Chapter 184

At this moment!

For the entire Great Ming, the appearance of the victory of breaking the Yuan capital, compared with Zhu Ying's frontal defeat of the one hundred thousand Northern Yuan iron cavalry, was a victory that was not inferior at all, enough to inspire the hearts of the Great Ming people, and became the greatest encouragement.

Break the Yuan capital.

Step on the Yuan court.

Especially for the newly born Great Ming world, and those Great Ming people who suffered in the era of the Yuan court, this news must carry unprecedented encouragement.

Yuan court!

Since more than a hundred years ago, after they entered the Central Plains, they established their decaying dynasty on this land belonging to the Huaxia Han family.

Although the life of this dynasty was short.

But for the Huaxia Han people, this was a history full of humiliation.

Under the rule of the Yuan court, the Han people once suffered various injustices and oppression, their dignity was trampled upon at will, and even when Han people got married, the first night had to be offered to the Yuan nobles.

Until the appearance of the Great Ming.

Zhu Yuanzhang emerged, leading countless Han descendants to rise up and resist, chasing the deer in the world, and finally overthrew the brutal rule of the Yuan court and reshaped the Han dynasty.

Undoubtedly!

Zhu Yuanzhang was the hero of the entire Huaxia!

But the existence of the Yuan was always like a sword hanging over the heads of all Han people, threatening them at all times.

Now!

The Yuan capital was successfully broken by the Great Ming northern expedition army, and the last city of the Northern Yuan within the Great Wall was completely removed.

Under this major victory, it not only meant that the Northern Yuan would have no foothold on the Huaxia land, but also marked that they completely lost the name of a dynasty.

From now on, the Northern Yuan would return to being nomadic tribes, and their threat to the Great Ming would be greatly reduced.

At this moment!

Facing the successive congratulations of the officials, Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon chair, and a joyful smile could not help but appear on his old face.

Breaking the Yuan capital was undoubtedly an exciting piece of good news, but compared with his grand expectations deep in his heart, there was still a not-so-small distance.

What he thought in his heart was to completely disintegrate the Northern Yuan, and let the dynasty regime of "Yuan," which once brought endless pain to the Han people, disappear completely.

He wanted to let the grassland tribes that were originally gathered under the name of Northern Yuan fall apart and split into several independent regimes that fought against each other.

After all, compared with many separated tribes, the strength of the threat of a unified Northern Yuan to the Great Ming was obvious.

Once the Northern Yuan split, the various tribes would inevitably fight for limited resources and be unable to take care of themselves, so they would naturally be unable to pose a great threat to the Great Ming.

This was the true purpose of the northern expedition.

"Officials." Zhu Yuanzhang spoke slowly, his old and majestic voice resounding in the Feng Tian Hall.

Instantly.

The enthusiastic flattery in the hall stopped abruptly.

All the ministers showed respect, and all their gazes were cast on Zhu Yuanzhang on the dragon chair.

"Although the Yuan capital is broken, the Northern Yuan is not destroyed."

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression was serious, his gaze scanned the officials below, and he still said seriously: "The northern expedition army still needs to consolidate the victory and continue to move troops."

"Before breaking the Yuan capital, I had already issued an edict for the army to continue north."

"In this battle, if the Northern Yuan cannot be completely disintegrated, it cannot be called a real great victory."

"Only when the name of the Northern Yuan ceases to exist and the northern frontier is no longer in a unified state can this be a great victory."

Zhu Yuanzhang's words were full of unquestionable majesty; this was declaring to the civil and military officials what the victory he wanted for the northern expedition was.

"The Ministry of War, pay close attention to the results of the northern frontier for me, and tell me immediately if there is any situation."

Zhu Yuanzhang added immediately, his gaze looking at Tang Duo.

"I obey the edict."

Hearing this, Tang Duo stood out from the court ranks immediately, held up the court tablet, and respectfully obeyed the edict.

"Father."

At this time, Zhu stepped forward a few steps, turned around, and said to Zhu Yuanzhang with a serious face: "It will be winter in at most three months."

"That is to say, our northern expedition army only has three months left."

"If a decisive victory cannot be achieved within three months, I suggest letting the northern expedition army withdraw."

"The northern frontier has much wind and snow, and it is a place of extreme cold; once you go deep into the northern frontier, I fear the whole army will be wiped out."

"This matter still needs careful consideration."

When Zhu Biao said these words, his expression was serious, and his eyes revealed deep worry.

