Chapter 422

In the first year of Wanli, when Qi Jiguang first entered the capital, Zhu Yijun made a promise to Qi Jiguang in the name of the Emperor. At that time, Zhu Yijun asked Qi Jiguang: "Commander Qi, if I give you 200,000 Beijing Battalion troops for ten years, can you wash away the previous shame?"

What was Qi Jiguang like at that time? He was a useless object.

"Looking at it like a wart, how can it be displayed?"

At that time, Qi Jiguang was full of controversy. Tuman Khan's various tribes were asking for rewards outside Xifengkou all day long. The mainstream view in the imperial court at that time was: "Since they are asking for rewards, just give them some." As a result, Qi Jiguang insisted on making trouble, set up a pocket formation, killed all the people Dong Huli brought, and captured Dong Huli's nephew alive. At that time, the scholar-officials in the imperial court criticized Qi Jiguang, thinking that he lightly started border disputes.

At that time, Qi Jiguang was in Jizhou, leading the troops of the three towns. The 6,000 Zhejiang soldiers he brought from the south were his direct descendants. He could guarantee full rations for these 6,000 people, but could only guarantee half rations for the northern garrison troops. And in order to resist the Hu, Qi Jiguang's requirements for training troops were extremely harsh. North-South contradictions, treatment contradictions, and training were too harsh, and there was no war. Being so hard, the soldiers were naturally full of complaints.

At that time, Qi Jiguang was already quite resigned. No matter how ugly the scholar-officials spoke, he didn't care, as long as he could still lead troops to fight. Did he have to be like Commander Yu Dayou, who was idle at home?

Saying he was resigned, wasn't it just despair after disappointment kept piling up?

Qi Jiguang's unwillingness was hooked out by Zhu Yijun's words, which was that Zhu Yijun promised Qi Jiguang at that time to give him ten years, give him 200,000 strong troops, and let him pacify the Northern Hu.

From the time Qi Jiguang arrived in Jizhou in the second year of Longqing to train troops, he had been waiting for this day, waiting for this day when the Ming conquered the grasslands, waiting for fourteen years.

A person's life is very short, and the peak period of a military general is even shorter. How many fourteen years can Qi Jiguang have?

Now, the ten-year period has arrived! Zhu Yijun is a person who values faith and keeps his promises. He has never broken the promises he made.

This military machine of the Ming has begun to operate at full capacity. With Tuman Khan entering the capital to pay tribute, the Northern Hu Left Wing has become the Ming's border subjects, leaving only one Right Wing, Altan Khan.

If Altan Khan is not destroyed, the Ming's "Royal Transformation" of Tuman Khan's various tribes will be a castle in the air. With restless hearts and Altan Khan's power still there, that ambition will always be jumping. Only through physical conquest, removing the banner of Northern Hu resistance, and completely striking down the Northern Hu's will to resist, can the Ming's "Royal Transformation" of the Northern Hu be completely completed.

On the 12th day of the third month of the ninth year of Wanli, flags were fluttering and drums were beating in the Northern Tucheng. The sound of horns and drums shook the sky. At this time, in the capital, Zhu Yijun arrived in front of the Huangji Hall. He was wearing a suit of iron armor, the face mask was not buckled, and he stood in front of the Huangji Hall. Today was not the time for a grand morning court, but the civil and military officials of the Ming stood quietly on the official square of the Huangji Hall.

Minister of Rites Wan Shihe and Tan Sima Tan Lun came out together, walking step by step on the imperial road on both sides of the Danbi stone. The Danbi stone was carved with nine dragons playing with pearls, landscape patterns, and seawater cloud patterns. Even the emperor did not usually walk on this Danbi stone. Only during major ceremonies would the sedan chair bearers carry the emperor across it.

And Wan Shihe and Tan Lun, one on the left and one on the right, walked from both sides of the Danbi stone to the moon platform. The two bowed at the same time and said: "Your Majesty, today the army is setting off. I earnestly request Your Majesty to move to the Northern Tucheng to see the soldiers off."

