Jingnan Strategy

Chapter 317 Uszangdu Commander

"Born! Born!"

"It's the emperor's grandson!"

On July 18, accompanied by the cry of the baby and the excited shouts of the female medical officer, Zhu Gaoxu and Queen Xu stood up one after another sitting outside the front bedroom.

Not long after, a female official came out and bowed to Zhu Gaoxu and Queen Xu with a smile on her face:

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess, mother and son are safe."

"Okay!" After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu also breathed a sigh of relief. Queen Xu looked at him and reminded him with a smile: "Now we should go and see Yan'er first."

"Yes, it's not my mother's reminder. I haven't reacted yet." Zhu Gaoxu took a breath, put on a smile and walked into the front bedroom.

At the same time, Queen Xu also followed him into the palace, obviously concerned about Guo Yan's health.

The two walked into the front bedroom and saw a pale Guo Yan lying on the bed with basins of blood next to him.

The placenta, umbilical cord and other things had been cleaned, so apart from Guo Yan's pale face, there was no trace of childbirth in the entire palace.

The female medical officers in Jilin are undoubtedly very professional, and Zhu Gaoxu also sat on the ground, held Guo Yan's hand, and said warmly: "How do you feel? Is there anything uncomfortable?"

"No... Your Highness and Mother are concerned." Guo Yan shook her head. Although she was denying it, Zhu Gaoxu and Queen Xu could see her weakness.

"Don't worry, the female medical officers in Jilin say that you and the child are fine. You take good care of yourself. I will stay with you in the front chamber in the past few days."

Zhu Gaoxu comforted Guo Yan, and Queen Xu next to her was about to open her mouth to comfort her, but heard noise coming from outside.

"Where?! Where is my grandson?!"

Zhu Di's voice came from outside the palace. When Queen Xu heard the sound, she could only say helplessly: "It's like this again. He was like this when my sister-in-law gave birth to Zhanji, and he is still like this now. I will go out and talk about him."

After saying this, Queen Xu walked out of the palace, and soon the sounds outside the palace became quieter.

Zhu Gaoxu smiled, looked at Guo Yan and consoled him: "I gave birth to a prince."

"I heard it just now, and saw it just now." Guo Yan forced a smile, and then suddenly said: "I just feel that this child looks like a little old man when he is born, and is not as heroic as His Highness."

"Children are like this even after they are born." Zhu Gaoxu said with a smile, and then he heard footsteps.

He looked towards the door of the palace and saw Zhu Di awkwardly wearing a mask and walking in with the infant baby in his arms.

Not only him, but also Empress Xu and all female officials were required to wear masks.

Before the children were delivered to them, the female official also brought two masks for Zhu Gaoxu and Guo Yan to wear.

There are no antibiotics in this era, and a small cold may kill this hard-won child. Therefore, the baby needs special protection within two months after birth, and can only come into contact with the outside world after the body is stronger.

"Why do I have to wear this thing?"

Zhu Di hugged his sweet grandson and wanted to pull down the mask, but he gave up on those small moves under Queen Xu's eyes.

Zhu Gaoxu and Guo Yan put on masks, and then Zhu Gaoxu saw his first child in two lives.

Well... how should I put it, despite Guo Yan's reminder, Zhu Gaoxu didn't expect this child to be so "ugly".

Not to mention the wrinkles on his face, his purple complexion and swollen eyes, he looked like a purple-skinned sad frog.

"Gao Xu, this child weighs seven pounds and four ounces, which is lighter than you."

Empress Xu was still laughing, Zhu Di was also teasing his grandson, Guo Yan looked on happily, but Zhu Gaoxu was the only one who was a little confused.

Emotions such as excitement and joy had passed. When he hugged the child, there was no special feeling in his mind. It felt like he was hugging a strange child.

"Am I really a father?" Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but ask himself, still a little stunned.

Fortunately, Zhu Di liked his grandson. Seeing that Zhu Gaoxu didn't know how to hug him, he quickly took it from his arms: "My own son can't even hug him, so he still has to look after me."

Zhu Di said that he was about to play with his grandson, but when he saw Queen Xu's expression, he immediately calmed down.

"Let's show it to Yan'er." Queen Xu's attention was always on Guo Yan, so she "snatched" her grandson from Zhu Di's arms and held him in front of Guo Yan.

When Guo Yan looked at the son he gave birth to, he felt much the same as Zhu Gaoxu.

After watching for a while, the female medical officer next to her cautiously said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, do you want to name your grandson?"

"I have already decided that my name will be Zhu Zhanhe, and no one is allowed to change it!"

