Brother Zhu Youxiao

Chapter 585 Recovering the Western Regions
In March of the 19th year of Apocalypse, along with the Ming Army's Southern Route Army advancing into the Western Regions, Abu Lun led 12 troops from Turpan to surrender.

In half a month, Mangui successively surrendered eleven cities in the Turpan Khanate, and at the same time changed the names of the eleven cities one by one according to the handwriting instructed by Zhu Youjian before the expedition.

The names of various cities full of Mongolian and Huihui atmosphere have been changed back.

Hami was changed to Yizhou, Bican was changed to Puchang, Liucheng was changed back to Liuzhong, Turpan was changed back to Gaochang, and Toxun was changed back to Tianshan.

Chabili was changed back to Yanqi, and Tiemenguan remained unchanged for thousands of years.

But the remaining Talbugul was changed back to Kucha, Kuxian was changed back to Gumo, Barnyard City was changed back to Wensu, and Wuchi was changed back to Weitou.

At the same time as the name was changed, the Mangui soldiers were divided into two groups, one led by Li Guo and Zhu Fuju, from Turpan north to Luntai (Urumqi) in the Tang Dynasty, and then took the Tianshan North Road to advance to Bieshabali in advance.

The other route, led by Man Gui, continued to march westward towards Weitou City, preparing to recover Shule, Khotan and other places controlled by Lin Danhan.

At the same time, Cao Bianjiao and Li Dingguo of Yanran City also began to send troops as the central route army.

"Drive! Drive!"

"What..."

In the days of entering the summer, unlike the triumphant advance of the Ming army, Lin Danhan continued to play what he is best at in history... westward migration.

He moved 15 Yarkand Mongols westward from the twelve cities of Kashgar and Yarkand in the south of the Tianshan Mountains, and millions of cattle and sheep went to the Hezhong area of ​​Central Asia along the Wakhan Corridor.

The eight cities north of the Tianshan Mountains, including Bieshibali and Alimali, mixed with 26 tribes including Oala, Chahar, Harqin, and Khalkha, also began to move westward.

Sitting on so many troops, Lin Dan Khan's military strength has also been maintained at around [-].

But even so, he still didn't foolishly hit Da Ming, but watched Da Ming's actions all the time.

Almost when the Ming army arrived at Xingxing Gorge, Lin Danhan took his wife, children, and children from Bieshabali in the north of Turpan to Yilibali in the Yili River Valley.

After Abu Lun surrendered, Lin Dan Khan began to organize the southern Xinjiang tribe to move westward after a curse.

The southern border tribes were led by his 17-year-old son Ezhe and Subudi of Karaqin. There were 15 cavalry among the [-] tribes, and their goal was to rob the Fergana Valley of the Bukhara Khanate.

As for the 26 troops in northern Xinjiang, he personally led them. They were going to retreat to the Ili River Valley first to see if the Ming army would chase them.

If they will come after them, then they will continue to move westward, first destroy the Bukhara Khanate and the Kazakh Khanate, and then make plans with the strength of the entire two tribes.

"Zhu Youjian, I'll be back!"

Standing at the head of the city in Yilibali, the 46-year-old Lin Danhan was unwilling to vent his emotions in his heart, but he also tasted the sweetness from the westward move.

After moving westward, he discovered that whether it was Oala or Yarkand, Kazakhs, Bukhara...

The difficulty of attacking them lies in the long distance. Once they arrive with their army, they have almost no power to resist.

Although many people will be killed or injured, after annexing the opponent's tribe, he will soon grow stronger.

This feeling fascinates Lin Danhan, who has been beaten by Nurhachi, Huang Taiji, and Zhu Youjian in Northeast Asia. This is also the reason why he does not resist moving westward.

If I can't beat Zhu Youjian, can I still beat you?
With this in mind, Lin Dan Khan is going to move westward first to eat the territory and tribes of the former Golden Horde Khanate.

Of course, while he moved westward, the Ming army was also constantly recovering the former Han and Tang Dynasties.

The former Luntai has become a place where Mongols graze horses. When Li Guo arrived here and marched westward to recover Bieshabali, Zhu Fuju stayed here and built a camp, which will serve as the future seat of Luntai County.

When Li Guo arrived in Bieshabali, Lin Danhan's tribe had already moved westward, leaving them with only one burned city.

