Chapter 548: Those Who Follow Me Shall Prosper; Those Who Defy Me Shall Perish

Hearing Zhu Youxiao say this, Sun Chengzong's expression did not change in the slightest, remaining perfectly composed.

This matter was hardly anything major to begin with; he could not understand why the Emperor placed such importance on it.

A Ministry of Rites official being sent as an envoy to Joseon — what was so significant about that? Could it possibly stir up any trouble?

No matter who went, nothing could possibly come of it. There was simply nothing worth anticipating in this matter.

Zhu Youxiao did not hear a reply from Sun Chengzong, and his expression showed he did not mind.

No one knew what he intended to do, so naturally no one understood his plans, and he had not told them. But now, the time had come when he could share them with Sun Chengzong.

Zhu Youxiao said, "I intend to have him invite the King of Joseon to Liaodong."

Hearing these words, Sun Chengzong was startled. This was something he had never anticipated.

Sun Chengzong could not fathom what business the Emperor might have with the King of Joseon coming to Liaodong. If it were a matter of forming an alliance, Joseon would be of no use whatsoever — what qualification did it have to join an alliance?

Joseon was merely a vassal state of the Great Ming; its written script was all Chinese characters, and its upper classes all spoke Chinese. That Yi Sun-sin whom later generations of Koreans would exalt as invincible was, in this era, a quintessential member of the learned faction — his calligraphy was superb, his poetry accomplished, and his scholarship could be called profoundly deep. In fact, he had once nearly come to the Great Ming to take up an official post.

When the Great Ming had any matter, it merely informed Joseon — or rather, simply issued an order.

What did His Majesty intend by summoning the King of Joseon to Liaodong? To have Joseon's people come help fight the Jianzhou barbarians?

There was no need for that. The Great Ming of today had no need of anyone's help — it could even brush aside the Mongols.

Sun Chengzong raised his head and looked at Zhu Youxiao, saying, "Could it be that Your Majesty wishes to show them the might of the Great Ming?"

Aside from displaying military prowess, Sun Chengzong truly could not imagine what the Emperor intended. Yet he felt such a display was entirely unnecessary — did the Great Ming need to flaunt its power before Joseon? It would simply be a waste of effort.

Still, by asking this question, he was also picking up on Zhu Youxiao's words, giving the Emperor an opening to explain himself.

Zhu Youxiao shook his head and said, "Naturally, that is not the case."

Summoning the King of Joseon was certainly not to flaunt power before him, nor to discuss some trivial nonsense, nor any manner of threats or placation. No such thing existed at all.

The reason Zhu Youxiao wished to do this was tied to the future.

Once the Liaodong campaign was concluded, he would need to expand eastward. If he could extend his influence into Joseon, or incorporate Joseon into the Great Ming, then Liaodong would gain strategic depth and a foundation.

As long as a naval base was established on the Liaodong Peninsula and Joseon was brought into the fold, the strategic posture would be excellent. There would be no possibility whatsoever of the Mongols breaking through.

And after occupying Joseon, it would become the Great Ming's commercial base — whether for production or trade, it would be an excellent location.

At the same time, a massive army and naval base could be established in Joseon, which would make attacking the Wa nation highly convenient in the future.

From this moment onward, he needed to begin his arrangements. The Great Ming would commence a comprehensive penetration of Joseon — politically, economically, culturally, and militarily — not a single aspect could be neglected.

Naturally, not through violent means, but through normal cooperation. After all, it was a vassal state — this aspect was easy to manage, even easier than in later ages. That was why Zhu Youxiao wanted to meet the King of Joseon, because this matter could only be decided by him alone.

Things would become very simple. But these words could not be spoken — at least not too bluntly.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Sun Chengzong and said, "Naturally not. There is nothing I wish to show them. I merely want them to come so we can talk. After all, once Liaodong is pacified, there will still need to be much exchange with Joseon. To prevent such incidents from recurring, maintaining regional peace and strengthening cooperation are things that must be done."

Sun Chengzong looked at Zhu Youxiao, a hint of hesitation on his face.

He could not say why, but he felt that whenever the Emperor spoke these words, there was always a strange quality about them — yet he could not pinpoint exactly where the strangeness lay. Moreover, what the Emperor had told him was essentially devoid of any real significance, more like circling, repetitive talk.

He did not know why the Emperor had summoned him here. If the Emperor did not wish to tell him, then why call him over at all?

All of Sun Chengzong's confusion was written plainly on his face; he wished the Emperor would just explain everything at once.

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Sun Chengzong and said, "I have summoned you, my dear minister, because there is a matter I wish you to handle."

"Please give your command, Your Majesty," Sun Chengzong said.

The Joseon matter was merely to inform Sun Chengzong, to let him know such a thing existed, so that when it came up later, he would not be caught off guard. As for summoning Sun Chengzong here, it was naturally not for the sake of the Joseon affair.

