The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

As Emperor Longwu's soft yet weighty "Granted" echoed through the hall.

This court assembly, which determined the direction of national policy, has finally come to an end.

The morning assembly ended before even Chenshi (7-9 AM).

The sunlight outside the hall was already bright, but not yet harsh.

Chen Wang strode out of Chengtian Gate.

On the square in front of Chengtianmen, many officials' carriages were still parked there, and a group of sedan chair bearers and grooms were sitting or standing, chatting in a corner.

Several horses harnessed to cars impatiently trotted their hooves, making a crisp sound on the bluestone slabs.

The atmosphere in the square changed instantly upon seeing Chen Wang, dressed in a python robe.

The attendants who had been chatting idly by the carriage fell silent, lowering their heads in unison, not daring to look directly at the powerful Duke of Yan.

In stark contrast to the scattered official vehicles, hundreds of fully armed Jingnan soldiers stood solemnly in the center of the square.

These elite armored soldiers were as silent as an iron forest, all dressed in bright armor and wearing bright helmets adorned with red tassels.

Everyone maintained the same posture, one hand on the hilt of the sword at their waist, and the other hand steadily holding the reins.

They stood in the square outside Chengtianmen for as long as the court assembly lasted.

The warhorses beside them stood quietly in place, only occasionally flicking their tails or snorting softly.

As Chen Wang walked to the front of the formation, all the armored soldiers of the Jingnan Army lowered their heads. Zhao Huailiang, wearing full armor, stepped out of the formation and led his mount to meet them alone.

"You've worked hard, Duke."

Chen Wang nodded slightly and took the reins from Zhao Huailiang's hand.

Without much delay, Chen Wang put his foot on the stirrup, and with a slight effort, he leaped onto the saddle of his warhorse and gave the order.

“Return to the capital.”

"Follow the order!"

Hundreds of Jingnan soldiers responded in unison, and in an instant they all mounted their horses, their movements as fluid as if they had practiced a thousand times.

The guards quickly split into several lines, with the front line clearing the way and the rear line protecting Chen Wang, surrounding him in the center.

Zhao Huailiang also mounted another warhorse and stood guard on Chen Wang's right.

Although the entire city of Nanjing is now under the control of Pingnan Town, the Imperial Guard Division has taken over the defense of most important areas.

The Intelligence Division's operations in Nanjing were extremely secretive.

However, one should always be wary of others, and Chen Wang still reduced the strength of his guards by half.

In the southern country today, there are quite a few people who want him dead.

Chen Wang has no children yet, and Chen Gong has been sent to the grasslands by Chen Wang.

Once Chen Wang dies, the Jingnan Army faction will be leaderless, giving them more room to maneuver.

It was precisely because he understood this that Chen Wang was extremely concerned about his own safety.

Chen Wang replaced almost all the patrol teams with soldiers from the Imperial Guard Division.

Zhao Huailiang led his warhorse, riding alongside Chen Wang, and reported.

"Jiang Xiang led his troops south and has already recovered the entire territory of Shanxi. Now, as ordered, he has stationed 40,000 troops in the Puzhou area."

After reductions, the troops in Datong and Xuanfu garrisons numbered over 30,000.

Jiang Xiang raised an army to kill Tian Wenxiu and also annexed the Shun army under Tian Wenxiu's command, eventually gaining 50,000 soldiers.

In preparation for attacking Tongguan, Li Zicheng had concentrated all his elite troops in the Tongguan area, leaving very few soldiers in Shanxi.

Except for the recapture of Taiyuan, which required some effort from Jiang Xiang, the rest of the territory was pacified without bloodshed, simply by sending proclamations along the way.

Jiang Xiang left some defenses in important towns and advanced southwest.

At this point, Li Zicheng had indeed realized the situation. He dispatched his general Liu Tichun, along with generals Xie Zikuai and Zhang Miaoshou, to lead 50,000 troops across the river into Shanxi to resist Jiang Xiang.