Li Guo ordered people to hang a wooden plaque of Tingzhou at the gate of the city, because this was once the seat of Tingzhou, the administrative center of the Beiting Protectorate of the Tang Dynasty.

After they finished these things, the time had come to the tenth day of April, and Cao Meng and Sun Shoufa from the north also led their troops south.

The soldiers and horses of the three routes were sent out together, and the victory reports were sent to the capital one by one.

But when Zhu Youjian got the good news on April [-]th, he couldn't help frowning.

Contrary to some mistakes in his estimation, Batur Huntaiji of Junggar did not surrender, but chose to move westward like Lin Danhan.

However, he only led his troops to migrate to the northern plains of the Kazakh hills west of the Irtysh River, and did not migrate too far.

On the contrary, it was Lin Danhan. When the Ming army arrived in Luntai County, he led people to run to Yilibali. When the Ming army arrived in Yilibali, he ran to Haiyali.

When the Ming army marched towards Hai Yali, this guy ran to the border of the Kazakh Khanate in one breath and robbed Tokmok and Julan City.

"It seems that Hutu Dun is determined not to fight us."

When the familiar voice sounded, Zhu Youjian nodded slightly, and then looked up at the person sitting in front of him who was also holding a military newspaper.

With a height of 1.9 meters, it is difficult for people to guess him and a civil servant. Fortunately, he is not an ordinary civil servant, but Sun Chuanting, who is known as one of the "southern grandchildren" by all officials.

Zhu Youjian sent him back to the capital, which is why Sun Chuanting failed to participate in the Western Expedition.

The reason why he was sent back to the capital was due to the situation in the north.

Since the beginning of spring, both Xiong Tingbi and Yuan Yingtai have submitted their speeches.

The two of them were already in their seventies, and with the years of involvement in the battlefield, their bodies could no longer bear it.

In order for the two of them to rest more, Zhu Youjian could only agree to their resignation, and at the same time recalled Sun Chuanting who wanted to stay in Uzbek for two years.

Not only Sun Chuanting was recalled, Hong Chengchou was also recalled at the same time, but he has too many things to be responsible for, and it may be difficult to return to Beijing within half a year.

In this regard, Zhu Youjian is also a little anxious, because bad news has been coming in this year.

Almost when Xiong Tingbi and Yuan Yingtai resigned, Bi Ziyan and Zhu Xieyuan's bodies couldn't bear it anymore.

Compared with Zhu Xieyuan, who is currently in charge of the Ministry of War, once Bi Ziyan, who has been managing the financial affairs of Daming for nearly 15 years, falls, then Zhu Youjian will suddenly have more things in his hands, which is why he recalled Sun Hong in advance.

If Xiaoxiyang didn't need people to be stationed, and Yingzhou would have to stabilize Qi for a few more years, I'm afraid Zhu Youjian would have recalled Wu Aheng and Yang Wenyue by now.

Therefore, looking at Sun Chuanting who arrived in the capital first, Zhu Youjian also said:
"I'm going to let Chen Qiyu be the minister of the Ministry of War, Dong Yingju the minister of the household, Sun Chengzong as the chief assistant of the cabinet, and Hong Chengchou the second assistant. What do you think?"

Zhu Youjian's original intention was to let Sun Chuanting earn a pen for the military exploits in the West, and then join the cabinet as a second assistant, and give him a marquis by the way.

The result seems a bit unrealistic now, the veterans are aging too fast, and the political veterans left by Daming Jiajing, Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng are about to be wiped out.

Among the officials in the Mesozoic Era, Sun Chuanting, Hong Chengchou, Wu Aheng, Yang Wenyue, Lu Xiangsheng, Chen Qiyu, Yang Sichang, Wang Qiaonian and others were not bad.

As for the new generation, Jin Xuan, Cheng De, Yan Yingyuan, Yan Yinshao, Du Yinxi, Sun Kewang, Xia Yunyi and others are not bad.

Among this group of people, only Hong Chengchou and Sun Kewang can be the pillars.

Sun Chuanting is also fine, but his temper and character, as the mainstay, may not be a good death...

Thinking of this, Zhu Youjian looked at Sun Chuanting, but Sun Chuanting didn't have any attitude, but nodded and said: "Your Highness has made arrangements, and I have no objection."

