Chapter 595: The Era of Cavalry Is Over

Upon hearing Zhu Youxiao's words, Sun Chengzong's face immediately broke into a smile as he said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, your minister will surely see this matter done well. Rest assured, Your Majesty."

In fact, there was nothing particularly difficult about this matter—it came down to three main points.

The first point was to subdue by force, the second was to win over, and the third was to divide and rule.

The Great Ming had done this kind of thing countless times already, so for Sun Chengzong it naturally posed no difficulty.

But there was no such thing as a strategy that worked for all ages in this world—it worked well now, but might not later. Still, this was the most fitting strategy for the present moment, and even if Sun Chengzong had his concerns, he had no way to voice them to Zhu Youxiao.

Zhu Youxiao, in truth, was not overly concerned about it.

The Great Ming of today had not yet reached the stage he had envisioned, but it was already on the road there.

Once the matter in Liaodong was settled, only Ligdan Khan would remain on the grasslands. That man was no cause for fear.

As the Great Ming grew stronger and stronger, the northern frontier would become more and more secure. Once the internal problems were resolved, there would be no problem that could not be solved.

What he needed to deal with next were natural disasters and man-made calamities—shifting the contradictions at home to the outside.

Once that was accomplished, there would be nothing in the north worth his attention anymore. Even if they made a fuss, it would be meaningless.

What he needed to do this time was simply to stabilize Liaodong.

Hong Taiji was already gone, and as long as the Khorchin and other tribes could be kept steady, they would not rebel again—and rebellion would have no meaning anyway.

So on this matter, Zhu Youxiao was very clear in his own heart about what he was doing.

Glancing at Sun Chengzong, Zhu Youxiao said, "Tell me, how do you plan to handle it?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Sun Chengzong said directly, "Since Your Majesty has accomplished the alliance meeting, your minister will continue from there, inviting all the tribes of the eastern grasslands to come. And among these grassland tribes, whether they agree or not, there will be a battle with the Inner Khalkha."

"At this point in time, this battle can no longer be delayed. The whole of the Great Ming, from top to bottom, and the officers and men of Liaodong are all waiting for this battle. This battle can intimidate the Mongol tribes, make them thoroughly settle down, and at the same time completely sweep away the resistance here in Liaodong."

"Support the Ordos, check the Khorchin, and at the same time recruit the five tribes of the Inner Khalkha that are close to the Great Ming. With the three sides checking one another, the north will be at peace."

Although there were still things to be done afterward, Sun Chengzong did not say them.

These were the matters before his eyes—if he could do these things well and do them beautifully within his lifetime, that was enough. Sun Chengzong even worried he might not live to see that day.

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said with a smile, "Then let it be done as my minister proposes."

In truth, there were still many things to come afterward—for instance, their allying with one another and swallowing one another up. When the Great Ming weakened, they would rise up on the momentum.

This was the cycle the Great Ming had repeated for so many years—when strong, strike a wave; when weak, get ravaged by a wave. At the Tumu Crisis, they had even been beaten all the way to Beijing.

The Great Ming had always been going in circles. Perhaps after Zhu Youxiao, someone else might still be able to do it, only Zhu Youxiao would not live to see that day.

For Zhu Youxiao, he did not quite believe such a day would ever come.

When the Great Ming's weapons continued to grow more powerful, when he had resolved the Great Ming's internal problems, when the Great Ming's technology flourished even more—none of this would be a problem anymore.

Before absolute power, nothing else mattered.

Standing up and stretching his body, Zhu Youxiao pulled Sun Chengzong along as he walked out.

Sun Chengzong did not know what Zhu Youxiao intended to do, but he still followed him out the door.

After reaching the entrance, Zhu Youxiao glanced at Chen Hong and said, "Did you bring the things?"

"Reporting to His Majesty, they have been brought." Chen Hong said hurriedly, then waved behind him, and two eunuchs stepped forward.

One of the eunuchs was holding a long rifle, and the other eunuch held a box of bullets in his hands.

This long rifle was somewhat different from ordinary guns—there was a long cylindrical thing on top of it that looked rather odd.

Zhu Youxiao took the rifle, then took a bullet, reached out to pull open the bolt, pressed the bullet in, then raised the gun and put his eye up to that long cylindrical thing.

After aiming for a while, Zhu Youxiao finally said to Sun Chengzong, "Does Teacher Sun know what this is?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Chengzong shook his head and said with a smile, "Your minister does not know. In these years, the Great Ming's firearms have changed with each passing day—there are many things your minister no longer knows how to use, nor can he figure out the principles behind them."

"In earlier years, your minister was very familiar with military matters. At that time, your minister felt that the Great Ming's firearms still had much room for improvement. So many years have passed, and firearms have already exceeded your minister's imagination. Let alone recognizing these things—your minister does not even understand how they work. It is only when seeing these things that your minister feels he has grown old."

In these years, the Great Ming's firearms had developed with each passing day—this was a result Zhu Youxiao had brought about. Along with it had changed the Great Ming's military selection, training, and methods of warfare.

Many things, the old men simply did not understand.

Zhu Youxiao smiled, raised his head and looked at a bird flying across the sky, then suddenly pulled the trigger.

With a bang, the bird was still flying in the sky—and its speed had even increased a little.

