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Chapter 770: Liancheng Locks the Northern Frontier

"Well, Lord Wang knows his job well, and I am very pleased. In the past, Emperor Taizu and Emperor Chengzu made many northern expeditions, and Kaiping Guard was also used as a place for transporting supplies and grain, making great contributions. Later, it was abolished, not because this place was unimportant, but because the court was unable to support the expenditure of the army, so it had to be done.

I think it is time to restore it. With Kaiping Guard, we can deter the Mongolian tribes without stationing a large army, making it impossible for them to come and go freely. The Kharchin tribe will be pinned to the north of Xuanfu by Kaiping Guard. Not only will they not invade the border, but they will also serve as a shield for the Ming Dynasty.

If I do not send troops to help, and want to reap the rewards without any effort, the Kharchin tribe will most likely choose to side with Ligdan Khan, and then become the second Doyan Three Guards, turning against the Ming Dynasty.

One more shield to protect against wind and rain, and one more enemy, whether it is a loss or a gain, you my dear ministers should be able to calculate clearly, there is no need for me to explain in detail. However, the benefits of restoring Kaiping Guard are more than that.

It will slowly form a chain with Guihua City in the west and Fuyu City in the east. With only a small number of garrisons, we can block the route of the Mongolian tribes to the south, turning the passive defense that we were worried about into an active defense that can attack or defend. From now on, the situation at the border will change, and it will be the enemy's turn to be restless. "

By this time the imperial meeting had completely entered Hong Tao's rhythm. He had a habit of not throwing out a topic right away for everyone to comment on.

Instead, you should first bring up the topic and let others come up with ideas and solutions, then select the best ones to supplement your own ideas, and only throw out a conclusion when you really can't pick any better ones.

Once it reaches this point, it is highly unlikely to change unless someone can come up with a more reasonable solution. But here comes the question, if you have a solution, why didn't you propose it just now? You had to wait for me to propose it before opposing it. You have ulterior motives!
"I think it is feasible to restore Kaiping Guard, but this move is suspected of taking advantage of someone's misfortune. It is more appropriate for the Army General Staff to send someone to discuss it privately with Bai Hong Da Taiji, and it should not be seen in the court."

Whether or not Kaiping Guard should be restored, other ministers may need to make careful plans, but Yuan Keli has already figured it out. Isn't this just another Guihua City and another Fuyu City? With the garrison effect of these two outlying fortresses, the future of Kaiping Guard is not difficult to predict.

The emperor's active defense strategy of using points to lead lines is correct from the current point of view. While saving defensive forces, it does not weaken the defensive function and also has offensive attributes, which is extremely cost-effective.

It's just that the means used are a bit dirty, either taking advantage of someone's misfortune or taking advantage of someone's misfortune. If this gets out, it will seriously lower the emperor's image. As a minister, I have to take the initiative at this moment and take all the bad reputation on myself.

"Hehehe, I appreciate Li Qing's kindness, but this time I still have to come forward, so that Dataiji Baihong will be likely to believe it. As for reputation, it's not that I don't care, I just don't care about how outsiders evaluate it.

As the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, I only care about the thoughts of the people under my rule. Why should I worry about others? In fact, the more I am hated by foreign countries, the more qualified I am as the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. I will not use the resources of the Ming Dynasty to win the favor of friendly countries, and I will not allow you to do it. You can't even think about it!
There is no love or hate without reason in the world. The foreigners hate me because I have taken back their land, rivers, mountains, and products and distributed them to the people of Ming. If the foreigners love me, then the people of Ming will hate me. It is obvious which is more important. "

As an emperor, he must be pleased that his ministers are willing to take the blame and act as a shield for him. Hong Tao was indeed very happy in his heart. This was the happiness of being recognized, but it was not necessary.

Regarding the question of how to interact with foreign nations, we must communicate with the important officials in the court in the future. When it is time to be timid, you must be more timid than anyone else, and when it is time to be dominant, you must also be domineering like a big brother. It is not that etiquette is bad, but it is not applicable to everyone. If others do not agree with your set of things at all, and you still carefully abide by them, and even give up the benefits you deserve for this, then you are stupid.

"I am willing to follow Your Majesty in the northern expedition to Shangdu!" Li Ruzhang was more open-minded in this regard. Since he was not a scholar himself, he was not that influenced by Confucianism. Instead, he was more excited about restoring the glory of his ancestors.

"Well, please don't be so hasty to advise me. I have no intention of leading the army in person. Governor Li can easily capture a small city like Shangdu. There is no need for me to travel there in the open air.

Take my handwritten edict to the Great Taiji Baihong and the Great Taiji Bushitu, and then order the defenders of Guihua City to attack the Ordos tribe westwards. Even if they want to refuse, they cannot wash off the suspicion of colluding with the Han people.

Ding Shun also went with him, asking him to have a private chat with Bushitu about the future of the Mongolian tribes. It is true that Lindan Khan has ambitions, but he is not the only one of the Mongolian tribes who is of the Golden Family bloodline. As long as the conditions are met and the timing is right, why can't others become the Great Khan of Mongolia?
I believe that thwarting Lin Danhan's attempt to advance westward is precisely the opportunity for Big Taiji Bushitu to unify the right wing of Mongolia. As an ally, the Ming Dynasty is willing to lend a helping hand in the westward expedition against the Ordos tribe. "

Li Ruzhang's determination caused an uproar among the military officials present. Hong Tao quickly promised that he would not go with the army this time, which calmed the situation down. But not long after, whispers were heard again in the hall.

How shameless! It's despicable enough to take advantage of someone's misfortune to build a city, but he even openly tried to sow discord among the brothers, but he kept saying that he was doing it for the sake of family harmony.

Being a minister to such an emperor, one's soul is constantly whipped, one's humanity is constantly trampled, one's understanding of the world is constantly refreshed, and one's morality is constantly lowered. However, the country has become visibly stronger, and the people have hope of having enough food and clothing.

Which is more important, self-cultivation or governing the country? Once upon a time, these two concepts of progressive relationship were forcibly separated by the emperor, as if they were unrelated.

“However, I do need to go to the south to see the effects of the new policy with my own eyes before I can decide whether to increase the scope and intensity of promotion or to slow down and make up for the shortcomings.

We must pay special attention to Annan and Luzon. These two places are of great significance to the coastal areas of the Ming Dynasty, and the local people have not completely surrendered, so we cannot take it lightly!

All the beloved ministers will stay in the capital, with Chief of the General Staff Yuan Keli and the Chief of the Imperial Household Department Wang An as regents, and the Chief of the Military Affairs Council assisting them. I will leave my edict with the Empress. If there is any accident, please return it to the Empress for inspection."

After several surprises, the ministers were a little tired when the emperor announced that he would go on a southern tour. No one raised any strong objections. They all seemed to think that the emperor should go to the south to see the whole picture of the empire and what the new policies he created were like, which would be beneficial to his future governance.

(End of this chapter)