"After I arrive in Liaodong this time, I wish to summon the chieftains of the Mongol tribes and adopt a policy of loose control over them. I wish to entrust this matter to you, my dear minister, and I believe you will handle it well."

Zhu Youxiao said directly, "This time, we will resolve the problem thoroughly."

Hearing these words, Sun Chengzong now understood what the Emperor wanted him to do.

The Mongol matter had indeed reached the time when it needed resolution. Once the Jianzhou barbarians were destroyed, the Mongol tribes would become a thorn in the Emperor's side. Now that the Great Ming possessed such strength, it naturally could not let them go.

Under such circumstances, summoning the Mongol tribes and making them obedient was only proper.

Sun Chengzong raised his head and glanced at Zhu Youxiao, saying, "Your servant accepts the decree. I merely wish to know to what extent Your Majesty wishes to go."

"Those who follow me shall prosper; those who defy me shall perish." Zhu Youxiao slowly spoke these eight characters.

With the coming of the ice age, life on the grasslands would grow increasingly difficult. If he did not support the Mongols, they would die miserably.

According to the original course of history, the Mongol tribes had only survived by joining the Later Jin in their southern invasions. If they had not marched south at that time, their casualties would have been devastating.

And what he wanted was to establish such prestige that all the Mongol tribes would obey him. When they encountered difficulties, he could then extend his hand in and bring them all under the Great Ming's jurisdiction.

As for formally incorporating the Mongol tribes into the Great Ming's rule, Zhu Youxiao could accomplish that soon enough.

As long as the grasslands could bring profit to the Great Ming, merchants would swarm in, and various settlers would migrate out — a very favorable outcome would surely manifest. Both Joseon and the Wa nation would serve as logistics bases; goods from the grasslands could be sold to Joseon and the Wa nation, or even within the Great Ming itself; and all manner of manufactured products could be sold far and wide through the Great Ming's maritime trade.

For Zhu Youxiao, these were all long-term plans, but the preliminary problems had to be resolved first.

Sun Chengzong heard Zhu Youxiao's words, and no surprise showed on his face.

This emperor-disciple of his — ever since ascending the throne, his authority had grown day by day, and by now it was at its zenith. If he succeeded in pacifying the Jianzhou barbarians this time, he would become someone no one could look directly upon. As for the Mongol tribes, it would truly be a case of "those who follow shall live, those who defy shall die."

Moreover, a war between the Great Ming and Ligdan Khan was inevitable — it was only a matter of sooner or later. Just when it would begin was unknown, and how it would be fought was also still unknown.

But there was one thing Sun Chengzong knew: the Mongol tribes that had surrendered would certainly serve as the vanguard. Such an approach could weaken Mongol strength while also better restraining them.

The only question was what methods would be used to drive them into battle — that matter still posed a problem. But he supposed it would simply come down to a combination of kindness and severity.

"Go back and prepare thoroughly, my dear minister. This matter cannot afford any mistakes. Speaking of which, I do wish to meet with the people of Khorchin. This time, send word to them and have them make preparations."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Sun Chengzong agreed once more. "If there is nothing else, your servant shall take his leave."

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Sun Chengzong and nodded, saying, "Go on, my dear minister."

Soon, Sun Chengzong departed, and Zhu Youxiao was once again alone in the carriage.

Leaning askew against the couch, Zhu Youxiao's face bore no expression.

Everything had already been planned; he only needed to proceed step by step. At this point, many things would naturally fall into place, accumulating into an overwhelming tide.

Once the tide of events had fully formed, nothing would be able to stir up any waves.

The carriage rumbled over the frozen ground, and nothing else of note occurred along the way.

Zhu Youxiao arrived in Liaodong.

Xiong Tingbi and the others were the first to welcome Zhu Youxiao at Shanhai Pass.

Over the past few years, Xiong Tingbi had grown extremely rugged, his entire face turned a date-red color. This was from the bitter northeastern winds—after living through a winter in that wind, one's face no longer cracked.

The Liaodong generals had also come, though their gazes were mostly fixed on the troops entering the city. Of course, it wasn't the soldiers themselves they were looking at.

These guardsmen were tall and sturdy, with sharp eyes—one look told you they were elite. The Liaodong generals had already expected this.

The Imperial Guard Corps was different from them; its members were picked from the best of the best, and their logistics were excellent, their food was excellent too. Having such physiques was only natural. In this regard, their men couldn't compare.

Then came the equipment—the gap there was anything but ordinary. Look at their own boys: matchlock muskets, a few flintlocks, those battered cannons, those outdated rockets—compared to what the Imperial Guard Corps carried on their backs, the difference was simply too great.

Look at their spears, look at their gear, look at the cannons, look at their rocket projectiles—the gap was simply enormous.

This left the Liaodong generals feeling somewhat uneasy inside.

These men were the Imperial Guard Corps, but we are also soldiers of the Great Ming.

The Imperial Guard Corps is the Emperor's army—are we not?

This distinction made the Liaodong generals very displeased.