Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 307 Another purge of Annam

"In that case, should the remaining scholars be evaluated and selected as scheduled?" Xia Yuanji agreed with Zhu Zhanhe's decision to let the disloyal scholars leave and silently agreed, then confirmed again whether the selection of scholars should proceed as scheduled.

"The evaluation of scholars will proceed as scheduled! The army and navy have made rapid progress in their expansion in Annam recently, and it is expected that they will have taken over the entire Annam by October. At that time, we will still need quite a few manpower." Zhu Zhanhe decided without hesitation to continue the selection of officials from among the scholars. After all, according to the intelligence transmitted back by the army and navy, most of the prefectures and counties in Annam have been captured. In particular, since the addition of Tuolong, the navy has been like a cheat code, and is now about to catch up with the army's expansion progress.

"Yes!" Xia Yuanji also thought that his son-in-law's arrangement to continue the selection and evaluation of scholars was very appropriate, so he nodded in agreement.

"Your Highness, all of the more than 500 large ships sent by the court have been inspected. They are all more than 80% new, fully equipped with firearms and weapons, and have crew members in addition to soldiers."

"Should all 30,000-plus new troops that the Prince has sent this time be added to the navy?" After Xia Yuanji finished his work report, Mu Sheng hurriedly stepped forward to report on this important matter. After all, although he didn't understand why Emperor Xuande was sending so many ships as if aiding the enemy, Mu Sheng wouldn't complain about having too many ships, since Yunnan had plenty of soldiers! The more the merrier! Of course, it would be even better if the court sent some more soldiers! Mu Sheng thought happily.

"All the new soldiers will be added to the navy. At the same time, we must explain our Yunnan development policy to the new recruits and reassure them."

They were all registered in a roster. Since they had not participated in the battle in Annam, they were only given basic land.
After this expansion into Annam is completed, officers will be selected from the frontline navy to reorganize the new naval force. Zhu Zhanhe warmly welcomed the more than 30,000 soldiers newly sent by his father, the Prince of Han. Furthermore, to win over the morale of these new recruits, Zhu Zhanhe thoughtfully provided them with a basic land allocation policy, meaning each of the 30,000 soldiers would be given approximately ten mu of land!

Upon hearing that the Crown Prince of Han was actually planning to allocate basic farmland to the newly arrived army, Xia Yuanji and Mu Sheng were both somewhat surprised. After all, although it seemed like only ten or so mu of land was a small amount, it was actually a huge number. With over 30,000 people, ten or so mu per person would amount to three or four hundred thousand mu of land! It was being distributed away for nothing.

What a grand vision! Xia Yuanji and Mu Sheng exchanged a glance, both seeing a look of shock in each other's eyes! As the ancients said, those who do not seek small gains must have grand ambitions! It seems that this Crown Prince of Han truly has a broad mind!
"Yes! I will personally explain this policy of Yunnan to the new army."

"Furthermore, regarding the selection of the location for the Military Academy, I have confirmed the address, and the lists of students for the Military Academy sent by various armies have also been submitted. I request Your Highness to review them." After finishing discussing the fleet and the new army, Mu Sheng immediately began to talk about the Military Academy. After all, Mu Sheng wanted to make it clear that the Crown Prince before him attached great importance to the Military Academy. Especially after Zhu Zhanhe repeatedly reminded Mu Sheng, both openly and subtly, that he should serve as an instructor or dean at the Military Academy after its opening. "As for the personnel of the Military Academy, Uncle Mu, you should first conduct a screening yourself. My requirements are very simple: First, the difference between the navy and the army in the forty students cannot exceed 20%; second, the proportion of soldiers from humble backgrounds must not be less than 40%; third, the requirements for selection based on military merit must be strictly enforced; fourth, all selection results must be made public to all officers and soldiers!" "When Mu Sheng handed over the list of candidates for the Martial Arts Academy, Zhu Zhanhe did not take it to check it immediately. Instead, he handed over the right to conduct the initial screening to Mu Sheng, who would then conduct the first round of screening."

