Jingnan Strategy

Chapter 405 The grudge between father and son
"There are many books about ancient and modern things in the world, and the chapters are vast and difficult to review. I would like to collect the things recorded in each book and group them together, and unify them with rhyme, so that it can be easily researched, just like picking things out of a bag..."

"Since the Book of Deeds, the classics and history have been collected from hundreds of schools of thought. As for astronomy, geographies, yin and yang, medical divination, monks' Taoism, and technical skills, it is not tiring to compile a book."

"Now I order Yao Guangxiao, the young master of the crown prince, Xie Jin, the grand scholar of Diange University, the Minister of Rites to send gifts and supervise the repair, and Sun Cheng, the assistant minister, to repair it."

In mid-August of the ninth year of Yongle, as Zhu Di's imperial decree was read out at the West Corner Gate, without any warning, Zhu Di suddenly ordered the book repair work that he had been thinking about for nearly ten years.

The action was so fast that even Zhu Gaoxu, who was in charge of politics in Chunhe Hall, didn't even react before the decree was issued.

Therefore, when Zhu Gaoxu hurried to the west corner gate, Zhu Di had already rubbed oil on his feet and slipped back to Jiyan Hall.

When Zhu Gaoxu arrived at Jiyan Hall, he saw the back of the old man hugging his mother, Zigong, with his shoulders hunched.

"Sister, I have fulfilled one of my father's wishes today. I just hope Gao Xu won't blame me..."

Zhu Di didn't say it earlier or later, but he said these words just when Zhu Gaoxu stepped into Jiyan Hall with one foot. It's hard not to make people think nonsense.

"Why did you get involved with my grandpa again?"

"Ugh……"

Sure enough, after hearing what he said, Zhu Gaoxu rolled his eyes at him: "Why did my grandfather get involved again?"

The difference is that Gaozong and Xiaozong are still kind to father and filial to son, but Huizong and Qinzong are at loggerheads.

The difference is that the former abdicated passively, but lived a pleasant life.

Zhu Gaoxu's meaning is very obvious, that is, he should not always give examples of the relationship between father and son. In other words, Zhu Gaoxu wants to have a good relationship with him.

"Although I know you are doing a good job and doing a good job, I still don't feel reassured."

This kind of expression was something Zhu Gaoxu had never seen in all the years he had been with him.

Now that the implementation of the New Deal has become the general trend and the situation has stabilized, what he needs Zhu Di to do has been done.

Zhu Di was questioned by Zhu Gaoxu like this. Although he was a little embarrassed, he could still hear what Zhu Gaoxu meant.

As he spoke, Zhu Di seemed to have gained a lot of confidence. He put his hands on his hips and frowned slightly: "My lord, do you think that I am getting old and are you going to let me learn from Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty and Xiaozong of the Song Dynasty?"

The old man has gained merit, and he has achieved the situation he wants. It is indeed time for him to take charge.

He initially pushed Zhu Di to take the position instead of taking the position himself. Firstly, considering Zhu Di's status, it was easier to suppress the situation. Secondly, many things required Zhu Di to take care of him in the front, so that he could slowly prepare for the latter.

"Are you really crying?"

Zhu Gaoxu said what was in his heart, which made Zhu Di relieved, but at the same time, he felt a little empty in his heart.

Zhu Gaoxu was asking Zhu Di whether he wanted his father to be kind and his son to be filial, or whether he wanted his father and his son to turn against each other.

"Besides, you also promised me back then that you would start repairing the book in the ninth year of Yongle. More than half a year has passed, and there is no movement from you. If I don't personally issue the order, how long are you going to postpone it?"

Zhu Gaoxu looked helplessly at the back of Zhu Di who was pretending to cry. Only when Zhu Di turned around did he see the tears in the corners of Zhu Di's eyes.

"So I've thought about it carefully. After I take care of Wala during the next Northern Expedition, you should also prepare for your enthronement ceremony."

Although Zhao Gou, Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, abdicated on his own initiative, Zhao Gou did not ignore the government affairs. He could be said to be one of the most famous emperors who interfered in the government affairs as the Supreme Emperor, second only to Song Huizong who restricted Song Qinzong in every way.

"If you have nothing to do and involve my grandfather, tomorrow I will go to Xiaoling to kowtow to my grandparents and let the old man entrust you with dreams from below."