Seeing this, Zhu Youxiao glanced at Sun Chengzong.

Sun Chengzong was now lowering his head, as if he was forcibly holding something back.

Zhu Youxiao said with a smile, "If you want to laugh, go ahead and laugh. No need to hold it in. At your age, don't hold it in and hurt your body."

Sun Chengzong raised his head with a smile and said, "Your minister thought Your Majesty wanted your minister to see the power of this firearm."

"The power of the firearm goes without saying—it's just that my marksmanship is not up to par." Zhu Youxiao laughed self-deprecatingly and said, "It's only here that I can play with it. When I was in the capital, they simply wouldn't let me touch it."

"This thing on top is called a scope—a miniature version of a telescope. I'm sure you know what it's for. This gun is very good—it can accurately kill a target at a distance of a hundred zhang. It's a fine thing. I want to tell Teacher Sun: the era of cavalry is over."

As he said these words, Zhu Youxiao felt a hint of bitterness.

Those iron hooves that had roamed the world would never thunder again from this day forth. The times rolled over everything like a wheel—who could truly dodge it?

Handing the rifle to Sun Chengzong, Zhu Youxiao said, "Consider this a gift to Teacher Sun. Though Teacher Sun is advanced in years, you should still get to know a fine piece of work."

Upon hearing this, a smile also appeared on Sun Chengzong's face as he said, "It is rare for Your Majesty to still be willing to look after us old ministers. Your minister thanks Your Majesty."

As he spoke, Sun Chengzong reached out and took the rifle, fiddling with it a couple of times.

"You have all followed me along the way. In these years, without you, I could not have accomplished anything. I also know that in these years I have been somewhat willful—when I was young I was a bit hot-tempered, and did not act with such restraint, making you clean up quite a few messes behind me. These years have been hard on you."

"I will soon be leaving Liaodong. I am leaving this place in Teacher Sun's hands. Go ahead and do as you see fit."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Sun Chengzong agreed with a smile, saying, "For your minister to have met Your Majesty within his lifetime is an opportunity granted by heaven. To be able to see Your Majesty restore the Great Ming to glory, your minister's heart has no remaining wishes!"

"With words like that, where have you even gotten to yet?" Zhu Youxiao said with a smile. "Our bond as sovereign and minister will go even further—so far that no one can catch up."

"I truly hope to live to see that day." Sun Chengzong said with a smile.

"Don't worry, you will." Zhu Youxiao patted his shoulder, then turned and walked back inside.

Sun Chengzong watched Zhu Youxiao's retreating figure, let out a sigh, then turned and walked out.

He knew that His Majesty was setting his mind at ease.

This time, with the Liaodong matter, there was a real risk of having to take the blame for something. Those Mongols would have to be slaughtered by their own hands. The Emperor was telling him: I won't abandon you. Do your job well, and whatever happens, I'll have your back.

Thinking of this, Sun Chengzong smiled and shook his head.

After all these years, His Majesty still had the same temperament; he had done so many things, and though much of the time he was a bit offbeat and acted willfully and recklessly.

But there was one thing that made every official willing to follow His Majesty: no matter what you did or what kind of trouble you stirred up, as long as you worked for His Majesty with genuine sincerity, His Majesty would protect you.

This couldn't help but remind Sun Chengzong of how the Chenghua Emperor had once used Wang Zhi, and how Wang Zhi had ultimately been able to die a natural death.

Among the powerful ministers of the Great Ming, virtually none had died natural deaths; among the great eunuchs of the Great Ming, Wang Zhi was the only one.

Perhaps this was also the reason His Majesty could accomplish great things. Those emperors who couldn't achieve anything let their subordinates take the blame, appearing spotless themselves, not a single stain on their persons—but if that was how things were, who would still be willing to work for you?

Sun Chengzong naturally didn't need the Emperor to shield him; having reached his current station, there was nothing that could bring him down. Doing these things to the Mongols, no one could do anything to him.

But the Emperor's words weren't just to reassure him—they were also to reassure the men below.

"This time, we can afford to be a bit harsher." Sun Chengzong said with a smile: "Those people outside are probably already waiting impatiently."

After Zhu Youxiao turned back into the room, he glanced at Chen Hong and Wei Chao, stretched his body, and said: "You two should get ready as well. In a couple of days, we'll be returning to the capital."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Wei Chao answered from the side, though a hint of hesitation showed on his face. He then asked: "Your Majesty, what about Wukeshan's two younger sisters? Will the enfeoffment ceremony in Shenyang still be held?"

Originally, Zhu Youxiao had planned to enfeoff them in Shenyang. Now that they were about to leave, there probably wouldn't be time.

"Simple. Have them brought over tonight. In a moment, go deliver the edict. Haven't the titles already been decided? It's just entering the bridal chamber—how troublesome can it be?"

Wei Chao didn't dare ask further and quickly said: "Yes, Your Majesty. This servant will see to it immediately."

Zhu Youxiao didn't want to beat around the bush anymore, nor did he want to deal with any more messy affairs.

Originally, he had planned to hold a wedding in Shenyang to win over the Khorchin, but since this time he was going to swindle them, the matter of winning them over could wait until later.

It was fine to soothe them before the swindle; after the swindle, soothing them wouldn't work anymore.