Zhu Yuanzhang can see my dreams

Chapter 370 Father, I'm Better Than You
"of course not."

Wang Buli said leisurely while enjoying the river breeze: "Now the Ming Dynasty has not yet been unified and the foreign enemies are still there. If you do something like this, you will be slapping yourself in the face.

What I mean is that there is no need to make everyone a soldier and let them farm. This kind of work is too hard. How many people in the world would be willing to do it forever?
Besides, the imperial court has many troops, but how can the fighting power of the garrison soldiers be compared with that of the regular army?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was quite satisfied with this, because he had been wanting to supply soldiers from the north to fight against the Mongols for many years.

Xu Da and other founding fathers were repeatedly ordered to travel back and forth to the frontiers of Liaodong, Beiping, Xuanfu, Datong, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and other places to train troops and be ready for battle at any time.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang knew the drawbacks of the military farming policy, he currently had no intention of changing it at all.

"Do you know our border defense strategy deployment in the north?"

"I don't know."

"It took us many years to come up with some good ideas." Zhu Yuanzhang didn't care whether Wang Buli wanted to know or not:
“First, although the country is safe, we must not forget the dangers. We must defend the north and repair the city beacons to strengthen the gates.

The second is to order loyal, dedicated, wise, brave and knowledgeable generals to lead elite cavalry and infantry soldiers to garrison and guard the city without any negligence.

Third, do not advance deep into the northern desert easily and avoid falling into the enemy's ambush. Instead, you should assess the situation, deploy key points, and plan to annihilate the invading enemy.

Fourth, the defense of the north should be under the unified control of the King of Yan, and the other kings and generals should coordinate and support each other, protect each other, and rescue each other from the beginning to the end, so that the enemy will not know the clues, so as to achieve a complete victory and bring peace to the people. "

After a long while, Wang Buli finally nodded: "When I think about it carefully, there is nothing wrong with it."

"This military farming system needs to be revised, but not now."

Wang Buli also understood what Zhu Yuanzhang said. The entire north would be entrusted to Zhu Di.

The early Ming Dynasty can be roughly divided into two stages.

In the first stage, in order to consolidate the long-term rule of the Zhu family, Zhu Yuanzhang implemented the feudal system, depriving the military power scattered in the hands of meritorious generals and concentrating it in the hands of the emperor and the kings, attempting to "use the kings to assist the emperor."

However, the result of the evolution was contrary to Zhu Yuanzhang's original intention. The kings, whose power expanded malignantly, controlled their own troops and shook the emperor's political and military centralization, and as a result, the struggle was pushed into the stage of "imperial struggle".

In the second stage, the new emperor Zhu Yunwen wanted to adopt the method of "eliminating the king with the emperor" to reduce the power of the princes and rebuild the centralized system.

The result was the opposite situation of "the king driving out the emperor".

After Zhu Di ascended the throne, he implemented the policy of "using the emperor to weaken the kings" and once again strengthened the central military centralization.

After arriving at Zhenjiang Prefecture, the boat docked and the two men went into the post station to rest.

"After the King of Yan ascended the throne, he moved the capital to Beiping and renamed it Beijing."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at this scene but didn't say much.

He knew about this a long time ago.

In the early years of the Yongle reign, in order to strengthen the defense of the capital and enhance the construction of elite troops, Zhu Di established three major camps of the capital army, namely the Five Army Camp, the Three Thousand Camp and the Shenji Camp, which were responsible for controlling the light troops. They became strategic mobile forces directly commanded by the court to "guard the capital internally and prepare for war externally."

"Three major camps?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at this scene and felt that it was somewhat similar to the suggestion made by Wang Buli.

In this way, with the Beijing Camp in hand, there would never be another incident like Zhu Di's, where a king expelled the emperor.

He holds the best troops in the world in his hands, and the rest of the border troops have to obey him, the "King of Yan".

The entire northern border was handed over to Zhu Di by Zhu Yuanzhang.

Although the princes in the south have some soldiers under their command, it is difficult for them to have much combat effectiveness during peacetime.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Di organizing the three camps and realized that this was a field square formation tactic based mainly on infantry and cavalry.

Of course, when we first started training, the coordination was not very tacit, and it still needed to be tested and improved in actual combat.

"The fourth brother really modified the system of military farming."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Wang Buli standing aside, then at Zhu Di: "You are really dedicated to assisting the Fourth Master!"

Wang Buli didn't know how to answer.

After the fourth brother successfully ascends the throne, it will be time for him to go back and enjoy his retirement. Perhaps he left a lot of advice for the fourth brother before going back.

