Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 488 I am Zhu Yuanzhang! Leading the Army into Battle

You'll be in charge?

Even if your Embroidered Uniform Guard has great power, you are not qualified to mobilize our new army, are you?

Sha Qiyang's expression suddenly turned cold, and he immediately refused, saying, "Absolutely not. Border troops have the responsibility to defend the territory; how can they be moved lightly!"

"Without His Majesty's imperial decree or the military affairs department's order, not a single soldier or horse under my command may leave the camp without authorization."

"The Ming Dynasty's new army has its own military discipline and will not tolerate any recklessness."

Old Zhu sneered, "But you've already lent five hundred soldiers to that delegation."

"Have you ever considered that if they return victorious, you might still have room for maneuver, and your guilt might be mitigated?"

"But what if they fail and die in a foreign land?"

"As the border general, you were deceived by a mere fake imperial edict, failing to distinguish its authenticity, neglecting your duties, and arbitrarily mobilizing troops, resulting in the bloodshed of five hundred Ming soldiers in a foreign land!"

"This crime is enough to punish you with a thousand cuts, and your family will also be implicated!"

Upon hearing this, Sha Qiyang felt a chill run down his spine, his face turned ashen, and he sighed deeply, his expression somber: "Life and death are predestined. I was careless in believing this, and it was truly an oversight."

"If the court wants to punish me, I am willing to accept the punishment without complaint."

He changed his tone and said, "But the most important thing right now is to immediately submit a memorial to the court, report this matter to His Majesty, and await His Majesty's decision."

"How can one act on one's own initiative and overstep one's authority?"

“If I make a mistake, how can I live up to the trust the court has placed in me?”

Old Zhu raised an eyebrow and rebuked, "Jiayu Pass is more than 5,000 li away from Jinling. It takes more than a month to cross many mountains along the way. Even with the 800-li express courier service, a round trip of 10,000 li would take at least a month."

"By the time you submit your petition to the court, wait for the court's reply, and then receive the imperial decree here, it will probably be too late."

His gaze was sharp as a knife: "We have made our decision, and we will send troops immediately!"

After saying that, he turned to look at Jiang Huan.

Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat. Knowing there was no way to avoid it, he could only sigh and slowly take out a heavy token from his bosom.

It was the exclusive waist tag of the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He took out the token and waved it at Sha Qiyang.

Sha Qiyang froze the moment his gaze fell on the token, his pupils contracted sharply, and the shock on his face was hard to hide.

Knowing they were Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) was one thing, but now that even the highest commander of Jinyiwei had come in person, that was a completely different story!
"You...you...you are...Commander Jiang of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?" He stammered several times, unable to utter a complete sentence.

At this moment, a storm raged in Sha Qiyang's heart.

What shocked him even more was that Jiang Huan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was already a powerful figure who commanded respect throughout the court, yet he listened to this unassuming old man without question.

Sha Qiyang's mind raced, his face growing paler as he quietly turned his gaze to Old Zhu, his eyes filled with shock, as well as an indescribable awe and fear.

Who exactly is this person who can command the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to obey orders?

Suddenly, it was as if a thunderbolt struck Sha Qiyang's mind. In a flash, he stared intently at Old Zhu, and a thought suddenly exploded in his mind, making him catch his breath.

"You...you are the founding emperor...the supreme emperor?"

Before he could speak, he instinctively wanted to call out "Emperor Taizu," but then he suddenly remembered that the court had already announced to the world that Emperor Taizu had been brought back from the dead and his imperial body had reappeared in the world, and he was now honored as "Supreme Emperor."

Thinking of this, he quickly changed his words, his voice trembling, but full of respect, fear and shock.

In fact, when Sha Qiyang was still an insignificant soldier in his early years, he had seen Zhu De from afar once during a grand military parade.

At that time, he was not at the border, but in Nanjing.

Zhu De personally inspected the troops at the military camp, displaying unparalleled majesty.

Military discipline is strict. Soldiers keep their eyes down and their minds at ease. How could they dare to look up and look directly at each other?
Although Sha Qiyang could see it from afar, he dared not look at it for more than a moment, feeling an overwhelming pressure and boundless awe in his heart.

Moreover, we were quite far away at the time, and the outline of His Majesty the Emperor was blurry, leaving only a vague impression.

Not to mention the passage of time and the relentless passage of years.

Old Zhu looks much older now, and he doesn't look exactly the same as he did back then.

Sha Qiyang didn't dare to think too much about it.

The Supreme Emperor is of such noble status, how could he possibly travel to a desolate and remote border region?
But when he discovered that the middle-aged man was actually Jiang Huan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

The leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard actually treated him with the respect of a follower.
Such an action, how could it not stir one's heart and inspire countless thoughts?
Memories of the past come rushing in like a burst dam.

Sha Qiyang's gaze was fixed on Old Zhu, and the more he looked at him, the more familiar he seemed.

The composure and majesty emanating from his every move clearly revealed the demeanor of an emperor who had long held the highest position!
That was not the air of a subject, nor the demeanor of a prime minister, but rather the presence of the most supreme among emperors!

