Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

Chapter 138 The Loyalty and Bravery of the Mu Family

Zhu Qiyu added: "I am not saying we will never fight, I am saying we will not fight now."

I agree with everything Yu Shaobao said.

Strengthen Yunnan's border defenses, appease the various chieftains, and ensure that the Mu family can hold the area.

If an attack occurs, we should fight back.

If he doesn't come, let him stay in Mengyang.

Once the imperial court has strengthened the Beijing garrison, reorganized the military posts, and filled the national treasury.

Ruoluchuan was still causing trouble at that time.

"I wouldn't mind sending a truly elite force to completely reclaim that territory."

Yu Qian rose and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."

Chen Xun and the others also stood up, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."

Although Shi Heng was still somewhat unwilling, he could only follow suit and bow, saying, "Your Majesty is wise."

Zhu Qiyu looked at Shi Heng and suddenly said, "Marquis of Wuqing, do you think that my not letting you fight is a waste of your talent?"

Shi Heng hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, I dare not, I only—"

Zhu Qiyu interrupted him: "You just want to go to the border town; there's plenty of money there."

Shi Heng's expression changed drastically, and he knelt down with a thud: "Your Majesty! I had absolutely no such intention!"

Zhu Qiyu laughed: "Get up, I was just joking with you."

Shi Heng stood up tremblingly, not daring to say another word.

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Alright, let's end our discussion here for today."

"Yu Shaobao, go back and draft a plan on how to strengthen the Yunnan border defenses and how to appease the local chieftains, and submit it to me as soon as possible."

Yu Qian bowed and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."

Two days later, the regulations concerning Yunnan's border defense were drafted.

Yu Qian's efficiency in handling affairs remains as high as ever.

The articles of association are written in great detail.

From strengthening border defenses and acquiring firearms to allocating grain and appeasing local chieftains, every aspect was taken into consideration.

Zhu Qiyu carefully reviewed it, then wrote a few words in his pen: "Approved, send it to Yunnan immediately."

Xing'an took the memorial and was about to leave when Zhu Qiyu suddenly said, "Wait."

Xing'an stopped in his tracks: "Does Your Majesty have any further instructions?"

Zhu Qiyu thought for a moment and said, "Go and find those old files about Yunnan in the Hanlin Academy. I want to take a look."

Xing'an was taken aback: "Your Majesty wants to see the old archives from Yunnan?"

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Yes, find everything about Luchuan and the Mu family."

Xing'an responded and withdrew.

Half an hour later, several large boxes of old documents were carried into the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Qiyu flipped through the pages one by one.

In the fourteenth year of the Hongwu reign, Fu Youde, Lan Yu, and Mu Ying led an expedition to Yunnan.

In the fifteenth year of the Hongwu reign, Yunnan was pacified, and the Yunnan Provincial Administration Commission was established.

In the sixteenth year of the Hongwu reign, Mu Ying was stationed in Yunnan.

In the twenty-second year of the Hongwu reign, Si Lun rebelled, and Mu Ying quelled the rebellion.

During the Yongle era, Mu Sheng was rewarded for his meritorious service in the conquest of Jiaozhi and was enfeoffed as the Duke of Qian.

During the Xuande era, Mu Sheng led an expedition against Luchuan, but suffered a defeat and died in despair.

During the Zhengtong era, Mu Ang was appointed governor of Yunnan and continued his campaigns against Luchuan.

Zhu Qiyu was filled with emotion as he looked at these records.

The Mu family guarded Yunnan for nearly seventy years, spanning four generations, with each generation risking their lives for the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Qiyu then opened another old document, a detailed record about the chieftains of Yunnan.

Luchuan, Mubang, Myanmar, Mengyang, Cheli, Babai Dadian —

One by one, unfamiliar place names came into view.

One by one, unfamiliar names leapt off the page.

Si Lunfa, Si Renfa, Si Jifa —

Dao Ganmeng, Dao Binyu, and the Diao family —

Zhu Qiyu knew that he still needed the Mu family's help to deal with things in Yunnan.

They had been operating in Yunnan for nearly a few decades and knew the local chieftains very well.

They knew which chieftain was loyal, which was cunning, which could be won over, and which needed to be guarded against.

This is much better than those officials sent by the imperial court.

Emperors throughout history trusted the Mu family to guard Yunnan.

It's not just because their surname is Mu, but also because they can truly protect it.

Zhu Qiyu closed the old file, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes to rest.

He recalled some unofficial histories he had read in his previous life.

In those unofficial histories, the Mu family was referred to as "Mu Wangfu" (Mu Royal Mansion).

Some say that Mu Ying was Zhu Yuanzhang's adopted son, which is why the Mu family was able to enjoy the privileges of a prince.

Some say that the Mu family are like local tyrants in Yunnan, and the imperial court can't control them.

