The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Zhang Zhou was also in high spirits that day.

Although he only took in a concubine, the young wife he welcomed into the family was of great significance. It meant that Zhang Zhou had reconciled with Xie Qian and gained Xie Qian's support. From then on, the traditional civil service camp was no longer united.

Zhang Zhou could almost control all affairs in the court.

Of course, one could also say that Xie Qian endured humiliation and fed his granddaughter to the wolves, and then turned around and poisoned his granddaughter after overthrowing Zhang Zhou... Anyway, people would have different opinions on this, but Zhang Zhou himself knew very well that Xie Qian really recognized him.

As a newlywed, the Zhang family attached great importance to the young lady of the Xie family. In terms of background, I am afraid that Lin Yi cannot be compared with Xie Junnu. After all, Xie Junnu is the granddaughter of the orthodox head of the cabinet, and Lin Yi is only the illegitimate daughter of Lin Han, and Lin Han was promoted to the position of Shangshu only after his daughter got married.

In the wedding room.

Xie Junnu did not have any red veil on her head, but just tied her hair into a bun to show that she was a wife.

When Zhang Zhou came in, the maids in the mansion quickly left.

Zhang Zhou walked to the side of the bed, and Xie Junnu looked up at her newlywed husband. She did not feel shy. Instead, she seemed to be very interested in Zhang Zhou.

"Your grandfather said that it was you who wanted to do this, right?" Zhang Zhou moved a stool over, sat down in front of Xie Junnu, and asked.

Xie Junnu could now look Zhang Zhou in the eye, and she nodded.

Zhang Zhou asked again: "Then do you know what this means?"

Xie Junnu thought about it and shook his head again.

At her age, things like marriage, family and having children would seem a little early. Although women of this era generally mature earlier, Xie Junnu is different because the Xie family has always protected her very well. Even when the Xie family fell into trouble, the Xie family never let her suffer any hardship in this world.

"Are you feeling better?" Zhang Zhou asked.

"Much better." Xie Junnu said, his voice still a little hoarse.

Over the past period of time, she has been coughing due to a cold and pneumonia. Even though her health has started to improve, she is not yet fully recovered.

Zhang Zhou smiled and patted her head as if it were his own sister, and said, "After I go to war, live well at home. If you need anything, just tell them and they will take care of you for me."

"Yeah." Xie Junnu nodded.

Seeing Zhang Zhou was about to get up and leave.

She asked hurriedly, "Where are you going?"

When she said this, she finally started to feel a little shy.

She didn't know about other things, but she knew very clearly what day it was today. If Zhang Zhou was going to leave today, perhaps she felt like she had failed to complete a mission, and she couldn't even get over it in her heart.

Zhang Zhou said, "You are still recovering from your illness. Your marriage to my house is just a political marriage. There may be many things you don't understand, but if I am away on a campaign and can't come back, I will have someone send you back to the Xie Mansion."

Xie Junnu was very curious again.

I am already a married woman, why would I bring returns?

Zhang Zhou saw Xie Junnu's innocent look, and he seemed to be reluctant to destroy the innocence of this girl. He smiled and said, "Wait for me to come back. It will probably be a few months later. When you recover from your illness, I will take you to various places and let you appreciate the scenery of Daming."

"Ah."

Although Xie Junnu didn't know what Zhang Zhou was going to do, she was excited when Zhang Zhou said he wanted to take her out for a trip.

At her age, she is very much looking forward to the outside world, but unfortunately, as a lady, she will never have this opportunity at any time. If there really is someone who can take her out to play, and in an open and aboveboard manner... she will feel that life is very exciting.

I'm afraid it's the kind that would make you laugh even in your dreams.

Zhang Zhou said: "The Xie Mansion did not bring any maids as a dowry, but the mansion will arrange one for you. They are new to the mansion, young and not scheming, so you can just arrange them to do anything."

"Oh." Xie Junnu nodded again, and then said, "I can do things by myself."

"No need."

Zhang Zhou said, "It's good to be independent, but I can't ignore you when you come to my house, otherwise your grandfather will think I haven't fulfilled my responsibilities as a husband. He agreed to let you come to my house, which can be regarded as a reconciliation. You can also come back to visit me when you have time. I won't restrict your freedom."

……

……

On the wedding day, Zhang Zhou did not stay in the bridal chamber.

Instead, they had to rush out of the city before the city gates closed at night. Although the army would not set out for another two days, preparations were still underway, especially those involving the transportation of many heavy weapons.

