Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 597 Zhu Yunwen's Arrangements! Old Zhu's Methods!
Zhu Yunwen pondered for a moment and said, "This matter is of great importance and cannot be neglected."

"Although Shandong has cables and has installed many telegraph machines, the number of technical personnel is still limited, and there will inevitably be oversights."

"I have brought with me some skilled technicians to ensure telegraph communications on this trip. It would be better if they could handle this matter."

"You will personally oversee the process, ensuring meticulousness and preventing any mistakes."

He emphasized, "Remember, you can't just set up one line; you need at least three to ensure that there is absolutely no risk of communication interruption."

"In addition, not only the government system needs to be connected, but the military's dedicated line also needs to be connected."

"This sacrificial ceremony will establish Confucian orthodoxy, and all soldiers must be informed of it immediately."

In the past, civil officials often believed that such matters were unrelated to the military and were too lazy to talk to them.

However, in Zhu Yunwen's view, military generals were also scholars, especially the soldiers of the New Army, who were all literate.

Even the lowest-ranking soldiers are no exception.

In this era, people who have received cultural education are more or less influenced by Confucianism, and they are also concerned about the worship of saints.

The status and influence of the "Teacher of All Ages" are unparalleled.

Therefore, it is of utmost importance to make the soldiers in the army aware that Confucianism has established an orthodoxy.

The integration of military and political power is the foundation for the long-term stability and security of an empire.

More importantly, although the soldiers in the army have been educated, they do not "interpret" scriptures, nor do they compete for the "right to interpret scriptures."

After all, they read far fewer books than those who took the imperial examinations.

The task of "interpreting scriptures" is something that is absolutely not their responsibility.

However, they will also consciously uphold "orthodoxy" to a large extent.

As for who is the "orthodox" authority, they mostly listen to the great Confucian scholars, the imperial court, and the emperor.

Therefore, once the "orthodox" status of the new learning was endorsed by the imperial court, supported by great Confucian scholars, and proclaimed by the emperor, and then communicated to the entire army, these soldiers would consciously uphold it.

No matter how much the remaining conservative intellectuals vehemently protest, it will be to no avail.

This was also one of the means by which Zhu Yunwen ensured that the status of the new school would not be shaken in the future.

Zhao Rui immediately bowed and replied, "This servant will obey Your Majesty's decree and will personally oversee this matter without any negligence."

……

In the western border of the Turan Empire, the Ming Dynasty's western expeditionary army, personally led by Emperor Zhu, set up camp.

Although the Ming Dynasty's new army was powerful and invincible, it was still a long-distance expedition from thousands of miles away, and even the most iron-blooded army was bound to be exhausted.

What's more troublesome is that the soldiers are far from their homeland, suffering from acclimatization issues, and the climate is unbearably hot. The number of soldiers falling ill is increasing, forcing them to take a temporary break.

Fortunately, the Ming army's logistics were always reliable. In addition, after reaching an agreement with Timur, Timur did not obstruct the Ming army's passage through the border. On the contrary, he provided strong assistance, and a large number of medicinal materials were able to be transported from the Ming territory.

For minor shortages, supplies were procured and replenished within the Turan Empire.

In addition, the Ming army was already equipped with excellent military doctors, and under Zhu Yunwen's leadership, a comprehensive epidemic prevention system was established, which quickly contained the epidemic and brought it to a swift end.

Taking advantage of this lull, more ammunition and supplies were successively transported to the front lines.

Taking advantage of the situation, Lao Zhu renovated the camp and built it into a rock-solid fortress.

After all, according to the peace treaty signed between the Ming Dynasty and the Turan Empire, even if the western expedition ended, the Ming Dynasty still needed to station troops there to maintain order and peace in the western frontier.

Therefore, transforming the camp into a solid defensive line is not only an immediate need, but also a long-term strategy.

The number of troops stationed there will not be as large in the future, so it will be even more necessary to build strong fortifications to defend against the enemy.

In addition, a considerable amount of food was also provided.

Most of these supplies were not transported from the distant Ming Dynasty, but were replenished from nearby Turan Empire.

If grain is to be transported by land and by manpower, the losses will be too great and the transportation will be too difficult.

Using the Ming Dynasty Treasure Notes, one could buy almost all of the resources from the Turan Empire.

Although the Turan Empire was not a particularly wealthy country, it could still squeeze out enough food supplies for tens of thousands of troops.

In any case, many poor people in the Turan Empire could survive simply by "eating grass".

The grain purchased from the Turan Empire was not only enough to meet the needs of the expeditionary force, but there was also a considerable surplus.

The granaries ordered by Zhu Yuanzhang were built to store surplus grain for unforeseen circumstances.