If the old man is really willing to step down and become the Supreme Emperor, then by compiling the "Yongle Dadian", he may be able to severely damage the Jiangnan literati, because they have too many tricks, and the old man can help him take the blame before leaving.

Zhu Di's words were quite questioning, but Zhu Gaoxu was more direct: "Then why don't you talk about Gaozong and Huizong of the two Song Dynasties?"

Although the latter abdicated the throne on his own initiative, his life was depressed because of his unfilial son.

"Besides, Sun Cheng is supervising, so don't worry, dad won't make it too big."

Thinking of this, Zhu Gaoxu narrowed his eyes and said, "Since you said that, I won't hide anything from you."

Zhu Gaoxu was stunned for a moment, then stepped forward to take a look, but Zhu Di quickly wiped the corners of his eyes: "The wind was strong, and my eyes were blurred..."

Tang Gaozu and Song Xiaozong, these two people can be said to be examples of passive abdication and active abdication.

After receiving Zhu Gaoxu's attitude, Zhu Di relaxed a little.

"Second brother, you have to satisfy me and your grandpa. Dad knows that he didn't say hello to you. This is not a good thing, but it won't cost much to repair the book."

The father and son sat on the ground, and Zhu Di let out a long sigh: "Dad is just worried..."

He sat on the ground next to Zi Palace, stretched out his hand and patted the gold bricks beside him, motioning Zhu Gaoxu to sit down and said.

As soon as he said this, Zhu Gaoxu immediately felt that the old man was drawing cakes, but when he looked at the old man, a rare look of exhaustion appeared on his face.

However, before that, Zhu Gaoxu had to make the New Deal take another step forward.

As soon as Zhu Di opened his mouth, Zhu Gaoxu had already guessed what the old man wanted to say. He was too familiar with this guy.

"Wind?" Zhu Gaoxu looked at Jiyan Hall, which looked like a mourning hall. Everything was hanging quietly, motionless.

It was not surprising that the second child wanted to sit on the throne. He had always felt that the second child had wanted to sit on the throne very early, so he was suspicious.

Zhu Gaoxu didn't worry about anything and sat neatly next to him, wanting to see what the old man had to say.

He didn't know if this was Zhu Di's depression due to the news of Queen Xu's death, but he had to say that this was an opportunity.

"My son also wants to sit in this big seat!"

After reacting, he put his hands behind his back, looked at Empress Xu's Zi Palace and said, "Dad is not lying. Your grandfather really wanted to get a high-quality "Leishu" before his death."

"Hey! No matter how big or small!" Zhu Di was anxious. He was really afraid of Lao Zhu.

Now that the second child has spoken out about this matter, he can also use this conversation to solve his heart problems.

But even though he already had the answer, he still felt a little uncomfortable when he heard Zhu Gaoxu say this with his own ears.

"I said this because I don't want to create a gap between my father and my son, because when Nanjing was captured, I told you that there is nothing that cannot be discussed between father and son, and I have nothing to hide."

Zhu Gaoxu looked straight at Zhu Di, and while looking at his gloomy face, he did not forget to add:
"Of course, as you said, my father, even if I want to take this big position, it will not be now, but in the future."

"After you finish cleaning up Mahamu, if you really feel tired, I will take care of you."

"If you think you can continue to do it, I will continue to support you."

"If you become the Supreme Emperor, your sons and ministers will still respect you. Whether you are hunting in autumn, going on patrol, or leading troops to fight, your sons and ministers will not stop you."

At the moment, Zhu Gaoxu had the confidence to say this, because even if he handed over the army to Zhu Di, the chance of the army rebelling was very small.

To break it down, Zhu Di was only slightly influential in Peiping, Shanxi and Shaanxi Xingdusi.

After the New Deal restructuring, the armies in these places will not exceed 120,000 at most, while other places are basically controlled by Zhu Gaoxu's generals who came from the Bohai Sea, as well as Li Jinglong and other Jianwen surrendered generals.

Except for the bad relationship between Wu Gao and Bohai among the surrendered generals, the rest of the relationships are not too bad.

In comparison, the relationship between Yan Mansion and Jiang Jiang can be said to be extremely bad. Without Zhu Gaoxu's protection, the fate of Li Jinglong and his group would not be much better than in history.