Seeing him like this, Zhu Youjian couldn't help frowning and talked about Zhu Ciran's affairs:
"Now that the Western Regions are about to be stabilized, I am also planning to transport many machines to the Western Regions."

"After three years, the area in the middle of the river will be stable."

"The prince is still young at the moment, even in three years' time, he will only be ten years old."

"I want you to enter the East Palace during this period of time and assist the prince more."

It is said to be an assistant, but in fact Zhu Youjian is forcing Sun Chuanting to stand in line.

Undoubtedly, Zhu Ciran is someone who can follow the rules. The more powerful he is, the stronger the rules established by Zhu You will be.

In contrast, his elder brother who likes to control the people may change many rules after he leaves.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youjian felt a little sad.

The relationship between the two brothers is there, and there is no such thing as a fight for "family property" between them.

But the problem is that the younger brother wants to put his own things in his elder brother's "home". No matter how beautiful the things are, they are not practical for the elder brother.

In this case, there is nothing wrong with the choice my brother makes.

But the problem is that Zhu Youjian does not allow his own things to be changed, because he knows how the gentry below will treat the common people once those things are changed.

Whether it is Zhu Youjian's name or profit, in short, his things cannot be changed by anyone.

Therefore, let Zhu Ciran stand out and be more powerful than the emperor, this is the best way to keep his things from being changed.

It's not that Zhu Youjian doesn't trust Zhu Youxiao, it's that this kind of thing has happened too many times in history.

This move may make Zhu Youxiao feel a little chilled, but the essence of Zhu Youjian is to let Zhu Youxiao live comfortably and carefree.

He cannot be a constitutional monarchy, but he can find another way.

Since Zhu Ciran's ability to govern is good, let him govern.

As for my elder brother, after he left with himself, he just played around with the more than 400 million taels of silver that he earns every year.

At this point, Zhu Youjian felt that he was sorry for the people, but he was not only the king of Qi in Ming Dynasty, but also Zhu Youxiao's younger brother.

"Your subordinate...take orders."

Sun Chuanting guessed Zhu Youjian's thoughts, and he also knew what would happen to him if Zhu Ciran failed to assist Zhu Ciran and his power was taken back by Zhu Youxiao.

However, even if he understood everything, he still chose to follow the path determined by Zhu You.

Just because this is the only way that benefits both the people and the world.

Even though he knew what the result of his failure would be, Sun Chuanting still chose this path, just as he chose to die in Tongguan in history.

"The next official will retire..."

After answering, Sun Chuanting slowly stood up.

Seeing this, Zhu Youjian also said to him: "The palace bought a house for you in Nanxunfang. It's not big, but it's convenient to enter and exit the palace."

"Thank you, sir..." Sun Chuanting bowed in response, then turned and left.

Seeing this, Wang Chengen personally sent him out of the mansion, and ordered someone to take him to the house of Bofu in Nanxunfang.

When I got into the carriage and walked out of Baiwangfang, I saw a wide and tidy street and an orderly environment.

Rubbing shoulders on the sidewalk, just entering the main road and walking a hundred steps, Sun Chuanting saw no less than a thousand people.

In the chat with Zhu Youjian just now, he learned that the current population of Beijing has exceeded 140 million.

140 million people are crowded in the four cities of Beijing, but the capital is so clean and tidy, not messy.

These benefited from the sanitation bureau established by Zhu Youjian, as well as sanitation workers.

Due to the age limit of over 50 years old, sanitation workers have become the first choice for the employment of the elderly in Daming.

In the past, at this age in Daming, there was no work to do except farming.

Right now, although sanitation workers need to walk back and forth, their wages are not very low, which is better and easier than farming.

"Sit like this, won't you be punished?"

Sun Chuanting looked at the sanitation worker sitting under the artificial tree on the sidewalk outside the window, and couldn't help asking the clerk of Qi Wangfu who was opposite.

The scribe followed the trend, then smiled and said:

"When King Qi said that there is no garbage, there is nothing wrong with resting. It always makes people walk around, which is against human nature."

"Each sanitation worker is responsible for one mile of street, as long as there are no more than [-] pieces of garbage on the street."

"As for the leaves and fallen flowers, they should be cleaned up before the end of the shift at Xushi, and just wait for the clerks in Fangshi to check."

