After Zhang Ximeng had discussed with various civil and military officials, he reported the situation to Zhu Yuanzhang. Although Li Shanchang was usually more responsible for communicating with superiors and communicating with subordinates, when it came to military affairs, he really did not dare to interfere casually.
For Li Shanchang, he was more responsible for preparing sufficient supplies of food and grass and playing the role of a wet nurse. The real decision-making power was not in his hands.
However, this time Zhang Ximeng asked Li Shanchang seriously. The two sat together and discussed carefully.
Moreover, before the formal discussion, Zhang Ximeng brought his son Zhang Shuning over to show Li Shanchang.
Old Li smiled happily, grabbed his little hand, looked at it again and again, then took out a red gold longevity lock and hung it around the little guy's neck.
But this red gold is very particular.
In fact, red gold is not pure gold, but some red gold. It is said that some iron elements are mixed in it, so it is reddish. Chinese people like red, so they like to use red gold for decoration at weddings and celebrations, which is better than gold.
Li Shanchang specially prepared a red gold longevity lock for the young master of the Zhang family, so he was naturally prepared for it.
"Xiang Zhang, I won't hide it from you. The boy in my family is doing a lot of business in Lingnan. Now my family's life is pretty good. Now, I don't dare to say that I have become famous and can leave a name in history. I am now
I just want to assist Zuo Zuo and achieve hegemony, and then retire and take care of himself."
Li Shanchang stared into Zhang Ximeng's eyes and said from the bottom of his heart: "Mr. Zhang, please be aware of this. I really have no other intentions."
Zhang Ximeng couldn't help laughing, "Brother Li, you are too careful. Can I still find your head?"
"No!" Li Shanchang shook his head resolutely, but said seriously: "This time the Northern Expedition is sweeping the world, and troops are sent from many directions, it is unavoidable to be negligent. I am wholeheartedly maintaining it, but if there are any omissions, please don't be polite and kill them decisively.
In other words, there is no need to worry about my face, and I will definitely not protect these people."
Zhang Ximeng pondered slightly, Li Shanchang's statement was very interesting.
In fact, large-scale deployment of troops has always resulted in deficits, lack of food and fodder, and it is not uncommon for warehouses to be burned down.
Throughout the Ming army's previous battles, after each battle, officials would be involved and were eliminated decisively by Lao Zhu. It is difficult to say whether Li Shanchang was involved with these people, but Lao Li's overall logistics work was able to do 90
More than five points.
This level of internal affairs is completely comparable to Xiao He.
With great achievements but no conclusive evidence, to be honest, no one can shake Li Shanchang's position.
There was obviously no need to worry, but Lao Li greeted him in advance. Could it be that he had foreseen that something big would happen?
Zhang Ximeng thought for a while and then smiled and said: "Brother Li, the last decisive battle in the Central Plains has exhausted the imperial court's inventory. Although the territory has increased a lot, the Central Plains and Shandong have suffered from wars and now want to be self-sufficient.
It is still difficult. Although Suzhou and other wealthy places have been added, the food in these places is not enough for ourselves, and we need to mobilize it from outside."
"From this point of view, we only have the food accumulated in the past year. In terms of foundation, we are not as strong as before. But sending troops from multiple directions and attacking most of the cities will make the journey long and double the losses. Calculating it this way, the Northern Expedition at this time will indeed waste people and money.
Tang He, Xu Da, Feng Guoyong, all of them are worthy of fighting, but you, Mr. Li, are in charge of Ming Dynasty's purses and rice bags. You are the most difficult! It is really not easy!"
The value of life lies in close friends. Zhang Ximeng's words all spoke to Li Shanchang's heart. No matter how much disagreement they had, Lao Li now regarded Zhang Ximeng as a good friend.
Speaking of which, Li Shanchang is even more pitiful than Zhang Ximeng. Zhang Ximeng can still be friends with Liu Bowen and others, and be honest with Zhu Sheng. But around Li Shanchang, except for his subordinates, there is really no one he can talk to.