By then, Zhu Di will still be the same Zhu Di, and the Yan Mansion will still be the same Yan Mansion, but the emperor of Nanjing City will not be the easily deceived guy like Zhu Yunwen.

What's more, the Ming army's current firearms production is all in Liaodong. Zhu Di and his colleagues will only have fewer and fewer firearms, while their own army will have more and more firearms.

Zhu Di must know this truth himself, so he didn't have any doubts about what Zhu Gaoxu said.

"If you really think so, then it's not like dad can't retreat and take a rest."

"It's just that you have promised well now. I'm afraid that when dad really wants to lead troops to patrol the border, you won't agree, just like now."

Zhu Di said sourly, his mouth full of jealousy, and he was obviously still worried about not being able to go to the north next year.

In response, Zhu Gaoxu took his time and said with a chuckle: "It's not that I won't give in, but that I'm preparing better firearms to deal with the barbarians more effectively."

"You've seen the old flintlock muskets, but you haven't seen the new flintlock muskets."

"Once the new flintlock guns begin to be produced and equipped with troops, the situation in the troops will also change, and pikemen will gradually be eliminated from the battlefield."

Zhu Gaoxu came to Zhu Di this time to talk about this matter, so he took out a folded blueprint from his sleeve, and after taking it out, he took out the blueprint.

"This is a new type of flintlock gun. It has a few more designs than the old one."

When the drawing was handed to Zhu Di, compared with the flintlock drawing that Zhu Di had seen last time, there was something similar to a short knife in this drawing.

"This is a bayonet, about one foot long. With the four-foot-five-inch flintlock, the bayonet sleeve can reach five feet, five-inch (176cm)."

"Because there is a protruding latch on the outside of the barrel, the soldier can turn the bayonet into the groove of the sleeve and fix it by twisting it, allowing the musketeer to quickly transform into a pikeman."

"Although it is very short compared to the one-foot-three spear regulations in the army, you have seen the power of line tactics and volleys of guns. Do you think that if the enemy can break through the volleys of guns, how many troops will they have left? How can they To ensure that the formation is not disordered?”

In Zhu Gaoxu's view, if the Hu soldiers in the north could break through the volleys of guns without losing their formation, they would be able to penetrate the Ming Dynasty.

After all, he had never seen such an army except during the war of resistance and the founding of the country in later generations.

"This bayonet is so thin and light, I'm afraid it will cause problems on the battlefield. Also, what is this thing below?"

After hearing this, Zhu Di quickly realized what the sleeve bayonet meant, and also saw the shortcomings of the bayonet.

Indeed, with the level of iron smelting in this era, embarrassing things such as deformation of the bayonet blade will indeed occur after combat. In this regard, Zhu Gaoxu prepared a backup plan: "With bayonets, there is no need to wear waist knives, so you can always keep two or three bayonets."

"As for the one below..."

Zhu Gaoxu looked at the bottom of the drawing, and there was a flintlock gun that was shorter than the flintlock gun above.

In the eighteenth century, there were three types of flintlock muskets: rifles, pistols and carbines.

The rifle is the longest, ranging from four to five feet in length, and the pistol is the shortest, only about one foot in length, and is mainly used for close combat.

However, due to the limited accuracy and range of flintlock pistols, except for naval soldiers and army officers who often engage in boarding battles and gang-hopping battles, most soldiers do not use pistols. After all, the effective range of flintlock pistols is too large. Close.

Many pistols are unable to shoot accurately at targets more than ten meters away, which is too useless for ordinary soldiers.

Therefore, Zhu Gaoxu did not get a flintlock pistol, but eliminated the pistol and only adopted rifles and lances. This is why Zhu Gaoxu insisted on equipping Zhu Di with a flintlock pistol before marching north.

The lance is a model between a rifle and a pistol. It is three feet long and weighs five kilograms. It looks like a rifle that has been deliberately shortened.

Except for being rarely equipped with a bayonet, they are very similar to rifles in other aspects. They even have a rifle-style butt, but the length is much shorter than that of a rifle. It is more appropriate to call it a carbine cavalry.

Although historically, soldiers were reluctant to use carbines, and even Napoleon himself admitted that it was difficult for cuirassiers to use carbines on horseback.

