Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 167 Chaos in the Northwest
After the dispersal.

Zhu Gaoxu sent someone to invite his consort Ouyang Lun to his study.

"My minister has met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Ouyang Lun bowed and saluted.

"Exemption."

Zhu Gaoxu helped Ouyang Lun up and said, "There are no outsiders here. You are my uncle and an elder. Please sit down."

"I don't dare," Ouyang Lun said hurriedly.

Zhu Gaoxu pretended to be angry and said: "Uncle, this is an affair!"

After Ouyang Lun sat down, he immediately said straight to the point: "My nephew has something to do, and I need to trouble my uncle to go there."

"I must do my best, even to the death, to share your worries for His Highness!"

Ouyang Lun didn't dare to show off in front of Zhu Gaoxu. He was self-aware and immediately cupped his fists and cupped his hands.

Zhu Gaoxu smiled and said: "Uncle, my nephew is not asking you to go up the mountain of knives and into the sea of ​​fire."

"Your Majesty, please give me your instructions." Ouyang Lun said respectfully.

"It's just a little thing."

Zhu Gaoxu said bluntly: "Bai Jinfu took advantage of the chicken plague that was raging in the suburbs of Beijing to sell sulfur at high prices and make huge profits. Although his father was generous and did not kill him, the money he earned from selling sulfur was confiscated. Come to think of it, It must have been a difficult time.”

"Your Highness, do you want me to grab a handful of platinum blessings?" Ouyang Lun asked tentatively.

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said: "After all, Bai Jinfu is a member of the Sihai Merchant Gang. It is not convenient for me to come forward. You are the deputy leader of the Merchant Gang, so please go and see him for me."

"Look at him?" Ouyang Lun asked confused.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Yes, I just went to see him."

"Don't you want to help him?" Ouyang Lun asked doubtfully.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Bai Jinfu is a very smart person. He raised prices and made huge profits. In fact, he was sure that his father would not kill him, but he hoped to use his reformation and benevolent to do good for the world's merchants. An example."

"Believe it or not, when you go to see him, he has probably donated the remaining sulfur at home to the people in the suburbs of Beijing for free with great fanfare."

Ouyang Lun looked surprised and said, "This person actually has such a business acumen?"

"Perhaps he has already guessed our identities. After all, after Zheng He's voyage to the West, you and I have not shown our faces at the Sihai Martial Arts School at the headquarters of the merchant gang for more than two years."

Zhu Gaoxu said in a deep voice.

"Don't worry, Your Highness, I'm going to see Bai Jinfu right now. If it's true as His Highness guessed, it shows that Bai Jinfu can be considered a talent."

Ouyang Lun said respectfully: "I dare you, Your Highness, to allow me to hire Bai Jinfu to join the Royal Commercial Bank as the shopkeeper of a branch, so that I can do your best for Your Majesty."

"The matter of hiring Bai Jinfu to join the business will be discussed later."

Zhu Gaoxu said meaningfully: "My father wants to set the national policy of sea cruising as customized. There is a lot of potential for shipping in the future, so uncle must prepare in advance!"

"Thank you, Your Highness, for the tip!"

Ouyang Lun quickly stood up and bowed.

An hour later.

Beijing.

The backyard of Sihai Martial Arts School.

under the gazebo.

Ouyang Lun was surprised by Bai Jinfu's decisiveness and sighed: "Bai Jinfu, I really didn't expect you to change your ways and donated the remaining sulfur at home. I decided to make you a deep friend."

"The Commander-in-Chief is over-rated, but in fact it is a villain who has surpassed the Commander-in-Chief."

Bai Jinfu cupped his fists and cupped his hands.

Ouyang Lun asked, "Why are you so high on me?"

Bai Jinfu said sincerely: "The villain is not seeking to become an official, but for repayment. If the captain hadn't spoken for the villain in front of His Highness, the villain's head would have been lost long ago. Thanks to the captain. If you think highly of me, and a soldier will die for his confidant, is that okay if you say I don't want to become the captain?"

Ouyang Lun did not deny Bai Jinfu's misunderstanding. Instead, he smiled and said, "You are too polite."

