Jingnan Strategy

Chapter 120
"At [-]:[-] noon, Your Majesty Jinwu Guard Qianhu Fu Rang Shangshu asked him to be transferred to Liaodong Dusi to serve as Jilin Guard Qianhu."

"After seeing the memorial, His Majesty promoted Fu Rang to the commander of the Jilin Guard."

"Your Highness, look..."

In the East Palace Chunhe Hall, listening to Li Quan's report, Zhu Yunwen, who was sitting behind the desk and drawing, put down his brush and washed the ink on his hands.

Facing Fu Rang's matter, Zhu Yunwen was very calm:
"The Jilin Guard is under his control. It is not surprising that this will happen. As long as the Liaodong, Daning, Beiping, Shanxi and other capitals and the Yingguo Palace have old military attachés transferred to the south, they will have no one they can rely on."

"After going to that place, even if he wants to return to Beijing, he has to deal with Xiyang Ha first."

"That Xiyang Ha is not so easy to solve. Although he is not good at fighting, he is good at escaping. I don't believe that they can offer Xiyang Ha's head when they go to Jilin."

After wiping his hands with silk cloth, Zhu Yunwen sat back in his seat. The two eunuchs next to him carefully took away the dried paintings on the table and poured tribute tea for him.

After taking a sip of the tribute tea, Zhu Yunwen felt very proud.

In just seven days, many military attachés from several northern divisions had been transferred to the south. Zhu Yunwen really wanted to know what his good third uncle's expression looked like now.

"How is the counterinsurgency in Yunnan going?"

Zhu Yunwen put down the tribute tea and asked Li Quan, and Li Quan also replied: "Three days ago, I bowed my sword to death and asked to surrender. Wei Guogong considered that Nong Zhenyou was stubborn, so he surrendered his sword and bowed to death, and turned his troops to attack Nong Zhenyou in Guangnan."

"Okay!" Zhu Yunwen was even more proud when he heard that the rebellion in Yunnan was about to be put down.

When everything goes well, he no longer cares about 'little people' like Zhu Gaoxu.

Without him causing trouble, Zhu Gaoxu's side also made rapid progress. With Yi Shiha's help, three hundred craftsmen involved in bell casting, iron smelting, mining, carpentry, and masonry were quickly found.

For them, Zhu Gaoxu also gave them a reasonable salary. He only asked them to go to the Jilin Shipyard for five years, and paid them [-] yuan of wages every year. After the five years, they would be arranged to return south.

It can be said that this is much easier to accept than being forced to be a craftsman of the palace. The three hundred craftsmen are just traveling far away to do work.

Compared with craftsmen, it is much more difficult for the guards.

The craftsmen can still go home, but the guards must move their families to Jilin.

Even though Zhu Gaoxu had a high prestige among hundreds of households in the Xu family, many brothers came to Zhu Gaoxu in groups to apologize to him when it came to his family's future.

Wu Zhangyi, the flag officer who Zhu Gaoxu thought would accompany him to Jilin, also came to apologize, which made him feel a little disappointed.

As of the 340th of the twelfth lunar month, there were only more than 150 people enlisted in the Guards, which was still about [-] short of the full complement of [-].

In this group of people, there are about 320 people who are all other people from the [-]th Guards in Beijing.

Since more than [-] of them are single, there are not many cases of bringing families with them. However, this is what Zhu Gaoxu expected. After all, people with families are the least likely to move, and it is not what Zhu Gaoxu considers. within the range.

In the following days, Zhu Gaoxu kept waiting, not only for the five hundred guards to be fully staffed, but also for Yang Bin to send the money, and finally for the person he wanted to wait for... Wang Jian, an official with the surname of Xu, a hundred households. .

"father!"

In the small courtyard, when a three- or four-year-old baby called "Daddy" to a man, the man holding him also reached out and pinched the baby's face.

The courtyard is very small, only about [-] square meters, but it is crowded with a family of six.

Because there are many clouds in Nanjing in winter, there is almost no light in several houses, so the whole family sat in the yard, which is only seven or eight square meters.

A grandmother in her 60s, a grandfather of the same age who broke his wrist, a mother in her early fifties, a daughter-in-law who has been married for five years, and a four-year-old baby... This is the family of Wang Jian, an official from a hundred households.

