Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 163 Changes in Hami
By the next day, news about Kang Ping's horse training spread throughout the palace.

After the morning court, Zhu Di couldn't wait to drive to Chunhe Hall and decided to see the human-powered pedal iron horse.

As soon as he passed through the Chunhe Gate and entered the courtyard, Zhu Di saw a brown "iron horse" about four feet tall, standing in the corner.

"I heard that this seemingly inconspicuous object weighs more than 100 kilograms."

After Zhu Di got off the chariot, he walked straight towards the iron horse.

"The 'horse head' that my father saw was actually the shape of a horse's head made by my son's craftsmen using steel wire. As for the 'horse tail', it was just dyed hemp rope. The reason why the appearance of the frame is brown is because of the brushwork A coat of brown paint.”

Zhu Gaoxu followed Zhu Di and explained appropriately: "Therefore, this ingenious thing driven by the power of human pedaling should be more appropriately called a human bicycle."

"I also want to give it a try and see if I can tame this iron horse. What do you think?"

Zhu Di walked to the bicycle and stopped, gearing up and eager to try it out.

Zhu Gaoxu hurriedly advised: "Father, don't be anxious. I have ordered Mo Qiaosi to make another golden iron dragon horse."

Zhu Di touched the lifelike horse's head and asked: "How far can this bicycle travel in a day with the help of human power?"

"According to Erchen's observation, ordinary people riding this simple bicycle can travel about twenty miles per hour. If the road is not too rough and difficult to travel, excluding the time for eating and rest, you can travel for six hours a day and night. Based on this calculation, ordinary people can travel at least a hundred miles a day using this bicycle."

Zhu Gaoxu said while calculating.

Zhu Di pondered: "Although it's not as fast as riding a horse, it saves a lot of energy compared to rushing on foot."

"Father, do you want to use bicycles for marching and fighting?" Zhu Gaoxu asked.

Zhu Di nodded and said, "Yes, that's what I meant."

Zhu Gaoxu smiled and said: "To be honest with my father, my son first asked people to develop this ingenious thing for battlefield use."

"Oh?" Zhu Di asked curiously: "How to use it?"

"First, deliver supplies."

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Compared with traditional supply methods such as ox carts, horse-drawn carriages or people's backs, bicycles can transport more supplies and can ensure a certain degree of supply speed."

When Zhu Di heard this, he nodded subconsciously.

"Second, bicycles are more convenient to use than traditional cavalry. Because the time it takes for a person to learn to ride a bicycle is obviously much shorter than the period of learning to become a cavalry. For example, Kang Ping learns to ride a bicycle. It only took less than three quarters of an hour.”

Zhu Gaoxu said eloquently: "Moreover, bicycles are easy to use and don't have to be as complicated as taking care of horses. When used, they can move faster than infantry and require less horse materials and other materials than cavalry."

When Zhu Di heard this, his eyes lit up and he said: "This can save a lot of food and grass and reduce the burden of transporting baggage to the rear."

"What the father said is very true."

Zhu Gaoxu echoed.

Later, he added: "In addition, using bicycles to carry out orders and reconnaissance will sometimes have advantages over cavalry."

"For example, bicycles are quieter and more efficient than tall horses when crossing country roads. When encountering difficult mountain roads or jungles, it is often difficult for cavalry to pass, but soldiers on bicycles can pick up the bicycle and continue moving forward."

Zhu Di nodded repeatedly and said: "Wonderful! Wonderful!"

Zhu Gaoxu originally wanted to tell Zhu Di that he had asked Mo Qiaosi to start developing an armored vehicle (a simplified version of a tank). Once this vehicle is successfully developed, coupled with simple explosive packs and bronze cannons and other firearms, it will be easy for the Ming Dynasty to sweep across the grasslands.

But considering that it was too early to say this now, he did not mention it.

"As the saying goes, time waits for no one!"

Zhu Di sighed, then looked at Zhu Gaoxu and said solemnly: "Gaoxu, I plan to use troops in the Western Regions by February next year at the latest."

"Is there a change in the Western Region?" Zhu Gaoxu asked in a deep voice.