This was not the first time Zhu Yijun saw the army off, and seeing the army off was a ritual that followed the ancestral laws and rites of the Ming.

"Push the hub to send out fierce generals, connect the flags to board the battlefield."

The emperor pushing the hub for the departing generals is an expression of trust and support, and also an expectation of victory reports. This ritual has special rites, called the "Pushing Hub Ritual," which requires the Minister of Rites and the Tan Sima to jointly request the emperor to move.

Zhu Yijun took a deep breath, took a step forward, and said loudly: "Within the gate, I control it; outside the gate, the general controls it."

"Set off!" Feng Bao shouted loudly with his voice raised. The little eunuchs passed the words "Set off" down layer by layer. Zhu Yijun walked down the moon platform step by step, heading towards the Huangji Gate. He passed the Jin Shuiqiao inside the Huangji Gate and walked to the inside of the Meridian Gate. The city gate opened wide. A horse was being led by Zhang Hong, waiting quietly inside the Meridian Gate.

These years, Zhang Hong seemed to have done nothing, but in fact, he had always been within three feet of His Majesty. Everything within three feet of His Majesty was his responsibility. Indeed, Feng Bao was the old ancestor in the palace, but Feng Bao would never provoke Zhang Hong. After nine years of growth, Zhang Hong only needed a word from His Majesty to replace him.

But Zhang Hong never coveted Feng Bao's position. If he knocked Feng Bao down, he would become the Feng Bao of the past, and there would be newcomers to become Zhang Hong. What His Majesty disliked most was internal friction without any purpose and proposition. Meaningless internal friction would only consume the vitality of the empire in vain.

Zhu Yijun was followed by the Ming's auxiliary ministers, court ministers, and court officials, lined up from the Meridian Gate to the Huangji Gate.

Zhu Yijun stood in front of the horse and glanced at Zhang Juzheng. The last time he performed the Pushing Hub Ritual was in the fifth year of Wanli, when Qi Jiguang conquered Ning Guard. At that time, Zhang Juzheng helped the Emperor, but now Zhang Juzheng stood three feet away from the Emperor, watching His Majesty quietly.

His Majesty, after all, has grown up.

Zhu Yijun turned over and mounted the horse. The horse walked slowly forward. The Embroidered Uniform Guard Zhao Mengyou led a number of Embroidered Uniform Guards wearing flying fish suits and walked out of the city gate first, while Zhao Mengyou's eldest son, Zhu Yijun's sparring partner Zhao Zhenyuan, was responsible for the rear. The horse team walked out of the Meridian Gate slowly.

After walking a few dozen steps, it suddenly opened up after walking out of the city gate. Four white elephants stood outside the Outer Jin Shuiqiao, and Li Rusong led a cavalry battalion of 3,000 people, waiting quietly there. When the drums and horns blew, Li Rusong saw the Emperor's figure.

Li Rusong was also wearing bright armor. Unlike Zhu Yijun, he buckled his face mask. He stepped forward quickly, grabbed the reins of the Emperor's horse, and said loudly with full breath: "Your subject, Assistant Regional Commander of the Beijing Battalion, Cavalry Battalion Assistant Regional Commander Li Rusong, leads the horse and falls to the stirrup for Your Majesty, acting as the vanguard for the King!"

"Granted!" Zhu Yijun answered Li Rusong's request. Before this, it had always been Qi Jiguang acting as the vanguard for the King, but Qi Jiguang had already passed his peak period and could no longer pull the tiger-power bow. Zhu Yijun did not allow Qi Jiguang to ride the white elephant again and changed it to Li Rusong.

Even in such a serious occasion, Zhu Yijun still had to say: Li Rusong's voice was really loud. It could be seen that he really cared about this hard-won opportunity to act as the vanguard for the King, and he was really spirited!

Li Chengliang was now extremely submissive, listening to adjustments and proclamations, opening up and expanding in Liaodong safely and diligently, leading guest troops all day long, pressing the Eastern Yi to beat them up, taking an inch for every foot, not without reason. The Ming Emperor and the Ming imperial court did not treat Li Chengliang unfairly in any way.