Mrs. Wang and Zhang were busy in the four-five-square-meter kitchen. Grandma and mother were sitting next to each other holding a mat, busy with embroidery in their hands. Grandpa, who had broken his hand, put his hand in his sleeve to watch Mrs. Wang and Zhang work. , waiting for lunch.

"There's not enough rice in the jar. Do you still have any money?"

Wang Zhang's voice came from the kitchen, and Wang Jian subconsciously replied: "There are still fifteen coins, I'll buy some."

"Don't buy it, I'm not hungry." Grandpa Wang Jian greeted, and then said to Wang Jian:

"I heard that King Bohai is recruiting a bodyguard, and the salary he gives is several percent higher than that of the imperial court. You have a close relationship with him. Didn't he greet you?"

"Hello, but I..." Wang Jian was about to speak, but Wang Zhang opened the window and said:
"Dad, Erlang has been promoted to the official position of a hundred households. Now the annual salary and other expenses add up to almost 150 dan. After Zhengdan, our life will be much more comfortable. What are we going to do in the north?"

Mrs. Wang Zhang spoke, and Grandpa Wang Jian didn't have anything to say when he heard this. After all, he was handicapped, and his daughter-in-law didn't despise his family, and even married in to help him for several years, so he couldn't say anything.

On the other hand, Wang Jian's grandma said: "Although I say so, Gou Wazi will have to study in two years. Studying will cost more than ten taels of silver a year. Erlang's salary may not be enough."

"If it's not enough, I'll step on the flower machine and I'll have to step on it for him. I won't go to that bitter cold place." Mrs. Wang Zhang is also stubborn and just doesn't want her husband to go north.

She also had her own reasons. Wang Jian's grandfather, Wang Shuangwu, was a military householder. He went to the battlefield and lost his hand. His son was promoted to a small flag officer, but he died on the battlefield within two years.

Wang Jian was young, so his 15-year-old brother joined the military household, inherited his father's junior flag officer and military achievements, and raised a general flag.

After several years of hard work, he died of an illness before he could get home to get married.

The Governor's Office saw that three generations of Wang Jian's family had been injured and died in battle, so they were promoted to the Yulin Left Guard and gave Wang Jian the job of Chief Flag Officer.

Wang Jian has been working hard for seven years, and now he has finally reached the rank of official. Seeing that his family's life is getting better, the Wang Zhang family is naturally unwilling to let him go north. After all, three generations of the old Wang family were either disabled or died in the war. As Wang Jian's wife, she People are naturally afraid.

Not only her, but Wang Jian's mother also advised: "Both your father and your brother are not trying to curry favor on the battlefield. You should stay in Nanjing. Baihu officials are also very good. Maybe you can become a thousand-year-old officer in a few years." household, we will also be a big household by then.”

"Qianhu..." Wang Jian smiled bitterly while holding the baby. He didn't want to be a Qianhu, but wanting to be a Qianhu was not that simple.

"It's not that simple to be a thousand households." Wang Shuangwu touched his severed hand and said:

"I know Erlang's temperament. He can't speak or go through the back door. We don't have money at home to pay for his errands..."

"You are envious of the position of the official of the Thousand Households. It is not the same for others. We, the humble ones, have already become rich and powerful by climbing from the military household to the official of the Hundred Households in three generations. And the official of the Hundred Households might even be the King of Bohai." Got it for Erlang."

"I think the King of Bohai treats Erlang very well, and Erlang is an official of hundreds of households. If he goes to Jilin, he will not be able to become an official of thousands of households."

"It means that we have dragged him down, otherwise we will let him go even if we are trying to sell iron. If he goes to follow King Bohai for a few years, he might be able to find a commander..."

"I don't care, you're not allowed to go anyway!" Mrs. Wang Zhang shouted outside the kitchen while cooking:

"Dad, you don't want to marry Gouwazi. If you go to Jilin, where will Gouwazi go to study? Can there be an official school in Jilin?"

Wang Zhang's words were reasonable, and Wang Shuangwu didn't feel comfortable continuing to speak, but Wang Jian was caught in the middle and felt very uncomfortable.

Why didn't he want to follow Zhu Gaoxu to the north, but the whole family had to be taken care of by him, and the baby was still young. If he went to Jilin, the whole family would naturally have to move.

How could the old ones and the young ones in the family endure such hardships?

After thinking about it, he decided not to go. Although it was a bit sorry for the kindness given to him by His Highness, there was nothing he could do about it.

"Is Wang Erlang here?"

