong Decai said, "Master, calm down. It's not because I don't want to go to sea with you. It's because I can't bear to leave my old mother at home, and there are many other things... I actually mentioned this to you earlier, you should remember it, right?"

Zhang Mao rolled his eyes and said, "This is what you call congratulations, right? You're not going, and you want me to go by myself?"

“Well… Actually, I know that you are in a difficult situation, but this is something you fought for yourself, so you can’t blame anyone else.” Zhong Decai spoke in a very calm manner.

Zhang Mao said, "You are so happy to say such sarcastic things here. I want to go. It doesn't matter if anyone else goes, but you have to go. Don't worry, I will make sure you get more than 500 taels of silver this time... and I will let you come back within a year..."

"I……"

Zhong Decai said with a bitter face, "I can't swim."

"I can't do that either!" Zhang Mao said, "I just saw that His Majesty and Zhang Bingkuan both thought I was in the way! So they told me to go out to sea early, and it would be best if I died out there and never came back!"

Zhong Decai asked curiously, "Aren't you rushing to go because the Duke of Baoguo... the former Duke of Baoguo wants to go?"

Zhang Mao asked, "So will he go or not?"

"I don't know." Zhong Decai looked aggrieved.

Because now Zhong Decai doesn't even have the chance to escape. He knows that he may know too many secrets of Zhang Mao. If he wants to get away with it, Zhang Mao will probably kill him to silence him.

Zhang Mao sneered, "Then write a memorial and let him go. And not just him alone, it would be best if his whole family goes. Then... wait and see how I deal with him!"

……

……

Northwest, on the grassland.

A great war is unfolding.

The cavalry led by Ma Yi rushed directly to the Tatar camp. In an open area of ​​more than ten miles, the Tatar camps were connected together.

The Ming cavalry that rushed forward relied on muskets and charged forward at lightning speed.

At the same time, on both sides of the camp, a group led by Zhang Rui and Tang Yin formed a three-sided attack, like a pocket formation, preparing to form a closed bag and gradually swallow up the Tatar camp.

"Bang bang bang..."

It was the Tatar artillery that fired first.

But the cannons they used were all very old, some of which were even used before the founding of the Ming Dynasty and were later plundered by the Tatars.

These cannons were originally used for internal disputes between the Tatars. The Tatars did not even intend to use them on the front line of the war with the Ming Dynasty. However, they were suddenly attacked in their own hinterland. They could only use this method to try to hinder the advance of the Ming army and to remind their own tribesmen...

Should have escaped.

The cavalry led by Ma Yi were the first to come into contact with the Tatar vanguard.

The first resistance troops organized by the Tatars basically used bows and arrows to shoot at the Ming cavalry at medium and long distances...but their bows and arrows obviously did not have the longer range of the Ming muskets. The modified flintlock guns now had very strong aiming functions and their range was greatly improved. At least within a range of 200 meters, they had good lethality.

As the muskets were fired, the Ming army and the Tatar vanguard immediately engaged in medium and close range combat.

Although the Tatar cavalry's advantage in bows and arrows was reflected to a certain extent, the troops led by Ma Yi were not rookies after all. They were elite soldiers who had followed Ma Yi and Zhang Rui in battle many times. In addition, the armor of the Ming soldiers was relatively heavy, which was specially used to block arrows shot from the front. Therefore, after the contact, the offensive of the Ming side remained unabated.

The sound of musketry continued.

Although the noises were sporadic as they spread far away, they gradually became coherent.

Before the vanguards of both sides came into contact, the Tatar soldiers on horseback fell off their horses one after another, and even the horses fell forward one after another. At the same time, the momentum of the Ming army remained unabated.

As soon as the two sides came into contact, the Ming army dispersed the Tatar vanguard, and then only sporadic battles were left. The Ming side still used muskets... and did not give the Tatars any chance at all.

No matter how thick the armor the Tatars wore, they had no ability to resist the modified muskets.

Every time a bullet hits a Tatar's horse or a person, it will definitely separate them from their horses... After all, the huge impact force brought by the musket cannot be resisted by heavy armor. Instead, the heavy armor will create a huge backward momentum that will make them fly off their horses directly.

Once a cavalryman falls off his horse, regardless of how injured he is, he will at least lose his combat effectiveness for a short period of time. The Ming soldiers are in a dominant position and can use many methods to take their lives, and they may even have time to draw their swords.

In fact, there is no need to use a sword, because it is more convenient to use a flintlock gun.

After all, after the modification, the flintlock gun's reloading time is faster, which is probably only a breath of time. After two bullets are replaced, it can fire twice in succession.

Everyone also has one on their waist in case of emergency.

……

When a battle is won or lost after a short confrontation, the three main armies of the Ming Dynasty can march straight in and break through the Tatar camp in front of them. There is no need to set up any artillery, just handheld weapons will do. (End of this chapter)