Li Chengliang's son, Li Rusong, had become the Assistant Regional Commander of the Beijing Battalion, acting as the vanguard for the King. When Li Chengliang, Qi Jiguang, and others gradually grew old and could no longer fight, Li Rusong would be the new Great General.

Unless Li Chengliang was sick or crazy, he would not raise bandits to respect himself, raise tigers to cause trouble, and tear his face with the imperial court.

"Thank Your Majesty for your great grace!" Li Rusong led the horse to the outside of the Outer Jin Shuiqiao and ran quickly towards the white elephant. Wearing armor, he climbed onto the white elephant very flexibly.

The white elephant flicked its nose and walked slowly forward behind the guide car. The cavalry battalion and the Embroidered Uniform Guards set off slowly, walked out of the West Changan Gate, turned to the Imperial Road, and headed towards the Deshengmen. Both sides of the Imperial Road and the street inside the Deshengmen were full of people. Before this, the Ministry of Rites asked His Majesty whether to let the people watch the ceremony. Zhu Yijun approved a sentence: "As you please."

That is, there is no need to gather crowds, and there is no need to stop them. Let the people watch the ceremony themselves. Zhu Yijun buckled his face mask and walked in the middle of the honor guard, walking past the people of the Ming capital. It was quite quiet, without any noise. Zhu Yijun walked this road almost every day. The people had seen the Emperor's armor and honor guard many times, so they felt it was ordinary. This time, it seemed that there was nothing different from weekdays. Only, this time, the Beijing Battalion had rested for two years and went out of the fortress to fight again.

In the 29th year of Jiajing, Altan Khan invaded the capital, which was 31 years ago. Ming men married at 16, and it had been almost two generations. In the face of time, the blood feud of that year had become much flatter. The rights and wrongs of that year had become mottled, and it seemed that it had completely passed.

Thirty-one years had passed. Altan Khan, the gyrfalcon that invaded the capital for thousands of miles, had become a stubborn old man. Many of the old people who witnessed Altan Khan's invasion had become a handful of loess. The streets and alleys had long stopped talking about the chaos of war that year. Even if they were still alive, the memories of that year had long become blurred.

Has it passed? It seems it really has passed. The Ming and Altan Khan fought for 25 years and finally reconciled. The Ming opened up border trade, and Altan Khan bowed his head and became a subject, becoming a traitor to the grasslands, a shame to the golden bloodline, and the Ming's Shunyi Prince.

Zhu Yijun seemed to see some doubts in the eyes of the people. It has already passed, why conquer again? This doubt was also the doubt of some people in the court who advocated peace.

The honor guard walked past the Deshengmen, passed the houses that could not be seen at the end, and walked step by step into the Wu Ying Tower in the Northern Tucheng. After several years of expansion, the Wu Ying Tower was magnificent. From a single five-story pavilion, it became a piece of palace buildings. Zhu Yijun turned over and dismounted, walking into the Wu Ying Tower.

Only the court ministers and the generals of the Ming Beijing Battalion could enter the building.

Zhu Yijun sat on his throne, waited for the court ministers to perform the rites, and then took off his helmet and said: "I know that many people are puzzled why I want to conquer Altan. Because I want to recover the Ordos Loop. The Yellow River has a hundred harms, only the Ordos Loop is rich, which is the Ordos Loop area."

"During the Tianshun period, the Ming lost the Ordos Loop. During the Jiajing period, the Ordos Loop was recovered, and it caused the chaos of Altan invading the capital."

"Pan Jixun and Pan Cheng told me that to govern the Yellow River's water disaster, tossing in the lower reaches is useless. To govern the Yellow River, we must first govern the Ordos Loop, govern the loess plateau, bundle the water to flush the sand, and the sand flushed away is never as much as the lost water and soil."

"Minister of Revenue Wang Guoguang and Zhang Xueyan told me that if the Ordos Loop is always in the hands of the Hu, then the military garrison guards in Shaanxi, Gansu, and Yansui will always be in deficit, and grain and pay need to be transported to the three borders, wasting millions without gain. More clearly, the three borders will always lose money."