Gatling is certainly good and is assembled from parts, but the number of parts itself is very large, plus the base and other things, it is obviously not enough to transport them with horses alone, so some carriages are needed.

But to rush to the grassland for support, it is necessary to march with light troops. This is also to allow the Tatars to fight him with confidence. Therefore, heavy artillery that seems very heavy cannot be brought. As for light artillery, it can also be carried. Then there are artillery shells and bullets... Yes, now it is bullets, no longer the previous flintlock muskets.

After several years, Zhang Zhou's improvement of the Ming Dynasty's firearms had almost reached perfection.

Although it is not possible to develop more effective semi-automatic weapons, the current rifles and other firearms are enough to take root on the grassland.

"Master, aren't you staying tonight?"

Jiang Pingyu was very curious when she saw Zhang Zhou coming out.

There was no grand banquet at the palace that day, as Zhang Zhou was about to go to war, and the emperor did not intend to let Zhang Zhou take care of a large event.

The purpose of this marriage was more to let the traditional civil officials in the court know that Xie Qiandu had turned against the emperor and joined Zhang Zhou's side. The emperor was demonstrating a change in his political stance. As for the marriage itself, everything had to be kept simple.

After all, Zhang Zhou was just taking a concubine.

Zhang Zhou said: "I am about to go to war, why are you so worried? Besides, this girl has just recovered from a serious illness and is still very weak. Just wait for me to return from the war."

"Yeah." Jiang Pingyu seemed to understand her husband very well.

Zhang Zhou then took out something and handed it to Jiang Pingyu, saying, "This is a divorce letter, which states that if I cannot return, I will give you your freedom and I will not ask you about your future marriage. Of course, it is unlikely that you will leave... After all, I still have a title to inherit."

Jiang Pingyu rolled her eyes at her husband and said, "Master, why are you saying this at this time?"

Zhang Zhou said: "It is better to be prepared. It is better to be responsible. If something unexpected happens, I will drink less next time... so that I won't get drunk and disappear without knowing where I am."

"What are you talking about, master?" Jiang Pingyu obviously couldn't understand Zhang Zhou's parting words.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "It's nothing, I was just expressing my feelings. Drinking can easily cause trouble."

"Oh."

Jiang Pingyu was still confused, but she responded anyway. However, the answer to the question could not be seen on her husband's face.

……

……

There were still more than two hours before dark. Zhang Zhou would also make use of this time. After all, besides Xie Junnu, he also had many beautiful wives and concubines at home. He was about to go to the battlefield, so he had to do something before leaving.

Among them, Wang Mingshan is an exception.

Because Wang Mingshan will be dressed in military uniform, go into battle with the army, and be by Zhang Zhou's side at all times.

However, at this time of separation, his family was still quite attached to him, so much so that Zhang Zhou almost missed the time to leave the city.

In the next two days, he will not return to the city, and even the departure will not be presided over by Zhu Youtang himself, because Zhu Youtang will also embark on the journey to the expedition. This is a royal expedition, and all preparations are for a massive battle in the northwest.

When Zhang Zhou left the city, Yang Peng and Sun Shangqi were already waiting there, and then they would go to the military camp together.

Seeing Zhang Zhou coming, Yang Peng personally stepped forward to lead the horse and said with a smile, "I thought you would not leave the city tonight since you have won the imperial examination."

Zhang Zhou said, "How can we not count what we have agreed on? This expedition can be considered an opportunity. If we fail to grasp it well, it will likely be a protracted war in the north, and the manpower and material resources consumed will be astronomical."

Sun Shangqi asked, "My Lord, if we cannot win this battle, do we have to use hundreds of thousands of troops from all over the northwest to fight a long battle?"

"That's probably it." Zhang Zhou nodded with a smile.

Sun Shangqi asked: "What is the purpose of this battle?"

Yang Peng said with a straight face: "Is this the right question to ask now?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and raised his hand to interrupt Yang Peng, saying, "It doesn't hurt to say it. This battle is to show weakness first, so that the Tatars will think that our troops can fight, and attract their main force to come for a decisive battle. It would be best to capture the little Tatar prince alive. If we can't capture him alive, we can kill him. In this way, the grassland will fall apart completely."

Yang Peng exclaimed: "What a grand plan."

Sun Shangqi felt very embarrassed after listening to this. After all, in any previous battle, the Ming Dynasty had never had a good opportunity to kill or capture Batu Mongke alive.

Now Zhang Zhou can accomplish this by going there in person?
"Three thousand soldiers are enough." Zhang Zhou added.