Seeing that Jiang Xiang's troops were exhausted and his generals were depleted as he led his army south, Liu Tichun mobilized all his troops to attack.

A major battle broke out between the two armies and Linjin, Pingyang Prefecture, Shanxi.

The Shun army, having rested and prepared for the enemy's exhaustion, found Jiang Xiang's troops, weary from their journeys, at a disadvantage.

Jiang Xiang's army was even defeated and scattered by the Shun army, but Liu Tichun made the mistake of underestimating the enemy and advancing rashly at this time.

Seeing that Jiang Xiang's army was routed at the front, Liu Tichun personally led his armored cavalry forward, intending to annihilate Jiang Xiang's entire army in one fell swoop.

Liu Tichun's actions were similar to those of most generals in the Ming Dynasty, who often personally led their personal guards and elite cavalry as the vanguard, which became the reason for the tipping of the scales.

Wang Fuchen led 500 elite cavalrymen into the Shun army's formation. He was incredibly brave and invincible, and those who stood in his way were defeated. He killed five Shun generals in succession and advanced all the way to Liu Tichun's banner.

In his panic, Liu Tichun could only halt his military advance and launch a full-scale attack.

Taking advantage of the situation, Jiang Xiang led his troops in a surprise attack, and the Shun army suffered a great defeat.

Then, riding the wave of his great victory, Jiang Xiang won seven battles in a row, and the Shun army's deputy general, Scorpion Kuai, was actually killed by Wang Fuchen.

Helpless, Liu Tichun had no choice but to lead his troops back to the Hexi region.

From then on, Jiang Xiang was able to lead his troops to Puzhou.

"Jiang Xiang and Wang Fuchen are both notable figures..."

Chen Wang gently pressed the reins, slowing the horse down.

Wang Fuchen lived up to his posthumous reputation; given time, he would definitely be no less than top cavalry generals like Chen Gong and Cao Bianjiao.

The vast deserts of the Western Regions will become his renowned places in the future.

Jiang Xiang is fickle and morally flawed, but if managed properly, he can easily expand the territory.

However, once the war is over, it would be best for Jiang Xiang to be recalled to the capital to oversee things.

"Li Zicheng should have retreated by now, right?"

Chen Wang narrowed his eyes slightly and asked.

"The Duke of Guo has a keen eye for detail. After Jiang Xiang led his troops to Bozhou, the Shun army, fearing the threat from their flank, has already retreated from Tongguan and temporarily moved to the Huayin area."

Zhao Huailiang lowered his head slightly and replied.

Chen Wang wasn't particularly surprised.

As the warhorse rose and fell, Chen Wang's figure rose and fell with it, and a map of the entire Northwest gradually appeared in his mind.

Li Zicheng's current strength is simply incomparable to that of the rebel king who swept across the Central Plains in history.

Now Li Zicheng only occupies the territory of Shaanxi province, which can be described as a cornered beast fighting desperately.

Originally, Li Zicheng wanted to capture Hanzhong Prefecture, but he was defeated several times by Hu Zhiyi in Hanzhong Prefecture and dared not attack again.

Then they could only find another way to conquer Sichuan.

With the help of the Khoshut Khanate and the Qiang chieftains, they barely managed to occupy western Sichuan and seize the Chengdu Plain.

But that was the end of it; there was no further progress.

Although Li Zicheng now claims to have 300,000 troops, in reality, only about 100,000 are truly capable of fighting.

Li Zicheng's truly reliable main force numbered only about 40,000 men. The rest of his troops consisted of Qiang cavalry, Mongol cavalry from the Khoshut Khanate, and some surrendered soldiers from the three border regions.

The rest of the troops were mostly conscripted by Li Zicheng from various places. They had short training days, lacked military equipment, and were weak in combat.