He knew deeply the harsh environment of the northern frontier, also understood the coldness of the north, and also understood the huge risks that the army might bring if it went deep rashly.

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang had a thoughtful look on his face.

After a short period of contemplation, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slowly and said, "The Crown Prince's words are very true."

"Three months, let the northern expedition army move for another three months."

"The northern expedition army must safely withdraw into the Great Ming territory before the snow covers the desert."

"Only when the northern expedition is successful will I reward heavily."

Zhu Yuanzhang said loudly, full of trust and expectation for the northern expedition army.

"In this battle, which general was the first to break the Yuan capital?"

Zhu Yuanzhang changed the subject and cast his gaze toward Tang Duo in the court, asking.

"Reporting to the Emperor."

Tang Duo hurriedly stepped forward and replied respectfully: "In this battle of breaking the Yuan capital, the Marquis of Champions, Zhu Ying, was the first to break the city and kill into the Yuan capital."

"Subsequently, he went all out, broke into the Yuan palace, and personally beheaded the Northern Yuan Grand Marshal Manzi."

"This battle not only achieved the result of breaking the Yuan capital but also captured countless nobles in the Yuan capital."

"According to the report from Grand General Guo Ying, this battle captured more than sixty thousand Northern Yuan nobles, who have now all been demoted to slave status."

"And the property of these nobles has also been confiscated and will be transported to the court in batches."

When Tang Duo spoke, his logic was clear, and he didn't dare to have the slightest slack.

And in his words, he also reported Zhu Ying's result of breaking the Yuan capital first.

"It's Zhu Ying again."

"Not bad."

Zhu Yuanzhang praised with a smile.

But now there were no surprises, because if Zhu Ying didn't make battle merits, it would be strange.

"What was obtained in the Northern Yuan this time will surely increase the national treasury." Zhu Biao said with a smile.

This northern expedition battle.

Although it was a huge consumption of national strength, if it was won, relying on the rich resources obtained from the defeated country, it could also fill the national treasury and make up for the deficit.

This time, when the Yuan Emperor fled, he didn't dare to make a sound; although he took away many treasures in the palace, the Yuan capital was the capital of the Northern Yuan after all, and the nobles gathered there, so the richness of their family property could be imagined.

Just confiscating the property of these nobles might be enough for the Great Ming to obtain a considerable amount of wealth.

And.

This did not include important materials such as warhorses and cattle and sheep obtained from the Northern Yuan.

If all these were counted, the Great Ming would definitely not have too much loss in this battle, and might even have a surplus.

"Zhao Mian." Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment and said directly.

"I am here." Zhao Mian heard the Emperor's call, stood out immediately, straightened his clothes, and bowed respectfully.

"Immediately let the Ministry of Revenue send officials good at calculation to the northern frontier; you must detail all the gains of this battle."

"Whether it is gold, silver, and wealth, or cattle, sheep, and warhorses, all of this must be counted clearly for me."

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression was serious, showing his high importance to this matter.

"Also, the Ministry of War, warn the generals in the northern expedition army for me that the rewards I bestow are what they deserve."

"If I have not bestowed them, these gains from the expedition must all be put into the national treasury."

"Whoever dares to embezzle, I will absolutely not let him go."

Zhu Yuanzhang's tone became extremely severe at the end, and coldness flashed in his old eyes.

He knew human nature; during the war, some generals might not be able to withstand the temptation and embezzle the spoils of war privately.

This behavior not only damaged the interests of the Great Ming but also seriously affected the army.

Therefore, he had to sound the alarm in advance to serve as a warning to others.

After the great war, the consumption of the national treasury was huge.

The maintenance and development of various places urgently needed a lot of money.

Various livelihood needs, such as building water conservancy facilities, rescuing disaster victims, etc.; military needs, such as purchasing weapons, food, etc., and even the salaries of officials, every expenditure was like flowing water.

Perhaps the expenses of a few people didn't count for anything, but the expenses of the entire Great Ming world were an incomparably huge number, like a heavy mountain pressing on the shoulders of the court.

So the wealth obtained this time must be treated with importance to make up for the national treasury.

"I obey the edict."

Zhao Mian and Tang Duo looked at each other, and both saw a look of solemnity in each other's eyes.

"Reporting to the Emperor."

At this time!

Lv Ben stood out, his expression respectful: "Today, I received a report from the Ministry of Rites."

