The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

The Northwest is already preparing for a war with the Tatars.

Preparations for war were in full swing, with more than 200,000 troops being dispatched at a time, and Tang Yin being fully responsible. In the eyes of many people, Tang Yin was just a figurehead, and many people also wanted to see whether Tang Yin had the strength to plan such a major war.

A military meeting lasted from morning to night, and the generals and eunuchs in the operations room argued fiercely over the marching route map alone.

Tang Yin seemed like an outsider, and even many of the decisions were given to Xu Jing, who had no official position but stayed in the army as a counselor, so that no one could see what Tang Yin was thinking.

Xu Jing fought several battles with Tang Yin and also went to Korea with Tang Yin twice, serving as a deputy envoy. Although he did not hold an official rank this time, it seemed that no one dared to confront him head-on.

After the meeting, Zhu Fu and his son Zhu Feng came out, cursing.

"Who does he think he is? He's pointing fingers at me?"

What made Zhu Fu most angry was not Tang Yin, or rather, as a military general, he was not qualified to confront the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue head-on. He was nothing in front of Tang Yin.

It seemed that the only person he could get angry with was someone like Xu Jing, who seemed to be a relatively soft target.

Zhu Feng said, "Father, I think there is nothing wrong with what Mr. Xu said. After several raids, there are no longer so many Tatars in the Hetao area. On the contrary, it is easier for the Tatars to detect us if we go through the Hetao area. After all, there are still many uninhabited areas in such a large area. The Tatar scouts are ambushing in the surrounding areas, so it is difficult to detect them."

"Boy, are you on your father's side or on that guy named Xu's side?" Zhu Fu looked unhappy.

Zhu Feng lowered his head helplessly and said, "I am just expressing my own opinion."

Zhu Fu said coldly, "Look at what you are capable of. Is this how you were when you went on expeditions with the army before? I am not saying anything bad about you. You have insight. Why didn't you say it at the meeting before? Why are you showing off in front of me now?"

Zhu Feng felt wronged in his heart.

It was you who felt that your reputation was not good enough, and you insisted that I support you. Wasn't it also for your sake that I didn't tell you before?

Would you feel good if they said your son is better than you?

Now you blame me?
Zhu Fu said, "We will decide which route to take in the next two days. Your grandmother said that you cannot go with your father."

"Why?"

This was the first time Zhu Feng knew that the old lady had given this instruction.

Obviously, in his opinion, since he went to the northwest to assist his father, he should always accompany his father, so that he can fulfill his obligation as a son to help his father. But if, as Zhu Hu said, the father and son have to go their separate ways, how can they help each other?

Do you need me or not? If you don't need me, why did you bring me to the northwest to suffer?
Zhu Fu said helplessly: "Your grandmother meant that you can't put all your eggs in one basket. When your father leads troops outside, he has to rely on his own real ability. Do you think your father has no combat experience? Your father also died on the battlefield."

Zhu Feng didn't think his father was bragging. He had admired his grandfather and father since he was a child. He felt that his father had followed his grandfather and made great military achievements for the court. He also took his father as a role model.

But after serving in the army for a few years, he seemed to have not improved in any way, but he could tell at a glance that Zhu Fu was bragging, and he was bragging without thinking.

You said you died on the battlefield, but in which battle did you have such an experience?
Do you have the ability to lead troops in battle independently, even if there is no victory or defeat?
But Zhu Feng was too embarrassed to expose it.

Zhu Fu said, "I will lead the troops to leave in the next two days. I am always worried and have not yet finalized the plan for the troops. How can I be at ease?"

As they were talking, a man came hurriedly over and chased after them, which made Zhu Fu nervous for no reason.

"Stop the man." Zhu Fu seemed afraid that someone would pose a threat to his personal safety.

When people got closer, they found out it was Xu Jing.

"Mr. Xu?" Zhu Fu had looked down on Xu Jing before, but now he approached him with a smug look on his face. His level of enthusiasm...

Zhu Feng felt like vomiting when he saw it.

Xu Jing said, "Duke Cheng is here too. Look, the Tang army wants to invite Marquis An Bian to come over and have a chat."

"what?"

When Zhu Fu heard this, his face immediately stretched as long as a horse's.

He was angry. I was the commander-in-chief of Yansui. Shouldn't they have discussed things with me alone? They actually skipped me and went directly to my son? Did they consider my face?
Zhu Feng said, "Didn't you invite my father?"

