Jingnan Strategy

Chapter 123 Returning to the North to Make Merits
"Dang...dang...dang..."

"Crackling-"

In the early morning, the genius shone brightly, and as the morning bell rang, many wealthy households in Nanjing who were looking forward to it lit firecrackers and firecrackers, causing a lot of noise.

Zhu Gaoxu drank three kilograms of wine last night and went to bed late. He was woken up by the sound of firecrackers before he could sleep well.

Fortunately, he fell asleep relatively quickly and managed to sleep for a while after the sound of firecrackers passed.

It's a pity that today is the New Year after all, the first day of the 28th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty, so the sound of firecrackers always sounds intermittently.

After holding on for a long time, Zhu Gaoxu finally couldn't hold on any longer and could only stand up with his messy hair.

When he walked out of the main room, he saw three guys with bloodshot eyes already heating water in the kitchen.

"I shouldn't have drank so much last night."

Zhu Gaoxu said mockingly, and Yi Shiha and the three of them also nodded.

They were so busy last night that they forgot that every year on the New Year's Day, firecrackers go off all day long, making it so noisy that people can't sleep.

"I'll wash up and change my clothes first and go to the palace to pay New Year greetings. If you can sleep for a while, then go to bed."

After that, Zhu Gaoxu tested the water temperature in the big pot, took a gourd and scooped two buckets of water and went to the backyard to take a bath.

When he came back after taking a shower, he found that Yi Shiha and the three of them had also gone back to catch up on their sleep after the sound of firecrackers subsided.

After using the residual heat of the fire to dry his hair in the kitchen, Zhu Gaoxu spent half an hour busy, and then changed into a sky-blue round-neck robe and a black gauze hat.

Not long after, he rode Chi Huan to the palace. When he dismounted at Xihua Gate, it was already the fourth quarter of the hour.

On the first day of the New Year, the imperial court was going to hold a major court meeting, which was only three times that year, so it was a coincidence that he arrived at the end of the big court meeting.

For example, after the great dynasty meeting, normally the princes, princes and princes would go to Huagai and Jinshen Hall to pay homage to the emperor, but for Lao Zhu, a workaholic, it was impossible for him to waste a day doing such a thing.

Therefore, just after Zhu Gaoxu got off the back of Chi Huan's horse, the guard of Xihua Gate reminded Zhu Gaoxu that he could go directly to Wuying Hall.

Lao Zhu not only asked his children and grandchildren to go to Wuying Hall to pay homage, but also stipulated that each batch of princes, princes and grandchildren could not spend more than a quarter of an hour paying New Year's greetings.

The reason why it is set for a quarter of an hour is because some princes and grandsons will introduce the gifts they have brought for New Year greetings.

For example, when Zhu Gaoxu arrived at the entrance of Wuying Palace, he saw many princes and grandsons with their servants, and the servants brought gift boxes.

In the crowd, he did not see Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui, but he saw King Zhu Song of Han and King Shen Zhu Mo.

The two exchanged a few words with Zhu Gaoxu, and then each talked about the gifts they had brought.

King Zhu Song of Han brought pearls from the South China Sea, and King Zhu Mo of Shen brought jade from Yunnan.

The two of them did not ask what Zhu Gaoxu had brought, because they were not blind, and Zhu Gaoxu came to pay New Year greetings with nothing.

"Gao Xu, shall we go in together?"

When King Zhu Song of Han saw that he was in line, he called King Shen Zhu Mo and Zhu Gaoxu to go in together, but Zhu Gaoxu shook his head:
"I'll go in alone for a while. There are some things I need to tell grandpa."

"That's okay..." Han Wang Zhu Song smiled awkwardly, and then he and Shen Wang Zhu Mo went in with the gift box.

It's just that they didn't last for a quarter of an hour. They walked out empty-handed after just one word. When they came out, they said hello to Zhu Gaoxu before leaving.

Watching them leave, Zhu Gaoxu walked in empty-handed.

Behind him, many emperors and grandsons were curious about how long his former favorite could stay, and Zhu Gaoxu also walked into Wuying Palace out of their curiosity.

Here he met Lao Zhu, Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Jixi, Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Shangbing and other five people.

They govern, and I was once one of them.

Without Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Gaoxu would have been willing to manage politics here for the rest of his life, but with Lao Zhu, Zhu Yunwen was his heir, and he was just a slightly better grandson.

If he continues to stay in Wuying Hall, Zhu Gaoxu will only waste his time.

"Second son of Yan, King Zhu Gaoxu of Bohai wishes his grandfather a happy new year and wishes him peace..."