Now, Tian Jianxiu has been killed by Jiang Xiang, and Li Zicheng has lost an arm. Liu Tichun has also suffered a defeat at Linjin, losing many soldiers and generals.

All of this information was clearly understood by the Shaanxi Intelligence Division and was handed over to Chen Wang.

Li Zicheng's control over local areas was even weaker, and his intelligence operations in Shaanxi were subject to almost no restrictions or targeting.

Many prefectures and counties were still governed by the original Ming Dynasty officials, making it difficult to implement their policies.

Such a rule is like a fortress built on quicksand; it may seem majestic, but it can collapse at the slightest push.

"In Sichuan..."

Zhao Huailiang wanted to continue reporting, but before he could finish speaking, Chen Wang raised his hand, stopping Zhao Huailiang from saying anything more.

"The situation in Sichuan is not important."

"The Shun army's base is entirely in Shaanxi. Once Shaanxi is captured, the Shun army in Sichuan will be nothing but a rootless duckweed, unable to stir up much trouble."

Chen Wang was very clear about the strategy that would follow.

The situation in Sichuan remains deadlocked. The Chengdu Plain is occupied by the Shun army, the six Pacification Commissions control eastern Sichuan, and Hou Liangzhu holds the passes in southern Sichuan, firmly controlling the gateway to Yunnan and Guizhou.

"I remember that before our Northern Expedition, there was already unrest in Yunnan. What's the situation now?"

In recent days, Chen Wang has been arranging affairs in the South, having previously been preparing for the Northern Expedition, and has had no time to attend to the Southwest.

Upon hearing Chen Wang mention Yunnan, Zhao Huailiang frowned slightly and reported.

"In early March, Wu Bikui, the chieftain of Wuding, took the opportunity to rebel. The rebel army captured three cities in succession: Dayao, Dingyuan, and Yao'an, which shocked the whole of Yunnan."

"However, shortly thereafter, Mu Tianbo mobilized the tribes of Long Zaitian, the chieftain of Shiping; Wang Yangzu, the chieftain of Xi'e; and Sha Dingzhou, the chieftain of Mengzi, and by mid-April, the rebellion had been quelled, and Wu Bikui and his followers had been captured alive."

Zhao Huailiang sighed and said.

"In Yunnan, although we had informed the Mu family in advance that Sha Dingzhou harbored rebellious intentions, the Mu family remained skeptical."

"As the Duke had predicted, the chieftain's army, led by Sha Dingzhou and his wife, remained in Kunming even after the Wu Bi Kui rebellion had been quelled."

"Because of our previous reminders, the Mu family finally became suspicious and sent messengers to urge us repeatedly."

Zhao Huailiang's voice was low and heavy.

"Under the pretext of taking his leave, Sha Dingzhou personally led his soldiers to attack the Mu Prince's Mansion. Although Mu Tianbo had made preparations, he was still defeated by Sha Dingzhou. Three days later, Kunming fell, and Mu Tianbo fled to Xining."

Chen Wang gently pulled on the reins, his gaze calmly fixed on the gradually clearing vermilion gate of the Yan State Duke's residence ahead.

The chieftains in the southwest harbored their own ambitions. Although the Mu family was prestigious, its power had long since changed since the founding of the dynasty. The upheavals in the country eventually reached Yunnan.

Mu Tianbo was not a wise and capable ruler; he simply lacked the ability to subdue Yunnan, and this upheaval was inevitable sooner or later.

The chieftains of Yunnan were already itching to act.

"Instruct the Intelligence Division to thoroughly investigate the rebellious chieftains in various parts of Yunnan. By the end of the year, I want to see a complete list of their names."

Although the Shapu rebellion will cause considerable chaos, it is unlikely to shake the overall situation at present.

"For now, let's leave Yunnan alone. As for Mu Tianbo, we can provide him with some military equipment to help him maintain his current territory."

Yunnan is located on the border, and its influence is currently limited. To advance into Yunnan, it is necessary to first recover Sichuan and Shaanxi and completely defeat Li Zicheng.

