The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Noon on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

A family banquet was going on inside the palace. Zhu Youtang invited Zhang Zhou's entire family to the palace, including Zhang Zhou's concubines Han Qing, Lin Yi, Wang Mingshan and Cui Ying.

There was also Zhang Zhou's son and daughter. Because Zhang Zhou's second son, Zhang Lin, was too young, he did not enter the palace.

However, Zhang Zhou's eldest son Zhang Jun and eldest daughter Su Su both entered the palace with their parents. Zhu Youtang even brought Concubine Xian's son Zhu Houxuan with him. Although he was still a child, it was a matter of pride for Zhu Youtang.

After all, they both had a son and a daughter at the beginning, and after these few years, he even had one more child than Zhang Zhou.

The lunch was equivalent to a banquet. Women and children were present on both sides, and the emperor and his subjects could not relax. Zhu Youtang did not say much at the banquet. He just let Zhang Zhou sit next to him, but he kept looking at Su Su.

As a father, he obviously has no intention of marrying his daughter to another family, or he has not considered this issue so early...but he is already eyeing other people's daughters, preparing for them to become his daughters-in-law.

So much so that Sui Sui became the most popular child at the dinner table. Even Zhu Houzhao would glance at her from time to time, because he learned from Gao Feng that this banquet might be related to his marriage, so he also wanted to see what his potential future "queen" looked like.

I have seen her before, but I have long forgotten what she looked like. When I saw her this time, I didn’t think Su Su was that good, but at least she wasn’t that bad either.

"Still a little girl." Zhu Houzhao muttered.

Zhu Xiurong smiled and said, like a seasoned veteran: "Brother, why do you look like you're blushing?"

"Am I blushing?" Zhu Houzhao didn't know that he was being teased by his sister, so he really touched his face with his hand.

When he realized his sister was teasing him, he pointed at Zhang Jun who was sitting opposite him and eating listlessly and said, "What do you think of that guy? He looks stupid, maybe he is your husband."

"Brother, have you learned to fight back? Father doesn't mean that." Zhu Xiurong looked like he was not affected by Zhu Houzhao at all.

This made Zhu Houzhao very depressed.

How come I am not as good as this damn girl in dealing with situations? Am I really not as good as her in many aspects?

……

……

After the banquet, Zhu Houzhao did not let Zhang Zhou and his family leave immediately. Instead, he asked Zhang Zhou to talk alone in the outer hall of Kunning Palace, and specifically asked Zhang Zhou's family to stay inside to communicate more with the empress and the virtuous concubine and build relationships.

Even Zhu Houzhao did not have to return to the Eastern Palace and was allowed to stay.

"Bingkuan, your children have grown up now, and we are almost the same age. This child is also about the same age." Zhu Youtang was about to mention the engagement.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the Ming Dynasty should have more heirs."

In Zhang Zhou's opinion, although there was one more Zhu Houxuan, there would indeed be a certain degree of protection in the issue of Zhu Youtang's successor.

But this layer of security was still too vague, and the fact that Concubine Xian gave birth to a daughter as her second child actually made the future of the Ming Dynasty full of uncertainty to a large extent.

What Zhang Zhou wanted to pursue was the continuity of Ming Dynasty's policies. After all, reforming Ming Dynasty was not something that could be accomplished overnight. It was basically impossible to do it in more than ten years. If pacifying the north was just the beginning, then waiting for Ming Dynasty to be fully industrialized... that would probably be decades later, or even after Zhang Zhou passed away.

If his plans were thwarted due to problems with the continuation of the emperor's bloodline, Zhang Zhou would not accept it.

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "Sometimes, I have tried hard. In fact, it doesn't matter how many concubines I have. It's good now. But who knows what it will be like in the future?"

Saying it means not saying it.

Zhang Zhou could also see that the emperor was indeed not very good at interpersonal communication, and was even more timid when dealing with women.

Now he has a queen and a concubine, and they have given birth to children for him one after another. This is actually very good. He has improved a lot compared to Zhu Youtang in history.

Zhu Youtang continued, "We just received a battle report from the northwest. It was the last report submitted by Tang Yin after he sent troops to the grassland. It shows that he has penetrated more than one or two thousand miles into the grassland. It is estimated that he will penetrate even deeper now... Bingkuan, what do you think about this matter?"

Zhang Zhou said, "I have also seen it. He also mentioned in his memorial that it has begun to snow on the grasslands and that the mountains are likely to be blocked by heavy snow. It is likely that we will not be able to withdraw in a short period of time. He mentioned that we must fight to support the war, and the survival of the soldiers will be a great test."