Otherwise, why wouldn’t I be included in this picture?
But he couldn't tell Zhu Yuanzhang about this, otherwise Zhu Yuanzhang would misunderstand and think that it was all his work.

Zhu Di was taking notes silently on the side. In fact, he could directly use some military experience.

Anyway, these are all summarized by my future self.

It just so happened that the north was under his control, and he had a large number of soldiers to train.

"The manufacturing process of firearms needs to be improved and must be strictly controlled, otherwise problems will arise on the battlefield. Even if the firearms are good, after a crisis of trust, the soldiers would rather carry knives than give up using firearms."

"rest assured."

Zhu Di was influenced by Wang Buli and also attached great importance to such matters.

Based on the various malpractices among the children of inherited military officers at the time, namely, "born and pampered, accustomed to arrogance and laziness, not interested in military affairs, inheriting titles and salaries indiscriminately, and being of no benefit to the country", Zhu Di ordered the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commandery to make new and strict regulations in addition to implementing the original regulations.

Those who failed the first test were sent to Kaiping for garrison; those who failed the second test were sent to Jiaozui for garrison; those who failed the third test were sent to a place with miasma.

This regulation played a certain restraining role on the children of military officers who inherited positions indiscriminately at that time, and had positive significance in ensuring the quality of military officers who inherited positions.

Similarly, soldiers from the royal palace and infantry and cavalry from all over the country were selected to be concentrated in Zhending or Dezhou for military training, and the best ones were selected to go to Beijing for inspection and review.

Zhu Di wanted the army to ensure that soldiers were trained, weapons were sharp, and the ranks were serious during peacetime in order to maintain the army's combat effectiveness.

He also issued fifty-six military reward and punishment orders, which were strict in military discipline.

After seeing all this, Zhu Di could hardly remember anything, and hurriedly asked Wang Buli if he had any paper or pen.

Even if he can't take it back, he can memorize it every time he comes, so that he can use it better when the time comes.

After conquering the world, Zhu Di showed his ability to consolidate his regime.

Although Zhu Di also reduced the power of the princes, he did not follow the old path of Zhu Yunfeng. The military power of the princes was quietly taken away.

He quickly made the army of Zhu Yunwen's court loyal to him by replacing generals.

He rapidly expanded the capital's military, truly being able to control the weak with the strong.

Three major camps of the Beijing Army were established, which provided a strategic mobile force to defend against external enemies and suppress internal "rebellion".

These made the throne that Zhu Di seized as a "powerful vassal" very solid.

Zhu Di's outstanding achievements in military construction were military farming and horse management.

His military farming system was more complete than Zhu Yuanzhang's, and the grains from the military farming were enough to provide food and wages for the army.

The measures he took in horse administration increased the number of war horses tenfold, and his achievements far exceeded those of Zhu Yuanzhang.

These played an important role in consolidating the regime, developing the economy and resisting foreign enemies.

The picture of Emperor Yongle coupled with the exciting background music, just this long evaluation was enough to make Zhu Di jump up.

It turns out that after becoming the emperor, I become more and more powerful!
Even Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes slightly, unable to believe that his fourth son, who had ascended to the throne through illegal means, had done things that were three times better than those of him, the founding emperor.

This reminded him that after Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, ascended the throne at the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he directly started the Zhenguan Reign, so that people did not think much of his killing of his brothers.

However, the ascension and succession of the Tang Dynasty emperors were always filled with blood.

Such a lesson made Zhu Yuanzhang worry again, but he also looked at the future of the Ming Dynasty and found that none of the emperors had come to power through a coup.

Most of the time, the son inherits the father's property, or the younger brother inherits the elder brother's property.

"Is this you?" Zhu Yuanzhang looked past Wang Buli at Zhu Di, who had a ruddy face.

Zhu Di was completely surrounded by great excitement. He was actually stronger than his father!
After Zhu Di came to power after the Jingnan Rebellion, he always held a grudge that he would never be worse than Zhu Yunwen and his elder brother Zhu Biao.

Now hearing his father's question, Zhu Di's joy did not diminish, but he said:

"Father has already seen it, and I don't know how to refute it."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but sigh: "I have always thought that your elder brother is a qualified successor, but I never thought that you are also doing well."

Zhu Di was quite excited to receive such a compliment from Zhu Yuanzhang. After all, his elder brother was the best since he was a child, and his brothers all lived in his elder brother's shadow.

Apart from praising Zhu Biao, Zhu Yuanzhang was a strict father to his other sons.

No one is better than his eldest son.

