Jingnan Strategy

Chapter 205 The Emperor does not hesitate
"Beep……"

In late April, when the piercing sound of wooden whistles echoed on the Ulyanha grassland, a team of nearly [-] soldiers and more than [-] civilians were marching north.

Since the two northern patrols last year and the year before last obtained a large number of draft horses, the current Ming army almost conducted this northern patrol with one draft carriage and one civilian husband per small flag.

Except for Sapphire back then, few people could appreciate such a wealthy battle.

Of course, the team of more than [-] people was very large and easy to detect, so after they left the Quaning Guard, the Uuliangha people on the grassland began to retreat northward.

After two heavy blows, there was no longer a "dare to fight" voice within Ulyanha.

With the number of men reduced by half and the sharp decline in cattle and sheep, many of them dare not approach the upper reaches of the Liao River and can only graze far away.

Therefore, the Northern Patrol Army went all the way north and did not find the Uliangha people.

From the time the troops were dispatched on April 25th to the present day on April [-]th, we have been traveling steadily for seven consecutive days, traveling more than [-] miles north.

This way of fighting made Zhu Di feel more bored. In addition to formulating the march route, other side details were left to Guo Ying, Yang Wen and others.

Zhu Gaoxu had a similar experience. He sent troops from Zhaozhou on April [-]th and did not encounter any Uliangha people for ten days in a row.

Since they were traveling by water, they were much faster than Zhu Di. Therefore, when Zhu Di had just arrived at Cheche'er Mountain, Zhu Gaoxu had already arrived at the original meeting point.

He did not stop here, but left a hundred soldiers and horses to camp, and then led the remaining 900 people to attack Wuliangha City.

"Sure enough, this Haragu was afraid of being beaten. This year he ran away without even planting food."

Outside Wulianghatu City, Zhu Gaoxu dismounted and squatted in the field. Looking at the uncultivated fields around Wulianghatu City, he stood up and patted the soil on his hands.

Wang Yi was accompanying him in armor, while Gan Yue, who was named by Zhu Gaoxu, stood aside with several other officials from Qianhu and Baihu.

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu getting up, Gan Yue also stepped forward and bowed: "Your Highness, I'm afraid Naha Lawu has given up on Wulianghatu City. They should settle in Wulianghatu City."

Gan Yue spent more than half a year learning Mandarin at the Health School in Zhaozhou City. Although he didn't speak it fluently and had an accent, he could at least understand it.

Wang Yi also bowed his head and asked, "Your Highness, do we want to pursue him?"

"No need." Zhu Gaoxu objected, and at the same time glanced at Wulianghatu City: "Leave 2000 people to build fortifications at the four gates of Wulianghatu City, and the remaining brothers will enter the city to clean up the city. My father and the others should have about ten more. Only a genius can reach Ulianghatu City."

"Then what's next..." Wang Yi asked, while Zhu Gaoxu glanced around.

Looking at the green Uliangha grassland, he said calmly: "Just rest."

"Yes..." Hearing that His Highness did not want to pursue, Wang Yi did not continue to ask further questions, but just completed everything according to Zhu Gaoxu's instructions.

In the next few days, Wang Yi followed Zhu Gaoxu's instructions and led three thousand cavalry to spread around to guard against Haragu going south and wait for Zhu Di's army to arrive at Uliang Hatu City.

The only thing that worries Wang Yi is that Zhu Gaoxu has not come out to manage any military affairs these days, and only shows up occasionally when eating.

Perhaps out of worry, he also asked Zhu Gaoxu if he was feeling unwell, but Zhu Gaoxu just shook his head and did not answer much.

Seeing this, Wang Yi could only ask Zhu Gaoxu to call him if he had something to do, and turned around and left worriedly.

Standing at the door of the wooden house, Zhu Gaoxu looked at Wang Yi leaving and just sighed, but could not say anything.

He was waiting for Zhu Di to go north and arrive at Ulianghatu City.

If he remembered correctly, his grandfather would fall ill in early May, and this illness would be the most serious one he had ever encountered.

After that, my grandfather would rush [-] miles to summon his father to go south, but when he arrived in Huai'an, his father received the news that his grandfather had passed away.

However, this historical data was deleted and modified after Zhu Dijing's failure, so it is difficult to prove that it is true.

Judging from Zhu Gaoxu's own understanding of Lao Zhu, even if Lao Zhu really summoned Zhu Di to go south, I'm afraid he was just entrusting an orphan, rather than passing on the throne as some people in later generations thought.

