Early Ming Dynasty: Turning Clouds and Rains into New Learning Saints

Chapter 217 Zhao Kuo and Huo Qubing of the Ming Dynasty

When Zhu Yuanzhang said this, he also specifically reminded that Gao Li was not comparable to toast, and signaled to Zhang Yifan that there was a big difference.

Zhang Yifan certainly knew about this.

A chieftain, no matter how large his territory is, cannot be very big.Goryeo, on the other hand, basically occupies the Korean Peninsula. In terms of population and overall strength, it is definitely much stronger than Tusi.

However, so what?

Zhang Yifan looked serious, and answered Zhu Yuanzhang seriously: "Father, my son thinks that it is absolutely wrong to deal with the relationship between countries based on the relationship between people. I am grateful to the vassal state, and I look forward to this vassal state meeting forever." Loyalty, this is impossible. Even if the current monarch has a favorable impression of the Ming Dynasty, it does not mean that subsequent monarchs will also have a favorable impression of the Ming Dynasty."

"If the vassal state is weak and weak, but if the vassal state's monarch is wise and powerful and makes the vassal state stronger, it will inevitably seek greater benefits. If this interest is only owned by the suzerain state, then the vassal state will give up obtaining benefits from the suzerain state. What?"

"If the suzerain country is not strong, but the fan country is strong, the fan country will still treat it as the suzerain country? Will it help the suzerain country become stronger again, or will the vassal country want to replace it and become the suzerain itself?"

Having said this, Zhang Yifan raised his voice and said firmly in a very affirmative tone: "The conclusion is actually very obvious. Just as Erchen said at the beginning, there are only interests between countries. With the strength of the country as the backing, then apply it. Etiquette and law can tame the vassal state, make the vassal state become the dog of the Ming Dynasty, and contribute their strength to the strength of the Ming Dynasty. This is how a good vassal state can be!"

What he said did not focus on the current situation, but extended the timeline, considering the relationship between countries from the perspective of several generations of kings.

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help being a little surprised again.

What he considered was the importance of Goryeo to Liaodong under the current situation. Therefore, he originally wanted to release the Goryeo envoy and win over Goryeo to solve the Mongolian and Yuan remnants in Liaodong.But he never thought about what would happen next, or what would happen in the future?
At this time, after listening to Zhang Yifan's words, he couldn't help but become a little alert: he seemed to have ignored the future again and again!Is your situation not as big as this son-in-law?
Li Shanchang was also shocked. He didn't expect Zhang Yifan to say such a thing.After coming back to his senses, he originally planned to praise Zhang Yifan's words, but immediately praised: "What the prince consort said is really a wise idea, refreshing, refreshing!"

Upon hearing this, the prince Zhu Biao frowned and asked Zhang Yifan: "Isn't it difficult to tame the vassal country for the use of the Ming Dynasty?"

When Zhang Yifan heard the words, he turned to look at him and said with a smile: "With the power of our Ming Dynasty and the vast land and resources, it is actually very easy to tame small foreign countries!"

At this point, he saw that even Zhu Yuanzhang, who was deep in thought, looked up, and continued: "One way is to conquer Fan State. If you don't want to be included in the Ming Dynasty, you can station troops in Fan State and use Fan State's financial resources to support the Ming Dynasty. The army, and the Fan state itself is not allowed to have an army, this is how the Ming Dynasty protects the Fan state. If the Fan state does not have an army, then it is just fish and meat on the knife board of the Ming Dynasty. You can do whatever you want!"

Zhu Yuanzhang: "..."

Zhu Biao and others: "..."

Can you still play like this?
For a moment, they all felt a little enlightened.In name, it was the suzerain state's protection of the vassal state. In fact, the vassal state's financial resources were used to support the Ming army, and it could also firmly control the fan state.

While they were surprised, they heard Zhang Yifan continue to say: "If it is not easy to use this method to conquer a foreign country, you can also use economic means to control the foreign country!"

This time, Zhu Yuanzhang took the initiative to ask, with a hint of doubt: "What are economic means?"

When Zhang Yifan heard the question, he turned to look at him and explained to him: "Just like Nanyang, I have sent people to buy grain to let people in other countries know that they can make money from Ming Dynasty by growing grain. If everyone goes to grow food to make money, then this country will be highly biased towards growing food. For example, it will not develop firearms, but our Ming Dynasty can develop comprehensively, so that it can maintain its national strength and firmly crush other countries."

"Of course, this is just a simple example. The main thing is to let this country focus on a certain aspect of things, and this aspect of things will depend on my Ming Dynasty. This is an economic war."