After forcing Timur to submit and sign a treaty without losing a single soldier, Zhu Yuanzhang placed even greater emphasis on leveraging the international prestige of the Ming Dynasty.

In Zhu Yunwen's words in the telegram, it was: "If we can use 'soft power,' we will never resort to force lightly."

Old Zhu had to admit that the current prestige of the Ming Dynasty was almost entirely built by this grandson.

Back in my day, although the Ming Dynasty was powerful, it never had such a world-shaking influence, and people wouldn't feel fear just from hearing the name of the Ming Dynasty.

Thinking about this, he felt somewhat resentful, but this stubbornness did not make him complacent.

Zhu Yuanzhang was always a man who knew how to adapt.

He would never let go of any means that were available.

Therefore, Zhu began to make great use of public opinion to create momentum and spread his prestige, exerting invisible pressure on potential enemy countries in an effort to "subdue the enemy without fighting".

It should be noted that before the arrival of the Ming cavalry, Timur's Turan Empire swept across the surrounding countries, its prestige was immense, and it was virtually invincible.

However, when the Ming Dynasty's military flag appeared, Timur surprisingly chose to back down and form an alliance with the Ming Dynasty.

Although it was ostensibly an "equal and friendly treaty," it allowed the Ming army to pass through its territory and even leased military bases to the Ming.

Anyone with eyes can tell what's going on.

This news, once it was released, undoubtedly caused a huge stir in the surrounding countries.

Old Zhu, of course, would not let go of this golden opportunity.

He secretly ordered his subordinates to spread the news widely, boasting about the strength and benevolence of the Ming Dynasty. At the same time, he recruited talented people who were proficient in various languages ​​to write articles and publish them in batches using a rotary printing press.

The contents of these proclamations were nothing more than warnings that anyone who opposed the Ming Dynasty would face national ruin.

However, if we form an alliance with the Ming Dynasty, we can obtain endless benefits and lasting peace.

It must be said that this wave of public opinion offensive, though lacking in ruthlessness, is sharper than swords.

Before long, the major kingdoms in the western border of the Turan Empire were filled with panic and the court was shaken. Many officials were eager to propose peace talks in order to avoid war with the Ming Dynasty's western expeditionary force.

That would be a war they were destined to lose. The Golden Horde, also known as the Kipchak Khanate or the Jochi Ulus, was one of the four khanates established by the descendants of Genghis Khan.

The former Golden Horde had a vast territory spanning Eurasia, and its iron cavalry was invincible.

However, as time went by, the once powerful Khanate gradually decayed, with powerful ministers fighting each other and family members killing each other. The country's power declined day by day, eventually splitting into countless separatist forces.

These princely powers each ruled their own territory, establishing independent administrative systems and maintaining their own armies.

On the surface, they still regard the Great Khan of the Khanate as their common ruler, but this "respect" is now nothing more than an empty title written in letters.

In reality, they are all basically in a state of independence or semi-independence.

At this time, the Khan of the Khanate was named Qichihei.

After hearing the news that Timur had reached an agreement with the Ming Dynasty, he, who knew the inside story, felt that this might also be his opportunity.

The Golden Horde is now a mere shell of its former self, with the various kingdoms paying lip service to its authority but disobeying its orders.

If we could use the Ming Dynasty as a pretext to ask them to send troops to quell these "rebellious" people and restore our former land, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?
Qi Chihei thought it was feasible more and more, and immediately sent an envoy to the Ming army camp to make a personal request and put forward extremely generous terms.

If the Ming Dynasty intervenes and helps him reclaim his lost territories and reunify the Khanate, he will not only allow the Ming army to "pass through" his territory, but also hand over all the mineral resources within his territory to the Ming Dynasty for mining, protect the Ming Dynasty's merchants, and even be willing to lower himself to become a vassal and pay tribute every year.

But how do we know what kind of person Old Zhu is?
How could such a scheme escape Old Zhu's notice?
By now, the Ming Dynasty's intelligence bureau and military intelligence department had already extended their reach to various countries, and Emperor Zhu had a thorough understanding of the situation within the Golden Horde.

Unlike the Turan Empire, which was only plagued by bandits, the Golden Horde had completely disintegrated, its power fragmented, and there was no prospect of reunification.

Under such circumstances, why would the Ming expeditionary force risk its life for Qichihei and expend manpower, resources, and time to conquer the princes?
Regardless of how long this move will delay the entire westward expedition, even if the Kipchak Khanate is stitched back together into a powerful behemoth, what benefits will it bring to the Ming Dynasty?
In contrast, the best course of action for the Ming Dynasty is to watch them become completely disloyal and then have the Ming garrison check and balance them separately.

Old Zhu rejected Qi Chihei's request without hesitation.

