Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 299 Let’s raise an army!
It was freezing cold in Yingtian Prefecture in November.

Icicles were hanging from the eaves of every house. Some half-grown children, holding wooden sticks, kept hitting the icicles along the street, letting the hanging icicles fall to the ground, followed by a burst of angry curses from the owners of the houses after they opened the door.

Such a scene also adds a bit of vitality to Yingtian Prefecture.

Wuying Palace.

The fire in the hall had already been turned up to full blast.

The hall is bright and warm like spring.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at a memorial in his hand, frowned, and said in surprise: "What is Xia Zhibai doing again? Didn't we ask him to go south to deal with the salt administration? Now the salt administration has not been resolved yet, why did he come back to us?"

"When did we promise him to come back?"

"This piece of shit."

"Do you still take me seriously?"

Zhu Yuanzhang had a cold face, but he didn't seem angry at all.

This year is a cold winter.

But there are not many places where disasters are reported.

After the beginning of winter, the first snow fell in Yingtian Prefecture. The Kyoto Coal Factory transported some of the inferior coal to the market and sold it. The price was not expensive, basically one copper coin for two or three pounds, and many families bought it.

It is because people have more coal at home that this winter is much better than previous ones.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang had investigated privately and found that the coal sold to the people by the Kyoto Coal Plant was all "rotten coal and broken coal", which was some coal dust mixed with a little bit of other things and cast together, it was quite convenient to use.

And it produces much less smoke than ordinary coal.

In particular, the Kyoto Salt Factory also cooperated in promoting a kind of earthen stove.

It can be used for both roasting fire and burning things.

Killing two birds with one stone, it soon became popular throughout the city.

Many families made their own, which caused many fields outside the city gate to suffer. He had heard many complaints from officials in Yingtian Prefecture recently, but he would not punish the people for this. It was just a little mud, wasn't it? What's wrong with the people digging a little?
Can’t we just let the people have a warm winter?

Zhu Biao smiled faintly, ignored this topic, and said: "Father, this winter, Yingtian Prefecture is very peaceful, and there are no cases of people freezing to death as in the past. The people originally had some extra money at home, but this extra money was all lost after the Jingdu Coal Factory did this."

Zhu Biao shook his head and said, "This Xia Zhibai knows how to do business."

"The money that the people saved was quietly taken out of their pockets."

"But the two factories he opened are indeed beneficial to the country and the people. In the past, the price of salt was still around 20 cents, and the people would have no money left to buy coal for the winter. I recently heard that Xia Zhibai's Kyoto Enterprise has opened a textile factory, which is now in production."

"In a few days, I heard that we will open in the city and sell the first batch of cotton-padded clothes and quilts."

"The tone of voice of the people in these factories all follows Xia Zhibai."

"Opening our mouths is to ensure that the people of Yingtianfu spend the winter safely, and keeping our mouths shut is to ensure that the people of Yingtianfu spend the winter warmly."

"If the officials of our Ming Dynasty can be so compassionate and caring towards the people, and can always think about the people and put the people in their hearts, then how can our Ming Dynasty not prosper?"

Zhu Biao couldn't help but sigh.

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Zhu Biao. He always felt that Zhu Biao's words were suggestive of something.

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly, "Xia Zhibai did a good job, but businessmen are profit-driven. If there was no profit, do you think he would still do these things? If we were not generous and turned a blind eye to his actions, would he be able to accomplish it?"

"I just don't bother to compete with the ministers for credit."

"Or is there anything else for him?"

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Father, you are wise."

Zhu Yuanzhang took off the blanket covering his body, put on the animal leather shoes that were heated by the fire, and walked down the stairs step by step. Looking at the heavy snow, he said in a deep voice: "It's snowing a bit heavily today. According to the usual practice, after the snow, the nomadic tribes on the grassland will move south."

Zhu Biao's face darkened.

He said in a serious tone, "Shouldn't it be this year?"

"We, the Ming Dynasty, fought against the Northern Yuan Dynasty only two years ago, and the Northern Yuan Dynasty suffered heavy losses. The Ming Dynasty has rarely left the border this year, so the impact on the grassland should not be great. Even if there is a sudden snowstorm that freezes many cattle and sheep to death, they will still be able to survive this winter."

"But next year I may not know for sure."

Zhu Biao also showed a look of worry.

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "We are not worried about the north."

"We are worried about the Northeast."

