Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 500: Old Zhu, who refuses to grow old! The key point!
Old Zhu had long known of Zhu Yunwen's plans, and now, upon careful consideration, he gradually understood why he had laid out such a scheme.

Admittedly, this approach is indeed clear, methodical, and effective.

just.

The fact that Chen Cheng and others had recaptured Beshbali left Old Zhu with a lingering resentment that he could never swallow.

Although it was a small matter, it damaged his "face".

As the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, a veteran of countless battles, and a man of immense prestige, he was now easily outshone by two envoys appointed by his grandson, plus a mere county magistrate. How could he possibly bear this?
How could I possibly swallow this insult?
If he doesn't show some skill, how can he still call himself the "God of War" of the Ming Dynasty?
How can we stand tall in the eyes of future generations?
It's not a pleasant feeling to be told that you're inferior to someone else in every way!

We have to get our face back!

The problem is that the recapture of Beshbali is a foregone conclusion, and there's no way to intervene.

After much deliberation, the only thing Old Zhu could do was to find another way.

They continued to march westward to "conquer" more foreign lands, signing alliances with those countries that controlled the route to the West, and completely opening up trade routes to the Western continent!

Since Zhu Yunwen wanted to expand trade with the West by sea, he insisted on taking the land route to expand his territory.

You go by sea, I'll go by land, let's see who can clear the way faster!
The sea is unpredictable, with countless strong winds and waves, and storms can destroy ships and kill people in the blink of an eye.

How can that compare to taking the land route steadily?
Although the movement of people and horses on land is slow, it is more stable and safe.

It can be traveled freely all year round, unaffected by wind and waves.

With this thought in mind, Zhu De made up his mind to personally lead the troops on a western expedition.

We must make it clear to the world that a grandfather is always a grandfather, and a grandson is always a grandson.

Although our grandson is very capable, his grandfather is still a cut above him.

But nowadays, Zhu Yuanzhang is short of talent under his command. Most of his old generals are stationed in the capital and cannot be easily transferred.

If he were to be put to use rashly, it would only make people think that he could only rely on his old subordinates to maintain appearances, and his personal abilities would not be apparent.
After weighing the options, Old Zhu simply decided to "borrow" talent from his grandson's ranks.

Chen Cheng, Huo Liancheng, and Li Boyue were able to quell the rebellion of Beshbalik with only a few hundred soldiers, which speaks volumes about their courage and strategic acumen.

Such a talented person should not be wasted.
Even if they were talents personally promoted by Zhu Yunwen, so what?

Now that it's in my hands, it's the "Supreme Emperor's" person.

In the imperial family, the overall interests of the Ming Dynasty are paramount. Who promotes someone is not important; what matters is who can control them!
That's why Old Zhu said what he just said.

Upon hearing this, the three exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions complex.

They did not immediately kneel down to express their gratitude; instead, they all hesitated.

After a moment, Chen Cheng spoke up, asking in a low voice, "May I ask Your Majesty, are you aware of the decision to launch the western expedition?"

This was precisely the question that troubled the three of them the most.

Is it a matter to set out to conquer the West lightly?
That was a momentous undertaking concerning thousands of miles of territory and the fate of countless soldiers; the slightest mishap could trigger a chain of upheavals.

Most importantly, commanding thousands of troops is an extremely difficult task.

Even as the commander-in-chief, sitting in the central army, one must exhaust one's energy and effort, let alone personally leading the army on a western expedition.

The Ming Dynasty's new army was unparalleled in combat power, invincible in all directions, and fighting was a piece of cake for them.

However, the Emperor is old and had recently escaped death. Although he seems to be in good spirits now, he is still recovering from a serious illness and his health is still weak.

It's one thing to "stroll around and relax" within the Ming Dynasty, but how can one endure the hardships of a journey thousands of miles away, traversing mountains and rivers, and sleeping in the open?

Will Your Majesty really allow this?
If this gets out, people will probably accuse the emperor of being unfilial, sending an old man to fight a war, which is really unacceptable!
Moreover, the situation in war is ever-changing. Even if the Ming Dynasty has a strong military and its new army is unparalleled in its elite forces, it is hard to guarantee that it will not be cornered and forced to fight. There will always be times when the enemy is desperate and will resort to desperate measures.

War is dangerous and perilous; this is no joke.

If the Supreme Emperor were to meet with misfortune during the campaign, it would not be a reward for meritorious service, but rather the execution of the three of them and the extermination of their entire families!

Not to mention, the climate and environment in the West are different from those in the Central Plains, and the roads are difficult. If one were to contract an illness, the consequences could be dire.

Therefore, despite Lao Zhu's vivid description and the enticing promise he made, the three of them felt as if a stone was pressing on their hearts, and they hesitated to agree.