"Also, now we in Daming are using Daming banknotes. If we wait until later, when we trade between Daming and Fanbang, we will no longer use gold and silver, but Fanbang will also use my Daming banknotes for transactions, even in their country. If the Ming Dynasty treasures are traded, then I, the Ming Dynasty, can firmly grasp the financial resources of this country, and can also bind this country to the Ming Dynasty."

At this time, in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang had followed Zhang Yifan's suggestion and allowed the released Ming Dynasty treasure notes to be exchanged for gold and silver, but the gold and silver could not be used for trading.If you go to trade with foreign countries, you should still use gold and silver as currency.

To a certain extent, the paper currency of the Ming Dynasty at this time was a financial system in which credit and gold and silver were used as reserves.

After Zhang Yifan said so much, he brought the topic back to the beginning and said sternly to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Father, the Japanese country killed me the Ming envoy. Goryeo also followed my example and killed my Ming envoy. If not punished, who knows what will happen in the future?" There are so many foreign countries who kill our Ming envoys whenever they don’t agree with their wishes, and don’t take our Ming Dynasty seriously. Therefore, the Japanese and Goryeo must be severely punished and publicized."

"Back then, the Han Empire said that those who dare to offend the powerful Han Dynasty will be punished no matter how far away they are. Is it true that our Ming Dynasty is so bad that we dare not declare to the world that those who dare to offend the Ming Dynasty will be punished no matter how far away they are?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Wang Zhu Di immediately jumped out, blushed, and said loudly to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Father, anyone who dares to offend the Ming Dynasty will be punished even if he is far away! My son is willing to lead the army to conquer the world and dominate the world!" "

Anyone who dares to offend the Ming Dynasty will be punished no matter how far away!Passionate and passionate words are the glory and pursuit of a warrior!

After Zhu Di, Duke Deng Yu of Wei, Duke Li Wenzhong of Cao and others came out one after another and loudly shouted to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Anyone who dares to offend the Ming Dynasty will be punished no matter how far away!"

These words were indeed passionate and impulsive. Li Shanchang was not surprised at all that these words would come out of the mouth of the prince-consort.However, he knew that it was easy to say but difficult to do!

Zhao Kuo was just an invincible man, thinking that fighting was just one thing, but when he actually went to the battlefield, Zhao Kuo was deceived.

With this thought in his mind, Li Shanchang immediately followed suit and said: "What the Prince Consort said is absolutely true. I second my opinion!" However, Zhu Yuanzhang still remained awake. Although he was somewhat approving, he was also Ming Neng. He was so powerful and could connect with reality. He still said calmly: "The war is not that easy. Otherwise, I would have sent troops to attack the enemies in Yunnan and Liaodong."

After hearing this, Zhu Di once again invited the emperor to fight: "Father, I swear to destroy the enemies of the Meng Yuan Dynasty."

He was about to conquer Beiping. The enemy he faced was the remnants of the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty entrenched in the grasslands and Liaodong. They also harassed the pass from time to time. Fortunately, Xu Da was guarding there.

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was a little pleased with his son's lofty ambitions, but also a little worried that his son could not understand the situation, so he said to him: "There are as many as 20 enemies entrenched near Liaodong, but on the front line of Peking, The imperial army only has about 10 troops, and food and supplies are still being hoarded. It is not the time to talk lightly about war, but it is necessary to be sure of it before you can succeed with one blow. This will cost the least, do you understand?"

Historically, Zhu Yuanzhang prepared sufficient troops for the enemies in Liaodong and sent the Mongols who surrendered to the Ming Dynasty to persuade them to surrender. It can be said that he used a combination of kindness and power to regain Liaodong without any major war.But even so, when the army returned, the Mongolian and Yuan troops on the Mongolian grassland still ambushed and annihilated the three thousand cavalry troops behind the army.

Zhu Yuanzhang's method of using troops is to create his own advantages and use the advantages to counter the enemy's disadvantages, and to defeat the enemy's troops without fighting.

At this time, he said this to Zhu Di to impart his experience to Zhu Di.

However, Zhu Di was only 20 years old, and when he was in his prime of life, his thoughts were definitely not Zhu Yuanzhang's scheming and scheming principle of making decisions before acting. Therefore, after listening to Zhu Yuanzhang's words, he immediately replied: "Father, Emperor , It’s just a scrap of gold, a piece of scattered sand, just like a chicken or a dog! I don’t need many soldiers. As long as the navy continues to be under my command, I will be able to win Liaodong for my father with the current strength of the army!"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned after hearing this. When he was about to speak, Li Shanchang was happy to hear it and immediately followed him: "His Royal Highness, King Yan, is quite as heroic as your majesty back then. Newborn calves are not afraid of tigers. I can see that this is my Ming Dynasty's nest." A cavalry general! What a joy!"