Even prime ministers must be extremely careful and cautious in front of the emperor.

They may appear domineering, imposing, or even bossy in front of their subordinates, but they will never possess this carefree and composed demeanor.

This is a habit that has been formed over a long period of time.

Furthermore, if there is anyone in the world who can command the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to personally obey orders, how could they be an ordinary person?
Sha Qiyang glanced at the token in Jiang Huan's hand again, and there was no longer the slightest doubt in his heart.

"Your humble servant Sha Qiyang pays his respects to the Supreme Emperor!"

With a thud, he knelt heavily on both knees, his head bowed to the ground: "Your Majesty, I was blind and deserve to die!"

Old Zhu paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "You recognize me?"

Making Jiang Huan produce the token was an attempt to reveal his identity; otherwise, the border troops could not be mobilized.

But Sha Qiyang was just a border military officer and had never seen him in court. How could he be so sure?

Sha Qiyang pressed his forehead to the ground, his tone becoming increasingly respectful: "When I was just a lowly soldier, Your Majesty graced me with your presence during a military review. Although I only caught a glimpse of you from afar, I have long since etched Your Majesty's might into my heart."

"Today, I saw the Supreme Emperor's divine appearance and demeanor, which is like that of a celestial being, something that no ordinary person could possess. While I was surprised, I also felt a vague sense of familiarity, but I dared not say for sure for the time being."

"It was only when Commander Jiang revealed his token that I was struck dumb and suddenly realized what was happening."

"Your Majesty, I am truly foolish and dull-witted. I was completely unaware of Your Majesty's presence. I beg Your Majesty to forgive my oversight!"

He repeatedly apologized, and while being respectful, he also cleverly flattered her.

Despite his military background, Sha Qiyang was shrewd and cunning. When he spoke, he was just as eloquent as the court's most skilled civil officials, and his flattery was both vivid and perfectly timed.

Old Zhu waved his sleeve lightly, his expression indifferent: "Get up."

He looked intently at Sha Qiyang as he stood up, a hint of amusement in his voice, and said, "We're going to mobilize troops out of the pass. Do you still have any objections?"

Sha Qiyang had just straightened up and was not yet fully steady when he heard these words. His heart tightened suddenly, his knees buckled, and he fell to his knees again with a thud, his forehead almost hitting the blue bricks on the ground.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me!" His voice was low, filled with barely concealed fear and anxiety: "Your Majesty's body is of utmost importance. Even if I had a hundred heads, I would never dare to let Your Majesty personally go into danger!"

Old Zhu's eyes suddenly turned cold, and his tone was as cold as ice: "Then we'll chop off your hundred heads!"

His words were like iron, and although his voice was not loud, they chilled people to the bone.

"Our mind is made up on this matter, and you have no right to object." "You just need to do as I say. If you utter another word, I will not be so polite to you."

Having said that, his gaze swept over the kneeling Sha Qiyang like a blade, his imposing presence overwhelming.

Sha Qiyang was covered in cold sweat, his heart filled with fear and trepidation. He turned his head away, casting his last hope at Jiang Huan beside him.

As the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Jiang Huan should have been well aware of the importance of the Emperor's safety. If he could have offered some advice, there might have been room for maneuver.

After all, if the Emperor had not been in danger, others could have shifted the blame, but he, as a close and important minister, was destined to be held accountable.

However, Jiang Huan did not speak, but instead looked up at Ji Yuan not far away.

Coincidentally, Yoshigaki was also watching him.

Their eyes met briefly in the air, and in the silence, their expressions were filled with helplessness and solemnity.

To be honest, they were all extremely reluctant for Old Zhu to personally venture into dangerous situations.

The slightest mistake would mean utter ruin for them.

But they also understood that, given Old Zhu's temperament, once he made up his mind, nothing could change it, and no amount of persuasion would work.

After a moment of silence, Yoshigaki finally spoke up and advised, "Since Your Majesty insists on coming in person, this servant dares not stop you. But I urge Your Majesty to guard the central command tent, remain in the center and oversee the situation, and not to venture to the front lines and risk danger."

Old Zhu snorted, his tone revealing a hint of impatience: "We're not young and impetuous reckless men anymore; we've long lost that drive."

"Don't worry, we know what we're doing. We won't be charging into battle again. We just want to see with our own eyes what our Ming Dynasty's new army looks like now."

Seeing his clear attitude, Ji Yuan knew that further persuasion was useless. He sighed inwardly and turned to Sha Qiyang, saying in a deep voice, "General Sha, there is no time to lose, go and make the arrangements quickly."

“Your Majesty…” Sha Qiyang hesitated for a long time, his face contorted with struggle, before finally gritting his teeth and saying, “Your Majesty has given the order, and I dare not disobey.”

Despite this, a hint of hesitation remained in his eyes as he continued, "However, this matter is of great importance and is no small matter. Although I am the commander-in-chief, according to the military system reforms promulgated by Your Majesty, a dual-commander system is implemented in the army."

"Besides me, there is another supervisor. In the event of any major military affairs, military power cannot be activated without his consent."