"It would be great if you passed the throne..."

Standing at the door of the wooden house, Zhu Gaoxu raised his head and glanced at the dazzling sunlight. After standing for a long time, he got up and walked back to the wooden house.

Time passed little by little, and in Zhu Gaoxu's anxiety, May soon entered.

At this time, Zhu Di's army was still more than [-] miles away from Wulianghatu City, and as Zhu Gaoxu expected, Zhu Yuanzhang's situation in the south was not good.

After the time enters May, it stands to reason that since it is midsummer, diseases should decrease.

But on the fourth day of May, Zhu Yuanzhang fell ill...

"Um--"

In the Qianqing Palace in the Forbidden City of Yingtian Mansion, when the sound of sobbing and humming sounded in the palace, a strong smell of soup almost filled the entire Qianqing Palace.

Kneeling in front of the Babu bed, Zhu Yunwen and Zhu Gaochi were processing memorials in front of Zhu Yuanzhang. On the other hand, Zhu Yunxi was sitting on a low stool in front of the Babu bed, serving him to take the decoction.

Although he was lying on the bed with soreness, swelling, pain and numbness everywhere in his body, he could still get up and move around with Zhu Yunxi's help from time to time.

"Grandpa, be careful..."

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's trembling movements, Zhu Yunwen stood up with a complex expression to remind him, and Zhu Gaochi also heard the sound and looked over.

Just facing their words, Zhu Yuanzhang lost his usual majesty at this time. Instead, he talked and laughed: "People say that saints are also sad about 73 and 84, but I am only seventy-one now, and I still have at least two years to go. You are very worried."

He was talking and laughing, making it impossible to look sick at all.

With Zhu Yunxi's support, he sat down in Zhu Yunwen's seat, looked through the government affairs handled by Zhu Yunwen, nodded and smiled from time to time, and was very satisfied.

In the past, he disliked many of Zhu Yunwen's policies, but since Zhu Gaoxu appeared, Zhu Yunwen also began to change.

He began to study the political ideas of Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Yuanzhang and deal with memorials, so he could naturally make Zhu Yuanzhang happy.

But only he himself knows that these governing policies are not the policies he really wants to implement.

These policies are just what I pretended to show to my grandfather.

His complexity also stems from the fact that the policies he wanted were not supported by Zhu Yuanzhang.

In his opinion, he is not being himself now, but imitating Zhu Gaoxu and doing what his grandfather likes.

Such days of pretending every day made him very tired...

"Okay... okay... okay... well done." Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the memorial with a smile, then raised his head and glanced at Zhu Yunwen in front of him.

Perhaps at this time, he already knew that it would be difficult for him to survive this year, so he asked Zhu Yunqi again: "Do you still remember Gao Xu's theory of reducing vassals?"

"Remember..." Zhu Yunqi felt dissatisfied when he heard his grandfather mention Zhu Gaoxu's "On the Cutting of the Domain", but he still pretended to do so on the surface.

"Just remember...just remember..."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slowly and looked at Zhu Gaochi who was standing aside: "Gao Chi, what do you think of Gao Xu's theory on reducing vassals?"

This was the first time in many years that Zhu Yuanzhang asked the sons of the vassal kings other than Zhu Gaoxu for their views on "The Theory of Cutting Down the Domain".

The reason why he chose Zhu Gaochi was that he felt that Zhu Gaochi might be one of the few talented people except Zhu Yunwen, Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Youdou.

"Sun'er feels that if Gao Xu's "On the Reduction of Vassals" is to be implemented, no one in the world will be dissatisfied."

Zhu Gaochi expressed his thoughts, which were also the thoughts of most vassal kings except Qin, Jin and Zhou vassals.

After all, according to Zhu Gaoxu's "On Cutting Down the Domain", this policy will not affect the lives of the current vassal kings at all. They still have soldiers, horses and money.

As for their guards and farmland having to be divided equally among the disciples after their death, they are not very worried.

The vassal king during the Hongwu period was originally a large-scale military commander. As long as they were given glory, wealth and some power, no one would think of rebellion.

After the appearance of Zhu Gaoxu's "On the Cutting of Fans", almost no one except Zhu Fan and Zhu Chong felt uncomfortable. This actually represented the attitude of the vassal kings.

Everyone knows that the vassals must be reduced. Now that Zhu Gaoxu's "On Eliminating the Domain" has been put on the bright side, it can protect the life and status of the vassal kings, so there is no need to oppose it.

