Jingnan Strategy

Chapter 505: Hang the long sail
"put!!"

"Boom boom boom——"

The day after the grand military parade, in the Changshan Mountains west of Guangping Prefecture in southern Jiaozhi, thousands of miles away from Beijing, artillery fire continued, and the wooden wall on a low mountain was also destroyed.

Dozens of Ming infantrymen armed with flintlock rifles and bayonets rushed into the wooden village, shouting and killing, and blood gathered in some low-lying areas, forming small blood puddles.

Half an hour later, the wooden village was ablaze, and piles of broken weapons were collected and taken down the mountain.

On the mountain road, more than a hundred shirtless Changshan barbarians were kneeling on the ground, looking at the Ming army around them in fear.

"Hundred households, these are the captured Changshan barbarians, a total of one hundred and forty-seven people!"

In front of the prisoners, a flag officer was bowing to the man in front of him.

In front of him, a tall figure sat under a sunshade umbrella.

The figure has a high nose, thick eyebrows and long eyes. He looks handsome but dignified.

As soon as he finished speaking, the official withdrew his hand and walked towards the horse next to him. He climbed onto the horse skillfully, shook the reins, and left the place in a breath.

"Okay, no need to be humble, go down and rest first."

There are signs of being burned down in this market town, and the population in the town is relatively small. There are only some young and middle-aged people, and there are very few women and children, let alone the elderly and the weak.

"Zhang Qi, an official from the 500th household of the 6000th household of the Guangping Guard, has returned from being ordered to encircle and suppress the Changshan barbarians. This is a capture recorded by the military officials. The captured weapons and armor are already on their way here and will arrive in about two hours! "

Holding his helmet and holding the horse, he left the temporary command yamen on foot.

He bowed respectfully and handed over a piece of military official letter paper he had packed in his arms.

He stepped forward and patted the flag officer who was still stunned, and put his hand on his shoulder.

It is extremely hot in southern Cochin in June, which is undoubtedly a torture whether in the house or on the street.

He nodded to the acquaintances and said hello, then walked into the main hall and bowed to a military attache in his thirties who was studying the sand table:

He walked around the screen wall, and the next second he saw many officials from hundreds of households coming in and out of the main hall.

"Behead them all so that these barbarians can learn what I, the Han, are capable of!"

The flag officer turned around in horror and saw only corpses on the ground. Before he could say anything, the officer in front of him stood up and told the military officer beside him:

"In a few days, I will be promoted to the rank of Deputy Qianhu. My current position of Hundred Husband... come and sit."

Zhang Qi answered loudly, and the military attache also smiled when he heard this: "Don't be humble, your skills are quite good. For several months in a row, you have been the one with the least losses and the most beheadings and seizures among the hundreds of barbarian households in Changshan. It will be a good thing for the court and yourself to be promoted to a thousand households."

A military attache took it and handed it to the thirty-year-old military attache. The military attache glanced at it and said with satisfaction:
"Yes, you have made good military achievements since taking office. This time you killed more than 600 Changshan barbarians, and you can be transferred to other places to serve as a thousand-household official."

On June 23, diplomatic missions from various countries at home and abroad left Beijing with complicated emotions.

"If you don't have evidence, don't say anything." The thirty-year-old military attache interrupted him, and then began to continue arranging the task of encircling and suppressing the Changshan barbarians.

It's just that it's still a long time before his promotion is processed, but the military parade in Beijing has come to an end.

Compared with the busyness inside the yamen, Zhang Qi took off his hat-shaped helmet when he walked out of the yamen and breathed a long sigh of relief.

Some of them took the Beijing-Tianjin Railway to Tianjin and returned to their home countries by boat from Tianjin.

"Remember these one hundred and forty-six people. They also have weapons. Use them as a beheading number. The rewards received will be distributed equally to each brother."

