Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 309 General Xiao is resolute and resourceful

Liu Jing knew that Zhu Gaoxu would not deal with Gu Xingzu without any reason, so there must be conclusive evidence.

However, in his opinion, Guizhou was not peaceful to begin with. Gu Xingzu's grandfather, Gu Cheng, the first Zhenyuan Marquis, guarded Guizhou for more than [-] years and accumulated great prestige.

In the late Yongle period, the reason why Zhu Di asked Gu Xingzu, who had conquered the title, to serve as a general of the generals and lead the officers and soldiers of the Guizhou Dusi to sweep away the Tu barbarians who were causing trouble in Guizhou was because he had followed Gu Cheng in his youth to kill the barbarians in Guizhou.

It can be said that Gu Xingzu, as the grandson of Gu Cheng, still has an innate power to deter the Tu barbarians in Guizhou.

Guangxi and Guizhou are right next to each other, and they are intertwined. You have me, and I have you.

Now, with the violent death of the powerful Han Guan in southern China, various barbarian rebellions have broken out in Guangxi, and the momentum can be said to be huge.

If Zhu Gaoxu demoted Gu Xingzu to civilian status at this time on the grounds that he "disobeyed the sacred order", then who would replace Gu Xingzu to guard Guizhou?

Liu Jing is the censor of Zuodu and half of the current Ming Emperor's teacher. His status determines that he cannot express the above analysis straightforwardly.

Therefore, he had to use the words "there is something hidden" to implicitly remind Zhu Gaoxu to wait for a while before dealing with Gu Xingzu.

If there is a hidden secret, someone should be sent to investigate. The investigation always takes time. If you go back and forth like this, several months may pass.

To put it in plain English, Liu Jing suggested that Zhu Gaoxu should "settle accounts" with Gu Xingzu.

When Zhu Gaoxu heard Liu Jing's words at first, he felt that the other party was interceding for Gu Xingzu.

However, he understood Liu Jing's personality and knew that Liu Jing must have hinted at what he said at this time.

Zhu Gaoxu is no longer the young man he was back then. Now he even has several grandchildren. His years of experience allowed him to quickly understand Liu Jing's hidden meaning.

"I thought about it, and what Uncle Cheng Yi said is not unreasonable. Marquis Zhenyuan should not dare to disobey my will. There may be a hidden secret here."

After Zhu Gaoxu was silent for a while, he slowly said: "What do you think of this matter?"

In history, Gu Xingzu was arrested and imprisoned in the Xuande, Zhengtong, and Jingtai years for supporting the army, fearing death, and embezzlement and bribery.

Zhu Gaoxu originally planned to abolish Gu Xingzu for disobeying the holy order and using mercenaries to defend himself. However, considering that there was no suitable person to replace Gu Xingzu in the short term, he decisively followed Liu Jing's suggestion.

When the other ministers saw that the emperor's attitude had changed due to Liu Jing's words, they couldn't help but begin to ponder the profound meaning of Liu Jing's words just now.

Wei Guogong Xu Huizu, the left governor of the Chinese Army Governor's Mansion, was the first to react. He stood up and saluted and said: "Your Majesty, it is true that the Marquis of Zhenyuan defended himself with troops and did not rescue Guangxi. I suggest that he be removed from the post of general of the common barbarians and choose someone else to hold this position. , continue to guard Guizhou."

Just now, Zhu Gaoxu had ordered the officers and soldiers of the Guizhou Dusi to return to Shan Yun, the general of the Dangman dynasty. Theoretically speaking, all the guards under the jurisdiction of the Guizhou Dusi should be dispatched by Shan Yun's orders. The Pingman general Gu Xingzu had become a polished general.

Xu Huizu's words were tantamount to adding another element to Liu Jing's plan of "settling accounts after the fall", that is, taking away Gu Xingzu's military power in a reasonable and legal manner and replacing him with obedient and capable generals.

"Who does Wei Guogong think can take on this important task?"

Zhu Gaoxu asked, stroking his beard.

Xu Huizu thought for a moment, and then replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, I think we can appoint Xiao Shu, the commander-in-chief of Huguang and Guizhou, as the Pingman General."

After Zhu Gaoxu heard this, memories related to Professor Xiao suddenly emerged in his mind.

However, Professor Xiao in his memory appeared at the Fengtian Palace meeting in the twelfth lunar month of the 20th year of Yongle. He was a veteran with white beard and hair.

"Qi Qing, if I remember correctly, Xiao Shou, the chief military officer guarding Huguang and Guizhou, is over seventy years old?"

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Qitai, Minister of War, and asked.

Qi Tai stood up and saluted: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I cannot remember the year when General Xiao was born."