"Nahachu?" Zhu Biao blurted out subconsciously. Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were slightly cold, and he said in a cold voice: "In the 15th year of Zhizheng, our people captured Nahachu, but we didn't want to be the first to do so, and because he was from a famous family, we let him go. This bastard didn't remember our kindness at all, and after returning to Liaoyang, he recruited soldiers everywhere."

"Many of the former Yuan officials, generals and troops who had fled to the interior gathered under Nahachu's command."

"Now I'm afraid he has two hundred thousand soldiers."

"Over the years, we have continuously sent people to conquer and publicize the imperial edicts. The influence of the former Yuan Dynasty on our Ming Dynasty has become smaller and smaller. Many of the former Yuan Dynasty's officers and soldiers in the northeast have taken the initiative to submit to us, but not this Nahachu."

"From the fifth year of Hongwu to today, Nahachu has killed more than 20,000 Ming soldiers in Liaodong."

"We are going to settle this account with him."

Hear the words.

Zhu Biao was stunned.

Aren’t we worried about the nomadic tribes moving south?

Why does it sound to him like the Ming Dynasty is going to take the initiative to launch a northern expedition?
However, he did know that his father had been actively preparing for war in Liaodong and had been transporting grain and rice to Liaodong since the 18th year of Hongwu.

This year, taking advantage of the abundant treasury, we purchased 120 war horses from Shaanxi, Goryeo and other places. At the beginning of this spring, my father even planned to draw laborers from northern prefectures such as Peking, Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, and transport million shi of grain as food and wages for the northern expedition.

But for some reason, my father gave up halfway.

Just when Zhu Biao was in doubt, Zhu Yuanzhang said quietly: "Biao'er, do you know how Xia Zhibai persuaded your brothers in the north?"

Zhu Biao shook his head.

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes showed an annoyance, as if he was somewhat dissatisfied with this matter, and he said in a cold voice: "He went to tell your brothers that he could find a way to make the court stop drawing civilians from the north in the future, and even relocate people for them, and send them money and food."

Zhu Biao was stunned and a little surprised.

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly: "Now you know how brave Xia Zhibai is, right?"

"You dare to say anything, and the key is that you stupid brothers really dare to believe it. If I were here, I would want to beat these bastards to death."

Zhu Biao shook his head helplessly.

What could he say?
But now he was more curious about how Xia Zhibai was persuaded. He didn't believe that his brothers would believe it, especially the third and fourth brothers, as each of them was more cunning than the other.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not feel ashamed at all, and said coldly: "It was only in the past few days that I gradually figured it out."

"He's after our potatoes and his plan to ship them by sea."

"But he did give us a warning."

"We have information about potatoes. After two years, the outside world has basically forgotten about it. We did not transport food to the north, so Nahachu must know about it. Therefore, we can use the same tactics against him. On the one hand, we will publicize that we will ban the sea, and on the other hand, we will actively prepare for war."

"Give him a surprise at last!"

Speaking of fighting, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes suddenly lit up and he became extremely energetic.

It was as if I had returned to the past.

Slam Fang Qiu.

Zhu Yuanzhang said loudly: "We will wait until the snow melts next winter, and then order Feng Sheng to lead the three armies, with a total of 200,000 troops, to march north. We will not wait for Nahachu to go south, but we will take the initiative to attack him. We were indeed unable to completely eliminate Nahachu in the past."

"But this time, we must completely retake the Northeast."

"We can secretly transport grain by sea, whether it's rice or potatoes, and catch Naha off guard."

"Moreover, in the past few years, we have been promoting the imperial edict to the northeast, persuading the former Yuan forces in the northeast to surrender, and now there are some results."

"With the help of both sides and the blessing of God, it was a good plan."

"The Northeast of our Ming Dynasty will be decided in one battle!"

"From now on."

"Our only enemy is the Bei Yuan!"

"Without Liaodong and Yunnan as constraints, what can the Northern Yuan Dynasty use to fight against our Ming Dynasty? We, the Ming Dynasty, have plenty of ways to wear down and wear down the Northern Yuan Dynasty. We can even destroy the Northern Yuan Dynasty in any way we want!" Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with a fierce look that made people shudder.

He had been waiting for this day for too long.

He wanted to eliminate all forces that could affect the Ming Dynasty's rule while his body was still healthy.

He has been working hard for this!

(End of this chapter)