"Well." Zhu Youtang said, "Bingkuan, originally I said that in March, when the flowers are blooming, I will go to the grassland with you. Do you think it should still be like this? Tang Yin led 7,000 to 8,000 soldiers and horses, and they are all the elite of the Ming Dynasty. Do you think... we can just let him do what he wants and ignore him?"

Zhang Zhou stood up and said respectfully, "I ask Your Majesty to dispatch 3,000 soldiers and send them to the grassland to help Tang Yin."

"Three thousand? Soldiers and horses?" Zhu Youtang was very curious.

This request sounded very strange. Fortunately, Chen Kuan, Yang Peng and others were not around, otherwise their reaction would be greater than that of the emperor.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Three thousand is enough. With the new weapons, we can crush the enemy on the battlefield, so the number of soldiers doesn't really matter. My idea is to bring three thousand soldiers with enough food and supplies to the grassland, and the actual fighting soldiers may be only a few hundred."

Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "You think that if we bring too many troops into the grassland, the Tatars will avoid fighting, right?"

"Yes." Zhang Zhou admitted directly, "It is good to bring tens of thousands of troops into the grassland, but the Tatars will never fight a bloody battle with the Ming Dynasty. The only way is to arrange a group of troops to march straight into the grassland and create a dilemma on the grassland, so that the Tatars think that they can defeat this group of troops by attrition. Then, we can send subsequent troops to reinforce them, which will be more effective."

Zhu Youtang asked: "Why not give the elite weapons to Tang Yin's troops from the beginning? After they are trapped, it will be easier for them to perform, right?"

Zhang Zhou shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I don't think so."

"Tell me about it." Zhu Youtang showed great interest.

After all, what he was about to talk about was related to the destiny of the Ming Dynasty in the next few decades, and even his lifelong dream, which was to see the demise of the grassland tribes and complete the Ming Dynasty's complete rule over the grassland during his lifetime.

Zhang Zhou said: "Firstly, the new weapons were just made last year, and their stability still needs to be studied. We also need to equip more machine tools and other equipment to make more weapons in order to equip the army and win the battle with the army."

"Yeah." Zhu Youtang nodded.

Others may not know, but Zhu Youtang knows very well the progress of the new weapons.

If Zhang Zhou wanted to build some kind of weapon of mass destruction and even the emperor didn't know about it, then Zhang Zhou's motives would arouse suspicion... Although Zhu Youtang would not suspect him at the moment, some things would become a tiger if only three people knew about it, and Zhang Zhou would never give others any handle.

If we are going to do it, we must do it openly and honestly. What is the new weapon, what is the significance of the weapon, what kind of lethality can it achieve... We should make it clear to Zhu Youtang from the beginning of the project, which will also avoid subsequent troubles.

Zhang Zhou continued, "Furthermore, if Tang Yin directly brings the new weapons into the grassland, the Tatars will still choose to avoid the battle after discovering that they cannot fight after the initial confrontation. At that time, the war will become a situation of you fleeing and I chasing, and the war will still not make better progress." Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "So first let them feel that by paying a higher price, they can destroy Tang Yin's 7,000 elite troops, and then bring fewer troops to help, and use the powerful weapons you have created, so that they can... Haha, this is very good. But I..."

Speaking of this, Zhu Youtang felt a little depressed.

We agreed that when spring comes and flowers bloom, we two brothers will conquer the grassland together. But now you are only bringing 3,000 soldiers into the grassland. Should I, as the emperor, follow you?

The emperor only brought 3,000 soldiers into the grassland? Isn't this a joke?
Zhang Zhou said: "Your Majesty can follow the original plan and lead the army to Xuanfu or Datong, and march to the grassland with a large army to strengthen the prestige of the ministers. When the war comes, Your Majesty may come in person..."

In order to make the emperor feel involved in this battle, Zhang Zhou's plan was to let the emperor be the mastermind of the war in the rear.

It is unrealistic for the emperor to go to the front line in person and take risks.

But Zhang Zhou's battle plan did not allow for large-scale operations. After all, if you sent 3,000 soldiers, the problem might have been solved. Why send tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people into the grassland? At that time, too many soldiers would be a burden because of problems such as food and grass supply.

Not to mention relying on hundreds of thousands of troops to pursue the Tatars and engage in a decisive battle with them.

Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "Okay, I'm still a little worried about you charging in front. What do you think, let Xinjianbo go?"

"Your Majesty, do you really think that sending someone else will make the Tatars willing to fight?" Zhang Zhou asked with a smile.

