When he heard the news that the Tatars attacked Hetao and defeated Baoyin, Zhu Zhanji only moved slightly and said in a calm tone: "Isn't the Duke of Zhen Guo anxious now?"
"Haha, I haven't seen him express his position in front of the emperor, but I think he must be very anxious." Yang Shiqi showed a clear smile and said: "He is rather embarrassed about this matter. Even if he wants to trick others, he has to lie to others."
"Yeah." Zhu Zhanji responded and asked, "What do the bachelors think?"
"In my humble opinion, these soldiers must be sent out." Yang Shiqi obviously had a plan in advance and said slowly: "The Tatars have developed too fast in the past few years. If they are allowed to get the Hetao again, they will have the ability to unify Eastern and Western Mongolia.
The abilities of each department. By then I will have the Ming Dynasty on my back, and it will be even more difficult to deal with them!"
"That's the truth," Zhu Zhanji looked at Yang Shiqi with a deep look and said, "Who do you think, the bachelor, should be the commander-in-chief?"
"The Duke of Zhenguo." Yang Shiqi said every word.
"Wang Xian?" Zhu Zhanji immediately frowned and said: "He is already too powerful. If he is allowed to lead an army again and accomplish the feat of defeating the Mongols, should the court give him a royal title and add nine tins to it?
?”
"Your Highness is very worried," Yang Shiqi's expression remained calm and he whispered to Zhu Zhanji: "But the emperor's dragon body will fall at any time..."
"This..." Zhu Zhanji was startled when he heard this. The light in his eyes disappeared briefly, and then he fell into a long silence...
Forbidden City, in the imperial hall of Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Gaochi and Wang Xian were sitting opposite each other. Compared with three years ago, Emperor Hong Xi was much older. His face looked dark, his breath was weak, and his right hand could not help but tremble slightly... In the past three years, Emperor Hong Xi
The people were diligent in listening to the government, and everything was taken care of every day. This naturally caused great damage to the already weak dragon body. As a result, the emperor suffered two strokes in three years. Although he recovered each time, he still
It is inevitable that there will be sequelae.
In addition to the fact that his body began to lose control, what was more serious was that the emperor also had some problems with his memory and thinking. Sometimes he could not remember the names of ministers, and sometimes the orders he issued were inconsistent. Fortunately, Wang Xianhe and the cabinet continued to help.
The pot was replenished without causing any trouble.
But the emperor's health is naturally the empire's top secret. So far, the only people who know Zhu Gaochi's true condition are Wang Xianhe, the bachelor of the cabinet, and the eunuchs at his side, a total of less than ten people.
Wang Xianze can't see much change. In addition to his calmer demeanor and calmer eyes, his appearance is the same as three years ago. But this is normal. After all, he, like Zhu Zhanji, is in his best years.
.
"Zhongde, you didn't express your position on the Loop before, can you say it now?" Zhu Gaochi coughed twice and asked Wang Xiandao.
"Back to the emperor, I believe that the Hetao must be saved." Wang Xian said solemnly: "Once the Hetao is lost, the Tatars' strength will be greatly enhanced. What's more serious is that the Great Wall of Datong and Xuanhua will become the front line, which is far away from the capital.
In less than a hundred miles, our capital of the Ming Dynasty will be under the threat of the Tatar cavalry, and the Ming Dynasty will never have peace!"
"Yes." Zhu Gaochi nodded in agreement and sighed: "When my father moved the capital to Beijing, I was very opposed to it. This is what I am worried about."
"The late emperor wanted to use Beijing as the base camp for the northward march. Naturally, the closer it is to the front line, the better." Wang Xian nodded and continued in a deep voice: "Since the capital of the country is set in Beijing, we must use offense instead of defense and must not lose it.
Loop!"
"Hey..." Zhu Gaochi sighed again, and then fell into silence with a dull expression. Wang Xian knew that the emperor had a mental disorder again, so he had to wait for him to come to his senses.
After a while, Zhu Gaochi's eyes focused again, but they did not fall on Wang Xian, but plunged into the deep void, as if saying to himself: "We can't wait to return to Nanjing."
When Wang Xian heard this, he couldn't help but sighed secretly, thinking that the emperor had been obsessed with the idea of returning the capital. In fact, as soon as Zhu Gaochi came to the throne, he had the idea of returning the capital to Nanjing, just because it cost more than tens of millions to move the capital at one time, and the court at that time
It's simply unaffordable. In addition, there are many more pressing matters that need to be resolved urgently, so I have to suppress them.
In the following years, the emperor tried to bring up the matter several times, but was dissuaded by the cabinet ministers who said that the country had initially been decided and he could not bear to bother again. However, as the emperor's body deteriorated, especially after two strokes, this idea was dissuaded.
It has become more and more intense, and I can no longer suppress it.
Regarding the matter of returning the capital to Nanjing, Wang Xian and the prince had the same opinion at that time, and neither wanted to move the capital to Beijing. But now, his attitude has changed...
Seeing that the emperor was bringing up old matters again, Wang Xian had no choice but to cough lightly and remind him: "Your Majesty, if we move the capital at this time, wouldn't it just increase the arrogance of the Mongols? The entire north will be in crisis."
"Hey, I was just talking casually..." Zhu Gaochi came back to his senses and said with a self-deprecating smile: "I was just talking casually, you don't need to take it to heart." He looked at Wang Xian and hesitated.