"The King of Goryeo sent an envoy, begging the Great Ming to send troops to destroy the rebel army in Goryeo."

"And he stated clearly that if our Great Ming is willing to send troops to help, Goryeo will forever be a subject of the Great Ming."

When Lv Ben said these words, his tone was steady.

This matter.

Must wait for Zhu Yuanzhang's approval.

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, then sneered: "Goryeo, a small barbarian country, thinks quite beautifully."

"Before, they paid tribute and called themselves subjects to the Northern Yuan, and even sent troops to help the Northern Yuan to resist our Great Ming's conquest of Liaodong."

"If it weren't for our Great Ming soldiers being brave and taking Liaodong first, Goryeo would really have been an enemy of our Great Ming."

"This hatred, I haven't settled with Goryeo yet, and the King of Goryeo dares to come and ask our Great Ming to save him?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's words were full of sarcasm; he was extremely dissatisfied with the fickleness of this small country of Goryeo.

In his view, Goryeo's behavior of seeing the wind and steering the rudder was really despicable.

Now the Northern Yuan is weak.

Now the Great Ming is strong, and Goryeo is about to be destroyed, so they want to pay tribute and call themselves subjects to the Great Ming? And want the Great Ming to send troops to help?

Thinking quite beautifully!

"The Emperor's words are very true."

Lv Ben hurriedly echoed: "According to the report from the Ministry of Rites, the chaos in Goryeo has intensified, and the Goryeo King's army has been defeated by his former Grand Marshal Li Chenggui, and they are even approaching his capital."

"Perhaps before long, Goryeo will welcome a change of dynasty."

"And, Li Chenggui fears our Great Ming, and the officials under his command stated through the Ministry of Rites their awe of the Emperor and their awe of the Great Ming."

"He stated that after the civil war in his country ends, he will definitely send an envoy to pay tribute to the Great Ming."

Lv Ben further supplemented the situation in Goryeo, allowing Zhu Yuanzhang to have a more comprehensive understanding of the situation in Goryeo.

"Crown Prince."

Zhu Yuanzhang turned his gaze to Zhu Biao and asked directly: "Regarding the situation in Goryeo, what do you think?"

Over the years, although the Great Ming had placed all its focus on the interior of the empire, mainly targeting the Northern Yuan, and was committed to recovering the old land and restoring the Han territory.

But under the vast territory of the Great Ming, there were also many small countries around the Great Ming.

Under the prestige of the Great Ming, some small countries feared the Great Ming, took the initiative to call themselves subjects, paid tribute from time to time to show their loyalty to the Great Ming, and some small countries overestimated their own strength, trying to be enemies with the Great Ming, and even stationed troops at the border to provoke the authority of the Great Ming.

However, for these small countries, they were just small troubles on the Great Ming; if they really moved troops, it would not be a difficult task to clean them up.

And the Northern Yuan was the true big trouble of the Great Ming, like a sword hanging over their heads, threatening the safety of the Great Ming at all times.

"Father."

Zhu Biao thought for a moment and said very confidently: "I feel that we should let Goryeo fight internally."

"This Li Chenggui is a smart man; he knows how to get along with our Great Ming in the future."

"After this northern expedition is successful, the Northern Yuan will no longer be able to form a tripod with our Great Ming."

"If Li Chenggui dares to provoke our Great Ming, then let him know what the Great Ming's heavenly might is."

When Zhu Biao said these words, his face carried a confidence of a crown prince of a great country, quite like the hegemony of an emperor.

And listening to these words of Zhu Biao, Zhu Yuanzhang's face immediately showed a look of being moved, and he nodded in approval, saying: "Biao'er is right; these words already have the spirit of an emperor."

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was full of relief and joy; he was very satisfied with Zhu Biao's performance.

In his view, Zhu Biao had completely grown into a crown prince with responsibility and strategy, possessing the ability to govern the world and even more ability to deal with the outside.

Listening to Zhu Yuanzhang's praise, the officials in the court were naturally not surprised at all.

After all, the relationship between the emperor and his son in this dynasty was harmonious, and it was not the tense situation of swords drawn and bows bent in previous dynasties.

The current Emperor trusted the Crown Prince extremely, and did not worry at all that the Crown Prince would usurp the throne.

Because in the Emperor's view, everything in the future was Crown Prince Zhu Biao's anyway, and everything he did was paving the way for the Crown Prince, helping him better inherit the throne and govern the world.

"But Father."