Xu Jing said in embarrassment: "I am just following the instructions of General Tang. You should go and ask for details yourself."

Zhu Feng looked at his old father with a "reluctant" look, meaning, please come with me.

Zhu Fu smiled and said, "Son, it seems that Minister Tang thinks highly of you and wants to give you a chance. You must seize it. I am old now and I am not as lively as you young people in many things. If you have anything to say, you can speak for me."

These words were purely an attempt to save face for himself in front of Xu Jing.

Zhu Feng thought that his father really had high hopes for him, so he bowed and said, "Don't worry, father. I will definitely live up to your high expectations."

Xu Jing, who was standing by, was a little scared when he saw this.

What is this all about?
What is your reputation in the Northwest Army, or how do you compare? Don't you two have any idea?

One is a dragon and the other is a worm. What's the difference between a general's son and a good son? The Northwest is a place where seniority is important... Of course, the seniority and seniority here are built up through military merit.

Who do you think you are, Zhu Fu?

This is an internal military meeting, is there any reason for me to look for you?
……

……

In the backyard of the General Administration Office where Tang Yin lived, Tang Yin was collecting several sheepskin scrolls hanging on the shelf and preparing to take them back to his study.

"Tang Junmen."

Zhu Feng came in and saluted Tang Yin.

After all, it was already night, and Zhu Feng did not want to disturb them. If Tang Yin had not invited him, he would not have come. After arriving, he was also surprised to see Tang Yin doing things personally. It would stand to reason that an official as high as Tang Yin could not do everything by himself, let alone such a small thing as collecting and drying things.

Tang Yin said calmly, "Zhijie, you're back? I just finished a day of meetings. I shouldn't have disturbed you and let you go back to rest, but there are some things that I'd better explain to you in advance."

Zhu Feng said: "General Tang, you are too polite. If you have anything to say, just tell me directly." Xu Jing looked at him from the side and felt a little proud.

As far as he knew, this Marquis of Anbian was a well-known figure in the court. In the past, just hearing his name made him look up to him. But now, he was in front of him in real life, and he had to listen to the orders of his old friend. He was even called "sir" and could even give him orders...

That feeling is like holding power.

Tang Yin turned around and said, "Then let's go in and talk. It has rained a few times recently, and the weather was originally quite dry, but it suddenly made these parchments damp. These are all maps, and they cannot be damaged in the slightest. Why don't we take advantage of the good weather and put them out to dry."

"Yes." Zhu Feng said, "Do you want me to help you get it?"

"No, it won't sink."

As Tang Yin spoke, he personally carried the sheepskin scroll into the study.

Zhu Feng and Xu Jing also came in one after another.

Tang Yin said, "Let me put it this way. According to the plan, you and your father will lead the troops to the battle in three days. You will go to Piantou Pass, and your father will go to Ningxia."

"Piantou Pass? Is it in the Sanbian area?" Zhu Feng said, "I am familiar with that place, but the journey is not close. If it's nothing serious, I can exchange with my father."

Obviously Zhu Feng had anticipated various dangerous situations in the northwest.

Generally speaking, Piantou Pass is located between Yansui and Datong, and is still in the Xuanda area. There is the famous Xinjian Earl, who is a man of both civil and military talents. His reputation in the Ming army seems to be second only to Zhang Zhou.

If one of her and her father had to go to Piantouguan and the other to Ningxia, Zhu Feng still felt that it would be more appropriate to let her old father go to Piantouguan.

Because the safety factor there is very high.

Tang Yin said, "Some of the details of this expedition have been planned long ago. What we are discussing today is the pros and cons of each route. I don't know why your father insisted on sending troops to Hetao. It is not difficult to search Hetao now. Besides, the people there are basically our herdsmen and they are protected by soldiers and horses. It is unlikely that the Tatars will enter Hetao recently."

Zhu Feng was also thinking in his heart, of course I know about this.

But my father had just come to the Northwest, what did he know?
And according to his thinking in his previous life, as long as he could complete the search, he would be a famous general and his name would go down in history.

To the extent that Zhu Fu didn't know what it meant that times were changing and the battlefield situation was changing.

Isn't it outdated to use the thinking of the Chenghua period to consider the current offensive and defensive relationship between the Ming Dynasty and the Tatars?

Xu Jing smiled and said, "General Tang, I think what Anbian Hou is worried about is that there are Tatars in Ningxia frequently. And this time, they will probably have to march straight into the grassland. Duke Cheng's experience in killing enemies on the battlefield is not enough. He wants to do it all for his father."

