Ming Dynasty: Zhu Biao's younger brother, the most rebellious son in history

Chapter 119 Zhu Yuanzhang: I am here, but it seems I am not here

"uncertain."

Zhu Kai didn't believe that someone could calculate things so accurately. Maybe when Liu Yi sent the dice, he had secretly prepared countless plans and even had responses to every decision of Zhu Kai. The dice just found the most suitable words to answer in the corresponding rhetoric: "Don't believe in any perfect plan. Others may just have a little more preparation. If you are fully prepared, you can do these things too."

Jiang Li quickly leaned forward to agree: "Your Highness, you are right. I will be prepared in the future."

"You, be careful not to flatter the horse."

Zhu Kai was too lazy to talk nonsense with Jiang Li, so he waved his hand and said, "Okay, go and rest. We will continue to advance north tomorrow. Liu Yi's appearance is just in time... Brothers, a big battle is inevitable, so be prepared!"

Mao Xiang was a little doubtful: "Your Highness, we don't know. We just don't know whether Liu Yi is plotting to frame me or he wants to surrender."

Zhu Kai nodded: "It depends on Liu Yi's sincerity. Whether he surrenders falsely or truly, it will not have much impact on us."

However, for Zhu Kai, no matter what Liu Yi's attitude is, it will not affect him. So what if he uses a trick to deceive him?
Can he block the bullets from AK47?
……

Zhu Yuanzhang left Yingtian Prefecture and headed for the northern border, feeling very proud and satisfied.

Since he became emperor, he basically never traveled far, nor did he publicize it in a big way. But this time was different. He left the palace as the emperor. This was definitely the biggest event in the entire Ming Empire.

The officials also became nervous. All the officials along the line from Yingtian Prefecture to Yanjing became worried.

Everyone knew that Zhu Yuanzhang was a very serious emperor. If you did not do your job well, or if there was any mistake in your work, if Zhu Yuanzhang found out, you would definitely be held accountable, and then your life or death would be decided based on the severity of the mistake.

Anyway, if Zhu Yuanzhang finds out, his official career will be over.

Of course, the most important issue is corruption.

Embezzlement of money was the crime that Zhu Yuanzhang hated the most. If one embezzled more than fifty taels of silver, the person would be skinned and stuffed with straw. This was probably the most severe punishment in the world. Every official quickly ordered his subordinates to process and transfer the money step by step, in order to prevent Zhu Yuanzhang from finding any clues.

However, they spent many days preparing and made all the necessary responses to Zhu Yuanzhang's inquiries, but when the day Zhu Yuanzhang was supposed to come, they did not even see his shadow.

Zhu Yuanzhang was so anxious that he didn't even get in the carriage and rushed to the north...

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang leaving in such a hurry, the officials and gentry along the way began to inquire about what had happened. After much inquiries, they learned that Zhu Kai had gone out of the Great Wall and headed north deep into the heartland of the Mongols to cause trouble for the Mongols. Zhu Yuanzhang loved his son dearly and was afraid that something might happen to Zhu Kai, so he hurried north.

The officials and gentry along the way who learned the news all breathed a sigh of relief, feeling lucky that they had escaped disaster.

Of course...I also have to thank Zhu Kai.

If Zhu Kai hadn't caused trouble, they would be the ones in trouble now. This was the first time that the officials and gentry felt grateful to the trouble-making Zhu Kai.

However, after half a year, they were no longer grateful to Zhu Kai.

The Jinyiwei, which had begun to spread throughout the Ming Dynasty, had already seized evidence of their dereliction of duty and corruption. After Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Kai returned to Yingtian Prefecture, Zhu Yuanzhang began to settle accounts with them.

When this group of officials were trying to cover up their own crimes, they only cared about covering up their own problems, but they forgot that the Jinyiwei, who were monitoring the whole world, were watching them from behind.

All the problematic officials will be brought down one by one.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was an organization founded by Zhu Kai. They were very experienced in investigating corruption.

……

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't want to go so fast, but he had to hurry. Ma Xiuying's words implied that Zhu Yuanzhang was only allowed to stay outside for three months, and he had to bring Zhu Kai back to Yingtianfu within three months.

Zhu Yuanzhang felt that three months was just the right amount of time. Before leaving Yingtian Prefecture, he made a plan: spend a month to reach Yanjing, then travel around Yanjing, the grassland, western Shanxi, Gansu and other places, spending another month and a half; and use the remaining half month to bring Zhu Kai home. The plan was simply perfect.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang's plan changed because Zhu Kai went to Mobei. It was because of this that Zhu Yuanzhang had to give up his plan.

Zhu Kai went deep into the heartland of the Mongols. Just for this matter, Zhu Yuanzhang felt that he might not be able to resolve it even in three months.

What a jerk!
Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry that his teeth were itching. He didn't expect that even after he left Yingtian Prefecture, he still had to work hard for Zhu Kai. Is this what he should do as an emperor?

