Chapter One Thousand Five Hundred and Thirty-Nine: The Number One General in the World
Han Du explained, "Horses are important to cavalry, but if they are used to eat meat, they are not as good as cattle and sheep. Moreover, it only takes less than a year to raise a sheep from a lamb, and it only takes two years for a cow, but a horse takes
Four to five years. As long as we deliberately raise the prices of cattle and sheep, making it more cost-effective to raise cattle and sheep than to raise horses. Then does the emperor think that the Meng Yuan people would rather raise cattle and sheep or horses?"
Zhu Biao suddenly realized that the Ming Dynasty and the grassland started a mutual trade, exchanging grain for their cattle and sheep. Since the grassland tribes could survive by raising cattle and sheep, they would naturally choose to raise more cattle and sheep. There were more cattle and sheep.
, there are naturally fewer horses as there should be.
Without enough horses, how could the grassland tribes raise cavalry? Naturally, the threat to the Ming Dynasty no longer existed.
"It's a good idea, but I still need to think about this matter."
This matter is too important. If it is run well, as Han Du said, the grassland will no longer be a threat to the Ming Dynasty, and will even become a help to the Ming Dynasty. But if it is not run well, it is extremely easy to fall short.
Even though Zhu Biao was extremely excited, he had to be cautious.
After a pause, Zhu Biao said to Han Du, "This time you destroyed the Khan's court, defeated the Tatar Arutai, and suppressed the Oara. You have made outstanding achievements. I will definitely reward you and make you the Duke of the country based on your merits!"
Upon hearing this, Han Du quickly stood up and bowed respectfully, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"
"Hahaha, get up quickly." Zhu Biao helped Han Du up with his own hands and said with a smile, "Actually, with your merits, you have already been granted the title of Duke. My father wanted to leave this opportunity to me, so he kept suppressing it."
You didn’t seal it. Speaking of which, it’s me who is dragging you down. I hope you don’t blame me.” .??.??
Han Du hurriedly bowed humbly, "Your Majesty's words are serious. I have been lucky enough to receive the Emperor's grace. I dare not think about it anymore."
"That's good, go back and wait." Zhu Biao smiled and patted Han Du's arm.
There are many rituals involved in making a duke, and obviously they cannot be completed in one go.
First of all, Zhu Biao had to raise it in the court. Even if it was just a formality, he had to pretend to ask the officials for their opinions. Although Zhu Biao could also issue an edict and seal it directly, since he could do it more grandly
A little, so who would turn down a legitimate opportunity?
The next day, Zhu Biao raised the issue of Han Du's ennoblement in the court.
As expected, something unexpected happened. Even if Han Du led the Khan to destroy the Khan, defeated the Tatar Arutai, and suppressed the Oara, there were still some people who opposed it.
Among them, people led by Qi Tai stood up to oppose. The reason was also very simple, that is, Han Du was too young.
Han Du is only thirty-five years old this year. To quote Qi Tai, the feudal lord at such a young age is not
It will be beneficial to Han Du's future struggles. Qi Tai said that he did not object to Han Du's enthronement, but he hoped to delay it for a few years and make Han Du older, so that everyone in the world would have nothing to say.
If you are an ordinary person, you may not be able to see the ruthlessness of Qi Tai's move. On the surface, it seems reasonable. You, Han Du, are so young. What does it matter if you are granted the title of Duke two years later?
But Han Du knew that the matter of granting a crown was just like fighting a war. It was about one vigorous effort and then failing three times. If it was not successful the first time it was revealed, it would be almost impossible to grant a crown in the future.
Because people are jealous, I don't know how many pairs of eyes will be staring at you all day long, trying to find the slightest mistake in you, so that your road to becoming a prince will be aborted.
And this is Qi Tai's real sinister intention. As long as he stops Han Du from being granted the title of Duke today, it will be almost impossible for Han Du to be granted the title of Duke again for the rest of his life.
Of course, this reason was completely untenable, and was suppressed by Zhu Biao in an understatement.
At this point, the matter of Han Du's canonization was handed over to the Ministry of Rites to be carried out in accordance with etiquette procedures, and there was no possibility of changing it.
At the same time, the news that Handu had defeated the Tatars and Oaras on the grassland spread instantly like a hurricane.
The common people only thought that the Marquis of Zhenhai was very powerful, able to defeat the Tatars and Oaras one after another, and completely eliminate the threat from the grassland for the Ming Dynasty.
But when the news reached the generals, they were all shocked and dumbfounded. Only those who have been to the grassland and fought will know how difficult the grassland tribes are and how difficult it is to defeat the Tatars and Oaras.
A glittering name was gradually placed on Han Du's head, the number one general in the world!
A few days later, the entire army finally crossed the Yangtze River.
But at this time, the incident of Handu offering sacrifices to Genghis Khan was leaked by someone unknown.
Immediately in the morning, a censor took advantage of this to challenge Han Du, demanding a strict investigation into the matter and giving an explanation to the people of the world.
Han Du was allowed to rest at home by Zhu Biao and did not know what happened in the morning.
After Tang Ding left the morning court, he didn't even return home and went directly to Han Mansion.
Seeing Tang Ding rush in anxiously, Han Du poured him tea and teased, "I'm a little flattered that you came to see me so soon."
Soup
Ding, however, had no intention of joking with Han Du. Before he could catch his breath, he asked anxiously, "Let me ask you, have you ever worshiped Genghis Khan on the banks of the Onan River?"