The chief flag officer didn't even react. The more than 140 Changshan barbarians behind him were struck by the butcher's knife and fell to the ground one after another.

This place has been taken over by the army, and their purpose here is to suppress the nearby Changshan barbarians.

"The general just did his job and didn't dare to ask for promotion!"

The Baihu official walked out from under the umbrella, revealing a slightly childish face, but he was nearly a head taller than the ordinary Ming army soldiers around him.

But even so, Zhang Qi was still happy, because he used his own strength to prove that the Ming Dynasty's army only looked at ability and performance, and did not pay attention to qualifications.

All that was left were the cheering soldiers and the flag officer who could not calm down for a long time.

At the same time, a document with his name on it was also sent to the Cochin Dusi Yamen.

"Qianhuguan..."

The military attache waved his hand, and Zhang Qi saluted meticulously before turning around and leaving the temporary yamen where the commander was appointed.

"You are already twenty-eight, but you are still a flag officer."

Not long after, a sentence reached the ears of the chief flag officer.

"Yes!" The military officer beamed with joy, and the faces of the surrounding soldiers also showed smiles, completely ignoring the Changshan Barbarian blood stained on their faces.

An hour later, the departing Baihu official led more than ten cavalry and arrived at a market town where thousands of soldiers and horses had gathered.

"Hundred households, it is forbidden to kill prisoners in the army. I'm afraid this is... inappropriate..."

Zhang Qi's handsome face showed a smile, but he didn't know what he thought of, and his expression instantly returned to normal.

Baihuguan rode his horse to a temporarily repaired courtyard. He dismounted skillfully and underwent inspection before walking into the courtyard.

A slightly deep voice sounded, but the content made the surrounding Ming troops look at each other.

Watching his leaving figure, a military attache walked up to the thirty-year-old military attaché and whispered: "Although he is capable, there has been news recently that he is not captured..."

"Uh-huh!!"

The commander-in-chief's tone was hesitant, but when faced with his words, the hundred households snorted: "Who said they were prisoners? Take action!"

Others take the Northwest Railway that has been repaired to Huining County in Ningxia to go to the northwest and return to their home countries by land.

They came with great confidence, but when they left, they were timid and felt very heavy.

The Ming Dynasty weighed heavily on their heads, and this undoubtedly strengthened the determination of various countries to imitate the Ming Dynasty.

However, before they returned to their home country, the Ming Dynasty had already turned its attention to Mobei.

After the military parade, the military horses were moved away by a small number of cavalry soldiers to graze towards Hailar, while a large number of cavalry took the Northeast Railway to Hailar.

In the team heading to Hailaer, Zhu Di's own journey undoubtedly concerns everyone's hearts.

"Your Majesty, you can't go!"

"The Supreme Emperor..."

"Pull him down!"

In front of the Beijing East Railway Station, dozens of officials including Xia Yuanji and Guo Zi tried to dissuade Zhu Di, but Zhu Di, who was determined, ordered them to be carried away directly.

Sixty-year-old Xia Yuanji was picked up by soldiers and horses from Yanshan's left and right guards and sent away outside Beijing East Railway Station.

Despite Xia Yuanji's constant dissuasion, he still could not change Zhu Di's mind.

As the noisy people were sent away, Zhu Di glanced at the people on the platform.

Wang Yi and Chen Chang from Bohai, Sun Cheng and Wang Hui from the reformists, Yang Rong, Yang Pu and Xue Xuan from the conservative faction...

Seeing that no one in the group of ministers spoke to stop him, Zhu Di let out a breath and turned his eyes to Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Zhanhe, Zhu Zhanji, Zhu Qiyue, Zhu Gaochi and others beside him.

In order to prevent Zhu Gaochi from being disappointed, Zhu Di glanced at the ministers, Zhu Gaoxu and others with eager eyes.

Although he is old and his hair is half gray, Zhu Di's eyes are still like a tiger waiting for an opportunity, which is intimidating.