"Tan Sima Tan Lun told me: 'Your Majesty, the Ordos Loop is mixed with Hu and Han, and it is in deficit. If there is a change, if the nine borders die, the world will die. Whoever gets the three borders gets the world. If the Ordos Loop is in the hands of the Northern Hu for one day, the Ming will not have peace for one day.'"

"Minister of Rites Wan Shihe told me: 'This Altan Khan is ultimately a Hu King, and the Northern Hu is still the Northern Hu, not border subjects, let alone Ming people. How can others snore on the side of the bed? Only by pulling out Altan Khan's Khan flag can the Northern Hu no longer be Northern Hu, but border subjects.'"

"Minister of Works Wang Daokun told me: 'Build the imperial road to the Ordos Loop. Once the imperial road arrives, the Ming's recovery of the Ordos Loop will be able to be held, and it will not be lost again. As long as the Ming Beijing Battalion can reach the Ordos Loop within a month, the Hu people will not dare to invade. And the Ming's national use is now full. If we don't build it now, it will be very difficult to build it in the future.'"

"Minister of Personnel Liang Menglong, who came from the military, told me: 'Fight. If we don't fight, Altan Khan will die. Those who stubbornly resist on the grasslands will be broken into pieces, which will be more difficult to clean up and more difficult to Royal Transform.'"

Zhu Yijun was a bit wordy, which was rare, but the civil and military officials of the Ming stood quietly and listened to His Majesty's wordiness. In fact, His Majesty didn't need to say it so clearly and clearly, because from the day the Beijing Battalion was rebuilt, the Ming and the Northern Hu were very clear that this unfinished war had to be restarted.

Rites, music, and conquest come from the Son of Heaven.

The Beijing Battalion spent millions to rebuild, just for this day.

Zhu Yijun named all six ministries, but left out Minister of Justice Wang Chonggu, because Wang Chonggu did not express any position on this matter. In this matter, the Jin people could only remain silent. Whether supporting the war or opposing the war, the Jin people were determined not to express their position. This was related to their stance, and also related to the past.

Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Chonggu and said quite calmly: "When I first ascended the throne, I always felt that the court was full of upright people. The master was in the court, with wrists and ability, and everything was handed over to the master. In the first year of Wanli, Wang Jinglong rushed into the Qianqing Palace and woke me up with a knife."

"Since then, I have been walking on thin ice, cautious and careful."

Zhu Yijun lived in the Tonghe Palace, very close to the Lecture Hall, very close to the Beijing Battalion where the Embroidered Uniform Guards were stationed, and very close to the Great General's Mansion of Qi Jiguang. Zhu Yijun walked around all day in the name of the Qi family of the Great General's Mansion. In a sense, it was not a lie.

Wang Chonggu immediately broke into a cold sweat! The Emperor lived in the Tonghe Palace, wasn't it caused by the Jin Party?

His Majesty had never forgotten, never forgotten how lawless the Jin Party was at the beginning. But His Majesty had also never ignored the contributions the Jin Party made to the Ming after turning around. Merit and demerit, right and wrong, were never absolutely opposed, but contradictory and interdependent.

Just like that question at the beginning: Yang Bo, is he a gentleman or a villain?

Wang Chonggu looked bitter. If he had known that the Emperor was so wise, the Jin people would not have dared to do those rebellious things even if they had the guts of a bear.

Wang Chonggu thought about it and felt it was all Gao Gong's fault! Gao Gong had been educating the Crown Prince since the fourth year of Longqing. Gao Gong felt that His Majesty was not a ruler! It was Gao Gong's judgment that interfered with the Jin Party's decision-making. It must be like this! It was all Zhang Siwei's fault. The Jin people were indeed lawless, but they were far from being as lawless as Zhang Siwei.

Assassinating the King and killing the driver, burning the palace with fire, framing Gao Gong to intensify the party strife in the court, any of these charges would be clan extermination at the lightest. So Zhang Siwei entered the Dissection Institute and was made into a specimen.

Zhu Yijun continued: "I was afraid at that time, but I couldn't show it. The more I showed it, the more I was bullied. I could only hold on and bluff, looking like I was not afraid of anything."