Han Du's hand holding the teapot froze immediately, then he put his trust in the teapot and nodded with a smile, "Yes, what's the problem?"
"The problem is big!" Tang Ding immediately rushed to Han Du's side anxiously and stared at him. "You are the Marquis of Zhenhai of the Ming Dynasty. How can you go to sacrifice to Genghis Khan? Now there is a censor impeaching you, saying that you are devoted to Xiang Yuan.
I want the emperor to punish you."
Han Du snorted coldly, and said with a downcast expression, "It's simply nonsense. My heart is for the Qian Yuan? I just wiped out the Tatars and Oats. Is there anyone with such a heart for the Qian Yuan?" .??.?
?
Tang Ding sighed earnestly, "I know you can't do it, but now you have to explain it clearly to the officials and let them know that you can't do it! Especially those in Qitai, they have been waiting for this opportunity for too long, you
Do you think they will give up easily?"
After a pause, he continued, "You should think carefully about how to explain it to the officials now."
Han Du glanced at Tang Ding, and his expression gradually became serious. This matter cannot be underestimated. If Qi Tai and others did not fan the flames, it would not cause any disturbance. But with them here, I am afraid that even Wu Feng will cause a stir.
wave.
Just as Han Du was thinking about countermeasures, a butler, Uncle Wu, came to report, "Master Marquis, someone is coming from the palace."
Tang Ding stood up immediately and said, "It's probably the emperor who wants to ask you clearly. You'd better go to the palace to explain. I won't delay you."
"Okay, let's talk about old times another day." Han Du nodded.
Han Du met the eunuch.
The eunuch took a step forward, bowed and said, "My servant pays homage to the Marquis. Your Majesty has summoned me, and I also ask the Marquis to follow your servant into the palace immediately."
Han Du didn't say much, nodded and followed the eunuch to Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Biao, who rarely reviewed the memorial, was pacing anxiously back and forth in front of the imperial court with his hands behind his back.
"Your Majesty, Marquis Zhenhai is here." Wang Yue saw Han Du standing at the entrance of the palace and whispered to the emperor quickly.
"Quick pass." Zhu Biao quickly reached out to Wang Yue to signal.
"The Emperor has an edict to announce Han's visit~"
Han Du walked into the palace with his head lowered and bowed, "Your Majesty, Han Du, pays homage to the Emperor!"
"Come and sit down." Zhu Biao first ordered the eunuch at the door, and then asked quickly, "I want to ask you, have you ever worshiped Genghis Khan on the banks of the Onan River?"
Han Du sat on Jindun and clicked
nod.
Zhu Biao was suddenly discouraged and said with great regret, "Why are you sacrificing him?"
Han Du smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the former Yuan Dynasty is also the world's orthodoxy recognized by the late emperor. Although I am a minister of the Ming Dynasty, there should be no problem in offering sacrifices to the former dynasty's orthodoxy, right?"
Zhu Biao nodded first, then shook his head, "That's what I said, but now some people think that the Ming Dynasty is different from the Yuan Dynasty, and you shouldn't offer sacrifices."
Han Du sneered, "Haha, Your Majesty, on the contrary, I think the Ming Dynasty should not be so clearly separated from the Yuan Dynasty. Since the Ming Dynasty inherited the orthodoxy of the Yuan Dynasty, why should the Han people and the Mongolian Yuan people be so clearly distinguished?"
Zhu Biao suddenly noticed something in Han Du's words and couldn't help but ponder, "What do you think?"
Han Du cleared his throat and said, "I have a question. Does the emperor think the Ming Dynasty can completely wipe out the Mongolian people on the grassland?"
Zhu Biao suddenly let out a long sigh and said, "Although I also want to do it, thousands of years have proven that it is impossible."
Han Du nodded, "Since it is impossible to completely eliminate the Meng Yuan people, then the Ming Dynasty has to get along with them. The emperor thinks it is better to get along with each other as enemies as they are now, or to integrate the Meng Yuan people into the Ming Dynasty." good?"
"What do you mean?" Zhu Biao asked tentatively, as if suddenly enlightened.
Han Du did not explain, but continued, "I think it is nothing for me to sacrifice to Genghis Khan, and the emperor should sacrifice to Genghis Khan to win the hearts of all the Mongolian people!"
"Win the heart of Yuanren?" Zhu Biao murmured to himself.
He has never thought about this problem. The Ming Dynasty has always had a conquest attitude towards the Mongols. When Lao Zhu was here, he wanted to comb through the grassland every few years through constant conquest, like a comb. , to prevent the Mongolian people from growing stronger again.
After Zhu Biao came to the throne, although his views on the grassland were not as strong as those of Zhu Biao, they were generally similar. Even if he agreed to trade with the Mongolians, it was only based on Lemi's ideas.
Now, Han Du gave him another opinion.
"Can this really win the hearts of Yuan people?" Zhu Biao was a little moved.
After Han Du pondered for a moment, he said, "I'm not sure whether I can accept it. But I think it would be better if the emperor did it than not. Genghis Khan has the supreme status in the hearts of the Mongolian people. If the emperor can sacrifice him, at least he can
Resolve the hostility of the Mongolian people towards the Ming Dynasty. If we cooperate with mutual trade and let the Mongolian people have food to eat, maybe we can really eliminate this intimate problem once and for all."