"I've already said it, if anyone starts to rebel, pull him down... and kill him!"

Zhu Di almost squeezed out the last two words through his teeth, and you could hear the resentment in his heart just by listening to them.

After he finished speaking, the officials did not dare to say anything more. Only Zhu Gaoxu stepped forward and said:

"Our army has trains to transport supplies. The Hulu will definitely not be able to react. Soldiers are very fast. Father, if you set off earlier, you can return earlier with success."

When it came to parting, Zhu Gaoxu was not too reluctant to say goodbye, because he knew that Zhu Di could only come back early if he left early.

Rather than dragging him here, it would be better to help him start the battle in Beishan as soon as possible.

"Everyone, get out of here." After Zhu Di finished speaking, he walked into the carriage. Although Zhu Qiyue was young, he moved very quickly and followed him in a hurry.

Zhu Zhanhe looked at his father. Zhu Gaoxu didn't say anything, just nodded lightly.

Father and son looked at each other without saying a word.

Nodding in agreement, Zhu Zhanhe turned around and followed him onto the train.

Compared with the performance of the father, son and grandson, Zhu Gaochi, the father and son, seemed to have a lot of things going on.

Zhu Gaochi kept pulling Zhu Zhanji to tell him that he was optimistic about Zhu Di. If anything happened to Zhu Di, he would immediately take Zhu Di south to recuperate.

After talking for a long time, Zhu Zhanji said helplessly: "It doesn't matter what I said. If grandpa doesn't want to leave, I don't have the troops to bring him back..."

"Find a way, books are dead, people are alive." Zhu Gaochi blew his beard and glared, Zhu Zhanji shrugged helplessly, turned around and walked into the carriage.

Zhu Gaochi lay in front of the train window where Zhu Di was riding, and kept saying: "Dad, if you get cold and sick in the north, please remember to come back. Your Majesty, I, and the third child will be waiting for you here!"

"Dad, can you..."

Before Zhu Gaochi said a few words, Zhu Di impatiently closed the curtains himself, but Zhu Gaochi kept chattering.

"Woo-"

The piercing whistle sounded, and soon the train was moving towards the east. Zhu Gaochi wanted to chase it, but because he was too fat, he was out of breath before taking two steps.

The train disappeared in front of everyone, and Zhu Gaoxu turned around and told the officials: "Let's all leave."

After the words fell, Zhu Gaoxu took the lead to walk out. Jin Yiwei and Xichang warriors were on his left and right to escort him out of the train station.

Although the military parade greatly shocked all countries, Ming Dynasty still had to show its actual combat strength in the north and south to continue to deter these guys. Corresponding to the Tatars and Walas in Mobei, they are naturally the Three Proclaims and Ten Comforts in the southwest.

During the military parade a few days ago, Muchun, Fu Rang, Yang Zhan, Wang Xuan and others all came to Beijing. However, except for Yang Zhan, the other three have been studying the battle against the Three Proclamations and Ten Comforts.

When Zhu Gaoxu returned to Wuying Hall and summoned them, the general terrain sand table with three announcements and ten consolations had been placed in the hall.

Wang Yi, Muchun, Fu Rang, Chen Chang, Yang Zhan, Xu Sheng, Wang Xuan and others appeared in the palace. Although Wang Yi, Chen Chang, Xu Sheng, Li Shi and others would not participate in the southwest battle, as six The military attaches in the Military Governor's Mansion naturally have to understand the situation of the battle in the southwest.

"I will pay homage to Your Majesty..."

"Get up and get straight to the point. Let's see who among these guys is better to deal with first!"

Zhu Gaoxu gestured to stand up, walked to the sand table, and overlooked the entire sand table.

The Indochina Peninsula is located between the Ming Dynasty and India. It is bounded by the Bay of Bengal to the west, the Strait of Malaga to the south, and the South China Sea of ​​the Ming Dynasty to the east. It has a sultry climate, dense vegetation, and a complex environment.