When Zhu Gaoxu entered the hall, he knelt down and kowtowed five times and three times. His appearance also attracted the attention of everyone in the side hall.

"Get up..."

Zhu Yuanzhang had a premonition that his grandson might be leaving Nanjing, so his voice was a little low.

"Gao Xu, why are you here empty-handed?"

Zhu Shangbing, the prince of Qin who was a few months older than Zhu Gaoxu, asked Zhu Gaoxu with a smile. Only then did everyone notice that this boy came empty-handed.

"I did come empty-handed, but it's not like I didn't bring a gift."

Zhu Gaoxu walked forward, came to Zhu Gaochi's side and stretched out his hand. He looked at Zhu Gaochi and said with a smile: "Brother, please borrow a pen and paper."

"Okay..." Zhu Gaochi looked at the unfamiliar yet familiar Zhu Gaoxu in front of him, feeling a little uncomfortable and not knowing what to say.

He handed the pen over, and Zhu Gaoxu took it and started drawing a map.

Seeing his appearance, Zhu Yunwen couldn't sit still.

Ever since Zhu Gaoxu was ordered to vassal by his grandfather, he had been thinking about how to get Zhu Gaoxu to look after Shandian Mine for him.

Now it seems that what Zhu Gaoxu painted seems to be a map.

Since it is a map, it probably has something to do with Kanshandian Mine...

In fact, Zhu Yunwen's guess was not wrong. Zhu Gaoxu was indeed drawing a mine map, and he was very fast.

In just one word, he drew a detailed map of the southwest with his own hands.

He put down the brush, picked up the map and dried the ink, waited for a while and then presented it to the eunuch who had already been waiting beside him.

The accompanying eunuch took the mine map with both hands and handed it to Zhu Yuanzhang.

While Zhu Yuanzhang took over the mine map, Zhu Gaoxu also said:
"My grandson has read in detail based on ancient books these days, and finally determined that there are most likely gold, silver, and copper mines in the mountains in Wumeng, Wusa, and Dongchuan in Sichuan, as well as in Yanjing, Jianchang, and Yuexi in Xingdusi, Sichuan. , so today I draw a picture to wish my grandpa a happy new year."

Zhu Gaoxu's words made people feel excited. Hearing that he had discovered gold and silver mines was certainly a happy news, but the places he mentioned made everyone feel cold.

Wumeng, Wusa, Dongchuan, Yanjing, Jianchang, Yuexi...

These places are where the southwestern Yi people gather heavily. If the imperial court really discovers gold, silver and copper mines in these places, I am afraid that the local chieftains will immediately take over the mountain and become kings, and are not willing to share a piece of the pie with the imperial court.

If you want to get the gold, silver and copper mines in these places, you must wipe out the local chieftains, and these places are enough to draw a hundred thousand native soldiers to fight against the imperial court.

But what can be done? The Ming Dynasty is currently very short of silver, copper and other items. If gold, silver and copper mines are really discovered in these places, even if they want to go to war with the local chieftains, I am afraid that no one in the temple will disagree.

"This matter is difficult to handle..."

For a moment, Zhu Yunwen and others had this idea in their minds, and Zhu Yuanzhang felt his palms getting hot while holding the mine map.

This is a mine map, but it’s more like a hot potato.

But compared to this hot potato, Daming Dynasty was more like a hungry living person. No matter how hot the potato was, Daming still had to bite the bullet and eat it.

"Grandpa, my grandson left the capital to join the feudal clan on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. I hope I can visit Song Guogong."

After one wave of upheaval, Zhu Gaoxu revealed the day when he would leave Beijing, and also said that he wanted to meet Feng Sheng.

When Zhu Yunwen and others heard this, they were both happy and worried. However, Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a long time. After a word, he said without raising his head: "Go..."

"Grandson, please retire..." Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang agreed, Zhu Gaoxu also turned and left Wuying Hall.

Looking at his back, Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Shangbing, and Zhu Jixi felt that he was extremely handsome. Only Zhu Yunwen was thinking about the mine map.

Compared with their thoughts, Zhu Gaoxu's thoughts were very pure.

This mine map was a way for him to satisfy Zhu Yunwen's appetite, but he did not foolishly hand over some mine maps that were easy to mine. Instead, he chose six mine maps including Wumeng, which was powerful in the local area.

Are there any gold, silver and copper mines in these six places?

Of course there is, but this gold, silver and copper ore is not easy to get.

Not to mention how long it will take to fight with the local chieftains, the development time alone will take several years.

The gold, silver and copper mine maps in Yunnan, Sichuan and other places were all calculated and handed over by Zhu Gaoxu.

"When you finish developing it, I can almost take over directly..."

