In the twelfth year of Zhizheng, November.

The Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty was pleased with Timur and issued an edict to lead an army of one million soldiers to conquer Huainan, with the intention of completely eradicating the two red scarf thieves Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhang Shicheng who blocked the transportation between the south and north of the Yangtze River.

Following the issuance of the imperial edict for personal conquest, several edicts that followed were secretly distributed everywhere.

Among them, he issued an edict to Prime Minister Tuo Tuo who was fighting in Gaoyou, requiring Tuo Tuo to besiege Zhang Shicheng in Gaoyou and Zhu Yuanzhang in Wulong River. However, they were determined not to launch a general offensive to eliminate the thieves, and had to wait until Emperor Yuan came to harvest in person.

The fruits of these two victories.

In addition, he also issued an edict to Pingzhang Bolu of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, Pingzhang Ji of Jiangxi provinces and others, asking them to be prepared at any time to receive the large sum of food and grass sent by Emperor Yuan to reward the army after annihilating the red scarf bandits in Jiangbei.

, money, silk and other goods, and Emperor Tuohuan Timur of the Yuan Dynasty will also cross the Yangtze River to patrol the south, resume water transportation between the two rivers, sea transportation, salt administration, and finally transport more than a year's accumulated taxes to Dadu.

As for the edict to mobilize elite soldiers to protect the northern provinces, that is indispensable.

As soon as the news of Emperor Yuan's personal expedition came out, the world was immediately shocked!

Henan, Zhuxian Town.

The generals of the Red Scarf Army gathered together, led by Liu Futong, and surrounded Emperor Zhao Lin'er of the Song Dynasty to discuss military aircraft in the central military tent.

"Alas! The Tatar puppet emperor personally conquered the country. It seems that the Tatars still have the confidence. We, Bianliang, will not be able to conquer it for a while!"

Prime Minister Liu Futong sighed and said.

Mr. Guan, Mao Gui, Po Tou Pan and other generals below heard this and nodded frequently.

The Red Scarf Army began its northern expedition from Yingzhou to Bianliang in the autumn. It was originally planned to attack Mongolia and Yuan in three directions after conquering Bianliang.

However, they did not expect that in the Battle of Bianliang, several fierce generals appeared in Meng Yuan, such as Chahan Timur, Li Siqi and other regiment training generals, so that the Red Scarf Army could not make any progress under Bianliang City.

Even the acupuncture blasting method that Zhu Han taught them could not be used at all, because these Meng Yuan troops did not defend the city, but took the initiative to attack many times, making it impossible for the Red Scarf Army to form an effective acupoint attack, let alone

What exploded.

Seeing that more and more food and grass were being consumed, the Red Scarf Army took the initiative to retreat to Zhuxian Town, south of Bianliang, and began to discuss countermeasures.

At this time, the news came that Emperor Meng Yuan was preparing to lead a personal expedition. Liu Futong immediately planned to get off the road and return to Yingzhou first, waiting until the spring of next year.

"Prime Minister, if Bianliang City is not captured, won't our three-pronged northern expedition be in vain?"

Emperor Song Dynasty ‘Zhao’ Lin’er, who was sitting on a tiger-skin chair, asked.

Liu Futong respectfully handed over his hand. "Your Majesty, I have no choice. The Tatar Emperor personally marches to the north of the Yangtze River. Zhu Yuanzhang may not be able to withstand it. Our army may not take Bianliang or the Northern Expedition, but it must not be allowed to be recaptured by the Tatars."

Jiangbei!"

'Zhao' Lin'er's father, Han Shantong, died in the hands of the Mongols. Naturally, he wanted to rush into Dadu immediately to avenge his father.

He is only thirteen years old and has little knowledge. If Liu Futong had not supported him, he would still be herding sheep in the valley.

However, Liu Futong's attitude was respectful and he had no intention of slighting or neglecting the little emperor.

"Your Majesty, the taxes, grain and grass in the south of the Yangtze River are all dependent on the transportation of the river and sea. Once Zhu Yuanzhang in the north of the Yangtze River is defeated, the Tatars will be able to continuously transport the grain and grass from the south of the Yangtze River to the north and support millions of soldiers and horses. We will be in danger.