As soon as he heard the name, Zhu Di immediately said the name he had chosen for his eldest grandson. However, when he looked around, he found that no one expressed their opinions, and he was the only one who was excited.

"In that case, I will take the emperor's grandson to the nursery first."

After picking up the name, the female medical officers also stepped forward to take Zhu Zhanhe (hè). Queen Xu handed him over to the female medical officers, and followed Zhu Gaoxu to pay attention to Guo Yan. Only Zhu Di looked at his grandson eagerly. Being picked up by someone made me feel uncomfortable.

"Okay, since mother and son are safe, your father and I will leave first, and you can spend some time with Yan'er."

"Mom and dad, walk slowly..."

Seeing that Guo Yan was fine, Queen Xu was relieved. Zhu Gaoxu stood up and bowed in return, and then saw Queen Xu leaving the palace with Zhu Di who was reluctant to leave her grandson.

After they left, Zhu Gaoxu continued to sit by the bed and touched Guo Yan's hand, not knowing what to say.

After holding it in for a long time, he finally said: "The child is fine."

"Well..." Guo Yan was also a little embarrassed. She didn't know how to treat the child, so she could only say: "I can't believe that I gave birth to a baby now."

"Me too." Zhu Gaoxu echoed awkwardly, but couldn't help laughing when he looked at Guo Yan, and Guo Yan also laughed.

Guo Yan is a talented woman, so after laughing, she curiously asked Zhu Gaoxu some things.

He had read "Geography and Biology" written by Zhu Gaoxu, and naturally understood basic biological knowledge. However, she did not understand much of the content, so she took advantage of this embarrassing moment to talk about these things with Zhu Gaoxu.

When talking about these things, Zhu Gaoxu became energetic and spoke clearly and logically.

The two couples quickly became immersed in the conversation and completely forgot about the son they just gave birth to.

On the other hand, they were more tolerant. The entire capital was paying attention to every move of the East Palace at this time.

Since the people in the East Palace were all brought by Zhu Gaoxu from the Bohai Sea, it was difficult for outsiders to know the information inside. It was not until Zhu Di personally went to the ancestral temple to fill in Zhu Zhanhe's name the next day that the officials in Beijing knew that there were people in the East Palace. The little master.

"Yeah!"

In the Wuding Hou Mansion, Guo Yong, who now had no official position, walked back and forth, feeling extremely happy that his niece had given birth to a grandson.

Opposite him, Guo Ming, the second son of Guo Ying and the chief historian of the Liao Palace, frowned and reminded: "Don't get too carried away."

"How can you be dissatisfied?" Guo Yong stopped when he heard this, walked to Guo Ming and said excitedly: "Second brother, Yan'er gave birth to a grandson, the eldest grandson!"

"Whatever happens has nothing to do with you. Don't accept gifts or bribes in Yan'er's name." Guo Ming reminded, and Guo Yong naturally knew it. He chuckled and said:

"How can some gifts bribe me? I just want to take the opportunity to get back my official position."

After the Sixth Army Governor's Mansion was reshuffled, Guo Yong, who once served as the right governor of the Chinese Army Governor's Mansion, now had no official position, which made him very uncomfortable.

Seeing that Guo Yan gave birth to an imperial grandson, he now only hoped that Zhu Gaoxu could remember the situation of the two families and give him an official position.

Thinking of this, he had already begun to imagine that when his grandnephew grew up, he would be able to get an official position and get a salary.

He was feeling proud, but Guo Ming next to him knew that Guo Yong's idea was destined to be impossible to realize, because the positions in the Sixth Army Governor's Mansion were all occupied, and even if there were vacancies, it would not be his turn. There are still a bunch of people.

Although Guo Yong has military merit, compared with the group of people in the platoon position, it can be said that it is not worth mentioning.

"If you want an official position, why not ask His Highness for instructions to go to the southwest to participate in the war."

"I would also like to go, but dad won't let me." Guo Yong became a little angry when he mentioned this.

After losing his official position, he thought about participating in the war in the southwest, but Guo Ying stopped him from going, obviously not wanting the Guo family to show signs of being a relative.

Although Guo Yong also knew it, he did not have the title to inherit, and it was questionable whether his descendants of the third or fifth generation could stay in the Marquis Mansion, otherwise he would not be in a hurry to get a job.

"Then in a few days, when His Highness' temper is better, you can find a way to go to Chunhe Hall and ask."

Guo Ming had nothing to do. Not many brothers of his generation were successful. Once Guo Ying didn't help, the brothers could only wait for the imperial court to appoint them.

Guo Ming didn't want to be the chief historian of the Liao Palace, but there was nothing he could do.

