Yongle Emperor's grandson: Zhu Yuanzhang with cheats, Zhu Di went crazy

Chapter 11: Tumubao, the Turning Point of Ming Dynasty's Fate

"Your Highness, the Tumu Fort is ahead. After passing this, we will reach Juyong Pass."

On the ancient road sandwiched between mountains on both sides, a large army stretching for dozens of miles was slowly moving forward.

On a high slope to one side of the marching team, a large red flag with vermilion characters fluttered in the wind.

When the soldiers passing by saw this big flag, their eyes were filled with admiration and respect.

For more than half a month, it was the young man represented by this big flag who rescued them from the annihilation of the army, led them from the depths of the grassland, blocked the enemy's raids again and again, and returned to the home they dreamed of returning to.

"Tumubao."

Hearing this word, Zhu Zhanjun frowned slightly.

"What's wrong, Your Highness?"

General Jiang Qian, who was standing beside him, observed the expression of his Highness and saw that he seemed to have some resistance to this place, so he asked cautiously.

Zhu Zhanjun shook his head and said, "This name is unlucky. Tell them to change it."

"Change your name?"

General Jiang Qian was confused. Why change the name?
"Then...what should it be called?"

Although I was confused, since His Highness said it was not good, then it must be not good. I could just change it.

Zhu Zhanjun pondered for a moment and said meaningfully, "Let's call it the Xiongnu Tomb."

After saying this, he whipped his horsewhip and went to inspect the troops with Xiaohu and other guards.

"Xiongnu Tomb, Xiongnu Tomb."

General Jiang Qian, who was still standing there, muttered something and looked at Zhu Zhanjun's back with admiration.

"Your Highness is worthy of being called Your Highness. You have the ambition to wipe out the Xiongnu, just like Taizu."

"Little bastard, the first batch of food can be harvested after dark..."

When Zhu Zhanjun was inspecting the army, Old Zhu, who had been working silently and almost silent since hearing about the Jingnan Campaign less than half a month ago, finally spoke.

“Finally, there is something to gain.”

Upon hearing the news, Zhu Zhanjun was extremely happy.

Although the land in the space can grow as fast in one day as the land outside in a month, it takes time to turn the soil and plant.

There is only Lao Zhu in charge of a thousand acres of land. Even if Lao Zhu's hoe has magical powers and can turn over ten meters of land with one hoe, it still cannot handle the large area.

After half a month of reclamation and planting, the first batch of grain planted by Lao Zhu finally yielded a harvest.

"Thank you for your hard work, old man. Please take a look at what you want to eat and pick anything you like."

This batch of crops includes more than just food.

Zhu Zhanjun also gave Lao Zhu some potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, peppers and tomatoes.

Old Zhu, who got the seeds, planted them all well as if he had learned it by himself.

"Okay, I got it. Come over when you're free tonight and we'll have a drink. I have something to tell you and something to give you."

"Ugh."

Although Zhu Zhanjun was curious about what Old Zhu would give him, he was still on the march at that time, and it was impossible for him to leave his army and enter the space to ask Old Zhu for the things that originally belonged to him.

"Your Highness, someone wants to see you. It's the assistant general sent by His Majesty."

As soon as Zhu Zhanjun arrived at the logistics camp for inspection, Commander Jiang Qian came running over with a group of men in distinctive armor.

Zhu Zhanjun took a look at the leader and felt that he looked familiar, but he couldn't remember who he was for a moment.

The one who rushed over was Anyuan Earl Liu Sheng.

He came here to assist Zhu Zhanjun on the orders of his father. But when he arrived in Beiping, some troops had already gathered there. Thinking of the battle reports received in the past few days, although the army encountered several attacks, they all survived safely, he decided to settle the troops that had arrived first.

By the time he had arranged his troops and was ready to set off, Zhu Zhanjun had already led his troops to Xuanfu.

Xuanfu was already their own territory, and Liu Sheng thought it would be the same whether he went there or not, so he decided to meet them in front of Juyongguan.

I received the news this morning and rushed over immediately, and happened to meet the returning team in Tumubao.

Seeing the soldiers who looked a little tired but whose eyes were full of excitement about returning home, he finally let go of his worries.

The 100,000-strong army was finally saved.