But the lance can be said to be the icing on the cake for the current Ming army.

Its equipment allows the Ming cavalry to directly shoot and defeat some troops of poor quality without launching an attack.

The reason why it did not shine in Europe was because the quality of the armies at that time was generally not very different.

However, judging from Zhu Gaoxu's many years of experience, in this era, few armies can face the carbine without retreating.

Although its armor-piercing range is only twenty steps away, it is still much better than a bow and arrow.

"This is a carbine. It is three feet long, weighs five kilograms, and has an armor-piercing range of twenty steps."

"Since there is no need for a igniter, the firing of the flintlock can be completed by the soldiers alone. When arranging the guns in line, the density of the team will be doubled, and the power of the volley will be greater."

"At the same time, because no helpers are needed, the cavalry can also load ammunition by themselves, and the three-foot-long carbine just allows the cavalry to load on the back of the Hequ horse."

"If the cavalry is equipped with two carbines, they can use maneuvering tactics on the battlefield and frequently face confrontations."

"For some armies with low morale, it only takes two or three rounds to defeat the opponent."

"Of course, facing opponents of the same level, it seems a bit useless."

After Zhu Gaoxu finished explaining, Zhu Di's eyes gradually became hotter, and he couldn't put it down and looked at the drawings in his hands: "When can we equip the army?"

Seeing Zhu Di asking, Zhu Gaoxu also pointed out:
"After Zheng He comes back, the rifle will be reworked for about three months before it can be equipped with the Northern Expedition Army."

"The production of lances only started in May this year, and the monthly output is 2,000 pieces."

"According to the news sent by Dagu La, Zheng He should arrive in Da Gu La in the winter month and arrive in the capital in April next year."

"Based on time, if we include three months of resumption of work and reproduction of rifles, we should be able to equip 30,000 carbines. If one cavalryman has two carbines, he can also equip 15,000 cavalry."

"Okay, okay..." After hearing this, Zhu Di nodded with satisfaction. As for the rifle, he had already learned about it last time.

According to the resumption of production, 90,000 flintlock rifles and 30,000 carbine rifles should be produced next year.

This seems like a lot, but the former was something Zhu Gaoxu started planning two years ago.

The current musket output of the Ming Dynasty is basically around 60,000 pieces per year.

Compared with the production of muskets, the Ming Dynasty's artillery production is more terrifying, with an annual output of more than 6,000 pieces. It can be said that one year's output exceeds the total artillery production of all countries in the world.

Because of this, Liaodong is basically the most developed region in the military industry. The number of craftsmen engaged in the military industry alone reaches more than 60,000, and they are all men.

Behind these 60,000 men are 60,000 households. Nearly one-seventh of the population in Liaodong relies on military industry for survival.

In addition to the military industry, there are also mining industries such as iron ore and coal mines, in which as many as 25,000 men are engaged. The annual output of wrought iron is 9 million kilograms, accounting for 30% of the country's total iron production.

This seems like a lot, but in fact it is only enough to meet the needs of the military factories and the people of Liaodong, and it does not even meet the conditions for export to other provinces.

Once the navy needs to expand, it will even need to allocate iron materials from other provinces to the Ordnance Bureau in Liaodong.

Just like now, almost half of the country's iron materials are invested in the Ordnance Bureau of Liaodong.

Due to the long distance, many officials traveled frequently and felt that such an important yamen should not be placed in Liaodong, but should be moved to the south of the Yangtze River, as close to the capital as possible.

It's just that Zhu Gaoxu didn't bother to pay attention to these memorials.

With the mining methods and efficiency of the Ming Dynasty, the iron ore in Liaodong was enough to be mined until the Ming Dynasty overturned.

Moreover, when his father and son move their capital to Beijing in the future, Liaodong will be just right.

Without relying on these industries, Liaodong will be left behind by Guannai sooner or later.

"If Zheng He comes back in April next year and resumes work for three months, it will already be July..."

Zhu Di suddenly reacted and looked at Zhu Gaoxu helplessly.

After Zhu Gaoxu felt this, he chuckled and bowed: "Because of this, we can only send troops in May of the 11th year of Yongle."

"But that's fine. You should be happy when the army can be equipped with more carbines and rifles."