Zhu Di nodded and said: "Yes, I got a secret report last night. The loyal and shun king Tuotuo of Hami was expelled from the country for the second time by his grandmother Su Ge. At this time, he is living in Ganzhou."

"Father, I think this matter is a good opportunity for the Ming Dynasty to conquer the Western Regions." Zhu Gaoxu whispered.

Zhu Di nodded and said, "Not bad."

In the fifth year of Hongwu, Xu Da took command and led Li Wenzhong and Feng Shengbing to attack Beiyuan in three groups.

The middle route army led by Xu Da was besieged by Timur's enlargement and suffered heavy losses and had to retreat. Only the west route army of Feng Sheng and Fu Youde captured Ganzhou and Lanzhou.

Zhu Yuanzhang believed that it was unlikely to wipe out the Northern Yuan forces in the short term. In addition, Goryeo in the northeast and Zarawalmi, the Liang king of the Northern Yuan Dynasty who occupied Yunnan, were in active contact with the Northern Yuan court. The Ming Dynasty needed to concentrate its forces to eliminate the Northern Yuan forces. and the threat from the forces of the Liang King in Yunnan.

For this reason, the Ming Dynasty began to adopt a defensive-oriented military strategy in the northern frontier, and later set up Ganzhou, Suzhou and other guards.

After the Ming Dynasty temporarily stopped its military offensive against the Northern Yuan Dynasty, it instead used the method of appeasement to win over the remnants of the Northern Yuan Dynasty and the leaders of the border people, making them vassals of the Ming Dynasty, thereby building a new defense system.

Under this circumstance, the Hami Land, located at the intersection of the North and South Roads of the Tianshan Mountains and the Hexi Corridor, became an important part of the Ming Dynasty's defense against the Northern Yuan Dynasty, and could also serve as a buffer zone for the Ming Dynasty, Oara, and Turpan.

Since Zhang Qian of the Western Han Dynasty "died through the Western Regions", the Western Regions have been officially included in the jurisdiction of the Central Plains Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, four governorates were established to rule the vast land of the Western Regions.

However, with the fall of the Tang Dynasty and the disputes during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, by the Song Dynasty, the Central Plains Dynasty had lost its effective jurisdiction over the Western Regions.

During the Tang and Song Dynasties, the Western Regions belonged to the Uighurs and Tubos, and during the Yuan Dynasty, the Western Regions came under the rule of the Chagatai Khanate.

It was not until this time that the Ming Dynasty had another opportunity to explore the Western Regions.

Therefore, in the 13th year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang sent the commander-in-chief Pu Ying to attack Hami. Wunasili who occupied this area sent envoys to surrender, and was subsequently named King of Hami by Zhu Yuanzhang. From then on, Hami became a vassal state under the Ming Dynasty's tribute system.

In the 24th year of Hongwu's reign, Wunashili's request to "trade with horses" was rejected by the Ming Dynasty and blocked tributes from the Western Regions. Zhu Yuanzhang then ordered Liu Zhen, the governor of the left army, and Song Sheng, the governor of Gansu, to lead their troops to capture Hami.The following year, Wunasili sent an envoy to pay tribute to Zhu Yuanzhang to plead guilty, and Zhu Yuanzhang restored his name as king.

In the 26th year of Hongwu's reign, Wuna Shili died of illness, and his younger brother Anke Timur succeeded him as King Su, who was also the King of Hami canonized by the Ming Dynasty.

In the same year, Situ, the capital of Shaanxi Province, established Ganzhou, and the Ming Dynasty basically achieved effective jurisdiction and military control over the Hexi Corridor.

However, due to the unique geography and complex ethnic groups in the northwest of the Ming Dynasty, especially the Bieshe Bali (East Chagatai Khanate) occupying the Western Region, and there are still a large number of nomadic tribes living in the vast area between the Western Region and Jiayuguan, it is difficult for the Ming Dynasty to use resources effectively. transported to the far western regions.

In the first year of Yongle, Zhu Di sent his envoy Yibu Ciqian and others to go to Hami to give instructions and allow Hami to use horses to enter the Ming Dynasty.