Only Zhu Biao called Zhu Dad, while the rest all called him Father. From this we can see how much effort Zhu Yuanzhang put into cultivating Zhu Biao's unique status.

"Buli, what do you think of his performance?"

"It seems that there haven't been any major mistakes so far. I guess the fourth brother must have been holding back his anger after ascending the throne and didn't want to embarrass his father."

Wang Buli didn't say much. At present, Zhu Di's performance can be said to be extremely excellent.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not say much. He intended to leave Wang Buli as a regent to Zhu Biao. However, he did not expect that his eldest son did not enjoy the opportunity, but the fourth son got it instead.

These things cannot be done by just relying on a war-minded person like the fourth brother.

What are you holding your breath for?

Zhu Yuanzhang felt that the fourth brother thought that I did not pass the throne to him but to Zhu Yunwen instead, and he was feeling angry and wanted to prove himself!
Wang Buli is a guy who stands firm on his stance.

Whoever becomes the emperor will be helped?
Nor is it.

At least he did not help Zhu Yunwen. Instead, he secretly made trouble and cooperated with the fourth brother in the Jingnan Campaign.

When Zhu Di ascended the throne, the Mongolian noble forces in the north still posed a serious threat to the security of the northern region of the Ming Dynasty.

Annan in the south often harassed the Ming border.

The rise of the Timurid Empire in the northwest blocked the exchanges between the Ming Dynasty and Central Asia.

Except for Liaodong Military Region, a sound military organization had not yet been established in the Northeast.

The eastern coastal areas were often plundered by Japanese pirates.

In response to the different situations in the surrounding areas, Zhu Di adopted a policy of combining politics and military affairs to expand the territory, develop military technology, and consolidate and develop the unity and security of these regions.

After Zhu Di ascended the throne, he summoned the Three Guards of Doyan to be the northern vassal of the Ming court. The court provided them with a certain amount of oxen, farm tools, seeds, cloth, wine and food every year, and agreed that the three guards would conduct reconnaissance and protection at home, and defend the city when on alert.

Yongle moved the Daning Military Region to Baoding, and transferred the Yingzhou, left, right, center, front and back garrisons of the Daning Military Region to Shunyi, Jizhou, Pinggu, Xianghe, Sanhe and other places respectively. Daning became an undefended city.

This gave the three guards an opportunity to move south.

Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and was very dissatisfied with Zhu Di's behavior.

This is definitely inviting a wolf into the house.

Especially the fact that an independent armed force could penetrate this deep into the country.

"Did you not try to persuade him?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Wang Buli standing beside him and said, "This is not like your style!"

“Your Majesty, is it possible that I won’t be around by then?” Wang Buli said leisurely, “Since I showed up before the Fourth Prince ascended the throne, he has done so many things, but I haven’t shown up yet!”

Hearing this, Zhu Di suddenly looked at Wang Buli.

He also felt that something was wrong, but he still said, "Maybe you have been recuperating at home. After all, your health is not very good."

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent. In his heart he already felt that Wang Buli was right.

This kid can't even save his own life, let alone the others.

If he had not forced himself to search for a way to save Queen Ma, his soul would not have been damaged and he might have lived longer.

"Nonsense, you are in good health." Zhu Yuanzhang also took the initiative to cover Wang Buli.

Wang Buli was even more certain that he would return to the modern era to enjoy his life after Zhu Di ascended the throne.

This way, I can feel more at ease.

At least there were no mistakes.

Zhu Di made achievements in the northeast and northwest. Except that he was too lenient towards the three guards of Doyan, there were no major mistakes.

After the Yuan Dynasty was overthrown, its remnants fled to the northern desert. In the third year of Hongwu (1370), Crown Prince Ayushiridara succeeded Emperor Shun of Yuan as Khan (known in history as the Northern Yuan Dynasty) in Khorin (now Kharkhorin, Mongolia). The dynasty was passed down for six generations until the fourth year of Jianwen (1402), when he was usurped by the Mongolian Guilichi, who abandoned the Yuan title and called himself Tatar Khan.

At this time, Mongolia was divided into three major tribes: Tatar, Oirat and Uriankhai.

After Zhu Di became emperor, he first implemented a policy of peaceful conquest among the various tribes.

Politically, he constantly sent envoys to establish friendly relations and recruit allies.

The emperor tried to win over the tribes that surrendered by appointing them officials, making them kings, and giving them rewards in order to improve relations.

In terms of economy, through horse market trade, private transactions, official tributes and other means, economic exchanges were expanded, daily necessities were supplied, and the goal of winning over the Mongols was achieved.