Tang Yin frowned and said, "Zhijie, do you really think so?"

Zhu Feng looked rather embarrassed.

Although what Xu Jing said was not entirely correct, he did have this idea, but how could he admit such a thing in front of others? How could he let his old father save face?
Tang Yin said: "In fact, there is no need to speculate like this. This time I took office in Sanbian for only one purpose, and that is to send troops. As for holding on, those were all previous strategies. Now we have to attack instead of defend. I will personally lead the troops all the way, and I will first go to Ningxia and then send troops to the grassland from Huamachi."

After hearing this, Zhu Feng's eyes lit up and he asked, "Is my father following the Tang army?"

"No." Tang Yin immediately poured cold water on him, "Ningxia's defense is very important. Its jurisdiction is winding and connected to the desert, with several suitable directions for sending troops. Generally speaking, this time we send troops to the grassland, we will not send troops in one direction, but in multiple directions. If I insist on going with your father, then there will not be enough people suitable to lead the troops."

When Zhu Feng heard this, he felt that it was not good.

This means that it is better to let the old father lead the troops alone.

In this case, how can I help my old father create opportunities to achieve military merit?
Tang Yin said, "The map is hanging there. I drew a few lines, which are roughly the routes for the troops to be dispatched. The current plan is to send troops in five groups. In addition to you, there is Ningxia Governor Ma Zhongcheng, your father, and me. The last group is Pinglu Hou."

Zhu Feng thought again and realized that even Ma Yi couldn't go with his old father.

Then the father is really fighting alone.

"Are all four routes in Ningxia?" Zhu Feng asked.

Tang Yin said, "You can say that. According to your majesty, since the Tatars have repeatedly invaded our border from Huamachi, we should fight them from Huamachi. The first thing we should do in Ningxia is not to be conservative. Attacking instead of defending is actually the best strategy."

Xu Jing laughed and said, "Does Marquis Anbian feel that this expedition is a bit risky?"

"No, I think it's good." Zhu Feng said, "As long as we take the initiative to attack the grassland, and with some luck, we can find the main force of the Tatars, then we can win and further weaken the Tatars."

Xu Jing smiled and said, "It is indeed different. If those conservative generals and officials knew about this, they would think it was too risky. You are indeed a famous general cultivated by the Duke of Cai. His Majesty also trusts you. You are really... like the Tang army, you are never timid."

Tang Yin said unhappily, "That's not a nice thing to say. You can't win a battle just by being reckless. In Liaodong, we went deep into the enemy's territory alone twice, but the result was still... Alas!"

Tang Yin couldn't help but think of the last battle he fought before leaving Liaodong.

He destroyed all the Koreans' wealth, but he was promoted even then. He came to the northwest to continue his violence. He seemed to be worried that he would destroy the Ming Dynasty's wealth on the border again.

Zhu Feng said: "Then it should be mainly your group from Tang Junmen, right?"

Tang Yin looked at Zhu Feng and asked with a smile: "Zhijie, do you think it makes sense to talk about which route to take? Once we enter the grassland, it is hard to say who will encounter the Tartars and who will win. You have led troops into the grassland before, although it was in the cold winter, but you should know how difficult the conditions there are."

"This one……"

Zhu Feng thought about it and nodded.

He and Cui Yuan led troops into the grassland and almost didn't come back.

Fortunately, they turned danger into safety in the end, and they were lucky enough to achieve a great victory, but later... Zhu Feng still felt scared and felt that it was all just luck.

Tang Yin said, "I understand that you are worried about your father's situation. He came to the northwest not to be a general for a long time. He came here just to gain experience and to lead the troops to victory. If he is determined to make progress and is not afraid of the enemy after entering the grassland, I believe it won't take long... He can also establish a high reputation in the northwest."

It's not about winning battles, it's about building a reputation.

Zhu Feng also roughly knew that not many people in the Northwest were optimistic about Zhu Feng at this time, just like Zhu Hui and Zhang Mao before.

Zhu Fu is in a better position now. Others don't have high expectations of him, so he has a lot of room to perform. If he makes a little progress, as long as he is better than Zhang Mao and Zhu Hui, he can probably maintain his current position.

"Go back and tell your father to keep a good attitude and not to destroy the prestige of the Ming Dynasty." Tang Yin specifically instructed. (End of this chapter)