Once I catch this kid, if I beat him so hard that he can't get out of bed for half a month, then I, as a father, have failed to fulfill my responsibilities!
brute!

Little bastard!

Zhu Yuanzhang became angrier and angrier. When passing through Qi and Lu, he saw Hu Weiyong coming to meet him. Zhu Yuanzhang did not stop and pointed at Hu Weiyong, saying, "Come here, take him down and give him a hundred strokes of the cane."

The attendants behind him immediately separated a group, pinned Hu Weiyong to the ground and prepared to fight without saying a word.

In fact, beating with a stick requires great skill. Not to mention a hundred sticks, even if there were a thousand sticks, these people could ensure that the person's skin was only scratched. Of course, if they wanted to kill someone, they could kill him with ten sticks.

For people like Hu Weiyong, who was beaten with a hundred sticks without any reason, it was probably because Zhu Yuanzhang had no place to vent his anger, so he found a scapegoat to take the blame. What a coincidence... Hu Weiyong was the most loyal dog under Zhu Kai, and he just happened to become Zhu Yuanzhang's punching bag.

Just don't be too perfect.

Hu Weiyong was pinned to the ground by the fierce and ferocious Jinyi guards. Unable to break free, he said directly: "My fellow brothers, I am Hu Weiyong, the most loyal dog under the Second Prince's command. We are old acquaintances. Please be gentle. We will meet each other sooner or later, right?"

"Master Hu, don't speak."

The person who received Zhu Yuanzhang's order to execute Hu Weiyong was an old man from the Jinyiwei. He had also stayed with Zhu Kai for a period of time, so he was very familiar with Hu Weiyong. He reminded him, "Brother Kai has offended His Majesty again. You just happened to run into the muzzle of His Majesty's gun. His Majesty has nowhere to vent his anger... Haha, Lord Hu, enjoy yourself. I don't know how many people outside want to be His Majesty's punching bag but can't succeed."

"I am your highness's scapegoat, not your majesty's punching bag!"

Hu Weiyong didn't know what to say, so he could only grit his teeth and admit it, but he still pleaded, "Brother, please be gentle, I'm afraid of the pain."

"Haha... I will definitely take good care of you, Master Hu."

……

When Zhu Yuanzhang arrived in Yanjing, the main army was gone, and only 10,000 soldiers took over the city defense of Yanjing.

Ten thousand soldiers?
Yanjing, as the imperial capital of the Yuan Dynasty, had high walls and deep moats, which made it easy to defend but difficult to attack. However, with only 10,000 soldiers standing on the city walls, it seemed too weak, and Zhu Yuanzhang did not think that 10,000 soldiers could hold out for long.

When he arrived at the city gate, Zhu Yuanzhang finally saw the appearance of the visitor: he was a civil servant.

Where is Feng Sheng?
The civil servant was the prefect of Yanjing. He was not at all flustered in front of Zhu Yuanzhang and said calmly: "Your Majesty, Duke Song is leading his army to the heartland of the remnant Yuan Dynasty in the north to look for the second prince because he is worried about the safety of the second prince."

Oh, so he went to rescue Kaier.

Zhu Yuanzhang expressed his understanding.

But when he heard about the battlefield, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a little itchy for a moment, as he was also an emperor who had emerged from the flames of war.

When he was a Red Turban in Haozhou, he also led the troops.

Back then, he really had to put his head on the belt to pursue his future. Although he doesn't have to work so hard now, Zhu Yuanzhang still becomes interested when he hears about war.

You can also go to the battlefield and take a look around.

When the civil servant heard Zhu Yuanzhang say that he also wanted to go to the battlefield, he immediately knelt in front of Zhu Yuanzhang's horse without saying a word, holding the reins tightly and not letting go: "Your Majesty, you can't go to the north!"

"why?"

Zhu Yuanzhang expressed his dissatisfaction, "Others can go to this battlefield, but I can't?"

Even if you don't let me go, I'll go anyway!
Zhu Yuanzhang's stubborn temper also came up, and no one could stop him. However, the civil servant seemed to be crazy and stopped Zhu Yuanzhang regardless of anything: "Your Majesty, you are the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor of the world. The situation on the battlefield is ever-changing. It is easy to dodge an open spear but difficult to defend against an arrow from the dark. Your Majesty, if you don't consider yourself, you must consider the people of the world! Even if I am dragged to death by your horse today, Your Majesty will never let you step out of Yanjing Prefecture."

If it were on the battlefield, when Zhu Yuanzhang saw such a disobedient subordinate, he would definitely give him twenty lashes without saying a word and then make another move. But now his status has changed. He is the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. There are many things that do not allow him to put himself in danger. Zhu Yuanzhang did not have the opportunity to put himself in danger.

We can only accept our fate!