On the Indochina Peninsula, in addition to some plateaus, there are Arakan and Truong Son mountain ranges on the east and west sides.

The Three Proclamations and Ten Comforts of the Ming Dynasty included later Burma, northern and eastern Thailand, and the entire Laos.

The Xuanwei Division has always been the Recruitment Division directly under the three local divisions, so the Ming Dynasty has sovereignty over the local area.

The reason why later generations drew the Ming Dynasty's map in the southwest very restrainedly was mainly due to the Ming Dynasty's illustrious martial arts in the Indochina Peninsula.

Whether it was the Battle of Luchuan or the Battle of Annan, or the pacification of Babaidaidian and the intervention in Laos, these things affected international relations at a certain period.

Under the international order of later generations, there is nothing wrong with doing so, but under the international order at this time, the Ming Dynasty did not have to worry about the opinions of other countries. After all, under the Ming sect and vassal system, almost two-thirds of the world was the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Historically, the vassal system was severely damaged by the Westphalian system in Europe during the Qing Dynasty and the late Qing Dynasty. Japan's invasion of the Korean Peninsula and Ryukyus completely destroyed China's Jiuji vassal system that began in the pre-Qin Dynasty.

But all this will not happen now, because the size of the Ming Dynasty has continued to expand with industrial progress, and the vassal system will eventually become the only territorial system in the world.

Compared with the three announcements and six comforts in the Hongwu period, great changes have taken place between the three announcements and ten comforts in the Hongxi period.

During the Hongwu period, the three Xuanfu divisions of Nandian, Qianya, and Luchuan were the three Xuanfu divisions, and the six Xuanwei divisions of Mubang, Mengyang, Burma, Babaidaidian, Cheche, and Laos.

During the Hongxi period, the Ming Dynasty's three propaganda and six consolations were changed to the three propaganda divisions of Luchuan, Laos, and Myanmar, as well as the three divisions of Mengyang, Mubang, Babaidadian, Diwula, Daguci, and Mengsu (Suke). There are ten Xuanwei divisions in Thailand), Nakhon Ratchasima (Nakhon Ratchasima Plateau), Luokeng (Arakan), Mengdon (Assam), and Mengken.

Although Luchuan belongs to the Xuanfu Division, the local chieftains actually have little resistance. Like Luchuan, there is also the Mengyang Xuanwei Division.

The two brothers were right next to Longchuan, and Wang Xuan's military achievements over the years were all achieved by encircling and suppressing the local chieftains.

Of course, since Wang Xuan did not have many troops, there were still a large number of chieftains in the local area, but compared to other Xuanfu Division and Xuanwei Division, the number of chieftains here was relatively small.

Although the local terrain is complex, there are gold, silver and jade mines in the area, and the Longchuan Railway will be opened to traffic at the end of the year. These various conditions had to make Ming Dynasty set his sights here.

"Your Majesty, I suggest that we first start with Luchuan and Meng Yang to return to their native land. I think..."

Muchun and Wang Xuan bowed, and Wang Xuan focused on explaining why he chose these two places.

In response, Zhu Gaoxu glanced at everyone and asked, "Do you have any other opinions?"

"Your Majesty, I have an opinion!"

Fu Rang came out and bowed, pointing to the Hengduan Mountains in western Yunnan on the map:
"Going west from Dali, the mountains are insurmountable, and the terrain of Yunnan is complex, making it difficult to build a railway. If you take the sea route, you will need to go around Manlajia and go to Dakula."

"As a result, it will not be easy to manage Mengyang and Luchuan in the future. I think it is better to capture Laos."

“Laos is rich in gold mines, spices, and valuable timber. Soldiers and horses can be sent from Cochin, Luzon, and Old Port to Laos via the Lancang River (Mekong River). Materials can also be transported by sea. It is more expensive than transporting materials from Sichuan to Yunnan and then into Laos. Much more convenient.”