It is for this reason that Zhu Yuanzhang asked Zhu Yunwen to remember Zhu Gaoxu's "On Cutting Down the Domain", because this road was the easiest to follow and the least likely to cause turmoil.

"Yunwen, did you hear that?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice sounded again, and his eyes went straight to Zhu Yunwen.

Obviously, he just asked Zhu Gaochi to let Zhu Yunwen know the attitude of the vassal kings.

"Grandson, listen carefully."

Zhu Yunwen bowed his head and bowed. Zhu Yuanzhang saw this and motioned for him to come forward. When he came closer, Zhu Yuanzhang continued to explain: "If you succeed to the throne, you should treat your uncles and brothers well."

After Zhu Yunwen listened, he opened his mouth to ask something, but in the end he didn't say anything and could only respond: "My grandson knows."

"Good... good... good..."

Zhu Yuanzhang said hello three times in a row, and then with Zhu Yunxi's support, he lay back on his Babu bed.

Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang lying down, Zhu Yunwen couldn't tell what he was feeling.

In order to sort out his mood, he devoted his body and mind to that memorial.

However, while he was dealing with the memorial, Zhu Gaochi, the Crown Prince of Yan who had stayed in Wuying Hall for three years, also became serious.

Of course, he was not uncomfortable because he was worried that Zhu Yunwen would cut down the vassal, but because of Zhu Yuanzhang.

During these years of getting along with Zhu Yuanzhang, he could feel his grandfather's care for him. Although he might not be as good as Gao Xu in his eyes, he still gave him the position of Prince Yan.

In order to prevent his brothers from falling out with each other, he also asked Gao Xu to leave and join the feudal vassal, thus preventing the expansion of internal strife in the Yan family.

Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but feel a sore nose when he thought of his white hair.

While feeling uncomfortable, he even thought of Zhu Gaoxu: "I wonder what the second son and father will do when they know the news..."

"Your Highness is blessed with good fortune and good health!!"

When Zhu Gaochi was thinking of Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Gaoxu also waited for Zhu Di's more than [-] horses on almost the same day.He led hundreds of cavalry ten miles out of the city, and within an hour he met Zhu Di and Zhu Quan, as well as acquaintances such as Guo Ying, Liu Zhen, and Ping'an.

"Boy, meet your father, uncle seventeen, and grandfather-in-law..."

Turning over and dismounting, Zhu Gaoxu, dressed in a mandarin duck war jacket, bowed to everyone.

He didn't know Zhu Zhi, so he didn't address him rashly.

"What a boy! He looks a lot taller!"

Zhu Quan had fought alongside Zhu Gaoxu and admired him very much, so he was the first to get off his horse and help him up. At the same time, he couldn't help but sigh at his appearance.

19-year-old Zhu Gaoxu is close to full physical maturity. His height of nearly two meters and his bulging figure under his clothes are self-evident.

Rao Ping'an, Yang Wen, and Liu Zhen, who have experienced many battles, would instinctively feel that Zhu Gaoxu was very dangerous when they dismounted and looked at him.

Of course, his figure is not as exaggerated as that of later generations of bodybuilders. Otherwise, with Guo Yan's small body, I am afraid that the wedding night will be the last song.

"Has Haragu escaped?"

Zhu Di was thinking about how to fight the war. Although he was very happy that Zhu Gaoxu was born tall and tall, he was more concerned about the whereabouts of Haragu.

"They should have gone to Uliang Hashan Mountain. Why don't father set up camp here first and send Tangqi to find out where Uliang Hashan is running."

Zhu Gaoxu suggested something, but Zhu Di felt something was wrong when he suggested it.

Through Zhu Gaoxu's previous military campaigns, he realized very early that Zhu Gaoxu knew more about Guanwai and Modong than he did. Therefore, if Harawu really fled north, Zhu Gaoxu did not need to send Tangqi at all. He had completely guessed that Haragu The place where Lawu escaped and hid.

At this moment, Yao Guangxiao's words rang in his mind.

"His Majesty often mentions you, but you and Yan'er have been married for more than two years. Why is there no news at all?"

Zhu Di was still thinking about Zhu Gaoxu's changes, but Guo Ying didn't think about it that much. Although he and Zhu Gaoxu had to avoid getting close, it was business, and they could still talk about family matters.

"Well..." Zhu Gaoxu chuckled. He couldn't say that he had just met Guo Yan, so he could only speak vaguely: "I am still busy. I will take time to accompany the princess after this northern tour."

