Chapter 116

"Every war is a continuation of politics."

"As long as this battle is not won, the Son of Heaven has already lost on the imperial court!"

"Does it even matter whether we hold it or not?!"

"If two hundred thousand men are annihilated, future Ming civil officials will cite this as precedent to warn their sovereigns: never dare to cross the frontier lightly."

"Does it make any difference if those two hundred thousand men return alive? Isn't that still a negative example?!"

"From the very moment those two hundred thousand men marched out of the capital in grand procession, the Son of Heaven had already lost on the imperial court!"

"No matter how you return, you've wasted the people's strength and resources, mobilized the army at great cost, and sought glory for its own sake—there's always a big hat ready to be placed on your head!"

"In other words, the moment the Imperial Guards set out, the Son of Heaven had already lost half his military authority!"

94, Zhu Di: Fan Zhong, you little brat, you're getting old too, huh?

The moment Su Qiao finished speaking.

The entire Qianqing Palace instantly fell into deathly silence.

Only then did Zhu Di suddenly snap back to his senses, breaking into a cold sweat.

Zhu Qizhen was so frantic tears were about to fall.

"Great-grandfather, are there traitors among the court ministers? I've always thought Yu Qian looked like a bad man."

Zhu Di gritted his teeth and cursed angrily:

"Shut your mouth—you know nothing!"

The moment he finished speaking, Zhu Di immediately began frantically @ing Zhu Youjian in the group chat.

After a moment, Zhu Youjian, who had spent the entire day poring over documents in the Ministry of Rites, finally opened his constantly flashing group chat.

Emperor Sizong Lie:

"Ancestor Grandfather, what's wrong?"

Emperor Chengzu Wen:

"After the Tumu Crisis, did any Ming Son of Heaven ever again take command of the army?"

Emperor Sizong Lie:

"Ancestor Grandfather, that's a funny thing to say."

"With the Tumu Crisis hanging over us, which emperor would dare lead troops in person?"

"Just recently, Altan Khan reached the very gates of the capital, yet still someone used this incident to stop me from taking command!"

Zhu Di's expression gradually became solemn.

If the Tumu Crisis is viewed as a political struggle within the court.

Then when Zhu Qizhen set out to lead the army, the Son of Heaven had already lost.

It was as if he had handed over the entire empire's military authority to the civil officials.

Suddenly Zhu Di sensed something was off.

Emperor Chengzu Wen:

"What about the military meritocrats I left you? What about those noble houses bound to the state's fate?!"

Emperor Sizong Lie:

"Ancestor Grandfather, do you really think anyone could have survived under those Tumu conditions?... Duke Zhu Yong of the State of Cheng, Duke Zhang Fu of the State of Ying—all died in battle. The marquises and earls below them are even less worth mentioning."

Before Su Qiao.

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression gradually darkened.

He finally understood why Zhu Youjian always moved so hesitantly.

The root of the problem lies right here with this brat Zhu Qizhen!

"Su Qiao, is there truly no way out of this?"

Su Qiao sighed and said:

"Your Majesty, the solution to this matter is simple."

"If the Ming's future sovereigns can win, isn't that enough?"

"When the Son of Heaven leads troops in person, there can be only one outcome!"

"That is victory!"

"If he loses, his prestige is shattered and power slips from his grasp—thus the Son of Heaven must either not move at all, or he must win!"

With that, Su Qiao's expression shifted, and he picked up the bamboo rod from the sand table with disdain.

"Take this Tatar invasion as an example!"

"If the Son of Heaven wins, this sky-high merit belongs solely to him!"

"His prestige will rise like the midday sun, and in future court politics, he will command as easily as moving one's own limbs!"

"But if the Son of Heaven loses,"

"Your Majesty, imagine this:"

"Even if the situation in Yan and Yun remains a certain victory, this sky-high merit will be seized by a minister who saves the times!"

"Therefore, this battle, the Son of Heaven must win."

"But he cannot win."

"He's lost all dignity."

"He simply lacks the ability, you understand?"

"If we fight any longer, we'll lose to the Japanese pirates."

Zhu Yuanzhang's lips twitched involuntarily.

"Take this brat back!"

Jiang Huan stepped forward and whispered.

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, Zhu Di in another timeline, hearing Su Qiao's words, couldn't help but slap his thigh.

"Right, Father, this kid is right!"

"War is merely the continuation of politics!"

"It's just that his temper is a bit foul."

"But capable people are always like that; Yu Qian was also incredibly arrogant when he first entered the court."

Emperor Sizong Lie:

"Great-Grandfather, I have investigated; this person is named Su Qiao. He died in the defense of Xiaoling when you entered the city during the Jingnan Campaign."

Reading Zhu Youjian's message, Zhu Di wished he could slap himself twice.

Why bring this up when I had nothing better to do!

Zhu Yuanzhang stared fiercely at the sand table before him.

He gritted his teeth and whispered.

"Damn it... I just don't believe it!"

Two hundred thousand troops were annihilated at Tumu Fortress!

A minister who saved the crisis turned the tide and protected the capital.

What ammunition would this give the scholars and officials of the entire court!

"Fourth Son!"

Zhu Di's body trembled involuntarily.

"Father... I truly didn't mean it regarding the Jingnan Campaign; I had my reasons. Please stop being angry."

Zhu Yuanzhang let out a low, cold snort.

"Were those people at Tumu Fortress all your subordinates?"

"Huh? You're not scolding me? No, wait, Father, what do you mean...?"

Zhu Yuanzhang gritted his teeth and whispered.

"If you went instead, could you win?"

Zhu Di inhaled sharply, and a murderous aura suddenly erupted from his body, reaching the sky.

He glared at the chat group before him with eyes about to burst, and said solemnly.

"I can!"

"Good! Now we will send you there! Coordinate with your side."