News of the Battle of Jining will soon reach the southwest, at which point the chieftains who followed Sha Dingzhou in the rebellion will waver and be unable to cause much trouble.

Historically, Sha Dingzhou was easily defeated by Sun Kewang. How could it possibly withstand the onslaught of his troops?

The sharp riots have caused quite a stir; let them make their own noise for now.

He had a perfect excuse to pick up the butcher's knife and thoroughly reform Yunnan.

Those chieftains of Yunnan, occupying the rich lands, had been living in comfort as local emperors for far too long.

Having quelled these rebellious chieftains, this area can serve as a pilot zone for the "abolition of the chieftain system and its replacement with direct imperial administration."

Autumn is not far away...

Chen Wang looked up at the clear blue sky.

Once the autumn harvest is over, the current shortage of military rations will end.

There is still a shortage of money.

However, once the gentry in the south start making trouble, these problems will be easily solved.

There are always some people who are unable to understand the changes in the world, still clinging to outdated ideas and attempting to resist the wheels of history.

"Have your men keep a close eye on things in Jiangnan. I've already secretly ordered Dai Zhenglin to be ready to lead the troops south at any time, and Tang Shiping will also cooperate with you."

During the conversation, the group had already arrived at the gate of the Duke of Yan's residence.

The gilded animal heads on the vermilion gate gleamed in the morning light, and the stone lions stood majestically in front of the gate.

The guards standing at the door were already there to greet them.

Chen Wang deftly dismounted, casually handed the reins to the approaching guard, and strode into the courtyard.

Zhao Huailiang, his hand on the sword at his waist, continued to follow closely behind.

Passing through the gate, one is greeted by a magnificent screen wall, intricately carved with patterns of unicorns and auspicious clouds.

The road was paved with bluestone, and there were long corridors on both sides. Every ten or so steps, there were guards in robes and belts bowing their heads.

Although this was Chen Wang's first time visiting this Nanjing mansion, preparations had been made for him for some time.

When he was initially granted the title of Marquis of Jingnan, the imperial court bestowed upon him a residence in Nanjing. After being promoted to Duke of Yan, the residence was expanded, and it is now being constructed at a rapid pace according to the standards of a Duke, with many parts still under construction.

Although Beijing has been recovered, the return of the capital has been postponed to next year due to the unhealed wounds of war, the tight national treasury, and the impending implementation of new policies.

The agreed-upon date for returning the capital was postponed until the following year.

Chen Wang also had no intention of returning the capital.

He was actually considering whether the capital should remain in Beijing in the future.

The Western Regions must be recovered, and military action is also being prepared in the southwest. If the capital is established in Beijing, the control over these areas will likely be much weaker.

Therefore, Chen Wang did not order a halt to the expansion of the mansion.

As Chen Wang walked through the front hall and the main hall and reached the back courtyard, he suddenly stopped.

All that could be seen were a group of maids kneeling in the courtyard, each with their heads bowed, not daring to look up.

Chen Wang turned to look at Zhao Huailiang.

But Zhao Huailiang's eyes flickered, and he looked somewhat embarrassed.

"Duke, the Dowager Madam has been waiting for you and the Second Master to return."

Zhao Huailiang lowered his voice, sounding somewhat resentful.

"But I heard that the Second Master was sent to the southern desert by the Duke..."

"These matters should have been informed to the Duke earlier, but we have been discussing military affairs, which was a serious oversight on my part. Please forgive me, Duke."

Chen Wang unconsciously swallowed, and then he finally remembered what he had been forgetting.

When Zu Zefu sent the Chen and Hu clansmen to Shandong by sea, the Central Army asked him how to settle them. He ordered that the clansmen be settled in Nanjing.

His biological mother naturally followed him to Nanjing.

As the legal mother, if she doesn't live in the Duke of Yan's residence, where else can she live? (End of Chapter)