Chapter 462: Zhu Youxiao Arrives at Shanhai Pass

News from the capital soon reached Zhu Youxiao's hands.

After receiving the news, Zhu Youxiao showed no particular reaction.

After all, this matter had long been within his expectations. Before he left the capital, the Imperial Household Department had already made arrangements.

Whether in later ages or now, profit is always the most crucial thing that drives people's hearts.

Are there people who have not a shred of selfishness for the sake of the nation's great cause?

Of course there are, but such people are few; more numerous are those who have selfish motives yet also keep the nation's great cause in mind — such people are more common.

Just like in his previous life, when the nation faced no crisis, warlords fought among themselves, none willing to yield to another — today you attack me, tomorrow I attack you.

But when faced with the crisis of national ruin and the destruction of their families, these people displayed their integrity. Take the Sichuan Army of those years, for example: a hundred thousand youths, a hundred thousand soldiers. Were those warlords without selfish motives?

That was impossible. As long as they upheld the nation's greater righteousness when facing it, having the nation's greater cause in their hearts was enough. The current social form of the Great Ming is exactly like this.

Zhangjiakou had been swept clean by Zhu Youxiao, so it was certain to be filled in again. Previously perhaps no one had paid much attention, but since Zhu Youxiao had squeezed out so much money in Zhangjiakou, everyone knew how profitable doing business there was, and countless people would surely swarm in.

When that time came, gentry and nobles would likewise fill Zhangjiakou all the same. Since that was so, it would be better to let the Imperial Household Department handle this business.

First, it could earn money for Zhu Youxiao, allowing him to spend it on proper matters; second, it could guide these people and bind them to Zhu Youxiao's war chariot; third, it could strengthen Zhu Youxiao's power.

As the Imperial Household Department's strength grew and these people became ever more deeply bound to it, the easier it would be for Zhu Youxiao to mobilize them in the future.

In many cases, it was not a single imperial edict that could get people moving. When the time came to go overseas for business in the future, these people would also need to be bound along.

Just like working at a company in his previous life — when the boss assigns you something, you will complete it conscientiously. But as for being especially proactive and self-motivated, that was not necessarily so; however, if it were tied to performance bonuses, things would immediately be different. Why is that?

In later ages, so many companies always studied performance, performance — there were reasons behind it all. What Zhu Youxiao wanted to do now was exactly this.

If these gentry and nobles had large-scale businesses in Zhangjiakou, earning generous profits from there every year, then they would support Zhu Youxiao's policies in Zhangjiakou.

For example, expanding the army to protect peace and security — after all, everyone knew you couldn't make money amid war and chaos; for example, cleaning out corrupt officials in the region; and again, for example, enforcing strict military discipline. These matters would all have supporters, and even on policies toward the Mongols, these people would step forward to support Zhu Youxiao, since it concerned making money.

To Zhu Youxiao, this was a very substantial force of support.

Since ascending the throne, Zhu Youxiao had already established his authority, and there were ministers in the court loyal to him. But throughout the realm, there was no interest bloc loyal to Zhu Youxiao as the Son of Heaven — this was very bad.

Such a group needed to be cultivated among the military officers, and likewise among the civil officials. The Guard Command offices — that was the military side, the armed forces. On the civil official side, it was the Imperial Academy.

Those graduates of the Imperial Academy, from the moment they entered officialdom, were already branded with a label. Once Zhu Youxiao as Emperor could no longer get things done, they would be finished, so they naturally had to support Zhu Youxiao. This was the same principle as the Imperial Guard Corps — there was no way to switch sides.

In business, they would have to be bound to the Imperial Household Department. This was Zhu Youxiao laying out his scheme in secret; when one day such a scheme was complete and Zhu Youxiao wanted to use them, it would surely produce effects beyond imagination.

Rocking in the carriage, he put away the letter in his hand. Zhu Youxiao glanced at Bumbutai sitting beside him and asked, "How is it? Do you find it very tiring?"

"I grew up on the grasslands — how could I find this tiring?" Bumbutai smiled, revealing two small tiger teeth.

After this period of getting along, the relationship between the two had grown closer. Most importantly, Bumbutai no longer had her previous fear; instead, there was more calmness. This made their time together more comfortable.

Zhu Youxiao nodded, frowning slightly as he said, "That's good too. We'll soon be reaching Liaodong — I wonder what the situation there is like."

"Your Majesty is the Emperor — does the Emperor not know what the situation in Liaodong is?" Bumbutai blinked her big eyes and asked with some hesitation.

She knew what this Great Ming Emperor was scheming. Some things she simply could not understand or see through; but some parts she could grasp a little — this Great Ming Emperor was going to stir things up in Liaodong.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Bumbutai and said with a somewhat helpless tone, "It's too far. It's not just that the capital is far from Liaodong — most importantly, people's hearts are far. The people who speak before me all have their own designs, and such people will subconsciously conceal certain things. These are things they don't want me to know. When everyone conceals a little, by the time it reaches me, how much truth do you think remains?"

"Being Emperor, the hardest thing is wanting to hear the truth."

