Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 501 Changes in the Western Regions, Old Zhu's Imperial Power Tactics!
Seeing that Huo Liancheng spoke so solemnly, Old Zhu asked, "Is there anything else?"

Huo Liancheng replied solemnly, "At present, although Beshibali is nominally loyal to the Ming Dynasty, there are undercurrents and it is not true to its word."

"Chen Xixun Shi previously persuaded Shami Chagan to join forces with our Great Ming on the grounds of establishing trade and a permanent friendly alliance, forcing Hei De'er Huozhe to abdicate and helping him ascend to the throne of the Great Khan."

"However, after the matter was accomplished, Chen Xixun suddenly put forward new conditions, demanding that Beshbali not only submit to the Ming Dynasty, but also be formally incorporated into the territory of the Ming Dynasty."

"At this point, Shamichagan was in a bind. Although he was extremely unwilling, he had no choice but to agree to the conditions proposed by Inspector Chen of the West."

"However, he harbored deep resentment towards our Great Ming, especially towards Chen Xixun Shi, rather than genuinely submitting."

"If His Majesty had not personally led the army to arrive in time, making them realize that the Ming army was invincible, Beshbali would probably have already changed by now."

“If there were only a few hundred soldiers from the delegation in this city, I’m afraid that once Shamichagan was ready and took over the power, he would have already turned against us.”

Old Zhu frowned slightly.

He had only met Shamichagan once, and found him to be outwardly respectful and humble in speech, but he had not noticed that Shamichagan harbored any ulterior motives.

But Huo Liancheng spoke with such certainty that he was not just making things up.

At this moment, Li Boyue also chimed in, saying, "Vanguard Huo has a keen eye. I also believe that Shamichagan has not completely submitted and there is a real concern that he may change his mind."

Old Zhu's eyes sharpened, and he asked in a deep voice, "Then should we replace him with someone else to take charge of Beshbaliq?"

Although Beshbali is now part of the Ming Dynasty's territory, the Ming Dynasty should send officials to govern it, but this matter will take time.

If a message is sent from here back to the capital, and then the Ming court in Yingtian selects talented individuals to be transferred here to take up their posts, it will probably take at least half a year, or even longer.

After all, this time, it's not just a matter of sending a few people, but a large number of capable officials and administrators.

Just selecting suitable candidates would take at least several months.

Even with the arrival of officials, it would be difficult to completely bypass the influence and support of the old aristocratic forces if the initial governance were to proceed smoothly.

This is a gradual replacement process.

In the short term, to ensure the stability of Beshbali and prevent it from falling into turmoil, the Ming Dynasty still needs to rely on its existing ruling structure.

Shamichagan, as the "guardian" of the Great Khan, remained indispensable.

After all, no matter how capable the Ming army was, if it was used for security patrols, those few thousand men thrown into the vast territory of Beshbali would be like throwing a handful of sand into the ocean, which would be far from enough.

Old Zhu had previously refused to let even the most ruthless and cunning individuals go easy on him, insisting that they not "retire" and cooperate with the Ming Dynasty's takeover, precisely for this reason.

Huo Liancheng shook his head slightly and said, "That's not necessary."

"The way of power is nothing more than the art of balance."

Huo Liancheng spoke in a calm voice, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Back when Your Majesty had not yet ascended the throne, you led an army on a distant expedition to Japan. After the victory, in order to strengthen your control over Japan, you took advantage of the situation and established a dual-king system."

"With two great kings in Japan, they restrained and hindered each other, and both had to rely on the power of the Ming Dynasty."

“Your Majesty’s talent is far inferior to even a fraction of yours, but since Your Majesty has set such a brilliant example before us, we should take it as a model and try to emulate it.”

"After Hei'erhuo was dethroned, the key to Shamichagan's rapid seizure of power was that he received the full support of Huda."

"Khudaida was originally a chieftain of a large tribe, and because he had helped Heidierhuozhe ascend to the throne, he was highly trusted. His followers were spread throughout the Beshbali court and beyond, and his influence was enormous."

"Most of the former Hei'erhuo's trusted confidants have been purged or suppressed after our army took control of Beshbali, and their power has vanished."

"On the other hand, because of his support for Shamichagan's ascension to the throne, Huda's power has grown stronger and he has taken the lead in the new round of political affairs. His influence is even greater than before."

"The current situation is that Shamichagan can firmly control the power of Beshbali simply by relying on Huda's support."

“Even without the deterrence of my Great Ming army, he could still seize power by virtue of Hudada.”

"Therefore, Shamichagan would naturally despise the Ming Dynasty, and even regard the Ming army stationed in Beshbali as a thorn in his side and a worry in his heart, wishing he could get rid of them as soon as possible."

Huo Liancheng paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and said, "But if Hu Daida were to die suddenly, the situation would be entirely different."

Old Zhu's eyes lit up, and he nodded in approval, saying, "Without Huda, if Shamichagan wanted to firmly hold the position of Great Khan, he would have to rely on the power of our Great Ming to safeguard the country!"