"That's not necessary. A real man should focus on his career." After Guo Ying said that, he also turned to look at Zhu Di:

"Your Highness, do you want to set up camp now?"

"Set up camp and send Tangqi to search for traces of Harawu." Zhu Di said in a deep voice, his attitude slightly changed from before meeting Zhu Gaoxu.

"The last general takes orders!" Guo Ying failed to notice, so after responding to the military order, he and Yang Wen began to control the army and set up camp towards Wulianghatu City.

"The city has been cleaned up, and wooden houses have been prepared for the generals to rest. Father, please..."

Seeing Zhu Di do what he suggested, Zhu Gaoxu also turned sideways and motioned Zhu Di to go to Wulianghatu City.

Zhu Di had too much curiosity in his heart, but he didn't think badly of Zhu Gaojiu. He just felt that his second son might have something to tell him.

He turned around and mounted his horse, taking more than half of the army's military attachés, including commanders and envoys, to rest in Ulianghatu City.

These military attaches have their own personal guards. Zhu Gaoxu took a look in private and estimated that there should be about 1000 people.

"able to control……"

After knowing the number of personal guards carried by this group of military attaches, Zhu Gaoxu felt at ease.

Not long after, they arrived at the south gate of Wulianghatu City.

The entrance to the Ulianghatu City built with rubble and rammed earth was built by the Bohai Navy with trenches, horn walls and other multiple defense fortifications.

Inside and outside the city, more than 2000 recalled Bohai Navy personnel were on duty.

When entering the city and passing the city gate, the Northern Patrol generals could clearly feel the difference between the Bohai Navy soldiers and their own soldiers.

They are not very tall, but they are very stocky and tall. They are stronger than many military attachés' personal guards.

Such soldiers made many military attaches shine, and Zhu Di praised them without hesitation: "You have selected these soldiers well and trained them to be elite."

"Gao Xu, how many troops and horses have you brought this time?" Zhu Quan also asked, and the generals pricked up their ears.

In their opinion, Zhu Gaoxu, who was unruly outside the customs, should have brought enough troops, at least six to seven thousand.

It was just beyond their expectations that when faced with Zhu Quan's inquiry, Zhu Gaoxu responded with a chuckle: "Three thousand."

"Three thousand?" Not only Zhu Quan, but almost everyone was stunned, including Zhu Di.

They looked at Zhu Gaoxu in disbelief. They seemed to think that Zhu Gaoxu's move was not like participating in the northern patrol, but like going out to burn wasteland.

Facing their gazes, Zhu Gaoxu did not explain, because he knew that this northern patrol would not have the opportunity to continue going north and make achievements.

It's just that he can't tell everyone about this.

Facing those eyes, he led the 1000 people into Wulianghatu City and asked Wang Yi to take the military attaches to rest.

As for himself, under the leadership of Zhu Di, he and Zhu Quan and others went to the large wooden meeting house of the Wuliangha people.

Entering the wooden house, Zhu Di walked up to the high seat without hesitation and sat down, while Zhu Gaoxu chose the third seat from the right and sat down.

Then, Zhu Quan sat in the second seat, and the first seat was taken by a person similar to Zhu Quan.

When he sat down, Zhu Gaoxu knew that this person was Zhu Zhi, so he saluted him, but Zhu Zhi just smiled and nodded, and then turned back to wait for Zhu Di to speak.

The interaction between the uncle and nephew was just a small episode in the wooden house. During this period, Guo Ying and other military attachés who followed him into the wooden house also found their seats and sat down.

Among them, Guo Ying sits first on the left, followed by several unfamiliar faces to Zhu Gaoxu.

Liu Zhen and Ping An sat in the fifth and sixth places, obviously lower in status than the four people in front.

If nothing else, the second one should be Yang Wen, the current chief military officer of the Peking Dusi, followed by Bu Wan and Wu Gao.

When Zhu Gaoxu looked at them, several more people walked into the wooden house, including Zhu Neng and Qiu Fu, whom Zhu Gaoxu was familiar with, and Zhang Yu, who had not been seen in the last battle of Jilin and existed in the memory of his predecessor.

When the three of them saw Zhu Gaoxu, they all nodded to show their goodwill and sat three seats behind him.

All of a sudden, 13 people including Zhu Gaoxu were seated in the hall. These 13 people were basically the vassal kings and generals who could participate in the meeting.

"My father's meaning is very clear, that is, it is best to drive Wu Liangha and the gang of thieves to Mobei this time, and then let the second son of my family establish a settlement in Modong. Only in this way can we protect Daning and Liaodong's transfer of troops. For farming.”