Although our army has not captured Bianliang, the Tatars there are no longer able to attack. As long as our army defends Jiangbei, we can find opportunities to start over again and compete with the army, regardless of temporary gains and losses!" Liu Futong said patiently.

After hearing this, Zhao Lin'er felt that it made sense, so she nodded and said, "What the Prime Minister said must make sense. I just hope that the Prime Minister and you guys will not forget to avenge my father!"

Liu Futong handed over his hand again. "Your Majesty, rest assured, we will never forget the hatred of the late emperor. When we hold Jiangbei and let the Tatar emperor retreat to the capital, we will then go on an expedition to the north and capture that dog Tatar alive!"

"

"Okay, that's great. If anyone can capture the Gou Tar Emperor alive, I will make him the King of Yizi Bingjian!" Emperor Zhao Lin'er of the Song Dynasty said excitedly.

When Liu Futong heard this, he couldn't help but rolled his eyes. The other generals also looked like they were suppressing smiles when they heard this.

"Hey, Lin'er, this kid, has been watching too many dramas recently. Where did he get the word "shoulder to shoulder"?" Liu Futong secretly complained.

Since there was no hope of capturing Bianliang, the Red Scarf Army immediately broke camp and returned to Yingzhou. The huge Zhuxian Town was soon emptied out.

Hedgehog gathered more than 100,000 Yuan troops in Bianliang, and it was only two days later that they learned the information about the retreat of the Red Turban Army.

Suddenly, there were cheers inside and outside Bianliang City.

Pingzhang Temur of Henan Province immediately reported to the emperor Tuohuan Timur, claiming that "Thanks to the divine power of the emperor, the thieves fled in the face of the wind, and I led the army to pursue them for thirty miles and captured countless enemies."

Emperor Yuan of the Yuan Dynasty, who received the memorial, was so happy that he smiled crookedly at Timur.

Under the relay of praise from Hama and others, Tuohuan Timur was even more convinced of the power of his personal conquest.

Several Mongolian nobles wrote to dissuade him from conducting the expedition himself, and they were immediately severely punished.

"Because of my reputation, the thieves will be defeated after hearing the news. If I personally conquer Huainan, why worry about the world being unfair and the thieves will never be destroyed. If you dare to stop me again, you will all be punished as thieves!"

Tuohuan Timur's harshly worded edict made the Mongolian and Yuan ministers dare not have any more opinions.

Especially for the purpose of his personal expedition, Emperor Tuohuan Timur ordered the eleven-year-old Crown Prince Aiyou to stay in the capital to supervise the country.

As a result, the crown prince's biological mother, Empress Qi, even united a group of ministers to brag about the emperor's personal expedition, and urgently mobilized 5,000 elite soldiers from Liaoyang Province and Korea, lest the emperor's personal expedition would fail.

"I want to lead the expedition in person, and I vow not to return to Beijing until we clear out the red scarf thieves, the Zhu brothers!"

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! When the edict of Tuohuan Timur reached Jiangsu and Zhejiang, a group of close officials such as Pingzhang Bolu and Fan Yao of Jiangsu and Zhejiang Province were immediately frightened.

For two days in a row, Bolu didn't think about anything, thinking hard about countermeasures.

Because in the edict, Emperor Meng Yuan had already expressed his determination to annihilate Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhang Shicheng, rebuild the salt officials, and rectify the tax debts in Jiangnan.

Each of these could kill Bolu. Not only his own life, but the whole family he left behind in Dadu might not survive either.

Today, Liu Bowen, who went to inspect the defense in eastern Zhejiang, came back. Bolu and Fan Yao couldn't wait to find Liu Bowen to discuss countermeasures.

"All the princes in the imperial court are just wine and rice bags. Why don't they stop His Majesty from carrying out his own expedition? The battle is fierce and dangerous. What if the dragon's body is injured?" Bolu shouted angrily.

Liu Bowen was on the side and already knew what Bo Lu and others were thinking.