When Zhu Di heard that the first hero of the founding of the Ming Dynasty compared him to Huo Qubing in the Han Dynasty, he was overjoyed immediately, and his favorability for Li Shanchang was full, and he immediately played loudly to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Father, my son is willing to issue a military order and not break it." Liaodong will never return it!"

Zhu Di's words and deeds were obviously different from other princes.Look at the King of Qin, King of Jin and others, who is as impassioned as King Yan?
To be honest, when several famous generals saw this scene, they all liked King Yan very much, and it was to their liking.

Therefore, Deng Yu went out and played to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Your Majesty, the general is willing to follow King Yan to attack Liaodong!"

Let him serve as the Secretary of the Military Beitang in the capital. He is really willing to go out and lead troops to fight!
After hearing this, Li Wenzhong followed suit and expressed his willingness to assist His Highness King Yan.

The atmosphere in Wuying Hall suddenly rose up under the leadership of Li Shanchang.

Seeing that his father was still hesitating, Zhu Di rolled his eyes and immediately looked at Zhang Yifan and said to him: "Yifan, what do you mean?"

Regarding foreign enemies, Zhang Yifan's attitude is already very obvious.Therefore, Zhu Di wanted to get Zhang Yifan to support him, so that the possibility of his father agreeing to his request for war would be greatly increased.

After hearing what he said, Li Shanchang also asked: "What the Prince Consort just said is reasonable. What do you think about the war in Liaodong? Isn't it because you are afraid of Goryeo?"

Vaguely, he brought a little provocation.

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard what they were saying, he turned to look at his son-in-law.

Zhang Yifan's words just now were analyzed from aspects he had not considered several times, which opened his eyes. Therefore, he also wanted to hear Zhang Yifan's views.

Zhang Yifan listened and thought about the historical situation. After thinking for a while, he saw that everyone was still waiting for him to speak, so he said: "Father, I think that if we are ready to go to war, The certainty of victory will be much higher. However, it may also make the enemy feel that the possibility of winning is low, so they avoid fighting, resulting in a protracted war with Meng Yuan!"

At this point, without waiting for anyone to speak, he immediately added: "The enemies in Yunnan have nowhere to run, so the imperial court prepared a superior force to attack, which I thought was a safe move. But in the north, there are vast grasslands. Once the enemy hides from our Ming Dynasty’s officers and soldiers, the war will continue to be protracted, which will also be detrimental to our Ming Dynasty.”

Hearing that he did not directly respond to Zhu Di's request for war, but instead analyzed the differences between the war between the north and the south, and for Zhu Yuanzhang, he naturally knew that what Zhang Yifan said made sense.If possible, he certainly didn't want to delay it.

Therefore, he asked Zhang Yifan: "What do you mean?"

Zhang Yifan listened and said in a firm tone: "Use elite soldiers to show the enemy's weakness, attract the enemy to attack and then delay the enemy. Then counterattack with reinforcements and inflict heavy losses on the enemy. As long as you come here a few times and kill more enemies, you will be It can seriously damage their vitality. By then, it will be the final time to deal with Meng Yuan!"

Li Shanchang couldn't help but smile secretly in his heart after hearing this.The words of the great consort are indeed the same as those of Zhao Kuo.It makes sense, but if you really want to do it, don’t you know that it will be difficult to reach the sky?
In any war that is certain, it is better to use more to bully the less, and to be prepared and unprepared for attack!
As the Prince Consort said, the most likely thing is that the so-called elite soldiers went to lure the enemy, but the bait was eaten by the enemy, and the fish ran away.

Meng Yuan is not a fool. He will naturally investigate the possibility of reinforcements. They will only take action when they are sure to eat Ming's troops to lure the enemy!
This great prince-in-law really only knows how to talk on paper!
Although he was thinking this, Li Shanchang still spoke in agreement: "The Prince Consort's strategy is wonderful! I think it's worth a try!"

Hearing his words, Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him a little dissatisfied.Just as Li Shanchang knew him, he also knew Li Shanchang, and felt that Li Shanchang should be able to see that the strategy proposed by Zhang Yifan was too ideal.

So, he looked at Zhang Yifan and said seriously: "Soldiers are dangerous in war, and it is a taboo for military strategists to underestimate military affairs! If you want to win in military affairs, you must use superior troops to attack the enemy's weakness. To defeat more with less, Although it exists, it is rare and should never be used in military affairs. Do you understand?"

(End of this chapter)