After Fu Rang finished speaking, Yang Zhan stepped forward and bowed:
"Your Majesty, I also think it is better to capture Laos first. After all, Laos has a history of invading the border areas before. If we use troops against Meng Yang, if the Laos army rebels, the local troops will be empty and it will be easy to succeed."

It was not that Fu Rang and Yang Zhan did not support the capture of Meng Yang, but they felt that they could not give the emperor a sense of close relationship between Yunnan, Jiaozhi and the navy.

They made such a suggestion to avoid suspicion, and Zhu Gaoxu knew it well.

Scanning the crowd, Zhu Gaoxu felt that these close people were becoming more and more afraid of him and kept moving away from him.

For a moment, he felt a little uncomfortable, but he quickly adjusted himself.

"Your suggestion is reasonable, but the Longchuan Railway is under construction, and there are a large number of plains in the south of Mengyang to support the army. Once the navy returns the Dagula Xuanwei Division to its homeland in the future, the imperial court can use Dagula and Mengyan Then attack the Burmese Xuanfu Division from the north and the south."

"As for the railway, the technology of the imperial court is advancing with each passing day. Although there is no way to solve the problem of the Hengduan Mountains at the moment, there will always be one in the future."

"With the imperial court's control over the ocean, it is not a bad idea to control this place from the ocean."

Zhu Gaoxu expressed his attitude, and Fu Rang and Yang Zhan quickly retreated to their positions.

Just as he thought, the two people's suggestions were just to avoid suspicion.

"Have I now made you feel the need to avoid suspicion..."

Looking at the two of them, Zhu Gaoxu didn't know what to say. He just felt a little tired, but he knew better that he couldn't rest.

Pretending to be calm, Zhu Gaoxu said to Muchun and Wang Xuan: "How many soldiers and horses do you think...are needed to turn Meng Yang and Luchuan back?"

"It takes 30,000 soldiers and horses to change the country and return to power!" Although Muchun was sixty-three, he was still full of energy.

"In addition, after the reform, the local area needs to station at least four guards and more than 20,000 troops to cope with the complex terrain of the area."

Muchun reported the results of his discussion with Wang Xuan. Zhu Gaoxu nodded after hearing this: "How much money, food, and people are needed?"

Facing Zhu Gaoxu's inquiry, Muchun also reported his calculations:

"About 500,000 stones of grain, 20,000 stones of beans and 700 tons of fixed gunpowder and supporting ammunition."

"In addition, there are vinegar cloth and other things. All in all, it will cost about 600,000 guan. And this is the quantity that is shipped. If the loss on the road is included, it will cost at least one million guan."

The war in the southwest consumes money and food, and Zhu Gaoxu knows this.

Due to the failure to set up a reasonable organization to manage the Three Propaganda and Six Welfares, historically Zhu Qizhen had only military power but no governance in the Three Propaganda and Six Welfares during the conquest of Luchuan. Therefore, the local area rebelled three times, and the Ming army also continued to attack His conquests cost a lot of money and food.

Although Zhu Zhanji did not leave any sufficient treasury for Zhu Qizhen, with the help of Empress Dowager Zhang and Sanyang, the treasury during the Zhengtong years was not in debt, and could occasionally accumulate.

In addition to the gold and silver treasures that Zhu Di asked Zheng He to bring back and deposit into his internal funds, Zhu Qizhen actually had a lot of wealth in his hands. However, after the end of the Three Expeditions to Luchuan, his treasury inevitably became empty.

Because of this, in the past, when the Ministry of Rites faced a delegation of Oirat officials that far exceeded the stipulated number of fifty people, it was still able to cope. However, as the finances dried up, Yesen's behavior of constantly bringing people to the Ming Dynasty to eat and indulge became a bit of an eyesore.

