Chapter 27 Emperor Yongle: Gave Xia Yuanji’s family to me!
Jianwen Time and Space.
Prince Yan's Mansion, study room.
Zhu Di stood at the threshold, looking at the familiar things around him, in a daze.
When I think back to what I experienced just an hour ago, it feels like a big dream.
However, the chestnuts in his sleeves and the half-retained cigar told him that everything really happened.
'The immortal master's method can actually make me meet people from the past. I'm really amazed.'
Zhu Di, who finally came to his senses, looked towards the study, and a figure sitting in black came into his eyes.
'Um?'
'The master hasn't left yet.'
'That's good. You don't have to wait until tomorrow. You can pass on the immortal master's words to him now.'
Zhu Di stepped inside and came to Monk Dao Yan. He looked up and down at this master in black who had been encouraging him to rebel for more than ten years, and couldn't help but sigh.
"A master is a master. It is rare in the world to reach such a state of concentration."
The words just fell out.
"Ha...huh~, ha...huh~, ha..."
Snoring came from Daoyan's nose.
……………………
Yongle time and space, the nineteenth year of Yongle.
Shuntian Mansion (formerly known as Beiping), the Forbidden City's Yangju Hall.
At the end of autumn, the cool breeze blew and the afternoon sun shone brightly. The sixty-one-year-old Yongle Emperor, Zhu Di, was eating afternoon tea cakes. He frowned more and more as he looked at the folds presented by Liu Bu.
Suddenly, a little eunuch bowed his body and walked in on brisk steps.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Xia, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, has an audience outside."
When Old Zhu Si heard that it was Xia Yuanji, he nodded on the table.
The little eunuch understood what he was saying, and then he pinched his throat and stood up straight.
"Xuan, the Minister of Household Affairs, Xia Yuanji, comes to see you...!"
As soon as the roll call ended, a short and thin old man wearing a crimson official robe walked in. After saluting, Xia Yuanji spoke directly.
"I sincerely request your Majesty to take back the order of the Northern Expedition!"
A few days ago, during Yongle's second Northern Expedition, Arutai, who was confused by Old Zhu Si, once again went crazy with poverty and led his troops to plunder the border of the Ming Dynasty. This news reached the ears of Lao Zhu Si, who made him angry that night.
He didn't even eat anything, and without saying a word about the traitors, he issued an order to the Sixth Army to attack Mobei again next spring.
During the Yongle period, Zhu Di personally conquered Mobei five times, and the results of the first two were extremely impressive.
During the first Northern Expedition, Zhu Di led his army deep into Mobei and annihilated 50,000 elite Mongolian cavalry, prompting the Tatars of Mongolia to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, which established the power of the Ming Dynasty in one fell swoop;
The second time, the Ming army had the largest peak showdown in history with Mongolia at Hulan Huwenwen. The Ming army invested a total of 500,000 troops, and Mongolia had about 300,000. This was almost all of Mongolia's wealth.
In this battle, the Ming army defeated Mongolia. After this battle, the Mongols had to walk around when they saw the Ming flag, and they did not dare to compete with it.
It was also during this second Northern Expedition that the prestige of the Ming Dynasty reached its peak. Emperor Yongle's name was so powerful that no one dared to disobey him when coming from all directions.
Through these two northern expeditions, the Ming Dynasty basically eliminated the threat of Mongolia in the north. Mongolia will not have the strength to launch a large-scale attack on the Ming army in the short term. As for the harassment of small forces, as long as the defense of the northern border is strengthened, it will not be a big problem.
During these two northern expeditions, Zhu Di also received support from the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty and the people of the world. The ministries gritted their teeth and ate pickles to collect military supplies.
However, seven years had passed since the second Northern Expedition, and as soon as the third Northern Expedition was announced, the six ministries wrote letters to advise.
The reasons are simple, nothing more than the following two.
First, the Arutai intrusion on the border this time was only a small-scale intrusion. There is no need to engage in such a large-scale personal expedition. Just strengthen the border defense. Moreover, the grassland ministries are weak. The Ming Dynasty should take this opportunity to cultivate with the people and accumulate
national power.
Second, Zhu Di is already over 60 years old this year. He has been ill frequently in recent years, and the desert north is cold and windy. If something happens, the foundation of the country will be shaken.
Third, the national treasury could no longer withstand the hardships. In order to support the North-South War during the Yongle period, taxes on the people had been increased several times, and there was already growing resentment among the people.
Old Zhu Si, who was reading the booklet, raised his head and glanced at Xia Yuanji.
"I have ordered the six ministries to discuss the Northern Expedition. I am not asking you whether you should fight, but asking you to prepare for the war needs of the Northern Expedition."
The implication is that I am not asking if you can do it, nor am I soliciting your opinion.
This domineering spirit is worthy of being called the Yongle Emperor.
Seeing that Lao Zhu Si was insisting on his own way, Xia Yuanji's face became ugly.
My heart was broken and I gave it all.
"If all the ministers of the imperial court obey His Majesty's orders, then they will all be flattering ministers."
As soon as these words came out, Lao Zhusi's face turned dark instantly, and he threw the folded piece of paper on the imperial case.
"You mean, if I don't listen to you, I will be a fool?"
Xia Yuanji opened his eyes and said he was blind. At this moment, he felt like he was possessed by Wei Zheng.
"I don't dare."
"Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Taizu Gao has advocated sharing the world with the people. During the Yongle period, wars were frequent, and taxes on the people became extremely heavy. If Your Majesty wants to follow Emperor Taizu Gao and share the world with the people, you should stop the Northern Expedition."
"As for Arutai's raid on the border, although I am not a member of the military department, I do know the art of war. It is just a petty ruckus. All we need is to reorganize the place and strengthen the border garrison. Why does your Majesty need to lead a large army to conquer it personally?"
After listening to this, Lao Zhu Si was silent for a while.
'What this old boy said actually makes sense.'
'But I am the emperor, how can I admit that I was wrong?!'
'Besides, if we admit it, we won't be able to fight this battle. We won't be able to destroy Alutai in my lifetime. Although I will die with regrets.'
After thinking for a moment, Lao Zhu Si spoke coldly.
"Are you saying that what I am doing now is a disservice to Taizu above and to the people below?!"
Xia Yuanji still looked like a dead pig who was not afraid of boiling water.
"I don't dare."
"You have dared!"
Lao Zhu Si slapped the imperial case fiercely and stood up, glaring at Xia Yuanji angrily.
"Here comes, fork out."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jin Yiwei rushed in, picked up Xia Yuanji and sent him out.
As soon as he reached the threshold, Zhu Di's roar caught up with him again.
"Password to the Jin Yiwei, go and seize Xia Yuanji's house for me!"
After doing this, Zhu Di slowly sat down, his chest heaving and he was out of breath.
And at this time.
Outside the hall, four figures walked in one after another. The first one was a fat man, then a bearded man, then a thin monkey, and finally followed by a tall and handsome young man.
The four of them first glanced at Xia Yuanji who was being forked out, shrunk their necks, and after entering the hall, they knelt down in a row and kowtowed.