While thinking, Wang Jian suddenly seemed to hear His Highness's voice.

He thought he heard wrongly, but he didn't expect that Lin Wuliu's voice soon came from outside the door: "Brother Wang! His Highness is here to see you!"

Lin Wuliu's voice made Wang Jian quickly get up and open the door, forgetting to put down the baby in his arms.

Since there were only a few steps to go, he opened the door in a breath, and after the door opened, he saw the person behind the door.

As expected, standing at the door were Zhu Gaoxu, who was dressed in simple clothes, Lin Wuliu who was following him, and the young man Wang Jian had seen in the front yard of the Fujun.

Wang Jian was still stunned, but Zhu Gaoxu had already seen the situation in the hospital from other angles.

"I've booked a banquet at a restaurant in the alley. Let's invite your family to come with us."

Looking at the courtyard that he could no longer squeeze into, Zhu Gaoxu lied, not wanting to embarrass Wang Jian.

Wang Jian reacted to his voice. He wanted to bow but found that he was still holding the child. He quickly turned around and put the child on the ground in the yard of his home. He turned around and bowed to Zhu Gaoxu: "Your Highness is a thousand years old...I forgive you for being a small family and cannot tolerate it." Three of Your Highnesses are hospitalized.”

Wang Jian said skillfully, obviously he often said this, but his words also made Yi Shiha look at Zhu Gaoxu in embarrassment.

Although there is nothing wrong with what Wang Jian said, he should be polite and polite, and for a person of Zhu Gaoxu's status, even if Wang Jian calls his family out to wait at a neighbor's house, he should invite Zhu Gaoxu in.

Yi Shiha was surprised that he could still be an official of hundreds of households even though he talked and acted like this.

Unlike Yi Shiha who was accustomed to palace etiquette, Zhu Gaoxu smiled and waved his hands: "We came unexpectedly and probably interrupted your meal. Let's go and eat out together."

"No...it's not necessary. I'll just bring some back later." Wang Jian couldn't speak as always, but Zhu Gaoxu was used to it.

He did not continue to force Wang Jian, but turned around and motioned for Wang Jian to follow.

The four of them walked all the way back to the alley, found an ordinary restaurant on the main street of Fujun Qianwei, and ordered a few meat and vegetable dishes.

After ordering, Zhu Gaoxu did not forget to ask the restaurant to prepare some meals and send them to Wang Jian's house.

Wang Jian was grateful and ashamed for his arrangement.He was grateful for everything Zhu Gaoxu had done for him, but he was also ashamed that he could not go north with Zhu Gaoxu and could not help him.

Zhu Gaoxu had nothing to say to the people in the vanguard of the government army. When he was on duty, he would take them to eat and buy meat every three days to take home. Even if he was banned later, he would still treat his brothers on duty to wine and meat, and he would always think of ways to make them happy. Run errands, and use the excuse to run errands next time, so as to leave the extra money to the brothers on duty.

Although Wang Jian had not been on duty several times, every time he went to visit Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Gaoxu would ask him to find out information and give him money, saying that it would be easy to do things.

In fact, the information cost nothing, but when Wang Jian wanted to refund the money, Zhu Gaoxu only let him keep it.

It can be said that with Zhu Gaoxu's help, Wang Jian's family has been living a much more comfortable life since the second half of this year.

Not only him, most of the brothers in the Xu family also received similar favors.

Because of this, even if they couldn't go, they still came to apologize to Zhu Gaoxu, but Zhu Gaoxu didn't care.

After all, in the workplace of later generations, he was used to seeing a lot of people's indifferent relationships. Not to mention those who did nothing when receiving favors, there were also many people who stabbed someone in the back even after receiving favors.

In comparison, the brothers with the name Xu and Baihu are simply not too simple.

"Come on, fill up."

At the dinner table, Lin Wuliu acted as the wine pourer, constantly pouring wine for Zhu Gaoxu, Yi Shiha and Wang Jian.

Seeing that Lin Wuliu was doing well, Zhu Gaoxu also raised his glass and said: "I will leave Nanjing before the Lantern Festival. The number of times I drink with you is getting less and less. I don't know if I will have the opportunity to come to Nanjing again in the future."

"I can understand that your family is in trouble and you can't go north with me, so don't feel bad about it."

"Perhaps your mind has changed in a few years. If you write to me again then, I will certainly not forget you."

"Your Highness..." Wang Jian was so ashamed that he could only bury his head and keep toasting.

