My father Zhu Gaoxu

Chapter 757 Zhu Zhanji patrols the border (Part [-])
  "Mother, is the Northern Expedition a bit too risky?"

Zhu Zhanji heard Empress Dowager Zhang's suggestion. After hesitating for a long time, he finally asked undecided.

"Emperor Taizong had already crippled the Oara and Tatars in several northern expeditions during his lifetime. For at least ten years, those grassland people would not be a concern at all, so His Majesty only needs to lead the army around the grassland. Naturally, It can scare those grassland people!"

Empress Dowager Zhang paused for a moment before continuing: "When you come back from the Northern Expedition, Your Majesty will have someone publicize the military exploits of the Northern Expedition in the newspapers. By then, Your Majesty's prestige will be greatly enhanced!"

I have to say that Queen Mother Zhang has extraordinary insight. Although she is deep in the palace, she is very familiar with the situation on the grassland. Based on the current situation on the grassland, as long as Zhu Zhanji is well prepared, there will basically be no problems. When the time comes, he will lead the army Walking around the grassland, you can attract everyone's attention without having to fight, and your prestige will naturally increase.

"This one……"

Unexpectedly, Zhu Zhanji did not agree immediately, but still looked hesitant.

Zhu Zhanji has been taken by Zhu Di since he was twelve years old, and often goes out with the army, but he has a secret in his heart, that is, he does not like life in the military camp, and it can even be said that he hates it extremely.

As the grandson of the emperor, Zhu Zhanji had been well-fed and well-clothed since he was a child. However, when he arrived in the military camp, not only was the food rough, but he was also very tired. Sometimes after a day of hurried marching, he felt that all the bones in his body were about to fall apart after riding a horse for a day.

What makes Zhu Zhanji even more unbearable is that he has no conditions to wash up in the army. Sometimes his clothes are smelly and there is no way to replace them, let alone take a shower. This is especially unbearable for him who loves cleanliness.

Except for personal aspects, Zhu Zhanji was not interested in fighting and killing on the battlefield at all. It was just because Zhu Di liked it and to please him, so Zhu Zhanji pretended that he liked it too. In fact, he had no interest in fighting at all.

Therefore, now that Empress Dowager Zhang proposed to let Zhu Zhanji go to the Northern Expedition, he showed a hesitant expression, and even felt a little repelled from deep in his heart.

"How about this? Since I came to the throne, I have never inspected the border garrison. Why not lead all the civil and military officials around the northern border and achieve the same effect!"

Zhu Zhanji hesitated for a long time, and finally came up with a discounted solution. It was just a northern expedition, and the other was to patrol the border. The effects would definitely be very different.

"This... is fine. Since His Majesty has decided, it's better to make plans in advance!"

Queen Mother Zhang hesitated for a moment and did not persuade her again, but nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, Queen Mother, for the advice. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have come up with such a good idea!"

Zhu Zhanji was also overjoyed at this time.

Afterwards, the mother and son chatted for a while, and then Empress Dowager Zhang told Zhu Zhanji to take a rest early, and then left.

After Empress Dowager Zhang left the main hall, she suddenly sighed slightly. She was actually a little disappointed that Zhu Zhanji was unwilling to march north. After all, the border patrol was only within the Ming Dynasty. Compared with leading the army into the grassland, , the difference is really too big.

However, as a mother, Queen Mother Zhang could not say anything more. After all, Zhu Zhanji was the emperor. He was unwilling to go to war and no one could force him.

But in the heart of Queen Mother Zhang, she couldn't help but compare Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Zhanhe. With Zhu Zhanhe's character, he would definitely not hesitate in such a matter. In the early morning of the next day, Zhu Zhanji announced his decision to patrol the border in person in front of all civil and military officials.

All civil and military officials were quite surprised by Zhu Zhanji's sudden decision to lead troops to patrol the border. However, some smart people soon understood the intention of Zhu Zhanji's move and immediately agreed.

Although other officials who don't understand think that border patrols consume a lot of money, since Zhu Zhanji came to the throne, he has not been as frequent as Zhu Di in northern expeditions. In addition, after the opening of the sea, Ming Dynasty's tax revenue has also increased several times, so now the national treasury is full, so Even Xia Yuanji, who knocked on the door, did not object to this matter.

Of course, there were some people who objected, but these people's voices were not loud and were quickly suppressed by the voices of approval, so the matter of patrolling the border was finally settled.

So Zhu Zhanji immediately issued an order. Since the grassland bandits frequently went south to plunder every autumn, he decided to personally lead his troops to patrol the border in August. At that time, all the princes from the capital, as well as the six ministers and other officials would accompany him on the patrol.

Zhu Zhanji also attached great importance to this border patrol, and even asked the British Duke Zhang Fu and Yangwu Marquis Xue Lu to personally lead the troops. Even the old Xia Yuanji also went on the patrol. In addition, he also mobilized elites from all walks of life to form a team. A large army of [-] people accompanied Zhu Zhanji to patrol the border.

Half a month later, the [-]-strong army was mobilized. Zhang Fu and Xue Lu each led an army, and there were also [-] imperial guards in the palace, led by Zhu Zhanji himself, plus Xia Yuanji, Yang Rong and other important Civil servants and more than [-] people left the capital in a mighty manner.

Zhu Zhanji's first stop on this border patrol was in Jizhou. In fact, Zhu Zhanji was called this border patrol, but he didn't really want to go through the border, but planned to visit Jizhou and Xizhou. Just walk around the peak entrance area, and then just show off and let people publicize it. There is no need to go too far.

"Cough cough cough~"

Xia Yuanji sat on the carriage and coughed from time to time as the carriage bumped. He was old and his health had not been very good in the past few years. Originally, he did not want to go on this patrol, but Zhu Zhanji ordered Six ministers were accompanying him, and Xia Yuanji, as the minister of household affairs, had no way to refuse.

After coughing a few times, Xia Yuanji felt that his chest felt a little better, and then he opened the window. A blast of cold air hit his face immediately. Although it was only August, the weather had already started to get colder.

Xia Yuanji tightened his robe tightly and poked his head out to look at the situation outside. He saw that the sky was high and the mountains were far away, and it was a beautiful autumn scenery. However, the people on the road were shouting horses neighing, and the loess was rising up, destroying this beautiful autumn scenery. Almost exhausted.

"Xia Shangshu, how is your condition? Is your cough serious again?"

At this moment, a general came forward and asked Xia Yuanji concernedly. The person coming was Zhang Fu. He knew that Xia Yuanji was not in good health, so he was very concerned.

"Thank you to the British public for your concern. My body can still hold on."

Xia Yuanji forced a smile and said, but even though he said so, with his age and physical condition, it is indeed a bit too much to go out with the army.

"That's good. Jizhou is ahead, and Shangshu can have a good rest by then!"

Zhang Fu also knew that Xia Yuanji was holding on, but he had no choice but to comfort him.

But just as Zhang Fu finished speaking, a chamberlain suddenly rushed over and screamed: "Your Majesty has a decree to summon the British Duke and Xia Shang to write the Holy Spirit!"

(End of this chapter)