Zhu Biao changed the subject and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with a smile: "In more than three months, the end of the year will be approaching, and next year there is a big event that our court needs to handle with all our strength."

When Zhu Biao said this, his eyes flashed with anticipation, as if he were full of longing for this big event.

"Yes."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly and sighed: "Before I knew it, the three-year imperial examination has arrived again."

"I don't know how many talents this will bring to our Great Ming."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face also showed an expectant look; he knew deeply the importance of talents to the country.

Every imperial examination was an important opportunity for the Great Ming to select talents; he hoped that through this imperial examination, he could recruit more pillars of talent for the country and inject new vitality into the prosperity of the Great Ming.

"Father, our Great Ming is full of outstanding people, and countless talents have emerged; this imperial examination will definitely not let Father down."

Zhu Biao said with a smile, his tone firm.

He knew that on this vast territory of the Great Ming, countless talents were hidden, just waiting for an opportunity to stand out and serve the country.

The imperial examination was the way.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and then said gently: "The preparation for this imperial examination is still handed over to the Crown Prince to manage, and the Ministry of Rites will fully cooperate."

Still.

Zhu Yuanzhang was full of trust in Zhu Biao; he handed such an important imperial examination to Zhu Biao, naturally without any worry.

"I obey the edict." Zhu Biao responded immediately.

"I obey the edict." Lv Ben also obeyed the order immediately; the important responsibility of the Ministry of Rites in the imperial examination, he naturally would not let it go.

The imperial examination was an important way to select officials for the Great Ming, so it was naturally extremely important.

Since the founding of the Great Ming, except for the first imperial examination which was presided over by Zhu Yuanzhang himself, the subsequent imperial examinations were all presided over by Zhu Biao.

This was also to cultivate his own team for Zhu Biao; after all, after the imperial examination, the officials selected by Zhu Biao himself were all students of the Crown Prince.

These people would also serve Zhu Biao wholeheartedly in the future and become his capable assistants in governing the world.

"By the way."

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to suddenly remember something: "Regarding Zhu Ying's battle merits, has the Ministry of War recorded them all?"

"Reporting to the Emperor." Tang Duo responded hurriedly: "The Marquis of Champions' battle merits have all been recorded in the register."

"And not only the Marquis of Champions, but the battle merits of all the generals above the rank of Commandery Assistant who have made contributions in the northern expedition have been recorded in the register, just waiting for the northern expedition to be successful, and the Emperor can reward them according to their merits."

When Tang Duo spoke, his logic was clear, and he didn't leak a drop.

"That's very good."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled satisfactorily and nodded.

For the Ministry of War presided over by Tang Duo, such a rigorous attitude, he was very satisfied.

The Ministry of War was like this, recording rewards.

Only in this way could it be guaranteed that the soldiers' efforts would be rewarded, encouraging them to fight bravely on the battlefield.

Afterward, Zhu Yuanzhang had a thoughtful look on his face, as if he had thought of something important.

"The Marquis of Champions has made countless battle merits in this northern expedition; his wife and children have been in Ying Tian for a long time, and the Crown Prince once summoned them once, so I should see them too."

Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly, his tone revealing a hint of concern: "Yun Qi, after the court meeting disperses, you go and pass on my oral edict, and you bring Zhu Ying's wife and children into the palace for an audience."

"I will bestow a banquet and rewards."

This was naturally also to express his importance to Zhu Ying.

"This slave obeys the edict."

Yun Qi heard the Emperor's instructions, stepped forward immediately, and responded respectfully.

Zhu Fu!

"Mother, come and catch me."

"Mother..."

In the spacious courtyard of the Zhu Fu.

Zhu Ying had been on the expedition for nearly nine months.

When he left, Zhu Xi was only a few months old, and now he was over a year old.

At first, he could only toddle, and now he could run happily.

He was wearing an exquisite white-gray Chinese dress; Zhu Xi inherited the excellent genes of his father and mother and was born very cute, his pink and tender little face like a ripe apple, making people want to pinch it.

It could be foreseen that in the future, he would definitely be a handsome young man with a graceful demeanor.

Of course.

Compared to the brave spirit of a military general on his father Zhu Ying, this Zhu Xi tended to have a bit of a scholar's temperament; his eyes were full of agility and intelligence, as if he were full of curiosity about everything around him.

"Xi'er, your butt is just itching."

Shen Yuer followed behind her son, a hint of helplessness on her face.

"Making trouble all day long."