Zhu Yuanzhang had a dark face and lived in the place arranged for him. Lying on the bed, Zhu Yuanzhang was still thinking: I didn’t have time to see the beautiful scenery along the way. Now there is a war outside, and I am not allowed to participate. I can only stay in the city...

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed helplessly, this...what's the point of me coming out?

It would be better to stay at home with Ma Xiuying.

At least Ma Xiuying still had hot soup and hot meals to serve her. It was nothing like now, where even when she went out she was monitored by countless people.

I came here, but it felt like I hadn't been here. Apart from the cold weather, I didn't experience anything else.

This is very angry!

Zhu Yuanzhang swore secretly in his heart: When I see Zhu Kai, I will beat him so hard that he can’t get out of bed for a month. Otherwise, my surname is not Zhu!
The next day, at daybreak, the battle seemed to be about to begin.

Zhu Kai ordered people to cook, and still said the same thing: Don't eat too much, save some stomach for fishing in Yuerhai. They wanted to eat hot pot in Toghon Temur's tent, which was what comfort was.

In fact, Zhu Kai learned from Zheng Yuchun, a fierce general of the Ming Dynasty, that one should not eat too much. Overeating can easily lead to mental fatigue. Even if one eats twice, one must never eat too much at once. If one fights in that state, exerting 50% of one's full strength is already an extraordinary performance.

Everyone knew that they were about to face a fierce battle.

Among the people following Zhu Kai, 80% were veterans who survived the last war that swept across the grassland. After dozens of fierce battles, big and small, they had already understood the fighting style of the Mongols.

When the Mongolian Tartars on the grasslands discovered the enemy, they would bite madly from behind like hungry wolves and would never stop until they had torn off piece by piece of the enemy's flesh.

And what about this time? Each time, only a small group of 3,000 to 5,000 cavalry appeared. In the next few days, the Mongols basically did not appear, as if all the Tartars had disappeared. Zhu Kai led his troops all the way north without seeing any enemies.

Will the Mongols be scared?
impossible!
What Zhu Kai said in the morning made everyone realize... a fierce battle was about to begin. The new recruits were a little nervous after hearing it, but the old soldiers breathed a sigh of relief.

As the saying goes, it is not the thief who steals that you are afraid of, but the thief who is thinking about stealing. The same is true in war. When the enemy hides in the dark, everyone will be timid. But when the enemy appears within the field of vision, there is no need to worry about the enemy's sneak attack all day long. You can just draw your knife and fight the enemy to the death.

In a head-on battle, Zhu Kai's troops were not afraid at all. With the guns provided by Zhu Kai, they could shoot the enemy to death from 200 steps away.

Although Zhu Kai was heading north, the marching route he chose was basically through open areas.

The field of vision is extremely wide, so even if the enemy wants to ambush Zhu Kai, they have no chance.

……

After breakfast, Zhu Kai continued to march northward. Same as before, Zhu Kai first divided the scouts into a fan shape, led by guides, who carefully observed the surroundings. Once they spotted the enemy, they would immediately ask the guides to report.

Zhu Kai also felt the storm impending before the war, so when he sent out scouts this time, he did not even spare his own back, and asked the scouts to surround the main force in a circle. No matter which direction the enemy attacked from, Zhu Kai could respond calmly.

On the other side, the Mongol army, led by Taiwei Manzi, surrounded Zhu Kai's army.

This barbarian, who was in charge of the military affairs of the Mongols, was not as good as Wang Baobao in controlling the army. The troops he led were at best the second-line troops of the Mongols. Even if some of them escaped from Wang Baobao's military camp, they were the ones who were frightened.

What a joke! When Zhu Kai swept across Mobei, he defeated every enemy he encountered by crushing them without giving them even a chance to resist.

Moreover, after experiencing the battle with Zhu Kai, the Mongol generals who survived would be afraid of the weapon in Zhu Kai's hand that could take people's lives from 200 steps away, and even the timid ones would suffer psychological trauma.

Even someone as strong as Li Shanchang would have been frightened, right?
But the barbarians have to fight!
He strongly opposed Wang Baobao's westward strategy and wanted to hold on to the ancestral land where the Mongols made their fortune and engage in a fierce battle with the Ming Dynasty. Now that the Ming army has reached the ancestral land, where can he retreat to?

Go and seek refuge with Wang Baobao?

Manzi believed that even if he died, he would never bow to Wang Baobao.

Looking around, more than half of the generals sitting in the military tents did not dare to look the barbarians in the eye.

She was afraid that he would see her and send her to her death.

Damn it, fighting against Zhu Kai and his devilish troops, wouldn't that be just suicide?

These incompetent wimps!
It's a disgrace to our Mongol ancestors!
The barbarian cursed in his heart, but now that things had come to this, he had to go ahead even if it meant gritted his teeth!
(End of this chapter)