"I am the master of the world, where the Mandate of Heaven is. I know that many ministers muttered about me in private, saying I was cold-blooded, ruthless, thin-skinned, and ungrateful. I exterminated Zhang Siwei's clan, exterminated the Kong family of Yanzhou, and some time ago I killed Xu Jie with my own hands. Not long ago, I just exterminated the New Capital Yang family's clan."

"Why do I want to conquer Altan? Because in those days of walking on thin ice, for my own safety, I made a promise to Commander Qi. Like drawing a cake to satisfy hunger, I said to Commander Qi: 'Commander Qi, I will make you a Marquis. You return to the capital to preside over the Beijing Battalion and protect my safety. I will let you, Commander Qi, have golden spears and iron horses, and swallow ten thousand miles like a tiger.'"

"Actually, it's really ridiculous. I, a ten-year-old child, bluffed and made a promise in the name of the Emperor, and Commander Qi, such a great general, actually believed it."

Zhu Yijun looked at Qi Jiguang. At that time, he handed his life to Qi Jiguang. When the young master was young and the country was suspicious, he took the Beijing Battalion from Wang Chonggu's hands and handed it to Qi Jiguang, a general. He was gambling with his life, gambling on Qi Jiguang's loyalty.

The Chen Qiao mutiny and Zhao Kuangyin wearing the yellow robe have historical lessons. Handing the Beijing Battalion to Qi Jiguang was indeed a big gamble. Zhu Yijun won the gamble. From the selection of military generals for the Beijing Battalion in the first year of Wanli, Qi Jiguang never thought about turning the Beijing Battalion into his own private army. The Beijing Battalion was the Ming's Beijing Battalion, and even more so the Emperor's Beijing Battalion.

What's the use of a young man being wise like a demon?

At that time, Zhu Yijun actually had no choice. Either hand his life to Zhang Juzheng and Qi Jiguang, or hand his life to the Jin Party's Wang Chonggu and Zhang Siwei.

"Today, it is time for me to fulfill my promise." Zhu Yijun looked at Qi Jiguang, picked up the Qi family army saber at hand, walked to Qi Jiguang, and said: "Commander Qi, my saber is handed to you. The Beijing Battalion kills the thieves, just treat it as me killing the thieves. With this saber, Commander Qi can act at his discretion, execute first and report later."

Zhu Yijun said solemnly: "The Ming's military appearance shines with heavenly might! Ming Army! Mighty!"

Qi Jiguang hung the saber on his body, stood up straight, and shouted in unison with the military generals: "Your Majesty is mighty!"

Qi Jiguang never forgot the promise the Emperor made to him, and never once felt that His Majesty would not fulfill his promise. His Majesty was a ruthless person. The harshness of Qi Jiguang's training method was known to the world. When he first met His Majesty, His Majesty had stricter requirements for himself. Those who were ruthless to themselves were ruthless people. As expected, His Majesty grew up and became a ruthless emperor.

His Majesty persisted for nine years as one day until now. This is a person of great perseverance. The promise of a person of great perseverance is heavier than Mount Tai.

In fact, many people said that he, Qi Jiguang, was foolishly loyal. Qi Jiguang always scoffed at it. They didn't understand at all. The lifelong wish of Qi Jiguang was just four words: "The country is prosperous and the people are at peace."

"Enfeoffment is not my intention, I only hope the sea waves are flat."

Qi Jiguang left the Wu Ying Tower with His Majesty's saber. Zhu Yijun also came to the drill ground outside the Wu Ying Tower. After the sand field point soldiers, it was the set off. Minister of Rites Wan Shihe read a very, very long manifesto, counting the crimes of Altan Khan. These were all solid charges, including the invasion of Datong and Xuanfu Great Wall by Altan Khan in the first year of Wanli, plundering the two guards of Gao Shan and Tian Cheng.