"If a large number of troops need to be mobilized, it is necessary to convene a meeting with deputy generals, brigadier generals and others to form a joint resolution."

"Otherwise, any transfer order would be difficult to execute."

At this point, he hesitated for a moment, then cautiously added, "Your Majesty, I have no doubt about your divine presence, but other generals may not be able to tell the truth at a glance."

"After all, the Supreme Emperor has not shown his face for a long time, and most of us have not attended court to see him. If anyone has any doubts, it will be difficult to convince the public."

"I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to present more tokens so that I may explain to the generals, convince them, and silence any dissent."

Although he spoke slowly, his tone became increasingly sincere.

He was really scared.

Even though the identity of the person before them was almost obvious, their deception was endless. Last time, they were completely fooled by a fake secret decree, which had already led to a grave mistake.

If we make the same mistake again this time, it won't just be foolishness, it will be utter folly.

Moreover, Sha Qiyang still did not want the Supreme Emperor to personally lead the expedition.

He was a border general, and he knew that if the emperor were to fall, he would be held responsible.

But Sha Qiyang also knew that he alone could not stop this iron-blooded emperor, the founding emperor, so he had to find another way.

Only by bringing this matter to the forefront and assigning responsibility to all military leaders can we alleviate some of the pressure.

“That makes sense.” Old Zhu was not angry when he heard this. He just smiled faintly, then glanced at Ji Yuan and nodded slightly.

Yoshigaki understood immediately, took a few steps forward, took out a stack of documents from his pocket, and handed them over.

"This is the original imperial edict, as well as two official documents jointly signed by the Administrative Office and the Military Affairs Office."

Sha Qiyang took the edict with both hands, unfolded it, and saw that it was written in gold ink, with dragon and phoenix seal script, displaying great majesty. Although there was no order to mobilize troops, it clearly stated: His Majesty the Great Ancestor Emperor has returned to the court and is now honored as the "Supreme Emperor". This trip is a personal inspection in disguise. All local military and political departments in the places he passes through must do their best to cooperate and must not be negligent.

Although the wording of the two official documents is slightly different, their main points are consistent, and both serve as supporting evidence.

It turns out that Zhu Yunwen had already anticipated this when Zhu Yunwen set off from the capital.

Local officials may not all recognize the true face of this former emperor.

If he were to encounter some short-sighted and incompetent local officials, a slight misstep could not only offend Old Zhu but also cause misunderstandings or even threaten his safety, with potentially disastrous consequences.

Carrying several documents and vouchers issued by the central government is a precautionary measure.

It can both prevent unforeseen events and, when necessary, convince local officials, ensuring the safety of the journey.

Another significance of these imperial edicts and official documents is that even if there is a sudden emergency, those around Zhu can use them to promptly request assistance from the local authorities and quickly mobilize reinforcements, so as not to fall into a state of isolation and helplessness.

Of course, it's not necessarily true that Zhu De couldn't mobilize local officials and soldiers without these credentials.

As the founding emperor, the generals he personally promoted and the local officials he appointed were spread throughout the country.

Once he reveals his identity, there will be no shortage of people willing to serve him.

The problem is that not everyone has seen him in person.

In addition, now that Old Zhu is old and weathered, he is completely different from his former imperial appearance. Without solid evidence, it is hard to guarantee that people will not become suspicious and cause trouble simply by his self-reported identity.

Therefore, it was considered safe to carry these official documents bearing the central government's seal with one's person.

This not only makes their words more authoritative, but also dispels all unnecessary speculation and resistance from the outside world.

Sha Qiyang carefully examined the imperial edict and official documents in his hand, finally dispelling the last trace of concern in his heart.

He had never seen a secret edict before, so Sha Qiyang naturally had no way of knowing whether the secret edict delivered by the previous delegation was genuine or not.

But these things are different.

In particular, the official documents issued by the Military Affairs Department were the ones that Sha Qiyang dealt with most frequently on a daily basis.

He was familiar with the writing style, the position of the seal, the anti-counterfeiting measures, the paper quality, and even the handwriting of which military minister. Sha Qiyang could tell the difference.

Upon unfolding the document, he immediately recognized its authenticity; it was something no outsider could have forged.

After confirming that everything was correct, Sha Qiyang did not hesitate and immediately summoned the supervisors, adjutants, and deputy generals to the palace to convey the Emperor's decree.

When the generals first heard of this, they were astonished and began to discuss it amongst themselves.

Two or three of them had seen Old Zhu from afar before, and although many years had passed, his demeanor and mannerisms were still vaguely familiar.

With the imperial edict in hand and the official documents from the Military Affairs Department in black and white with complete seals, no one had any further doubts.

Although everyone was reluctant to send the Emperor himself to such a dangerous place, they had no choice but to agree as they could not disobey.

On one hand, he immediately sent someone back to the capital to report to the court, presenting a detailed account of the Emperor's incognito departure from the pass.

Following Zhu's instructions, soldiers were ordered to disguise themselves and act as merchant caravans in batches to quietly cross the border in the most covert way.

……

(End of this chapter)