Taking Chi Huan's reins from the guard of Xihua Gate, Zhu Gaoxu glanced at the tall Forbidden City and rode away without saying anything.

He headed towards the familiar Duke's Mansion of the Song Dynasty. When he came to the gate of the Duke's Mansion, the officials from hundreds of households who were stationed at the Duke's Mansion saw him and led their soldiers to bow and salute and shout: "A Thousand Years Old King of Bohai."

After getting off his horse and handing Chi Huan to them, Zhu Gaoxu took a small sling of money from his body and handed it to the familiar Baihu official as usual.

Just as he entered the hospital, he saw two familiar faces standing at the door.

"Are you Li Zhong and Zhang Guang?"

Looking at Li Zhong who was wearing the clothes of a small flag officer, Zhu Gaoxu also smiled and said: "But you have been promoted, congratulations."

"Your Highness Qianfu..." Li Zhong and Zhang Guang did not expect that people like Zhu Gaoxu could remember them, so they bowed and saluted in flattery.

Zhu Gaoxu smiled and didn't say much. He just said to the hundreds of officials who had received the money: "Take the money and treat the brothers to a drink. It will be treated as a promotion banquet."

"Yes, yes..." Baihuguan didn't expect that Zhu Gaoxu actually remembered Li Zhong and Zhang Guang, and immediately nodded and agreed.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu didn't say anything else. He just said "work hard" to the two of them and then walked into the Duke of Song's mansion.

Looking at Zhu Gaoxu's leaving figure, Zhang Guang also lamented: "I never thought that little people like us could be remembered by such a big man as King Bohai."

"Hmm..." Li Zhong nodded in response, and the official from Baihu came over and sighed:
"I heard that His Highness offers a very high salary to the Royal Guards. It's a pity that we, the group of people, have to take care of their families. Otherwise, we might be able to make great achievements by following them to the north."

As he spoke, the official from Baihu slapped Li Zhong on the shoulder: "You're lucky, you have enough money for promotion and banquet."

The Baihu official threw the two hundred yuan in his hand to Li Zhong: "You have to treat us to a nice meal."

"Of course." Li Zhong grinned, but he couldn't stop looking into the mansion, even though Zhu Gaoxu's back could no longer be seen.

Where he couldn't see, Zhu Gaoxu had already met Feng Sheng.

Sitting in the guest seat in the front hall, Zhu Gaoxu calmly waited for Feng Sheng to speak, while Feng Sheng sat beside him and made tea.

"Wang Bi, the Marquis of Dingyuan, passed away the day before yesterday. It's a pity that you haven't seen him yet..." Feng Sheng's voice sounded much older than a few months ago. When he sat down, his back could not stop rickets. .

Wang Bi, the man who contributed the most to the Battle of Yuerhai, passed away. This news was no worse than the death of Fu Youde.

Zhu Gaoxu was surprised that he had not received the news, but thought that perhaps Lao Zhu had deliberately concealed the news.

"The Commander-in-Chief of Shanxi Province was also ordered to mobilize 600 horse and infantry officers and troops to build a city and farm in the north of the Great Wall. It seems that the King of Jin failed."

Feng Sheng revealed details about Zhu Fan's fate after his failure in the fight for the throne, but these news sounded very funny to Zhu Gaoxu.

What could have been solved by imprisoning or killing Zhu Fan turned out to involve so many people.

Zhu Gaoxu didn't know whether to say that Lao Zhu was too humane or too impersonal.

"When are you leaving..." Feng Sheng poured a cup of tea for Zhu Gaoxu and asked absently.

Zhu Gaoxu gave the date on the fifth day of the lunar month. Feng Sheng nodded after hearing this:
"It's okay to leave...it's okay to leave..."

He did not ask what Zhu Gaoxu would do after going to Jilin, nor did he ask how Zhu Gaoxu could not save Fu Youde. He just said hello twice and drank tea with Zhu Gaoxu quietly.

Judging from his words and deeds, Fu Youde's death had a great impact on him.

Facing him like this, Zhu Gaoxu didn't know what to say.

"It's a pity, I can't help you with anything..."

Suddenly, Feng Sheng spoke regretfully, but Zhu Gaoxu shook his head: "It's enough for you to enjoy your old age in peace, there is no need to help anyone else."

Unlike the Fu family, after Fu Youde died, even if Fu Rang brought a hundred guards to support Zhu Gaoxu, it would not affect the overall situation.

But if Feng Sheng wanted to send guards to Zhu Gaoxu, he would not be helping Zhu Gaoxu, but harming Zhu Gaoxu and himself.