Bai Jinfu said respectfully: "Captain, the villain is just a businessman. Of course, one must look at the problem from the perspective of a businessman. The Captain should know that a person's success is half ability and half opportunity. The villain can join If you join the Sihai Merchant Gang and get to know the captain, then this is an opportunity."

Ouyang Lun nodded and said, "What you said is very true. I think your temperament is very suitable for me. Tell me, what kind of career do you like?"

"I heard that in the early years of Hongwu, Emperor Taizu and Mr. Qingtian once looked at the river. At that time, there were countless boats on the river. Taizu asked Mr. Qingtian: 'In your eyes, how many boats are there in the river?' Mr. Qingtian The answer was: 'Two things, fame and fortune.'"

Bai Jinfu did not answer Ouyang Lun's question directly, but told an anecdote.

"Well, that's what happened. Mr. Qingtian is right."

Ouyang Lun said thoughtfully.

Bai Jinfu said, "I won't hide it from the captain, but I think what Mr. Qingtian said may not be right."

"What do you want to say?" Ouyang Lun asked doubtfully.

Bai Jinfu bowed and said: "From the perspective of a villain, there is actually only one boat on the river, and we are all on this boat."

"Why do you see it?" Ouyang Lun asked.

Bai Jinfu replied: "Because the Buddha said that the world is a sea of ​​suffering, and everyone is wandering in the sea of ​​suffering, just to find the direction to the other side of the sea of ​​suffering."

Ouyang Lun smiled and said: "Bai Jinfu, you are always different from others."

He paused, looked at Bai Jinfu, and said in a deep voice: "To be honest, I have a bold idea, but I can't find a suitable person to realize it. Today I finally found it."

Bai Jinfu clasped his fists and said, "Captain, if you have something to do, just give me orders."

Ouyang Lun raised his hand and pressed Bai Jinfu's fist down and said, "You don't have to be too anxious. The time has not come yet, but I can tell you two words now - 'shipping'."

"Sea freight?"

Bai Jinfu muttered in a low voice.

Ouyang Lun said: "Since I followed Zheng Guo on a sea voyage and patrolled the ocean, I came up with this idea."

When he said this, he lowered his voice and said: "I have discussed this matter with His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness deeply agreed and asked me to wait for the opportunity."

"Thank you Captain for the promotion! I don't have anything to repay the Captain right now, so I'll just kowtow to the Captain first!"

Bai Jinfu was about to kneel down and kowtow to Ouyang Lun. "I can't do it, I can't do it! Get up, get up!"

Ouyang Lun quickly grabbed Bai Jinfu's arms to prevent him from kneeling down. At the same time, he whispered: "His Royal Highness, please ask me to take care of you. Maybe you will become my colleague in the future."

evening.

Hall of Martial Arts.

"Song Sheng has rushed eight hundred miles to report to the court. He hopes that the court will send troops to recover Hami immediately. What do you think?"

Zhu Di's eyes swept over the faces of Wei Guogong Xu Huizu, Cao Guogong Li Jinglong, Hubu Shangshu Yu Xin, and War Shangshu Jin Zhong, and then asked.

Just ten days ago, Guilichi, the Great Khan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, took advantage of the chaos in Hami and sent Arutai to lead his troops south and captured Hami in one fell swoop.

At the same time, Song Sheng, the commander-in-chief of Gansu Province, knew that Timur was resentful because he was beaten by Qiu Fu's troops to the capital city last year, and decided to prepare for the Eastern Expedition. So he immediately rushed [-] miles away and sent people to take these two pieces. The matter was reported to the Ministry of War.

Jin Zhong, the Minister of War, did not dare to neglect, and quickly asked to see the Ming Emperor Zhu Di to report the matter.

Zhu Di quickly sent people to summon the two princes, as well as the two ministers of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War to Wuying Hall to hold an emergency meeting.

"Your Majesty, the Seven Guards of Guanxi have been included in the territory of the Ming Dynasty since the Hongwu period. The difficulty of opening up the Seven Guards of Guanxi requires hundreds of thousands of dan in terms of food every year. Even in peacetime, it is used to raise troops, military food, supplies, etc., which is equivalent to about 100 silver dollars. More than [-] taels, but with the current national strength of the Ming Dynasty, it is really beyond our capabilities."