The Emperor had just received a personal edict from His Majesty. Although the three of them had not seen the contents, they could guess with their toes that it must be an urging for the Emperor to return to the capital as soon as possible.

How could we dare to take the Supreme Emperor westward again? How could we explain this to the Emperor?
However, upon hearing Chen Cheng's words, Old Zhu flew into a rage and was furious.

"Am I the grandfather, or is he the grandfather?" Old Zhu slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair and roared, "Do we have to ask that brat for permission to do things? What a joke! He's our grandson, not our ancestor!"

He stared at the three kneeling men and said coldly, "If you are unwilling to join the army, I will issue an order right now to have all three of you beheaded."

These words were spoken without any mercy.

The three men, their faces ashen, exchanged glances, knowing that escape was now impossible. They could only grit their teeth, lower their heads, and force themselves to remain calm as they answered:

"Your Majesty, we are willing to obey your commands and vow to expand the territory of the Ming Dynasty and achieve unparalleled feats!"

Whether they stick their necks out or not, they'll get stabbed anyway, so they have no choice but to accept their fate.

At that moment, the three of them had only one thought in their minds.

That is, we hope that Your Majesty can devise a plan to persuade the Supreme Emperor to change his mind as soon as possible, abandon the idea of ​​the western expedition, and return to the capital at an early date.

Otherwise, the three of them would probably not even be able to save their lives.

He thought that by recapturing Beshbaliq and rendering a great service to the court, he could return home in glory. But who could have imagined that this would be the prelude to another storm...

Old Zhu smiled broadly and nodded in satisfaction when he saw that the three of them had finally agreed.

"Good! Good! Good!" he said three times in a row, his voice loud and clear, his tone revealing a long-lost sense of pride: "As long as you work hard with us, your future is limitless, and bringing glory to your family is only a matter of time!"

Then, he emphasized, "If one can achieve great military exploits in this western expedition, what difficulty would there be in being ennobled as a marquis or duke?"

These words were like a fire, instantly igniting the ambition in the hearts of the three.

The position of duke or marquis is not something ordinary people can even dream of!

Let alone being granted a duke or marquis title, even the lowest rank of nobility is an honor that countless people dream of but can never attain in their entire lives.

Especially in an era when the Ming Dynasty had unified the country and the world was at peace, it was extremely difficult to rise through the ranks based on civil administration or political achievements.

Even the lowest honorary title requires far more connections, achievements, and divine favor than the highest official rank of the first grade.

Without military merit, even high-ranking ministers who command all officials in the country would find it difficult to obtain a low-ranking title, let alone them!

But if one were to accompany the Supreme Emperor on his western expedition to conquer foreign lands, that would be a different story.

This will be an unconventional "founding of a nation"!
Throughout history, those who truly earned titles were the ones who "conquered the world."

Which marquis or nobleman didn't fight his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood?
Admittedly, this western expedition was the sole decision of the Supreme Emperor, without the Emperor's consent.

The three of them were in an awkward position; the slightest misstep could cost them their lives, or even make them pawns in the power struggle between the two sides. But then again, fortune has always been found in danger.

Without a crisis, how can there be a turning point?

Without courage and vision, how can one achieve anything?

If you want to achieve great things, make a name for yourself in history, get promoted to a high position, and bring honor to your wife and children, so as to accumulate glory for your family for generations to come, how could you not take risks?
Besides, even if one stays in the capital to serve as an official, is that really a secure job?
In the imperial court, power struggles are sharper than swords, and traps are more dangerous than battles.

In the officialdom, intrigue and deceit abound. A slight misstep can lead to demotion, imprisonment, or even the extermination of one's entire clan.

Even so, countless people still flocked to the position of official.

Ultimately, the risks are high, but the rewards are also high.

Whether on the battlefield or in the imperial court, it all boils down to a gamble.

In this gamble, traveling with the Supreme Emperor carries the risk of death nine times out of ten, but also holds immense opportunities.

None of the three were content with the status quo; otherwise, why would they have taken such a risk, daring to forge an imperial edict to borrow troops and supplies, all for the sake of winning a decisive battle against Beshibali?
Even now, with the situation changing again, they still choose to trust their own judgment.

It was indeed dangerous, but the future was just too tempting.

Perhaps, I too will have the chance to be ranked among the nobility and go down in history!
At this moment, the three of them gritted their teeth, their eyes resolute, and made the same decision almost simultaneously:
Fight!

Old Zhu isn't just good at "drawing pie in the sky" to fool people; he's always been a shrewd man who combines kindness and severity.

After saying that, he immediately rewarded the recipient with several real "sweet dates".

"Chen Cheng, Huo Liancheng, Li Boyue, heed my decree."

The three men immediately knelt down, held their breath, and waited to receive the imperial decree.

Old Zhu paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and abruptly changed the subject:
"Chen Cheng, we hereby appoint you as the Western Inspection Envoy of the Great Ming Dynasty, with the rank of fourth grade."