Zhu Yijun still remembered that day. He had just enfeoffed Qi Jiguang as a Marquis. Yang Bo opposed it on behalf of the Jin Party, and Zhang Juzheng came forward to protect him, refuting Yang Bo's words with "lightly starting punishment." The Jin Party finally compromised and recognized that enfeoffment. Before the words fell, the border pass of Datong Prefecture was broken. Altan Khan flew into the Great Wall like he had grown wings, plundering the two guards of Gao Shan and Tian Cheng. That time, Datong Regional Commander Ma Fang was dismissed and then transferred to the Beijing Battalion as Deputy Regional Commander.

Now, Ma Fang and Liu Xian, as Regional Commanders of the Five Military Governor's Offices, were retired in the Lecture Hall.

Zhu Yijun was a person who held grudges very, very much.

Zhu Yijun came to the post station of the Northern Tucheng, stood on the small railway of the imperial road, pushed the car hub slowly, and said to Qi Jiguang who was standing on the side: "Commander Qi, I still say that, the Ming can afford to lose. If the strength is not enough, you can withdraw to the Ming and discuss it from a long-term perspective."

Every time Qi Jiguang went on an expedition, Zhu Yijun would tell Qi Jiguang very definitely that this battle was allowed to be lost. The situation on the battlefield changes rapidly, and winning or losing is very normal. Victory or defeat is a common matter for military strategists. If you lose this time, summarize the lessons and win them back.

The Ming was never afraid of losing. The moment the Northern Hu was dragged into fighting for blood, the Ming won.

In the past, there was really no chance to come again.

In the 34th year of Jiajing, Altan Khan was ambitious, leading 50,000 elites and 70,000 followers, claiming to be 500,000, forcing Xuanfu. This was a feint. He only left 30,000 people to besiege Xuanfu and began to force the Juyong Pass, forcing his way to the foot of the Juyong Pass, and no one dared to compete with him.

After the invasion of the capital in the 29th year of Jiajing, Altan Khan was full of ambition! At that time, the Ming was broken in courage. In the five years of confrontation that followed, Altan Khan beheaded three Ming Regional Commanders, four Deputy Regional Commanders, and seven Assistant Regional Commanders. The edge was exposed, and the Ming capital even had the public opinion of moving the capital.

In the 34th year of Jiajing, Altan Khan wanted to break the Juyong Pass, break the rescue route from the capital to Xuanfu, completely take down Xuanfu, the gate of the capital, invade the capital from the Juyong Pass and Zijing Pass, and continuously weaken the Ming's national destiny to plan for the great cause.

Ma Fang was then the Deputy Regional Commander of Jiliao. On the one hand, he attacked Altan Khan's army from the side, and on the other hand, he met the enemy at Jielingkou with Regional Commander Ouyang An, repelling Altan Khan. In the same year, Altan Khan was not reconciled to the failure of his plan and merged with Tuman Khan, attacking from both left and right wings. The pass was broken from Xifengkou, and important towns such as Zunhua and Yutian fell one after another. The Jiliao Viceroy Wang Zhu fled in the face of battle and his whereabouts were unknown.

Ma Fang once again severely damaged the Tuman and Altan coalition forces at Jinshan Temple. Tuman and Altan had contradictions internally. When they won, they were naturally good. After being severely damaged by Ma Fang, Tuman Khan had the intention to retreat, and Altan Khan could only look at the Jiliao gate and sigh in vain.

Tuman Khan's strength was not strong, but once he retreated, the military heart was scattered, and there was no way to continue to advance. Altan Khan, who was good at military affairs, knew that he could not fight again.

Since then, Altan Khan invaded the south several times, but was blocked by Ma Fang, who was promoted to Datong Regional Commander. In the 25-year war, Altan Khan could not break through the defense line to plunder the capital again. Ambition turned into living in peace.

"Then I wish the General, the prosperity of the military fortune!" Zhu Yijun left the car hub and said the Emperor's blessing.

"Ming Army, set off!" Qi Jiguang walked onto the big sedan chair, drew the saber bestowed by the Emperor, and gave the order.

Qi Jiguang's big sedan chair was on the Iron Horse. The three-horsepower car head would pull the army and the baggage to the Ming Imperial Mausoleum, pass the Juyong Pass, and arrive at Xuanfu.