"My dear, this is my farewell. I don't know if I will be able to see my old Duke again in my lifetime."

Zhu Gaoxu stood up, knelt down slowly towards Feng Shengzuo, and bowed five times and kowtowed three times.

Feng Sheng didn't stop or refuse, he just waved his hand after he saluted and stood up: "Let's go..."

He was seeing off guests, and Zhu Gaoxu didn't stay long. He came here just to pay such a courtesy.

Under Feng Sheng's gaze, he turned and left Song Guogong's mansion.

Li Zhong, Zhang Guang and others saw that his face was heavy and did not come forward to speak. They just watched Zhu Gaoxu get on his horse and rode away from the gate of the Duke's Mansion.

Shortly after he left the Duke's Mansion, Lao Zhu also got the news during his lunch break.

Faced with Feng Sheng's peace, Lao Zhu was a little happy, but faced with Zhu Gaoxu's imminent departure, his heart was complicated and he couldn't express any emotions.

He turned his attention to Zhu Gaoxu, but Zhu Gaoxu did not go to Feng Sheng in the next few days, or even took the initiative to find anyone who could help him.

With the help of Yi Shiha, Wang Xuan, Yang Zhan, Fu Rang, and Lin Wuliu, he gradually raised [-] guards and summoned [-] guards to move more than [-] of the brothers with their families.

On the third day of the lunar month, Fu Rang led [-] guards and [-] guards to board the ship, escorting [-] craftsmen and more than [-] family members of the guards, as well as Zhu Gaoxu's annual salary, money, grain and horses to go north in advance.

Therefore, by the early morning of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the only people gathered at Jiangdongmen Pier were Zhu Gaoxu, Yishiha, Lin Wuliu, and two hundred guardsmen riding Qin horses.

On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Jiangdongmen Pier was sparsely populated because most people were already celebrating the New Year at home.

Such a deserted scene was held up by Zhu Gaoxu and more than [-] people under his command.

One by one, the Qin horses and the escorts began to board the ship to Yangzhou in the east. Lin Wuliu was also on the ship, waiting to meet Zhu Gaoxu and the others at the dock in Yangzhou.

Looking at the people boarding the ship, Zhu Gaoxu, who was standing at the dock, couldn't help but sigh: "Although I have known that such a day would come, I was still a little reluctant to let it go when it came."

"Haha..." Yishi laughed and said, "I didn't hear His Highness's reluctance to leave. I'm just afraid that dragons have entered the sea and birds have entered the clouds."

Yi Shiha's words made Zhu Gaoxu smile, and at this moment two people carrying packages came from a distance.

"Your Highness..."

Yang Zhan and Wang Xuan appeared at the riverside pier carrying packages. Apparently they also chose to leave Nanjing today.

The three of them went in different directions, but they all needed to take a boat.

"Remember to write to me."

Seeing that Wang Xuan and Yang Zhan had been waiting for the boat for a long time, Zhu Gaoxu didn't say anything unnecessary, and just told them to write to him.

The two lowered their heads, obviously not used to this separation.

However, Zhu Gaoxu smiled when he saw this and said: "You have gone somewhere. If you can help me in the future, you can also contribute."

As he spoke, he said to Wang Xuan: "I need a kind of ore when I go to Jilin. Jilin may not have it, but it must be available in Yunnan. You can look for it for me when the time comes."

Zhu Gaoxu took out a letter from his arms as he spoke.

"It contains various characteristics of the ore and where it may appear. If you can find it, collect dozens of kilograms of smelted iron and give it to me."

"Okay." Wang Xuanwen accepted the letter angrily and agreed. Upon seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu also smiled and patted the two of them on the back:
"Get on the ship and set off. Make some achievements after taking office. If I hear your name, I will be happy for you."

Not only Yang Zhan and Wang Xuan were not suitable for this atmosphere, but Zhu Gaoxu was also not suitable for this atmosphere, so he laughed and scolded them and drove them onto the boat.

Not long after, the ship set off. Zhu Gaoxu watched the ship go further and further away, his emotions beyond words.

I don’t know if they will be his friends or enemies when they meet again...

"Second!"

Suddenly, a familiar name rang out, and a mellow man in the distance got off the carriage and shouted to Zhu Gaoxu on the dock.

Hearing that voice, Zhu Gaoxu turned around suddenly, but his expression was more complicated than before.

If there was anyone he didn't want to see the most today, it would probably be Zhu Gaochi.

However, under his gaze, Zhu Gaochi trotted over from the carriage. What was very different from him was Zhu Gaosui, who walked slowly over.

"Have you taken everything?"