"Huo Liancheng is appointed as the vanguard officer of the western inspection tour and is granted the rank of fifth grade."

"Li Boyue was appointed as the Western Inspection Road Opener, holding the rank of a sixth-grade official."

This conferment of titles was both a reward and a pledge, and it also completely drew the three men into his western expedition plan.

Zhu Yuanzhang appointed officials with great decisiveness and without the slightest hesitation, which showed his great courage.

Although the three were only promoted by one rank each, at such a critical juncture before the battle, receiving such a reward already indicated that they were to be given important responsibilities.

Originally, Zhu Yuanzhang intended to first reprimand them for their "mistakes" of falsely conveying imperial edicts and arbitrarily mobilizing troops, and then pardon and reward them for their merit in recapturing Beshbali, thereby establishing his authority and giving them a warning.

But on second thought, this matter could be kept for later use, serving as a whip to drive them in crucial moments, which would make it even more significant.

If we turn the page too easily now, we will lose our deterrent effect.

So he simply put aside this "old score" for the time being and skipped it, only promoting them, which was a very subtle way of handling things.

The reason for giving the three of them the title of "Western Tour" instead of "Western Expedition" was to reduce the resistance of the countries along the way.

Immediately afterwards, Zhu ordered people to bring gold, silver, and silk, and bestowed a generous sum of money upon the three men according to their rank, as a sign of his favor.

Upon hearing of the reward and seeing the gleaming silver and brocade, the three were overjoyed and immediately kowtowed in gratitude, tears streaming down their faces.

The most important thing is not the reward, but that the matter of them forging the imperial edict has been basically put behind them.

A weight was lifted from my heart, and with the reward, I was naturally delighted.

Old Zhu waved his hand and said, "Alright, the rewards have been given and the official positions have been bestowed. Next, we need to carefully plan how to make those western countries surrender at the mere sight of us and bow down to the Ming Dynasty!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Cheng stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that haste makes waste, and we must not be impatient for success."

"To expand territory, one must first consolidate the foundation."

"Although Beshbaliq has now surrendered, the people's hearts are not yet settled, and the government is not yet in order. If we march hastily, the rear will be left vulnerable, which will surely cause trouble."

"In my humble opinion, we should first reorganize Beshbalik, establish prefectures and counties, appoint officials to govern them, improve the administration and discipline, and comfort the people."

"When the weather in Beshbali is favorable, the people are loyal, and the prestige of the Ming Dynasty is growing, then it will be the best strategy to send troops to the west."

Upon hearing this, Old Zhu frowned slightly.

He knew, of course, that everything Chen Cheng said made sense.

In military campaigns, planning is essential, and the traditional saying is "consider defeat before victory."

War is a matter of vital importance to the state; it is a matter of life and death, a matter of survival or destruction. How can it be taken lightly?
War is never child's play; one wrong step can lead to utter disaster.

Throughout history, renowned generals have always been extremely cautious and never acted rashly or recklessly due to momentary impulses.

Taking a desperate gamble is only a forced choice when there is no other way out.

To take such a risk when we have the advantage at hand is utterly foolish.

Such actions are tantamount to sowing the seeds of one's own downfall.

After all, no matter how powerful a military force may be, no one can always gamble against fate.

The Ming Dynasty has just swallowed Beshbali and still needs time to digest the situation, sort out its affairs, and appease the people.

But if he really just stayed put, a sense of reluctance arose in Old Zhu's heart.

My purpose in leading this western expedition is simply to "show my strength"!
If Zhu Yunwen were to conquer the western countries by sea first, while I am still sharpening my sword on the way west, wouldn't I be ridiculed by the world?

What was meant to save face has instead brought only humiliation!
How could Old Zhu swallow this insult?
Just as he was hesitating, Huo Liancheng stepped forward, cupped his hands, and spoke:

"The Supreme Emperor, as the saying goes, 'Sharpening the axe won't delay the work of chopping wood.'"

"If we are to launch a campaign to the West, there is no need to rush."

"Moreover, if we want other countries to surrender at the mere sight of us, we must first let the 'wind' reach their ears."

"If our army advances too hastily, before the news spreads, they will not know the formidable power of the Ming army and will instead put up a stubborn resistance."

"Although our army is not afraid of a battle, the extra time it would take would probably be far greater than the time needed for reorganization in Beshbaliq now."

"Moreover, this time our army is marching incognito, lightly equipped, carrying only muskets and a small amount of ammunition. Heavy artillery and the main camp's supplies have not been brought along."

"If we want to conquer the city and defeat the enemy, the power of artillery is indispensable, but we need to wait for the subsequent deployment of the army to ensure success."

At this point, Huo Liancheng's expression darkened slightly, and his voice lowered:

“Besides that, there’s another crucial point…”

……

(End of this chapter)