For ordinary Mongols who came to surrender, the imperial court also ordered the border guards to relax restrictions and adopt policies such as not rejecting those who come, not chasing those who leave, accepting those who come again, and not remembering their past mistakes.

For newcomers, appropriate arrangements are made according to their different identities and necessary settlement and living conditions are provided.

As for the three major Mongolian tribes, Zhu Di often used the means of "using barbarians to control barbarians" and adopted the strategy of supporting the weak and suppressing the strong, dividing and disintegrating, and restraining each other, so that their power would not expand excessively and pose a serious threat to the Ming Dynasty in the north.

Zhu Di's strategies of appeasement, conciliation and "using barbarians to control barbarians" eased the conflicts between the Mongols and the Han people to a certain extent in the early Yongle period and promoted friendly exchanges between the Mongolian and Han peoples and relations between their ethnic groups.

However, it did not eliminate the intention of the upper nobles of the three major Mongolian tribes to harass the Ming border. Their relationship with the Yongle court was sometimes good and sometimes bad, and they sometimes rebelled and sometimes submitted, so they could not avoid the disaster of war.

"Well, I haven't used this method yet." Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile: "Buli, are you still hiding something from me?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked as if it was you who came up with the idea, which made Zhu Di praise him as well:
"That's right. Even though I'm the emperor now, I still want to destroy the Mongols and become a great general. As my military advisor, you have to take part in the battle. Don't be in a hurry."

Wang Bulili smiled but didn't say anything.

"The Northern Yuan Dynasty was eventually destroyed." Zhu Yuanzhang said with a sigh, "What a pity that it was not our Ming Dynasty that destroyed it, but died in internal strife."

Zhu Di also looked very regretful: "Yeah, in the end, I still haven't become the general of the Northern Expedition?"

Wang Buli shook his head and said, "Although I have defeated the Northern Yuan Dynasty myself, they just continue to exist under a different name. They are still a great threat. Moreover, if we split into three groups, it will be difficult to concentrate our forces to defeat them."

The area occupied by the Tatar tribe is equivalent to the area from the Kherlen River and Onon River basins to Lake Baikal in present-day Mongolia, and their power was relatively strong.

In the fourth year of Yongle (1406), Zhiyuan Arutai killed Guilichi and made Kun Temur's brother Bayanchur the Khan. He often went south to attack and plunder, seriously threatening the security of the Ming Dynasty in the north.

The area occupied by the Oirat tribe corresponds to the Kobdo River basin in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, the Irtysh River basin in Xinjiang, and the Junggar Basin to its south.

In May of the seventh year of Yongle, Zhu Di conferred titles on their leaders Mahamu as King of Shunning, Taiping as King of Xianyi, and Batubolo as King of Anle.

The leader of the Oirat tribe paid tribute again to express gratitude, and thereafter, he paid tribute every year and maintained a good relationship with the Ming court for a time.

The Uriankhai troops occupied the Bazar River and Taoer River basins and the area to their south at the junction of Heilongjiang, Jilin and Inner Mongolia, and had good relations with the Ming court.

In order to curb the Tatar nobles' ambition to plunder the south and to improve the relationship between the two sides through appeasement measures, the Ming court sent the commander-in-chief Jintabudai and the attendant Guo Ji to write a letter to Ben Yashiri and reward him generously in April of the seventh year of Yongle.

However, Bayanchur turned against him and killed Guo Ji in June, intending to lead his men to attack the Ming border.

Seeing that persuasion failed, Zhu Di ordered Qi Duke Qiu Fu to lead an army of 100,000 to the north to attack the Tatars in July.

Qiu Fu underestimated the enemy and advanced rashly, leading a thousand people away from the main force to gather information, which resulted in him being besieged by the Mongolian army.

Marquis of Anping Li Yuan and Marquis of Wucheng Wang Cong led 500 cavalrymen to attack the enemy camp and killed hundreds of the bandits. Wang Cong died in the battle, and Marquis of Anping Li Yuan was captured after his horse stumbled, and died cursing.

Qiu Fu, Wang Zhong and Huo Zhen were all captured and killed, and their entire army was wiped out.

Qiu Fu died at the age of 67.

"Qiu Fu?"

Zhu Di naturally knew this person, as he had been among his guards for a long time.

He was promoted from an ordinary soldier to a centurion, and unexpectedly became a duke.

This kid made great contributions in the Jingnan Campaign!
However, he made a mistake when he got old. He actually left the main force and personally led only a thousand cavalrymen to pursue the enemy. He really refused to listen to advice.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Zhu Di and asked, "Did he learn this from you?"

(End of this chapter)