Zhu Gaoxu had to sigh when he saw this. He naturally hoped that Wang Jian could go to Jilin Guard with him. After all, Wang Jian didn't look like Jin Yiwei, so he could feel more at ease with him, and he was not bad at doing things. He was named General Xu. Hundreds of households are managed in an orderly manner.

It's a pity that looking at the state of his home, I'm afraid I can't live without him, and I can't force others to make things difficult for me.

Putting aside his obsession, Zhu Gaoxu began to concentrate on changing glasses on the wine table.

Nowadays, he is busy every day, and he just wants to leave Nanjing as soon as possible, for fear that things will change if he is too late.

Today's banquet with Wang Jian is probably the last time to reminisce about old times.

The next time the two meet again, they won't know if they are colleagues or enemies...

Accompanied by laughter and laughter, the wine bottles on the table were changed one after another. Fortunately, Zhu Gaoxu had told Wang Jian to send the food to Wang Jian's house in advance, otherwise they might not be able to eat hot food.

Even so, after Zhu Gaoxu and the others had a good drink, the time came to dusk.

Perhaps because of his tall stature and special physique, Zhu Gaoxu easily drank down Wang Jian, while Lin Wuliu and Yi Shiha also blushed.

Zhu Gaoxu, who was worried that he would not be able to return home, specially called a carriage and put them on the carriage one by one. He first sent Lin Wuliu home, and then sent Wang Jian home.

Before supporting Wang Jian and knocking on the door, Zhu Gaoxu put the money bag in his arms into Wang Jian's arms, and then knocked on his door.

Wang Jian's family waited for a long time and hurriedly opened the door when they heard the knock on the door.

They hurriedly bowed to Zhu Gaoxu, and finally helped Wang Jian into the house with Zhu Gaoxu's comfort. Zhu Gaoxu also turned around and took the car back to Yulin Zuowei, and took money from the house to pay the fare.

After finally settling Yishiha, Zhu Gaoxu heard a knock on the door.

When he opened the door, Wang Xuan and Yang Zhan, whom they hadn't seen for many days, were standing in front of the door.

"Your Highness, we are late!"

Wang Xuan and Yang Zhan bowed to Zhu Gaoxu guiltily, but Zhu Gaoxu was very happy after seeing them.

Since his confinement was lifted, Wang Xuan and Yang Zhan have not been seen at home, and he has been busy with business.

Now that I finally met the two of them, I found that they were much darker and stronger.

"Come in first and rest here tonight."

Hearing the sound of the dusk drum, Zhu Gaoxu wondered why the two came to him so late, but he also invited them to come into the courtyard and sit down.

"Your Highness, you don't know that the large training ground has been closed for a month, and the competition for the military attachés' children is ahead of schedule, so we can only intensify our training."

Yang Zhan and Wang Xuan followed Zhu Gaoxu into the hospital. As they walked, they explained why they didn't come to Zhu Gaoxu immediately.

However, Zhu Gaoxu frowned slightly after hearing this. He led the two of them into the main hall of the main house and sat down before asking, "Have you passed the exam?"

"Of course I've passed it. I won't embarrass you!" Wang Xuan and Yang Zhan grinned and explained at the same time:
"The Governor's Office issued vouchers to the two of us, allowing Wang Xuan to return to Yunnan and serve as the Golden Teeth Guard for Qianhu, working together with his father."

"I was awarded the title of Ningbo Guard Hundred Households. Although I am not on duty with my father, Ningbo Guard can be regarded as a frontier for Japan, and I may be able to gain some merit."

Yang Zhan was as quick-tongued as ever and told everything about them.

After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu was also happy for them. After a few words of praise, he asked: "You said that the military attache's competition was ahead of schedule, but you don't know the reason?"

When he asked this question, Yang Zhan and Wang Xuan looked at each other, seemingly wondering why Zhu Gaoxu didn't know, but they still explained:

"It is said that the imperial court felt that the military attaches in the south had not experienced war all year round, so it transferred the military attaches in the south to the north and the military attaches in the north to the south."

"The military attachés from the south go to the north to experience the war, and the military attachés from the north come to the south to train the military households in the southern guard post, so that the military equipment will not be neglected."

Yang Zhan explained everything he learned from the university, but after hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu roughly understood what was going on.