Zhu Gaochi ran to Zhu Gaoxu, looked at the ships behind him, and looked at the escorts who were boarding the ships heading to Yangzhou. He was a little worried and said:
"You still have too few troops. When you go to Jilin and pass by Peiping, ask dad for some escorts."

"Okay..." Zhu Gaoxu did not explain that he did not take the Peiping route, but just nodded in agreement.

"Second brother, can you give me one of the big food horses that grandpa gave you?"

Zhu Gaojiu came and asked for a big food horse. Fortunately, Zhu Gaojiu had the foresight to let Fu Rang take him away in advance.

"You're late. Those horses have probably arrived in Huai'an by now."

Zhu Gaoxu shook his head, but comforted him: "The horses will give birth to foals next year. I will have two of them brought back. You and your eldest brother will have one each."

"Well..." After hearing Zhu Gaojiu's words, Zhu Gaosui's expression immediately changed. It was obvious that his character had been developed long ago and could not be changed even if Zhu Gaojiu intervened the day after tomorrow.

"I have to be careful about this kid from now on..."

Looking at Zhu Gaosui's immature look, Zhu Gaoxu frowned slightly and continued to focus his attention back on Zhu Gaochi.

Under his gaze, he watched with his own eyes as Zhu Gaochi arranged for two guards from the Yan Mansion to bring a box.

"There are two thousand guan in this box, which are all the monthly money you haven't spent this year."

Zhu Gaochi did not give the money directly, but used "monthly money" as an excuse.

Zhu Gaoxu knew his monthly money very well. When he was in Yan Mansion, he only had [-] guan of money per month, and up to [-] guan in a year.

At that moment, Zhu Gaochi suddenly took out two thousand coins. It seemed that he had brought most of the Yan Mansion's money to himself.

But facing these two thousand dollars, Zhu Gaoxu had no reason to refuse. After all, he was really short of money now.

He glanced at Yi Shiha, and upon seeing this, Yi Shiha also called two guards to carry the box of money onto the ferry.

Seeing the money being carried away, Zhu Gaosui's eyes were almost on fire. Although Zhu Gaochi felt distressed, he still cared about Zhu Gaoxu and said:

"I know that you are strong and skilled in martial arts, but after you go to the north, you should leave the war to your subordinates. Just sit in charge of Jilin Guard."

"When Xiyang Ha is defeated, my father and I will think of a way to ask Grandpa Huang to move your feudal kingdom to the south..."

"Don't!" After hearing Zhu Gaochi's words, Zhu Gaoxu quickly stopped:

"Although Jilin is bitterly cold, it is precisely because of the bitter cold that I need to go out of town."

"If we in the Zhu family are not willing to go out of town in that bitter cold place, then who can we expect to help the imperial court guard the border?"

Zhu Gaoxu opened his eyes and told lies, but he did it entirely to prevent Zhu Gaochi from ruining his plan.

Jilin is indeed bitterly cold, but Zhu Gaoxu needs to be in such a bitterly cold place to develop his power.

If Lao Zhu moved his feudal state to the mainland, he might not even have a chance to stand out, and he would be targeted by Zhu Yunwen.

This situation is very good now. He is high and the emperor is far away. Even if Lao Zhu wants to get information from him, it is not that easy.

Zhu Gaoxu has already experienced the power of Jinyiwei. If he were in the mainland, he would probably be reported to everyone for everything he did every day.

In Jilin, on the other hand, the more than five months of winter every year not only hinders myself, but also hinders Lao Zhu and Zhu Yunwen.

In comparison, this winter has a greater impact on Lao Zhu and Zhu Yunwen, and he can completely use the abundant wood in the Northeast to do what he wants indoors.

With this in mind, Zhu Gaoxu also bowed to Zhu Gaochi:
"Brother, I have to leave. You and the third child take good care of yourselves in Nanjing. When Jilin Guard is stable, I will return to Nanjing to report on my work."

"Okay..." Seeing Zhu Gaoxu say this, Zhu Gaochi could only watch him turn around and get on the ferry.

After a while, when the ferry departed, Zhu Gaochi could only look at the disappearing figure of Zhu Gaoxu and secretly felt sad.

Although he knew that Zhu Gaoxu's departure from Nanjing would be good for him, he always felt that Zhu Gaoxu's departure was actually related to him.

He stood at the ferry for a long time and could not leave. Zhu Gaoxu on the ferry also looked at the gradually shrinking city of Nanjing with mixed feelings.

Facing the biting river wind in early spring and looking at the city of Nanjing with tigers and dragons on the throne, Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but feel a sense of heroism in his chest.

"Grandpa, next time I come again, it will be my turn to make the decision..."

(End of this chapter)