"Besides, during this Northern Expedition, my son will definitely give you a great time."

"There are 50,000 cavalry in Liaodong, Bohai, Daning, Beiping, and Shanxi. Except for Shanxi, which needs to protect the Hetao, all 40,000 cavalry in the other four places are participating in the battle."

"At the same time, Daning, Peiping, and Bohai each mobilized 20,000 horse infantry to participate in the task of logistically escorting civilians."

"Now Daning's Modong Three Guards can recruit about 40,000 civilians. But in the next two years, all the criminals in the pass will be assigned to the Modong Three Guards. Before the war, the number of civilians should reach 60,000."

"At that time, another 240,000 civilians will be recruited from Daning, Bohai, Beiping, and Liaodong, and the number will reach 300,000 civilians."

"There are so many civilians, enough to supply you with supplies to the Hulanhu hypothermia area, and even further west."

Zhu Gaoxu was particularly generous today, so generous that Zhu Di wondered if he was sick.

"You... dick..."

Facing his usually "searching" son, Zhu Di didn't know what to say for a while.

"If you do this, my father will have no choice but to abdicate..."

"How could it be?" Zhu Gaoxu couldn't laugh or cry, so he had to explain:
"Whether you abdicate or not, in my expectation, this third Northern Expedition will be of this scale."

"My minister told you before that as long as the barbarians are severely injured, they will become timid and dare not come out easily."

"Now look at it, the Tatars were hurt by your battle. Even though they are now vassals of the Ming Dynasty, they still have many patrol posts in Hailar."

"My son, I can be sure that if you don't tell Alitai about sending troops this time, Alitai will definitely flee to the west when the civilians are transporting large quantities of grain and grass to Hai Laer, and he will even be willing to join Wala."

"This is the case with Alitai of Tatar, and it will be the same with Mahamu in the future."

“If we can’t hit it big at once, it will be very difficult to find opportunities like this again in the future.”

"That's why I have prepared so many manpower and material resources just so that you can defeat the Wala tribe in one fell swoop and create peace for at least twenty years."

Zhu Gaoxu's words made Zhu Di's blood boil: "Well said!"

Zhu Di couldn't hide his excitement. He walked back and forth several times before he said proudly:
"This time, I will send out a large army to defeat the barbarians in one fell swoop and bring twenty years of peace and prosperity to the north!"

Speaking of happiness, Zhu Di looked back at Zhu Gaoxu, and suddenly felt that it would be good to give up his seat to Zhu Gaoxu, no matter how he looked at it, he liked it.

"Boy, you really look like me..."

As their love deepened, Zhu Di resumed calling himself "I", but Zhu Gaoxu knew very well that the old man was completely a dog. Don't look at him happily praising himself now. When he doesn't do well, the old man will definitely be the first. Call yourself a "sharp mouthed monkey cheek".

"Now that the matter has been made clear, I won't stay there."

Zhu Gaoxu bowed his head and said: "Since the book repair has begun, there is no need to stop, just continue to repair it."

"But here in the East Palace, I will select five hundred officials to join the book repair team. In addition, please pay more attention to your hands and feet in the past two years. The finances of the imperial court are indeed not optimistic. If the consumption is excessive, the Northern Expedition team that Nachen mentioned earlier will , I’m afraid it will have to be halved…”

"Are you playing this trick with your father?" As an emperor, Zhu Di is very familiar with the tricks of using a carrot in one hand and a stick in the other.

Now Zhu Gaoxu's words are exactly what he used on his ministers, but he doesn't want to be used by this kid against his father.

"Anyway, my son said so. Apart from my sons and ministers, there are probably not many people in the temple who will support you in building books and temples, and also intending to conquer the north."

Zhu Gaoxu shrugged and stopped pretending.

Zhu Di became angry when he saw him like this, and immediately waved his hands: "Go, go, go!"

"I'm telling you, son, get out of here right now." Zhu Gaoxu turned around and trotted out of the banquet hall.

Looking at his running back, Zhu Di stroked his beard and looked at Queen Xu's Zi Palace.

"Sister Xu, it would be a pity not to become the emperor with this method..." Zhu Di clicked his tongue a few times, but then said:
"I can't help it, he looks too much like me..."

(End of this chapter)