This edict was different from that of the Hongwu period. Zhu Di gave Hami the power to exchange horses with the Ming Dynasty.

King Hami, who received huge economic benefits, chose to surrender to the Ming Dynasty politically in response. He sent envoys to the Ming Dynasty and repeatedly requested the second emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di, to grant him a royal title.

Because King Anke Timur of Hami sent envoys to request again and again, Zhu Di granted Anke the title on the grounds that "the previous kings and titles were not enough, but now we have to take advantage of their abilities and return them to the court to entrust them to guard their land and appease their people." Timur was the loyal and shun king.

In this way, Hami essentially became a border outpost of the Ming Dynasty, which caused uneasiness among the forces surrounding Hami.

Historically, during the Battle of Jingnan, the reason why the Beiyuan Dynasty did not counterattack the Ming Dynasty was not that the Beiyuan Dynasty did not want to, but that it could not. There are two main reasons.

First, the Hongwu Dynasty used troops against Mobei eight times, which greatly weakened the strength of the Northern Yuan Dynasty. Especially after the Battle of Yuerhai, the various departments of the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty fell apart and went their own way. There were frequent conflicts and attacks on each other. , it is difficult to gather together to launch an effective counterattack against Ming Dynasty.

Secondly, the Hongwu Dynasty's use of troops against the Northern Yuan Dynasty caused the Wala to take the opportunity to rise up and fight against the Tatars. The two sides continued to fight and had no spare energy to counterattack the Ming Dynasty.

However, due to Zhu Di's successful succession to the throne, history was changed and the Battle of Jingnan did not occur.

Therefore, out of fear of the Ming Dynasty, the senior officials of the Northern Yuan Dynasty attempted to complete the construction and concentration of power in their opponents through efficient "infighting and purges." This resulted in the struggle for power among the various grassland ministries becoming more intense than in history. Things are changing more rapidly.

In the first year of Yongle, civil strife broke out in Oara, and Kun Timur was killed. Arutai, the former Tuugusi Timur's old tribe, and others took the opportunity to break with Olag, and established Guilichi, a descendant of Hedan, the concubine of Ogedai, as the Great Khan. .

At the same time, the Tatars formed the Khan's cabinet with Malhaza as the Grand Master on the right, Ye Suntai as the Grand Master on the left, and Alutai as the Taibao and the Privy Council Magistrate.

Gui Lichi's ancestor Hedan was the concubine of Ogedai, and had a lower status in the Ogedai family. During the struggle to transfer the position of the Mongolian Khan from the Ogedai family to the Tuo Lei family, Hedan turned to Meng Ge.

During the Yuan Dynasty BC, the descendants of Hedan were granted the title of Long King and were regarded as representatives of the Wokuotai family. They had always had a harmonious relationship with the Yuan descendants of Kublai Khan. After Guilichi came to the throne, he naturally became the representative of Mongolian orthodoxy.

The Hami area has always been the sphere of influence of the queen of Ogootai, but in order to win over the Mongolian and Yuan kings in the northwest, Zhu Di named the Hami king Anke Timur as the loyal and shun king shortly after he succeeded to the throne.

At the same time, Saohu'er of the Tatar tribe and his brothers Nailachi, Ba Sutai, Die'erbishu and others told Guilichi an important news, that is, Wu Liangha and Hami had surrendered to the Ming Dynasty.

After Guilichi learned about this, he decided to capture Hami and sent people south many times to spy on Hami's reality.

Soon, Anke Timur, the loyal and obedient king of Hami, was secretly poisoned by people sent by Guilichi.

Therefore, the powerful leader of the Hami Kingdom sent envoys to report to the Ming Dynasty the news that the loyal and obedient king Anke Timur had died.

Zhu Di learned of this in advance through the Jinyiwei spies scattered in the northwest of the Ming Dynasty.

It is said that Anke Timur's nephew Tuotuo was captured since he was a child and has been living in the Ming Dynasty.

After Zhu Di moved into the East Palace Bingzheng in the 26th year of Hongwu, he sent people to find Tuotuo, adopted him as his adopted son, and raised him.