If Guo Yong could ask for an official position from Zhu Gaoxu, he might also be able to ask to be transferred to other yamen as an official in the future.

Thinking of this, Guo Ming looked at Guo Yong and chuckled in his heart: "Fourth brother, the future of second brother depends on you..."

Guo Yong still didn't know that he was being used as a gunman by his second brother, and he only thought about how to ask Zhu Gaoxu for a job.

With this idea in mind, he went to Chunhe Hall five days later.

"Guo Yong?"

In the front bedroom, when Zhu Gaoxu heard this name, he immediately looked at Guo Yan sitting beside him. Guo Yan saw this and said:

"It's my fourth uncle. I think he's here to seek an official position. I know he's quite capable, otherwise Emperor Taizu Gao wouldn't have granted him an official position. But he's just a little timid in doing things and doesn't please my grandfather."

"I remembered." Zhu Gaoxu recalled who Guo Yong was, then stood up and said, "I'll go see him."

"If it doesn't work, don't be embarrassed." Guo Yan confessed to Zhu Gaoxu, with worries on their faces.

"Don't worry, it's nothing serious." Zhu Gaoxu reached out and touched Guo Yan's face, and then walked out of the front bedroom.

Not long after, he appeared in Chunhe Hall and saw Guo Yong sitting in the hall waiting for him.

"I see your Highness, Your Highness is a thousand years old..." Seeing Zhu Gaoxu's arrival, Guo Yong quickly stood up and bowed, but Zhu Gaoxu ignored him and walked to his seat to sit down, leaning on the chair before speaking:

"I couldn't keep my fourth uncle's official position, but I feel sorry for my fourth uncle."

"I am terrified." Guo Yong did not show any resentment, but instead defended Zhu Gaoxu and said:

"I have heard that many meritorious generals have not received official positions. I have not made any merits, how dare I ask for official positions."

"Fourth uncle is serious." Seeing that Guo Yong's attitude was not bad, Zhu Gaoxu was not so resistant, but sending errands to him still required examinations.

"Does Fourth Uncle have anything to do when he comes to Chunhe Hall?"

"I heard that the imperial court was going to use troops against Annan, so I came here to recommend myself. I hope that your highness can give me an opportunity to serve the imperial court."

Guo Yong didn't think about using nothing but a white wolf, which made Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but nod: "It's a good thing to have this intention, but the matter of conquering Annan has been decided, and I can't change it."

"If you don't mind it, Fourth Uncle, would you be willing to go to Shaanxi Xingdu Division to serve as the commander and co-inspector of the capital, and work with Xu Kai, Ping'an and others to conquer Qinghai's rebellious Qiang?"

Guo Yong's self-recommendation made Zhu Gaoxu think of Hami.

If Hami can be captured by the imperial court in the future, people will be indispensable to guard it.

Song Sheng is not young, and although Guo Yong cannot hold up a big scene, he should have no problem guarding a Hami.

But before that, he still needs to be tested by a school. For example, sending him to Xining is a test school.

Guo Yong is not stupid, and he also knows that if he wants to improve his status, he must show corresponding abilities, so he bowed and returned the favor without thinking: "I am willing!"

"Okay..." Zhu Gaoxu nodded, and then looked to Yi Shiha aside: "Let the Sixth Army Commander's Office make arrangements."

"Your Majesty, take your orders." Yi Shiha agreed. Seeing this, Guo Yong was also worried that Zhu Gaoxu would be bored by staying too long, so he returned the greeting: "I thank Your Highness for your kindness. If nothing happens, I will go home and prepare to pack my bags."

"Uncle Fourth, go slowly." Zhu Gaoxu had no intention of keeping Guo Yong around, so he just went with the flow when he saw that he was leaving.

However, the matter of arranging him to deal with Qinghai reminded Zhu Gaoxu of something, so he asked Yishiha: "Where are Li Ying's troops and horses?"

Li Ying, it has been a year since Zhu Gaoxu discussed with Li Shi. Since last year, he has asked Li Ying to recruit 3,000 people to Beijing for training. For a while, he almost forgot about him.

"Back to Your Highness, we have arrived in Xiangyang. I think it will take at least half a month to reach the capital."

After Yi Shiha said this, Zhu Gaoxu also added:

"After he arrived, I asked him to find me. In addition, the literacy class was ready. I asked Li Ying to recruit those three thousand Xifan people from Uzang, so that they can be used to deal with Uzang and Duogan in the future."

"Servant, please receive the teaching order." Yi Shiha agreed. Upon seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu also took this opportunity to start reviewing the memorial, thinking to finish it as soon as possible and go to accompany Guo Yan as soon as possible.