Some people say that the Mu family eventually betrayed the Qing Dynasty and surrendered to it.

Zhu Qiyu knew that all of this was nonsense.

Mu Ying was indeed Zhu Yuanzhang's adopted son, but that had little to do with the Mu family's later success.

Mu Ying earned this family business through her own abilities.

The Mu family did indeed wield great power in Yunnan, but they never betrayed the Ming Dynasty.

From the Hongwu Emperor to the Chongzhen Emperor, the Mu family remained one of the most loyal subjects of the Ming Dynasty for over two hundred years.

As for surrendering to the Qing Dynasty, that's completely fabricated.

No one in the Mu family surrendered to the Qing Dynasty until they died in battle.

Zhu Qiyu shook his head, banishing these thoughts.

The Mu family will always be the loyal Mu family.

Mu Bin is still guarding the border in Yunnan.

He needs the support of the imperial court.

Half a month later, in Yunnan, at the Duke of Qian's residence.

Mu Bin lay on the bed, holding Zhu Qiyu's edict in his hands, reading it over and over again.

He is fifty-six years old this year, with gray hair and beard, and his health is not as good as before.

Recently, he hasn't even been able to get out of bed.

He didn't sleep a wink last night when he learned of the Tumu Crisis.

He wanted to send troops north to provide support.

But Sijifa has been stirring up trouble in Luchuan.

He was relieved to hear that Beijing had been defended and the Oirat Mongols had retreated.

Several white-haired veterans stood in front of Mu Bin's bed.

They were all elderly people who had followed his father, Mu Sheng, and his uncle, Mu Ang.

An old general couldn't help but ask, "Lord Duke, what did His Majesty say?"

Mu Bin's voice trembled slightly: "His Majesty said that I can handle the matter of Luchuan as I see fit."

Strengthen border defenses, appease local chieftains, and refrain from rash warfare.

The necessary provisions and supplies will be allocated by the imperial court.

The veterans looked at each other, somewhat incredulous.

Another veteran general asked, "That's all? His Majesty didn't say he would send troops to conquer them?"

Mu Bin shook his head: "No, His Majesty said that now is not the time for war."

The veterans were silent for a moment, then one of them suddenly laughed.

"Good! Good! This emperor is a wise man!"

"That's right! During the Zhengtong era, the war lasted for more than ten years, costing a lot of money and killing many people."

And what happened? Didn't Siji still flee to Mengyang?

"This emperor is able to remain calm and not easily send troops; he is a true wise ruler!"

Mu Bin was filled with emotion as he listened to these words.

He thought of his father, Mu Sheng, and his uncle, Mu Ang.

Mu Sheng suffered a defeat in his campaign against Luchuan and died in despair. Before his death, he held Mu Bin's hand and said, "Luchuan is a land of miasma and plague; it should not be fought lightly."

The imperial court, unaware of the situation on the border, repeatedly urged us to advance, leaving us in a dilemma and ultimately leading to defeat.

When you are stationed in Yunnan in the future, remember to prioritize border defense and use military campaigns as a secondary objective.

If we can avoid fighting, we should avoid it; if we must fight, we must be absolutely certain of victory.

Mu Ang often said to Mu Bin, "The matter of Luchuan will not be resolved for several decades. If the court is impatient for quick results, it will surely cause chaos."

The new emperor now seems to understand this principle.

Mu Bin put away the imperial edict and looked at the veteran generals by the bedside: "Pass down the order that all garrisons intensify their training and fortify the city walls."

He sent people to places like Mong Bang, Burma, and Meng Yang to convey the imperial court's benevolent intentions.

Tell those chieftains that the imperial court will not easily send troops, but it will never sit idly by.

Anyone who dares to follow Siji in causing trouble will face the ruthless court.

The veterans responded in unison, "Yes!"

Mu Bin then looked at another veteran general: "Take some men and go to Tengchong and Jinchi to inspect the border defenses and see if there are any oversights."

If any areas require reinforcement, report it immediately.

The old general clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This humble general obeys the order!"

Orders were issued from the Duke of Qian's residence and spread throughout the various garrisons and chieftains of Yunnan.

There were indeed some unusual movements on Sijifa's side.

Upon hearing that the Ming Dynasty had a new emperor, he thought he had an opportunity to take advantage of the situation, so he mobilized his troops to test the waters.

But when he heard that Mu Bin was reforming the border defenses and that the various chieftains were expressing their loyalty to the imperial court, he hesitated again.

He stood atop Mengyang Mountain, gazing eastward toward the Jinsha River.

A stone tablet stands by the river, inscribed with eight characters: "Only when the stone crumbles and the river dries up can you cross."

This was written by Wang Jili.

Sijifa stared at the stone tablet for a long time without saying a word.

Finally, he turned and walked down the mountain.

The troops that had been making unusual movements quietly retreated.

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