In May of the 31st year of Hongwu, after Zhu Di succeeded to the throne, he appointed Tuotuo, who was 16 years old, as a personal guard in the palace.

Just last year, the leader of Hami came to pay his respects and asked Zhu Di to allow Tuotuo to return to Hami and succeed to the throne.

After the Ming Dynasty court learned of the death of Anke Timur, Zhu Di ordered the Ministry of Rites to send officials to offer sacrifices. Since Anke Timur had no heirs, he issued an edict to order Tuoduo to attack King Zhongshun and grant him a seal, jade belt, Wenqi, and gave his grandmother and mother Wenqi's appearance and appearance.

At that time, Zhu Di was still worried that everyone in Hami would not accept Totuo, so he sent Huihui Kechajier and others to visit Totuo's grandmother Suke Shili and his leader.

Zhu Di parachuted the descendant of King Anding, his adopted son who served as a bodyguard in the palace, to Hami. It can be said that it was a major move by the Ming Dynasty to intervene in Hami's internal affairs and re-strategize the northwest strategic layout.

At that time, Zhu Di's personal will played a decisive role in this matter.

Under the strong pressure of the Ming Dynasty, the people in power in Hami were forced to accept the fact that Tuotuo succeeded King Zhongshun, and the Hami royal family also recognized the legitimacy of Tuotuo as the successor to the Golden Family.

Soon after, Tuo Tuo's grandmother learned that Anke Timur's pregnant wife, who had been captured by Guilichi, had given birth to Anke Timur's son. She believed that this child should be welcomed to inherit the throne, so she united with the leader to expel Tuo Tuo. Take off.

Tuotuo was expelled, which showed that he had no foundation in Hami. No one from his grandmother to the bosses supported him.

At that time, after Zhu Di learned about this, he had to send an envoy to inform the leaders of Hami, saying: "Anke Timur died, and I think there is no one to rule. His nephew Tuotuo has been serving as a guard in the court for a long time. I will take care of him." Like a son, he ordered to attack the prince and return to Hami to inherit his ancestral worship and support his people. Hearing that his grandmother was Tuotuo, he couldn't flatter her in the wrong way. Once he was expelled, Tuotuo was established by the imperial court. However, if you drive them away without playing, you are disrespecting the court. The old man is comatose, and he is capricious and has no regard for etiquette! You, the big and small bosses, do not know that there is a court, so you just sit back and watch what is happening without saying anything? I think about this, it is not the first time. Out of your original intention, I am here to tell you that you should return to Tuotuo immediately so that he can be restored to his original position. You will wholeheartedly praise and assist him, do good things to your grandmother, and honor him as before. Then the people of Hami will also enjoy the blessing of peace forever. endless."

In order to support Tuotuo, Zhu Di issued an edict to set up Hami guards, with Hami leader Mahama Huozhe and others as commanders, thousands of households, and governors. Gu Sicheng and Haji Mahama were experienced, Zhou An was the loyal and obedient king, and Liu He behaved well and assisted Tuotuo, and sent an army of three hundred households to escort Tuotuo back to Hami.

The status that Tuotuo enjoys is equivalent to that of a prince in the Ming Dynasty.

Because Zhu Di had a very close relationship with the loyal and shun king Tuotuo, the Ming court also regarded Tuotuo as a royal prince.

However, just last night, Zhu Di received a secret message from Song Sheng, the commander-in-chief of Gansu Province, and learned that the loyal and shun king Totuo of Hami was killed by his grandmother Suge Shili and the Beshel Bali Kingdom (Eastern Chagatai Khanate). ) side together drove Nanaha away.

At present, Tuotuo has left Hami and is living in Ganzhou under the escort of Zhou An, Gu Sicheng and others.

Su Gesli and Nanaha, on the other hand, controlled the power in the Hami area.

This undoubtedly gave Ming Dynasty enough reason to send troops to Hami.

Therefore, Zhu Gaoxu believed that this was the best time for the Ming Dynasty to conquer the Western Regions.

PS: I took a lot of effort to write this chapter and consulted a lot of information. Due to historical changes and deductions, the situation in the Western Regions at this time is completely different from that in history.

(End of this chapter)