At this moment, he was quite busy. He was not finished with the affairs of Imperial College, the collection of summer grain was coming soon, and Guo Yan had just given birth and needed someone to accompany her.

Thinking of this, Zhu Gaoxu calmly reviewed the memorials, and at the same time exempted the affected areas from taxes.

As time passed, August arrived as scheduled, and the summer grain collection work began. However, before that, the first person to arrive in the capital was Li Ying, who led 3,000 Uzbeg soldiers to the capital to listen to the drill.

"I, Xi Ningwei, command the Qianshi Li Ying, see your highness, your highness is a thousand years old..."

When the sound of singing rang out in the Chunhe Hall, a military attache with dark skin, even a little red cheeks, and a short beard bowed and bowed.

Zhu Gaoxu accepted his bow from his position, then stood up and walked to him: "Nine years have passed, and you have become more mature."

"But I heard that you purchased farmland in Xining to take in fugitives?"

"Your Majesty..." Li Ying couldn't help but feel dry when she heard what Zhu Gaoxu said. She wanted to defend but seemed powerless.

"That's the end of this matter." Zhu Gaoxu interrupted him and raised his hand: "If you really take in the fugitives, then register the fugitives with the government office and let them be your tenant farmers."

"As long as the matter in Zhuangtian is not suspected of occupying people's land, it can be forgotten."

"If people's fields are really occupied, send people to return them immediately. Don't embarrass yourself by waiting for Jin Yiwei and Xichang to find out the news."

Nine years have passed, and Zhu Gaoxu has become even more oppressive.

When he was in the cathedral nine years ago, he was not much taller than Li Ying, and his status was just that of a prince.

Now nine years later, he is more than a head taller than Li Ying. Regardless of his status, the scene of him teaching Li Ying in his early years is still vivid in his mind.

Li Ying naturally did not doubt Zhu Gaoxu's strength. When he was serving in Xining Guards, when others thought that Zhu Gaoxu's ability to fight hundreds of people on foot was a boast, only he knew that it was possible.

Now that he met Zhu Gaoxu, he felt that this was not a boast, but a fact.

Seeing that Zhu Gaoxu did not hold himself accountable, Li Ying bowed her head in shame and responded: "I understand."

"Okay, I didn't call you here to judge your sins. I won't investigate your past sins, but if you do it again in the future, I will have to deal with it in accordance with the law."

Zhu Gaoxu helped him up, then signaled Yishiha to give Li Ying a seat, and then he returned to his seat and sat down.

After Li Ying and himself sat down, he continued: "The people from the Governor's Mansion have seen the three thousand soldiers you recruited, and they are all very good."

"From now on, you will lead them to the big teaching field, learn Mandarin, write Chinese characters, and practice firearms."

"The imperial court is preparing to build a post road from Songpan to Naqu, Lhasa, and Shigatse, and at the same time strengthen the management of Uszang and Dogan."

"Three thousand of you, as well as the three thousand Hezhou Guards in Xining, are the soldiers and horses that the imperial court will use to maintain the safety of Uzang and Duogan in the future."

"If you have any suggestions, you can put them forward now and I will accept them at my discretion."

After Zhu Gaoxu finished explaining the reason for summoning Li Ying, Li Ying did not expect that the imperial court's ambitions were so great.

Even to him, a Xifan from Qinghai, Duogan and Uzang were considered barren lands, with very few places that could produce food.

Maintaining an army of six thousand men in such a place would probably be very expensive.

"It's more than 4,000 miles from Songpan to Shigatse. If you want to build a post road, I'm afraid it won't be cheap."

Li Ying carefully expressed her opinion, and when Zhu Gaoxu didn't refute, she boldly continued: "The majesty of the imperial court can only be maintained in Qinghai, Songpan, and Weizhou. Once it goes deep, it will be no less than sending troops to attack Duogan and Uzang." .”

"If six thousand soldiers and horses are all wearing armor, they can conquer more than ten thousand imperial troops. As far as I know, Uzang and Xifan cannot find a force that can mobilize tens of thousands of troops."

"It is not a problem to deter Wuszang and Duogan with six thousand troops. The problem is how to maintain it."

"With these 6,000 people, it is not a big problem to ask the local tribesmen to send slaves to build the post road. The post road is nothing more than widening the local trail and then pulling out the stones farther away."

"But Your Highness, you said that you want to maintain the safety of Uzang and Duogan. I would like to know where the imperial court plans to station troops."

After Li Ying finished speaking, she waited quietly for Zhu Gaoxu to speak, and Zhu Gaoxu also spoke: "What do you think if troops are stationed in Dege, Qamdo, Naqu, Lhasa, and Shigatse respectively?"