"Wei Guogong, since you recommended Professor Xiao, how much do you know about General Xiao?"

Zhu Gaoxu turned his attention to Xu Huizu again and said.

Xu Huizu bowed and said in salute: "Your Majesty, I also remember a rough idea. There may be some mistakes or omissions in my description. Please forgive me."

"I will check it later. You talk first and pick the important ones." Zhu Gaoxu ordered.

"I obey the order." Xu Huizu saluted again.

Afterwards, he recounted the important things about Professor Xiao's past in his memory.

Xiao Shu, whose courtesy name was Anmin, was born in the 15th year of Zhizheng in the Yuan Dynasty and was originally from Ji'an Prefecture.

He participated in the martial arts examination in the 12th year of Hongwu, and the imperial court ordered him to serve as Huguang Chief Secretary Yunmeng County Xietai, and he first showed his talents in the battle against the remnants of the former Yuan Dynasty.

Two years later, he was transferred to deputy garrison of Huarong County, Yuezhou Prefecture, Huguang.

In the 14th year of Hongwu's reign, Xiao Shuo was recruited into the Imperial Southern Expeditionary Army and followed the commander Fu Youden into the Southern Expedition in Guizhou.

In the following year, all the chieftains in Guizhou, large and small, surrendered. After the pacification, the capital was set up to command the envoys, garrison posts were set up in the leaders' offices, troops were garrisoned, and lawsuits were settled.

So Xiao Shou was appointed as the commander of the [-]th Battalion of the Anshun Military and Civilian Mansion, and stationed troops to guard Xi'an.

At that time, Xiao Shou, in accordance with the imperial decree, educated the local officials and people and made them submit. Only those who were really stubborn would use force.

His strategy of appeasement achieved remarkable results, so much so that the local people respected him as "General Anmin".

After that, Xiao taught his merits and was promoted to deputy Qianhu, Zheng Qianhu, General Wude, and General Mingwei.

In the seventh year of Yongle, the imperial court further consolidated and strengthened its policy of stationing troops to guard the border.

That is, in dangerous and dangerous places on the border, in remote places, and in places where food transportation is difficult, those who lead hundreds of troops to work in the fields are entrusted with hundreds of households, those with 300 people are entrusted with thousands of households, and those with more than 500 people are entrusted with the duties of guard and command.

At the same time, the resettlement policy of "reclamating wasteland and returning it to oneself, never starting a new career" was implemented to encourage officers and soldiers to reclaim wasteland and farmland in a peaceful environment without war.

Therefore, the wild lands in Guizhou have been developed as never before, and countless cultivated fields have been reclaimed.

At this time, Xiao Shuo led troops to farm in the Longge branch of Guizhou and settled there.

"In the 15th year of Yongle, the two chieftains of Sizhou and Sinan, Xuanweishi, fought for land and had internal strife. They attacked each other and led to rebellion."

Xu Huizu licked his lips and continued: "The emperor (Zhu Di) sent Gu Cheng to lead his troops to capture the two chieftains alive and bring them to Beijing to interrogate and execute them. He quelled the war, abolished the chieftains of Sizhou and Sinan, established the Chief Secretary of Guizhou, and established a division of three prefectures. The Eight Prefectures will implement the policy of 'reforming the land and returning it to the locals'."

"At that time, General Xiao was promoted to Daning Capital Commander Tongzhi and Right Army Commander Qianshi due to his outstanding achievements in countering rebellions in the imperial court's 'Gitui Guiliu' campaign and his proper recruitment during the 'Tuliu Bongzhi' campaign."

Having said this, he bowed again and said: "In December of the 20th year of Yongle, General Xiao, who was already over sixty years old, was appointed by the emperor as the chief military officer guarding Huguang and Guizhou."

"The imperial edict that conferred the title of General Xiao as the Commander-in-Chief of the Military was exactly what Your Majesty read in person at the Fengtian Palace on the order of the Emperor."

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said: "Old General Xiao is a brave soldier in Guizhou, galloping on the battlefield, and has experienced hundreds of battles. He is indeed the best choice for the Pingman general."

"Your Majesty is wise. I think General Xiao is resolute, resourceful, and rigorous in running the army. He is the only one who can stabilize Guizhou."

Qi Tai, Minister of the Ministry of War, echoed this.

"What do you think?"

Zhu Gaoxu looked around at everyone, his eyes specifically staying on Uncle Cheng Yi Liu Jing for a while.

Liu Jing seemed to be aware of it, stood up and saluted: "Your Majesty, I second your proposal."

"Your Majesty, the minister also seconded the proposal."

Yu Yan Zhaodao, the Minister of Rites.

For a time, the sound of "secondary opinions" in the hall could be heard continuously.

(End of this chapter)