Yang Peng said: "With you here, my lord, you are equal to a hundred thousand soldiers and horses. The Tatars will be wiped out."

Sun Shangqi looked at Yang Peng again.

I thought to myself, Eunuch Yang is just accompanying us into the military camp this time, not really going to the battle with us, so why are you talking so grandly?

Since you are not the pioneer in love, you don't have to worry about losing your life, right?
……

……

The Imperial Palace, East Palace.

Zhu Houzhao looked at the map he had snatched back from his sister, standing there in a daze, and didn't come back to his senses for a long time.

Gao Feng came to tell him several times that she wanted to have dinner, but he remained indifferent.

Finally, he sighed heavily and said, "Does the emperor have to snatch this heavenly skill from his son?"

"Your Highness, what did you say?"

Gao Feng looked puzzled.

Your father is trying to steal your credit? Your Highness, are you confused because of your sleep? I've long said that you can't take too many naps. It's easy to hurt your health.

Zhu Houzhao said, "Father is going to lead the army in person, and Mr. Zhang will be the vanguard officer. However, with three thousand soldiers entering the grassland, this battle may directly pacify the grassland. This will mean that I will have nothing to do in the future."

Gao Feng smiled bitterly and said, "Your Highness, you think too much. How can it be that simple?"

"You mean, they won't succeed this time? And will end up... failing?" Zhu Houzhao turned around and looked at Gao Feng and asked.

When Gao Feng heard this, his eyes widened immediately.

He said: "Your Highness, you can't say this carelessly. If His Majesty knows..."

"Tsk!" Zhu Houzhao turned his head back and continued to look at the map. "My dream is to lead the Ming army, gallop across the grasslands, and feel the joy of success. But now... they have taken all my future joy. It's very unfair to me."

Gao Feng reminded him: "Your Highness can also ride a horse on the grassland in the future."

"It's different. I won it myself, and I can feel the joy of the winner while riding. If someone else won it, I would be just an heir at most. How boring is that?"

Zhu Houzhao was very disappointed.

Gao Feng couldn't help feeling ashamed after hearing this.

You kid really likes to cause trouble. Your father helped you to conquer it and let you enjoy the fruits of victory, and you are still not satisfied?

"Your Highness, I have heard that it is easy to conquer an empire but difficult to keep it. Perhaps this is a test from His Majesty?" Gao Feng tried his best to comfort him.

Zhu Houzhao shook his head and said, "It's useless. Don't say these nonsense. I don't believe them. What's the point of defending the country? Do you think I will feel any sense of accomplishment if I ride a horse in Liaodong now? That is the territory of my Ming Dynasty. Whether I go there or not, that place is there."

"This one……"

Gao Feng thought about it and felt that it really made sense.

But he soon found a breakthrough and said, "But, the four seas are so vast, there are more than just northern barbarians."

"Yeah."

Zhu Houzhao then took out another map and said, "Hang it up for a moment."

Gao Feng quickly hung up the new map.

After it was hung up, Gao Feng was dumbfounded. There were many routes densely drawn on it, which were not there before Zhu Houzhao lost these maps. In other words, these were all drawn by Zhu Xiurong.

"That damn girl, I will definitely teach her a lesson later." Zhu Houzhao said gritting his teeth.

Gao Feng smiled awkwardly.

I have no right to interfere in your sibling affairs.

Zhu Houzhao said, "This is where Liu Jin went, it's called America. This is Europe. Mr. Zhang once told me that the people here are a little different from us. They are very white, so we can call them white people. This is Africa. If the proportions of this map are correct, then their territory is much larger than that of the Tartars."

Gao Feng said: "Not really, there seems to be a large area in the north."

"It's useless." Zhu Houzhao said, "Those places are now wild and uninhabited. It's very cold in winter and people will freeze into ice if they go there. Even if there are people living there, it's not worth occupying for the time being. I'm talking about here. Oh, and here... This seems to be Tianzhu."

"Yes." Gao Feng nodded because he could read.

Zhu Houzhao seemed to have finally gained confidence and said, "Father wants to take credit for my efforts in pacifying the northern barbarians, so I will be determined to pacify all the four seas in the future."

"What else?" Gao Feng asked.

"Are you stupid? There is a ball under our feet. This is all the territory and oceans on Earth. There is nothing else besides these... Unless we conquer outer space... Mr. Zhang has already said that it is a dream. Let's solve the problems on Earth first!" (End of this chapter)