Zhu Di's speech was still as full of country flavor as ever. Although he had listened to it in memory and reality for many years, Zhu Gaoxu found it quite interesting every time he listened.

"I have sent Tangqi to search for traces of Harawu and the others. Once traces are found, we will send the army northward to teach them how powerful we Han people are."

"Now that we have arrived at Wulianghatu City, we will use this city as a place to store grain and grass. The fifteenth brother and Wu Gao will stay behind to guard the grain and grass. The seventeenth brother and the second brother will each have their own cavalry to protect the civilians in transporting grain and grass. To the army.”

"This time we send troops, Wu Dinghou and Ping Bao'er will lead the entire army of [-] horse infantry as the forward force. I, Zhu Neng, Zhang Yu, and Qiu Fu will be the center force, and Yang Wen, Liu Zhen, and Bu Wan will be the rear force."

"Yes!" After listening to Zhu Di's arrangement, no one had any objections.

Although Guo Ying is old, he was one of the two pioneers who searched Beiyuan together with Wang Bi, successfully searched, and went straight to Yuanting, creating a great victory in Yuerhai.

Not to mention everyone, even Zhu Di himself did not dare to question Guo Ying.

The credit for doing logistics is low, so Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Quan, and Zhu Zhi, who have never been promoted, can do it. Wu Gao has a bad relationship with the generals, so it will be okay even if he is placed in Wuliangha Tucheng. Anyway, as long as the war is over , just give full credit.

The Chinese army is all from the Yan Mansion, so it is convenient for Zhu Di to command it himself.

The rear army consists of Yang Wen, who has just arrived in the north, and Liu Zhen and Bu Wan, who have made meritorious service for two consecutive years and are unlikely to be rewarded.

It can be said that Zhu Di's arrangements were very good both in terms of military and human relations.

This skill alone is enough for Zhu Gaoxu to learn from it.

"This old man is really just as smart as me."

Zhu Gaoxu listened to Zhu Di's self-proclaimed words and felt that he was very sinister.

When he felt this way, Zhu Di continued to arrange the march route and the deployment of the three armies, but Zhu Gaoxu did not listen to these things seriously because he knew that the Northern Expedition would end here.

So when everything was said and everyone left, Zhu Gaoxu sat in his seat with no intention of leaving.

Zhu Di also saw Zhu Gaoxu's behavior, so after everyone left the scene, he stepped down from the main seat and sat next to Zhu Gaoxu.

"Second brother, do you have something to tell me?"

Zhu Di's dark face smiled, revealing two rows of big white teeth, looking harmless.

With his acting skills, it's no wonder that his predecessors were all fooled by him. After all, who would doubt such a 'honest' father?

However, the predecessor is the predecessor, and oneself is oneself.

In this life, he would never eat the bearded cake again, so he asked Zhu Di frankly and honestly: "Did my father receive any news from the capital before he went north?"

"News?" Zhu Di was stunned, thinking of the letter home written by his father, so he smiled and said: "Your grandfather wrote a letter home to me, telling me to watch my brothers and nephews carefully and beware of the Hu soldiers in the north."

"Father, didn't you think too much?" Zhu Gaoxu turned around and met Zhu Di's eyes.

"What are you thinking about?" Zhu Di really didn't think much about it. After all, he always arranged things step by step and obeyed his father's arrangements.

Facing Zhu Di's expression of not knowing whether it was true or false, Zhu Gaoxu's face gradually darkened, and he said solemnly: "But my son got the news..."

"Grandpa, I'm afraid I'm going to die soon..."

　"Records of Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty": "In the fifth month of the leap month, I summoned the common people, the minister Huang Fu, and the minister Yu Xin to say that the world is not at peace, and the king of Yan should be regarded as the Duke of Zhou, and should not be treated lightly. Bohai's talent and wisdom can overcome the survey, To bring peace and order to the people, make good use of it.”

　　"Bohai Chronicles": "In the fifth month of the intercalated month, on Bingchen, I met Taizong in Wuliangha Tucheng and entered the palace to talk. Taizong left displeased."

　　"Records of Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty": "In the intercalated fifth month, he went to the north to patrol the frontier and destroyed Wulianghatu City. Emperor Taizong led his troops to arrive. He was overjoyed when he entered the city. He told Duke Qi and Duke Cheng that the prince was weak and was not like my second son. If the prince is unbearable, you should all take charge of your second son."

　　
　
(End of this chapter)