The scribe's words are not difficult to understand, because the evening drum starts to sound at Xu time, and the whole city has a curfew after four quarters of Xu time, so basically no one will stay on the street.

Without people, naturally there will be no garbage.

After understanding this way, Sun Chuanting couldn't help but nodded, appreciating Zhu Youjian's actions that violated the "human nature" of the emperor, but he was also very sorry.

He wasn't sure if Daming would continue like this after Zhu Youjian left.

Everyone in Daming knows how the new policies he promulgated are useful or not.

Even those civil servants who write small essays for Zhu Youjian in the mansion every day, in fact, they are very aware of how good Daming is now.

Apocalypse flourishing age...

This was not promoted by the emperor, nor was it encouraged by civil officials and military generals, but by the people spontaneously.

Especially after the people in Shanxi continued to migrate, the speed of this spread began to get faster and faster.

Sun Chuanting remembered what Shanxi was like when he went home last time because of the severe drought.

But this time on the train back to Beijing, he deliberately got off to visit the places he had seen, and what he saw surprised him greatly.

The Shanxi people who used to eat pickled vegetables and rice now have more vegetables in their bowls, and some of them can still eat a few mouthfuls of meat dishes from time to time.

From a population of 780 million to more than 460 million, Shanxi has also become slightly richer after the migration of nearly half of the population.

Don't talk about the people's home environment, just talk about the meat in their bowls, which Sun Chuanting had never seen during the Wanli period.

In other words, even though all the severe droughts in the north were encountered, the people of the Tianqi Dynasty still had a better life than the [-] years after Wanli.

During the conversation with Zhu Youjian, Sun Chuanting also knew that Zhu Youjian planned to relocate more than 100 million people to the Western Regions, of which Hexi, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Henan were the main provinces for relocation.

With the relocation of more than 100 million people, the common people may suffer for a while, but they can enjoy peace for decades.

However, the premise of peace in the past few decades is that the policy will not be changed, and this requires Xiao Guicao to follow.

"Your Highness..."

Feeling the cleanliness and prosperity of the capital, Sun Chuanting also looked at the expression and eyes of Zhu Youjian asking him to assist Zhu Ciran in his mind.

Even a person like him who is foolishly loyal to Daming and the emperor is unavoidably shaken at this moment, and has the idea of ​​letting Zhu Youjian take the throne.

It's just that it just appeared this year, and it was driven out of my mind by Sun Chuanting.

"Uncle Zhenwu, your residence has arrived."

The carriage stopped slowly, and the clerk also opened the door with a smile, got out of the car first, and introduced Uncle Zhenwu's mansion to Sun Chuanting with a smile.

The area of ​​the uncle's mansion is not large. For an uncle, the uncle's mansion covers an area of ​​only two acres, and it can only accommodate twenty or thirty people.

Sun Chuanting's own family has four members, including no less than 20 followers.

This mansion was just enough for him to live in, but it was enough.

Zhu Youjian knew it very well, so Sun Chuanting was very satisfied with this mansion.

If the house was bigger, I'm afraid Sun Chuanting would have resigned.

Thinking of this, Sun Chuanting looked at the house with satisfaction, but at the same time, a carriage stopped at the gate of Uncle Zhenwu's mansion where the plaque had not yet been hung.

"Your Highness is a thousand years old!"

"Be flat."

Sun Chuanting was looking at his study when he suddenly heard a slightly immature voice.

When he walked out of the study room, he saw a young man of sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a golden round collar robe, with dark skin and a handsome appearance, walking in.

"Uncle Zhenwu, this is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."

The scribes of Prince Qi's Mansion rushed in to introduce Sun Chuanting, and Sun Chuanting heard the words, bowing unhurriedly:
"Chen Zhenwu Uncle Sun Chuanting, please refer to His Royal Highness, Your Highness is a thousand years old."

"Uncle Zhenwu, please get up." Zhu Ciran was startled by Sun Chuanting's height at first, but after reacting, he smiled and stepped forward to help Sun Chuanting.

It's a pity that since he is only five feet five feet tall, it is hard to help Sun Chuanting who is more than six feet tall.

Fortunately, Sun Chuanting made a gesture and got up, which didn't embarrass him too much.

"Uncle Zhenwu, you have just returned to the capital, and now you have lived in the capital for a few days to get used to it, and then go to the East Palace to teach me how to handle government affairs."