Emperor Tuohuan Timur cannot come to Jiangnan under any circumstances. Once he comes to Jiangnan, the bad things Bolu, Fan Yao and the others have done will definitely be exposed.

Once exposed, the entire officialdom of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces would be in a bloody turmoil.

In particular, once Emperor Meng Yuan could come to the south of the Yangtze River, it would mean that the Red Turban Army in the north of the Yangtze River would definitely be defeated.

"Sir, the princes of the imperial court dare not dissuade you on this matter. We must dissuade you. Your Majesty, you should quickly write to your majesty to dissuade the emperor from going on a personal expedition." Liu Bowen said.

Bolu shook his head and sighed: "It doesn't work. I've already written twice, but I got a reprimand both times. If I write another letter to remonstrate, I'm afraid His Majesty will suspect that I have other motives."

Fan Yao also said from the side: "Bo Wen, you are resourceful, come up with a solution for us quickly, otherwise once His Majesty arrives with his army, you and I will both be prisoners!"

When Liu Bowen heard this, he already frowned.

When he was in eastern Zhejiang, he had already heard rumors that Emperor Meng Yuan was going south, and he had already prepared for the worst.

Liu Bowen pondered for a while, and then said: "Now that hundreds of thousands of troops are surrounding Gaoyou, and Timur's hundreds of thousands of troops are stationed in Wulong River first, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhang Shicheng are both in danger, so I'm afraid it will be difficult to handle."

As soon as they heard what Liu Bowen said, Bolu and Fan Yao started sweating on the spot.

"Bowen, if it wasn't so dangerous, we wouldn't be so anxious to let you come back," Bolu said.

"That's right, Bowen, think again, how can we make His Majesty take back his orders and not come to Jiangnan?" Fan Yao said anxiously.

Facing Bolu and Fan Yao's pleas, Liu Bowen thought for a moment before speaking.

"My lords, the current situation is unclear. Liu Ji's empty talk here will only do bad things. Why don't you let me go to Chuzhou overnight to find out the actual situation in Jiangbei!"

Upon hearing this, Bolu and Fan Yao nodded immediately.

All the Mongolian and Yuan armies in Jiangbei were under Tuotuo's control, but Tuotuo was already suspicious of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, and Bolu and others were unable to detect any information at all.

Tuotuo had no other exchanges with Jiang and Zhejiang about all his orders and arrangements, except urging the formation of a naval army to transport military rations.

Time was running out, and Liu Bowen didn't even bother to return home. He immediately dressed up in disguise and took a boat to Chuzhou with two of his confidants, Bo Lu and Fan Yao.

Although Jiangbei was raging with war, the Red Scarf Army still firmly controlled shipping in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

After Liu Bowen's ship left the vicinity of Jiqing, they immediately hoisted the signal flag given by the Red Scarf Army and arrived at Chuzhou unimpeded.

As soon as they entered Chuzhou, special Red Scarf Army soldiers led them into the city.

Shi Naian, who was left behind in Chuzhou, immediately met with Liu Bowen.

"Bo Wen, you came all night, what do you mean?" Shi Naian asked.

When he saw two strangers following Liu Bowen, he asked in a deliberately cold tone.

Liu Bowen didn't care about any politeness and immediately introduced the two people behind him to Shi Naian.

As soon as he heard that these two people were Bolu and Fan Yao's confidants, Shi Naian was relieved on the spot.

If this is the case, it means that it is not something happened in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, but it must be for something else.

After several people sat down, Liu Bowen immediately asked.

"Brother Shi, do you know where the deputy commander is now?"

Shi Naian pondered for a moment and didn't know how to answer. After all, it's not easy to talk about military matters lightly.

"Oh, brother Shi, don't worry. Now Emperor Meng Yuan wants to personally conquer the south of the Yangtze River. You and I are on the same boat, so what should we worry about!" Liu Bowen was a little anxious.

"Well, to be honest, the deputy commander-in-chief and the commander-in-chief are all in Wulonghe now!" Shi Naian said.

"Send me to see the deputy marshal and marshal!" Liu Bowen said.

"What, this can't work." Shi Naian was a little reluctant.
To be continued...