Huo Liancheng nodded slightly, his expression firm, and said, "That's exactly right!"

Old Zhu couldn't help but laugh heartily: "Good! The Black Fireman or Shami Chagan have special identities. Killing them rashly might cause chaos and turmoil in Beshbali. We must be extremely cautious."

"But if we kill a powerful minister, we won't have to worry about such things. It will not only intimidate the powerful figures, but also weaken their supporters, achieving several goals at once!"

"Huo Liancheng, immediately send men to secretly arrest Hu Daida, find any crime on him, and deal with him swiftly to eliminate him completely and leave no future trouble!"

Black Fire and Shamichagan were ultimately the Khans of Beshbalik.

Even though Shami Chagan was a Khan who was supported by the Ming Dynasty and ascended the throne through a coup, his status as the eldest son of the Khan was beyond question.

In the eyes of the people of Beshbali, this kind of birth carries inherent legitimacy; the inheritance of bloodlines is a matter of course.

But powerful ministers are different.

Even if someone wields immense power, controls civil and military officials, and influences the government and military, they are ultimately still just a subject.

The will of the people, the constraints of etiquette and law, and the distinction between ruler and subject are fundamental.

Killing the emperor could easily cause upheaval throughout the land and lead to a backlash from the people.

Killing a minister can, however, be used to turn chaos into order and consolidate power.

This is precisely the subtlety of "righteousness and legitimacy," and it is also the sense of proportion that those who govern and wield power must deeply understand.

Old Zhu was always adept at political maneuvering, so he naturally saw through this as well and was very clear about the intricacies involved.

There is no need to hesitate to kill Huda.

However, Huo Liancheng shook his head and said slowly, "The situation in Beshibali is ultimately different from that in the Central Plains."

“We have no officials here that we can rely on, and we lack local forces that we can depend on.”

"While Hudada certainly deserves to die, his men still need to be put to use."

"If we rashly punish him, we will need to continue to purge his close associates, which may leave us with no one to rely on."

“If we do not eliminate them all, those who are loyal to him will inevitably hate us, which is also inappropriate.”

"In my humble opinion, assassination is the appropriate course of action."

"We only need to quietly eliminate Huda, leaving his followers leaderless and in disarray, then they will no longer be a threat."

"They could also take the opportunity to spread rumors in secret, claiming that Huda was hated by Shamichagan and was assassinated by his men, sowing discord between the two and causing them to distrust each other."

"Since Shamichagan could not get the support of these people, he had no choice but to rely on the Ming Dynasty."

"Moreover, the Ming Dynasty's Intelligence Bureau and Military Intelligence Department have long been deeply rooted here." "With Huda's death, we can take advantage of the situation to win over a group of people who were originally under his command and bring them under the command of the Ming Dynasty, turning them into usable forces, and gradually take control of the situation in Beshbali."

As Huo Liancheng finished speaking, Old Zhu's eyes lit up slightly, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"I never imagined that a military general like you would have such a deep understanding of the art of power."

"These methods are comparable to those of veteran court officials!"

Upon hearing the Emperor's "teasing," Huo Liancheng looked slightly embarrassed, but secretly pleased with himself. He bowed and replied in a low voice, "Your Majesty flatters me. I am unworthy of such praise."

"Warfare is based on deception. Strategy and military deployment are essentially the same. Having led troops for many years, I naturally understand a thing or two about it."

Seeing that Huo Liancheng was well-mannered, Old Zhu smiled even more and admired him more and more.

As expected of someone promoted by our grandson, he is indeed capable.

Our grandson has good taste.

However, it will be ours to use from now on.

Thinking that he had successfully poached his grandson's son, Old Zhu felt a little smug. He then instructed, "Then do it according to your plan. Make sure it is done cleanly and efficiently, leaving no future troubles. Under no circumstances should this cause any storms that are detrimental to the Ming Dynasty."

Huo Liancheng immediately accepted the order, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and looked solemn.

Afterwards, Zhu summoned Sha Qiyang and several important generals from the new army. They gathered in the council hall to discuss the next steps.

The topics are numerous, but all are related to the overall plan.

For example, the intelligence agency and military intelligence were ordered to continue operating covertly, maintaining "secret" operations, and accelerating the recruitment of more reliable people to weave a tighter intelligence network.

A special printing bureau was established in Beshbali to directly publish propaganda newspapers, thereby leveraging public opinion to build the prestige of the Ming Dynasty, weaken local separatist sentiments, and influence the direction of neighboring countries.

The Ming army was ordered to quickly transfer heavy artillery to the troops at Jiayuguan Pass to strengthen its combat capabilities and prepare for the continued westward expedition.

He urged the Daming Bank to quickly open a branch in Beshbali, using finance to deepen the economic ties between the Central Plains and this region, and to bring the flow of wealth under the control of the Daming.