"There should be no problem if we have five thousand troops stationed and one thousand soldiers and horses to escort the grain and grass. However, the carriage cannot carry too much grain. A carriage can only carry two stones of grain and one stone of beans."

"It took almost three months for the grain to reach Shigatse. The beans were eaten by the horses, and there was only half a stone of grain left. Moreover, there was no way to cook in that place, and the cooked rice was all raw. of."

"If you want to maintain 6,000 soldiers and horses in the local area, you have to transport at least 150,000 stones of rice and 100,000 stones of beans every year to ensure their operation, and the military salary is the bulk of it."

"If you want to transport twelve shi of rice as military pay, you need to transport at least 40 shi of rice. Six thousand people are 240,000 shi of rice. In addition, you need 20,000 to 30,000 horses to transport the grain, which will consume 145,000 Wanshi beans.”

Li Ying told Zhu Gaoxu about the pressure that the troops garrisoned in Uszang and Duogan might bear. After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu made some calculations. That is to say, it would take nearly 400,000 shi and 245,000 shi to maintain a force of 6,000 troops stationed in Tibet. Bean material.

This is still the salary given according to the treatment of guardsmen. If it is given according to the treatment of Bohai, the price will be even higher.

Thinking of this, Zhu Gaoxu also said: "The salary given to them by the imperial court is twelve shi meters. If it is replaced by six shi meters and fifteen guan money, and they are guaranteed to be transferred to the mainland after they are forty years old, do you think they will accept?"

"If it's fifteen guan, then they will definitely accept it." Li Ying answered without thinking. After all, if fifteen guan is placed in Uzang, it can buy seven or eight acres of land.

If a soldier is stationed in Uzang for twenty years, he can purchase more than 100 acres of land, raise a dozen slaves, and become a little chieftain.

"What if we give them all copper coins, twenty guan?" Zhu Gaoxu continued to ask, but this time Li Ying shook his head and said:

"Uzang's resources are scarce, so some rice must be given. The six shi of rice given by the court as rations can only feed the soldiers themselves. The remaining six shi of rice can support them to feed their women and children."

"Yeah." Zhu Gaoxu nodded, and then thought for a while before he said: "Let's do this. For those who enlist in the Uszang and Songpan garrison, the imperial court can grant them ten acres of enlisted land in Long'an Prefecture and Chengdu Prefecture. Their families are brought into local life, and their children can attend government schools for free."

"If singles enter Uszang to garrison and get married, the court will also purchase ten acres of land for them to enlist in the army, and their children will also enjoy free education in official schools."

"The military pay will be distributed according to fifteen guans of money and ten shi of rations. What do you think?"

Zhu Gaoxu gave his advice, but Li Ying was stunned after hearing it. It was not that the treatment given by Zhu Gaoxu was not good enough, but that the treatment given was too good.

As far as he knew, cultivated land in Long'an Prefecture was slightly cheaper, but it still cost three guan to buy one acre, while cultivated land in Chengdu Prefecture cost five guan.

In other words, as long as the soldiers join the army and serve as soldiers in Uzang, they can not only learn culture, but also get ten acres of farmland worth thirty to fifty guans, their children can study for free, and they can also get 15 guans per year. and ten stone rations.

As far as remuneration is concerned, as soon as this news is released, a large number of people from Wuszang and Duogan will come out of Tubo and sign up enthusiastically.

"If this is really such treatment, I can't think of any reason why they can refuse."

Li Ying had to admire Zhu Gaoxu's generosity. Zhu Gaoxu also chuckled when he heard this: "Their treatment is very good, and yours is also good."

"Today you are promoted to the commander of Uzangdu. When your three thousand soldiers are trained, you will be able to leave Uzang."

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!" Hearing that he had jumped four levels in a row, Li Ying could not help but be excited even though the place where he worked was poor.

He knelt down and bowed five times and kowtowed three times. When Zhu Gaoxu saw this, he asked Yishiha to step forward and help him up, and said:

"The treatment given by the imperial court is not low. You and they must train well and guard Uzang for the imperial court."

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu's instructions, Li Ying did not dare to neglect, and put her hands together in a bow:

"I...learn from you!"

　"Records of Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty": "At the end of the seventh month, the prince's eldest son was born, and he was canonized as the emperor's grandson. He was very happy and said: "This is a blessing for the Ming Dynasty."

　　"Records of Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty": "July Dingyou: Li Ying, the commander of the Xining Guards, was promoted to the commander of the Tibetan capital of Wushu, specializing in important Tibetan affairs."

　　

　

(End of this chapter)