Just when he was about to ask the soldiers about Zhu Zhanjun's whereabouts, he happened to meet General Jiang Qian, who was going to Tumubao to change his name. When he heard that the general leading this team was sent by His Majesty to assist His Highness and lead the troops back to Beiping, he was shocked.

General Jiang Qian immediately handed the matter of changing the name to the deputy general, and happily brought Liu Sheng to see Zhu Zhanjun.

Of course, he had another little idea in his mind.

He wanted to use the earl sent by the court to determine whether this prince was real.

If it's true, then everything will be fine.

If it was fake, considering that the other party had brought them brothers all the way back, they would risk their lives to cover Zhu Zhanjun's escape.

After looking Zhu Zhanjun up and down for a while, Liu Sheng compared it with his memory and quickly confirmed Zhu Zhanjun's identity.

He dismounted, came to Zhu Zhanjun's horse, knelt on one knee, clasped his fists and said:

"Your Highness, I, Liu Sheng, pay my respects to you."

When Zhu Zhanjun heard the other party introduce himself, he understood instantly.

Liu Sheng, the Earl of Anyuan, was the first commander of the Shenjiying, the first professional firearms army of the Ming Dynasty.

"It turns out to be Earl Anyuan. I didn't expect that the Emperor would send you here."

Zhu Zhanjun quickly jumped off his horse and helped the other person up with a smile.

General Jiang Qian, who was holding the hilt of the knife at his waist tightly, was relieved when he saw that the two really knew each other, and he made a few secret gestures behind him.

A group of soldiers staying in the distance received his signal, turned around and joined the team, and continued to advance towards Juyongguan.

Liu Sheng, who was helped up, pretended not to see this scene. He looked at the young man in front of him who was only as tall as his chin, his eyes full of emotion.

"His Majesty was extremely happy when he heard that you, Your Highness, saved our Ming army of 100,000."

"As far as I know, he ate several large bowls of rice that night."

"Haha..." Zhu Zhanjun was amused and said with a smile: "It seems that after not seeing you for two years, grandpa's appetite is still good."

The two chatted for a while. Liu Sheng stood behind Zhu Zhanjun, looked at the marching troops and asked, "I heard that you encountered many surprise attacks by Tatar cavalry on your way back?"

Zhu Zhanjun nodded, "Just some fleas."

On the way back, they encountered no less than ten Tatar raids.

Although the number of enemy troops in each sneak attack was not large, only about a thousand people, this flea-like harassment was the most annoying.

The injuries did not harm the army, but they seriously slowed down the army's march.

Later, Zhu Yuanzhang came up with a solution and beat the other party severely, and then the Tatars stopped.

Zhu Zhanjun said it so easily that Liu Sheng admired him even more.

He has achieved such great achievements at such a young age, but instead of being proud or complacent, he is so calm and composed. He is truly a natural talent.

If he could have achieved such a record when he was this age, let alone being as calm as the prince in front of him, he would probably be so proud of himself.

"Has Grandpa made any arrangements?"

The two men mounted their horses and followed the team forward. Zhu Zhanjun asked about the old man's arrangements.

Liu Sheng quickly replied: "Your Majesty means to take the army to Beiping, assemble there, and wait for the northern expedition next year."

After talking about the military arrangements, Liu Sheng glanced at the coffin team following behind him and said in a low voice: "His Majesty asked you to take Qiu Fu and the others back after you arrive in Beiping."

Zhu Zhanjun looked back at the coffin team and asked, "How did Grandpa deal with them?"

Liu Sheng sighed and whispered, "Duke Qi was stripped of his title, and his entire family was exiled to Qiongzhou. However, His Majesty allowed his family to bury Duke Qi before leaving because of his past contributions."

"The other four, as deputy generals, failed to give timely advice and were also stripped of their titles. However, due to the plea of ​​the Crown Prince and others, only the individuals were punished and their families were not implicated."

After hearing the old man's verdict, Zhu Zhanjun shook his head.

"One incompetent general led to the death of the entire army. The death of Anping Hou and others was unjust."

Liu Sheng on the side also sighed.

As generals, they knew very well that once the commander made up his mind, it would be difficult for the generals under him to change his mind.

But His Majesty was so angry that they could not persuade him. The prince and others had already done their best to protect the families of the four generals.

(End of this chapter)