Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

"I don't know exactly what you're going to do."

"However, if you want to challenge His Majesty, Wang Baobao alone cannot do it."

"I suspect you sent Tang He and Mu Ying to the northern desert together in an attempt to win them over."

Xu Da asked directly.

"Yes."

Zhu Di nodded, without denying it.

Mu Ying was one of the famous generals in the mid-to-late Hongwu period. He pioneered the "three-stage musket firing method" that shocked later generations.

As for Tang He, based on his merits and seniority, he should have been granted the title of Duke in the third year of the Hongwu reign. However, due to Zhu Yuanzhang's apprehension, he had to separate himself from the noble families of Huaixi and, like Xu Da, become independent from them, serving as the first marquis below the Duke.

With the help of the achievements in the northern deserts and the Hehuang region, Mu Ying and Tang He will advance further and naturally stand on his side.

"I'll add a few more people for you."

"Uh-huh."

Slightly startled, Zhu Di couldn't help but look up at Xu Da.

"Gu Cheng, the chief secretary of the Central Route Army, joined the army in the fifteenth year of the Zhizheng era (1355)."

"In terms of bravery and military leadership, this man is no less than the men of Huaixi."

"Because he was born in Huaidong, he was always excluded from the noble families of Huaixi and was never granted a title."

"There are also centurions Liu Sheng and Meng Shan. The former is brave and resourceful, while the latter is the 55th generation descendant of Mencius, the second sage, and is skilled in both literature and martial arts."

"I see you are lacking a personal guard commander. I have a personal guard named Zhang Wu in my tent, who is quite brave and strong. I will give him to you as well."

Xu Da recommended four people in succession, all of whom were carefully selected.

"Thank you so much, Father-in-law!"

Zhu Di bowed deeply, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to Xu Da.

Liu Sheng, Meng Shan, and Zhang Wu were either famous generals during the Jingnan Rebellion or during the Yongle Rebellion. Liu Sheng even commanded the Shenji Battalion, which established the first formally organized artillery force in Chinese history, ushering in the era of firearms in China.

The addition of these people to his inner circle undoubtedly strengthened Zhu Di's power.

"After this battle, I'm afraid I won't be able to lead troops anymore."

"If you're going to do something, go all the way."

Xu Da patted him on the shoulder to encourage him.

"Yes."

Zhu Di solemnly replied.

Xu Da made such great contributions during the second northern expedition that neither Zhu Yuanzhang nor the court officials could allow him to continue leading troops.

This was the last thing Xu Da could do for Zhu Di.

...............

Everything that happened in Bayanbulege was reported to the capital, Yingtian Prefecture, by the Imperial Guard Commander's Office via express courier.

"Bang!"

Zhu Yuanzhang flew into a rage in the Fengtian Hall, roaring, "What is he going to do?"

"This little brat thinks he's all grown up and dares to go against his father."

"Issue an imperial decree to have Xu Da capture him and escort him back to Yingtian Prefecture."

"this...."

The eunuch hurriedly looked at Crown Prince Zhu Biao, not daring to go down and deliver the imperial decree.

"You may all leave now."

Zhu Biao waved his sleeve and gave the order.

"Yes."

The eunuchs and palace servants who were serving inside the palace were as if they had been liberated and hurriedly left.

Immediately, Zhu Biao spoke up, saying, "Father, I'm afraid it's already too late."

"Two-thirds of the central army was lost, and the remaining elite troops were taken away by the fourth brother."

"Uncle Xu, with a group of wounded soldiers, couldn't do anything he wanted to do."

"You bastard!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's anger surged even more, and he roared on the spot: "Does he still know who he is?"

"I only asked him to do something for the Ming Dynasty, and he quit."

"He also brought Kuokuo with him. What is he going to do with Lin? Does he want to become the emperor of the Northern Yuan?"

"Father!"

Zhu Biao could only manage a wry smile upon hearing this.

This is why the servants in Fengtian Hall were removed in advance; otherwise, if this news had spread, the entire Ming Dynasty would have been in an uproar.

The Prince of Yan, the fourth son of the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, ran off to the grasslands to become the Khan of the Mongols. What kind of nonsense is this?

"Boss."

"How did that brat manage to convince Kuokuo?"

"Kokko has never betrayed the Northern Yuan despite my repeated attempts to persuade him to surrender."

When this was mentioned, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were filled with gloom. What he could not do, Zhu Di had done. Where was his dignity as the father?

"Father."

"The fourth child was raised by his son."

"When he was little, he was just like the twelfth son now, always clinging to his son."

"Every time he comes to see me, he never waits for the announcement to finish before barging in."

"Over the years, whether in the Wu King's Mansion or in the palace, my brother and I have always been able to live under the same roof."

"But now that he's engaged and will be married in a few years, it won't be so easy for our son to see him again."

"The fourth brother has grown up and is no longer as clueless as he was when he was a child."

Zhu Biao said earnestly.

"Of course I know he's grown up."

Zhu Yuanzhang flicked his sleeve and snorted coldly, "That's precisely why he has to help me with some things."

"Father."

Zhu Biao wanted to say something more, but Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted him.

"Boss."

"We told you before, the Yuan Dynasty designated our family as gold prospectors."

"When we were little, our parents told us that no matter how much gold we paid, there would always be a day when it was all mined out. The government didn't care about that. When the time came, they would come to collect the money. Our family had no choice but to escape from our hometown and go to other places to clear land for landlords."

"After working hard for several years, I've finally gotten this piece of land ready and was thinking I could finally enjoy a few good days, but the landlord wants to raise the rent."

"The rent increases every year, every two years, every year, until it becomes unbearable for our family to stay. Then we have to flee again, then we have to clear wasteland for others, then the rent increases again, and then we have to flee again..."

"Your grandparents worked hard their whole lives, but when they died, our family couldn't even afford a coffin."

"Your uncle and I knelt at Liu the rich man's house all night, begging him to give us a piece of land, just this small piece of land."

Zhu Yuanzhang gestured to a small area in front of him and recalled, "Your grandfather and grandmother must have a place to live."

"But he won't even take this small piece of land."

"Grain, land, and the lives of ordinary people. If ordinary people don't own their own land, then they are just like our family back then, working as tenants for wealthy families. They toil hard all year round, but can't even get a few full meals, and when they die, they don't even have a place to be buried."

"Occupying one family's land is tantamount to taking the life of that family."

"Father."

Zhu Biao listened with tears welling up in his eyes; these were the hardships that the Zhu family had endured for generations.

"I have visited the temples of emperors from past dynasties."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him and continued, "From the First Emperor to me, how many emperors have there been in total?"

"Why change dynasties? Isn't it just to drive ordinary people to the brink of despair?"

"I do not want to make things difficult for my old brothers, but I dare not make things difficult for the common people of the world."

"Therefore, even if I am reluctant to part with my sons, I have to send them out to see the suffering of the people and understand what it means to maintain an empire."

"I originally thought I would have to wait a little longer, but the fourth prince has already accomplished something that has left everyone speechless."

"You say I won't use him, I won't use my own son to balance the court, then who will I use?"