Moreover, he took the opportunity to issue a call to action, summoning the leaders of various factions under the Golden Horde to a meeting, claiming that he would "assist" them in resolving their domestic disputes.

The Ming Dynasty's national strength was undeniable, and its army had already pressed to the border, its momentum as imposing as a mountain.

Therefore, when Zhu Yuanzhang proposed the alliance, all the various separatist forces within the Kipchak Khanate were wary and successively expressed their support.

Before long, leaders from various regions gathered with their followers at the Ming army camp.

Here, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the army to conduct a large-scale drill, demonstrating the power of the Ming Dynasty's cannons and muskets in front of them.

In an instant, thousands of cannons fired simultaneously, the sky ablaze with fire, and the deafening roar seemed to tear the earth apart.

When the smoke cleared, the bombed area was already in ruins. One can imagine what the outcome would have been if they had faced a direct confrontation.

The leaders of all sides changed their expressions, their hearts filled with shock and turmoil. They all secretly vowed: never to start a war lightly, and never to be enemies with the Ming Dynasty.

With such unparalleled strength as a backing, the subsequent negotiations naturally fell into place.

In fact, the separatist forces within the Golden Horde had long been impatient with the khanate's empty title and secretly plotted to break free from control and become independent powers.

The very name of "respect" requires a constant supply of money, food, and manpower to maintain, which is a heavy burden.

However, while everyone coveted it, no one dared to be the first to break off relations.

If someone openly resists the Khan, it is tantamount to giving other forces an excuse to launch a joint attack.

Thus, the situation became one where, on the surface, they still respected the Great Khan, but in reality, they had long been outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant.

This is just like the fragmentation of the states at the beginning of the Spring and Autumn Period, or the struggle for power among heroes at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Everyone knows the monarchy is in decline, but everyone still respects it out of vanity.

Under these circumstances, restoring the former central authority is virtually impossible.

As time goes by, there are only two possible outcomes.

Either a powerful overlord emerges, reunifies the country, changes dynasties, and establishes a new nation.

Either it will completely split apart, with each separatist force becoming an independent country.

Old Zhu gathered everyone precisely to publicly establish this potential structure.

They were both wary of each other and dared not take the initiative to break the ice, so the Ming Dynasty would do it for them.

To ensure smooth progress, Lao Zhu first selected the leader of the relatively weaker side and spoke with him alone.

He bluntly stated his conditions: "If you are willing to conclude a friendly treaty with the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty will guarantee the independence and security of your forces, and that they will not be disturbed by others."

The temptation was so great that the leader agreed almost without hesitation.

Given the current situation, with the Ming Dynasty as their protector, who would refuse?

As for the details of the treaty, they were largely the same as those signed by the Turan Empire.

The first step was to accept the Ming Dynasty's military presence within its territory.

Secondly, specific areas were designated for the Ming Dynasty to build roads, and the areas along these roads were leased to the Ming Dynasty for long-term governance.

The Ming Dynasty was permitted to establish banks, conduct financial business, and open newspapers within its territory.

He handed over the mining rights of all mineral deposits within his territory to the Ming Dynasty for development.

They pledged never to impose any tariffs on the Ming Dynasty and to promote free trade.

To ensure that Ming merchants could conduct business safely in their territory, and other rights.

The regulations stipulated that any Ming citizen who violated the law within its territory should be handed over to the Ming consul for punishment, rather than being handled by the Ming consul itself.

In exchange, the Ming Dynasty will provide them with low-interest loans in Ming Dynasty banknotes to help alleviate their financial difficulties and carry out various construction projects.

The quantity of these banknotes was so high that it far exceeded the total amount in their treasury.

With such a massive injection of funds, it is believed that the economy will take off and various construction projects will proceed smoothly.

In their view, the Ming Dynasty investing so much money in them was simply doing a good deed.

Of course, what they didn't know was that for the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Treasure Notes only needed to be printed with a printing press, and were practically unlimited.

If they accept the paper money, it can circulate abroad without worrying about printing too much and causing inflation in the Ming Dynasty.

At the same time, the Ming Dynasty would also send experienced officers to assist their army in training generals and soldiers, thereby improving their self-defense capabilities.

To ensure the smooth transition and training of the army, all generals should be trained and educated by the Ming Dynasty.

In addition, the Ming Dynasty promised to send a group of Confucian scholars well-versed in classics and history to teach etiquette and morality, spread the teachings of the sages, and gradually bring their people closer to the culture of the Ming Dynasty, leading them onto a more civilized path.

Furthermore, the Ming Dynasty promised to establish hospitals within its borders to help treat the people's illnesses and to open schools to help their backward regions and tribes change their customs.

……

(End of this chapter)