As a king who conquered Mongolia three times in the north and leveled Luchuan in the south three times, Zhu Qizhen naturally couldn't swallow this breath, which led to the Tumubao Incident.

It can be said that an unreasonable war is enough to bring down a huge empire.

Although Luchuan has been overthrown by the efforts of three generations of his grandfather and grandson, the battle against the southwest cannot be taken lightly. ,

"The decree was passed to set up the Yunnan Xingdu Division. Wang Xuan was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Yunnan Xingdu Division, and Mu Sheng was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the capital. Three announcements and ten consolations were made in moderation."

"In addition, 10,000 troops will be mobilized from Sichuan, Guizhou, and Jiaozhi each, 20,000 troops will be mobilized from Yunnan, 50,000 troops and horses will be mobilized, and 2 million troops will be mobilized from the Ministry of Revenue. One year later, I will see Mengyang Prefecture and Luchuan Prefecture. The two mansions appear in the Ministry of Revenue’s catalog!”

Zhu Gaoxu mobilized 50,000 troops and 2 million yuan of food and grain in one go in order to quickly solve the problems of Luchuan and Mengyang.

Only by destroying them quickly can the countries in Indochina be shocked.

If the fight drags on, it will not deter the countries, but allow their ambitions that were originally suppressed by the military parade to continue to be active.

"I accept the order and thank you!"

Muchun and Wang Xuan knelt down and bowed. Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said: "You can discuss the specific details yourself, and I will not interfere."

Looking at the people who were getting older, Zhu Gaoxu sighed: "You are all old, and I am no longer young."

"While we old people are still here, finish the battles that need to be fought and leave a peaceful and prosperous age to our children and grandchildren."

It is estimated that only with these people can Zhu Gaoxu express his true feelings.

It's a pity that he ended up alone. Facing his words, apart from getting a "I accept my order", it was difficult for him to get any emotional response.

"I'll take my leave..."

Seeing that Zhu Gaoxu didn't speak, Muchun and others bowed and saluted one after another, and then slowly exited Wuying Hall.

During this period, Zhu Gaoxu did not make any move to stop him, but fortunately for him, Wang Xuan, Yang Zhan, and Fu Rang finally stayed.

"Let's go and sit and talk in the side hall!"

A smile appeared on Zhu Gaoxu's face and motioned for the three of them to follow.

Upon seeing this, the three of them followed carefully and were given seats after entering the hall.

"It makes me happy that you can still stay. You haven't eaten yet..."

Zhu Gaoxu was sitting in his seat, talking to himself. Without waiting for Wang Xuan and the others to respond, he immediately ordered Yishiha: "Yishiha, prepare lunch!"

"Slave, take the order." Yi Shiha agreed with a smile and ordered people to make arrangements.

Withdrawing his gaze, Zhu Gaoxu continued to look at Yang Zhan, Wang Xuan, and Fu Rang. Looking at their vicissitudes of life, he couldn't help but say: "Although you are busy with government affairs, you still have to remember to have a good rest."

"The same goes for Your Majesty..." Fu Rang responded with mixed feelings.

Zhu Gaoxu lamented their vicissitudes of life, so they were not the same.

The once heroic King of Bohai is now in his forties, and in a few years he will reach the age where he knows his destiny.

I don’t know how long these people like me can stay with him...

Thinking of this, Fu Rang thought of the corruption of Bohai Richard and others, and felt very uncomfortable.

Fu Rang, Wang Xuan, and Yang Zhan are not clean, but their money mainly comes from plundering overseas and from wars. After all, wars often break out in their jurisdictions, and there are too many opportunities.

Perhaps it is precisely because the north is too peaceful that Richard and the others can only accept bribes and corrupt projects.

Unfortunately, it was too late to say anything now, and Fu Rang did not dare to ask Zhu Gaoxu how he felt.

It's just that through Zhu Gaoxu's eyes, he can still see the passion he once had, and that's enough...

(End of this chapter)