He said at once: "Where are you talking about?"
"The emperor just asked me if I want to save Hetao." Wang Xian said softly: "If I return to the emperor, Hetao will be saved."
"Hmm..." Zhu Gaochi nodded and said, "That's what I mean too. Hetao must be saved, and this is the first battle of the Hongxi Dynasty. I won't allow defeat."
"Yes." Wang Xian nodded in agreement. Once this battle fails, the authority that the emperor has so easily established will collapse. Those princes and nobles whose interests have been harmed in the reform will inevitably take the opportunity to counterattack and destroy the situation of Hong Xi's reform.
Smashed!
"So I don't trust others to go," Zhu Gaochi looked deeply at Wang Xiandao: "I can only let you lead the army."
"This..." Wang Xian pondered for a moment, then accepted the emperor's appointment and said: "I will obey the decree."
"Okay!" Zhu Gaochi didn't expect Wang Xian to accept it so happily. He thought it would take a lot of talking to persuade him to accept this job... After all, with Wang Xian's current status and situation, he doesn't seek merit but seeks no fault.
It was the choice that best served his interests. The emperor couldn't help but joked: "It seems that you take that confidante very seriously."
"Your Majesty is joking." Wang Xian said seriously: "I am willing to lead troops to conquer Hetao, not for personal gain or personal gain, but purely for the sake of the country and the country."
"Haha... I made a mistake." Zhu Gaochi smiled and waved his hands and said, "I am like this now. Sometimes I don't speak well. Don't take it to heart."
"I'm scared." Wang Xian lowered his head and said softly.
"How many troops do you expect to need?" Zhu Gaochi coughed suddenly and rapidly, and the look of defeat on his face became more obvious. The eunuch on the side hurriedly gave the emperor the soup. The emperor took a few sips, suppressed the cough, and rinsed with sugar water.
Rinse your mouth and wipe your mouth with a white towel.
"Your Majesty, why don't we discuss it another day?" Wang Xian said softly after the emperor calmed down.
"No, military information waits for no one." Zhu Gaochi waved his hand and returned to the topic: "How many troops do you need?"
"Of course, the more the army, the better." Wang Xian replied in a deep voice: "In all the Northern Expeditions of the Ming Dynasty, the number of troops was never less than 100,000. The same is true this time. Only with more than 100,000 infantry and cavalry can we be invincible."
"One hundred thousand, that's too much..." Zhu Gaochi frowned and said, "Although the national treasury has some surplus in recent years, there are more places to spend money. We can't wipe out all our wealth in one battle." Zhu Gaochi was concerned about the situation of the national treasury.
If you know it, you know that although the Ming Dynasty can now afford an expedition of 100,000 troops, no one can guarantee that this kind of war will end as scheduled. Once the war is delayed, the cost will increase exponentially, and it is likely that the court will not be able to bear it.
Moreover, Zhu Gaochi wanted to return the capital to Nanjing, so naturally he did not want to spend all his money on war...
"At least 80,000 are needed, 50,000 cavalry and 30,000 infantry." Wang Xian sighed and could only take a step back.
"I can give you 50,000 cavalry." Zhu Gaochi pondered for a long time, then nodded and said, "If we have 30,000 infantry, we won't be able to send troops to the grassland, right?"
"Infantry is used to escort grain, grass and baggage." Wang Xian explained softly: "Once the battle line goes deep into the grassland, the supply line will be very long and must be protected by heavy troops."
"That's right..." Zhu Gaochi thought for a while and asked tentatively: "What if we don't go deep into the grassland? Just drive the Tatars out of the Loop so that they don't dare to come back again."
"Your Majesty, the Tatars are wolves. They drove them away and came back next year. It is useless if they are not maimed or frightened." Wang Xian said in a deep voice: "Excuse me, Your Majesty, is it Nian Nian?
Is it more cost-effective to send troops into a heap, or is it more cost-effective to ensure peace for ten years at a time?"
"Of course it's the latter..." Zhu Gaochi was persuaded by Wang Xian, and then asked worriedly: "Then, how long will it take for the 80,000-strong army to regroup?"
"?, I can't answer the emperor." Wang Xian slowly shook his head and said: "The battlefield is changing rapidly, especially the Mongols coming and going like the wind. Once they are allowed to flee deep into the grasslands, or even into the desert, I am afraid they will not be able to withdraw their troops within the year.
Already."
"Oh..." Zhu Gaochi wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and said with a grimace: "Zhongde, don't delay this year! We must withdraw our troops before winter! Otherwise..." The emperor originally wanted to say, otherwise I
I couldn't afford it, but I felt that it was too shameful to say this, so I changed my words and said: "Otherwise, when the weather gets cold and the ground freezes, not only many soldiers will freeze to death."
"I understand." Wang Xian nodded and said resolutely, "But Your Majesty, there is no need to worry too much. The man was wrapped in horse leather and died a worthy death!"
"Hey, you promise me that you will return to the court before winter, otherwise I won't be able to send out this army." Zhu Gaochi insisted on Wang Xian making this promise.
"Okay, I agree." Wang Xian had no choice but to nod and said, "Return to the army before winter."
"Okay, okay." Zhu Gaochi felt relieved and coughed twice: "Hurry up and prepare to send troops. In half a month, I will go to the countryside to bid farewell to the army."
"I obey the order." Wang Xian stood up, saluted and left.