Zhu Youtang thought about it and seemed to understand what was going on.

He was surprised and said: "Bingkuan, are you trying to use yourself as bait? This... this..."

Zhang Zhou said: "It is most reasonable for me to lead the troops into the grasslands, and I don't want such a great achievement to fall into the hands of others. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

"Look at you... I know you are definitely not doing this for any merit. If you want to make a contribution, you would have had a chance to perform in the many battles before. It was me who kept stopping you from going because I was afraid you would take risks... Do you think I will believe what you are saying now? No matter what, even if you are in the capital, this achievement will still be credited to you."

Zhu Youtang was also very righteous.

Moreover, Zhu Youtang was a reasonable person. He knew very well who had brought about the current changes in the military and political situation in the Ming Dynasty. If anyone wanted to deny Zhang Zhou's contribution, he would never agree.

Zhang Zhou sighed, "I know Your Majesty has always wanted to solve this problem yourself, but since you are the emperor after all, let me do it for you. Please give me this opportunity."

"Okay." Zhu Youtang said, "Then when are you going to send out the troops?"

Zhang Zhou said: "It will take a few days to prepare. I think it would be best to do it before the tenth day of the first lunar month."

"Why?" Zhu Youtang asked, "Tang Yin is leading his troops on the grassland. It seems that he has not encountered the main force of the Tatars yet, but perhaps at the end of the year or the beginning of the year, he will encounter great resistance. If you send troops into the grassland on the tenth day of the first lunar month, can he still hold on?"

Zhang Zhou smiled and asked, "Your Majesty, do you want me to send troops earlier?"

"That's not the case. If you think Tang Yin can hold out until you lead the troops, then we'll do as you say. I'll also make preparations. I plan to lead the army in person on the tenth day of the first lunar month."

Zhu Youtang was also a pragmatist.

Since you have said you want to go, you can't make excuses. If you leave before the tenth day of the first lunar month, I must go with you.

Otherwise, everyone knows that I went to the northwest to serve as the commander-in-chief of the rear. Wouldn't it be embarrassing in history?

Only if we go out together and say that you are the vanguard officer, will others feel that we are fighting a unified war... This is in line with the sense of participation that I am pursuing.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "So that's the deal?"

"Okay." Zhu Youtang was also smiling. "Just inform the court officials later. There is not much time to prepare for such a big plan. I am not afraid that the Tatars will come out in full force... The changes in the past few decades have not been easy. Speaking of it, I feel like it was a lifetime ago. You said that in the past few decades, the border policy of the Ming Dynasty has taken so many detours... Why didn't you show up earlier?"

Zhang Zhou said: "Just because I was born late?"

"Yeah." Zhu Youtang nodded with a smile, "That's true. If you were born a few years earlier, maybe I wouldn't have any chance. So it depends on luck. If it was ten years ago, this war wouldn't have been possible, but now... I can fully guarantee that you can lead the troops into battle."

At this time, Zhu Youtang was also wearing a feather fan and a royal turban, looking very heroic.

Speaking of ten years ago and the present, he himself is also very clear about the changes. Now he can dominate the government.

But ten years ago, he was just a timid young emperor and it was not his turn to make decisions on court affairs.

People in the court could no longer oppose him sending troops, mainly because the rise of Zhang Zhou had caused the ministers to lose their public opinion base… After all, even an ordinary citizen could see the advantages of the northern battlefield, and if that group of traditional civil officials continued to sing its praises, they would obviously be going against Tian Gang.

……

……

The conversation between the emperor and his ministers ended, and it was time for the Zhang family to leave the palace.

"pretty good."

As the mistress of the Zhang family, Jiang Pingyu showed her responsible side to Zhang Zhou when she left the palace.

After all, in the palace, she had to communicate with the Queen and Consort Xian as the representative of the Zhang family, although most of the time it was only Queen Zhang who asked questions and she was just a respondent.

Zhang Zhou said: "In a few days, I will lead my troops to the battle."

"So early?" Although Jiang Pingyu knew that her husband might lead his troops to war, she still found it unacceptable to hear it suddenly.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "After several years of preparation, it's time to put an end to it."

Speaking of this, Zhang Zhou was still somewhat uneasy.

After all, the ancients have concluded that when the birds are all gone, the bows are put away; when the rabbits are dead, the dogs are cooked. When the pressure of foreign threats from the north is gone, will Zhu Youtang still trust him as much as he does today?
But if even Zhu Youtang is not trustworthy...

Among all the emperors in Chinese history, who was more sincere than Zhu Youtang? (End of this chapter)