Shen Yuer scolded softly, but her tone was full of doting.

She didn't understand what it meant to be a dog-hated age at one or two years old, but now Shen Yuer understood it completely.

This little guy's energy seemed to never be used up; he jumped up and down at home all day, never having a moment of peace, really reaching the age that even dogs hate!

At this time!

Lin Fu walked toward them and picked up little Zhu Xi directly, his movements gentle and skilled, as if this were something he had done countless times.

"Uncle Lin."

Little Zhu Xi saw Lin Fu holding him and immediately bloomed with a bright smile, full of innocence and joy.

"You're back."

Zhu Xi said excitedly: "Did you bring me anything to eat?"

As he spoke, Zhu Xi's eyes opened wide, full of anticipation.

"My little young master wants something to eat, so this old slave must bring it."

Lin Fu said with a smile, looking at his little young master, his smile was extra warm, his eyes full of love for little Zhu Xi.

Subsequently.

Lin Fu took out a rice ball from his sleeve, and the fragrance was nose-piercing.

"Uncle Lin is still the best." Zhu Xi took the rice ball happily and immediately said flatteringly.

"Young Lady."

Lin Fu held little Zhu Xi and turned to face Shen Yuer.

His waist was slightly bent, and he bowed; even though he was regarded as an elder by Zhu Ying and his wife, his etiquette did not diminish at all.

Shen Yuer looked at her son twisting in Lin Fu's arms: "Uncle Lin, do you think I should find a teacher to teach Xi'er to read and write?"

Lin Fu looked down at Zhu Xi, who was blinking his big eyes in his arms, and then said: "Little young master is only a year old, isn't he a bit too young?"

"Although he is small, why do I feel that he is more troublesome than a three or four-year-old child?"

"Infinite energy all day."

Shen Yuer shook her head helplessly, and then leaned closer and lowered her voice, a hint of brilliance in her eyes: "And this little guy is indeed very smart; when I was in the study, he was playing by the desk and actually remembered more than a dozen characters and could read them out!"

Zhu Xi seemed to understand the praise and suddenly broke free from Lin Fu's arms, stumbled to the stone table, pointed at the copybook Shen Yuer left behind, and read vaguely: "Heaven... Earth... Man!"

"Little young master is actually so amazing?" Lin Fu looked in surprise, completely unexpected: "He is only one year and three months old! And he already knows characters?"

After all.

Knowing characters at one year old is indeed very rare.

And this.

Undoubtedly.

It was the influence brought by the talent added to Zhu Xi by the panel; when Zhu Xi was born, a random talent fell, which was 【Politics】.

Politics.

Contains many things.

Among them, reading and writing are naturally included; only by being able to read and write can one handle political affairs.

Now that Zhu Xi learned characters so quickly, it was the manifestation of talent.

Shen Yuer squatted down and stroked her son's head: "I tried a few times, changed different characters to teach him, and he really remembered them all."

As he spoke.

Shen Yuer looked up at Lin Fu, her eyes full of anticipation: "Uncle Lin, do you think it's time to hire a teacher?"

Hearing this.

Lin Fu thought for a moment and nodded immediately, his eyes full of relief for Zhu Xi: "Looking at it this way, it is indeed time to find a teacher for the little young master to teach him to read."

"Such talent cannot be delayed."

Upon hearing this.

"Then Uncle Lin, please take some trouble and see if there are any teachers with good knowledge." Shen Yuer said immediately, and then a faint smile appeared on her pretty face: "So that he doesn't just know how to be naughty all day."

Lin Fu thought for a while, his eyes lit up, and suddenly said: "Young Lady, I actually think that if the little young master really has talent for learning, then find him several teachers."

"Classics, history, philosophy, etiquette, and political studies, hire teachers who are good at each, and then see which subject the little young master is more inclined to."

"If the little young master really has talent, then our Zhu family will really have a future top scholar." Lin Fu said happily.

"Good idea!" Shen Yuer clapped and laughed, agreeing directly: "Anyway, Uncle Lin, you go find them; as long as they are suitable, our mansion will hire them with heavy gold."

"Good."

Lin Fu just agreed.

Suddenly heard hurried footsteps running quickly.

A guard on duty outside the mansion ran over quickly and bowed immediately: "Madam! Steward Lin! Outside the mansion... outside the mansion came the Imperial Guard, all in red cloaks, it seems to be from the Imperial Palace, I don't know what it is, they want to summon the Madam."

(End of chapter)