Ming Dynasty: He was ordered to give lectures in prison, but Lao Zhu eavesdropped and made people nu

Chapter 709 Decisive Victory over the Jurchens

The north wind howled, whipping up a flurry of snowflakes.

The remnants of the Jurchen tribes were driven deep into the Changbai Mountains by the Ming cavalry. The once arrogant and domineering cavalry now numbered only a few thousand, their warhorses emaciated, their soldiers pale and thin, and their morale low. They were trapped at the foot of a precipice, with a bottomless abyss behind them and the Ming army's impenetrable fortress in front of them.

"Surrender!" Lan Yu, the vanguard general of the Ming Dynasty, rode out on his horse, his voice like thunder, echoing through the valley.

The Jurchen lord Arughtai stood on a boulder, gazing at the dense array of Ming Dynasty banners all around him, his eyes filled with despair. He had once believed that the ferocity of the Jurchen cavalry would be enough to tear apart the Ming Dynasty's defenses, but now, he had been defeated, utterly and completely defeated.

"The Ming Dynasty... has such a fierce general!" Arughtai gritted his teeth and gripped his scimitar tightly.

Months ago, the Jurchen army marched south with unstoppable momentum, capturing several key towns in Liaodong. However, just when they thought victory was in sight, the Ming army suddenly displayed unprecedented fighting power—volleys of firearms, cavalry charges, and unpredictable battle formations completely suppressed the Jurchens' proud cavalry archery tactics!
“It’s Lin Che…” Arutai thought bitterly.

That mysterious strategist, the man who never personally went to the battlefield, yet led the Jurchens into traps with every step he took!
"kill--!"

At Lan Yu's command, the Ming cavalry surged towards the remnants of the Jurchen tribes like a tidal wave.

Muskets roared, arrows rained down, and the Jurchen soldiers fought desperately, but their scimitars could only produce a few sparks when they struck the Ming soldiers' armor. Meanwhile, the Ming soldiers' spears and muskets easily pierced their flesh!
"Is this the military strength of the Ming Dynasty?!" a Jurchen general roared before his death.

Lan Yu sneered: "It's not that the Ming army is strong, it's that you are too weak!"

The battle quickly turned into a one-sided massacre. The Jurchen soldiers were routed, and Arughtai, seeing that the situation was hopeless, tried to break out, but was shot in the shoulder by an arrow from Lan Yu and fell from his horse.

"Tie him up!" *Lan Yu waved his hand, and the soldiers immediately rushed forward and tied up the once arrogant Jurchen lord.

Jinling City, the Imperial Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood in the imperial study, holding the newly delivered battle report in his hand, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"We won! We finally won!"

He slammed his hand on the table, the sound so loud that the servants in the hall all lowered their heads.

Zhu Di stood aside, a smile appearing on his face: "Father, the victory in this battle was entirely due to the soldiers' bravery and... Lin Che's strategy."

Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath and slowly nodded: "Yes, if it weren't for Lin Che's 'scorched earth' strategy, we might not have been able to defeat the Jurchens so quickly."

He recalled the battle months earlier—the Jurchen cavalry were swift and elusive, and the Ming army suffered repeated losses. It wasn't until Lin Che offered the plan to "lure the enemy deep into our territory and cut off their supply lines" that the tide of battle was turned.

"Issue the decree!" Zhu Yuanzhang announced loudly, "Reward the three armies, appoint Lan Yu as the General Who Conquers the North, and reward the remaining soldiers according to their merits!"

Three days later, the Taiji Hall was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and civil and military officials gathered to celebrate the decisive victory of the Ming Dynasty over the Jurchens.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat high on the dragon throne with a smile on his face, while Zhu Di stood below the steps, personally pouring wine for the meritorious officials.

"My dear ministers, this victory is all thanks to the valiant fighting of our soldiers and Lin Che's brilliant strategy!" Zhu Yuanzhang raised his cup and said loudly.

The courtiers rose to their feet and shouted in unison, "Your Majesty is wise! May the Ming Dynasty be victorious!"

Lan Yu strode forward, clasped his hands in a fist and said, “Your Majesty, although we have won this battle, the remnants of the Jurchens have not been wiped out. I request that we continue north to completely annihilate the remaining enemy!”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly: "Granted! However, before that—"

He turned his gaze to the outside of the hall, a slight smile appearing on his lips: "Where is Lin Che?"
-
The palace doors slowly opened, and a tall, slender figure stepped inside.