Bumbutai looked at Zhu Youxiao, gently nodding her little head, saying nothing.

Those words could only be taken with a grain of salt.

Why did no one dare tell the Emperor the truth?

The truth you wanted to say and the truth the Emperor wanted to hear were simply not the same thing; sometimes if you said it, you would be eliminated instead — this was hardly anything rare.

Neither of them spoke again, only the carriage rocking continuously as it moved forward.

It had already been some days since leaving Zhangjiakou, and matters there were mostly settled; what remained was sentencing.

Family properties had already been confiscated in large amounts and were beginning to be transported toward the capital. The remaining matters were left to his subordinates to handle — one could say the overall situation was already decided.

Zhu Youxiao had left Zhangjiakou and was heading directly for Liaodong.

For Zhu Youxiao, this was an itinerary arranged long ago.

To reach Liaodong, Zhu Youxiao's first stop would have to be Shanhai Pass. As for whether to go further outward, he would need to see the situation at Shanhai Pass first.

It wasn't that Zhu Youxiao was unwilling to press forward — rather, going further forward would be dangerous. Don't think Liaodong had no espionage operations; the people of this era were not so simple.

As could be seen from the several wars between the Great Ming and the Jianzhou barbarians, the Jianzhou barbarians' intelligence work was outstanding. Not only could they collect intelligence and probe for information, but when armies were fighting, these people could also help spread rumors within the cities, shake people's resolve, stir up trouble, and attack the city gates — basically, there was nothing they hadn't done.

If they learned that Zhu Youxiao had arrived in Liaodong, it would be strange if they didn't try to kill the Emperor.

He himself was the Emperor — Zhu Youxiao had a very clear understanding of his own position: he absolutely could not take risks.

If he killed ten thousand of the Jianzhou barbarians and they killed even one of his men, that would still be Zhu Youxiao's loss — this was something he could not allow.

So he would first station himself at Shanhai Pass, and deal with the rest later.

Though the pace of travel was not fast, it was not slow either. By the time Zhu Youxiao was about to reach Shanhai Pass, people were already there waiting for him — it was Sun Chuanting and the others.

Ever since going to the Guard Command headquarters, Sun Chuanting and his men had naturally been like fish in water. On ordinary days they drilled troops, researched various new types of equipment, and studied various new tactics — one could say each was giving full play to their talents.

Though these men were young, they were all capable and creative people, and for a time the atmosphere was very intense.

This time, Sun Chuanting and the others had been selected for Liaodong, and everyone was excited. The court's emphasis on military merit — or rather, His Majesty's emphasis on military merit — was something everyone knew.

For this reason, His Majesty had even restarted the noble title system, granting titles to those meritorious generals.

A man's life is like a single autumn on the grass — who doesn't want to fight for a future?

Learning martial skills and selling them to the imperial house — this was the principle since ancient times. Now that everyone had arrived in the military, earning merit, receiving rewards, and obtaining noble titles was naturally everyone's common goal.

Hiding in the capital was naturally impossible, but going to Liaodong presented opportunities.

Under such circumstances, everyone could naturally give it their all. Each person's spirits were high — it was exactly the time when the young and fearless did not fear the tiger.

Moreover, Sun Chuanting had fought in the southwest before, and this time he was also very confident.

Back then, Sun Chuanting had greatly envied Qi Yuanfu's army; now he had one of his own. Under such circumstances, he was naturally full of confidence.

Besides, there were so many capable people around him — this time he naturally had to make a big splash, or else he wouldn't be doing himself justice.

With such thoughts in mind, everyone was naturally very enthusiastic.

When Zhu Youxiao arrived at Shanhai Pass, he could clearly feel the atmosphere in the army—everyone was extremely enthusiastic. Though there was some pre-battle tension, there was more excitement, all of it the desire to win merit.

Looking at Sun Chuanting, Lu Xiangsheng, and the others who had come to receive him, a smile also appeared on Zhu Youxiao's face.

These were the pillars of the future Great Ming, and also the guarantee that Zhu Youxiao could dominate the realm.

With these men, there was nothing he couldn't do in the future.

Zhu Youxiao stepped forward and helped Sun Chuanting up, then looked at the crowd and said with a reassuring smile: "My dear ministers, you have worked hard on the journey here."

Upon hearing this, Sun Chuanting and the others hurriedly bowed and said loudly: "To serve the nation and be loyal to Your Majesty—how can that be called hardship?"

That was the only way such words could be said.

Zhu Youxiao nodded with satisfaction and said with a gentle smile: "Excellent! Once we arrive in Liaodong this time, I will still have important use for you. Rest and recuperate well now—don't embarrass me when the time comes."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Sun Chuanting and the others quickly replied.

These men were Zhu Youxiao's genuine inner circle, all graduates of the Imperial Academy. As for this Imperial Academy, no explanation is needed—just look at the name, "Imperial"—the money all came from the Emperor's own purse.

Beyond that, once they became officials they were given important posts, all singled out and promoted by Zhu Youxiao, and afterward they directly entered the Imperial Guard Command—they were the innermost of the innermost hearts of His Majesty.