Wei Guogong Xu Huizu respectfully said: "Wei ministers advocate not sending troops for the time being, focusing on defense and waiting for the opportunity. Otherwise, we have to prepare for the next sea cruise and prepare for the frontier thousands of miles northwest. If the leader cannot take care of each other, he will be exhausted." Ming Dynasty’s treasury assets.”

"What Wei Guogong said is extremely ridiculous!"

Li Jinglong retorted first, then bowed to Zhu Di and saluted: "Your Majesty, we must not lose an inch of our land, and we must not give up a foot. The barbarians of the Northern Yuan Dynasty killed the people in our northwest and tried to establish another king of Hami. They were ambitious and occupied the city and plundered the land. How can we, the Ming Dynasty, let us go eastward?"

"Even if Hami is not protected, it is just a border guard post. If it delays the second sea voyage next spring, won't His Majesty's sea-opening policy be mistakenly thought to have been abolished by all overseas countries?"

Xu Huizu did not back down and said: "Your Majesty, the loss of a border guard station is only a small loss, insignificant. But the policy of patrolling the sea is blocked, and the national prestige of our great country will be damaged tomorrow! Which is more serious, I hope your Majesty Think before you act!”

"If Hami is not protected, the rest of the Six Mongolian Guards will be endangered. This is exactly what Bei Yuan Guilichi and Arutai want to see! The stronger Bei Yuan's strength is, the greater the threat to our Ming border! If we blindly insist on If the earth forbears and asks for peace, it will definitely bring disaster to the country and the people, and they are the eternal sinners!"

Li Jinglong saluted again and said: "Your Majesty, please make a clear decision."

"Cao Guogong advocated the recovery of Hami for the sake of the Ming Dynasty. Wei Guogong focused on patrolling the sea for the sake of the imperial court."

Zhu Di opened his mouth to comfort the two of them.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, the situation in Hami is urgent and the situation at sea is slow. We should dispatch troops immediately as requested by Song Sheng."

Jin Zhong, Minister of the Ministry of War, answered.

"Sending troops is not just a word, but must also be accompanied by military supplies. Yu Shangshu is in charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs, what do you think?"

Zhu Di looked at Yu Xin and asked.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, if the money earned by the national treasury from the seven-day trade is used to purchase military supplies to support the dispatch of troops to Hami, I am afraid that it can only last three months, or at most half a year. Therefore, I feel that it is still necessary to send troops to Hami. hold on."

Yu Xin bowed and responded.

"Yu Shangshu, as you said, sending troops to Hami can be delayed. What about Song Sheng? Retreat without fighting?"

Li Jinglong asked hurriedly.

"Please calm down, Mr. Cao Guo. A clever woman can't make a living without rice. If national bonds are issued, both the principal and interest will have to be paid. If there is another natural disaster, the Household Bank will have to cooperate with the Royal Bank to lend money to the people. The Household Department really cannot afford the advance. ah!"

Yu Xin complained repeatedly.

"That's all. We'll discuss this matter tomorrow morning. Jin Zhong will stay, and everyone else should leave first."

When Zhu Di saw that everyone had great differences and that the discussion could not come to an outcome for a while, he stood up and waved.

"I'm waiting to retire."

Xu Huizu and others said respectfully.

Zhu Di watched the three people leave and told Li Xing, who was standing beside him, "Go and send the prince here."

After Li Xing took the order and left, Zhu Di asked Jin Zhongdao: "Jin Qing, what do you think of Song Sheng?"

Jin Zhong heard Zhu Di's question and recalled Song Sheng's achievements after he left Liangzhou.

In May of the 17th year of Hongwu's reign, Song Sheng launched a crusade against the rebel leaders of the Western Fans who had invaded the border areas many times. They reached Yiji Nai Road (later Ejina, Inner Mongolia) and beheaded their leader Yisurjian and others.