What Sun Chuanting's return represents, Zhu Ciran knows without Zhu Youjian's explanation.

Zhu Youjian is about to release the military power, and the person who will take over the military power is Zhu Ciran.

Zhu Ciran doesn't understand military affairs, and neither do Lu Yuangao, Zhang Xiu, Liu Shun, Sun Kewang, Du Yinxi and others around him, so he needs someone who understands military affairs by his side.

Sun Chuanting is undoubtedly the best candidate, and with his qualifications, he can also suppress the Northern Army and the Eastern Army.

Zhu Ciran understood this truth, so he tried his best to win over Sun Chuanting.

After the two exchanged a few simple greetings, Zhu Ciran left Zhenwu Bo's mansion with a smile.

When he returned to the carriage, Du Yinxi and Liu Shun were already waiting for him at the carriage door.

Seeing Zhu Ciran walk out, the two nervously asked, "How is Uncle Zhenwu's attitude?"

"It's okay, now we just need to look at Hong Chengchou's attitude." Zhu Ciran was very confident, but he didn't know that Hong Chengchou was not Sun Chuanting.

When he was confident, Zhu Youjian in the Chengyun Hall of Qi Wangfu was holding information about Hong Chengchou's latest movements.

"Your Highness, when Hong Chengchou returns to Beijing, the Crown Prince will be the backbone of the Western Army and the Southern Army. You should not have to worry."

In the hall, Cao Huachun came to add tea to Zhu Youjian and comfort him at the same time.

But in the face of his comfort, Zhu Youjian said calmly:

"Hong Chengchou is much more difficult than Sun Chuanting..."

"..." Zhu Youjian's words made Cao Huachun's hands pause, and he raised his head in doubt: "What does your Highness mean?"

Zhu Youjian didn't answer directly, but took a sip from the teacup, and said with deep meaning: "He is not as simple as you see..."

Zhu Youjian said this because he knew who Hong Chengchou was in his bones.

He can know because his own experience has been written down in history.

But if he doesn't know, and can only figure out who Hong Chengchou is from the experience of this life, then I'm afraid he will be tricked by Hong Chengchou just like Chongzhen.

Sun Chuanting's stupid loyalty destined that as long as the monarch is not too ridiculous, he will assist him wholeheartedly, so it is not a problem for Zhu Ciran to win him.

But Hong Chengchou is different, he has a firm memory of Emperor Zhu's harsh and ungrateful character.

If the person in the above position is not Zhu Youjian, then with his personality, after becoming a supreme minister, what he wants to think about is self-protection.

In Zhu Youjian's view, Hong Chengchou is a weakened version of Sima Yi with Jia Xu's ideas.

Therefore, facing Hong Chengchou, even Zhu Youjian dare not say that he can steadily suppress him.

If Hong Cheng returns to Beijing, it will not depend on how Zhu Ciran chooses Hong Chengchou, but on whether Hong Chengchou chooses Zhu Ciran.

What is the consequence of standing in line with Zhu Ciran, Sun Chuanting can know, but it is impossible for Hong Chengchou not to know.

So once he sided with Zhu Ciran, if Zhu Ciran could not overwhelm Zhu Youxiao, and Zhu Youxiao refused to delegate power, then Hong Chengchou would have to face the end of going home to farm.

For Sun Chuanting, it was nothing to go home and farm, but for Hong Chengchou, it was his life.

Under such circumstances, if Zhu Ciran was unable to show his ability, then Hong Chengchou would definitely choose to be neutral and serve as the emperor after Zhu Youjian left Daming.

With Hong Chengchou's scheming, once he joins the emperor, coupled with his background as a gentry, Zhu Youjian's New Deal may not be pushed back at all.

Therefore, in Zhu Youjian's view, Hong Chengchou is the most difficult person to deal with...

For this kind of difficult person, Zhu Youjian's consistent thinking is "If you can't handle it, then kill him first."

Zhu Youjian was unwilling to kill heroes, but that didn't mean he didn't dare to kill them.

Thinking of this, he picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea. At the same time, Wang Chengen also walked in with a red wedding invitation.

"Your Highness, the Invitation Card sent by someone from the palace in the inner court, the Crown Princess has already chosen..."

(End of this chapter)