Lin Che, dressed in a blue robe, remained calm, as if the victory in this war had nothing to do with him. But all the officials knew—**without him, the Ming Dynasty could not have won so decisively!**
"Mr. Lin!" Zhu Yuanzhang personally rose, walked down the steps, and grasped Lin Che's hand. "This battle was largely thanks to your strategy, and I will reward you handsomely!"

Lin Che smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. This victory was entirely due to the bravery of the soldiers; I merely contributed my meager strength." Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly, "What a fine 'minor strength'!"

He turned to face the assembled officials and proclaimed loudly:

"By imperial decree, Lin Che is hereby appointed as 'Military Advisor and Chief Instructor,' bestowed with a thousand taels of gold, a mansion, and permitted to enter the palace at any time for discussions!"

Deep inside the prison, the damp air was filled with the smell of decay and rust, and the occasional groans of prisoners only added to the eerie atmosphere.

Zhu Di strode through the dimly lit corridor, followed by two guards carrying bowls of chilled mung bean soup. He frowned slightly, inwardly sighing, "Mr. Lin is actually imprisoned in such a place..."

Turning past a stone wall, he finally saw that familiar figure—Lin Che was sitting cross-legged on a dilapidated stone bench, dressed in thin clothes, his forehead covered with fine beads of sweat, looking down as he flipped through a scroll of bamboo slips.

"Mr. Lin!" Zhu Di stepped forward quickly, his voice filled with urgency.

Lin Che looked up and saw that it was Zhu Di. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but then he smiled gently: "Your Highness, Prince Yan, why have you come in person?"

Zhu Di handed him the mung bean soup, his tone concerned: "These past few days have been unbearably hot. How are you feeling, sir? I heard you've been writing day and night, and I'm worried you're ruining your health."

Lin Che took the porcelain bowl, the cool touch making him breathe a sigh of relief. He smiled and said, "Your Highness is too kind. This old man is still quite hale and hearty."

He took a sip, and the cool sweetness refreshed him, invigorating his spirits.

Zhu Di sat down opposite Lin Che, his gaze falling on the bamboo slips beside him. He asked curiously, "What have you been writing lately, sir? May I take a look?"

Lin Che smiled slightly and pushed the bamboo slip over: "These are just some superficial opinions. If Your Highness is interested, you may take a look."

Zhu Di unfolded the bamboo slips, which were covered with tiny characters written in fine script. The title was prominently displayed as "Ten Policies for New Policies".

He was startled and quickly read on.

The first policy: Equal land distribution and tax exemption – re-measure the land across the country, curb the land grabbing by powerful families, and reduce the taxes of the people.

The second strategy: Reform the imperial examination system – add mathematics and engineering disciplines to select practical talents, rather than just testing them on the eight-legged essay.

The third strategy: military system reform – implement the “Fubing system”, where soldiers serve in wartime and farm in peacetime, reducing the cost of maintaining the army for the imperial court.

The more Zhu Di read, the more alarmed he became. This was no "superficial insight"; it was clearly a grand strategy capable of changing the fate of the Ming Dynasty!

He took a deep breath, looked up at Lin Che, his eyes full of admiration: "If your plan can be implemented, it will surely elevate the strength of the Ming Dynasty to a new level!"

Lin Che shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Your Highness overestimates me. These ideas are good, but implementing them... will be difficult."

Zhu Di frowned: "Why? Is there someone in the court opposing us?"

Lin Che sighed: "Equal land distribution and tax exemption have affected the interests of powerful families; reforming the imperial examination system has offended the Hanlin Academy and the literati; and military reform will further shake the foundations of noble and military families..."

His gaze was deep as he slowly said, "The matter of reform has always faced numerous obstacles. Shang Yang and Wang Anshi, weren't they both capable ministers? Yet in the end..."

Zhu Di remained silent for a moment, then suddenly clenched his fist and said firmly, "If one day I am able to make the decision, I will definitely help you implement the new policies!"

Lin Che gave him a deep look, then suddenly smiled: "Your Highness has such ambition, I am gratified. However..."

(End of this chapter)