He also captured Beiyuan Haidao Qianhuye Xian Timur, Guogong Badu Lachi and others, captured 8000 of their subordinates, sent their leader Gebdar and other 150 people to the capital, and selected 1000 of the elite. They were replenished into tribes, and the rest were resettled in selected lands, allowing them to "farm and herd as they pleased."

Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Song Sheng back to the capital, repeatedly rewarded him, and appointed him as the commander of the capital. He was promoted to the governor of the Right Army Dudu Mansion and ordered him to return to the town of Liangzhou.

In August of the 24th year of Hongwu's reign, Hami invaded the border area. Song Sheng served as the general military officer and led the army to attack with the governor Liu Zhen.

Hami is more than 1000 miles away from Suzhou. Song Sheng ordered the army to prepare more dry food, double the route and advance to the city at night.

At dawn, the sound of the golden drums of the Ming army shook the people far and near. They took advantage of the situation and captured the city. They captured Hami prince Bieergyong Timur alive, Bin Wang Sanglisuge brother, Zhiyuan Yueshan, etc., killed their princes, and captured 300 people. They collected their tribes and baggage and returned them, and all the livestock they captured were given to the soldiers who went out on the expedition.

From then on, the foreigners were overpowered, and the Ming army's power spread far and wide to the Western Regions.

In April of the 26th year of Hongwu's reign, Song Sheng also served as the director of the Shaanxi capital.The following year, Song Sheng was transferred to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Army Governor's Mansion.

In June of the 28th year of Hongwu, Song Sheng served as the deputy chief military officer. He followed the chief military officer Zhou Xing out of Kaiyuan and encountered the enemy in Naowenjiang, Liaodong. Their chief Xiyang Ha escaped.The Ming army pursued them to Fudami City and captured thousands of people and animals before returning them.

In the 29th year of Hongwu's reign, the Miao people in Guanyi villages in Guangxi continued to rebel. Song Sheng was appointed as the right deputy general of Zhengnan. He led his troops on an expedition and captured and killed more than [-] rebels.After the rebellion was over, Song Sheng's squadron returned to the court.The following year, Song Sheng led the troops of the Eight Guards of Yulin to quell the rebellion of the Miao people in Wukai and Longli Sandong.

In the 31st year of Hongwu's reign, Song Sheng left the town of Kaiping and followed Zhu Gaoxu, the then crown prince of the King of Yan, to the fortress and served as the left wing.After returning to the army, Song Sheng built Wanquanwei and other cities before returning to town.

In the first year of Yongle, Zhu Di appointed Song Sheng as General Pingqiang and Chief Military Officer because Song Sheng's "prestige had been in Liangzhou for a long time", and ordered him to return to Gansu Province.

"Your Majesty, Song Sheng is a veteran who has followed Emperor Taizu since before the founding of the Ming Dynasty. This man guarded Liangzhou and sat on the border for more than 20 years. He has never suffered a defeat and his reputation has spread far and wide. If the Ming Dynasty wants to conquer the Western Regions, , this person must be used.”

Jin Zhonggong said.

Zhu Di actually knew very well that Song Sheng was one of the few remaining founding generals. The fact that this person could live to this day without being killed by Zhu Yuanzhang shows that he was loyal to the court.

If the Ming Dynasty wanted to conquer the Western Regions, Song Sheng was indeed the best commander.

"His Majesty."

When Jin Zhong saw that Zhu Di was silent, he continued: "General Song also asked for four things this time. First, Yiji is a narrow pass in the old city. Please send troops to widen it. Second, please call merchants to Yiji. Please accept salt and millet in order to solidify the border reserves. Third, please give farm tools to the garrison. Fourth, please grant the official position of leader of the subordinates of King Zhongshun Tuotuo to appease people's hearts."

Zhu Di thought deeply: "Yiji is a desert place, and it will take tens of thousands of people to build the city. The merchants need to pay for the salt in the millet, and it is difficult to travel. Neither of these two things can be done."

"Please give me farm tools for the garrison and ask the Ministry of Industry to handle it. As for the appointment of the leader of Tuotuo's subordinates, you can handle it according to the Ministry of War."

"Wei Chen accepts the order." Jin Zhong bowed and said.

(End of this chapter)