"Yes!" Upon hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, Mu Sheng and Xia Yuanji were taken aback. They knew that His Highness was determined to cultivate a group of scholars from humble backgrounds! Although Mu Sheng and Xia Yuanji had some minor objections to this, they did not voice them, after all, in the long run, this was a good thing for the rule!
"Your Highness, the Embroidered Uniform Guard reports that the land survey in Annam is progressing slowly. This is partly due to a shortage of manpower, and partly due to the lack of cooperation from the local forces in Annam." Liu Erniu stepped forward to report after the two high-ranking officials had finished their reports. However, Liu Erniu didn't dare mention the obstruction of the land survey by the local forces in Annam; he only said they were not very cooperative. Nevertheless, Zhu Zhanhe understood the implication in Liu Erniu's words.

Immediately, Zhu Zhanhe's eyes turned cold!
"Send orders to Hu Tian, ​​instructing them to clean up Annam once more!"
Meanwhile, let Yao Guan and his men recruit some local scholars from Annam, and have those willing to obey participate in the land surveying! After the land surveying is completed, select a group of outstanding individuals from among the non-Han peoples and incorporate them into the official ranks.” Zhu Zhanhe set the tone for the land surveying matter with a single sentence. But everyone present knew how devastating Zhu Zhanhe’s words were to the local Annamite forces!

The powerful local Annamese clans, previously purged by Hu Tian, ​​will now be completely reshuffled! This signifies His Highness's dissatisfaction with Hu Tian's first purge. Therefore, Hu Tian will undoubtedly intensify the purge this time! Furthermore, the civil service will also seek to win over some obedient Annamese clans. What constitutes excellence? Obedience is excellence! Serving Yunnan's interests is excellence!

Furthermore, the measure of selecting lower-level officials from among foreign tribes will only make this second reshuffling of Annam's local forces even more bloody. Xia Yuanji can even imagine the scene of Hu Tian purging all the Annam clans that are unwilling to surrender!
After all, the more land cleared, the more vacant land there is, and the easier it is to measure the acreage! Add to that the hidden benefits of the clearing process! The profits involved are enormous, almost unimaginable! That's why this clearing operation was all the more brutal!
"Yes!" However, Liu Erniu didn't care about whether it was bloody or not; he only knew that he had to obey the Crown Prince's orders!

"Your Highness, what about the Prince?" Seeing that the important matters had been discussed, Xia Yuanji cautiously inquired about how to handle the Prince of Han's confinement in the capital. After all, the Prince of Han was still nominally the head of the Han Prince's Mansion! Plus, there was the bond of father-son ties. If the Prince of Han were to truly return, Yunnan would be in considerable trouble.

After all, there can only be one sun in the sky and one ruler in a country. Whether the Prince of Han, upon returning to the Prince of Han's residence, will compete with the Crown Prince of Han for control of the residence remains to be seen!

"There's no rush. This matter will have an interesting outcome." In fact, Zhu Zhanhe wasn't worried about his father returning to seize power. In fact, Zhu Zhanhe really wanted to bring back the Prince of Han. Not only his father, the Prince of Han, but also his third uncle, the Prince of Zhao, Zhu Zhanhe wanted to bring him to Yunnan!

After all, these two brothers are now the most capable fighters in the Ming Dynasty, and also the most prestigious people besides the Emperor! Wouldn't it be the best outcome to bring them back to expand our territory?
Furthermore, Zhu Zhanhe is currently extremely busy, and with his father, the Prince of Han, returning, isn't that a relief? As for the possibility of being overthrown, Zhu Zhanhe declared that it was simply not an issue. Firstly, the Prince of Han is getting old, and secondly, his own powerful strategist is no pushover! As for the possibility of his brothers returning to seize power, that's not even on Zhu Zhanhe's radar! That's how confident he is!
(End of this chapter)