Although the so-called desertion of the south is true, the real purpose is probably to transfer the northern generals related to Zhu Fan to some empty guard posts in the south, so that they can equalize their virtual power, so as to weaken the Jin government.

"I just don't know if this was Lao Zhu's idea or Zhu Yunwen's idea..." Zhu Gaoxu pondered.

Speaking of which, since Fu Youde's death, he has not seen Lao Zhu again. He usually sends Yishuha as much as possible to send messages, but he doesn't know how Lao Zhu is doing now, and to be honest, Zhu Gaoxu doesn't want to Lao Zhu took the initiative to come to him again.

Perhaps it was the shadow of Fu Youde's death last time. Zhu Gaoxu was always unreasonably worried that Lao Zhu would come to see him again, and it would be Feng Sheng who died next time.

Because of this, he has not taken the initiative to go to the Song Dynasty Duke's Mansion since the lifting of the ban, for fear that Feng Sheng would be implicated because of himself.

Apart from these people and things, the only thing Zhu Gaoxu didn't want to see was Zhu Gaochi.

He didn't want to see Zhu Gaochi, not because Zhu Gaochi had taken the throne, but because he didn't know whether Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui could return to Peiping from Nanjing after he went to the north this time.

Personally, Zhu Gaoxu hopes they can go back, but in terms of his identity and future, he hopes they both die in Nanjing...

"Your Highness, you are going to Jilin Guard. If I achieve military service in the future, can I be transferred there?"

Yang Zhan looked at Zhu Gaoxu eagerly. It was true that he was reluctant to leave Zhu Gaoxu, and it was also true that he wanted to follow Zhu Gaoxu to make contributions.

"It is estimated that wars in the north will not be too frequent. It would be better for you two to stay in Yunnan and along the coast. If you want to establish meritorious deeds, it is easy..."

Zhu Gaoxu comforted him: "I'm afraid there will be no peace in Yunnan in the next few years. Wang Xuan, you have to make preparations with your father when you go back. After all, the Golden Tooth Guard is responsible for the gold and silver mines in Yongchang, and it is too close to Sanxuan Liuwei. I Seeing that there are many disobedient people in Luchuan, I think the war will definitely reignite in the future."

"As for Yang Zhan..." Zhu Gaoxu pondered for a moment before giving instructions: "I said before that I would give you wealth after the competition is over, but now it seems that I can't."

"It's okay, Your Highness, I finally got a hundred households official." Yang Zhan responded with a smile. Ever since Wang Xuan was forced to hand over the mine map, he no longer thought about the gift from His Highness.

"That's fine..." Zhu Gaoxu nodded, and then explained:
"You are stationed in Ningbo. You'd better find a way to follow Yang Wen to pacify the Japanese in the future."

"Nowadays, the Japanese pirates in Zhejiang are fleeing north and south, but after all, these are only coastal Japanese pirates in Zhejiang Province. There are many Japanese pirates in the north and Guangdong and Guangxi. Judging from Yang Wen's speed of quelling the Japanese, it will take at least two or three years. You still have time. Make meritorious service."

"Besides, even if the war against the Japanese is over, I'm afraid it won't be peaceful. All the Japanese pirates' bases are in Nanyang. As long as the navy withdraws, they will come back again, advancing and retreating like the Tatars in the north. The coast will definitely be undisturbed. By then, the war will be over. I am afraid that the Japanese navy will cruise around the Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Zhejiang areas all year round."

"There is a place for you to perform meritorious service along the coast. There is no need to go north with me to perform meritorious service."

Zhu Gaoxu said this, but Yang Zhan nodded, becoming a little clearer about his future.

The two of them began to analyze themselves, and Zhu Gaoxu also looked at them and didn't know what to say.

He had just returned from Wang Jian's place, and naturally he had complicated emotions towards these brothers from the south.

The reason why they can talk happily with them now is because they are the Prince of Bohai County in the Ming Dynasty, the Second Highness of the Yan Mansion, and the tenth grandson of Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty.

If one day these titles are all dismantled, and I have to appear in front of them again as a "rebel", will they choose to help themselves, or will they choose to help the court to fight against me?
He really wanted to face Yang Zhan and Wang Xuan and ask them if they would help him in the future, but he knew better that the things he knew could only be kept in his heart and could not be told to anyone.

This feeling of wanting to be friends with someone knowing that they are likely to become enemies in the future is suffocating.

It seems that gradually, I have understood in advance what it means to be alone...

(End of this chapter)