"Prime Minister Zhang, I actually don't understand. Why can't we wait two years until the treasury is full, and then launch a large-scale Northern Expedition to sweep across the world? Wouldn't this be safer?"
Zhang Ximeng smiled slightly, "Of course what Brother Li thinks makes sense. It's just that the opportunity is rare at the moment. The Northern Expedition requires hundreds of thousands of troops to be mobilized. No matter when, it will be a huge loss. In addition to settling our own accounts, we also have to settle our own accounts.
The enemy's account. And if we can succeed in one battle, that would be the best. If it is delayed and becomes a protracted war, it will not be good."
Li Shanchang lowered his head and thought for a long time, then hesitantly said: "Xiang Zhang, do you mean that we can win quickly without losing any blood?"
Zhang Ximeng smiled and said, "Unification of the world has always been achieved by fighting. It is unrealistic to expect to win without a fight. However, how long this battle lasts and how much it consumes can be controlled."
Li Shanchang was shocked in his heart. He couldn't help but lean forward and asked: "Xiang Zhang, can you explain it more carefully?"
Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Before dealing with Zhang Shicheng, we were already preparing to capture Fujian. Chen Youding is a cooked duck. Now that Fang Guozhen will return soon, Liao Yongzhong and Yu Tonghai, their naval forces have been training for a long time. As long as the two armies are united,
Thousands of warships immediately blocked the sea! Then a hundred thousand troops came, shaking the world. The lord also sent Zhang Shicheng as an envoy. There was a 70% chance that Chen You would surrender directly. The remaining 30% also put up a little resistance.
Then surrender."
After Li Shanchang thought for a while, he nodded vigorously, "That makes sense. If you calculate it this way, using troops against Fujian won't actually cost much?"
"Actually, there is still money to be made... Fujian's tea is good!" Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Fang Guozhen has opened up routes to Japan and Goryeo. To do business, we only need to increase the price of tea and silk three times, and it will be worth it.
Consumed."
"three times?"
Li Shanda was shocked, "Prime Minister Zhang, is this possible? What if the two countries are unwilling?"
"Then put them on the list of Yuan Ting's lackeys and announce the elimination of the Chinese system. The Ming Dynasty will send a large army to conquer them. When the country is destroyed and the family is destroyed, don't blame Ming Dynasty for being rude."
Li Shanchang's eyes widened... Isn't this just a robber? But if you think about it carefully, it's quite refreshing.
By the way, didn't Zhang Ximeng write an article in which he advocated not to torment your own people but to look outside? That's what he meant!
Sure enough, I am still too naive.
"So, what about other places?"
Zhang Ximeng laughed again and said: "Bazala Valmi of Yunnan still obeys the orders of the Yuan Dynasty and is nominally a minister of the Yuan Dynasty. In recent years, the Yuan Dynasty first unjustly accused Tuotuo, and then there were constant internal fights. After we killed Chahan, Bo Luotie
Mu'er died at the hands of Wang Baobao again. Now the Crown Prince has mobilized the generals to besiege Wang Baobao. As long as there is any brain left, you will feel that Yuan Ting has dug its own grave and is at the end of its rope."
"Moving forward now, there are definitely many civil and military officials in Yunnan who are committed to the Ming Dynasty. It will be relatively easy to march. If we wait and delay, if Yunnan becomes independent and establishes the Dali Kingdom, it will be difficult to attack."
Li Shanchang nodded, "Yes, that's what I mean. Yunnan is a far away place with overlapping mountains. The Tang Dynasty attacked the Nanzhao Kingdom and suffered heavy losses. Hundreds of thousands of people were buried in foreign lands... I originally thought Yunnan was not easy to fight and I was afraid.
Too much money and food was wasted. Now I heard what Prime Minister Zhang said, the key to conquering Yunnan is not the number of troops, but the timing! Now the Yuan Dynasty is in turmoil, with constant internal fighting, and Zala Valmi has no intention of self-reliance, which is exactly the most important thing.
Good timing.”
Li Shanchang couldn't help but rub his hands and said with a smile: "Chatting with Mr. Zhang is such a pleasure, clearing the clouds and seeing the sun! Well, what about Ming Yuzhen from Bashu? He has become independent!"
Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "He is indeed self-reliant, but as far as I know, Ming Yuzhen's health is not good. He is already very old, his ambition is gone, and he has to worry about his young son. What else can he do? More
What's more, as long as we can capture Yunnan, we can contain Bashu! At least half of it can be stabilized."
"Then, what's the remaining half?"
"Of course Feng Guo used them. As long as he captured Tongguan, marched into Guanzhong, stationed troops and horses in Hanzhong, and blocked both ends, Ming Yuzhen was like a bird, put into our cage, no matter how he tossed it
, can you still fly out?"
Li Shanchang nodded again, "High, really high! Prime Minister Zhang, you are really strategizing!" Lao Li calculated carefully, is there any omissions?
"Then only Wang Baobao is left. How is Prime Minister Zhang going to deal with him?"
Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "We will march through Shandong with a powerful army, advance by land and water, and take Dadu directly. We can probably follow Mao Gui's route. In addition, we can also ask Guan Duo and Zhang Dingbian who are still in Goryeo to send troops.
Enter Liaodong and contain the Yuan Dynasty."
"In short, although we are sending troops from multiple directions, the battlefield is very large, and it seems to consume a lot of money, but there are only two places we really have to fight... in the west, Tongguan, and in the east, Dadu! After careful calculation, the consumption will not be too much.
It's astonishing." Zhang Ximeng paused and then said: "Brother Li, actually you don't have to worry, there won't be a problem of being unable to fill the shortfall and having to pay for it with human life."
Li Shan took a deep breath, and his old face couldn't help but blush, "As long as Prime Minister Zhang is willing to protect you, I'm naturally not afraid."
Li Shanchang sat for a while, then stood up and left.
After he left, Jiang Nan came out carrying a red gold longevity lock and threw it heavily in front of Zhang Ximeng.
"This Li Shanchang has nothing to do to be attentive. What does he mean by giving this to me?"
Zhang Ximeng laughed loudly, reached out to pick up the longevity lock from the table, and looked at it carefully. It was quite strong and not damaged. Then he laughed and said: "You still don't understand? He didn't give it to our son, he was clearly giving it to him.
I asked for it myself!”
"To himself? Did he commit a crime?" Jiang Nan immediately became energetic. It can also be called an occupational disease attack.
Zhang Ximeng thought for a moment, shook his head and said: "Li Shanchang may not be involved, but he is a man with a long nose and is good at smelling. I guess he knows something about the situation and is using a large number of troops this time. If it breaks out, the lord will come back to settle the score with him.
, Xianggong Li’s head may not be able to remain on his neck.”
Jiang Nan lowered his eyelids, thought for a moment, and said: "That's right, His Majesty has often gone to war in these years, and even you are not in the capital. Li Shanchang has the final say in everything. This time it is like this again. I don't know what will happen.
What's going on?"
Zhang Ximeng's smile did not diminish, and he suddenly said: "Who did you listen to, that the Lord will personally lead the troops this time? If the Lord does not leave, how will Li Shanchang make the decision?"
"What?" Jiang Nan was shocked, "It's impossible! Hundreds of thousands of troops are being mobilized, and His Majesty won't be relieved if he doesn't follow! No matter what, he will march in person!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Zhang Ximeng couldn't help laughing, "You underestimated my lord, and you underestimated our Ming Dynasty! Don't worry, my lord won't leave this time. He wants to stay in Yingtian, and with so many soldiers and horses dispatched, he can only stay in Yingtian."
Only God can make micro-control in time."
Jiang Nan still couldn't believe that Zhu Yuanzhang could actually trust hundreds of thousands of troops to go on an expedition. Who gave him the confidence?
At this moment in the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was lying on the ground, and Zhu Laosi was riding on his father's back wantonly, shouting incessantly.
Empress Ma came over and couldn't help but said: "It's the fourth person who is a grinder! Have fun! I don't know when we will meet next time."
Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting on the ground, smiled and said casually: "My sister, I have a different idea. This time we want to stay in the capital and not leave!"