More experienced officials from the Central Plains were dispatched to take over local government affairs to consolidate the foundation of the regime.

By establishing schools, promoting education, and disseminating the culture and etiquette of the Central Plains, the people's hearts and minds were subtly influenced.

All of these are different.

In conclusion, now that Beshbalik has been brought under control, the next crucial task is to fully integrate it into the Ming Dynasty's territory, making it an integral part of the land and winning the hearts and minds of the people.

At the same time, it also laid a solid foundation and prepared troops for the next step of the westward expedition.

The reshuffling of officials in Beshbali is also proceeding intensively, with those loyal to the Ming Dynasty being promoted in batches and those with ulterior motives being eliminated, in order to ensure smooth implementation of government orders and strict discipline.

A few days later, Hu Daida was feasting and making merry at his mansion. While he was drunk, he suddenly died!
The news caused an uproar, and the public laughed it off, saying that this person, who was usually arrogant, had finally gotten his just deserts.

Meanwhile, officials in the court were all in a state of fear and trembling with anxiety, deeply worried that disaster would befall them.

A secret rumor circulated in the city that Huda was actually poisoned by Shamichagan, whose power had threatened Shamichagan's position.

The rumors were hard to verify, but they were enough to stir up the political situation and create a climate of fear in the officialdom.

Without Huda's support, Shamichagan's attitude toward the Ming Dynasty changed rapidly. He responded to every request made by the Ming Dynasty without any intention of shirking responsibility.

Taking advantage of the situation, the Ming Dynasty's intelligence bureau and military intelligence department expanded their influence, making secret contacts and recruiting more officials and tribal leaders under their command.

Now that the Ming Dynasty has taken control of Beshbaliq, due to the changing times, people flock to it to pledge allegiance.

Those who secretly submitted to the Ming Dynasty's intelligence agencies were quickly promoted and given important positions, and their influence grew stronger and stronger.

Unbeknownst to them, the political situation in Beshbali had quietly changed, the world turned upside down, and it was now completely under the control of the Ming Dynasty, both openly and secretly.

……

Yingtian.

Zhu Yunwen soon received an urgent report from the frontier.

"Grandpa Emperor is being ridiculous!"

Inside the imperial study, Zhu Yunwen slammed a memorial onto the table, the pages fluttering as his voice betrayed his barely concealed anger.

He gritted his teeth, his face grim, pacing back and forth, his boots making a low, rapid sound as they pounded on the jade floor.

The ministers of state and military affairs present held their breath, bowed their heads, and remained silent, fearing they might incur bad luck.

"Grandpa Emperor is already very old, how can he still go through all this trouble?"

Zhu Yunwen raised his eyes and looked around at the assembled officials, saying coldly, "You all need to think carefully about what good ideas you have. No matter what, you must find a way to persuade your grandfather to come back!"

No one answered.

The atmosphere inside the Imperial Study was so heavy it felt like water could freeze instantly.

After a long while, Lan Yu stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, given the Emperor's temperament, if he has made up his mind, not even eight oxen could pull him back. We are truly powerless to do anything about it."

Zhu Yuntong lowered his gaze slightly, scanning the entire room. Seeing everyone's expressions, he knew that Lan Yu was telling the truth.

indeed.

Zhu Yuanzhang's stubbornness was well-known throughout the court and the public. Once he made up his mind, even the Heavenly King himself could not change his mind.

At this moment, Yang Rong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that if we forcefully persuade him, it may backfire, and the Emperor will be even less willing to return. It would be better to go with the flow."

"Your Majesty wishes to open up trade relations with Western countries. While relying on sea routes is convenient, the risks are also considerable."

"After all, the sea is turbulent, the weather is unpredictable, and storms are frequent. If one is not careful, the ship will be destroyed and people will die, and the losses will be incalculable."

"If the Supreme Emperor can truly lead his army to open up a land route from the northwest of the Ming Dynasty to the western countries, it would be an unprecedented feat and a great achievement for all time."

"As for the Emperor's health, I believe that the medicine of the Ming Dynasty is now far superior to what it used to be. If we can gather famous doctors and form a special medical team to accompany the Emperor and take good care of him, and tailor a health care plan according to the scientific principles advocated by Your Majesty, then there will be no worries."

"Moreover, the fact that the Supreme Emperor is leading the army on a western expedition will surely inspire his heroic spirit, fill him with lofty ambitions, and invigorate his spirit, which may even prolong his life."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen's gaze flickered slightly, and he pondered to himself.

After a long pause, he sighed softly and said, "Well, it seems that's all we can do for now."

"Then we shall follow the Emperor's wishes and immediately order the new army to reinforce Beshbali, and transport heavy artillery, ammunition and all military supplies to ensure that they are sufficient."

"An imperial edict was issued to the Governor and Inspector of Shaanxi, ordering all levels of Shaanxi to coordinate military and civilian efforts to support the Emperor's western expedition."

……

(End of this chapter)