The 100,000 Beijing Battalion mobilized three cavalry battalions, nine vehicle battalions, and twelve infantry battalions this time, totaling 25 regiment battalions, more than 80,000 people, heading to Xuanfu as a sharp knife to pierce the heart of Altan Khan, Baisheng City.

The Datong and Xuanfu border troops would send 50,000 garrison troops to cooperate, and Shaanxi, Ningxia, and Yansui would have a total of 50,000 people from the northwest direction to surround and intercept Altan Khan, preventing Altan Khan from advancing westward.

Plus the cooperation of Kaiping Guard and Yingchang, in this battle, the Ming dispatched a total of 200,000 people.

Zhu Yijun did what he said. Golden spears and iron horses must have iron horses. Saying 200,000 troops means 200,000 troops.

Zhu Yijun stood on the Wu Ying Tower, watching the steam engine roaring and rolling forward with black smoke. The Ming soldiers carried their own luggage, lined up in a long dragon, and followed the baggage to the west. The Ming Beijing Battalion would be divided into front, middle, and rear armies, setting off in three parts. 80,000 people completed the mobilization within one day, arrived at Juyong Pass in three days, and arrived at Xuanfu in five days.

The Ming elite could march 30 miles a day, but now because of the imperial road and the steam engine, the Ming army could march 60 miles a day. With the increase in the number of steam engines and the construction of the imperial road, the marching speed of the Ming army would be further improved.

"Foolishly loyal? That's not stupid, it's loyalty to the country, loyalty to the monarch, loyalty to the heart, loyalty to one's own life." Zhu Yijun watched the army moving forward slowly and said to Zhang Juzheng with great emotion.

Yue Fei was not foolishly loyal, Yu Qian was not foolishly loyal, and Qi Jiguang was even less foolishly loyal, because they knew that if they chose to resist, the biggest loss would be the country they cared about most. What they wanted to do would never be possible to do.

Zhao Kuangyin bullied the orphans and widows to get the country, released military power with a cup of wine, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun became a wound on the heart of the two Song Dynasties that could never be healed.

Right and wrong, correct and incorrect, are just choices of their respective stances.

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhang Juzheng looked at the departing figure and said with a smile: "Commander Qi is still the Commander Qi of the past. He has never changed. What he seeks is never fame and wealth, but the prosperity of the country and the peace of the people."

Zhu Yijun nodded in approval and said: "Then I was originally prepared to promote Commander Qi to a Duke after his triumphant return. Since the master said that Commander Qi does not seek fame and wealth, then I will not give it, haha."

"Your Majesty, fame and vessels cannot be lightly bestowed." Zhang Juzheng was quite solemn, agreeing with this joke of His Majesty. Zhang Juzheng knew that the Emperor was joking, but he was really expressing his own point of view.

Qi Jiguang was still too young now. Zhang Juzheng believed that the position of Duke could not be lightly bestowed.

"Hmm?" Zhu Yijun frowned, then relaxed, shook his head and said: "The master is really becoming more and more boring. When he taught me at the beginning, the Great Dao of state affairs is only clear rewards and punishments. Commander Qi has made contributions in the war, so he should be enfeoffed."

In the final analysis, Zhang Juzheng cared more about Zhu Yijun, this successor, than Qi Jiguang, this past disciple. When Qi Jiguang might threaten the imperial power, Zhang Juzheng chose His Majesty.

Zhang Juzheng's expression was complex. "State affairs are only clear rewards and punishments" was indeed his consistent stance. He had eaten a solid boomerang. He had eaten too many boomerangs over the years, and he was somewhat used to it. He said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the Duke of Cheng, Zhu Xizhong, died and was posthumously enfeoffed as the Prince of Dingxiang, buried with the rites of a Prince. To this day, he is still criticized by the scholars. Commander Qi is already the Marquis of Qian'an. If he is enfeoffed as a Duke, he can no longer serve as the Regional Commander of the Beijing Battalion."

"Your subject is also for Commander Qi's own good."

Reaching Qi Jiguang's position, one can only choose between a title and military power.